The Emperor’s Angel of Death

#2227 - The final reunion

"No, no."

Amidst a red glow, Raven witnessed the chaos within the repair shop. Everything seemed to explode in slow motion. He saw many people fall, screaming, bodies piling up. This was not an attack; it was a massacre.

Then, the person slammed his knee into Raven's stomach, again and again, breaking all his ribs, until he could no longer cough up blood.

In pain and fear, he struggled, reaching out with his left hand towards the attacker's face, only to pull off a mask.

"My dad is—"

"Have you ever been on the battlefield?"

A deep growl echoed in his ear. Raven was thrown to the ground, able only to groan weakly. All other sounds faded away.

Only the devil's whisper remained.

"What—"

"Do you know what death tastes like? A bullet pierces your body; adrenaline prevents you from feeling the pain. But after the fighting, your body is drained of blood. If your head is hit, your body instantly collapses. Artillery shells explode around you, causing your ears to ring and your body to be thrown by the shockwave. Internal organ rupture causes you to constantly vomit blood, fragments tear your skin. The shriek of warplanes overhead is piercing and shrill. The bombs they drop, even from a distance, shatter your insides. If they land nearby, you'll be turned into a puddle of flesh. A large-caliber machine gun will make you like a balloon pricked by a needle. Poison gas turns your lungs into empty shells, your skin ulcerates, your eyes go blind, and gradually you can't breathe, gradually you can't see anything. When a bayonet pierces your stomach, your intestines spill out, you feel your body float. And these things that sound terrifying are what we experienced back then, what they experienced. It's what we and they had to face, even when scared to death, because behind them was their home, the eyes of their parents waiting for them. So, do you know what death tastes like?"

In his blurred vision, Raven saw an eye, a burning eye, set in a face with obvious scars, wearing a vicious smile.

Then, the other person smashed the gun handle into his face, sending a spray of blood into the air, and the sound of breaking bones followed.

"So, do you know now?"

Raven made no further sound, not even a breath.

On the arrival of the second standard Terra day, a horrifying piece of news spread rapidly throughout the scavenger town: all members of the Ghost Fire Gang, including their leader, a total of 45 people, had been brutally murdered. Their heads were impaled on metal poles, standing before two graves, and the sheriff who had long protected his son was found hanged in an abandoned shack, his hands tied behind his back.

The case was both significant and insignificant. After all, in the underhive, such things weren't particularly rare. Coupled with the numerous cases caused by returning soldiers, the Department of Justice simply conducted a brief investigation, classified it as a vendetta, and reassigned a new sheriff, tasking him with investigating the matter himself.

Hais and the others had already returned to the mid-hive. The impact of this journey on him was no less than his first time on the battlefield. However, not two days after returning, he received news that a certain important figure had funded the construction of a soldiers' cemetery in the mid-hive six months ago, to bury as many soldiers' bodies recovered from the battlefield as possible. The project had recently been completed, and all veterans were invited to attend the memorial service.

Hais immediately set off for the location of the cemetery. On the way, he heard the name of the "important figure"—Arnie Morales, also the new Governor of Badab.

He would be taking office after the ceremony here.

The vehicle heading to the soldiers' cemetery was filled with people in military green uniforms. Some wore medals on their chests, others held a flower in their hands. Hais also had a flower, but he had no medals. Jialinna and Andina sat beside him. Many were disabled, but few could afford to replace their prosthetics. Most simply had immobile artificial limbs. The majority were alone.

When the train stopped and they stepped out, Hais was greeted by a magnificent cemetery. At the entrance stood a massive monument, composed of 37 pillars, each over 10 meters tall, arranged in an open matrix on a red sandstone and dark gray ground. They served as both an entrance and a symbol, representing the 37 regiments recruited from this hive city. The array of pillars formed the backdrop to the memorial plaza, echoing the tiered platform, raised tombs, and towering clock tower behind the plaza.

The surrounding area was already bustling with people, and enforcers were maintaining order. Everywhere, one could see eagle emblems woven from flowers and other symbols. For this day, even part of the dome above the area had been opened, allowing sunlight to shine on this sacred land.

Entering, Hais saw teams of priests carrying incense burners and chanting scriptures, while nuns distributed water and food to anyone who needed it, though it was only simple flatbread.

It must be said that the design of this place was indeed ingenious. The entire cemetery area resembled a rolling mountain range, but was also defined by simple linear boundaries of granite and glass. Different hills were arranged in a staggered pattern, creating blocks of black marble tombstones, surrounding a star-shaped fountain with a flame in the center.

Among the tombstones were large amounts of greenery and trees, creating a forest with a contemplative atmosphere. Low fountains and extending steps maximized the site's visibility and accessibility.

After walking for a long time, Hais found the location of his regiment, but it was already surrounded by people, because an important figure was inside.

From a distance, Hais could see his regimental commander, wearing a general's uniform, standing in front of a statue of a soldier holding a rifle in a charging posture, surrounded by a crowd. He then laid down a bouquet of flowers, and several photographers immediately snapped photos of the scene. Countless richly dressed nobles, officials, and priests praised Arnie's bravery and good deeds. Their flattering smiles and white teeth almost made the sunlight brighter.

"That battle was brutal."

Arnie gazed at the rows of tombstones, his voice suddenly choked with emotion. His new wife stood beside him, holding his arm.

"My regiment, my soldiers, they were all wiped out like that! Now, even if I could just see one person, just one!"

Hais stood in the distance, watching quietly. He didn't know what the other man was saying, but he didn't want to say anything either.

He just watched quietly.

Watched...

Until Arnie left and the guards removed the cordon, he and his two wives walked onto the deserted low hill—after the important figure left, no one cared about this place anymore. Only a few family members came here and there, but they didn't pay attention to others either.