Nash mustered whatever strength he could and raised his head to look at Ron and the moment he did, his eyes met the same impassive gaze.
But rather than being scared, Nash... He felt excited. His hazel eyes seemed to have joy in them as the grin on his face became even more wide.
Ron, who was watching all this while still sitting on his chair, just sighed inside his mind.
'Sigh, he's the same is ever.'
He thought inside in his mind.
'Just why's he like this.... Did he like getting bullied?'
If there is one individual Ron had never understood throughout his life, then it would undoubtedly be Nash.
He just can't seem to wrap his mind around just what goes inside the head of the boy.
'Well, whatever.'
He thought as he didn't think about the topic any longer. It will only cause him more headache.
He moved his head towards Nash who was still on the ground.
'He isn't really resisting much'
Ron thought to himself. Had Nash tried to resist his pressure too much, it won't be this easy for him to subdue Nash like this.
He once again wasn't able to understand what the guy actually want to do.
He opened his mouth to speak.
"You haven't given the answer to my question yet, General Nash."
Ron spoke with a cold voice and at the same time, lifted the pressure up a bit to allow Nash to speak.
'That's good. I like the way Ron handle brats.'
Ryuto thought as he inwardly gave a nod to Ron's actions. No one spoke out anything, but they were all rather satisfied by the way this was playing out. Even Kenny had a smile on his face.
At this point, the smirk on Nash face faded, and in the next moment...
/Bam/
He slammed his forehead on the ground.
"I am sorry Marshall. I have overstepped my limits. Please forgive me for my actios... "
He apologized.
He didn't wait for Ron to say anything. Raising his head from the ground, he moved it through the room.
"I am sorry everyone. I shouldn't have said what I did. Please, I am one of the younger members here. Please, forgive me for my rude actions."
He apologized again to everyone present with utmost sincereity.
Everyone, including Ron, just stood there with stupefied look on their faces.
'Just where did the switch in personality came from?'
All of them wondered. They were aware of his personality, but no matter how many times they see it, they were never able to get used to it.
Ron had a complicated look on his face as he watched the event unfold.
'Maybe that smirk is some kind of inherent malfunction he had in his system... '
He thought as he lifted the pressure from Nash and took it back.
"Thank you." Nash said politely as he stood up.... with the same smirk on his face.
It had already returned.
Everyone didn't bother to even be annoyed anymore as they let it pass.
They took their seats once again as Ron spoke to Nash.
"Nash, I have been going easy on you because a General is a valuable resource I don't want to lose and because you still haven't crossed the boundary line but remember, there's a limit to my patience."
He continued with a cold tone.
"Don't take my kindness for weakness."
He was absolutely serious as he said those words.
"Yes, Marshall"
Nash replied with a low tone, his smirk was still there but a subtle one this time.
Ron spoke again, his tone was still cold but it has a certain calmness to it this time.
"If you are so displeased with the other Generals, go ahead. No one is stopping you. Complete all the missions and tasks yourself."
"And of course, in case you managed to achieve it, you will be rewarded accordingly."
"You're close to reaching the Marshall Rank, right? The day you reach it and complete all the aforementioned duties... "
He paused for a moment and said with complete seriousness.
"The position of Leader will belong to you."
Ron spoke with calmness.
Everyone widened their eyes a bit at Ron's words.
He continued.
"It's only natural that the most competent and worthy person became the Leader."
"When the time comes, there would be no need for you to defeat me. I will hand it over to you as it is in front of everyone."
He said.
Everyone's pupils dilated at those words.
Ryuto and Ria immediately stood up to spoke. "Ron, what are you saying? There's no need for you to do that."
"That's right. There's no need for anyone to prove anything. You don't need to entertain Nash's rambl- "
"Ryuto, Ria"
Ron interrupted their words.
"Let's say, in case, Nash managed to attain the Marshall rank and also found solutions to all of our mentioned problems, won't it mean that he's indeed more suited to be the leader?"
"That's... "
Ryuto and Ria had no words to offer.
"A leader is not one who's the most powerful, it's the one can who can provide solutions to his people's problems."
"If Nash managed to take on all the tasks and duties we mentioned in this meeting by himself, then despite being weaker than me, he's indeed more worthy to be the leader."
"Since I myself am unable to do it, even with my strength."
Ron said. His face was extremely calm and devoid of any signs of agitation.
His recent discoveries had opened his eyes and made him aware. He originally thought that he was capable of doing everything by himself, that he don't need anyone's help to achieve his goals.
It's only recently he understood... that how wrong he was.
He wasn't able to do everything by himself. He needed others with him.
He needed his Generals.
Ryuto and Ria, after having no counter argument to offer, sat back down.
Ron moved his head sideways, looking towards the seat that was beside Connor.
"So, what do you intend to do, Nash?"
He said to Nash.
Nash replied with the same smirk on his face.
"I am sorry, Marshall. But I have no intention to follow up with any of the things you mentioned."
"In fact, I have a request. In case I am able to advance to the Marshall rank in the future, please make sure that my status is in no way any greater than the other Generals."
He requested. Although he was nearly 25 years old, his voice still had a little bit of teenage childnessnes in it.
"Very well, now let's come back to the topic at hand. The meeting."
Ron said. They had already wasted enough time.
"We were in the middle of reporting our advancements and it's now General Nash's turn."
Ron replied and closed his eyes once again.
At Ron's command, Nash started speaking too.
"Yes, as you might have heard Marshall Ron's words, I am rather close to advancing to the next rank."
"Although it will still take a bit... "
"I am confident that I will be able to reach it within a year."
He said the words. Everyone frowned their eyes a bit, clenching their fist.
No matter how much they disliked Nash's attitude, his strength had always been real.
His battle prowess was so high that it's believed he can even go toe to toe with Sir Orville without losing out.
It's needed to be kept in mind that Orville has years of experience battling monsters and experience of fighting humans in spars even before the apocalypse.
Not to mention, his mastery over his spear, a weapon that had been within him for decades.... it's unparalled.
And for Nash to be able to match him in strength despite all this and even Ascend to the Marshall rank before all the Generals... It's nothing short of impressive.
'Although these achievements still pale in comparison to Ron... '
Nash thought inwardly. No matter how much he achieve, he would never feel any sense of accomplishment due to Ron's presence.
He added a bit more about his advancement. "But I have to say, equal credit needed to be given to the amazing advice I received from Ron."
"His advice in moving ahead one step at a time and absorbing all the strength you feel rushing into you slowly... and at the same time, making sure it doesn't go away or dissipate.... "
"These advices are what truly helped me in reaching this stage of my progression."
He ended his report there and as soon as he did, an awkward silence occupied the space.
Every general looked at each other, wondering if they should...
"It seems it's my turn."
Ron's voice brought them out of their thoughts.
They gazed at his figure with complicated expressions on their faces, not knowing if they would be elated or sad with whatever they were going to hear.
Ron waited for a moment and then opened his mouth to speak.
"I became a General rank at roughly 16 years of age and ascended to the Marshall Rank a little more than 2 years back....And since then, I can say that I have continued to make progression within the Marshall rank.. "
"And at the current stage, after 2 years and a bit more of staying at this Rank, I can say with confidence... "
He took a small pause, looking at every individual present, who were hearing his words with rapt attention. He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them and said.
"The next Rank, which I have named the Grand Marshall Rank, definitely exists."
He revealed.
/gulp/
Everyone present gulped in a mouthful of saliva, including Orville. A bubble of anticipation and ambition arising within them.