1007: Chapter 992 Morality 1007: Chapter 992 Morality As Taylor walked over, Gao Yang noticed that Taylor’s left leg seemed a bit unnatural as he moved, sometimes limping, but at other times not.
This indicated that Taylor hadn’t yet become accustomed to the issue with his leg, suggesting he had been injured.
Gao Yang pointed at Taylor’s left leg and said, “Injured?”
Taylor nodded and smiled, “No way around it if I wanted to come early.”
Taylor did not go into detail, so Gao Yang did not press further.
He gestured with his hand and said, “Follow me, there are some things I need to give you.”
Dani knew to not disturb Gao Yang.
He told Gao Yang, “Keep the walkie-talkie on; I’ll notify you later.”
After waving at Dani, Gao Yang led the way to his office with Taylor following behind.
Once Taylor was seated, Gao Yang pointed at him and said solemnly to Shadow and Number Thirteen, “I need to talk to him alone.”
Number Thirteen and Shadow left silently, and after they were gone, Gao Yang sat opposite Taylor, smiled, and said, “You arrived earlier than I expected since you’re still in the service.”
Taylor, with a serious face, said, “I’m not anymore.
I’ve completed all the retirement procedures.”
Taylor’s face naturally carried a determined look, with very firm lines, the kind that one would use as a model for a sculpture.
When he spoke seriously, he seemed more solemn than most, almost as if he were angry.
Gao Yang, quite surprised, said, “So soon?
Has it been ten days since our last call?”
Taylor responded seriously, “To this day, exactly eleven days.”
Gao Yang nodded, “Indeed swift.
I won’t guess how you did it.
How’s your wound, is it serious?”
Taylor waved his hand, “Not serious.
In another ten days at most, it should heal completely.
It’s a through-and-through wound, not big, heals fast.”
“Alright, you focus on healing.
These next few days will give me some time to consider where to place you.”
Taylor raised his right hand, “Sir, no, Mr.
Ram, my injury is not an issue.
I came prepared to fight at any moment.
A minor wound like this won’t affect my combat abilities at all.
Sir, I’m a professional soldier; I’ve fought for many years.
I can accurately assess my condition.”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “That’s not for you to decide, and I don’t have a say either.
When Bruce was alive, he made those calls.
Now that he’s dead, someone else is temporarily filling his position, so whether you’re fit for battle is up to the medical officer.”
Taylor sighed, looked down in thought for a moment, then looked up seriously at Gao Yang and said, “Sir, in order to come here as soon as possible, I self-harmed to leave the front lines.
Then I gave up the opportunity to be promoted to First Sergeant.
I retired at the fastest speed I could, and I did all this for one reason—to join the fight to avenge Bruce.”
Gao Yang furrowed his brows, “Self-harm?
That sort of behavior is not commendable.
That means you were forfeiting your retirement benefits.”
Taylor laughed, “Of course.
But don’t worry about me.
I created the illusion of a combat injury.
With my record, no one would think I self-harmed because I was afraid of battle.
They didn’t even investigate; they just accepted my report.
So, I left the battlefield honorably wounded, and with the Medals I’ve received, I believe my retirement benefits should be reasonable.”
Gao Yang chuckled, “Okay, I was overconcerned, then.
So, you injured your left leg?”
“Yes, but don’t worry.
I cut myself, avoiding muscle tissue, nerves, and vessels, so it’ll heal quickly.
I wouldn’t make a wound that needs a long recovery for retirement.
You can be assured of that.”
Gao Yang waved his hand, “Enough, I’ve said before, and I’ll say again: the decision is not yours to make.
Regardless of your reasons, it’s up to my medic to check you and make the call.
If you refuse, I can send you away right now.
Wherever you plan to go, I’ll make sure you’re transported.”
After a moment of silence, Taylor exhaled and sighed, “Alright, as we agreed, you have the final say.”
Gao Yang snapped his fingers with a smile, “Do you have a family to support?”
After a brief moment of consideration, Taylor nodded, “Yes, my parents, a son, and a daughter.”
“Oh, you’re married?
But you didn’t mention your wife.”
“I’m not married.
I adopted them, or maybe not officially since I don’t have the qualifications, but I do have two kids—my fallen comrade’s children.
Let’s call it adoption.”
Gao Yang nodded, “If I had hired a Mercenary, I wouldn’t ask so much because I pay them to fight for me, which is fair.
But you’re different; you’ve joined me for a common goal, and you’ll act on my commands.
In this case, by my standards, I must assume responsibility for you.”
Gao Yang spread his hands with a smile and said, “Hatred is enough to drive a man to fight for a long time, but since you need to provide for your family, you’ll need money.
Your retirement pay won’t be enough to support them if you fall in battle.
I’m a mercenary, and I like things to be fair, so let’s talk about your salary.
How about ten thousand a day?”
Taylor stared at Gao Yang for a long time before he whispered, “Now I understand why Bruce was so devoted to you.”
Gao Yang smiled, “Are you praising me?”
“Yes.”
“Then thank you.
But you haven’t answered my question yet.”
Taylor shook his head and said, “No need, you’re using your own money to avenge Bruce; I don’t have money, but I want to avenge him too, and I want my revenge to be pure.
I don’t want to take your money, I really won’t accept it.
Let’s just end this topic here, and lastly, thank you again for your kindness.”
Gao Yang scratched his head and said, “You’re quite stubborn, you know, buddy.
If you accepted a salary of ten thousand a day, I’d be happy because that would mean I’ve solved a responsibility at a cost of ten thousand a day.
But if you won’t take it, it’ll be trouble for me, you know.”
Gao Yang sighed and continued, “War always leads to death.
If you took the money, I’d have no responsibility, but since you don’t want it, leave your family details with me later.
If you die, I will take care of your family.”
Taylor fell silent for a long time again, then sincerely said to Gao Yang, “Thank you, thank you very much.”
Gao Yang shook his head and replied, “Don’t thank me.
You came for justice, and I deal with you justly; it’s a simple matter.”
Taylor waved his hand and spoke, “Actually, I do have a condition, just… can you fulfill it?”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “You probably want to meet Bruce’s comrades, well, now’s the time.”
After finishing his words, Gao Yang picked up the walkie-talkie on the table and called out loudly, “Guys, a friend has come.
Come over and say hello, Rabbit, go to my room and bring that box, the one under my bed.”
After waiting for a while, Satan’s men gathered and entered Gao Yang’s office together.
Taylor stood up, and Gao Yang also rose, pointing at Taylor with a smile and introducing, “Taylor, Bruce’s comrade-in-arms.”
Taylor saluted military style but felt it was inappropriate, so he saluted again in the mercenary fashion and said in a deep voice, “Hello, I am Saniel Taylor, call sign Postman.
You can also call me Taylor; my friends prefer my surname rather than my given name, though I don’t know why.”
Cui Bo waved his hand enthusiastically, placed the box he was holding on the table, and then said to Taylor with a smile, “Just call me Rabbit.”
Taylor still carried the seriousness and rigidity of the military, while Satan’s men were much more casual.
After everyone took turns introducing themselves to Taylor, Gao Yang opened the box with a serious expression.
Inside the box were three guns: an HK416, an HK417, and a Sig P226.
Besides the guns, there was also Bruce’s night vision device and walkie-talkie—basically, all of Bruce’s battle gear was in the box.
Gao Yang turned the box towards Taylor and said gravely, “These are all Bruce’s things, and now they are yours to use.
There’s one thing, though, the pistol was made according to Bruce’s hand size.”
The pistol, as the closest weapon to a person, made Taylor purse his lips.
He picked up the pistol and felt it, then said solemnly, “No problem, and I can carry an extra one.
To me, having more pistols is never an issue.”
“You didn’t bring a gun when you came, so what are you accustomed to using?
I can try to find it for you,” Gao Yang said gravely.
“MK23, but it doesn’t matter now; I plan to use this P226 as my main gun from now on.”
Gao Yang nodded, dug something out of his pocket, and said to Taylor, “Here’s something for you.”
In his hand, Gao Yang held a dog tag, Bruce’s.
Seeing what Gao Yang held, Taylor stood up straight and stretched out both hands.
Gao Yang placed the dog tag in Taylor’s palm, waited for him to secure it, then said solemnly, “These are Bruce’s dog tags, now in your care.
Be careful with them, don’t lose or dirty them.”
Taylor hung the dog tags around his neck, patted the tag on his chest, and pledged solemnly, “I swear on my life, as long as I live, they will not be lost or dirtied!
Ram, thank you, I am very grateful for everything you’ve done.”
Gao Yang nodded, turned to Andy He, and commanded, “Taylor’s leg is injured, check it for him.” (To be continued.
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