The laboratory's findings were quickly reported.
As expected, the "special personnel" sent by Bishop Otto soon arrived. It was a mixed team of cold-faced, well-equipped R&D and special forces, carrying custom-made restraint devices and transport capsules, heading directly for Sirin with a clear objective.
Captain Kael stood in front of the life support pod, his brow furrowed as he looked at the cold instruments that were clearly not for medical aid. The leading scientist expressionlessly presented the Bishop's handwritten order: "Captain Kael, please cooperate with the handover. This experimental subject is extremely dangerous and unstable and needs to be immediately transferred to the headquarters' highest-level isolation research laboratory."
"She's just a child, and her vital signs have only just stabilized; she can't handle being moved!"
Captain Kael did not back down, his tone firm, "I need Bishop Otto to personally confirm this order!"
The communication reconnected, and Otto's figure appeared on the light screen, her background still the luxurious room of her flagship.
She looked at Captain Kael's clearly protective demeanor, a playful smile curling on her lips: "Oh? Captain Kael seems particularly concerned about this experimental subject?"
"Bishop Otto, she is not an experimental subject, she is a victim, a child!"
Captain Kael emphasized, his voice filled with suppressed anger, "She has just escaped mortal danger and needs treatment and rest, not to be sent to a research institute like an object!"
Otto looked at Captain Kael's slightly flushed cheeks from agitation and his eyes filled with disapproval and persistence, a very complex and unreadable light flashing in her emerald eyes.
She was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled, her tone becoming languid: "Alright, alright, since Captain Kael is so insistent... Sigh, I really can't do anything with you."
She waved her hand and said to the group of "special personnel" waiting: "Alright, you can go back. I'll leave this 'little trouble' to Captain Kael. Just remember to bring back the experimental data."
The leading scientist was stunned for a moment, seemingly finding it hard to believe: "Bishop Otto, this... her Honkai Energy adaptability..."
"I said, go back." Otto's tone still held a smile, but her eyes instantly turned cold, carrying an undeniable authority, "Do I need to repeat myself?"
"Yes! Bishop Otto!" The group immediately bowed, quickly gathered the data, and turned to leave without hesitation, as if afraid of being a moment too late.
The communication was cut.
Captain Kael looked at their retreating backs, still not quite reacting.
It was... resolved just like that? He had originally prepared for disobedience or even worse.
He did not know that on the Asgard, Otto was holding red wine, looking at Captain Kael's relieved expression on the light screen, a pleased curve on her lips.
"Research? That kind of thing can be done anytime..."
She murmured softly, her fingertip gently tracing Captain Kael's image on the screen, "But making him sad or angry... wouldn't be fun. He looks better when he's smiling."
For her, Sirin's value was far less interesting than teasing Captain Kael and observing his various reactions.
Captain Kael's rare persistence and anger, in her eyes, were more "watchable" than any experimental data.
Since he wanted to protect her, then let him protect her. Anyway... everything would eventually be under her control.
Thus, without Sirin even knowing it, her fate underwent a slight shift due to Captain Kael's insistence and Otto's certain indescribable "favoritism."
Captain Kael brought Sirin back to the medical bay on the Asgard and arranged for the most reliable medical staff to care for and treat her.
A few days later, under careful care, Sirin's physical indicators gradually stabilized, and she finally awoke from her long coma.
When she opened her bright yet hollow golden eyes, what met her gaze was an unfamiliar environment, cold medical equipment, and personnel in Schicksal uniforms. Immense fear instantly seized her!
"Ah--!" She let out a sharp, terror-filled scream, abruptly shrinking into the corner of the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket, her small body trembling violently, her eyes filled with a beast-like vigilance, distrust, and deep fear.
"Don't come near! Go away! Monsters! You're all monsters!" She cried incoherently, clearly suffering from immense psychological trauma from her previous terrible experiences.
The medical staff tried to soothe her, but it only made her more agitated, and she even unconsciously began to draw in the surrounding Honkai Energy, causing the medical instruments to emit a piercing alarm.
Captain Kael rushed over immediately upon hearing the news.
He motioned for the medical staff to step back, then slowly approached, trying to make his voice sound gentle: "Don't be afraid, child, you are safe now. No one here will hurt you."
Sirin looked at him in terror, her golden pupils filled with tears: "Liar! You're all like them! You all want to experiment on me! Go away!"
Captain Kael stopped not far from the bed, squatting down to make his height less intimidating to her.
He did not try to get closer again, but simply stayed with her quietly, repeating in a steady tone: "It's alright, it's really alright. See, there are no needles here, no strange things, you're safe."
His voice seemed to have a strange soothing power. Sirin's cries gradually subsided, but her body remained tense, watching him warily, like a startled kitten.
Captain Kael was not in a hurry. He took time to see her every day, not forcing closeness, just sitting not far away.
Sometimes he would bring some soft dolls or picture books and place them by the bed; sometimes he would just quietly stay with her, telling her about the weather outside, or narrating some simple, harmless little stories.
He never brought up the laboratory, nor did he ever ask her any questions.
He simply used his actions to gradually tell her that this place was different from that hell.
Sirin still spoke little, mostly just silently hugging her knees, observing everything with her golden eyes, especially Captain Kael.
She could feel that this man was different from the others; his eyes lacked the fanaticism and indifference of those in white coats, containing only a kind of confusing... gentleness and patience?
One afternoon a few days later, Captain Kael came in with a bowl of carefully prepared, warm porridge.
Sirin was still huddled in the corner, but the hostility in her eyes seemed to have lessened a little.
Captain Kael placed the porridge on the bedside table and said gently, "Eat something, you need to regain your strength."
Sirin looked at the steaming bowl of porridge, pursed her lips, but did not move.
Captain Kael did not force her. He pulled up a stool and sat not far away, picking up a report to read, as if he had just come to sit with her for a while.
After a long time, Sirin finally seemed unable to resist hunger. She carefully, and very slowly, reached out, quickly took the bowl of porridge, then retreated back to the corner, glanced at Captain Kael warily, and then began to eat in small mouthfuls.
Captain Kael saw this scene out of the corner of his eye and felt a slight sense of relief.
This was a good start.
Thus, days passed. Sirin remained quiet and wary of others, but at least she was no longer as hysterical as she had been initially.
She began to accept Captain Kael's presence, allowing him to stay in the room, and occasionally even secretly, quickly glancing at him when he told stories.
Captain Kael waited patiently, using this subtle, pervasive method to gradually melt the ice shell in her heart.
He knew that healing her physical and mental wounds would take a very long time.
And he did not know that this careful interaction between him and Sirin was being transmitted in real-time through hidden surveillance to the void archives.
Otto held her wine glass, watching Captain Kael patiently coaxing the child on the light screen with interest.
"Truly... more and more interesting," she murmured softly, a complex light flickering in her eyes, "This superfluous kindness and gentleness... it's you, Captain Kael, indeed."
For her, it was like watching a meticulously staged play.
And Captain Kael, without a doubt, was the most attractive, most special, and most important protagonist on that stage.
As for the little purple-haired girl... she was merely a supporting character who added a bit of unpredictability to the drama.
Captain Kael would definitely be hers... of this she was absolutely certain.
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