After the warm dinner, Kael dutifully cleaned up the kitchen—after all, if Siegfried and Cecilia were to clean, he worried he'd have to apply for a complete kitchen equipment replacement the next day.
Theresa contentedly drank the last bit of bitter melon juice, watching Captain Kael's busy back, her eyes curved into crescent moons.
Little Kiana seemed especially excited by Captain Kael's arrival. Even at bedtime, she was still full of energy, pulling on Captain Kael's pant leg and refusing to let go, demandingly asking in a milky voice, "Uncle Kael... tell a story..."
Cecilia tried to pick her up, "Kiana, it's late. Uncle kael needs to go home."
"No, no! I want Uncle Kael to tell one!"
The little one pouted, and her blue eyes immediately welled up, about to unleash the Kaslana Family's ancestral crying technique.
Uncle Kael heart softened. He squatted down and patted her head, "Okay, Uncle Kael will tell you a story. After the story, you'll go to sleep obediently, alright?"
"Alright!" Kiana immediately broke into a smile, extending her little finger, "Pinky promise!"
Uncle Kael smiled and pinky promised with her, then was pulled by the little one to her children's room.
Cecilia and Siegfried exchanged a smile and followed, curious to hear what story Captain Kael would tell.
Seeing this, Theresa immediately jumped off her chair and followed them in like a little shadow, unceremoniously squeezing onto the carpet next to Captain Kael, adopting an "I want to listen too" posture.
Captain Kael had no choice but to start telling a simplified space adventure story, incorporating Asgard and various Honkai Beasts.
His voice was gentle, and his storytelling vivid. Kiana listened intently, and even Siegfried and Cecilia found it engaging.
Theresa, however, seemed less interested in the story itself. She was turned sideways, her gaze mostly fixed on Captain Kael's serious profile, watching his gentle expression and the occasional flutter of his eyelashes as he thought, a silly smile on her lips that she didn't even notice.
It wasn't until the story was finished, and Kiana finally yawned and was carried off to bed by Cecilia, that Theresa remained in that position, staring at Captain Kael.
"Let's go, Theresa, it's late." Captain Kael stood up and gently patted her head.
"Oh... oh!" Theresa snapped back to reality, quickly stood up, and followed Captain Kael out, still replaying the earlier scene in her mind.
Stepping out of the Kaslana Family home, the cool night breeze brushed their faces, bringing a touch of freshness.
Captain Kael stretched his limbs, preparing to return to his dormitory.
"Kael, I'll walk you back!" Theresa immediately came closer, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
Captain Kael looked at her speechlessly, "...Theresa, my dormitory and your residence are in completely different directions." And who was walking whom?
"It's fine! I ate too much, so it's a good chance for a walk! Besides, it's unsafe to walk alone at night!"
Theresa spoke with righteous indignation, as if she wasn't the one who had devoured everything on the dinner table earlier.
Captain Kael: "..." Who was unsafe, exactly? He sighed, too lazy to argue further, "Whatever you say."
The two walked side by side on the neatly planned roads of the headquarters, the streetlights stretching their shadows.
Theresa chattered all the way, talking about interesting things that happened today, complaining about how boring training was, and asking Captain Kael about things on the battleship.
Captain Kael responded intermittently, mostly just listening quietly.
As they walked, Theresa's voice gradually quieted. She secretly glanced at Captain Kael's profile, which appeared even clearer in the moonlight, her heart beating a little faster.
She subtly moved her hand closer to Captain Kael's, her little finger almost touching the back of his hand.
"Kael..."
"Hm?"
"You... you think..." Theresa plucked up her courage, wanting to ask something, like "What do you think of me?" or "What kind of girl do you like?" But the words died in her throat, and she changed her question at the last minute, "...Do you think bitter melon juice would taste better with a little honey?"
Captain Kael looked at her strangely, "Don't you just like the pure bitterness?" "Ah... right! Hehe..." Theresa let out a dry laugh, mentally kicking herself. Theresa, you're so useless!
And so, the two walked all the way to Captain Kael's dormitory building in a subtly awkward atmosphere (Theresa's side, unilaterally).
"I'm here. Thank you for 'walking' me back." Captain Kael emphasized the word "walking" with a hint of teasing, "Go back quickly, the night wind is cool." "Got it!" Theresa waved goodbye with some reluctance, "Goodnight, Kael!" "Goodnight."
Watching Captain Kael's figure disappear into the dormitory building entrance, Theresa stood there for a while before slowly turning to leave, pondering what excuse she would use to find Captain Kael again tomorrow.
— The Next Day —
Captain Kael intentionally arrived at the bridge a little early, hoping to deal with some urgent documents before the large-scale "interference source" arrived.
However, he had barely sat down in the command chair and hadn't even fully gotten into work mode when the bridge door slid open again.
Captain Kael didn't even lift his head, saying helplessly, "Theresa, what's the excuse today?"
"Captain Kael, it seems you're quite eager for a particular visitor?"
An elegant, mature female voice, tinged with a playful smile, spoke. This voice was definitely not Theresa's!
Captain Kael's head snapped up, his heart startled. He saw Bishop Otto Apocalypse standing at the bridge entrance.
She was wearing a well-tailored white bishop's robe today, her golden hair pulled back, and her emerald green eyes, filled with an all-knowing smile, were looking at him.
And she was not accompanied by her usual retinue.
"Bishop Otto!" Captain Kael immediately stood up and saluted, "My apologies, I didn't know it was you..."
"No matter." Bishop Otto gently raised her hand, walking gracefully to the center of the bridge, her gaze sweeping around. "It seems Asgard's operations are already on track, and Captain Kael's contributions are indispensable."
"It's my duty." Captain Kael replied cautiously, wondering about the purpose of this important figure's sudden personal visit.
He always felt that the Bishop's gaze held an indescribable depth, making him a little uncomfortable.
"No need to be nervous."
Bishop Otto smiled slightly, "It's just a routine inspection, and by the way... I heard you haven't been resting well lately? That child Theresa seems to have caused you quite a bit of trouble?"
Her tone sounded like concern, but Captain Kael inexplicably felt a hint of pressure.
"Theresa... she's just more lively."
Captain Kael chose a neutral term.
"Is that so?" Bishop Otto was noncommittal. She walked to the main screen, seemingly casually pulled up some data to look at, and then suddenly said, "Oh, right, regarding the next exploration mission to the suspected Honkai Energy anomaly deep in the Pacific, I hope you can lead the team personally.
The mission brief will be sent to you shortly."
"Yes, Bishop." Captain Kael immediately accepted the order.
"Mmm." Bishop Otto nodded, then as if suddenly remembering something, she said in a seemingly casual manner, "Before the mission departs, remember to rest well. Your health is the capital of revolution, and I don't want my most capable subordinate to make any mistakes due to overwork."
As she spoke, her gaze once again fell on Captain Kael's face, the concern in her eyes seeming a little too personal.
Captain Kael suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and bowed, "Thank you for your concern, Bishop. I will be careful."
"Very good." Bishop Otto smiled with satisfaction, then made another round of inspection before elegantly turning to leave, "Continue your work, Captain Kael."
After seeing off the pressure-inducing Bishop, Captain Kael had just let out a sigh of relief and was about to continue processing documents when his personal terminal rang—Theresa's exclusive ringtone.
Captain Kael answered, and before he could speak, Theresa's excited voice came through, "Kael! Did Grandma just go to your place? Did she praise me? I told her I've been helping you 'relieve work pressure' recently!"
Captain Kael: "..."
He finally understood what the Bishop's meaningful gaze and sudden concern were all about.
He looked at the mountain of documents in front of him and the new mission he had just accepted, then thought about the upcoming days of working with Theresa's "assistance," and suddenly felt that the future was bleak.
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