I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Curtis's hand chop was about to pierce Cassius's chest.

Cassius knew he couldn't dodge; his opponent's speed and strength were on a completely different level.

He was prepared to accept his fate of death and closed his eyes in despair.

At the critical moment, dozens of figures suddenly appeared densely above Cassius and his companions.

Dozens of figures suddenly appeared like ghosts, hovering densely above Cassius's head!

They were dressed in uniform Imperial military attire, and the prominent "Imperial Blade" insignia on their left arms gleamed in the dim moonlight.

A flash of light erupted in the air, followed by several clear gunshots.

Curtis's pupils contracted sharply; his reaction was astonishingly fast!

The moment the bullet tore through the air, he abruptly stopped, leaping backward to escape the spot with a narrow escape.

Almost at the same moment he leaped backward, several scorching hot bullets embedded themselves hard in the paving stones where he had just stood, kicking up a cloud of gravel and dust!

Finally, reinforcements from the "Imperial Blade" legion arrived.

Dozens of figures fell from the sky and landed steadily between Cassius and Curtis, forming a solid human wall.

The leader was a tall, straight-backed female officer whose long hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze.

Cassius could only see her back, but the major's rank insignia on her shoulders, reflecting a cold light, was clearly visible.

The woman, a major, spoke in a commanding tone: "We are here to support you on orders from Colonel Xavier. We are taking over the battlefield. You must immediately take the wounded and leave! This lieutenant looks like he needs medical attention."

Without a moment's hesitation, Hitis and Cassius, carrying the severely wounded Zod and the other injured, were about to leave the encirclement of Clock Tower Town.

"Trying to run? Did you ask me?" Curtis's face darkened with anger, and he vanished from the spot in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, he was already beside Hitis, one of his hands seemingly carrying the aura of death, reaching for Hitis's neck.

The color drained from Hitis's face instantly, leaving her as pale as paper.

Just then, a longsword slashed at Curtis from behind: "Get out of the way!"

It was that female major who made the move!

Curtis had to abandon his hand that was reaching for Hitis's neck. He reached out with his right hand, which had been in his pocket, and grabbed the longsword that was about to strike him.

Taking advantage of the moment when Curtis was held back, Hitis and Cassius did not dare to hesitate for even a moment.

With Zod by his side, they ran with all their might, and under the cover of the major's men, they managed to escape the encirclement of Clock Tower Town.

Just as Hitis and Cassius escaped Clock Tower and reached a relatively safe place, a series of violent explosions rang out behind them.

A series of violent explosions rang out behind them, and they even felt the ground tremble slightly.

The two looked at each other and smiled, letting out a long sigh of relief.

"That must be the sound of the cannon fortress's ammunition depot exploding!"

Hearing the beautiful sound of the explosion, he felt that the excruciating pain in his abdomen was somewhat relieved.

"There's absolutely no mistake!" Hitis gazed in the direction of the giant cannon fortress, where towering flames had already dyed half the sky red, like the light of sunrise.

"Let's go back! Lieutenant Zod's injuries still need treatment!"

After leaving the battlefield, they provided emergency treatment and bandaged Zod's wounds.

Now, they urgently need to return to the Imperial Blades' hospital for Zod to receive a thorough treatment.

……

……

Four days later, in Goldberg, at the army hospital of the "Imperial Blade" Legion.

Colonel Xavier: "I told you all to be quiet, the patient needs rest!!"

Warrant Officer Hitis: "Colonel Xavier, you're the loudest one here!"

Cassius: "Warrant Lieutenant Hitis, your voice isn't quiet either. This is a hospital; noise is prohibited."

Cassius: "No need to remind me anymore, I know my voice is a bit loud too!"

……

Led by Colonel Xavier, Cassius, Hitis, and Captain Spent, Zod's unseen superior, all came to visit Zod.

Already aching all over, Zod felt even more dizzy and disoriented after their noise.

He slowly opened his eyes, and apart from Captain Corbin, almost all the faces that came into view were familiar.

"He's awake! Lieutenant Zod is awake!" Hitis's face lit up with a smile.

"Ahem, ahem~" Colonel Xavier coughed a few times, then grinned, revealing an exaggerated smile: "Zod, how are you feeling?"

Upon seeing Xavier's face, Zod immediately felt that his injuries were several times more severe.

He feigned illness, even though he was already injured, he just made his injuries look more serious.

"Cough cough cough—" He coughed heavily a few times: "Colonel Xavier, I feel pain all over my body. I'm afraid my injuries won't heal for three or four months, or even more than half a year. I'm afraid I'll be a burden to the regiment again."

Given the extent of his injuries, he has no intention of leaving the hospital without several months of rest.

Although this mission almost killed Zod, it was also this mission that allowed Zod to be admitted to the hospital he had always dreamed of.

This sense of security made him feel as at home, even though the ward was filled with the pungent smell of medical alcohol and medicine.

As long as he is still recuperating, the task will not fall to him.

At least for a long time to come, his popularity will not see a significant increase.

Once the hype on the internet subsides, most viewers will likely gradually forget about Zod, this minor character.

His popularity will stagnate or even decline.

After that, if Zod can find a way to cause his popularity to plummet, he may be able to reach the critical point of 'retirement'.

This was yet another perfect plan devised by Zod.

Colonel Xavier walked to the bedside and gently patted Zod's shoulder: "Zod, I didn't expect you to be so concerned about the affairs of the Imperial Blade Legion so soon after joining it."

No, no, no! Colonel Xavier, shouldn't you focus on the first part of what I said?

The main point I want to make is that I need to take a few months off to recuperate!

The second half of the sentence was just small talk, okay?

Xavier said solemnly, "I have ordered the hospital to spare no expense on the medicine and to ensure that your injuries heal and you are discharged as soon as possible."

"No, Colonel Xavier, the expensive medicine should be used on the Imperial soldiers who need it most. My injuries just need more time to heal."

Zod was secretly hoping to delay his discharge from the hospital.

If he is discharged too early, won't his plan fall through?

"Yes, I asked the doctors, and they said you have many injuries, but none of them are fatal. They said you're fine and can be discharged after another week of recuperation."

Colonel Xavier rubbed his chin: "Besides, based on my observation of your recovery speed, you can be discharged from the hospital in a few days if things go smoothly."

He stroked his chin, a smug smile spreading across his face. "Lieutenant Zod, are you happy? Surprised? I reckon you'll soon be immersed in the work of the regiment, in the Imperial cause you love. Also, I've prepared a gift for you later!"

Surprise my ass!

Upon hearing Colonel Xavier's words, Zod's expression froze instantly.

Damn it, he felt like cursing.

Soon I'll be able to start working in the Corps. Who wants to start working?

At this moment, Zod even missed Lieutenant Wesley a little.

Because Lieutenant Wesley is unlikely to say such a thing; his catchphrases are always things like, "There's no end to the work," or "No rush, I'm feeling dizzy/not sleeping well today, I'll talk to you tomorrow!"

Lieutenant Wesley favored a relatively relaxed work attitude.

Colonel Xavier, on the other hand, was quite the opposite.

Of course, Zod was not entirely unprepared.

After this mission, he was absolutely certain that he didn't want to stay in the so-called elite unit for even a moment longer; at this rate, he wouldn't have enough lives to spare.

"Colonel Xavier, the failure of this mission is entirely my fault, and has nothing to do with Warrant Officer Hitis and Sergeant Cassius. It was my command error that put my soldiers in danger, and I was also seriously wounded."

"Therefore, I request to resign from my position as a second lieutenant. I believe I am incapable of fulfilling my duties in the 'Imperial Blade' Legion, and I am willing to accept whatever punishment I may receive!"

Zod recounted his mistakes with great emotion.

Logically, after he was hit by a shell and rendered unconscious, his mission had already failed.

Moreover, he had not yet received orders to retreat, yet he was already planning to lead his troops to withdraw from Zhongta Town.

Both morally and logically, he should leave the "Imperial Blade" legion.

After all, failing the first mission means the end of one's career in the elite unit.

No one will trust such a loser anymore.

Yes, he was a loser!

Please send me back to my original unit!

I'd even give you 300 crowns on the spot, Colonel Xavier!