On a bright and sunny afternoon, Captain Kael was accompanying Sirin in the relatively secluded small garden at headquarters, identifying various flowers.
Sirin squatted in front of a cluster of blue hydrangeas, cautiously reaching out her small hand to touch the petals, her golden eyes filled with wonder. Kael patiently explained beside her, the atmosphere tranquil and warm.
However, this tranquility was soon broken by an urgent communication ring. It was a top-priority directive from the Bishop's Office.
"Captain Kael, prepare immediately. One hour from now, you will depart with me for Shenzhou to participate in the official cooperation signing ceremony with Shenzhou," Bishop Otto's voice was beyond question.
Kael was startled: "Shenzhou? Cooperation ceremony? Your Excellency, I haven't received any related briefing..."
"It was a last-minute decision; we'll discuss the details on the way," Otto said calmly. "You are currently the only available S-rank combatant at headquarters with sufficient rank. Your attendance is required to show our Pay attention to. Theresa will also accompany us."
Kael's heart sank.
He was leaving again? He subconsciously looked at Sirin beside him.
Sirin had clearly heard the communication. Her small face instantly turned pale, the hand that had just been touching the flowers froze in mid-air, and her large golden eyes quickly welled up with fear and tears.
She suddenly pounced and hugged Kael's waist, her voice choked with sobs and despair: "Brother... don't go... don't leave Sirin alone...Ugh..."
The shadow of being left alone last time instantly enveloped her, her small body trembling violently.
Kael looked at Sirin in this state, his heart aching as if pricked by needles.
He took a deep breath and said in a low voice into the communicator: "Your Excellency, I apologize, but I'm afraid I cannot execute this mission. Sirin... her situation is special; I cannot leave her alone again."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the communication, then Otto's emotionless voice came through: "Oh? That little girl? Just bring her along."
Kael thought he had misheard: "...Bring her along? Your Excellency, this is a formal diplomatic occasion..."
"It's fine," Otto interrupted him, his tone even carrying a hint of ease. "It's just a formality; the agreement has already been settled. It might be good for her to see the world, consider it a diversion. What, Captain Kael, can't even arrange such a small matter?"
Kael: "..."
He felt his brain was a bit frozen. What? How could such an important diplomatic event sound like a picnic coming from Bishop Otto? And... why did he know nothing about it?
He felt like a scapegoat suddenly pushed into an important position, completely ignorant of the cause and effect!
Kael: Hmm?
Truman: Hmm.
But Otto's command was not to be refuted, and being able to bring Sirin indeed resolved his biggest concern.
He looked down at Sirin, who was holding him tightly, her eyes tearful, and steeled his heart: "...Yes, Your Excellency. We will be there on time."
An hour later, Kael, holding Sirin, who was still a bit uneasy but at least no longer crying, boarded Otto's exclusive flagship, the void archives, with Theresa, who also had an unhappy expression.
Theresa looked at Sirin, who was clinging to Kael in his arms, and jealousy flared up again, but due to Otto's presence, she could only grumble softly: "Hmph, always taking her everywhere..."
Otto, however, seemed to be in a very good mood, even playfully teasing Sirin, though Sirin only snuggled closer into Kael's arms.
The voyage was smooth.
Upon arriving at the designated meeting place in Shenzhou—a garden-style building full of ancient charm—Shenzhou's reception staff were already waiting.
Kael, holding Sirin, followed behind Otto and Theresa into a spacious reception hall.
The hall was elegantly furnished, and several people were already waiting.
The leading woman, dressed in Shenzhou-style martial attire, stood tall and had a capable and sharp demeanor. She was one of Shenzhou's representatives for this event, Li Sushang.
When Li Sushang's gaze swept over the Schicksal group and finally landed on Kael's face, her previously calm expression instantly froze, her pupils contracting violently, as if she had seen something incredibly unbelievable, even letting out a gasp of surprise:
"Kael?! You... aren't you dead?!"
These words were like a clap of thunder, exploding in Kael's mind!
Kael was completely dumbfounded: "????"
Li Sushang seemed to realize her slip of the tongue and quickly waved her hands, incoherently trying to salvage the situation: "Ah, no, no, no! I mean, how are you... how are you still alive? No, no! I mean... oh dear!"
She stamped her foot in frustration, her face flushed red, "I'm so sorry! I... I got too excited! I need to go prepare the opening remarks for the Immortal now! I'll explain later!"
With that, as if afraid of saying anything else wrong, she practically fled in disarray, disappearing in a flash.
Leaving Kael, holding Sirin, standing rooted to the spot, as if struck by lightning, burnt on the outside and tender on the inside.
Dead?? How am I still alive???
What is all this about?!
He felt like Louis XVI on the guillotine, completely clueless!
He instinctively looked at Otto, only to see Bishop Otto elegantly wiping non-existent dust with a handkerchief, a profound smile playing on his lips, as if the earth-shattering conversation had never happened.
He didn't even glance at Kael, merely saying faintly to the equally dumbfounded Theresa beside him: "Little Theresa, mind your posture."
Theresa: "..." She was completely clueless too, alright!
Kael only felt utterly bewildered, full of doubts.
Li Sushang's words echoed in his mind like a curse.
Dead? How could that be! He was clearly alive and well! Was it a case of mistaken identity? Or... was there something he didn't know?
Ten minutes later, the signing ceremony was about to begin, and all personnel moved to the main venue.
A woman with a cool, ethereal demeanor, dressed in white Daoist robes, her eyes seemingly containing the vicissitudes of time, slowly walked onto the main podium—she was the highest representative from Shenzhou, the Immortal Jingwei, Fu Hua.
Fu Hua's gaze calmly swept across the room. As it passed over Kael's face, there seemed to be an extremely subtle pause, but it was too quick to catch.
She spoke, her voice clear and steady, carrying a comforting power:
"Today, Schicksal and Shenzhou forge an alliance here to jointly resist Honkai. As long as everyone unites and steadfastly follows the path once guided by the Immortal Chiyou, we will surely establish a new peaceful order in Greater Eurasia, we will surely revive the glory of human civilization, and we will surely protect our common homeland..."
Her speech was solemn and inspiring, and everyone below listened with bated breath.
Although... it sounded a bit strange?
But Kael was somewhat distracted.
His gaze involuntarily drifted towards the Shenzhou delegation, searching for Li Sushang's figure.
He urgently wanted to know what that phrase "Aren't you dead?" truly meant. And Kallen Kaslana's complex gaze, Bishop Otto's enigmatic attitude... all of it seemed to point to something he completely didn't understand.
Sirin seemed to sense Kael's unease. Her small hand tightly gripped his finger, and she looked up, her pure golden eyes gazing at him with worry.
Kael pulled back his thoughts, gave Sirin a reassuring smile, and gently squeezed her hand.
No matter what, the most important thing now was to complete the ceremony and take care of Sirin.
—Of course, also Theresa beside him and Kiana far away at headquarters.
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