Sun Xin was almost frozen by Lin Ran's words, his body trembling violently.
But immediately, he took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth:
"But these are not reasons for you to injure soldiers and loot military supplies..."
This time, Sun Xin's imposing manner was much weaker, clearly intimidated.
The reason he was still emphasizing these points was obviously to get a handle on Lin Ran that he could use to counter.
Unfortunately, Lin Ran did not fall for his trick at all.
Lin Ran sighed faintly:
"Commander Sun, you have repeatedly accused me of injuring soldiers and looting military supplies. What is your intention?"
"I think it's probably to absolve yourself, right?"
"The area that was originally the easiest to defend, that cluster of armed fortresses like nails, with strong defenses, you voluntarily retreated and abandoned it completely..."
"The long wall, which should have been heavily guarded as the last barrier of Jiang Gu, only had lazy remnants of soldiers..."
"The scale of this beast tide, the ferocity of its impact, even I, an outsider, can deeply feel it, yet you pretend to be unaware..."
"This really makes one suspect if you were deliberately holding back, or unwilling to take responsibility..."
"Or, there is an even more terrifying possibility..."
"You yourself orchestrated all of this, intending to use the foreign races and fierce beasts to slaughter all of Jiang Gu, and then use it as a springboard for your treason!"
"Hmm? Commander Sun, is there anything I've said that's wrong?"
Sun Xin was so angered by Lin Ran that he almost couldn't breathe:
"You you you you you..."
"Slander! You are slandering me!"
"My loyalty to Long Guo is as clear as the sun and moon, my heart is loyal and true! How can I be slandered by a scoundrel like you?"
Lin Ran narrowed his eyes, revealing a terrifying killing intent:
"As clear as the sun and moon? Loyal and true heart?"
"So you abandoned the entire defense line of the long wall?"
"Do you know that once the long wall is breached, how many citizens in Jiang Gu city, which has no other defenses, will suffer immensely? How many families will be displaced and separated from their loved ones?"
"If I hadn't rushed here with my household guards, the long wall wouldn't have held for even ten minutes?"
"And the soldiers stationed here not only didn't intend to prepare for battle, but they also prohibited my household guards from using local military supplies..."
"Could it be that they intended to let these military supplies rot, or to aid the foreign army that would arrive later?"
"Or did they intend for my personal guards to fight with bare hands?"
"I believe that whatever your and their purposes, these are heinous acts of beasts, unforgivable!"
"Even killing you would hardly atone for the sins you have brought!"
Hearing Lin Ran speak, the onlookers, who had been watching, couldn't hold back any longer.
Especially the local residents of Jiang Gu, their indignation was immense.
"Fuck him! Sun Xin, this son of a bitch, is truly a scumbag!"
"Exactly! Fortunately, we have Ran Shen in Jiang Gu now, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"What's the point of keeping this kind of person, just kill him to vent our anger!"
"Absolutely! Killing this bastard a thousand times wouldn't be enough!"
"Heh, people who abandon the common folk, why keep them? Execute them directly!"
"Yes! And all of this old bastard's property should be confiscated and used to compensate Ran Shen for his losses!"
"Alas, Long Guo has too many such parasites, which is why its development is hindered..."
"Those who only know how to leech and betray national interests should be eradicated!"
"..."
On the scene, Sun Xin's old face had turned a bruised red, his fists almost crushing the hilt of the knife in his hand:
"Sins... unforgivable?"
"Ju... just you? A mere lieutenant colonel?"
Lin Ran smiled gently and with a swish, pulled out a token from his waist pouch:
"Open your dog eyes and take a good look at who I am!"
Sun Xin, who was about to curse again, seemed to have seen something extremely terrifying in that fleeting glance.
This dark token, how could it look so much like the Xuanlong Token unique to the Supreme Council?
Reacting swiftly, he turned ashen, prostrated himself on the ground trembling, his mind completely blank and utterly at a loss.
Everything that happened today felt so absurd, making Sun Xin feel as if he were trapped in a terrifying nightmare.
Lin Ran smiled, sweeping his cold gaze over the rows of soldiers behind.
This move was also part of his well-laid plans.
To better achieve his various plans, revealing his identity with the Xuanlong Token in public seemed highly necessary.
Although he and Tristan had agreed to keep this identity hidden to secretly infiltrate powerful families, that wasn't in Lin Ran's best interest.
Lin Ran was a person who suspected everything, and he didn't fully trust even the Supreme Council.
Who knew if he would end up like a dog cooked after serving its purpose if he diligently worked for the Supreme Council?
To avoid being so easily manipulated, he had to accumulate enough strength.
The unveiling of this Xuanlong Token was a crucial step in Lin Ran's plan...
First, he would find a golden signboard for himself and force the Supreme Council onto the same chariot!
If you don't want to be plotted against by others, you must plot against others first!
And this ignorant Sun Xin had just provided the drowsy Lin Ran with a perfect pillow, truly comfortable!
Amaterasu!
"Let them be as clear as the sun and moon, with loyal hearts... Bah! I'm burning scum like you!"
Lin Ran, without hesitation, unleashed Amaterasu, directly turning the dignified Commander Sun into a flaming human.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"Rebellion! Rebellion! Attack! Attack!"
Sun Xin screamed, his consciousness already blurring.
But the soldiers under him didn't move at all.
It was a joke! The opposing troops were all genuine awakened individuals! There was no chance of victory if they fought.
The only reason they could hold on with Sun Xin at first was due to Sun Xin's formidable status as a commander.
But they never expected Lin Ran to be so incredibly formidable, even producing the Supreme Council's Xuanlong Token...
With no favorable conditions, who would dare to provoke Lin Ran's bad luck?
Thus, they watched as Sun Xin perished in the fierce black flames.
Sun Xin himself was merely a third-tier awakened individual, so he was naturally unable to withstand Lin Ran's Amaterasu.
Having just killed a commander, Lin Ran didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt or nervousness, and immediately issued his next command:
"Take down those mutinous soldiers! Disarm them!"
"Anyone who dares to resist will be treated the same as Sun Xin, and executed on the spot!"
"Now is the perfect time to capture accomplices, don't let a single one escape!"
As Lin Ran spoke, he walked to Sun Xin's remains, activated his Eternal Kaleidoscope, and seized Sun Xin's soul memories.