Several days later, in the early morning, a formal complaint quietly circulated within the military headquarters.
It was said that the Male Protection Association had intervened, convening a joint temporary hearing with the military committee.
The pure-white metallic doors of the Empire’s military conference hall thundered open. Three haughty steps echoed, accompanied by an icy presence—none other than the direct-line males of the imperial capital’s noble families: Ivan Loria, Arthur Rhein, and Leo Sieg.
Behind them, an older male in elaborate uniform, chest adorned with gold and crimson double insignia, entered with solemn composure.
He was the Vice President of the Male Protection Association—Frey Antalis, a symbol of male rights in the Empire.
Under the gaze of everyone present, they strode directly to the seats opposite the main podium, brazenly taking the representative seats without hesitation.
Frey sat upright, his voice steady and unyielding, echoing through the cold metal hall:
“During the previous spiritual sea purification operation, General Milton, without the permission of senior males, forcibly employed the spiritual power of three noble males, resulting in their mental damage, emotional imbalance, and physical weakness. This constitutes not only dual assault on body and mind but also an outright violation of male dignity.”
His tone sharpened, icy and cutting:
“We are not questioning the military’s decision-making, but asking—when these males were clearly overloaded and emotionally unbalanced, did this general still disregard their safety, treating male lives as tools? This was not only spiritual violence but the most blatant trampling of male dignity.”
“If an officer cannot even respect basic empathy and boundaries, do they deserve to lead female soldiers in coordination with male troops? Such coldness and arrogance—one cannot help but ask—who will be discarded to the infirmary after their spiritual power is drained next?”
“According to Military Code, Chapter 12, Article 4, this behavior constitutes spiritual assault. The officer should be immediately stripped of rank, reduced to female servitude, and subjected to re-education and reassignment.”
The atmosphere tensed instantly. Officers’ gazes were like blades, quietly whispering among themselves, furious at the noble trio’s accusations. Many female soldiers clenched their fists, and some muttered low curses, yet the solemnity of the meeting suppressed all sound.
Gu Qing furrowed his brow, his expression calm, as if he had anticipated this.
The Heavenly Dao Little Dumpling on his shoulder flared, silver light flickering, frantically leaping and shouting in anger:
“Oi! Last time, those males purified Weli—they used up their spiritual power, sure, but it caused no real harm! This is obviously a deliberate provocation! How dare these bastards bully my General Milton! They’re asking for trouble!”
Gu Qing gently patted it, his tone calm as night, eyes cold:
“Don’t worry. Debts are always settled, one by one.”
If Milton were truly demoted to “female servitude,” he would lose his rank, his abilities sealed, entirely under the control of the Male Protection Association, powerless to resist—that was a ruinous humiliation.
At this moment, the three noble males began unabashedly hurling insults. Their hearts simmered with resentment—last time Milton had forced them to assist in the spiritual sea purification, and now at last, they had the opportunity to humiliate the so-called general. They had even brought Vice President Frey Antalis to back them, promising to help reclaim justice.
Ivan tapped his silver cane against the floor, the crisp sound echoing. “A lowborn female soldier made general? What a joke of the Empire’s military. Whether your achievements are real or not is questionable. Better you serve as a ‘female servant,’ writhing in front of me daily—then you’d finally be useful.”
Leo exhaled smoke from his electronic cigarette, laughing coarsely:
“If you become a female servant, I’ll make sure you learn true obedience and punishment. I’ll have you kneeling in uniform, before everyone, stripping away your dignity piece by piece.”
Arthur stood behind, lips curling into a faint smile, eyes glinting with contempt and dark amusement:
“I’m more… refined. I’d have you kneel at banquets, serving every male guest, offering ‘loyalty’ with your mouth… then clutching me, begging not to be touched by the others.”
The conference hall fell into dead silence.
Gu Qing’s gaze sharpened, eyes like steel slicing across the three, cold and piercing.
The Heavenly Dao Little Dumpling fumed, darting about, muttering:
“These shameless bastards… no decency! Pure filth!”
Milton stood at the eye of the storm, silver-white hair cascading over his shoulders, purple eyes deep and unreadable. He did not roar, did not display anger. He spoke only in a low whisper, colder than ice:
“So… what you fantasize about… is this vile plaything.”
He lifted his eyes, gaze like a blade locking onto Ivan:
“Regrettably, I am Milton Collins, not your toy.”
He stepped forward, silver boots striking the floor like a blade severing resolve:
“If I were to be demoted to a ‘female servant’…”
His voice cut off sharply, lethal intent erupting.
“You wouldn’t even dare to come within a meter of me.”
The pressure in the room plummeted, and killing intent surged like a tidal wave.
Deputy officer Yir slammed his hand on the table, shouting:
“Enough! You lecherous males, fantasizing indoors—what right do you have to question the General’s achievements? Have you seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood at the front?”
The Little Dumpling shouted alongside:
“Yes, yes! Don’t provoke my General Milton! He’s a warrior among warriors!”
Phily’s voice was cold, steady, and commanding:
“Based on investigation and spiritual monitoring records, the spiritual sea purification was medically authorized. No irregularities occurred. You’re just using this as an excuse to humiliate a general who has saved countless soldiers.”
Weli’s gaze was sharp, voice steady but burning with anger:
“It was me whose spiritual sea was collapsing. I was the one rescued. And now you smear General Milton, turning him into an abuser of power?”
Sweeping the hall with his eyes, his voice rising:
“You have no right to take my experience and use it as evidence for your ignorance and malice!”
He stepped closer, nearly shouting:
“General Milton reached out to save me at my weakest—and now you want to strip him of rank, destroy a true protector of the soldiers?”
In that moment, his fury transformed the entire hall’s atmosphere.