The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Chapter 2902: An Old Acquaintance

"Him?"

Standing to the side, Arash was taken aback when Bahram suddenly asked him this, then looked at Hayes and frowned.

"This is"

"Corporal Hayes, don't lower your head."

Touched on the shoulder by Bahram, Hayes trembled, then snapped his feet together, puffed out his chest, raised his head, gave a standard military salute, and said loudly:

"Hayes Bartoli, Platoon Leader of the 3rd Platoon, 2nd Company, 73rd Regiment, 13th Division, Kerman Shah, saluting the Chief Executive!"

Seeing the corporal trying to restrain himself, but his arms and knees still trembling slightly, Sorkar gently nodded and said calmly:

"Hello, Lieutenant Hayes, at ease."

"Yes, sir!"

Seeing his face, Arash frowned even tighter, because he didn't seem to remember this person, then shook his head and looked at Bahram.

"Brother Bahram, I don't seem to have any impression of this one?"

"But he said... he once took a photo with you."

"Ah? Did he?"

Hearing Arash say this, Hayes, though his brain was almost blank, suddenly mustered some courage, stepped forward two steps, and took off his helmet, revealing his signature hairstyle.

"Sir! Do you remember this!"

In just one second, Arash's expression changed, revealing a look of sudden realization, and pointed at Hayes with two fingers.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes, I remember, it's you, the little guy with thirteen hairs, how is it, it's been many years."

Arash walked up to Hayes, looking at this "little warrior" in his memory with some emotion. He had grown a lot taller, but his face had changed a lot, and he was wearing an eye patch, so he didn't recognize him at first.

"Your eyes... and is this arm a mechanical prosthetic? What happened? I remember your unit was... oh, it's that Arnie Morales' regiment, right?"

"Yes, sir, later we..."

Just as Arash was talking to Hayes, Sorkar summoned Bahram to his side.

"What's the situation?"

"Chapter Master, this Lieutenant Hayes was once a member of the Maelstrom Expeditionary Force, probably recruited locally, and was also a soldier under that Badab new Governor Arnie. He once took a photo with Chapter Master Arash. I saw that photo, so I thought about bringing him to meet Brother Arash. After all, he can be considered an old acquaintance."

Then Bahram raised his hand and pointed to Hayes.

"And his performance can be considered excellent. I can see that his men are basically a group of recruits, but he can use his personal charm and care to keep them as far away from fear and chaos as possible. I have seen many officers who take the lead, and I have also seen those who are one with their soldiers, but Hayes has a unique ability. He can empathize with the soldiers, know what destruction their immature hearts are suffering, allow them to cry, allow them to complain. Rather than saying he is an officer, he is more like their father, a father figure. He also performed well in the battle, not only brave, but also able to notice some details on the battlefield. I can't tell whether his command ability is brilliant or not, but at least it's not bad."

Sorkar nodded thoughtfully, then smiled:

"You give a high evaluation, Bahram."

"Because it is what I saw with my own eyes."

Sorkar then walked over. Looking at Hayes' unique hairstyle, he couldn't help but click his tongue.

"Amazing, amazing, this is really a lucky hair. No wonder you can survive the mountains of corpses and seas of blood time and time again."

"What's so lively here?"

Seth, who was not far away, also walked over when he saw it. When he saw the hair on Hayes' head, a look of surprise was squeezed out of his big face.

"How many is this, one, twenty-three! Yo, a full thirteen, is this natural? Or did you keep it yourself?"

Arash then replied:

"Natural, I met him when he was young, it was like this back then."

"Tsk tsk tsk, a bit interesting, what's this called? The Emperor's lucky number?"

As he spoke, Seth reached out and fiddled with the hair on Hayes' head, but the strong bloody smell on this Space Marine made Hayes feel a burst of palpitation, as if he was in the presence of a man-eating beast. His whole body's instincts were calling him to run away quickly.

But how dare he move now?

Fortunately, the other party quickly withdrew his hand.

"Lieutenant Hayes, since you were once Arnie's soldier, why... didn't you follow him to Badab?"

Hearing Sorkar's voice, Hayes quickly saluted and then loudly replied:

"Reporting to the Chief Executive, because I don't want to cause trouble for others!"

"Haha, what trouble can you cause, he is the governor, and there is a big family behind him, arranging for you alone is not a trouble at all, this reason"

Saying that, Sorkar remembered something, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"At that time, it was said that Arnie's troops were almost completely wiped out. Lieutenant Hayes, do you have a medal?"

Hearing this, Hayes blinked his eyes a little confusedly.

"Medal..."

Seeing him like this, Sorkar guessed something and continued to ask:

"Your injuries were all suffered in the battle of the Fallen Moon, right?"

"Yes."

"Did you return to your original unit after the war?"

Hayes hesitated for a moment, and finally replied:

"No."

"Your unit didn't look for you either?"

"I don't know about that, I was sent to a temporary medical station in the rear after I was injured."

Sorkar nodded.

"After that, you immigrated to Kerman Shah?"

"Yes, Chief Executive, thanks to you, I have the opportunity to come to such a prosperous and beautiful new world."

"Are you married?"

Hayes did not answer this time, but just nodded.

"Do you have children?"

"Three."

Sorkar looked at the other party, his thoughts flowing for a moment, and suddenly asked a question.

"Do you miss them?"

Hayes was stunned for a moment, thought for a few seconds, and said hesitantly:

"Reporting to the Chief Executive, I do."

"Well then, you are both a veteran and have disabilities, and I still owe you a medal. If you want to go back, then I will specially approve you to return to your hometown with some of the wounded."

At this moment, Hayes was first surprised and immediately wanted to agree, but then his expression changed, and finally he shook his head.

"Chief Executive, thank you for your concern, I can't go back now."

"Oh? Why?"

"Nothing in this world should be taken for granted. Ever since I was sensible, including when I was scavenging for a living in the garbage dump, I have clearly known this point. Everything must be paid for. You have already given me a lot. I know what I should contribute. Even the peace of my hometown should not be taken for granted. I have seen the horror of those Tyranid bugs. I can't imagine the scene when they ravage my homeland. I don't allow even one in ten thousand possibilities! If our sacrifice can keep them away from our homes and relatives forever, then I think this is our responsibility."