At this moment, the virtual screen in the center of the restaurant was playing a grand ceremony in Kato City welcoming the rescued soldiers. When the transport ship was landing, the reporters in the footage said to the camera excitedly, "Look! The transport ship full of Federation heroes has landed safely. This is an exhilarating moment. The Leray Federation has welcomed back her heroic sons and daughters."
The camera turned to the faces of the rescued soldiers’ relatives, anxious, hopeful, relieved. Uncontrollable tears slid down their cheeks.
In the footage, Colonel Pete staggered a bit as he appeared at the hatch of the transport ship. The restaurant’s sound system suddenly exploded with loud cheers, startling Fatty. He looked up, and when he saw the image on the virtual screen, he started to laugh. At that time, he was sitting in the cabin, declining Pete’s invitation and pushing the Colonel out.
Sitting here watching the footage now brings a peculiar feeling, as if time is flowing backward before his eyes.
The camera turned to a large display screen next to the hatch, where it prominently introduced Colonel Pete’s profile in big letters.
The welcoming crowd shouted, "Pete! You are our hero!"
The camera zoomed in. Pete stood at the hatch, his lips trembling intensely and unable to speak. The scene before him made him tear up. Another Colonel in the same uniform as Pete approached, tears in his eyes, and hugged him fiercely.
The reporter’s narration was somewhat choked up as he said, "Welcoming Colonel Pete is his best friend. They have served in the same unit for over ten years and are the closest comrades."
The embrace between the two warriors was so fierce and passionate. When they separated, the Colonel stepped back two paces, saluting solemnly. His voice was exceptionally clear, "I almost lost my best friend! The Federation almost lost her finest warrior. Welcome back, Colonel Pete!"
On camera, Pete stood at attention and saluted back, tears finally falling down, but he quickly wiped them away only for them to fall again. He stubbornly tried to control himself over and over again, his eyes rubbed to the point of turning bloodshot.
The camera faithfully recorded, people’s tears flowed, many cried out loud. This is a soldier, one who would rather bleed than shed tears, a true and strong soldier.
The camera zoomed in on the ranks of Federation soldiers welcoming them, their faces streaked with tears yet standing there solemnly without moving, like hundreds of tall pine trees, orderly and dignified.
At the front row of the formation were a row of serious Generals. The oldest of them was already white-haired. The stars on their shoulder badges shone as brightly as those of ordinary soldiers, standing in the most standard military posture, not moving an inch.
Standing at the front of the formation, General Bernadotte stood at attention, chest out, head high, and shouted, "All soldiers... salute!"
"Swoosh!" The neat military salute from the soldier formation was so mighty and magnificent, a roar of a nation’s military might, shocking to the heart.
General Bernadotte’s voice echoed across the suddenly quiet airport, "Colonel Pete! Federation warriors are proud of you!"
Tian Xingjian watched quietly as Pete on the screen solemnly saluted back, looking at this soldier who made great contributions to the entire escape team, hearing him say two trembling words.
Tian Xingjian lowered his head, his eyes a bit red. He felt very fortunate that he brought them back.
The restaurant’s sound system played the reporter’s narration, "The heroes’ comrades are paying tribute to Colonel Pete. Seeing these soldiers, we firmly believe that the war will end, will end with the great victory of the Leray Federation. With these loyal defenders, no one can defeat us. With fearless warriors like Colonel Pete, the Federation will ultimately win."
Next, one soldier after another appeared on the screen, the welcome ceremony footage on the virtual screen still continuing.
Milan looked at Tian Xingjian and asked softly, "Where were you at that time?"
Tian Xingjian knew that this friend of Nia couldn’t be unaware of what he had done. He looked up at the virtual screen and smiled, "See? Right there!"
The camera was focused on a female soldier running towards her family after coming out of the hatch. This soldier was embraced by her parents, crying like pear blossoms in the rain. Many customers in the small hall were moved to tears by this scene.
But Milan followed Fatty’s pointing direction and couldn’t help but laugh, seeing a sneaky figure running off in the distance beside the transport ship. The source of thɪs content is novᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet
The two looked at each other and smiled when a voice came, "Get up, why are you sitting here?"
Tian Xingjian and Milan looked back in amazement, finding a group of men and women about their age standing beside their seats at some point.
The one speaking was a young master dressed elegantly, with an arrogant expression.
Seeing the two of them in a daze, the young master said, "A mere lieutenant and a woman without a shred of sympathy who even dares to mock heroes; are you worthy of sitting in this place? Get out, you are not welcome here!"
This remark was too hurtful. Milan couldn’t help but retort angrily, "Are your eyes blind? Who mocked? By what right are you driving us away?"
A pretty young lady dressed fashionably clung to the young master’s arm and said coldly, "Just because Mills is the Young Master of Simai Hotel."
With these words, the group of young people all looked at Fatty and Milan with derisive smiles, and Mills looked even more smug.
It turned out that Mills’ father was entertaining some important guests. Mills originally wanted to join but was ordered to stay home due to his rashness. But he couldn’t stay put, and invited a bunch of friends to the hotel, wanting to find a place in the small hall outside to watch.
Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the hotel, the positions in the small hall were already full. The spot where Mills usually sat was booked by a customer with a VIP card. Feeling humiliated in front of his friends, Mills couldn’t help but walk up to his designated spot to see who was eating there, not expecting it to be any familiar dignitaries, but a mere Army Lieutenant and a woman. Feeling annoyed, he saw the two laughing at the screen and seized the opportunity to drive them away.
Hearing the woman’s words, Tian Xingjian also couldn’t help but feel angry, sarcastically saying, "Is this the level of the Young Master of Simai Hotel? Telling guests to get out?"
The young master, Mills, said contemptuously, "Don’t say a lieutenant, even a lieutenant colonel, if I tell him to get out, he’ll have to obediently get out."
Tian Xingjian laughed angrily, crossed his arms over his chest, rubbing his chest provocatively and asked, "Heh heh, what if I don’t leave? You gonna bite my balls?"
Today’s third update, cheer up and vote, I’ll cheer up and update