Not for My Virtue or Vice, Only for Your Favor

"What's the Plan?"

Mike's face lit up with a smile, the kind that made him feel like an ancient king who finally understood the perks of having brilliant advisors.

"See that? No problem is too big when you've got a strategist!"

"You have schemes, but I have loyalty," he thought to himself.

"If I'm not mistaken," Jiang Xiaoci interjected, her tone steady but thoughtful, "you have no concrete way to prove your identity, do you?"

Mike nodded, frustration flashing in his eyes. "I can't post medal info or my commander title in the chat. Those things have to be shown in person. But there are too many survivors in the city—how could I go one by one to prove myself? That's way too slow!"

"Indeed," Jiang Xiaoci replied, a sly smile forming on her lips. "If physical proof is inconvenient, then why not take a different approach? Breaking this stalemate isn't as hard as it seems. The key is not proving yourself directly but rather making your identity undeniable."

Mike blinked, intrigued but still doubtful. "You mean... not prove myself? How does that even work?"

"This is what I call the 'proof trap,'" Jiang Xiaoci explained, her voice carrying a calm confidence. "Your opponent has banked on you scrambling to prove yourself. They want you to make mistakes under pressure. But you don't have to play their game."

She leaned in slightly, her tone sharp yet warm. "Think about it. You are a commander, tasked with saving lives and ensuring the survival of humanity. Isn't that your mission?"

Mike nodded slowly. It aligned perfectly with his values—his desire to lead, to do good, to make a difference.

Jiang Xiaoci continued, her words laced with wisdom that felt both ancient and cutting-edge. "Throughout history, whether in revolutions or modern movements, great leaders have been slandered by their enemies, yet they rarely failed. Why? Because their faith was steadfast, their actions spoke louder than words. They achieved what I call 'proof without proving.'"

Her eyes gleamed as she delivered her final argument. "Sir, you already hold the title of commander. You are a successor to the revolutionary spirit. Why not emulate the greats of the past? Sometimes, the best strategy isn't to devise something new but to draw lessons from history."

Mike's mind raced as her words sank in. "So... you're saying I should just keep doing my job? Ignore their provocations and focus on saving lives?"

"Exactly." Jiang Xiaoci nodded, her smile widening. "Keep breaking the apocalypse's grip on humanity. Save lives. Spread your reputation. Your opponent can fight for people's bodies, but you'll win their hearts."

Mike frowned, pondering her words. "But won't that just let him get ahead? He's clearly using my identity to pull people into his camp. The more people he gets, the stronger he'll become."

"That's true," Jiang Xiaoci admitted, her tone patient. "But remember what this round of the apocalypse is about—Fungal Doom."

Mike's eyes brightened as realization struck. "I just developed a cure for it! And I have the resources—factories, raw materials—to mass-produce it!"

"Exactly," Jiang Xiaoci said with a knowing smile. "Make the cure widely available. Let it circulate across the city. That alone will prove your identity. Survivors don't need to rush to his camp if they no longer fear the fungus. They'll stay put and watch, unsure which commander to trust. He loses his edge. His desperation will force him into errors."

Mike grinned, nearly bouncing with excitement. "That's it! I don't need to out-prove him—I just need to outlast him! This strategy... it's brilliant. It's like our country's philosophy: hold the core, stay calm, and let the enemy wear themselves out!"

Jiang Xiaoci's smile grew warmer, approval shining in her eyes. "Sir, you're sharper than you give yourself credit for."

"It's all thanks to you," Mike said sincerely, his admiration for her growing.

She gave a small shake of her head. "I only provide the tools. It's your openness to listen that makes them effective."

"Still," Mike paused, narrowing his eyes playfully. "You're not off the hook. I need to know—how does someone like you, with your... shady background, suddenly sound like a paragon of righteousness?"

Jiang Xiaoci tilted her head, her expression softening. "Sir, does it surprise you that I, too, can have ideals? That I can also choose to do good?"

Mike chuckled, though his gaze remained skeptical. "I don't buy it. You're not one to be easily swayed by flowery speeches. So tell me—what's changed? Is it me?"

She looked at him for a moment, her smile lingering but unreadable. "Sir," she said softly, "if that's what you'd like to believe, then let it be so."

For once, Mike was left without a comeback, though his heart felt lighter than it had in days.