Medal

When Alex stepped off the train, a tall, muscular white man strode over at a quick pace, almost breaking into a run. The white fur hat on his head fell off amid the jostling. The man paid it no mind, rushing forward to fiercely embrace Alex, who had yet to react. He kept muttering things Alex could not understand at all.

After holding him for a full ten seconds, the white man reluctantly let Alex go.

Alex had been completely stunned by the man's series of actions, especially after hearing that incomprehensible language. He turned to look at the slightly hunched man behind him. It was none other than the translator from Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

The ** at Auschwitz had all been dealt with by Alex. The translator had originally been meant to die as well. But he feared death and had offered up quite a few secrets. He had played no small part in helping Alex intercept the coal train. According to him, he had not actually been a translator, but rather the camp's confidential secretary, privy to many ** military secrets. He had only been temporarily pulled in as a translator because he was proficient in several languages.

After hesitating for a while, Alex had decided to keep him. The Nordic countries each had their own languages, and Alex had worried they would be unable to communicate upon reaching Finland, so he kept him around. However, as a precaution, he was guarded by two soldiers most of the time. He had only been untied just before they got off the train, because Alex thought they might need a translator later.

Sure enough, Alex did not understand the white man's very first sentence. He could only turn to the translator. "Norwell, what did he say?"

"He said, welcome, Alex." The translator, Norwell, was exceedingly respectful, without the arrogance he had shown when Alex first met him.

"He knows my name?" Alex was somewhat surprised. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Ask him who he is."

Norwell stepped forward and exchanged a few words with the white man before retreating. Leaning close behind Alex, he quietly said, "He is Neil Grant, a Finnish general. He came specifically to receive you."

"He came specifically for me? Was this Howard?" Alex had no idea how much of a stir his group had already caused internationally. Hearing this, he assumed Howard had arranged it.

In truth, when Alex had led seventy thousand prisoners of war and civilians out of Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Howard had begun publicizing it extensively. The escape led by Alex had drawn widespread international attention and was hailed as "the greatest escape in history." Under international pressure, the Soviet Union could only turn a blind eye to the train and let it pass through the three Baltic states.

"He did not mention that, but he invited us to head for Finland immediately." Norwell lowered his head slightly, concealing his face.

More than two hours later, with nearly a hundred ships dispatched by Finland, the seventy thousand people left Estonia in an orderly fashion and set foot on Finland's snow-covered land.

From beginning to end, the local Estonian government showed no reaction whatsoever, treating the seventy thousand of them as if they were Translucent. Toby Manes, who had expected a hard battle, was somewhat disappointed.

After draping a thick fur coat over Audrey, Alex turned to Neil Grant beside him and asked with some confusion, "Mr. Grant, how much longer until we see the Norwegian Sea?" After resting for a night in Helsinki, the group boarded a train again and headed for the northernmost part of Finland. They would set sail from there, cross the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea, and return to the United Kingdom.

"Another two hours and we will reach Inari. You can take a ship out to sea there." Neil looked imposing, but he was actually very kind, with a gentle smile always on his face.

"Oh, that's wonderful. We can finally go home!" After being away for several months, Alex truly missed home. He missed Steve and Bucky, that pair of close buddies, and he missed Marilyn Monroe, his little sister.

"Alex, I'm afraid you'll have to stay in the United Kingdom for a few more days!" Just then, Toby hurried over, his face full of envy. "Mr. Churchill has invited you to dinner, and His Majesty the King will personally present you with the Victoria Cross! The Victoria Cross—oh my God, it's the Victoria Cross!"

"What?" Alex stared at Toby in astonishment. "You're not joking, are you?"

"Joking? I wish it were a joke!" Toby rolled his eyes at Alex and casually handed him the letter in his hand. "There are also rumors that the US Government will award you a Medal of Honor."

"That can't be right, can it? I didn't really do anything." Alex was quite self-aware. He truly did not think he had done anything worthy of commendation.

"Saving seventy thousand prisoners of war and civilians is already an earthshaking achievement!" Neil said enviously from the side. Norwell faithfully translated Neil's envy as well. In truth, he was deeply envious himself.

"But I didn't do it alone. Toby and the other soldiers were involved too." As Alex spoke, he turned to Neil. "And of course, we couldn't have done it without your help. Otherwise, we would never have been able to leave the European Continent."

"You had the ability to escape alone, but you stayed. Most people could never do that." Toby looked at Alex with a serious expression. "The Victoria Cross belongs to you." Toby had personally witnessed Alex's abilities. As long as he wanted to, he could leave at any time. Yet Alex had chosen to stay, chosen to lead the seventy thousand people from Auschwitz Concentration Camp in a perilous thousand-mile breakout.

"Now that you put it that way, I'm starting to feel a little proud." Alex chuckled, but his mind suddenly drifted to his previous life.

In his previous life, Zhang Xuan had merely been an ordinary shut-in, with a bit of an angry nationalist streak. He had been lucky enough to gain the ability of Teleportation, but he had not used it to get rich or punish evil and uphold justice. He had only treated it as a convenient means to travel the world, occasionally bringing back treasures that belonged to China whenever he had the chance. That was all. The most extreme thing Zhang Xuan had ever done was burn down Yasukuni Shrine in a blaze of fury after the Diaoyu Islands incident erupted.

Of course, no one knew Zhang Xuan had done any of it. There was not even a trace of news online or on television, as if it had never happened. Sometimes Zhang Xuan enjoyed the loneliness of being an anonymous hero, but at other times, he wanted to become famous and be praised by countless people.

In his previous life, Zhang Xuan had remained unknown until his death. No one knew everything he had done.

In this life, after only a few short months, his name had already spread across the world. British Prime Minister Churchill wanted to dine with him, and the British royal family wanted to award him a medal. Just thinking about it made Zhang Xuan excited. He liked this feeling.

In this life, I will no longer remain unknown! Alex spread his arms into the cold wind and shouted in his heart, I want to be a hero—a great hero admired by countless people!

P.S. Thanks to Wo Bu Feng Mo Zen Cheng Fo for the donation, and thanks to all the friends who support Scorpion!