Mr. Horatio, in his sharp military uniform, pushed open the study door and walked into the hall.
"Oh my! My dear, look at this handsome young man; he's even more dashing than his father."
Madame Mengsha, who was conversing with Rear Admiral Edward, saw Mr. Horatio emerge from the study and smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescents as she continuously praised him while scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"Mr. Kirkland has become 'Mr. Coco'len."
Thei lightly covered her mouth, giggling softly as she used the nickname 'Coco'len,' which sounded both as smooth and sweet as chocolate, and somewhat endearing.
Creating new nicknames by changing a letter in a name was a common practice among noble girls, and the new pronunciation could indicate whether it was a compliment or a disparagement.
"Very distinguished, Mr. Horatio, I can already imagine you as a Naval Captain." Rear Admiral Edward clasped his hands behind his back, nodding in approval: "I think this appearance of yours will certainly leave a deep impression on your classmates tomorrow."
"I just hope it's not too conspicuous," Mr. Horatio said with a smile.
His humorous reply made Commodore Peru's family laugh aloud.
"You're much more lively than your father." Edward patted Mr. Horatio's shoulder, then pointed to a room ahead: "Your room is ready over there; from now on, this room will be kept specifically for you, and you can come over anytime."
"Thank you, sir."
"Make yourself at home, Mr. Horatio, just treat this as your own house. There are many exquisite collections from various planets here; feel free to wander around and look. But remember to rest early; report to the Loyalist Academy before 8 AM tomorrow, and wake up before 7 AM to prepare. Head straight to the dining room after waking."
"Yes, Commodore Peru." Mr. Horatio saluted.
"Thei, take him to his room. It's right next to your study."
"Okay, Dad."
With that, Rear Admiral Edward put his arm around his wife's waist and ascended the spiral staircase leading to the second floor.
The girl smiled and stepped forward, politely saying to Mr. Horatio, "Junior, this way, please."
"You call me junior?" Mr. Horatio looked at the girl, who was younger than him, feeling a bit confused.
The girl turned her face and continued:
"In the new academic year this autumn, you and I will be Gotha University alumni, enrolling in Plymouth Womens College."
Upon hearing her, Mr. Horatio recalled that Gotha University was a university alliance composed of several colleges, and Plymouth Womens College and Saint Abridal Successor Academy were both part of Gotha University.
Then he remembered the girl named Yin Shuyao.
Some are born in Rome, some are born as beasts of burden. While commoner girls struggle to get into prestigious women's colleges, it's effortless for nobles.
No!
[Very wrong! This girl seems to be 15 years old...] Mr. Horatio instantly realized something was amiss.
"Wait, you're 15 and going to university??" Mr. Horatio looked at the girl beside him, unable to hide his surprise.
He was currently 16, and entering the Loyalist Academy's Sergeant training school was equivalent to attending middle school. He would only be considered a university student when he advanced to the Officer Preparatory School.
To be precise about academic levels, when he attended the Officer Preparatory School, he would indeed have to call this girl 'senior.'
Is this the legendary loli senior...?
"I entered by skipping grades, sir."
The girl seemed to have read Mr. Horatio's thoughts and responded with a smile, perhaps proud, perhaps teasing, her smiling face containing many meanings.
"Sir, this is your room, and next door is my study. Which would you like to visit first?"
Mr. Horatio paused at the door, looking at the spacious guest room of over 150 square meters, fully equipped with a bathroom, living room, card table, and holographic television.
"I imagine a clever young lady like yourself would have a very unique study," Mr. Horatio said with a smile.
"You're not wrong," the girl replied with a graceful smile, and the two walked forward to the next room.
She stood at the door, seemingly waiting for something.
Mr. Horatio naturally understood and stepped forward to push open the exquisitely carved double doors for the girl.
But the moment the doors opened, he froze.
The space before him, comparable to Rear Admiral Hood's study, was filled with various animal and plant specimens. The first glance gave Mr. Horatio the illusion of entering an ornamental garden.
The specimens were strange and varied, none alike, preserved lifelike, and collected from various worlds across the galaxy.
From exotic flowers and plants to various small animals, the further back his gaze went, the larger the specimens became.
Thanks to an unknown advanced technology, these specimens could even be arranged into a complete set of ecosystem display cases, replicating the proper appearance of an ecosystem with their built-in mechanical structures, just like... 3K era Warhammer enthusiasts replicating battlefields with miniatures.
And it was an automatically operating battlefield.
Mr. Horatio looked at the large display case at the back, which astonishingly contained an ugly Hrud xeno with several gunshots through its chest, posed Kroot, and even a Drukhari / Dark Aeldari head grinning sinisterly??
As well as many more xeno specimens Mr. Horatio had never seen before.
"How is it, Mr. Horatio, isn't the galaxy wonderful! It is so vast, embracing everything, nurturing so many strange and varied life forms! As a member of the Imperial Navy, you will traverse the stars and witness these with your own eyes. Ah! It's truly enviable."
The girl's voice even trembled on the last few words.
"Very impressive, Miss Peru, it's rare to see a girl who enjoys these things. Such unique aesthetics, I can somewhat appreciate your intelligence."
"But my father doesn't agree with me joining the Navy. He says his hands are already stained with blood for His Imperial Majesty, and he doesn't want me to follow in his footsteps."
A hint of lonely melancholy flashed in the girl's eyes, but soon, light sparkled in her golden-brown pupils again.
"For this, I made the most important decision of my life: to apply for 'Galactic Ecology' at Gotha University, so that I can personally witness the strange life forms in the galaxy in the future!"
The girl suddenly became exceptionally excited upon hearing Mr. Horatio's compliment. She placed her hand on her chest, dancing into the study as if performing a dance, then spread her slender arms, turning a circle in the open space. Her magnificent attire was like a blooming rose.
"Most of the small and medium-sized specimens here were made by me personally, and those large specimens in the back are all trophies my father brought back from his voyages through the stars, crafted by the first-class taxidermists he hired. You see, these xenos, they look as if they're alive, even this head!"
"Uh... you're right, miss."
Mr. Horatio gave a wry smile. He looked at the Drukhari / Dark Aeldari's eyes staring fixedly at him, and that sinister, charming smile, as if it wanted to devour someone alive. Goosebumps rose all over him, and the corners of his smiling mouth instinctively trembled slightly.
"Unfortunately, Eldar specimens are rare; there are no full-body specimens. Otherwise, I could set up a separate exhibition area here to display the daily lives of this ancient and mysterious civilization. Do you know? Even the Eldar have many branches, and they are divided into Drukhari / Dark Aeldari and Exodite Eldar..."
Mr. Horatio stood silently beside her, quietly listening to the girl's animated scientific explanations and introductions.
The girl became more and more excited as she spoke, her face flushed with enthusiasm, breathing deeply the slightly formalin-scented air.
"Aren't you afraid?" Mr. Horatio asked, looking into the girl's eyes after she finished speaking.
"Afraid?" The girl blinked and tilted her head, looking puzzled, yet displaying the innocence and cuteness of a young girl.
"They're already dead, sir. Why should we be afraid of the dead?"
"Indeed, they are already dead." Mr. Horatio secretly marveled at the girl's courage.
He had thought Miss Hood was bold enough, but he hadn't expected there was an even greater expert!
The girl walked over to Mr. Horatio, took his military uniform sleeve, and led him towards the back.
The specimens were dazzling, everywhere—on the ground, beside them, overhead. Mr. Horatio had never felt so overwhelmed.
Suddenly.
A huge, terrifying mouthpart rushing towards him instantly caught his attention. Mr. Horatio looked closely, and it turned out to be an enormous adult Antcow.