After Being Forcibly Marked By My Fiancé’S Best Friend Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A high-speed Nuclear Missile attack on the Lakalā Operations Headquarters meant that the fastest they could repair and receive support would be three months. During this time, they had to remain hidden. The battle with the Imperial Planet was forced into a temporary pause and reorganization until a new batch of Elite Reserve Forces arrived at the front lines, piloting the latest developed Mechs. The remaining elite forces of the Empire finally got a chance to breathe.

…………

In the upper levels of the Star Tower, Lian Xu had just finished the last wave of fighting. Before he could change the sweat-soaked inhibitor patch, he was summoned by an urgent order to the Operations Center Group. The Confidential Document transmitted via Optic Computer stated, “Establish the Highest Administrative Command Center and appoint the Highest Administrative Commander.” All personnel involved in the Lakalā operation were required to attend.

The rudimentary Operations Center Group was barely large enough to accommodate all the surviving members of the operation.

Lian Xu scanned the room.

As far as he knew, about two thousand personnel had participated in the operation, but only just over a hundred people were currently squeezed into the small conference room. Some were even in wheelchairs, pushed in by their comrades to attend the meeting.

After a year of brutal warfare, casualties were heavy. Yet, this only forced Lakalā into scattered hiding; they had not been completely defeated. According to the analysis of the superior Commander, they would return within three months.

That would mean another fierce battle.

But they no longer had elite combat teams, and even their Mechs were…

Were they expected to fight relying on the hundred-odd survivors clinging to life?

“Ahem… don’t say that. You and I were both saved by the Commander. He may be young and spirited, but it’s undeniable that his strength surpasses ours. In fact… he might be the most formidable and wisest soldier the Empire has seen in years.”

The speaker was General Pei, the deputy leader of the Lakalā operation. His contributions in this major battle were immense, and he was likely to be promoted from four-star to five-star.

Although he hadn’t seen him in person, Lian Xu knew the Commander General Pei spoke of. He heard that the Commander single-handedly swept through two of Lakalā’s top elite teams, driving the battered shell of his Mech straight toward the headquarters, rescuing hundreds of captives, forcing Lakalā to flee in panic and send out emergency calls for help. He then launched a high-speed Nuclear Missile at close range, ensuring the complete destruction of the base while keeping himself and the captives unharmed.

Otherwise, they might not have had the chance to come to this conference room for a brief respite.

However, he also heard that after Lakalā was repelled, the Commander executed all those hundreds of captives; not a single one survived. No one knew what happened, and even the Inner Cabinet ministers, upon hearing the news, dared not arrest him for interrogation.

It was well known that the Commander’s actions of harming compatriots severely violated the Star Tower regulations.

“Hmph, if the Emperor wasn’t biased, ten lives wouldn’t be enough for the trouble he caused!” The person standing with General Pei seemed to have quite a few grievances against this Commander.

Lian Xu recalled the Confidential Document again: “Highest Administrative Commander.” He had never heard of such a title before.

With a creak, the conference room door opened.

A young officer, dressed in a white and blue Military Uniform, entered. His Shoulder Insignia was sewn with the Empire’s rarest and most precious gold and silver threads, and two staggered silver chains hung from the bottom of his metal Chest Insignia.

“—A white and blue Military Uniform?”

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at the young man and the two equally young and outstanding male Alphas beside him.

Officers attending meetings were required to wear black Military Uniforms with Shoulder Insignia and Chest Insignia. The highest-ranking officers wore white and gold uniforms, like the two individuals standing on the platform.

The war had just ended, and the Confidential Document was issued suddenly. Those who had just disengaged from combat hadn’t had time to change into proper attire and still looked as they did on the battlefield. This formed a stark contrast with the uniquely dressed officer on the platform.

“Greetings, everyone. I am the Highest Administrative Commander of the Command Center, Shen Zaizhou. I was also the Commander for this Lakalā operation. I presume you have heard of me.”

“—What?!”

“The Commander? What is the Command Center? Does the Empire even have such an operations center? And the Highest Administrative Commander? Is His Majesty planning to establish a new operations center?”

The people below whispered among themselves.

They were officers who had rushed from the battlefield to the conference room. They had only briefly skimmed the instructions on their Optic Computers, and no one had read the Confidential Document carefully. They currently lacked the energy to delve into its contents and were relying on the Commander’s live narration.

Lian Xu had only quickly browsed the document again after entering the conference room.

He looked up at the three people on the platform. The Commander was indeed young, but the powerful aura emanating from him created an invisible pressure and sense of suffocation.

Suddenly—

The Imperial Emperor’s palace appeared on the large screen in the conference room. His Majesty slowly raised his hand, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. In the sunlight, a golden emblem shone brightly, identical to the young man’s Chest Insignia on the platform, except that one was pure gold, while the other was wrapped in a circle of silver.

“Effective immediately, the Empire’s Tower A Command Center will coexist and collaborate with the Tower B Inner Cabinet to secure stability for the Imperial Planet. I hereby appoint Shen Zaizhou as the Highest Administrative Commander, granting him full authority over the Command Center. During the initial formation of the Command Center, Commander Shen Zaizhou will be responsible for assessing and selecting the internal core members.”

“All of you are elites who have endured brutal warfare. I trust that the Commander will select the best candidates from among you officers to become members of the Command Center and jointly resist external enemies.” His Majesty rose and bowed deeply to the crowd. “Thank you for your selfless dedication, which has allowed the Empire to survive until today.”

Everyone hurriedly bowed to express their sincerest greetings to His Majesty.

The screen gradually dimmed. Recovering from His Majesty’s words, everyone finally understood the meaning of the Confidential Document.

His Majesty had established the Command Center, and this new, first-ever Commander named Shen Zaizhou was given full authority over it. The Command Center was located in Tower A, the closest place to His Majesty, showing its importance in the Emperor’s eyes.

Shen Zaizhou announced that the Command Center was officially established immediately. Eight officers would enter the Command Center to manage relevant affairs, with an assessment period of three months.

In other words, these were only initial appointments. Whether they could officially join the Command Center depended on passing the assessment personally designed by the Commander. Furthermore, the official appointment of members would take place five days after the Lakalā operation was completely concluded.

Before the formal appointment, all one hundred-plus elite officers present had the potential to enter the Command Center.

They were not yet clear on what the Command Center truly signified, but they understood that it was personally established by His Majesty, or rather, specifically created for Shen Zaizhou’s position as Highest Administrative Commander.

The Inner Cabinet would no longer hold absolute power; the establishment of the Command Center stripped them of their definitive authority.

From now on, the Inner Cabinet would have to consult with the Command Center before making any decisions.

Lian Xu smiled. The Inner Cabinet’s good days were finally over. Regardless of the Commander’s hidden motives, the establishment of the Command Center he led was an exciting and positive development.

Lian Xu, who was secretly criticizing the Inner Cabinet in his mind, was startled when he heard his name.

“Lian Xu, male Omega, age 22, four-star Lieutenant General. Due to outstanding performance in the Lakalā operation, you are specially appointed as the Head of the Military Operations Group of the Command Center. The assessment period is three months. If there are no objections, please swear an oath to the Commander that you will be absolutely loyal to His Majesty, loyal to the Command Center, strictly abide by the Command Center Officer Regulations, and strictly execute all orders issued by the Commander.” The golden-haired officer, who usually looked somewhat lackadaisical, was serious and cold as the appointment was delivered.

Lian Xu looked up and blinked.

The Confidential Document mentioned the distribution of responsibilities among the core members of the Command Center. Besides the Commander and two Deputy Commanders, there were five smaller groups, each with a main person in charge, or Group Head.

And he was actually appointed as the Head of the Military Operations Group.

The other groups reported to the two Deputy Commanders, but only the Military Operations Group reported directly to Commander Shen Zaizhou.

What an honor this was.

Only an hour had passed since he received the order and rushed to the conference room, and Lian Xu was already appointed as a core internal member of the Command Center.

This was even more unbelievable than being directly promoted from four-star Lieutenant General to five-star General.

Precisely because of this, officers with higher ranks than him did not hide their expressions of disdain.

Lian Xu’s mood fluctuated wildly. One second he was secretly pleased, the next he was crushed by the scrutinizing and contemptuous gazes of the crowd. It was already difficult for an Omega to reach his current status, but now such a young Omega Lieutenant General was to enter a place of such authority as the Command Center.

They began to doubt the quality and intelligence of this Commander.

Yet, the Commander completely ignored the murmurs and the blatant disdain and contempt, stating calmly to Lian Xu, “Lieutenant General Lian Xu, if there are no objections, please proceed with the oath.”

The clear, cold voice awakened the sleeping lamb. That powerful pressure descended again. Lian Xu ignored everything else, instinctively clenched his right fist, placed it over his left chest, and swore the oath.

“I swear that I will be loyal to His Majesty and loyal to the Command Center. Should I commit any act of concealment, disloyalty, or injustice, I will voluntarily remove my Military Uniform and military status, submitting myself to the Imperial Supreme Military Court for disposal. My descendants shall be eternally barred from entering the Star Tower, without complaint!”

After the oath, his heart pounded rapidly. The Commander looked down at Lian Xu from above, his cold gaze suddenly softening slightly, carrying a hint of sympathy and pity.

Only when he looked away did Lian Xu snap back to reality, taking deep breaths to calm himself.

The Commander was clearly so young—his file indicated he was only 19—yet he was more composed than most older officers. He even inadvertently displayed the compassionate gaze of a deity looking upon mortals, making Lian Xu intensely curious about what kind of person the Commander truly was.

Half an hour later.

The appointments concluded, and the meeting came to an end, transitioning into the assessment period.

Lian Xu watched the three Commanders leave in an orderly fashion, feeling as if he were in a dream. He had never imagined that one day he would personally witness the Inner Cabinet’s power being severely curtailed.

He left the conference room and returned to his dormitory to pack his luggage.

Although they were still in the assessment period, those who had been selected would inevitably be exposed to the core operational content of the Command Center. Therefore, Shen Zaizhou had arranged new, independent dormitories for each of them.

Starting today, Lian Xu had to move.

“Where are you going with your things?”

The man emerged from the shower wrapped in a towel. Seeing Lian Xu busy packing, the Alpha, who usually paid no attention to this Omega, suddenly felt irritated and couldn’t help but pry.

Lian Xu’s hands paused abruptly, and he frowned slightly.

He never usually asked about his whereabouts.

“The Commander arranged a new dormitory and requires me to move there.”

“Heh.” Yin Zhuo sneered. So, it was the dog of the newly appointed Command Center. “Don’t forget your identity.”

Lian Xu’s throat tightened at the words. He had never wanted to acknowledge his identity, or rather, Yin Zhuo didn’t dare let anyone know his identity.

“I know,” Lian Xu said.

Yin Zhuo’s veins immediately bulged. He threw the towel aside and abruptly tightened his grip on Lian Xu’s wrist. An Alpha, strong and robust with a terrifyingly high wrist strength value of 18,000, was now forcefully squeezing the wrist of the seemingly frail Omega.

“You know? If you knew, you wouldn’t betray me and turn around to join that damned Commander’s command!”

As the Prime Minister of the Inner Cabinet, Yin Zhuo naturally knew about the establishment of the Command Center earlier than others, but he had never mentioned it.

That was why Lian Xu was completely bewildered standing in the conference room today.

“I didn’t betray you!” Lian Xu retorted, his tone not sounding aggressive. “The Commander personally appointed me. How could I refuse? Besides, it’s only temporary; I need to pass the assessment to formally enter the Command Center.”

Although they called it an assessment, both men knew that the people personally selected by the Commander were almost certain to enter the Command Center. The assessment period was more like a transition.

After all, even when the Commander was only a Commander, he was already intimately familiar with everyone’s combat situation and various abilities.

Lian Xu himself had not seen the Commander on the battlefield, but after the meeting, he heard General Pei say that the operation’s success was due to the Commander overturning the original plan provided by the Inner Cabinet the night before departure and formulating a new plan himself.

All operational plans over the past year were executed according to the Commander’s orders. No one could believe that the final, desperate, short-lived victory was due to a hastily written draft by the Commander. Several experienced Generals had analyzed the discarded Inner Cabinet plan on the battlefield and realized that following the original plan would have led to complete annihilation within six months.

How could he not be convinced by such a decisive and intelligent Commander?

Yin Zhuo, however, laughed coldly, as if he had heard the biggest joke. He knew His Majesty intended to establish a Command Center exclusively led by Shen Zaizhou, but he never expected him to be given such immense power, practically ignoring the Inner Cabinet.

The Inner Cabinet’s power was drastically curtailed. All combat-related domains were reassigned to the Command Center, and even the core manufacturing rights for Mechs were handed over to Shen Zaizhou.

It was hard to tell what His Majesty’s intentions were now.

Yin Zhuo gripped Lian Xu’s wrist, pressing him down, his eyes filled with resentment and fury: “Lian Xu, don’t forget you are my fiancée! Your backing is the entire Inner Cabinet!”