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

A week after submitting a written report on the annihilation of the Grizzly Mountain Bandits, Zod was suddenly summoned by his direct superior, Lieutenant Wesley.

He stood in front of Wesley's office door and knocked gently: "Report!"

"Come in!"

After receiving a response from Lieutenant Wesley in the room, Zod walked into the foggy office.

In the office, Lieutenant Wesley was sitting with his legs crossed on the desk, leaning back in his chair, comfortably smoking a cigar.

Seeing Zod walk in, Wesley put his legs down, straightened his collar, and smiled slightly at Zod: "You've finally come, Warrant Officer Zod!"

Zod asked nervously, "Lieutenant, what's the urgent mission that led to this summons?"

"I have read your written report regarding the suppression of the Grizzly Mountain bandits who were harassing our territory!"

Wesley exhaled a smoke ring: "I heard that you broke with convention and defied public opinion to track down the Grizzly Mountain Bandits, and defeated their leader with a single move during your duel."

Wesley stared with bloodshot eyes, his breath reeking of alcohol as he spoke.

Zod knew that the lieutenant must have worked late last night.

Of course, it couldn't be working overtime; it could be drinking, or even playing cards while drinking.

In short, this relaxed lifestyle was what Zod had always dreamed of.

Faced with Lieutenant Wesley's sudden praise, Zod felt a sense of unease and quickly said, "This is not my achievement alone; it is all thanks to the concerted efforts of the Imperial soldiers, and Sergeant Cassius also played a part..."

"Stop, stop!" Wesley waved his hand, still groggy from a hangover, and had no patience for platitudes. "All I need to know is that Warrant Officer Zod is a shrewd, capable, and trustworthy Imperial lieutenant!"

Zod quickly muttered to himself, "Don't you dare trust me. I know my own limitations perfectly well. I'm just a slacker!"

"Burp~" Wesley let out a burp, exhaling a foul smell of alcohol.

He quickly gulped down a large mouthful of strong coffee before slowly saying, "Warrant Lieutenant Zod, I have good news and even better news. Which would you like to hear first?"

Zod didn't expect the good news to be too good, he just hoped it wouldn't be too bad.

He replied casually, "Then let's hear the good news first!"

Wesley's lips curled into a mysterious smile: "Congratulations, Warrant Officer Zod! I have a top-secret mission for you."

Upon hearing the word "top secret," Zod knew he must not hesitate or feel embarrassed; he should decline if necessary.

Because once Zod hears the contents of a top-secret mission, he has no choice but to do it, otherwise it wouldn't be called a top-secret mission.

Zod hurriedly declined, "Ah? Lieutenant, if it's an important task, please be sure to assign it to someone else! I'm not very capable and would mess up the mission."

Lieutenant Wesley stared at Zod: "Warrant Lieutenant Zod, stop being modest. Do you think I don't know how capable you are?"

"No, you have no idea!" Zod thought to himself.

Lieutenant Wesley continued, "If I could handle this mission, I definitely wouldn't have given it to you; I would have led the team myself."

Wesley knew his own limitations; he was the kind of person who desperately wanted to improve, but his abilities didn't allow it.

He was also afraid of messing up the mission.

Zod, on the other hand, not only lacked the ability to improve, but also had no desire to do so.

Zod added, "Lieutenant Wesley, I trust your abilities. With you personally leading the team, I believe even the most challenging missions can be easily accomplished!"

"Warrant Lieutenant Zod, stand at attention!"

Upon hearing Lieutenant Wesley's sudden order, Zod immediately straightened his back and stood at attention.

"Buying vegetables at the market, picking and choosing, this is a military mission!" During the argument with Zod, Wesley felt that he had sobered up quite a bit.

He took a document out of the drawer: "Your next mission is to rescue two important figures who have been kidnapped somewhere within the Empire."

"The locations marked with 'X' on the map are the crime scenes, while those marked with 'O' are the locations of our troops and outposts."

"The document includes detailed investigation records and photos of the crime scene, and you can also go to the scene to conduct an on-site investigation."

"The kidnapping occurred around yesterday morning."

"The perpetrators could be mountain bandits or enemy agents who have infiltrated the empire."

"Please find and rescue the two hostages within five days. Their photos are attached at the end."

"Mission Classification: Top Secret"

"Understood, Warrant Officer Zod?"

When detailing the mission, Lieutenant Wesley's face showed an unusual seriousness.

The last time Zod saw him this serious was when the lieutenant was playing cards.

It seems that the two hostages are not ordinary people; at the very least, they are connected to some important figure.

"Understood!" Zod took the document, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Finally, I'd like to ask one more question..."

"Don't ask anymore. The people more suitable than you are either on the front lines or in the capital. By the time they get here, it will be too late."

"Remember, you must bring the hostages back safely within 5 days!" Wesley reiterated solemnly. "By the way, due to the urgency of the mission, the deadline starts today."

"Shouldn't we start calculating the time now?"

"Yes, it's today. After today, you have four days to complete the task."

Zod paused for a moment, then replied firmly, "Understood!"

He knew that this kind of task was not something to be taken lightly.

Hearing Zod's affirmative answer relieved Wesley's tension considerably, after all, he believed in Zod's abilities even more than Zod himself.

"Now, I have some better news for you."

Wesley let out a long sigh, then took a wooden box from another drawer.

He slowly opened the wooden box, inside which was a pair of rank insignia, each insignia bearing a silver diamond, representing the rank of second lieutenant.

"Congratulations, from today onwards I will address you as Lieutenant Zod!"

Wesley produced the epaulettes and smiled gently, "Come here, let me put on your lieutenant's epaulettes!"

Zod was a little incredulous. Normally, troops stationed in the rear would not be promoted in rank as quickly as those on the front lines.

It was just wiping out a bandit gang; it was far from enough to qualify him for promotion from warrant officer to second lieutenant.

This confirms that the people Zod is about to rescue are not ordinary citizens of the Empire.

This lieutenant rank is nothing more than fodder for feeding the horse to make it run hard.

Since it can be given to Zod, it can also be taken back.

After Wesley put new epaulets on Zod, he helped Zod straighten his collar and the wrinkles in his uniform.

He patted Zod on the shoulder: "Let's set off immediately, time waits for no one."

"Yes, sir!" Zod saluted and left Wesley's office.

Watching Zod's departing figure, Wesley muttered to himself, "Our future and destiny rest entirely on your shoulders, Zod!"

……

Upon returning to the unit's base, Cassius, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately noticed that Zod's shoulder had been replaced with a silver diamond-shaped second lieutenant's epaulette.

He walked respectfully to Zod and saluted: "Warrant Lieutenant Zod... no, Second Lieutenant, you've been promoted to Second Lieutenant!"

Then, with a slightly joking tone, he said, "Then I have to make sure everyone gets a good meal tonight."

"That's right!" Several imperial soldiers echoed.

Everyone has witnessed Zod's excellence over this period of time, and they are truly happy and proud of his promotion.

However, Zod's face did not show any joy at this promotion. Instead, his brows were furrowed, and he looked preoccupied.

Although he didn't want to spoil everyone's fun, there was a time limit for completing the mission, and the hostages were in danger at any moment.

He solemnly issued the order: "Cassius, there's an urgent mission. Gather all personnel immediately and assemble outside within 10 minutes!"

"I understand." Without the slightest hesitation, Cassius began to gather all the soldiers.

Zod's expression told him that this mission was extremely urgent and important.