The day for the patrol mission finally arrived. At Schicksal Headquarters' spaceport, several warships were ready for departure, their engines humming a low thrum.
Captain Kael, dressed in his crisp captain's uniform, was making the final departure checks at the foot of the Asgard's gangway.
Theresa was beside him, wearing a fitted Valkyrie light armor. Her face showed irrepressible excitement, and she chattered about where she wanted to visit first once they boarded the Asgard.
Just then, an unusual solemn atmosphere quietly spread.
The crowd automatically parted, and Bishop Otto Apocalypse was seen slowly approaching, surrounded by a group of Valkyries.
Today, she wore a more solemn platinum bishop's robe, her golden hair meticulously tied back. Her emerald eyes swept over the scene, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Bishop," Captain Kael immediately stood at attention and saluted. Theresa quickly reined in her smile and followed suit.
Otto gave a slight nod, her gaze falling on Kael. Her tone was calm but carried absolute authority: "Although this border patrol is routine, it concerns the dignity of Schicksal and must not fail. Captain Kael, the Asgard, as the flagship, bears a great responsibility."
"Yes, Bishop. The Asgard is ready and will not fail you," Kael replied in a deep voice.
"Very good." A faint curve seemed to form on Otto's lips. Then her gaze shifted to Theresa, her tone still steady, but with an undeniable hint of finality: "Theresa."
"Here!" Theresa immediately straightened her back.
"Your outstanding strength would be underutilized if you remained solely on the Asgard."
Otto's voice echoed clearly in the empty port, "The Helheim is the flank reconnaissance vessel for this patrol fleet. Its position is crucial and requires a powerful Valkyrie to command it. I appoint you as the Helheim's temporary tactical commander. Report immediately."
Theresa's smile instantly froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.
The Helheim?! That was the reconnaissance vessel furthest from the Asgard in the fleet! It was almost as if one was at the easternmost point of the patrol route and the other at the westernmost!
This meant that throughout the entire patrol mission, she would almost certainly not be able to see Kael!
"Grand—... Bishop!" Theresa was so flustered she almost blurted out the wrong address. "I... I think I could be more effective on the Asgard..."
"This is an order, Theresa."
Otto interrupted her, her tone still calm, but her gaze sharpened slightly, carrying an invisible pressure. "The Helheim's crew is waiting for you. Do not keep your comrades waiting."
Theresa's words were cut off. She looked at Otto's deep, unreadable eyes, feeling anxious and wronged. Her eyes instantly reddened.
She looked at Kael for help.
Kael also frowned slightly, clearly surprised by this sudden reassignment.
He stepped forward, attempting to plead: "Bishop, Theresa is more familiar with the Asgard's systems. Perhaps staying on this vessel..."
"Captain Kael."
Otto turned to him, her tone hardening slightly. "I understand your desire to keep a capable assistant by your side. But as a commander, you must prioritize the overall situation. The Helheim's position is equally important and requires strong support. Or do you believe there is something inappropriate about my arrangement?"
Kael's words were blocked. Otto invoked the greater good, and as a captain, he could no longer openly contradict the Bishop's direct order.
He could only respond in a deep voice: "...I wouldn't dare. I will obey the Bishop's arrangements."
When Theresa heard Kael's words, the light in her eyes instantly dimmed, her small face fell, and she bit her lip, barely holding back her tears.
She glared fiercely at Otto—though she quickly lowered her head.
In her heart, she cursed her grandmother ten thousand times!
She did it on purpose! Absolutely on purpose!
"Very good." Otto nodded with satisfaction, as if she hadn't noticed Theresa's displeasure. "Go now, Theresa, don't delay the departure time."
Theresa was extremely wronged, but unable to resist, she stomped her foot, turned, and ran towards the Helheim, her back full of unwillingness and disappointment.
Otto watched Theresa run off, her gaze returning to Kael. Her tone reverted to its previous calm, even carrying a hint of an elusive smile: "Well then, Captain Kael, would you mind if I boarded your Asgard to personally 'supervise' this patrol mission? After all, nothing is trivial at the border."
Kael's heart jolted. The Bishop personally supervising the mission from the ship? This was not a common occurrence.
But he showed no emotion on his face, stepping aside to clear the way: "The Asgard is honored. Bishop, please."
Otto stepped elegantly, boarding the Asgard's gangway, her high heels clicking crisply against the metal.
Kael followed behind her, his heart filled with doubt and a faint sense of unease.
He looked back in the direction of the Helheim, seeing only a small white figure disappearing into the hatch, and couldn't help but sigh.
Asgard's bridge.
Otto unceremoniously occupied the observation seat originally belonging to the first officer, sitting down elegantly as if she were the owner here.
Her presence was incredibly strong; even without speaking, she made the atmosphere on the entire bridge unusually solemn and oppressive. All personnel held their breath, not daring to be even slightly negligent.
Kael sat in the command chair, issuing a series of departure orders, his voice steady, trying to ignore the substantial gaze behind him.
The warship slowly ascended, and the fleet began to advance towards the border as planned.
Everything went smoothly during the initial phase of the voyage. Otto seemed to truly be there only to "supervise." Most of the time, she quietly watched the star map and data streams on the main screen, occasionally asking one or two professional and calm questions about the warship's performance or the border situation.
But her very presence was an invisible interference to Kael.
He couldn't relax as usual; his nerves were constantly taut, and he was even more careful than usual when pouring coffee.
During a break, Kael tried to contact the Helheim, wanting to check on Theresa.
The communication connected. Theresa on the other side of the screen looked listless, with the Helheim's cramped bridge in the background.
"Kael..." Her voice was weak, full of grievance. "The Helheim is so small... so boring... The captain always tells me to stand by... I want to go back to the Asgard..."
She looked at Kael like a discarded small animal, pitifully.
Kael's heart softened, and he was about to comfort her when Bishop Otto's unreadable voice came from behind him: "Captain Kael, when communicating with allied vessels, please be mindful of the content. Do not engage in idle chatter unrelated to the mission."
Kael: "..."
Theresa on the screen clearly heard Otto's voice as well. Her small face immediately puffed up in anger. She made a big grimace at the screen before cutting the communication, expressing her displeasure.
Kael helplessly closed the communication, turned around, and met Otto's emerald eyes, which seemed to be smiling yet not smiling.
"Young people are often restless and need more tempering. Captain Kael seems overly... lenient with her."
Otto gently swirled the tea that had appeared in her hand at some point, her meaning clear.
Kael was silent for a moment before speaking: "Although Theresa is lively, she has never been negligent during missions, and her strength is evident to all."
"Oh? Is that so?" Otto was noncommittal, taking a sip of tea, her gaze returning to the main screen. "I hope so."
For the rest of the voyage, Otto seemed to "supervise" even more "diligently."
She would suddenly question some insignificant data fluctuation, demanding a detailed explanation from Kael.
She would interject her own "suggestions" when Kael issued routine commands. Although they sounded reasonable, they disrupted Kael's established rhythm.
She would even suddenly appear in the dining hall while Kael was eating, sitting opposite him and discussing profound tactical theories, making him lose his appetite.
Kael felt as if he had returned to those days when he was overwhelmed by work, perhaps even more so.
The ease and vitality he had just recently regained were forced to cautiously recede under Bishop Otto's ubiquitous "attention."
He felt as if he was being pulled by an invisible string, every step taken with extreme caution.
He knew Bishop Otto was unfathomable, and her actions must have a deeper meaning, but he couldn't guess it.
He could only do his best to fulfill his duties, while his heart grew increasingly worried about Theresa, who had been "exiled" to the ends of the earth and was undoubtedly feeling very wronged at the moment.
The Asgard sailed steadily through the cold starry sky, but the bridge was filled with an unusual, oppressive, and subtle atmosphere.
Kael sat in the command chair, his gaze sweeping across the vast sea of stars, but his mind was on only one thing: these three days would likely be extraordinarily long.
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