Kofia, District 13
"Well done, Li Feng! Old Kai, the hero Political Commissar you brought back turned out to be a hero too!"
Adjutant Divas stared at the new, glittering medals and the brand new "two-star major" rank on Li Feng's advanced officer uniform, openly expressing his envy for the two-rank promotion.
At this moment, Commissar Cain's uniform also bore an identical medal; Li Feng knew this medal was merely one among the countless decorations of the legendary hero, Commissar Cain.
Commissar Cain, meanwhile, was watching Sheriff Vinita out of the corner of his eye. A sling added a touch of allure to her graceful female uniform, making her look like a charming Amazonian warrior.
When Venita noticed Commissar Cain's barely concealed excitement, she simply walked over to him and grinned.
"Looks like our great Political Commissar once again had all the fun to himself."
"It would have been very different without you."
Commissar Cain conversed with Venita, a playboy-like smile on his face.
Li Feng glanced at Elson, who, considering he was another distinguished guest, seemed unexpectedly reserved.
"Relax in this setting, Old El. You're a hero now. The drinks here are free-flowing, and you can enjoy all the food…"
"I know. It's just this."
He unhappily touched the artillery corporal's rank recently sewn onto his sleeve.
"They're a bit… tight."
Li Feng chuckled: "Knowing you, I suspect it won't be long before you break free from their constraints. How about a bet? Probably got too drunk, groped around, and got a complaint filed with Colonel Lao Mo."
"Hmm, that's true."
He looked much cheerier than before and then leisurely walked over to examine the buffet. At this moment, Colonel Lao Mo strolled over, holding two glasses of champagne. After handing one to Li Feng, he said proudly:
"If you hadn't discovered that Genestealer cult, perhaps they eventually would have infected every Defence Force unit on the entire continent. And we would have lost this war. The consequences would have been unimaginable."
"Just luck, I suppose. The Emperor protects, doesn't he?"
Li Feng said. At this moment, he knew that almost every regiment on the entire planet was undergoing internal purges. The fact that many Soldiers, unaware of their infection, were executed by their comrades, left Li Feng feeling uneasy.
At this point, Li Feng noticed that Commissar Cain and Sheriff Vinita seemed to be making some progress. He saw Commissar Cain extend his hand to the lady:
"Would you care to dance with me?"
"I would be delighted."
Li Feng didn't disturb the two of them. Instead, he took his champagne glass and went to a corner of the banquet. The Battle Sisters were also invited to the dinner as heroes.
They wore neither elaborate gowns nor their everyday black robes, but their iconic Battle Sisters power armour.
In this incident, three probationary Battle Sisters squads, totaling thirty Nuns, suffered 6 dead and 5 wounded. The faces of many of those Nuns were still clear in Li Feng's mind.
The casualty rate was not even half, not even a third. For the Nuns, the training of these recruits was up to par. Their bodies were recovered by Sister Fides and her team immediately after the battle. After collective cremation, the ashes were distributed to every Nun who participated in the battle.
They would continue to serve the Emperor faithfully with their deceased comrades, and their names had been carved onto the memorial steles in the convent, which resembled a forest of stone tablets.
At this moment, Sister Fides, seeing Li Feng approaching her, suddenly took a step back, a little flustered. Sister Fides truly didn't know how to interact with Li Feng now; she deeply regretted having kissed Li Feng's cheek in front of so many people.
Although that feeling still lingered in Sister Fides's mind every moment… But… oh, what should she do… "Sister Fides, why don't you take your sisters to enjoy the banquet? There's a whole roasted suckling pig over there."
Hearing Li Feng's words, several Nuns behind Sister Fides immediately cast grateful glances at Li Feng, because they discovered… Sister Fides truly listened to Li Feng… Sister Fides looked at her sisters behind her and sighed: "Alright, go eat a little, but tomorrow's training will add two more subjects to burn off the extra calories you've consumed."
In fact, by the time Sister Fides was halfway through her sentence, those Nuns had already rushed to the buffet. Training? That was for tomorrow. Today, they would eat all the delicious food right now!
True to their feminine nature, those white-haired Misses immediately swarmed the dessert section of the buffet, making it impassable. Sister Fides sighed at this sight, but then she noticed Commissar Cain and Sheriff Vinita dancing in the center of the banquet.
Sister Fides was a little curious at this moment; was dancing like that? Why were they both so close, and both the Political Commissar and the Sheriff even had their hands inside each other's clothes… Thinking of this, Sister Fides pouted, a little unhappy… She felt Li Feng was a blockhead. Why couldn't he learn from the Political Commissar and be more proactive? Did she, a delicate woman who could tear apart an Ork with her bare hands, have to be the one to initiate… Sister Fides thought, then extended her hand towards Li Feng… "Aren't you going to invite me to dance?"
Li Feng looked at Sister Fides in front of him and thought that this might be one of the few opportunities for these girls to act like normal girls. So, Li Feng took Sister Fides's hand.
Seeing Li Feng take her hand, Sister Fides's fair little face instantly flushed, and her other hand instinctively covered the heart of her power armour.
Li Feng held Sister Fides's hand and felt the slight tremor in her palm. Her nervous yet expectant expression was evident. The two stood at the edge of the banquet, the people around them seemingly immersed in laughter, while they themselves seemed quiet and tense.
"Have you… danced before?" Sister Fides asked softly, her voice like a gentle breeze.
Li Feng was speechless for a moment. In truth, he had no dancing experience, unless clubbing counted as dancing… However, as a man from the furthest northwest of Chongguo, he did know a little folk dance.
But faced with Sister Fides's firm yet delicate inquiry, he could only give an awkward smile.
"No, but I'd like to learn." Li Feng smiled gently, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
"You say that as if I know how." Sister Fides bit her lip, revealing a slightly helpless smile.
The two of them stood in place, unsure how to begin, just swaying gently. In the center of the banquet, Commissar Cain and Sheriff Vinita's dance grew increasingly intimate, as if they had forgotten everything around them, and even the people nearby gradually stopped watching them.
Li Feng felt Sister Fides's nervousness and moved a little closer, placing his hand on the slender waist of her power armour, guiding her movements as gently as possible.
Sister Fides followed Li Feng's rhythm, gradually relaxing. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment of tranquility. Her movements were a bit clumsy, but each step seemed earnest.
Li Feng felt her concentration and guided her even more carefully, not wanting her to feel any discomfort… while also worrying that she might step on his foot in her power armour.
"I think you're dancing very well." Li Feng whispered.
Sister Fides looked down, chuckled softly, her cheeks slightly flushed:
"You're a good teacher…"
The banquet's clamor continued, the laughter of the Soldiers and the clinking of champagne glasses echoing in the air, but at this moment, Li Feng and Sister Fides seemed immersed in a world of their own.
The music gradually ended, and Li Feng released her hand, but Sister Fides hesitated for a moment, as if still unwilling to withdraw from that brief warmth.
She looked up at Li Feng and said softly, "Thank you."
Li Feng nodded, about to say something, when he suddenly heard Commissar Cain's magnetic voice from afar: "It seems our little Li Feng also has his own dance partner. This is truly commendable."
Li Feng turned his head and saw Commissar Cain walking towards them, Venita clinging to his arm, a mischievous auntie-like smile on her face.
"Sister Fides, you dance quite well." Venita teased, her eyes sparkling with good-natured humor.
Sister Fides instantly blushed and quickly lowered her head. Li Feng, however, smiled and said nonchalantly:
"With you two old-timers here, how dare I not try my best?"
Commissar Cain laughed heartily, patted Li Feng's shoulder gently, then turned to Sister Fides: "Next time, you'll have to teach us old folks how to dance so well."
Sister Fides was still a bit shy, but she nodded gently in agreement. At this point, Commissar Cain pulled Li Feng aside, turning his back to the two ladies… "Emergency situation, I'm not going back tonight… Do you still have that 001 you gave me last time?"
Li Feng naturally knew what Commissar Cain and Sheriff Vinita were up to tonight, so he reached into his pocket and, using his panel, conjured a box of 001.
After Commissar Cain received a box of 12 001s, he opened the packaging, tore off half, 6 pieces, and returned them to Li Feng.
"Thanks, you might need them tonight too, I'll leave you half…"
Li Feng: "Uh…"
In the center of the banquet, a tall figure in power armour had been watching Li Feng's side. This person was Huron, the Chapter Master of the Claws of the Stars.
At this moment, Huron was surrounded by various Navy and Army generals, and the Star Sector's Intendants and Planetary Governors were all present, conversing with Huron.
When Huron descended in his drop pod, it landed near Li Feng's Precinct Office. He and the forces defending the Precinct Office cleared the nearby Gretchin and learned about the Tyranids and Genestealers from those few individuals.
However, what shocked Huron the most was learning that he had been lost in the Warp for over a hundred years. He was worried about his base, Badab, at the time, but upon learning that everything was fine, Huron breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet, that young officer named Li Feng, upon seeing him arrive with reinforcements, actually gave him a nickname, and Huron particularly liked this nickname.
"The Head Seat of Badab! Heaven-Protecting Righteousness! Timely Rain Huron!"
From then on, he had taken an interest in this young officer. Huron even considered arranging for him to undergo Space Marine modification surgery and work under him, if the other party agreed.
How could you develop your talents by following those insects from the Department of Military Affairs!
Then, as the Sector Governor clinked his champagne glass.
"Well, everyone! Today is a good day! I propose we all take a group photo to commemorate this wonderful day!"
Soon, everyone came to the center of the hall, and a Tech-Priest with a Servitor that had a DSLR attached to its head arrived. As everyone took their positions, Li Feng stood in the corner of the second row, right next to Sister Fides and Commissar Cain.
The front row center, of course, was for the leaders. The Sector Governor, Planetary Governor, Ecclesiarchy priest, Imperial generals, Space Marine, and various bureaucrats.
After all, heroes are just tools in the face of power… The Adeptus Mechanicus photographer: "Everyone… Three, two, one…"
The priest tapped the Servitor's head shutter, and a photo was taken. The people in the photo were all so young, so high-spirited.
The Sector Governor walked up to the priest and took out the photo that the Servitor had spat out. Li Feng saw this and exclaimed, "Good heavens, it's an 'instant camera' Servitor."
The Governor handed the photo to a nearby clerk, instructing him that it must appear in tomorrow's Star Sector newspaper, emphasizing how, under his leadership, various forces had uncovered the traitors' concealment.