Chapter 150 Safe Return


    "Commander, I think granting the second ss award to sixth squad would be unfair." Evan respectfully


    disagreed.


    "I see. What do you suggest then, Evan?" Marin asked nonchntly, turning towards Evan. She had


    always been repulsed by Evan''s arrogance. She just had to let it go mostly because Evan came from a


    very influential family. Meanwhile, he was considered an elite in the northeast military camp. Despite


    letting things slide all the time, Marin was not going let Evan get his way this time and stand her way.


    Evan hesitated for a second when he saw a faint annoyance in Marin''s eyes. However, he still


    continued and voiced out his opinion. "I do not understand why you would want to grant the second


    ss award to Rocky posthumously and the rest of the sixth squad. Rocky did not kill that spirit-


    manipted beast. It was the other way around: he was killed by it. There is no merit there. If the


    Commander intends to grant Rocky and the sixth squad such an award, the entire military camp would


    lose its esteem towards the institution."


    "Commander, I think Evan is right."


    "A third ss award is more than enough for the sixth squad."


    "Please Commander! Please retract the award."


    Evan was backed up by the leaders of the other squads.


    Marin was not having it, and her face showed it. "Did none of you hear what I just said? Had Rocky not


    lured the beast away, the spirit-manipted beast would have attacked and ruined other viges. That


    spirit-manipted beast could have caused more casualties, but it did not. And that''s all thanks to


    Rocky, who lost his life during that battle. Let me remind you of our duty. The northeast military camp


    stands not only to safeguard our border. We are here to protect civilians in the border region. We must


    prevent any kind of danger that might befall them so they can live in peace and prosperity. Now that


    Rocky is dead, a second ss award is of no value to him. If for some miracle he survived this, I might


    have granted him a first ss award instead. An action that heroic deserves so much more


    recognition."


    Her words reached everyone in the northeast military camp and they took it deeply in their hearts. Soon


    enough, everyone was buzzing about how heroic Rocky''s actions were.


    Thor and Joss regretfully sighed, ''If only our squad leader returned alive, all of us in the sixth squad


    would have been granted the first ss award.'' All of them were aware of how painfully average their


    group was, so being granted a first ss award was something they had never imagined to achieve.


    Marin''s words were mainly directed to Evan, a hit on his arrogance. He had always felt superior to his


    peers. His skill level and the squad he belonged to did not help cut hisb either. But the way Marin


    saw it, Rocky really stepped up against that spirit-manipted beast. He knew he was outmatched, but


    he still heroically threw himself in battle in order to protect civilian lives. Such a noble act could never


    As if on cue, Deputy Commander Chen swooped in the scene. A couple of spirit maniptor squads


    and hundreds of soldiers followed him. They carried a body that belonged to a Dark Heaven Insect with


    them.


    The spirit maniptors and soldiers who were present in the military camp gasped in awe. Their eyes


    could not believe the Dark Heaven Insect that was in front of them.


    "Could it be......could it be a Dark Heaven Insect?" Even Evan was shocked with what was presented to


    them.


    "Its strength was tantamount to that of the fifth grade of the Earthly Stage. If you were in Rocky''s shoes


    at that time, I am pretty sure the first thing you would do is run to save your own lives. It was not the


    case for Rocky. He had the courage and stood his ground against this beast. He fearlessly gave his life


    up for others," Marin said gravely as she shot Evan a look.


    Even froze, and was rendered speechless. Marin was right. Had he crossed paths with a Dark Heaven


    Insect, he would, without a doubt, run for his life.


    "Commander." Deputy Commander Chen saluted Marin. He noticed how displeased Marin was with


    Evan, who was right beside her. He instantly knew something was up between the two.


    "Evan, did you just contradict ourmander?" Deputy Commander Chen sourly asked Evan.


    "No, sir! It is just that the Commander intends to grant Rocky and the sixth squad the second ss


    award. She also stated she would have granted them the first ss award had Rocky been alive. What


    are your thoughts about this, Deputy Commander Chen?" Evan muttered hesitantly.


    "The second ss award? And to first ss if Rocky were toe back alive? Commander, is this


    true?" He turned to Marin as shock slowly crept on his face. Naturally, he never would have interfered


    with any of themander''s decision. Only this time, he thought the promotion was a bit too much.


    "Deputy Commander Chen, the sixth squad apprehended the Three Powers at the Gahanna Border.


    They were wanted fugitives of the northeast military camp. Additionally, Rocky drew a Dark Heaven


    Insect away from a vige, preventing civilian casualty. He lost his life doing so. I think a promotion to


    second ss was rather fitting." Marin exined, as she gave her deputymander a stern look.


    "A second ss award is fitting. However, a first ss promotion would have been a little too much,"


    Deputy Commander Chen answered.


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    "He is dead, Jarret. He cannote here and im his title." Marin said, rolling her eyes at the Deputy


    Commander.


    It was just when Deputy Commander Chen realized there was no way Marin could have granted Rocky


    the first ss promotion. She''s right, he was dead, and that means he never could have received the


    honor that came from being first ss.


    It was at this moment that amotion broke out at the front gate of the camp. Cheers and shouts


    erupted from all directions. Marin and the others turned to see what caused the bustle. The crowd


    made a path for the man to pass through, and themander could finally see who it was.


    Everyone was pleasantly surprised with who it was.


    "Captain...... Squad leader?" Thor and Joss could not believe it. Their voices shook as their jaws


    dropped with awe.


    It was no other than Rocky.


    "He is alive!" Deputy Commander Chen stared wide-eye, incredulous at what was in front of him.


    Marin''s face was distorted with disbelief. She never would have thought of Rocky making it back alive.


    Fear and outrage started looming on Evan''s face. He sensed something horribleing for him.


    Everyone at the military camp was stupefied with what just happened. They were at total awe. They


    just witnessed Rockye back from the dead.


    "Captain, you are back! You really are back! You don''t know how thrilled we are to see you!" Thor and


    Joss frantically ran and greeted Rocky.


    Rocky paid them no notice and headed straight to Marin. He looked her dead in the eyes.


    Marin stared right back. Every hair on her body stood up as she took note of Rocky''s movements. His


    eyes had a little tinge of evil. It was pulling her towards him. It was not long until she was intoxicated


    and fully captivated by him.


    Rocky shifted his sight to Deputy Commander Chen and reported, "Supply escort mission


    aplished, Sir! If there is nothing else needed of me, I would like to excuse myself and head in for


    some rest." He took off right in front of everyone like it was not a big deal. Everyone was left in awe.


    "Commander, our squad leader just made it back. About the first ss award you promised...." Thor


    and Joss witnessed how coolly their squad leader just left. It made them think of the promise Marin just


    made. They made their way to themander and curtly asked.


    Marin was caught off guard when asked of the promise. She had never thought Rocky could survive


    such an attack and make it back alive. She promised the first ss promotion knowing full well there


    was no possibility Rocky could have been alive. She just said it to irritate Evan. No one expected this.


    But what was said cannot be unsaid.


    "Commander?" Deputy Commander Chen looked at Marin, curious as to wonder how themander


    would handle everything that just happened.


    "I meant every word I said. Deputy Commander Chen, make an announcement for the entire army to


    hear. Let it be known that the sixth squad is honoured with third-ss merit for apprehending the Three


    Powers at the Gahanna Border. Their squad leader, Rocky, also risked his life luring a powerful spirit-


    manipted beast away from a vige, and protected multiple civilians. On top of everything, he


    managed toe back alive. He is honoured with first-ss merit for his heroic action," Marin calmly


    ordered.


    An uproar instantly broke out in the entire northeast military camp.


    Rocky made history. He was the first one lower than a third grade of the Mortal Stage from the


    northeast military camp honoured with first-ss merit. All of this happened during his first month<pmanding a spirit maniptors squad.