Inside the Unified Army's high command center, no one spoke.
The room, usually buzzing with reports and light chatter between teams, was completely still.
General Wei Shan stood with her hands behind her back, her posture straight, eyes locked on the floating map in front of her.
The live battlefield feed of the Western Continent shifted with flickering lights and markers—too many of them red.
The final words of Xu Qianghua still echoed faintly in her ears.
"No credit. No emblems. Let them learn."
The entire command team had heard the call. Every senior officer. Every tactician. Every adjutant.
The message had been clear: intervene, but do it as the Unified Army, not as anyone's protector.
Not as a savior.
Just as a consequence.
Wei Shan's adjutant, Lan Fei, stood just a few steps behind her. The younger officer had never seen the general so still. So quiet.
Fei cleared her throat gently. "General?"
Wei Shan didn't move.
Fei tried again. "What are your orders?"
