After a frantic rescue effort, they managed to salvage the two boxes of salary.
"Who burns real money as an offering?"
Jun An clutched the boxes protectively, heart aching. He counted what was left; only about a third had been rescued. The contents of the other two boxes were either half-burnt or reduced to ash.
"I can just pay you back, can't I?"
Theresa helped Jun An carry one large box, taller than herself, into St. Freya. "Right, how strong are you now?"
"Hmm, probably around A-rank, I guess." Jun An clenched his fist. The new body had reset his previously cultivated, ultimate physique right back to square one.
Not only was his strength diminished, but even his control over Honkai energy had been nerfed. Without resorting to any fancy tricks, A-rank was likely his current limit.
"A-rank, huh."
Theresa looked thoughtful. A-rank... she wondered if that would be enough...
"Just to be safe, Captain, come with me for a physical check-up. I'll have Amber issue you a new ID card."
This was part of the standard procedure for resurrection. Sirin and Cecilia had gone through the same process when they returned. Jun An knew this.
"But what about all my salary?" The money he and Theresa were holding was the entire fortune of this "deceased" person.
"Leave it with the gate guard. I'll have Himeko pick it up later."
Theresa took Jun An to the security office to drop off his assets, made a call to Himeko, and then led Jun An by the hand towards the Far East Branch's military hospital.
The physical examination was much like before: standard check-up, MRI scans, and then tests for Honkai energy resistance and Stigmata.
"Overseer," a doctor approached, handing Theresa Jun An's medical report. "The examination is complete. Here's the data. His physical condition is excellent. As a male, his Honkai energy resistance is superb, which is quite rare. Is he a new student at St. Freya?"
Theresa took the report and glanced at it. The data was indeed slightly better than when she first picked the Captain up, but not significantly different.
"It's the Captain. He came back to life," Theresa replied casually.
After all, resurrecting someone was no longer bizarre for Theresa. Even Kallen, who only had a tiny genetic sequence left from 500 years ago, had been revived. Otto had even created an entire world centered around her, truly making the world revolve around her.
Jun An had only been dead for a year; comparatively, it wasn't that outrageous.
But how could a doctor possibly know about such incredible things? She just felt pity for Overseer Theresa now.
"Overseer Theresa, I know he looks quite similar to the Hyperion's sole Captain, that great hero, but..."
The female doctor struggled with how to gently break the news that your horse is dead [Chinese idiom equivalent to beating a dead horse/stating the obvious painful truth]. She paused. "You are the Overseer of Schicksal. Finding a substitute like this..."
The doctor's mind started racing, imagining scenarios straight out of a specific genre of novels – the substitute lover trope...
Some wealthy individuals, unable to attain their 'white moonlight' [ideal unattainable love], would spend money to find a strikingly similar stand-in.
"Yalina," Theresa snapped out of her thoughts, interrupting the doctor's rambling. "Could I have this pen?"
The doctor, bewildered, handed the fountain pen from her white coat pocket to Theresa. "Ah? It's just for work. If the Overseer wants it, I have more."
"Thanks, then."
Saying this, Theresa took the pen and, applying a measured force, easily crushed it, causing it to deform and spurt some ink.
Theresa frowned slightly; her strength seemed a bit excessive. "Oops, I broke it accidentally. Yalina, you're a doctor. Let me ask you, if this much force were applied to a person, could it break their limbs?"
Although Theresa usually controlled her strength when interacting with people, she couldn't always manage it perfectly.
However, this scene registered as a warning in the doctor's eyes. She couldn't help but swallow hard.
A threat! It was definitely a threat!
Yalina couldn't believe that the formerly upright and kind Principal Theresa would resort to something like this due to excessive grief!
She swallowed again. On one side was the Schicksal Overseer, wielding centralized authority and immense power; on the other was just a humble military doctor from the Far East Branch. Faced with Overseer Theresa's apparent wicked desires towards a young boy, she dared not disobey.
But for the sake of the boy's future, she decided to say what little she could. "Overseer, you know that someone like the Hyperion Captain – capable enough to single-handedly manage the entire Far East Branch and St. Freya Academy administration for you, strong enough to fight Herrschers and pilot battleships, and virtuous enough to work for a decade without pay and without complaint – a second person like that simply cannot exist in this world!"
"Of course, I know that."
Theresa frowned. "Answer my previous question."
A threat! A clear threat!
I'm sorry, adorable boy, I can't save you!
Yalina could only nod tearfully. "Yes."
"..."
Theresa didn't seem quite satisfied with the answer. Forget it, I'll test it on the Captain later. If it really doesn't work, I'll just raise him for a while longer. Anyway, with the Captain's abilities, he should progress quickly.
But just in case, Theresa added, "Regardless, keep the news of the Captain's return quiet for now, understand?"
There were certain matters where she needed the first-mover advantage.
Yalina nodded, covering her mouth to show she wouldn't breathe a word.
It's confirmed! The Overseer really intends to make him a substitute and doesn't want this embarrassing affair getting out!
"I'll take him with me now. Goodbye."
Theresa then went to fetch Jun An and took him back to the dorms at St. Freya Academy.
On the way, Jun An asked about the general situation of the other Valkyries. Apart from Kiana, who was usually off-planet, the others were either working or traveling when free. The Fusion Soldiers, meanwhile, continued to slack off in the Elysian Realm.
"What about the Hyperion? I've been gone for so long, there should be a new captain by now, right?"
Jun An was curious who, in Theresa's and the others' eyes, could take his place. He had, after all, barely reached star-destroying levels of power and was the benchmark for fighting Herrschers. His successor should be quite outstanding.
"After you left, everyone unanimously decided that you are the permanent Captain of the Hyperion. Anyone else can only be an Acting Captain or Vice-Captain."
Theresa responded while walking with Jun An. "Right now, Himeko is the Vice-Captain, and the Acting Captain is Ragnar."
Jun An: "Then who's the Director of the Far East Branch? Who took over your duties?"
Theresa: "Himeko holds that position concurrently."
Jun An: "I'm a little worried about the future of the Far East Branch."
As Jun An inquired about everyone's status, they walked through the grounds of St. Freya Academy. Having spent time back on the original Earth, returning to St. Freya made its visible luxury immediately apparent.
Otto had really spoiled Theresa back then. Not only was St. Freya Academy built like a palace, but even the fixtures and fittings were lavishly crafted, completely unlike the austerity expected of a military academy. Even the twilight scenery looked like a painted scroll.
Back in the apartment, the interior decoration was as luxurious as ever. Air conditioning, refrigerator, television – all standard amenities at St. Freya. This was partly due to Schicksal's wealth and partly because the number of Valkyries was actually quite small.
Arriving home, Theresa called out for Himeko and Cocolia a couple of times. They weren't there, leaving behind only a floor littered with empty wine bottles.
Jun An noticed a note on the table along with some cold leftovers. It basically told Theresa to eat by herself; Himeko was taking the opportunity to handcuff Cocolia and make her help clear the backlog of work accumulated at the Far East Branch.
Theresa seemed somewhat pleased by their misfortune. "Looks like Himeko is finally experiencing the suffering I went through back then."
Jun An, however, felt it was a bit of a shame. "Looks like it'll just be the two of us tonight."
"Yeah," Theresa replied. "Taking advantage of the perfect time, place, and company... Captain, come over here for a second."
"What's wrong?"
Jun An sensed a strange vibe coming from Theresa, but out of trust, he still took a few steps closer. Theresa extended a hand. "Here, hit me hard. Don't use Honkai energy. Let's see if you can hurt me."
"Let's agree first, no holding grudges if it hurts," Jun An said, then slapped Theresa's hand hard. The smack made his own hand sting a little, and Theresa's expression showed some pain, but she also seemed somewhat satisfied.
Jun An looked suspicious. "So, what are you doing? Don't tell me you've developed some weird hobby?"
"Just doing a little test for what comes next. After all, it would be awkward if you couldn't even break through my defense when the time comes. Next, defense test. Give me your hand."
Theresa grabbed Jun An's arm, squeezed it firmly, and then asked expectantly, "Captain, does it hurt?"
The pressure felt tight to Jun An, but it was just right. "A little."
"Just a little is good. As long as it won't get clamped off, I'm relieved." With that, Theresa's eyes instantly flashed with a predator's gaze, and she pounced on Jun An. The sheer power gap of an S-rank Valkyrie caught Jun An completely off guard.
Clamped off? What?
"Theresa, what are you doing?"
"Doing what? Captain, don't you know that cute boys shouldn't be left alone with aunties in their forties?"
Theresa pinned both of Jun An's hands. I used to call myself a guardian, but I won't make that mistake again!
Theresa licked her lips. "Don't worry, as your guardian, I'll educate you properly, Captain~"
She could sense the Captain's immense filial piety, and it was still growing.
"Wait a second! I just got back, I still don't understand what's going on!"
Jun An tried his best to maintain his composure. "Theresa, what's gotten into you?"
Did I transmigrate into the wrong world view? Honkai Impact 3rd RB*? Holy crap, what kind of masterpiece is this?*
System, get out here and explain!
[...]
However, the only response he received was a kiss from Theresa. The tongue of the nearly fifty-year-old auntie was fragrant and soft. Only after a long moment did their lips part.
"That's because I fell for you a long, long time ago, Captain."
Theresa whispered softly into Jun An's ear, "If the Captain dislikes Theresa, you can try to break free~"
The Captain felt like crying but had no tears. "If you're giving me a choice, then don't use Honkai energy to pin my hands down! What's the difference between that and giving me no choice at all?"
Jun An's hands were pinned firmly; he was completely overpowered.
"Of course, there's a difference. A Captain willingly drained and an unwilling Captain being drained are both very novel experiences for me."
And so, Theresa unhesitatingly dominated the 'willingly' drained Captain.