Zhang Donglai pushed open the door, gave Gandalf a look, and walked in first.

Zhou Huai followed him into the office.

The room's decor was unexpectedly simple.

There were no luxurious decorations, nor a dazzling array of collectibles.

There was only a large office desk, a few guest sofas, and a whole wall of bookshelves.

The bookshelves were filled with various military classics and historical documents.

Behind the desk sat a thin, old man.

He wore a gray Zhongshan suit without any military insignia, his hair was already white, and his face was covered with the ravages of time.

He didn't look like a Marshal standing at the top of the Great Xia Military Department at all.

He looked more like an ordinary grandfather next door.

But the moment Zhou Huai's gaze met his, his heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

What kind of eyes were those?

Calm and profound, as if containing a vast starry sky.

Yet, they were as sharp as an eagle's, as if they could pierce through all the illusions in the world.

Zhou Huai felt that every one of his thoughts seemed to have nowhere to hide under the gaze of those eyes.

"Marshal!"

Zhang Donglai walked to the desk, clicked his heels together, and gave a standard military salute, his voice ringing out.

Zhao Qingcang slowly raised his head, his sharp eyes falling on Gandalf.

He didn't speak, just quietly observed.

Zhou Huai could feel an invisible pressure, like a mountain, enveloping him.

It wasn't a deliberately released Aura, but a natural coercion formed after years of holding a high position and wielding the power of life and death.

Zhang Donglai stood by, fine beads of sweat already seeping from his forehead, not daring to even breathe.

It was his first time seeing the Marshal scrutinize a young man in such a way.

Just as Zhou Huai felt his breathing about to stop, the mountain-like pressure quietly dissipated.

Zhao Qingcang's face showed a gentle smile.

He beckoned.

"You are Gandalf, aren't you?"

"Sit."

His voice was hoarse but full of warmth.

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf to sit calmly on the sofa, but his heart was far from as calm as he appeared.

The pressure this Great Xia Military God gave him was even greater than when he faced the Lord of Senluo, Lin Zhu, back then.

"Marshal, this is Student Gandalf."

Zhang Donglai quickly introduced.

Zhou Huai also controlled Gandalf, bowing slightly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"Student Gandalf greets Marshal Zhao."

Zhao Qingcang rose from his office chair and slowly walked in front of Gandalf.

He didn't speak, just walked around Gandalf once, looking him up and down.

His gaze seemed to penetrate flesh and see bones.

After a moment, he nodded, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Hmm, not bad."

"Tall and upright, with clear eyes. He's a handsome young man."

He patted Gandalf's shoulder, signaling for the two of them to sit on the sofa.

"Please sit, no need to be so formal with me."

After the three of them were seated, Zhao Qingcang personally poured tea for the two of them before slowly speaking.

"I am not one to beat around the bush."

"I called you here this time, first, because I wanted to meet you."

He picked up his teacup, his gaze gently fixed on Gandalf.

"To see what kind of young man could earn such high praise from that kid Changfeng."

"I've had this intention ever since you arrived in the Imperial Capital, but various matters kept delaying it until now."

He paused, then changed the subject, his eyes becoming serious.

"Second, I want to talk to you about your enlistment."

"Although Donglai has brought you to the Imperial Capital, theoretically, you are not yet a member of our Military Department."

He looked into Gandalf's eyes, asking clearly, word by word.

"So, I am now formally asking you."

"Student Gandalf, are you willing to join our Great Xia Military Department?"

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf without the slightest hesitation.

He slowly stood up, his face solemn as never before.

"Since I was willing to follow General Zhang to the Imperial Capital, I believe you, Marshal, should understand my meaning."

After speaking.

He clicked his heels together, stood ramrod straight, and gave Zhao Qingcang an impeccably standard military salute.

Every movement was full of power.

"I, Gandalf!"

"Am willing to join the Great Xia Military Department!"

"To protect Great Xia, I will not shrink from a myriad deaths!"

A resounding voice echoed in the office.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhao Qingcang looked at the young man before him, his deep eyes filled with undisguised admiration and joy.

The wrinkles on his face crinkled into a chrysanthemum-like smile.

He also stood up, extending his hand and shaking Gandalf's hand firmly.

"Then, on behalf of the Great Xia Military Department, I welcome your official joining!"

Zhang Donglai, standing beside them, let out a long sigh of relief, a brilliant smile spreading across his face.

This unpolished jade had finally been truly taken into their Military Department's possession.

"Marshal."

Gandalf lowered his hand, his expression returning to calm.

"What enlistment procedures do I need to complete?"

"Procedures?"

Zhao Qingcang heard this and waved his hand with a smile.

"You don't need to worry about those formalities."

He sat back on the sofa, speaking unhurriedly.

"Due to the tight schedule, your enlistment and commissioning ceremony will be grandly held after you return from Castlantis."

"Commissioning?"

Zhou Huai's eyebrows subtly twitched.

He had just joined the Military Department and hadn't even been a soldier for a day, so why was he being commissioned?

Zhao Qingcang saw his confusion, nodded, and explained.

"You turned the tide at the National Examination, saving so many students; this in itself is an immense Merit."

"Furthermore, this time, you are also representing our Great Xia Country to compete for that Divine Artifact that concerns ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the fate of the nation."

He looked at Gandalf, his voice becoming steady and powerful.

"Therefore, after unanimous discussion among our Military Department's high-ranking officials, we have decided to exceptionally grant you..."

"The rank of Colonel!"

"What?!"

Zhang Donglai, standing nearby, almost had his eyeballs pop out of their sockets when he heard this.

Back then, it took him almost ten years to climb from a common soldier to the rank of Colonel!

Zhou Huai's heart was also stirred by no small amount of turbulence.

He knew the Military Department valued him, but he never expected them to value him to such an extent.

However, that wasn't all.

Zhao Qingcang's next words directly petrified Zhang Donglai on the spot.

He just heard him unhurriedly drop another bombshell.

"This is just an appetizer."

He looked at Gandalf, his deep eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"If you can successfully bring the pendulum of life back from the ruins."

"Then congratulations."

"You will become the youngest One-Star Major General in the history of our Great Xia Country!"

Boom!

Zhang Donglai's brain buzzed and completely crashed.

He gaped, staring blankly at Zhao Qingcang, then at Gandalf, feeling his worldview completely overturned at that moment.

One must know that a General in Great Xia Country not only depended on talent and military achievements.

More importantly, it was about accumulating seniority.

From One-Star Major General, to Two-Star Lieutenant General, then Three-Star General, Four-Star Grand General.

Finally, there was the unique Five-Star Marshal before him.

He, Zhang Donglai, had fought on battlefields for decades, achieving illustrious military exploits.

Even now, he was merely a Two-Star Lieutenant General.

This kid, on the other hand, was ascending to heaven in one step!

Zhou Huai was also greatly shaken by this news.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and bowed to Zhao Qingcang again.

"Thank you, Marshal, and the Military Department for the promotion."

"This Junior will certainly do his utmost and not disgrace the mission!"

"Hmm."

Zhao Qingcang nodded with satisfaction, the smile on his face gradually receding, his expression becoming serious.

"Sit down."

"Next, I need to tell you some important points regarding this ruin exploration."

He tapped his finger lightly on the tabletop, making a "knock-knock" sound.

"This ruin exploration is extremely dangerous."

"Not only will you have to deal with the unknown exotic beasts in the ruins."

"The main threat still comes from the powerhouses of other countries."

His gaze sharpened.

"Although many countries are participating in this exploration, only three truly pose a threat to us."

"The Free Federation, Sakura Country, and Kimchi Country."

"These three countries have always been in cahoots."

"Sakura Country and Kimchi Country are even the two most loyal running dogs of the Free Federation."

"I can assert that once their three countries' teams enter the ruins, they will inevitably join forces and immediately target us."

Zhou Huai listened quietly, without interrupting.

Zhao Qingcang continued.

"However, you don't need to worry too much."

"Before departure, we have already reached a secret alliance agreement with the Great Bear Country and Ancient Egypt."

"After entering the ruins, you can try to rendezvous with them and act together."

He changed the subject, his voice turning cold.

"But, I also need to remind you of one thing."

"So-called allies, in the face of huge interests, can turn into enemies who stab you in the back at any time."

His deep eyes stared intently at Gandalf.

"So you must remember."

"In that ruin, apart from our own people from Great Xia Country."

"No one else can be completely trusted!"