Chapter 10: He is my general Ethan sat there, depressed. He thought to himself, Maybe I should just buy a basic sword technique to mess around with first. When I have enough money, I’ll get those special techniques. Richard stood nearby, watching with growing anxiety. When he saw the dejected look in Ethan’s eyes, his heart skipped a beat. Did I do something wrong? Did I offend him somehow? Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead like bullets. The supervisor had personally told him to treat Ethan with the highest level of hospitality—and now Ethan looked like someone close to him had just died. Richard asked nervously, "Mr. Ethan, what happened? Did something upset you? Did I do something wrong?" Ethan looked at him as if Richard owed him money. What the heck is this guy saying? He looks like some creepy stalker. Why is he even standing here? I didn’t know Richard was like this before... I’ll ask Teacher about him when I have time. The moment Richard saw the expression on Ethan’s face, he instantly plunged into despair. "It’s over. All over. Supervisor Charles will skin me alive..." he muttered, then dropped onto the sofa with a heavy thud. Ethan was shocked to see Richard sitting down right next to him—so close that his skin crawled. His hair stood on end, goosebumps covered his arms. Damn it, this guy really is a pervert. I’ll ask Rose to stay away from him. No—I’ll never let her come into contact with him again! He snorted and stood up abruptly. Before leaving the hall, Ethan said coldly, "Call me if the supervisor arrives. I have something to do, so I’ll excuse myself." Then he left in a hurry. But Richard hadn’t even heard the whole sentence. He only heard Ethan was leaving—because of him. His soul seemed to have left his body. Like a zombie, he stumbled forward, his movements stiff and broken. The receptionist caught a glimpse of his ghost-like demeanor. She was so terrified that she slid down behind her desk, hiding in the corner, covering her mouth with both hands like she was taking shelter from a real zombie. --- Ethan took his car and drove to a coffee shop so he could properly browse the Alliance website. He opened the Warrior Forum. There were all kinds of posts—some about newly discovered monsters near the outskirts of the base city, others about rare treasures found deep in the wilderness. Today’s world was divided into many factions. The Martial Alliance stood at the very pinnacle, controlling over 70% of the world’s resources and power. Then came the martial dojos, established by powerful martial artists—Grandmaster-level, King-level, even Emperor-level experts. There were also the Academies—a collective faction that produced scientists, researchers, and martial artists alike. Unlike the Alliance, the dojos were private entities. The stronger the dojo master, the more reputable the dojo. They had fewer resources but offered far more freedom. The Alliance, however, could be considered the world’s true government. It held the most resources and operated its own military. It also nurtured individuals with soul talents. These gifted individuals didn’t necessarily need to join the military. They could choose to become free warriors but still receive the same level of support as those enlisted. So, for a martial artist, there were three major factions to choose from. Ethan sipped his coffee, pondering his next move. His heart longed for adventure—to go out and fight those monsters. But he had just awakened yesterday and officially become a warrior today. According to the rules, to venture out into the wilderness alone, one must be at least a Level 7 martial warrior. Otherwise, they had to join a team. On paper, Ethan was listed as only a Level 1 warrior—even though in reality, he had reached Level 9 and was far stronger than any ordinary Level 9. He would need to either wait until he revealed his true strength or find a team to go with. Either way, he would think about it after meeting the supervisor. He asked mentally, "Hey system, can you lower my aura to that of a Level 1 warrior so no one can tell what level I really am?" The moment the command was given, he felt his overwhelming aura vanish—leaving behind only the faintest trace, like that of a beginner. As he continued browsing on his phone, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Ryan—Ethan’s best friend. Ryan was arguing with a tall man inside the coffee shop. "Adel, don’t go overboard. I was the one who booked this seat first. Now you’re telling me to give it up? Just because your brother became a quasi warrior? You think that makes you invincible?" Adel had been their classmate, another who had failed the warrior exam like Ryan. But Adel’s older brother, a 3rd rate university student, had become a quasi martial warrior five days ago. Now Adel was trying to suppress Ryan with borrowed power. Ryan had been out on a date with his girlfriend. She wasn’t a top-tier beauty, but she had delicate features and a naturally adorable look. Frightened by Adel’s aggression—especially since she came from a middle-class background—she tugged on Ryan’s sleeve and whispered, "Ryan, please don’t argue. Let’s go somewhere else. Let’s just leave." But Ryan was a man. How could he let himself be humiliated in front of his girlfriend? He shouted, "Adel, don’t go too far! My brother Ethan is also a quasi warrior! Don’t dare threaten me! I’ll call my brother—and then we’ll see what happens!" Adel froze for a second. He had been there when Ethan had crushed the test with 1000 kg force. A flicker of doubt flashed through his eyes—but only for a moment. After a pause, he smirked again. "Hey, brother, you said?" he sneered. "Does Ethan actually think of you as his brother? You two belong to completely different worlds now. Does Ethan even care about you?" Ryan was stunned. Adel’s words struck deep. Before yesterday, they had been on the same level. But now Ethan was like a star in the sky. Would he really still care about someone like him? His childhood best friend? Ryan’s heart ached. He was proud of Ethan’s success—but if Ethan had changed... there was nothing he could say. He simply wasn’t as gifted. From a corner of the shop, Ethan had been listening the whole time. The moment he heard Adel’s mocking words and saw Ryan’s face filled with sorrow, a sharp pain stabbed into Ethan’s chest. Ryan—his childhood brother, his best friend. So what if Ryan can’t become a warrior? Hadn’t I become one? Didn’t I tell him I’d make him my general? Ethan’s eyes turned cold. He stood up, walked over to their table, and declared in a thunderous voice: "Who said Ryan is not my brother? He is not only my brother but also my general. You dare threaten the brother of Ethan Hunt? Are you perhaps tired of living? Maybe I should help your family get rid of some garbage?" The entire coffee shop fell into stunned silence. Ryan froze. He didn’t even turn around—just clenched his jaw as a single tear slipped down his cheek. His eyes turned red, but he wiped the tear away before anyone could see. Then he slowly looked up at Ethan. Adel also turned—and when he saw who it was, his legs almost gave out. His face turned pale. He felt like he was staring into the eyes of a prehistoric beast. Cold sweat drenched his back. "I—Ethan, I didn’t know you were here... Please forgive me." Ethan’s tone was colder than ice. "So if I wasn’t here, my brother would’ve just been insulted by trash like you? How can I forgive you?" He looked at Ryan. "Ryan, what do you want to do with him? Just do it. You don’t have to worry about anything else." Ryan’s blood boiled. His fists clenched with rage. Without hesitation, he kicked Adel squarely in the abdomen. Ryan had always been stronger than Adel—he just didn’t have a powerful backing. But now that Ethan stood behind him, he had no reason to hold back. Adel groaned in pain, gasping for breath. He shouted, "Ethan, don’t go too far! So what if you’ve become a quasi warrior? My brother is one too! If you hurt me, he’ll definitely teach you a lesson!" Ethan sneered with disdain. "Then call your brother and ask him to come and rescue you. You can’t leave now after threatening me." Ryan punched Adel in the face. A tooth flew out from the impact. The girl who had come with Adel screamed for help—but no one in the coffee shop moved. Even the management stayed quiet. They had heard the entire conversation—and they couldn’t afford to offend a future martial warrior, not even a quasi warrior. Ryan kept hitting Adel until he was barely conscious. Adel eventually called his brother. When his brother heard his battered voice, he roared over the phone, "Which bastard dares hurt my little brother?! Just wait if you dare! I’ll be there immediately!" Ethan smirked. A little amusement is always nice. After the beating, Ryan looked at Ethan, wanting to thank him. But Ethan simply said: "It is the king’s duty to protect his subject. And you are my general. Why would I need your thanks?" Then he smiled. Ryan said nothing. Instead, he raised his right hand high into the air amd made a fist and shouted: "When the king calls, this general will come!" Ethan was momentarily stunned by his dramatic, ever-loyal brother. Then he turned to Riya, gave her a warm smile, and said: "Congratulations for finding such a beautiful sister-in-law for me." Riya blushed and lowered her head shyly beside Ryan. Then she bowed and said softly, "Thank you, Ethan." Ethan replied with a grin, "Don’t mention it. He is my brother—and you are my sister-in-law. No need for thanks in the family."