For a moment, Marty did not know how to describe his feelings.
He remembered the tip the Marshal told him, immediately forced a stiff smile, and said, "I saw her before at the annual meeting."
Zero smiled, his tone quite helpless, "In front of me, you don't have to hide your emotions. That time at the annual meeting, you two didn't even speak, right? Want to have a meal together?"
Marty showed a troubled look.
If it was eating with the Marshal, of course he had no reason to refuse.
But now there was also that child people called the "Crown Princess"…
Marty could not stand hearing others call Hua the "Crown Princess." That title always made him feel strange.
It sounded… like one day she would replace the Marshal.
Marty could not understand it, but since it was the Marshal's decision, he could only keep his doubts and dissatisfaction inside.
He knew very well he had a deep prejudice against this Crown Princess.
But Marty also knew the dissatisfaction in his heart had no reason. He should not form prejudice against an innocent child.
In front of the Marshal, Marty could still hide it somewhat, but if he really met that child…
The Marshal would definitely notice something at once.
The other party was busy with official duties and also had to worry about the Xianzhou's research funding in spare time.
With the Marshal's personality, he would surely ask the reason and try to solve the problem so Marty and that Crown Princess could get along peacefully.
But the Marshal was already very busy! Why waste time and energy on this small personal issue of Marty?
Marty made up his mind.
Better avoid that child as much as possible. So the two would not develop any irreconcilable conflict.
Marty shook his head, handed the puppy back to the Marshal, found an excuse, and refused this invitation.
Seeing this, Zero did not say more.
There would be plenty of time in the future. They would have chances to meet.
Before leaving, Marty hesitated for quite a while.
The Marshal had already done so much for the Xianzhou. How could he calmly keep using the Marshal's patrol funds for research?
Should he make it clear? Should he betray the chief strategist?
But the Marshal had already guessed it…
After hesitating for a long time, Marty finally spoke like smashing a broken jar, giving up and saying, "Please stop giving us patrol funds. The funding is already really a lot..."
Zero raised his eyebrows, his gaze falling on Guanliang who had just stepped over the threshold.
Marty felt extremely guilty. He did not dare raise his head to look at the Marshal, nor did he know someone had appeared behind him. After saying this, he lowered his head and ran out.
Guanliang brushed past the unaware Marty.
His expression did not change. Hua followed behind him, and they slowly walked toward Zero.
Zero adjusted the puppy in his arms and asked, "Anything you want to say?"
Guanliang had expected this. He shrugged. "As expected. With Marty's personality, who could he hide it from?"
He knew his superior would not be angry, at most give a light punishment.
As he expected, the Marshal chuckled. "Ten years of your bonus deducted. Any objections?"
Guanliang shook his head. "None."
Just bonuses… he was much richer than his superior.
Zero turned his gaze to Hua and gently introduced Marty's identity.
"He is the most outstanding research talent in the whole Xianzhou. The jade terminal that monitors Xianzhou people's physical condition and vital signs in real time was made by him."
"Marty is not good at socializing, he's quite shy. Next time I'll formally introduce him to you."
Hua and Guanliang both fell silent.
Hua did not understand, but she was greatly shocked.
'If Marty was the developer of the jade terminal, then he must be several thousand years old, right?'
'Living thousands of years and still shy?'
Guanliang complained crazily about his superior in his heart. 'Can you take off the filter already?!'
'Marty is so old, why does the Marshal still treat him like a child?!'
Guanliang could not help saying, "You spoil Marty too much."
Zero did not mind. "Is this spoiling? I just let suitable people do suitable things."
Marty was not good at socializing, so there was no need to waste time in a field he was not good at.
How could this count as spoiling?
Guanliang's mouth twitched.
Marty did not want to meet Hua clearly because he did not accept her identity. How could it be because he was shy?
Guanliang opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.
This filter of the Marshal… probably could not be removed.
No matter how much he said, his superior would not believe it.
Fortunately, Guanliang's bonus was not deducted for nothing.
After learning the truth, the spoiled Marty repeatedly cut the Xianzhou funding in half and transferred it back to the Marshal. After many rounds like this, the Marshal finally gave in.
Guanliang rarely felt a bit relieved.
Their Marshal finally had savings. His deposit finally exceeded Guanliang's spare change.
But he never expected that even if the Marshal did not spend money on Marty, the money still could not be saved.
The Marshal donated to charity every few days, giving money to planets to build schools and repair roads.
Guanliang felt speechless. After some time, it was the Marshal's routine physical examination day.
The one in charge of the exam was Alchemy Commision Head, who had helped Guanliang drug their superior unconscious before.
With some personal motive, he told the Marshal, "Alchemy Commision Head will retire before long."
Originally Alchemy Commision Head had no plan to resign, but things happened suddenly, so he had to abruptly submit a resignation request.
He delayed approving it while selecting a replacement, so it dragged on until now.
Logically, the Marshal should not have known about this.
If every personnel change in the Six Divisions and Cloud Knights on each Xianzhou had to be reported to the Marshal…
Then his subordinates might as well stop being generals and let the Marshal handle everything.
Alchemy Commision Head was willing to give up the position he had worked hundreds of years for, all for the Marshal.
Such a loyal subordinate receiving more rewards was only reasonable, right?
When Alchemy Commision Head heard this, he looked flustered. The hand taking the Marshal's pulse kept trembling.
Zero changed to a very friendly expression and softly asked, "Did you suffer any grievance?"
Alchemy Commision Head shook his head strongly. "No."
Zero then asked about Alchemy Commision Head's relations with colleagues in the Alchemy Commission.
Alchemy Commision Head repeatedly praised his coworkers and carefully introduced his successor.
Zero asked from work environment to career plans. After chatting a long time, Alchemy Commision Head still could not clearly say the reason.
Seeing he could not ask out the reason for resignation, Zero stopped trying to keep him.
Before leaving, Alchemy Commision Head said earnestly, "Please take good care of your health."
Zero nodded and answered seriously, "I will."
Guanliang watched Alchemy Commision Head leave and felt relieved.
This way, the Marshal would not learn about that matter.
The next day, Guanliang received a message from the former Alchemy Commision Head, who had already resigned.
First the other party cried and wailed for quite a while, then sent a photo.
In the photo, on the table were an opened envelope, a check with a considerable amount, and a handwritten letter.
The former Alchemy Commision Head seemed not to want others to know the content of the letter, deliberately mosaicking it so the handwriting was completely covered.
[I will support the Marshal for my whole life, wuwuwuwu]
[🫡 Shoutout to Daniel for joining p@treon. Thank you very much.]