Chapter 1427
All colonel-level officer identification documents were blue, and the covers indicated the exact rank of the officer. After opening the document, more detailed information could be found, including an electronic chip that could be used to verify one's identity.
After Shrek’s Seven Monsters joined the military, all of them had developed very quickly. Compared with everyone else, Xie Xie's development had actually been quite slow, and he had only been able to climb to the lieutenant colonel rank.
The captain's expression instantly stiffened, and he hurriedly opened the document, within which contained the serial number of the legion that Xie Xie was serving at, the department that he belonged to, and his occupation.
He was most definitely a real lieutenant colonel.
In the military hierarchy system, a subordinate had to follow the orders of their superiors. The difference between that system and the political system was that if a lower-ranking officer were to oppose a superior, that superior had the right to punish them, and during times of war, it wouldn't even be going too far to execute a disobedient subordinate.
"Greetings, Superior!" The captain immediately extended a military salute toward Xie Xie without any hesitation.
After recovering his officer identification document, Xie Xie continued, "Firstly, we have the right to use this land as we see fit. Federal law mandates that the private property of the federation's citizens is protected, and no one has the right to take it away. Secondly, all of the workers here have taken extensive protective measures, so safety isn't an issue here. You can go now. If you want to continue this discussion, then get a higher-ranking officer to come and see me. Otherwise, there's no need for you to come back."
He waved a hand as if he were swatting away a fly as he spoke, then returned to work.
The captain was rooted to the spot with a flabbergasted look on his face. He didn't think that he would encounter such a situation, but that man really was a lieutenant colonel, so there was nothing that he could do! If he were to stop the construction work taking place here by force, that man had the right to execute him as punishment for defiance against his superiors!
Furthermore, this captain was well aware of what type of people were reconstructing Shrek Academy. Even if he were to try to stop the construction by force, he would simply be crushed by everyone here! He had come here to instigate a conflict, but everything was different now that there was a superior here. He didn't dare to provoke the situation any further, so he could only scurry away with his tail between his legs.
Xu Xiaoyan looked on at the departing soldiers before giving Xie Xie a thumbs-up. "Nicely done! I didn't think that a clown like you would be capable of saying something so convincing."
Xie Xie's lips twitched upon hearing this. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"You can interpret it that way," Yue Zhengyu interjected.
Everyone was busy at work, and as Shrek’s Seven Monsters, all of them had to participate in the reconstruction process. Tang Wulin was also present in a simple disguise, and he smiled as he said, "This is only the beginning. Let's see what rank the next military official to arrive will be; we'll decide what to do after that."
Xie Xie said, "We're simply marking our territory as stipulated by our certificate of title, so they have no good reason to stop what we're doing here. Having said that, the Spirit Pagoda sure is biding its time; they haven't sent anyone else after you scared away that first group."
Yuanen Yehui chuckled coldly, "It's not that they don't want to intervene, they simply have no reason to do so."
An hour later.
A dozen or so police vehicles arrived once again amid the sound of loud sirens.
On this occasion, it was a lieutenant colonel who emerged out of the first vehicle. This was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his thirties, and he was followed closely by the captain who had arrived on the previous occasion.
"Who's the supervisor here?" the lieutenant colonel asked.
"I am." Yue Zhengyu strode over to them in his Shrek Academy uniform.
"Huh? You're not the same guy from before!" The captain was rather bewildered.
Yue Zhengyu glanced at him, and said, "All you need to know is that I'm the one calling the shots now. Why are you here again? Didn't we already clarify this matter last time?"
The lieutenant colonel said, "Firstly, this is a restricted area. Due to these special circumstances, the federation has the right to intervene for the sake of public safety. Commencing construction work here without a permit is illegal. Secondly, how can you prove that this land belongs to you?"
Yue Zhengyu replied, "We have a certificate of title."
He pulled out the certificate of title in question as he spoke before handing it over to the lieutenant colonel.
This was an antiquated sheepskin certificate of title that was clearly very old, and the lieutenant colonel opened it to find that there was an official stamp on the certificate that was still discernible despite its age.
"This plot of land has always belonged to our Shrek Academy, and we're reconstructing the academy here. We'll gradually resolve the issue of the radiation here over time, so there won't be any issues. This certificate of title should be enough to prove our ownership, right? As for a permit, Shrek Academy has always had full autonomy over its territory, so there's no need to secure approval from the federation. You can go now."
A peculiar smile appeared on the lieutenant colonel's face as he brandished the certificate of title in his hand. "So this is your proof of ownership? How about now?" A burst of flames suddenly erupted out of his hand, instantly incinerating the certificate of title to ashes.
Yue Zhengyu's expression abruptly changed, and all of Shrek Academy's students immediately stopped what they were doing.
In the police vehicles, there were already over 10 cameras aimed at Yue Zhengyu and the others.
They were waiting for Shrek Academy to retaliate so they could make a big deal out of how Shrek Academy was attacking military officials. The conflict would then be escalated so that the military could get involved, thereby delaying or even completely putting a stop to Shrek Academy's reconstruction. This would buy the federation enough time to stamp out this sudden revolution.
As opposed to flaring up with rage, Yue Zhengyu said in an indifferent voice, "Well done, all of your actions here have been recorded and will be held against you. Now then, please show me your officer identification document."
"What right do you have to make me display my officer identification document?" The lieutenant colonel was clearly far wilier than the captain.
"As your superior, I command you to show me your officer identification document." Yue Zhengyu pulled out a small book as he spoke, but the cover of this book had three stars as opposed to two.
He was a colonel!
"Go on, why don't you burn this as well?" Yue Zhengyu urged as he thrust the officer identification document into the lieutenant colonel's hand.
The lieutenant colonel turned to the captain in a dumbstruck manner, as if to ask "Didn't you tell me there was only a lieutenant colonel here? why is there a colonel all of the sudden?"
He opened the officer identification document and quickly determined Yue Zhengyu to be a colonel advisor of the Southern Legion.
He had just burned the certificate of title without any hesitation, but he definitely didn't dare to burn an officer identification document, especially one that belonged to a superior.
"We've recorded everything you just did; you can go now. If you want to continue this matter, get a higher-ranking official to come and see me. Oh, by the way, we'll be sending the footage to some media outlets, so I'm sure you'll be famous soon."
Yue Zhengyu took back his officer identification document as he spoke, then made his way back to the construction site.
The lieutenant colonel was completely rooted to the spot.
He had thought that Yue Zhengyu would attack him, and he had even prepared defensive measures in advance. That was the certificate of title of Shrek Academy! It was an extremely important item, and he had actually been quite uneasy when he had burned it.
However, his superiors had already guaranteed that his safety would be ensured, and a squadron of 100 mechas had arrived not far away and were ready to pounce onto the scene to escalate the conflict at the drop of a hat.
However, never did he think that Yue Zhengyu would merely brush off the issue, leaving him feeling as if he had just punched a bag of cotton.
What could he do? He could only go back for now.
Thus, the police vehicles departed once again with the lieutenant colonel sitting in the first vehicle with tightly furrowed brows.
"What the hell is going on?" A furious voice bellowed from the soul communicator.
A wry smile appeared on the lieutenant colonel's face. "There's nothing I could do, Superior! The supervisor at the construction site was a colonel, and he didn't attack me. On top of that, he told me that he recorded everything I did on film; I'm most likely going to be in a lot of trouble soon."
"He's just bluffing! The media is being controlled entirely by the federation, so you'll be fine. Alright, just come back for now."
The call was cut off, and the lieutenant colonel heaved a resigned sigh. In all honesty, he didn't want to take on this mission, either!
"According to the latest information we've received, Shrek Academy has commenced its reconstruction." The news was being broadcasted on the soul screen in the police vehicle, and the lieutenant colonel's attention was immediately drawn to the screen upon hearing this.
Sure enough, the scenes being depicted on the screen were of the Shrek Academy construction site.