"Sorry, Sister Elysia! And Sister Nia, Sister Snake, Ah Hua, Griseo! I didn't mean to! You really can't blame me for this!"
Waking up early in the morning, Jun An saw Pardo kneeling towards the void, more devout than those burning incense in temples.
Pardo was on the verge of despair. Although she knew Elysia had a super good temper, it didn't mean she wouldn't get angry!
She was different from Aponia; not only could Pardo not beat Elysia, she couldn't run away either. She wouldn't even know where to hide!
"Stop praying. It's useless. Whoever needs to deal with you will still deal with you."
Jun An walked over, jumped up, and gave her a flick on the forehead to calm her down. He had his own score to settle with her too.
However, Pardo still didn't calm down. After being hit, she even retorted, "Brother Jun An, why didn't you stop me at all yesterday?!"
Even with tears welling up from the pain, she didn't forget to shift the blame. "Brother Jun An, you clearly had the ability to stop me, right? Why didn't you just beat me back into rollback then?"
Compared to this psychological burden that could be exposed at any moment, she truly would rather have hidden away earlier.
"It's not too late to rollback now,"
Jun An clenched his fist, reminding her lightly, "But a night has passed. One death rolls back five seconds. Accounting for last night's time, a few thousand times should just about do it."
"Don't, Brother Jun An! I was just saying!" Pardo immediately chickened out, then quickly tried to curry favor. "Brother Jun An, anyway, you enjoyed it yesterday too, right? Let's just keep this matter buried in our hearts? It's good for both of us, isn't it?"
"Don't even think about it."
Jun An pinched Pardo's cheek, then pressed downwards. "First, clean up the mess you made on me. I'll take responsibility for explaining things to the others. As punishment for you pushing me down, this is your only breakfast this morning."
"But it tastes so fishy..."
Although Pardo complained, she still obediently squatted down and extended her cat tongue to lick, thinking inwardly that this was all Jun An's fault, she absolutely, definitely, definitely did not find it delicious!
—I'm not some little greedy cat!
I just have to seek Brother Jun An's protection to survive!
Watching the cat vigorously trying to please him, Jun An was currently just filled with the desire to complain. How had he ended up being the one pushed down every single time along the way?
Regardless, Jun An made a swift decision. "Pardo, later, if anything comes up, just say I ate that chicken. Shift the blame onto me."
"Is, is that okay?"
Pardo asked with some doubt. "Brother Jun An, now that you need to recollect the Signets, can you still beat Sister Elysia?"
If Jun An made a mistake, he himself probably wouldn't escape a fierce pounding either.
And as everyone knew, Elysia ranked second in terms of paper combat strength within the Fire Moth. Pardo, this weak little chicken, simply didn't have Jun An's ability to judge combat power differences at a glance based on experience.
"It's fine. Am I afraid of her?" Jun An reassured her by petting her ears.
Of course, Jun An wasn't actually worried about Pardo being killed by the others. After all, there were five people in the Elysian Realm capable of killing someone: openly, there were Kalpas, Aponia, and Mobius; implicitly, there were Kevin, who could crash the Realm, and Vill-V, one of its creators.
And the attitude of these five would likely be: as long as Jun An didn't initiate it, Pardo treating Jun An like Stelle from Star Rail and ravishing him wouldn't be a problem. But the reverse wouldn't fly.
So, in the current situation, the absolute maximum price Pardo would pay was being glared to death by Elysia.
But the problem was Jun An's reputation!
He was, after all, the leader of a world-saving organization! One of the three major representatives of the Far East Branch! Once the strongest person beneath the gods! The permanent and sole Captain of the Hyperion!
Forget the others, but even Pardo, who seemed the most fragile and cowardly, had reverse-pushed him. This absolutely could not get out, or Himeko would laugh him to death.
Jun An could even imagine Himeko calling him "small fry" while mocking him.
After all, they were childhood friends who had watched each other grow up. Just as Jun An knew Himeko's embarrassing moments, Himeko also knew him inside out. So her mockery would definitely be even more unrestrained.
Thus, the matter was decided.
Jun An also decided that after feeding this little greedy cat, he would have her lead him to find the other Flame-Chasers and collect their Signets.
"Speaking of which, Brother Jun An, what do you still need Signets for?"
Pardo recalled the "proper business" Jun An had mentioned. "According to Sister Elysia and the others, isn't the Honkai already over?"
"Actually, there are still remnants. After all, where there's Honkai energy, Honkai will accompany it. A few pop up occasionally."
Jun An patted the head of Pardo, who was taller than him. "Besides, Earth is going to establish a technological system using Honkai energy as conventional power. Although naturally occurring Honkai energy is under control, technology inevitably has accidents. A standing army is still necessary."
"So Brother Jun An, you still have to fight in the future?"
"Of course. Actually, as Honkai energy gradually decreases, the workload for people like me will also greatly reduce. Eventually, it might even become an idle job where I just eat and wait to die."
Jun An thought for a moment, then asked, "Pardo, when you get out, do you want to register your name too? Anyway, when you're really needed, the most you'll do is be a scout."
"You said it, Brother Jun An!"
Pardo's eyes instantly lit up. "By the way, how much is the salary? Does it include room and board?"
Pardo's wish was to eat her fill and sleep, and when she woke up, bask in the sun. If she could have an idle position like during the Fire Moth era, that would be even better.
And this time was different from before. It wasn't an accidental idle job; it was handpicked by Brother Jun An!
Jun An was basically the most generous person Pardo had met besides Eden. Other than being a bit concerned about face, he had no other flaws. If the price for getting a well-paid idle job was just being petted occasionally by Brother Jun An, she would be more than happy.
And sure enough, Jun An nodded. "I'll calculate it for you when you get out. I promise it will be within your capabilities, and the salary will guarantee you won't go hungry. If anything comes up that's beyond your ability, you can always come find me."
Hearing this, Pardo's handiwork became even more enthusiastic. "Ehehe, as expected of Brother Jun An."
For Jun An, sharing some of his salary to support this little cat wasn't really a problem. After all, she had already sucked him off; guaranteeing her basic needs was necessary.
Just as Jun An was petting Pardo's cat head, letting his thoughts wander, his phone rang.
"Hm? Who's calling?" Pardo seemed somewhat displeased with the person interrupting her entrepreneurial efforts. "Why would someone call so early in the morning?"
"If you have time to talk, you might as well put your mouth to use too."
"Mmph, didn't I already use my chest?" Although Pardo complained slightly, since it was Brother Jun An's preference, she had to satisfy him.
However, she still deliberately made her swallowing sounds louder, seemingly retaliating against Jun An's insensitivity.
Jun An completely ignored her little scheme, looked at the unknown number, and answered with confusion in his heart.
On the other end of the line was a rather mechanical voice.
"Hello, may I ask if you are Captain Jun An himself?"
Jun An immediately recognized the voice: Prometheus No. 17.
"Speaking. How do you know my phone number?"
Jun An remembered that his phone card after returning was newly issued. Basically all other accounts were burner accounts, he hadn't even posted a single update, and usually kept himself in invisible mode.
"Misteln asked me to call,"
Prometheus No. 17 replied flatly. "I didn't expect you to actually still be alive. Indeed, just as they described, you're an unkillable cockroach."
"I'm not immortal, just revived."
"Then let me correct myself. You are like a tardigrade that seemingly cannot be killed, possessing powerful vitality."
Jun An couldn't help but retort, "Tardigrades die too, they're not as magical as you say."
"Just borrowing some internet memes."
Prometheus No. 17 returned to the topic flatly. "Regarding how I knew you were back, it's simply that one of your game accounts recently logged in at the Far East Branch, and you used this account to make a top-up, so I found out about this account."
"Initially, I thought it was just Theresa and the others fooling around, but Misteln said she had a strong premonition. Honestly, I was surprised too, and even lost my future mate selection rights because of it."
"What the hell are 'future mate selection rights'?" Although he didn't quite understand, Jun An finally grasped why she had been so sharp-tongued initially. She held some hostility.
"I have to become part of her dowry."
Prometheus replied with dissatisfaction. "Anyway, let's get back on topic. Since you're here, it's much simpler."
"Could I ask you to come to the Sea of Quanta? Seele and we have encountered some problems. With everyone else unavailable right now, you are the best candidate."
"—Misteln said, as long as you can come help, the reward will definitely satisfy you."
Author's PS Notes (from Chapter 43):
PS: There's a bit of a plot hole, because the story of Part 1.5 happens half a year after the end of Honkai, while my setting is one year after, so I wrote it late. But please don't mind, just treat it as fun.