“You’re saying he pulled your pants down?”

  “Stop crying! Give me details. What else did he do to you?”

  “Using his fingers? Where exactly was he digging?”

  “What’s the man’s name?”

  “An-what? Andreev? Piece of shit. What a classic Northern Socialist name.”

  Madam Sweet had a lollipop in her mouth, tilting her head to wedge the phone between her cheek and shoulder. She absentmindedly wrote the name Antonio on a notepad, then crossed it out and scribbled Andreev next to it.

  As long as it wasn't Antonio molesting female soldiers, she didn't give a damn who did it.

  But if Antonio ever dared to try, she’d make sure he ate a bullet.

  In this military camp, Madam Sweet and her five members of the NSA Supervisory Investigation Division were outsiders. Not only did they not report to the First Military District, but they were also the "nails" planted there by the President himself.

  The so-called "supervision" was to prevent the First Military District from rebelling.

  Her power was immense. If Commander Bernardo ever dared to rape a male soldier, Madam Sweet could report him directly to the President. And she had actually done that before.

  That was why Bernardo always steered clear of her.

  As for anyone else—man or woman—who dared to mess with her drop-dead gorgeous husband, they’d have to see if Madam Sweet’s bullets were faster than their lust.

  Uh, husband?

  Actually, Antonio was just her ex-husband.

  Thinking of this, Madam Sweet felt a bit angry. So what if he’s my ex-husband? I’m still going to mind his business!

  Watching Mimi walk away, her "chest muscles" bouncing and her hips swaying side to side, Madam Sweet got even angrier.

  It was this vixen who tried to hit on her husband every single day.

  “Madam, I’m here to report for duty. I’ll be working here for a week.”

  “Oh?” Madam Sweet’s lips curled.

  What could a slut do here? Seduce her three male and two female subordinates? They were all married.

  Besides, this office didn't need a slut serving tea and water every day!

  What the hell was Antonio up to?

  “So, you fell into my hands, huh? Nice face, but your body is a bit... exaggerated. I’m almost forty, and even I’m not as busty as you.”

  Madam Sweet grabbed Mimi’s chin with one hand, inspecting her like a piece of meat. Mimi felt like dying right then and there.

  The woman in front of her looked ordinary. Even with light makeup, she wasn't beautiful—at best, she just wasn't ugly.

  Was this her peak even when she was young? Was Antonio blind back then? To marry this woman?

  Mimi had done her homework on Madam Sweet. Thirty-eight years old, four children, one deceased...

  She ate sweets all day long, yet somehow stayed thin.

  Thinking about the dead child, a wicked thought crossed Mimi’s mind. If I find someone to bring up that dead kid one day, wouldn't it drive her insane?

  Of course, Mimi wouldn't dare mention it herself. She didn't want to take one of the Madam’s bullets.

  “Spit it out. What did you do wrong to get punished and sent here?”

  Madam Sweet hung up the phone and stood in front of Mimi with her arms crossed, looking ready to throw a punch if she didn't get a good answer.

  “Uh... I... I wasn’t punished...”

  "Slap!" Madam Sweet really gave Mimi a slap. It wasn't very hard; she only wanted the effect of humiliating her and breaking her.

  Mimi had heard of this woman’s methods, but this was the first time she had felt them.

  She really hits people!

  Seeing Mimi stay silent, Madam Sweet opened her desk drawer. This time, she pulled out a leather whip.

  Mimi: “...”

  “Wait! I’ll talk, I’ll talk...” Mimi gasped. “I just went into his office and answered a phone call... no, dozens of calls... all from people wanting to interview him.”

  Madam Sweet’s face clouded with jealousy. “Be specific. Were there any women calling him?”

  Mimi’s eyes lit up. She had found Madam Sweet’s weakness.

  “Yes! Yes! One call was from a lady who called herself Lady Vivienne. She said she wanted to meet Commander Antonio tonight.”

  Mimi secretly added the word "tonight" herself.

  “I think they have a relationship. An improper one! And it’s happened more than once.”

  “Pfft!” Madam Sweet laughed in spite of her anger.

  Vivienne hated Leo to the bone, and by extension, she hated every man associated with him. How could they have an affair?

  But Madam Sweet wouldn't share such secrets with Mimi. A busty, brainless fool didn't deserve to know more.

  “So, did he really say you’re only transferred here for a week?”

  Mimi nodded quickly. “Yes, exactly. He said one week. If you don't believe me, you can ask him, or ask Ber—”

  “Ask Commander Bernardo, right?” Madam Sweet finished the sentence for her.

  Bernardo craved her husband’s body and was using Mimi to test him. Did Mimi think Madam Sweet wouldn't know that?

  Mimi’s face turned beet red. This was supposed to be a secret.

  “Fine...” Madam Sweet twirled her half-eaten lollipop. “Starting tomorrow, you must be here on time. One minute late equals one lash of the whip. You’re responsible for sweeping the floors, organizing files, and cleaning the toilets.”

  “What?” Mimi’s eyes widened.

  She thought the worst-case scenario would be serving tea or getting bullied.

  Cleaning toilets?

  Crack! Madam Sweet snapped the whip against the corner of the desk. “You planning to disobey an order?”

  Mimi jumped, her shoulders trembling.

  Her face went pale as she quickly saluted: “Yes, Commander!”

  Madam Sweet didn't even return the salute. She just gave a crooked, mocking smile. “Tch. We don't do that crap here.”

  ...

  Antonio had Dante wait outside with the guards while he walked alone into the dark, damp underground tunnel.

  This was the military district’s secret interrogation center, which also served as a prison.

  After turning a corner, at the very end of the tunnel, Antonio found Ramon in a tiny cell less than ten square meters. He was sitting on a wooden bed, staring down at his fingers as if counting them.

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  Ramon looked up at Antonio, then looked right through him like he was invisible, returning to his finger-counting.

  Antonio leaned against the doorframe, not daring to step closer.

  The place reeked of urine. The tiny cell had its own open toilet—a exposed pit covered in swarming flies.

  Combined with the trapped scent of human sweat, the air was suffocating.

  To be honest, staying here for even a minute was torture.

  Yet Ramon sat there with an air of unbothered ease. Even though his uniform had been stripped and he was only wearing trousers and a shirt, he still maintained the pride and aura of an officer.

  At this moment, Antonio finally thought of that girl, Tatiana. She was youthful and vibrant. Just like her brother, she was clearly the type with overflowing vitality.

  The Ramon before him was just like his children. Even locked in this filthy, stinking hole, he still seemed vigorous.

  The faces of the father and his two children were very similar.

  Thick hair, a slightly square face that wasn't too harsh, with rounded edges at the cheekbones and a well-proportioned head.

  Someone like Tatiana, with a bit of makeup and her shoulder-length hair neatly styled, would stand out in a crowd. She wasn't the "pretty at first glance" type, but rather the type that got more beautiful the more you looked at her.

  The curves of her chest and hips were soft, but not a burden like Mimi’s. Instead, she looked like a gazelle ready to bolt.

  That girl was truly special. The more he looked at her, the more he liked what he saw.

  Antonio spent a long time thinking about Tatiana.

  Her brother Domenic was the same. Tall, long-legged, thick-haired. Ordinary at a glance, but a male model if you looked twice.

  Ramon was a bit shorter than Antonio, but he also had thick, jet-black hair and thick, dark stubble. His muscle lines were powerful, and his body was well-maintained.

  Despite being fifty-one, he didn't look it at all.

  Antonio made a bold judgment: Bernardo would soon come for this man. A good-looking man who didn't take well to being tamed—falling into Bernardo’s hands...

  It was exactly like Mimi falling into Madam Sweet’s hands.

  He could be ravaged however Bernardo pleased.

  The difference was, Bernardo liked men. If a face that only gets better the more you look at it is dangled in front of his eyes every day, what would happen?

  Ramon didn't know what Antonio was thinking, but he figured that spacing out at his cell door for ten minutes meant he wanted something.

  “Are you here to laugh at me? If you’ve laughed enough, go back.”

  “Did I laugh?” Antonio forced a small smile.

  Ramon grew impatient. “What the hell do you want?”

  “Nothing much, heh.”

  Ramon stared at Antonio, his brow furrowed deep.

  “Then what are those screams in the distance? Protests?”

  Antonio paced a few steps at the door. Instead of answering, he asked, “Why don't you beg me to save you?”

  “Heh, you save me? I’m lucky if you don't trample me further.”

  “Besides, you’re just a Deputy Division Commander. How can you save me? You’d better think about how to save yourself. If I tell Bernardo you visited me today...”

  “I’m afraid by the time you see him, you won't even have a chance to speak,” Antonio answered with a hint of genuine worry.

  His concern didn't look faked.

  Ramon’s brow furrowed even deeper. He couldn't read Antonio.

  “You definitely came here for a reason. Want to trade info? Want to take down that old pervert? I saw through you long ago—you’re just selling your body to please him.”

  “I saw Tatiana and Domenic yesterday,” Antonio said. “Your daughter was wearing a light blue lace collar shirt with a peach blossom charm on her left wrist. Her hair was finely layered, truly beautiful.”

  “And your son, such a big guy still wearing white-soled athletic shoes like a kid. You must spoil him a lot, right?”

  “Anything else?” Ramon turned his head away angrily.

  Antonio was indeed describing his children. That was exactly how they dressed.

  But what was the goal?

  Using his children to blackmail him?

  “Nothing else. They begged me to save you.”

  “Begged you to save me?” Ramon let out a cold laugh. He didn't believe it for a second. “Did their mother not stop them? How could she not stop them from seeking help from an enemy? Or are you lying?”

  “How would I know? I didn't even see your wife.”

  Ramon: “...”

  "If you don't want to beg me, I'm leaving," Antonio smiled. "And also, I don't know when I gave you the impression that we are enemies. I don't think I've ever publicly opposed you on anything, right? We don't even report to each other."

  Ramon remained silent.

  Antonio was right. They had never targeted each other, but because everyone around them said they were rivals, they lived in a constant state of competition.

  Deep down, it was probably about the Division Commander position. The President loathed Bernardo, and if the Defense Minister was ever replaced...

  Seeing that Ramon wouldn't speak, Antonio turned to leave.

  “Wait!”

  “Oh?” On the third step, Antonio turned back.

  “If you save me, what are your conditions? And how exactly can you save me?”

  Looking at this man who was in grave danger yet totally oblivious—still thinking Ricardo or the President would risk their lives to protect him just to keep the First Military Division out of enemy hands—Antonio didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

  "No begging, no saving. It’s impossible."

  Antonio turned and walked away for real this time. Ramon didn't call out again.

  In that case, let this man experience something a bit more cruel first, Antonio thought as he walked.

  Walking out of the cave, Antonio saw Dante holding a wet towel. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, Dante crouched down to wipe the mud off Antonio’s boots.

  “You don't need to do this for me. Sigh...”

  Antonio let out a long sigh.