Chapter 1104: Admiral Jason C. Burke - Sudden 180
Obviously, they wouldn't need me at this portion because we still had a ton of food to finish up so I quickly dried myself and put on some clothes as Major Harper and company welcomed their Admiral, ADM Jason C. Burke.
From my brief talk with the Major last night, he mentioned that a lot of promotions were thrown around and even the rank of a Fleet Admiral—which wasn't given to anyone even way, way~ back—was handed to five individuals who were previously holding the previous rank.
And yeah, Admiral Jason Burke was a Vice Admiral just a year ago but right now, not only was he promoted from a 3-star commissioned officer to a 4-star commission officer, but he was also granted the Eisenhower not only due to his achievements but also necessity.
Sure, the US Navy looked super imposing even now, but everyone else in the world took a huge hit when the world ended, and a lot of positions needed to be filled.
However, even if I did mention the word "necessity", it didn't mean that they'd just take the riff-raff but I was told that the Admiral took the first step—or should I say, the fucking leap when he smelled that something was fucking off when they were about to go home from their mission.
That was a story for another day because right at this fucking moment, it was safe to say that a portion of the group that I was trying to feed didn't take too kindly of what I did with Ella, who was a senator's daughter, because the old man and Major Harper were the only ones between them and me getting into a brawl.
'Had to wait for the whole team, huh?'
But yeah, everyone else in my crew eventually got my fucking back as well—including Royo, of course—but for some reason, the Admiral was just looking from the back with a curious glance.
Funnily enough, he couldn't give a rat's ass about the people causing trouble because he took a seat with the other civilians and started eating while enjoying the show.
'This guy…'
And to make everything more fucking awkward, Oscar's daughter, Jennifer Goodman, who was supposed to have a touchy reunion with her father, was stuck between a rock and a hard place because it seemed like she was also part of the group that was supposed to be with the fucking brat.
It's just that I waved everyone off with a dismissive tone:
"Look, we had some food prepared for all of ya. If you eat them now, you'll be able to eat whole foods before you puke them all after I'm done with you or if you decide to eat them later, you can start with the soup while I put everything solid in the food processor—"
Oscar cut me off, "Kid, now's not the time for jokes. Of all the stupid shit you do—"
I rolled my eyes, "She had it coming. Besides, I'll do it as many times as I fucking want if she continues to be like that—"
Major Harper cut in as well, "Listen to your uncle, kid. This shit's serious."
"I already made up with the brat, we're chill. What are they so fucking mad about—"
A dude who didn't look to be over 30 shouted at the top of his lungs, "YOU THREW THE SENATOR'S DAUGHTER IN THE WATER! WHY WON'T WE BE MAD?!"
"She needed a swim."
Another "guard" shouted at me while pointing angrily, "DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF SHE DROWNED?!"
"She didn't. And I kinda taught her how to swim."
"IMPOSSIBLE! THE LADY'S UNABLE TO—"
"Unable to what? Take a hint? Learn new things? Again, if you could talk to Ella later, she'll tell you we're good."
"DON'T FUCKING ADDRESS THE LADY THAT FUCKING WAY! WHAT YOU DID IS SOMETHING SERIOUS! IT'S A FEDERAL CRIME—"
My brow just twitched from that statement, "Listen here, you fuck. On whose fucking soil are ya and whose fucking laws should we be following here?! Besides that, the spat we had was just for common decency and she already failed at that. And you dare talk to me like you're a fucking saint?! Wanna compare atrocities committed, huh?! COULD YOU?!
YOU FUCKS SHOULD BE STANDING IN FRONT OF A FIRING SQUAD RIGHT NOW BUT I'M FUCKING FEEDING YOU BREAKFAST! WHO ACTUALLY COMMITTED A FUCKING CRIME HERE?!"
Another attendant bellowed with a deathly glare, "WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"
"I'M THAT FUCK THAT WOULD BABYSIT ALL THE PEOPLE YOU CAN'T FUCKING TAKE CARE OF BECAUSE YOU FUCKS WENT NUCLEAR! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO FUCKING EAT, DON'T! FIND YOUR OWN FOOD ON YOUR OWN FUCKING SOIL!"
"...!"
"YOU—"
"HOW CAN YOU FUCKING SAY THAT?!"
Obviously, bringing up that topic that I obviously wouldn't let them live down was still a very sore subject for everyone. Even the ones who had started eating had to stop while a few others still continued—but wearing a difficult expression—because even if they really needed to do it, in the grand scheme of things, no one wanted to do it.
But yeah, the tension could still be cut with a knife but it took a different turn when Ella got in the middle of everyone—wearing a different frilly gown that looked like it used several geese as a sacrifice—before bowing towards my group.
"I-I'm—"
I cut her off, "Why do you look like a duster—"
"YOU— I WAS JUST ABOUT TO APOLOGIZE!"
"You have no sense of just about anything, no? You do know I was about to beat your group to a pulp."
Her posse reacted almost immediately:
"THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?! YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE APOLOGIZING! WALK OVER HERE AND WE'LL SEE WHO GETS BEAT TO A PULP!"
I ignored them as I turned to Ella, "Wanna eat?"
She readily nodded, much to the shock of everyone, "Y-Yes! I promise I won't spill the soup this time!" then she leaned to the side to look at the cooks, "Also! I'm sorry for wasting the food earlier!"
Hearing Ella say that and act that way towards me, the group who was supposed to watch over her, including Jennifer Goodman, were shaken to the core and they just watched me give their lady another serving of food as she jauntily made her way towards one of the tables.
Additionally, Ella who was supposed to be the pickiest of eaters hungrily wharfed down and inhaled the food I prepared for her—which was the reaction I was hoping for from the start—and it was just a shock to everyone.
"HEY!" she then turned to me with a grain of rice by her lips.
"What now, you fuckin' brat?"
"YOU— G-Give me more! I'm still hungry!"
I rolled my eyes as I chuckled, "What do you want?"
"EVERYTHING! I wanna have some coffee, too! What blend do you have—"
"We only have instant—"
"WHAT?! Why's it so good?!"
"Because of chocolate, sugar, and milk. That's my own "blend", all instant powdered shit."
"A-Alright! Another cup of those! STAT!"
"Don't fucking 'stat!', me! Wanna have another swim?!"
"If y-you're the one to s-save me…"
"Ew."
"DID YOU JUST SAY WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY?! YOU'RE AWFUL!"
While this interaction was happening, I saw Jennifer inching closer to the old man before she mouthed:
"What the fuck is going on?!"
Oscar just chuckled as he nudged his daughter with his elbow, "I don't even know— no, it's the kid's magic, I tell ya."
But yeah, as Ella happily ate her food like everyone else did, there was just some way that would make everyone watching drool or suddenly have the itch to binge some food, and it quickly de-escalated the situation I had with her followers.
Granted there was still some tension when I was the one handing their plates with a smile, but their grumbling stomachs couldn't hide the fact that they were all just fucking hungry.
But I just had to do it:
"IF ANYONE WANTS SECONDS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COME BACK HERE AND ADMIT THAT I'M FUCKING RIGHT! IF YOU KOWTOW A FEW TIMES AND HIT YOUR HEAD ON THE GROUND HARD, I'LL EVEN THROW IN A BEER FROM MY OWN STASH!"
Saying that, I definitely received different reactions—especially from Ella's followers—but it didn't take long before the Admiral finished his meal and walked up to me with his tray:
"What if I'm in the neutral party, kid? What does a man have to do to get a free beer 'round here?"