Horatio arrived at Rear Admiral Hood's residence as scheduled, but unlike his previous clandestine visit, this time he was properly dressed in his military uniform, with four gleaming medals pinned to his chest.
The Navy Department had retroactively awarded him a "Crimson Skull" medal to commend his valiant rescue.
The Guards in red at the gate checked his credentials, rendered him a solemn salute, and let him pass.
He parked his car in front of the main residence, and a butler opened the car door for him, allowing him to step out alone before the servant drove the car into the garage.
Three people stood at the entrance, all familiar to him.
"Good day, Rear Admiral Hood, and…" He looked at the girl beside the Rear Admiral: "Miss Hood."
Rear Admiral Hood wore a crisp general's uniform, not because Horatio was visiting today, but as his daily habit, always maintaining his honor and dignity as a soldier.
The golden-haired girl, like a canary, smiled gracefully and demurely, her lips painted with bright, alluring lip gloss.
She wore a luxurious black and red gown, and her beautiful, smooth golden hair was styled into a layered, medium-length double ponytail with curls.
A lace hat was tilted on her head, her well-proportioned and slender legs were encased in black garter stockings, and she wore high-heeled leather shoes with silk bows tied at the ankles, making her beautiful and alluring, yet also subtly seductive and charmingly proud.
It was Horatio's first time seeing Farida in this appearance; he raised an eyebrow, maintaining a smile, feeling a bit curious.
"Mr. Horatio, long time no see. Ah, or perhaps I should call you Sergeant Major now?" Farida playfully stuck out her tongue.
[This girl, after not seeing her for a while, feels like a completely different person.]
"You can call me whatever you like," Horatio replied with a smile.
"Please come in, Sergeant Major Horatio. We can discuss the mission during dinner." Although Rear Admiral Hood spoke in his usual tone, he no longer maintained the same stiff demeanor as he did in the Navy Department office.
As the attendant brought the washbasin, Horatio looked into Farida's eyes, understandingly replicating the etiquette she had taught him earlier, perfectly and calmly.
"You look like a true noble now," Farida said, observing his every move, her fork touching her pink lips.
"You taught me well," Horatio said, picking up his knife and fork.
Dinner began, and as they ate and chatted, Horatio noticed that Farida's maid was also dining beside her.
Seeing Horatio observing, Farida proudly introduced, "Lina is Lieutenant Commander Elphinstone's daughter; we grew up together."
Horatio was not surprised by this; noble girls' maids were usually from lower nobility.
"As the Fleet Military Intelligence Headquarters becomes increasingly busy, I have transferred Farida from the Adeptus Arbites back to the Imperial Navy. She will accompany you in the future and provide all the support you need, and Lina will also follow her father later, responsible for providing intelligence support to you all. They will both be your colleagues in your future work."
"Understood, Rear Admiral Hood." Horatio nodded in acknowledgment.
"If I recall correctly, your surveillance location today is the Vegas B-1 Super Trade Tower, and Farida will go with you."
"Huh?" Horatio let out a small sound of inquiry.
"I am your operational partner today, Sergeant Major Horatio. It's been a while since we partnered up, so please bear with me."
"…"
Horatio said nothing, looking at Rear Admiral Hood with a 'Are you serious?' expression.
The Rear Admiral chewed his steak, ignoring Horatio's gaze, and continued, "Farida will not be a hindrance to you; on the contrary, she will be a pair of good wings, making you even more formidable."
Horatio could tell that his expression clearly said, 'I didn't beat your dad in achievements, but my daughter can't handle you?'
"That's truly an immense gratitude, General." Horatio said with a wry smile.
Seeing Horatio's reluctant expression, Farida's lips curved upwards. She picked up a handkerchief, wiped her mouth, and huffed, "Please wait and see, Sergeant Major."
Horatio looked at Lina with a pleading gaze, but Lina simply closed her eyes, her attitude clear.
Finally, Horatio sighed and said with a wry smile, "I will take good care of the young lady."
Rear Admiral Hood nodded in satisfaction: "Take my car."
After dinner, Farida eagerly pulled Horatio into her father's car.
"I think, this time, you should drive?" Farida tilted her head, hinting at Horatio.
"Of course."
The hovercar slowly took off, heading towards the most luxurious commercial complex on the entire planet.
The entire building was Gothic in style, resembling twin towers, but its main structure adopted a luxurious Baroque style, appearing magnificent rather than rigidly solemn, immediately clarifying its purpose—a place for the wealthy to entertain themselves.
"They say, there's nothing here you can't imagine, only what you haven't thought of," Farida said leisurely, enjoying the breeze on her face.
She brought her black-stockinged long legs together, leaning playfully towards Horatio, her leg less than 10 centimeters from his hand on the gear shift. The black garter of her stocking and the absolute domain of her snow-white thigh were subtly revealed with her leg movements.
The girl's emerald eyes occasionally glanced at his face, watching for his reaction.
But Horatio's concentration while driving was highly focused, just as when he commanded a warship, completely avoiding looking at any non-essential areas.
"Is that so… Then next time I'll come here to investigate if there are any heretic activities threatening the Imperial Navy." Horatio narrowed his eyes alertly.
"?" Farida raised an eyebrow, looking at Horatio with a strange expression.
"Alright, it seems your sense of humor has declined after some time apart, but it's okay, I'll help you restore it."
Horatio smiled and said, "So, Miss Hood, you're just out to shop this time, aren't you?"
"Who… who said that! One can have both; life and mission don't have to be so separate." Seeing Horatio's words hit home, Farida's cheeks instantly flushed red.
Horatio smiled; she did indeed have a high-powered rifle in the trunk.
Horatio wore a splendid Imperial Navy dress uniform, and in such an upscale establishment, wearing these clothes actually seemed normal, as those cannibalistic Evil Cultists wouldn't cease their activities just because there were Naval Officers shopping there.
According to intelligence, the Evil Cultists were suspected of launching their first wave of terrorist attacks today, and he was responsible for supervising and thwarting the attackers who would come to the B-1 commercial complex to place thermite bombs, collapsing the building and causing significant casualties.
He was confident in this, having already dealt with the 'old acquaintances' from the Adeptus Arbites remotely.
Horatio deliberately parked the car near the designated spot, which was an ordinary underground parking lot, though his luxury car should have been parked in a VIP spot.
But his intelligence indicated that the attackers would enter the B-1 commercial complex from this underground parking lot to plant thermite bombs, collapsing the building and causing significant casualties.
Horatio's gleaming leather boots tapped on the ground as he walked to Farida's side and opened the car door for her: "Please, Miss."
Farida's lips curved into a slight smile, her beautiful legs encased in black stockings extended out of the car, and her high heels clicked on the ground.
"Let's go, 'Naval Officer'." She linked her arm through Horatio's, and even through his uniform, he could feel her incredibly elastic and soft natural touch.
Horatio instinctively tried to pull his arm away, but she held him tightly.
[?]
"Isn't this how a Gentleman accompanies a lady shopping?
You bear the heavy responsibility of protecting my safety, Sergeant Major Horatio, the 'Savior of Warships'." She blinked her almond eyes, raising a pretty smile filled with a maiden's cunning, and chuckled softly.
"Alright, but only for today." Horatio couldn't do anything about her, responding with a wry smile and holding up one finger.
"You're so stingy."
Horatio smiled and said nothing more, pressing the elevator button.
He had a communication device in his ear, and a neural plug behind his head connected to a miniature receiver, so no matter what he was doing, it wouldn't affect the mission.
The sorting and distribution of intelligence were handled jointly by Lieutenant Commander Elphinstone and his daughter Lina.
Along the way, Horatio encountered many Naval Officers. Though strangers, as fellow Navy personnel, they saluted each other out of respect.
Initially, they casually glanced at the young Sergeant Major, but their attention was more drawn to the beautiful and elegant young lady on his arm.
As these Naval Officers gradually recognized the identity of the young man's female companion, they were all left speechless.
This young lady was none other than the famous flower of a prominent Naval family, the pearl held in everyone's palms—Miss Farida Hood.
The only daughter of the Rear Admiral of the Imperial Navy, who was reportedly close to being promoted to Vice Admiral.
When did this proud young lady suddenly have a man holding her arm!?
At the same time, Horatio's row of gleaming medals on his chest also attracted the attention of many Naval Officer's companions.
When they asked their partners if they possessed all these honors, hoping to compete, almost all the young Lieutenants smiled wryly in embarrassment.
They knew very well that for a man to be linked arm-in-arm with Miss Hood, his starting point was already the finishing line for many.
Not to mention he looked so young, his future was immeasurable.
Thus, many Naval Officers, even those with higher ranks than Horatio, smiled and proactively doffed their hats to the two vibrant young beauties.
Farida, arm-in-arm with Horatio, was like a celebrity on an outing, smiling and waving back to everyone. She thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention.
However, very quickly, she, like all women, bid farewell to polite social interactions and headed straight for a high-end tailor shop.
The attendants inside eagerly promoted and displayed the shop's most precious, fashionable, and temperament-fitting clothing, accessories, and handmade leather bags to this wealthy young lady from a prestigious family.
The lowest prices started in the millions, and even tens of millions were just the average single price for this noble lady's purchases.
Despite the exorbitant prices, for her, it was merely a matter of signing a check and stamping it.
Horatio sat directly on the soft sofa, crossed his arms, crossed his legs, and began to listen to intelligence.
Suddenly, he saw two familiar figures, stood up, and walked out.
"Miss Peru, you're here too." Horatio greeted Miss Thei Perlu first, then turned to the Asian-faced girl: "And Miss Yin."
Both were well-dressed today. Miss Peru wore a white floral lace pleated skirt, like a plump cream cake, her legs encased in white stockings, and her feet adorned with white, girlish leather shoes also tied with white bows at the ankles, carrying a delicate, small, pure white leather bag.
From head to toe, she was dressed in the most fashionable attire, yet it also embodied her natural girlish purity.
Yin Shuyao, who was with her, was not as brightly dressed as Miss Peru.
She wore a plain sky-blue long dress with matching small leather shoes, all visibly new, and it fit her graceful figure perfectly and elegantly.
Two maids and six Imperial Navy Guards in red, carrying guns, followed the two women, a perfectly appropriate entourage for a Rear Admiral's daughter, ensuring safety without being ostentatious.
"Mr. Kirkland!?" Yin Shuyao also didn't expect to meet Horatio in this setting and seemed a bit flustered.
Miss Peru, on the other hand, appeared calm and composed: "Mr. 'Kirkland' is here too, what a coincidence. Would you like to accompany us two ladies shopping?"
"I'm on a mission," Horatio politely declined. "How did you two come to be together?"
"Yin Shuyao is a junior who entered this year. Our family sponsors one civilian student to attend Plymouth Womens College each year, and Miss Yin is our family's choice this year. Her grades are the highest in her class, and I like to be friends with smart people." Thei chuckled, covering her mouth.
Horatio looked at the fifteen-year-old petite senior calling the seventeen or eighteen-year-old Yin Shuyao a junior, and he felt something strange but couldn't quite pinpoint it.
"On a mission?" Thei tilted her head, looking somewhat puzzled.
"It's not very safe here today; I suggest you two ladies return as soon as possible," Horatio said tactfully.
"How safe it would be to have such a handsome Naval Officer accompanying us, wouldn't it?"
Thei smiled at Yin Shuyao beside her, then naturally linked her arm through Horatio's and pressed herself against him.
A soft, plump, and elastic sensation pressed against Horatio's upper arm.
"Okay~ Please deliver it directly to my residence, and don't forget to emboss the greeting card with gold leaf. It's a Saint Lesti's Day gift."
Farida elegantly signed the check, gently blew the ink dry, and walked out of the shop in a joyful mood.
She had bought herself a complete set of luxurious matching items, from accessories to clothing. The maid had measured her figure and custom-made the chosen styles one-to-one, which would take some time to be delivered to her residence.
She also bought a diamond bow tie for her father, Rear Admiral Hood.
And, a Saint Lesti's Day gift for a certain annoying man who still looked reluctant even while accompanying a beauty like her on a shopping trip.
She had already imagined in her mind Horatio receiving the gift, wiping away tears and snot, thanking someone who cared enough to give him a gift on the holiday.
Just as she was feeling smug, walking out of the tailor shop, and mischievously searching for Horatio's whereabouts.
However, the next moment, she saw Horatio being embraced arm-in-arm by another voluptuous and beautiful noble young lady.
Farida's pupils suddenly dilated, and the surrounding air seemed to instantly freeze and solidify.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Farida Hood? What a pleasure. Are you also shopping? What a coincidence~"
Upon seeing Farida, Thei still maintained her smiling demeanor, calling out to Farida, who stood not far away, with a somewhat sarcastic and teasing tone.
Between the black-stockinged and white-stockinged young ladies, it was as if a layer of unseen lightning and thunder, a fierce storm, had torn open.