Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 059

The world-shattering anomaly in the south of the city continued intermittently for three whole days. For three days, the entire Fourth New Nanjing was shrouded in an invisible, terrifying pressure. Everyone felt the immense power, like gods clashing, and their hearts were filled with awe and… fear of the unknown.

Three days later, all anomalies receded like a tide. The sky returned to calm, and the suffocating pressure dissipated. However, the southern isolation zone remained a top-level forbidden area, strictly sealed off, with no news ever emerging.

It wasn’t until a month later that the Fourth New Nanjing Military High Command convened a high-level closed-door military meeting.

Xiao Yan, as the key intelligence provider and meritorious figure in this operation, was specially invited to attend the meeting in his capacity as the commander of the Third Division’s Special Operations Brigade. This in itself was a high honor and recognition, signifying that he had truly entered the core decision-making circle of the city’s military power.

…

The conference room was grander than the previous division-level one, located in the core area of the Command Building, with the highest security level. Around the massive oval conference table sat high-ranking generals with stars on their shoulders, each exuding a profound and stable aura, their strength at least at the mid-level Transcendent stage or above. At the head of the table, besides Deputy Commander Liu Zhenbang, sat two other high-ranking officials whose auras were even more unfathomable and whose status was clearly higher.

The atmosphere of the entire conference room was solemn and grave.

When Xiao Yan walked into the conference room, everyone’s gaze subtly fell upon him. In these gazes, there was curiosity, scrutiny, approval, and a hint of an inexpressible… apprehension. A being who broke through at a hundred years old, yet in a short period displayed such terrifying strength and precise judgment, was enough to attract the attention of the highest echelons wherever he went.

Xiao Yan’s expression was calm as he took his seat, while Lin Wei respectfully stood behind him.

The meeting began without unnecessary pleasantries.

An old general with white hair but eyes as sharp as an eagle (clearly a higher-ranking commander than Liu Zhenbang), sitting at the head of the table, slowly swept his gaze across the room, finally resting on Xiao Yan. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then spoke in a deep voice:

“Gentlemen, I have gathered you here today to announce a piece of news, a good piece of news concerning the survival of our Fourth New Nanjing.”

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, carrying an uncontrollable excitement and pride:

“Through the valiant efforts of the three War Kings, ‘Thunder,’ ‘Ice Seal,’ and ‘Rock,’ and all our participating forces!” He deliberately mentioned the codenames of the three War Kings, which, while still maintaining an air of mystery, was enough to command the respect of everyone present. “The Brain-Devouring Terror Worm Queen, along with all its core nest nodes, which had been entrenched in the southern isolation zone and threatened the safety of our city, has been—completely annihilated!”

“The hidden crisis has been completely resolved! Fourth New Nanjing is safe!”

Boom!

This news exploded like thunder in the conference room!

All the generals, including Deputy Commander Liu Zhenbang who had maintained a serious demeanor, showed an uncontrollable excitement and a sense of relief!

The gloom that had weighed on their hearts for months finally dissipated completely!

Although they had long anticipated the outcome of the War Kings’ intervention, when the news was officially announced, the relief of surviving a disaster and the awe for the top powerhouses still made everyone’s hearts surge!

The old general raised his hand, and after everyone’s emotions had somewhat settled, he continued:

“The success of this operation is inseparable from the heroic contributions of every participant! But, we must not forget who, at the most critical moment, provided us with that decisive intelligence, avoided greater sacrifices, and pointed us in the right direction!”

His gaze once again fell on Xiao Yan, this time filled with undisguised admiration!

“Commander Xiao Yan of the Third Division’s Special Operations Brigade!” The old general’s voice was loud and powerful. “Although the three War Kings ultimately completed the decapitation mission, your intelligence, after evaluation by the High Command, has been designated as one of the ‘foremost merits’ of this operation! It was you, with your War General-level strength and extraordinary insight, who preemptively revealed a threat level far beyond expectations, winning valuable time and opportunity for the adjustment of the entire strategic deployment!”

“Without your intelligence, we might have proceeded with the original plan, committing more troops into that death trap, causing incalculable losses! We might even have… delayed the opportunity, leading to the premature maturation of the Queen, with unimaginable consequences!”

The old general’s words were forceful and decisive, directly defining Xiao Yan’s merits and elevating them to an unprecedented height!

In the conference room, everyone’s gaze once again focused on Xiao Yan. This time, it was no longer just curiosity and scrutiny, but more of genuine admiration and recognition!

To achieve such a significant intelligence contribution, comparable to a War King’s battle功勋, as a mere War General! This honor was enough to make anyone look twice!

“Therefore,” the old general continued to announce, “by joint decision of the High Command and the Alliance Merit Management Committee: War General Xiao Yan is awarded the ‘Alliance Second-Class Valor Medal’! Rewarded with five thousand points of special merit! And fifty million Alliance credits!”

Hiss—!

Another collective gasp!

Second-Class Valor Medal! This was a step up from the First-Class Valor Medal he received after the Social Security Bureau incident!

Five thousand points of special merit! This was enough to exchange for a complete War King-level cultivation technique or several top-tier War General-level equipment!

Fifty million credits! While not an astronomical sum for Xiao Yan now, it was definitely a huge amount of money!

The generosity of this reward far exceeded the norm! It fully demonstrated the high-level’s recognition of Xiao Yan’s merits and… their investment in his future potential!

Lin Wei, standing behind Xiao Yan, felt her heart pound when she heard these rewards. Her gaze towards her superior had completely turned into one of admiration! This was a meteoric rise!

Xiao Yan himself was slightly surprised, not expecting his contribution to be rated so highly. He stood up and gave a standard military salute to the old general at the head of the table and all his colleagues, his voice calm but powerful: “Thank you, Alliance! Thank you, esteemed officers, for your kindness! Xiao Yan will certainly redouble his efforts and will not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths to protect the Alliance!”

The old general nodded with satisfaction, motioned for him to sit down, and then continued: “Besides these substantial rewards, considering Comrade Xiao Yan’s outstanding command ability and strategic vision demonstrated in this incident, after deliberation by the Command…”

He glanced at Deputy Commander Liu Zhenbang next to him.

Deputy Commander Liu Zhenbang took over, a gentle smile on his face, and announced: “…Comrade Xiao Yan is appointed as the concurrently serving Deputy Chief of Staff of the City Defense Army’s Third Division! He will participate in the formulation and evaluation of the division’s daily combat training plans!”

Whoosh!

As soon as this appointment was made, a low murmur of discussion once again arose in the conference room!

Deputy Chief of Staff! Although it was only at the division level and “concurrently serving,” it meant that Xiao Yan was no longer just a special operations brigade commander with military power! He had officially entered the core command structure of the division! He now had the authority to participate in strategic planning and training evaluation!

For a “newcomer” who had just been promoted to War General less than two years ago, this was an unprecedented promotion! The speed of his rise was astonishing!

The gazes of the other special operations brigade commanders in the room towards Xiao Yan now carried a clear sense of awe and… a deliberate desire to befriend him. They knew that this man before them was no longer a colleague they could treat lightly, but a figure they would likely need to look up to in the future!

Xiao Yan stood up again to express his gratitude. He understood that this “Deputy Chief of Staff” title was more of an honor and an increase in authority. For now, it wouldn’t place too much actual work pressure on him, as he still had to oversee the special operations brigade. It was more like a further recognition and investment in his potential by the high-level.

After announcing the commendation and appointment of Xiao Yan, the meeting also discussed matters concerning subsequent area clearings, strengthening defenses, and commending and compensating the participating forces, finally concluding successfully.

When Xiao Yan and Lin Wei walked out of the conference room, they immediately became the focus of attention. Generals from other divisions constantly came forward to greet and show favor to Xiao Yan, their words full of enthusiasm and respect. Xiao Yan responded calmly to each of them, neither humble nor arrogant.

Lin Wei followed behind Xiao Yan, watching the deliberately fawning attitudes of those normally high-and-mighty generals towards Xiao Yan. Recalling her initial disdain and contempt for Xiao Yan, her heart was filled with mixed emotions, leaving only deep gratitude and… a hint of proud satisfaction.

She knew that her decision to fully align herself with Xiao Yan was the wisest decision she had ever made in her life!

Xiao Yan’s status and influence in the military, after this incident, had far surpassed that of ordinary Transcendent War Generals, truly entering the middle and upper e echelons of the city’s power pyramid!

And all of this had happened just three years after his hundredth birthday!