"Thank you for your service and contribution to this nation Special Officer William!"

That's what he heard when he realized that his life as a soldier has ended at the age of 29. He had just received his first and last public reward. The medal of the huntsman. The first if it's kind. Along with a monetary reward as well, a secluded estate or 20 billion credits.

"That award had never existed before." he thought to himself, "How lovely, they probably made it just for me, they think that giving me this award along with the money would keep me quiet and satisfied for my injuries. Heh. I would've stayed quiet even if they didn't ask, I've already invested so much into this nation, why would I go and destroy it?"

William followed the official back into the compound to choose his monetary reward.

"Hmm. I will choose the money, it's better for me to use it. A house that big would just kill me from loneliness." he told the government official, "Plus I have a family to go back to. My wife and daughter are waiting for me."

"Uhh... Special Officer, about your family..."

The official had a weird look on his face. A look of guilt.

"What about my family?"

"Your family no longer resides in this world..."

William froze in his tracks.

"... ... ... What?"

The official trembled in fear as he repeated and clarified his words.

"Your family is dead, killed in a gas explosion."

"HOW CAN THEY BE DEAD?!?! EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT TO COMPLETE MY MISSION!!!" he yelled, eyes filled with tears.

The official took several steps away from William as he told him what was reported at his home.

"W-w-when y-you were on y-your mission, the neighboring house next to yours had a gas leak that lead to the explosion."

William spoke through clenched teeth as he tried to quell his emotions.

"THAT WAS DR. HANK'S HOUSE, HE IS A CHEMIST, HOW CAN A CHEMISTS HOUSE HAVE A GAS EXPLOSION?"

"D-D-Dr. Hank was overseas for a research project for 6 months. H-he hired a babysitter to take care of his so-"

"THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN THE GAS EXPLOSION, I THOUGHT THERE WERE GAS DETECTORS IN EVERY HOUSE AND A EMERGENCY SHUT OFF VALVE THAT ACTIVATES WHEN A LEAK IS DETECTED."

"S-s-special O-officer, after the scene was in-investigated, t-t-the gas was identified to be hydrogen, not the common gas used by households. O-o-our speculation is that the babysitter forgot to lock the lab and the child got in and caused the leak. The explosion can be inferred to be instantaneous and caused chain reactions with the other hydrogen sources. T-this happened 2 weeks ago, while you were still out in the field."

William shuddered at the information he got.

"2 weeks...2 WEEKS... TWO FUCKING WEEKS AND NOW YOU DECIDE ITS A GOOD FUCKING TIME TO TELL ME MY FAMILY IS DEAD?" William yelled hysterically, no longer controlling his emotions, "WHY THE FUCK WAS I NOT TOLD WHEN IT HAPPENED?!?"

"T-th-the military forbid us from telling you so that you were able to finish your mission and return home."

"FUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!"