"Um... Vice Captain... did you need me for something?" Pardo fidgeted restlessly in her chair, forcing a smile at the somewhat terrifying helmeted man. "If you're looking for someone to do odd jobs, we can discuss the price... Uh, wait! I mean, I'm at your service! I'm very nimble with my hands and feet! Just... could you please not make me go fight Honkai Beasts?"
Though she didn't know why everyone was so afraid of this helmeted man, since everyone avoided him like the plague, it was better to be careful. The crisis sensing and intuition she had honed in Sundown Alley had saved her many times.
Could it be he's realized I'm actually useless and just good at eating, so he's preparing to sweep me out?
The thought of returning to a life of missing meals and living on the wind made her shudder. She looked at Lin with expectant, hopeful eyes, wishing to move him with her plight.
"Pardo, it's me," Lin flat voice emanated from the helmet.
Pardo froze, not understanding what he meant.
It wasn't surprising she didn't recognize him. After all, they had been separated for over a year. Furthermore, Lin helmet made his voice sound incredibly muffled, and he was completely different from the invalid who couldn't take care of himself back then. Pardo simply hadn't made the connection.
Finally, poorly informed as she was and having not yet made any friends, she only knew that others referred to him by epithets like "That Person," "Helmet Man," "Calamity Star," or "God of Death." They were terrified that saying his name would make him surge out like Voldemort to finish them off. She didn't even know his name.
"Vice Captain..."
"I'm not the Vice Captain. I'm the Adjutant."
"Oh, it's about the same." Pardo scratched the back of her head shyly.
The difference between an Adjutant and a Vice Captain was actually quite large. As Elysia Adjutant, Lin would move with her if she transferred; as a Vice Captain, he would stay even if Elysia left.
However, seeing that Pardo didn't seem to care, Lin spoke again: "It's me. Lin."
"...Eh? What?" Pardo didn't react at first. Once she was certain she hadn't misheard, she looked Lin up and down as if seeing a ghost. "Li-Li-Lin-ge?"
Limbs were all intact—counting them, yes, four in total. Not acting crazy, hitting people, or talking in his sleep. He looked mentally normal.
This person... is actually that Lin-ge who looked like he was about to die?
"You're cured!" Pardo excitedly grabbed his shoulders after Lin nodded. "That's great! I thought after you went back to Fire-Moth you'd... Ah, let's not say such unlucky things! I couldn't find you, so I've been looking everywhere!"
Lin didn't push her away but let her hold his shoulders. Gazing at Pardo's genuine, joyful face, he felt an unexpected sense of relaxation.
He had thought he might never see Pardo again in this life. He hadn't expected the little one to follow him to Fire-Moth and even make her way to headquarters unknowingly.
"So Lin-ge, you're a big official in Fire-Moth! I'll definitely be counting on you to cover for me from now on!"
"...No. There is no such thing as 'covering for someone' in Fire-Moth."
"...What?"
The harmonious atmosphere was abruptly ended by Lin cooling remark.
He fixed a stern gaze on Pardo, his eyes traveling from her "prosperous" thighs up to her chest, which seemed to have gained two pounds of meat. He instantly saw the difference from their days in Sundown Alley.
This girl's diet was too good, and she had been neglecting her training.
Pardo stared blankly at the silent, oppressive Lin: "What do you mean, Lin-ge?"
"...I have served as a squad leader. The team changed three times, and most were my juniors." Lin stood up, staring down at the trembling Pardo. "But every one of them was a battle-hardened warrior who trained diligently and never slacked off."
Gulp. Pardo swallowed hard. she looked around frantically, sensing something was wrong.
"Pardo, get up."
"Wha-what for... Lin-ge..."
"Let me see."
"N-no!"
"Behave." Lin gaze sharpened, his tone hardening. "Let me see!"
Pardo turned to run, but how could she escape Lin grasp? He reached out and picked her up by the scruff of her neck like a kitten.
Ignoring Pardo's cries of woe, Lin reached out and felt her waist, legs, and arms.
Loose and flabby. Worse than Mobius.
"How many missions have you been on?" Lin flipped her around to face him, asking sternly.
"Uh... I can't remember. Five? Four?" Pardo's eyes darted around, her mouth muttering non-stop. "Oh, it seems nobody needed me so they didn't send me. But haven't I joined Lin-ge's team now? I promise I'll be diligent about missions in the future!"
Looking at her, it was likely zero, let alone five.
With a physique this completely collapsed, she wouldn't even be able to outrun a Deadweight on the battlefield.
"Lin-ge? Lin-ge? Can you put me down now? Aaaaaaah..."
Amidst Pardo's heart-wrenching screams, Lin slung her over his shoulder and strode toward the No. 2 Gym.
Everyone along the way watched in terror: a helmeted man radiating criminal energy carrying a struggling, cute girl, walking past with an aura that warned "Keep Away."
When someone tried to step in and block him, the gaze from beneath the helmet swept over them like an instant-death beam, making them immediately shut their mouths and yield the path.
This scene happened to be witnessed by Nuwa and Fuxi, who were on their way to the cafeteria.
"...That's Lin, right?" Nuwa asked, uncertain.
"Ah... Lin has reached puberty," Fuxi nodded with certainty.
"No! That's not a puberty issue at all! Besides, Lin passed puberty ages ago!"
Nuwa watched Lin receding back as he disappeared around the corner carrying the screaming Pardo, then whispered to Fuxi: "Fuxi, should we... tell the Doctor about this?"
Fuxi looked at Nuwa with a horrified expression.
...
"Li-Li-Lin-ge, training and stuff... I can do it myself..."
Pardo stood before a daunting array of fitness equipment, her face a mask of misery, pleading with the cold-blooded helmeted man.
"Warm up first, then the treadmill," Lin said coldly, arms crossed. "No eating until the daily training plan is finished. Don't worry, I'll train with you."
"What about breaks in between..." Pardo was on the verge of tears.
"Don't worry, I'll give you plenty of rest. This is the most scientific training model."
But the word "worry" in Lin mouth offered her no comfort at all...
Thus, Pardo's good days ended today.