No. 1 King Of Valor

3: A Criminal

"General Cross," the soldier Derek stood straight and saluted him but his eyes were filled with reluctance.

"We can part ways now. There's no need to address me by that military title anymore. We have said our goodbyes and it's time to let go," Kael Cross waved his hand dismissively, not feeling sentimental.

But when he looked outside the airport, his eyes turned tender. After leaving Solara for nine years, he has finally returned home.

After waving his hand casually, Kael grew eager to go home. He hurriedly joined the long queue of people waiting to exit the airport.

The line moved slower than he would have liked but eventually, it got to his turn. However, as soon as he stood under the security scanner, a shrill, sharp, ear-splitting sound filled the noisy departure hall.

BEEP!

BEEP!

BEEP!

As Kael walked through the security scanner, the shrill sound only intensified. The security guard next to him immediately pulled out his gun.

A group of security personnel backed him up and surrounded Kael. All their guns were aimed at him.

"What contraband did you bring into our city?! What sharp object do you have on you?! Don't move!" The security personnel shouted apprehensively.

Kael put his hand into his pocket, attempting to turn it inside out to prove his innocence but this action only made the security personnel more anxious.

"Didn't you hear us? Take your hands out and don't move!"

Kael paused, there was no dangerous object on him, nor had he brought any contraband. But he also knew why the security scanner had beeped.

"I told you to bring out your hand. Are you deaf?!" A security guard held his gun in one hand and a walkie-talkie in the other.

"Requesting backup. Requesting backup. Suspicious person caught at exit gate one. He may be carrying contraband or other dangerous items."

After the guard finished talking, he tucked his walkie-talkie away and walked straight to Kael.

The guard began patting him down roughly, almost aggressively. But strangely, no contraband or dangerous item on him.

The guard pointed the muzzle of his gun at Kael's nose and sneered, "Take off your clothes. I suspect you may have hidden them on your body!"

Kael frowned slightly. Now this is going too far. "Didn't you just search me thoroughly and find nothing? Is it necessary to take off my clothes?"

"Who do you think you are to question me?!" The guard snapped furiously. "Since I asked you to take off your clothes, just do as you are told!"

Kael gave the guard a cold look that chilled him to the bones. The latter was taken aback. How could this commoner intimidate an officer like him?

The guard regained his composure, his tone becoming increasingly fierce. "What are you looking at? Take it off now!"

Without another word, Kael unbuttoned his coat and then pulled off the round neck top he was wearing underneath.

As he held the top in his hand, everyone around looked at him and gasped in horror!

The security guards had thought the long scar on his cheek was horrifying but compared to the scars on his body, it didn't even come close!

From his neck to his torso, his upper body was covered in terrifying scars. There was a huge scar trailing down from his chest to his abdomen.

There were also several other scars both small and big. Some looked like they were freshly inflicted. Others looked like they were beginning to heal.

The scars clung to his body like tattoos. Shocked gasps rang out in the departure hall. Some faint-hearted people staggered back in shock.

It was as if this man had crawled out of hell! How could a living person have so many terrifying scars on his body?!

"Backup! Backup! Backup!" The guard was frightened out of his own skin. He gripped his walkie-talkie tightly and pointed his gun at Kael shakily.

Is this person even human? With so many scars on his body, how could he still be alive?!

"Everyone, step back for your own safety! And you—" The guard pressed his gun into Kael's head. "Get down on your knees and put your hands behind your head now!"

The guard was shouting hysterically but Kael didn't even move. He remained unfazed.

Get down on your knees and put your hands behind your head?

Kael's jaw tightened. That posture was too shameful!

In the army, kneeling meant surrender.

For nine years, he had crawled through trenches, stood under artillery fire, and fought many life-threatening battles.

Not once had he cowered and knelt before death itself!

Now this ordinary airport guard wants him to kneel? Ridiculous! That kind of posture was the stance of criminals.

"Hey, these scars are not—"

"Shut up! Did I ask you to speak?!" The guard shouted angrily and kicked him.

Kael's face darkened murderously and his fingers clenched by his side. But the guard didn't notice the change in his expression. He raised his gun to hit him on the head.

But before his gun could descend, a firm hand held the guard's. "How dare you?!"

Derek stood in front of the security guard. His gorgeous face had reddened and the four stars on his camouflaged uniform were shining brightly at that moment.

Derek had been watching from the side quietly and didn't want to intervene before. Since Kael wanted to retire from the army peacefully, he didn't want to stand in his way. After all, this was a small matter.

But it seems that this security guard was not only ignorant but also foolish!

How could he just conclude that Kael was a heinous criminal just because of the scars on his body? Didn't the fool see the coat Kael was wearing earlier?

"Sir..." The security guard pulled back and addressed Derek more respectfully. After all, he wasn't blind. He could recognize a high ranking soldier standing in front of him.

"I was just doing my job. Look, this man has so many horrifying scars on his body. I think he must be a criminal..."

"A criminal?" Derek laughed angrily like he had just heard the funniest joke of the century. The security guards and everyone watching were confused.