The Trash Son-in-Law Is a General

General Ryan

Ryan’s eyes narrowed as a man in military uniform stepped out from the backseat of the car.

“General Ryan!” the soldier said, snapping to attention with a crisp salute.

Ryan frowned, recognizing the man immediately—Kane, his inferior from five years ago in the military. He wasn’t exactly thrilled to see him.

“How did you find me?” He inquired under clenched teeth.

Kane stared at him eyes widened, a bit of doubt on his face. “General, it is really you!” he exclaimed as he scrutinized him.

But Ryan didn’t seem to share in the excitement. He gave him a dismissive glare and looked around suspiciously.

“What are you doing here? Or did Kublai send you to assassinate me?”

“No, general,” Kane shook his head. “General Kublai is dead! He sustained major injuries on the battlefield and passed away a few days ago”.

Ryan’s jaw dropped to the news. General Kublai the supreme general of the country’s army was dead!

Five years ago, Ryan and Kublai were two lieutenant generals under General Hansson in a war that lasted for two and a half years.  

Ryan was renowned for his intelligent modern combat tactics. Under his leadership, his battalion accounted for more than ten thousand enemy casualties on the battlefield, all at the cost of just twenty men.

His superior, General Hansson was due to retire after the war, and Ryan was set to ascend to that rank ahead of the other Lieutenant Generals.

But as they prepared to return home victorious, General Kublai—then merely Lieutenant General Kublai—stabbed the General to death in his sleep, framing Ryan for the crime.

That night, Ryan had celebrated their victory with too much to drink, only to wake up with the murder weapon in his hand.

Kublai had orchestrated the scheme so meticulously that even the best attorney in the world couldn’t overturn the evidence pointing to first-degree murder with intent to usurp power.

With the help of his loyal men, Ryan fled the army and lived in hiding.

Kublai ascended to the rank of the General. But he didn’t stop from there, he had been secretly sending mercenaries to track down and kill Ryan, fearing that the truth would one day emerge as long as he lived.

However, Ryan was always a step ahead of them. He singlehandedly took down every mercenary Kublai sent, outsmarting them at every turn. But Kublai didn’t stop, he kept sending more men.

Three years ago, Ryan had saved Kai from a group of men attempting to rob him. Grateful, Kai brought him into the family and arranged his marriage to Kim. Since then, Ryan has lived a humble life, surviving on odd jobs. 

“That bastard, he deserved it anyways!” Ryan muttered under his breath.

He stared at the ceremonial uniform Kane was putting on and then began to walk away.

"You should go back," Ryan said, his tone flat. "You’re a lieutenant general now. You’ve got a battalion to command."

But Kane moved swiftly, stepping in front of him. His face was tense, desperate. "I can’t, General. Not without you. I’ve been sent on a special mission by the Secretary of Defense himself."

Ryan’s brows knitted. “What do you mean?”

Kane gulped as he leaned in, “General before General Kublai passed away, he confessed before everyone that he was responsible for General Hansson’s death and only framed you for it so that he would be the one to become the General,” he disclosed.

Ryan’s chest tightened, but his face remained unreadable, hardened from years of betrayal. The mention of Kublai’s name stirred a storm within him, but he managed to maintain his composure.

"And now," Kane continued, "the Secretary of Defense regrets not believing you. He knows he was wrong. That's why he’s sent me to find you, to bring you back. He wants you to take your rightful place as Supreme General of the Army."

Ryan blinked. When Kublai accused him of murdering General Hansson, the secretary of defense and the military council refused to believe him when he kept insisting he was innocent. They instructed that he be locked in the stockade for the rest of his life, all thanks to his loyal soldiers he managed to escape. Now, the secretary of defense wants him back into the military?

Ryan became exasperated as the memories of all he had to go through played in his head.

“Go back and tell him I’m not coming back,” Ryan snapped, his voice edged with anger. “I have a wife to take care of now,” he added, turning on his heel and walking away.

But Kane wasn’t ready to give up. He darted forward, once again blocking Ryan’s path.

His persistence was beginning to irritate Kane. “Move aside, Kane,” Ryan growled, his eyes flashing with barely contained fury.

“Forgive me, General,” Kane said, his voice faltering as he dropped to his knees. “We’re suffering heavy losses—our enemies are gaining ground because of General Kublai’s poor tactics. We need you… the country needs you, sir. Your tactical brilliance is the only thing that can turn the tide. Please,” he pleaded, desperation lacing his words.

Ryan’s gaze hardened, his voice cold. “That’s no longer my concern, Kane. I’m a civilian now.”

 “Please General, we are losing hundreds of soldiers daily. You are the only one that can help us win this war. Please reconsider your decision General,” Kane said frustrated.

But Ryan looked indifferent.

He then sighed and rose to his feet. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a credit card emblazoned with the distinctive stripes of the military.

“General,” he said, extending the card toward Ryan, “The Secretary asked me to give you this as an apology from the military council—for the injustice you endured.”

Ryan stared at the card with widened eyes. He knew exactly what it was. The card was a rare honor, issued once every three decades to a soldier hailed as a national hero. It was linked to an account worth ten billion dollars.

Ryan hesitated to collect the card and Kane brought out a small envelope.

“And General, this is from the government,” he said stretching the envelope towards him. “This is a Gift of Selective Ownership from the government, it is a Right of claim signed by the president himself that grants you the right to claim any property in the country as yours,” he disclosed slowly.

Ryan’s mouth fell open slightly in disbelief. An exclusive credit card and a right to claim property? The absurdity of it all left him momentarily speechless.

“You should take it, General,” Kane urged, his tone desperate now. “I’ll give you some time to decide whether you’ll return to service, but… the Secretary threatened to demote me if I don’t convince you to accept these gifts. Please, for my sake, take them,” he pleaded, his voice trembling with urgency.

Ryan sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing on him as he reluctantly took the card and envelope, his fingers curling around them as if they were heavier than they seemed.

“You should go now, Kane,” Ryan said, his voice tired. He glanced down the road. “My house is far, and I have a long walk ahead of me.”

“There’s no need for that, General,” Kane insisted, stepping closer. “Let me drive you. The night is getting old, and it’s far too long a journey on foot.”

Though hesitant, Ryan hopped in and the SUV sped off.