Chapter 1314: Chapter 449: Trusted Aide and Sacrificial Pawn
"Who else could appoint him personally?"
"Isn’t it talking about me?"
At this moment, Major Bernard understood one thing: the pen truly has the power to kill.
The Coast Guard was off the hook, and now all the responsibility had fallen on him.
But he couldn’t understand why the lieutenant general behind him would abandon him so easily.
He was his most trusted subordinate, his confidant!
Just discarded like that!
After downing a mouthful of alcohol, Major Bernard’s eyes were bloodshot.
It was at this moment that the phone on his desk rang.
Major Bernard, as if seeing a life-saving straw, rushed to the phone, hearing Rivers’ voice.
"Major, the general has time to see you now!"
"Good, I’ll be right over, right over!"
Major Bernard’s face lit up with joy; his backer hadn’t abandoned him, he was still important, he could still have a showdown with Donnie. Did he think shoving all the blame onto him would settle things?
He shouldn’t forget that behind him stood the Federal Navy; this time, Donnie Block had offended the wrong people!
Major Bernard almost dashed into the bathroom, quickly showered, shaved off the stubble that had grown over the past two days, and donned his captain’s uniform!
Still, in high spirits, Major Bernard!
Major Bernard arrived at the lieutenant general’s place, where Rivers was waiting at the hallway entrance.
"Mr. Rivers, you must tell the general that I will not let Donnie Block go. His audacity to push all the responsibility onto the great Navy is unforgivable!"
With a slightly ingratiating smile, Major Bernard looked at Rivers.
Rivers returned a polite smile and said, "Major, you know you must hand over your sidearm when meeting the general!"
"Of course!"
Major Bernard immediately handed over his sidearm.
Then he heard laughter coming from the lieutenant general’s office, making him all the happier; it meant the general was in a good mood today.
But as Major Bernard pushed the door open, his eyes widened as if seeing the gates of hell open wide.
The general, Spo, who had instructed him to cover for Donnie Block’s bootlegging business, was now chatting and laughing heartily with Donnie Block. Whatever they were discussing, they both burst into laughter.
At this moment, Major Bernard stood there feeling like a clown.
Donnie reclined on the sofa, resting his chin on his right hand, looking at Major Bernard with great interest, as if watching a clown.
"Bernard, do you know what kind of disgrace you’ve brought to the great and glorious Navy?"
Upon seeing Bernard, General Spo’s laughter vanished, and his smile faded, leaving only discontent.
"General, I..."
At this moment, Bernard was at a loss for words.
"Enough!" General Spo waved his hand dismissively, not intending to let Bernard speak. This time, calling Bernard to his office was only to inform him that to preserve the Navy’s honor, they wanted Bernard to shoulder all the responsibility and voluntarily resign from all his posts!
This decision was unacceptable to Bernard, who shouted, "No, the Florida-class battleship cannot lose me; I am the Florida-class battleship!"
The Florida-class battleship was Bernard’s only card to play, one of the most powerful ships in the Navy.
It was a formidable naval force!
After Bernard spoke, Donnie chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Bernard glared at Donnie with bloodshot eyes. He finally realized why Rivers had taken his sidearm earlier!
It wasn’t about protocol; they feared he might harm Donnie.
"Nothing, I was just thinking, Major Bernard, perhaps you don’t know, Congress has just passed the proposal to decommission the Florida-class battleship, and President Coolidge has already signed it. In August this year, the Florida-class battleship will be officially retired."
"That, that can’t be!"
Major Bernard showed a complex expression, with anger, resentment, disbelief, and fear all alternating on his face.
"Why not? After all, the Florida-class battleship was scheduled for retirement!" Donnie said casually.
Bernard was crushed, finally understanding the feeling of falling from heaven to hell.
This was how he felt now.
"You did all of this!" Bernard stared directly at Donnie and shouted loudly, "What if I refuse?"
Donnie calmly replied, "I remember, Major Bernard, you have a son, currently in middle school, right? Which grade... I forgot, but it’s easy to find out. Also, your wife works at a pencil factory, I believe? And your parents, I remember, have a farm."
With each mention of Major Bernard’s family, his face paled further.