I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 55 Major Will Opens Pandora's Box

Hmph, Hawke, you idiot, you really did fall for it!
Watching Hawke leave, whom she had tricked, Wendy's face immediately flashed with a sly smile.

Her claims about promoting the Maslowian spirit and developing more Maslowian fighters were all lies.

Her real purpose was to reduce the amount of time Hawke spent reading Maslow's quotes by increasing his workload.

This way, the guy who could carry things faster than her and who had the same admiration for Captain John as she did would always lag behind her in mastering the Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Only in this way can the identity of Chief Warrant Officer John's follower remain with the clever Sergeant Wendy!

"It may be a bit despicable and shameless, but sorry Hawke, you have to understand, being despicable is also a way to win, hmph!"

"Besides, while promoting Maslow's principles to others might increase your workload, wouldn't you also gain a deeper understanding of Maslow's philosophy at the same time?"

"Besides, everything has to be done in order of arrival. And I am a follower personally recognized by Warrant Officer John. Even if you really want to take this position, Warrant Officer John probably won't allow it, since you are a newcomer."

"If you get rejected by Warrant Officer John, you'll definitely be upset, and it's even possible that you'll do something to harm your comrades out of jealousy."

"So, I'm doing this for your own good, so please don't blame me!"

Wendy kept trying to convince herself.

But he seemed to feel that his despicable behavior was indeed somewhat inconsistent with the spirit of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Therefore, Wendy, fearing that her despicable behavior would be discovered, immediately glanced around guiltily.

After realizing that no one was looking at her strangely, she cleared her throat in a pretentious manner and then went to Mia, the communications soldier of the 14th Squad. Following John's instructions, she had Mia turn on the communication device and began to report to General Dormammu.

……

Meanwhile, after leaving the rendezvous point, Hawke, knowing that there was still some time before the mission began, went straight back to his tent and took out the new version of Maslow's quotes that he had just copied down, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

He had just copied this from the first draft that Sergeant Wendy had borrowed from him. Currently, besides Sergeant Wendy's first draft, this was the only other copy of the new set of quotes.

Moreover, it was recorded by him personally, so it was of great significance to Hawke, both in terms of value and emotion.

To be honest, he was really reluctant to give away such a copy of the 'holy text' that he had personally transcribed, especially to a bastard who had just insulted Warrant Officer John.

But when he thought of Sergeant Wendy's trusting look, and recalled the last mission he carried out behind enemy lines with the Allies, he realized that...

After reading about the great spirit of selflessness shown by Warrant Officer John when he sacrificed himself to cover their retreat.

Hawke immediately realized that he had been attached to appearances!

Hawk, Hawk, how could you be so stupid!
As someone who is about to become a true Maslow's advocate, how can you let your personal interests hinder the spread of Maslow's philosophy?

You have betrayed Sergeant Wendy's trust and Captain John's cultivation of you!

This is a betrayal of Maslow's hierarchy of needs!
If it were Sergeant Wendy, let alone a second draft, she would have sent it out without hesitation, even if it were the actual first draft!

After all, Sergeant Wendy is a true heir to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. How could she be as despicable and shameless as you, hindering the spread of Maslow's philosophy for personal gain?

"Yes, that must be it. So, I'm afraid I still have a long way to go before I can become a Maslow's Path fighter as outstanding as Sergeant Wendy."

However, with the guidance of so many great warriors and the opportunity to hear Warrant Officer John's voice up close, I'm sure I'll be able to achieve it someday!
Yes, it definitely can!

Hawke murmured to himself, a determined glint in his eyes.

At this moment, he had put aside his personal gains and losses. Even though he was heartbroken and felt like his heart was bleeding, he still picked up the manuscript of the sacred text without hesitation.

They then arrived in front of Will, who had already received treatment from 14 squads of magic soldiers and was now being placed in a temporary tent.

Then, amidst the other person's puzzled expression, Hawke solemnly handed over the copy of the 'holy text,' his tone sincere and firm:

"Major Will, this is a book of quotes that Lieutenant Wendy asked me to give to you. It contains the true meaning of becoming a Maslow's Principle fighter. I hope you will read it carefully and learn from its spirit."

"Although you have served as an Allied officer in the past, and are politically an enemy of the Empire, you are also someone that we, as soldiers, need to eliminate."

“But Captain John once said that for true Maslowian fighters, our real enemy is not limited to a particular country or individual; what we really need to fight is something much broader.”

"As for the name of that thing, although Captain John didn't explicitly say so, in my personal understanding, the monster's name is Oppression!"

"Anyone who attempts to oppress the people, to divide the people, or to hinder the people from achieving true liberation is an enemy that Maslow's fighters must contend with!"

"Although I don't know what your Allied forces' creed is, I think if you consider yourself an upright person, even if you only think you are upright, then now that you have Captain John's favor, you should try to read the captain's motto."

"I believe you will find the faith you've been dreaming of within it!"

"Furthermore, I apologize for assaulting you earlier, but I will not ask for your forgiveness because, as someone who is about to become a staunch Maslow's advocate, I simply cannot tolerate your insults towards Warrant Officer John."

"If you're not happy about this, you can challenge me after my mission is over, before you actually set off. To be fair, I'll only use my right hand, and we'll settle this with a duel then!"

Meeting Will's astonished gaze, Hawke glanced reluctantly at the manuscript in Will's hand, which he had personally written down.

He then took a deep breath, casting aside all his sadness, and, seeing Will's silent expression, gave him a military salute before speaking solemnly:
"Comrade Will, I still have a mission to complete, so I won't stay any longer. I hope you will think carefully about what I'm about to say, and I wish you will soon become a true Maslow's warrior, fighting relentlessly against those who try to oppress and divide the people for the great rejuvenation of the empire and the complete liberation of the people!"

"Tap, tap!"

After saying that, without waiting for Will's response, Hawke turned and left with a flourish, exuding an indescribable firmness and decisiveness.

Will couldn't help but feel somewhat lost in thought when he was watching.

It took him a long time to recover, and then he looked at the cult propaganda book in his hand, titled "The New Maslow's Sayings," with a complicated expression.

After a long silence, he initially intended to dismissively throw it under his feet.

But when he thought of what Hawke had said before he left, he paused, a hint of hesitation and curiosity flashing in his eyes.

Although I know this thing must be very evil.

However, it shouldn't be a problem if you just take a look, right?
Besides, I am an intellectual who has received a proper education in the kingdom, and I have ample discernment and an incorruptible sense of justice.

No matter how eloquently that devil John Maslow talks in here, it won't affect me!

After all, he was Will Hoffman, the heir to the Hoffman family, a family known for its loyalty!
Moreover, reading enemy propaganda slogans can help one's subsequent disguise, thereby gaining the other party's trust, taking the opportunity to break away, or even launching a counterattack.

Therefore, it is also necessary for us to try to understand the enemy's culture!

Will kept trying to convince himself of this, and at that moment, he couldn't help but feel a struggle between his own mind and his own.

But in the end, curiosity prevailed over his reason.

He couldn't resist opening this book, which he considered an evil bible: the 'New Edition of Maslow's Philosophy Quotes'.

However, upon seeing the opening passage, he instinctively held his breath, his eyes widening in shock.
"A true imperial warrior should spend his life like this..."

Inside the tent, looking at the philosophical yet inexplicably frightening words, he knew that if he continued reading, his loyalty to the kingdom would waver and even collapse.

His reason told him that he should stop immediately.

But the tears streaming from his eyes, a result of the simultaneous surge of longing and despair, relentlessly compelled Will to desperately want to see what would happen next.

Especially after reading the subsequent sections about the military's philosophy on how to treat the people and their dialectical thinking on things.

At this moment, it felt as if the door to a whole new world had been opened.

Will could clearly sense that the identity he had previously held, which had been bound and obscured by countless lies of loyalty, shattered invisibly at this moment.

At this moment, the heart in my chest seemed to truly awaken.

Seeing these words that perfectly aligned with his vision caused him to start jumping wildly and uncontrollably.

The sound was like thunder, constantly reverberating in my mind.

It was as if the evils he had previously been unable to discern had now taken on a tangible, demonic form.

And under the onslaught of this collection of quotes, constructed from words, which is like the sharpest sword in the world, its disguise was stripped away, revealing the truly nauseating stench hidden beneath its gorgeous exterior.

At the same time, while feeling an unprecedented shock, Will also realized...

He has now opened this Pandora's box and is exploring a brand new path from within it.

He can probably no longer be Will Hoffman, the man who, as the heir to the Hoffman family, used the lie of 'honor' fabricated by the nobility to become an executioner who abused the people without realizing it.

……

(End of this chapter)