Chapter 1185: Breakfast Conflict

Alan also put down his cutlery.

"Darian, Corporal Kolan saved my life in the prisoner-of-war camp. If not for him, I would be a corpse right now."

He stood up, meeting Darian's gaze at eye level.

"According to family tradition, a life-saving grace should be met with the highest courtesy. I invited him to dine in the family restaurant as my guest; this is the most basic respect. And you..."

Alan's three eyes took turns staring at Darian.

"Are you questioning family tradition?"

Darian's expression turned ugly, and he shrieked.

"Tradition? Honor? An officer who escaped from the enemy, a traitor who might have been brainwashed or even turned, deserves to talk about honor? Who knows what you experienced among the Human? Who knows if this 'life-saving benefactor' isn't a spy the Human planted by your side?"

Publicly accusing a family member of treason, even for a direct bloodline, was an extremely dangerous act.

Karl finally spoke.

"Darian, that's enough."

But Darian was already Out of Control.

"I heard the Xiuluo Saint was very 'good' to you, Cousin Alan."

He said mockingly.

"Giving you treatment, giving you food, and even letting you participate in their 'cultural activities.' Maybe you've already converted to that Xiuluo Saint's bullshit Emperor and came back to be their inside man!"

A sound of gasping echoed in the restaurant.

Lina stood up.

"Darian, do you know what you are saying?"

"Of course I know!"

Darian turned to her.

"Cousin Lina, you should be careful too. This 'Adjutant' your brother brought back might just be an assassin for the Xiuluo Saint, ready to slit our throats at any moment!"

His gaze returned to Yingzhou, filled with malice.

"Look at him, a common low-ranking soldier, how does he deserve such trust from Alan? Unless there is something unspeakable between them..."

Darian's words came to an abrupt halt.

One second Alan was still standing by the table, the next he had reached Darian.

Holding the dinner knife used to cut protein blocks, the knife pierced Darian's left thigh, avoiding the main artery but reaching deep into the muscle.

Darian let out a scream, falling backward and knocking over a chair.

The restaurant was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned, including Karl and Lina.

No one expected Alan to act directly, and even less expected the movement to be so clean and swift.

Alan stood where he was, his expression still calm, his three eyes scanning everyone present in turn.

"Cousin Darian, what you just insulted was not only my Adjutant, but also a guest of the Saladin Family.

What you questioned was not only my Loyalty, but the way of hospitality passed down through generations of the family."

He walked toward Darian, who had fallen to the ground, and looked down at him.

"According to Family Law Article 7: Those who insult a family guest without cause shall receive twenty strokes of the cane. According to Military Law Article 9: Those who accuse a colleague of treason without evidence shall receive thirty lashes and be stripped of their military rank."

Alan raised his head and looked at Karl.

"Uncle Karl, you are the Enforcement Elder of the family council. May I ask, how should Cousin Darian's behavior be dealt with?"

Karl's face sank.

He put down his Data Pad and slowly stood up.

"Darian, apologize to Corporal Kolan."

"What?!"

Darian clutched his bleeding leg, unable to believe it.

"He attacked me! He stabbed me with a knife! You should arrest him!"

"I saw the whole process."

Karl said.

"You were the one who insulted the guest first, the one who made groundless accusations first. Alan's behavior... although excessive, was in defense of the Saladin Family's face. Now, apologize."

Darian looked at the other family members, hoping for support.

But everyone avoided his gaze.

Even the few young members who were usually on good terms with him lowered their heads and pretended to eat.

"I... I won't!"

Darian roared.

"I am a direct bloodline! This collateral bastard dares to hurt me, I will make him pay!"

"Darian Saladin."

Karl's voice became dangerous.

"You are a direct bloodline, you should set an example even more. Now, I order you in my capacity as Enforcement Elder: apologize to Corporal Kolan Weike. Otherwise, I will initiate the Family Trial procedure."

Family Trial.

That meant a public hearing, presentation of evidence, and possible outcomes including the deprivation of family privileges, confiscation of property, and even expulsion from the family.

Darian's face turned from purple to pale.

He finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

Darian struggled to sit up and looked at Yingzhou.

That "low-ranking soldier" was looking at him calmly, with neither anger nor triumph on his face.

"I... I'm sorry."

Dalian squeezed these words out through his teeth.

Karl said with displeasure.

"Louder. Let everyone hear you."

"I'm sorry!"

Dalian roared, his eyes filled with humiliation.

"I shouldn't have insulted you! I'm a bastard! Are you satisfied now?!"

Karl looked toward Yingzhou.

"Corporal Kelan, do you accept this apology?"

Yingzhou bowed slightly.

"I accept, Excellency. I understand that Young Master Dalian was merely acting on impulse."

Karl nodded and said to Dalian.

"Very well. Now, the medical team will take you to treat your wounds. For the next three days, you are confined to your room to reflect on your behavior."

Two guards stepped forward and helped Dalian up.

The medical officer also arrived and began to treat the wound on his leg.

As Dalian was carried out of the dining hall, he looked back one last time, casting a resentful glance at Alan.

The dining hall doors closed.

Silence lasted for over ten seconds.

Then, Alan turned toward Yingzhou and bowed slightly.

"Kelan, I apologize for putting you through this. As your superior and the one who invited you, it is my dereliction of duty that I failed to protect you well."

"No, Major, you have already done very well."

Karl sat back down and sighed.

"Alan, you were too impulsive. Dalian is, after all, of the direct line..."

"It is precisely because he is of the direct line that he should follow the rules even more."

Alan interrupted him.

"Uncle, the reason our Saladin Family has been able to continue until now is not because of noble blood, but because of discipline and honor. If even direct-line members can insult guests at will and make baseless accusations, then the family is not far from collapse."

Karl was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"You are right. But Dalian will not let this go. His mother, your aunt, has influence in the council. She will cause trouble for you."

"Let her come."

Alan sat back down and continued his meal.

"My conscience is clear."

Breakfast continued in a subtle atmosphere.

But the way everyone looked at Alan had changed.

Lina walked to Alan's side and whispered.

"Brother, you were... too reckless just now."

"It was necessary."

Alan replied in the same low voice.

"I must establish authority. Let the people of the family know that we have not lost our backbone."

"We?"

Alan looked toward Yingzhou.

"Kelan and I. We are one now. To insult him is to insult me; to attack him is to attack me."

Lina looked deeply at Yingzhou, then nodded.

"I understand. I will support you both."