Honkai Impact 3rd: My Days as a Captain in Schicksal

Himeko clapped her hands as if suddenly realizing something: "Oh, I didn't explain it clearly. I'll explain it again then."

"St. Freya Academy provides free education and training for all its students, including but not limited to tuition, miscellaneous fees, textbook fees, living expenses, school uniform fees, and medical expenses that may be incurred during the course of teaching."

The audience erupted in uproar, feeling that Himeko was exaggerating wildly. How could such an academy possibly survive? Judging from her previous boasts about the facilities and teaching methods, it was clearly a money-burning scheme. And this kind of education was supposed to be free?

You must be dreaming!

Before the reporters below could continue their uproar, Himeko shrugged and said, "Because generally speaking, the cost of education at our school is extremely high, so high that ordinary students cannot afford it. Although our academy follows an elite route, it doesn't mean that the fees should also be elite-oriented..."

"Moreover, our academy is not worried about funding issues. What we value is the intangible benefits that students bring to our academy after they become famous."

The reporters below the stage exchanged bewildered glances. It turned out that this academy had grand ambitions and didn't actually focus on these students; to be precise, it was focused on their future.

This is a devastating blow to the existing school management model.

Of course, the most important factor in implementing this model is probably what the school principal just said: "Our school is not worried about funding."

So how big a conglomerate is supporting this academy?

Chapter Thirty-Four: Master Keng, a Model Teacher

"May I ask, what is it that supports your confidence? I mean, what is the composition of the St. Freya Academy's board of directors?" the second reporter asked impatiently.

"I'm sorry, St. Freya Academy doesn't have a board of directors. It's directly affiliated with the Shaniat Foundation and has agreements with many companies or groups to directly send students to those companies after graduation. All expenses incurred by students while at the school are covered by those companies or groups." Himeko felt that her ability to lie through her teeth was becoming increasingly sophisticated, and after some thought, she concluded that this must be the result of her becoming familiar with Keng Huo.

The Shaniat Consortium is the largest subsidiary group of Destiny in the secular world. With its vast wealth, it has acquired and merged various companies, and its business covers almost everything from high-end to low-end, from East to West. It is also an important source of funding for the daily operation of Destiny.

Upon hearing the name of the Shaniat Foundation, the reporters were immediately excited. They never expected that this academy would claim to be related to the renowned Shaniat Foundation. This alone could be a headline story!

"We have noticed that students at St. Freya Academy have a wide range of talents. Is this the result of the academy's guidance or the students' own development?"

"I think this is the result of the joint efforts of both sides. They are all serious and hardworking children. I think their achievements are largely due to their own hard work."

"Given the wide range of students' development, how does your academy accurately grasp the direction of each student? Moreover, adopting different educational models for different students is very difficult, and it is a recognized challenge in modern education. How does St. Freya Academy address these difficulties?" A reporter raised a very pointed question.

Himeko glanced at Keng Huo, who was openly laughing backstage, and felt a surge of anger: I was fighting on the front lines and talking until my throat was dry, and you were just watching me laugh.

Laughing is one thing, but what's with the soda and popcorn in your hand?!

Himeko's eyes darted around, a plan forming in her mind. She smiled slightly and said, "This is not my specific responsibility. In fact, the students of St. Freya Academy are able to enjoy such considerate teaching mainly thanks to my deputy, Keng Huo. Please let him answer this question."

After speaking, Himeko turned her head backstage and winked at Keng Huo with the eye that the audience couldn't see, her teasing expression evident.

Keng Huo stuffed the popcorn in his hand into his nose.

But Keng Huo was still quite sensible. He knew that this was not a trivial matter like usual. He quickly stood up, wiped the popcorn crumbs off his clothes, put the soda and popcorn in his hand on the ground, and looked at his hands, which were covered with condensation from holding the soda, and hesitated for a moment. He pretended to want to wipe them clean on his clothes, but then he was afraid of embarrassing himself on stage. So he simply grabbed the curtain next to him and wiped his hands dry before walking up to the stage with his chest out and head held high.

With a confident and spirited air, Keng Huo bowed slightly to the audience, adjusted the microphone, and began to launch into a verbal attack on the reporters below the stage with a confident smile.

"Hello everyone, I am an ordinary teacher at St. Freya Academy. My name is Keng Huo, which means to strike at illusions with a firm and resolute attitude. This is the meaning of my name. In my teaching, I often hope that my students can experience this spirit."

"Why is that? Because I believe that everything in the world is objective. Mountains are like that, water is like that, and everything in the world has its own original appearance. They are connected to each other, but they do not interfere with each other. This is the original state of the world."

"But why has the world become what it is today? It's because while things are objective, human will is subjective. Subjective will can influence objective existence, affecting both oneself and external things. For example, if I don't like this mountain, I'll cut it in half; if I don't like this water, I'll cut it in half as well."

"That's why humanity has such a prosperous society today. We mine mountains and extract oil from the sea. If humanity keeps clamoring that objective facts cannot be changed, then why should this world grant us subjective will?"

"Therefore, I often motivate students' subjective will and use stimulation, encouragement and rewards to make them feel the joy and satisfaction that learning and improving themselves brings, so that they like learning and love learning. Then, these accumulations will gradually accumulate and eventually burst forth. Finally, when their talents break through a certain threshold through their continuous efforts, they will bring themselves unimaginable improvement."

"And that will motivate them to keep working hard, creating a virtuous cycle."

Keng Huo subconsciously reached for his water glass to take a sip, but found that there was no water glass beside him. He secretly glanced at the backstage and saw that Ji Zi was sitting in the spot where he had just been sitting, happily watching with her popcorn and soda.

Keng Huo had to clear his throat as if to pretend to be confused, and continued, "But what does this have to do with how our education model works? I know you're confused. What you want to ask is where our academy gets so many people and energy to analyze each student's strengths, personality, and talents, and then develop a targeted teaching plan, right?"

"Perhaps this is a difficult task for others, but for me, it's probably not that difficult," Keng Huo said with a smile. "Could you cooperate with me on an experiment? This experiment may expose some of your privacy, but believe me, I won't say much."

The reporter who asked the question hesitated for a moment, but still nodded reluctantly in agreement: "As long as you don't reveal anything too private."

"Then please come up on stage." Keng Huo smiled and gestured for him to come up.

The somewhat short and stout middle-aged reporter walked onto the stage under the watchful eyes of the crowd and stopped in front of Keng Huo: "Excuse me..."

“No need,” Keng Huo waved his hand. “You can just stand here.”

Keng Huo pretended to be carefully examining the reporter, circling him repeatedly, his gaze sweeping over almost every part of his body.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the middle-aged reporter felt incredibly embarrassed, but also incredibly excited, because he had a premonition that this young man was likely to demonstrate something extraordinary.

"Mr. Shimada, your wife loves you very much, doesn't she?" Keng Huo suddenly asked.

“Yes, Mamiko every day…” the reporter answered instinctively, but stopped halfway through, staring at Keng Huo in shock.

Keng Huo didn't seem to care about the reporter's gaze, but continued to scan the reporter's entire body with interest: "How old is your child?"

"Seventeen years old..." The middle-aged man's gaze was somewhat complicated.

"Hmm...you have a dog, do you like it?" Keng Huo continued to ask.

"I don't like it. Dogs are always clingy and easily interfere with my work." The middle-aged reporter seemed to vaguely sense what Keng Huo was trying to say.

"Hmm... You're a meticulous and conscientious person at work, and you like to have a few drinks with your colleagues after work; you have a family that seems very good and happy to you, your wife is a stay-at-home mom, your child is in high school, and your job is stable, but you don't really like the dog you have at home, you only agreed because your family insisted; you had something unpleasant happen today that made you feel a bit down, but you didn't dwell on it when you were focused on work; you're under a lot of work pressure, but you know you won't get promoted, but you can't bring yourself to change jobs, so I'm giving you some advice on behalf of myself: change jobs, or open a small shop to retire in—this isn't my suggestion, but rather what you're thinking, am I right?"

The middle-aged reporter's expression was beyond words; he had witnessed a miracle.

To be precise, it was like encountering a demon. This deputy headmaster circled in front of him three times and somehow managed to deduce his personality, habits, and even his family and work situation?!

If the previous points could be explained by the fact that this person had investigated him beforehand, how could he possibly know that he had encountered something bad today? You should know that when you are in work mode, you are secretly called a work machine by your juniors, and your expression is as hard as iron. How could this person know that when he arrived this morning, the interview vehicle hit the dog of an elderly woman living alone?

The reporter felt a chill run through his body. He opened his mouth wide, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start.

“I used to be a psychoanalyst, and now I’m studying education under Principal Himeko Academy.” Keng Huo gestured for the stunned reporter to leave the stage. “My daily work involves analyzing students’ psychological states to provide them with targeted psychological counseling and guidance. I also analyze students’ feelings about learning to adjust their individual learning progress as needed.”

"This may sound like a fantasy, but it's true." Keng Huo shrugged, "Any questions?"

"Are there no students who have expressed dissatisfaction or protest against this psychological analysis?" another reporter asked.

“It’s written in our admission notice that the academy has psychological counselors who regularly conduct psychological analysis and counseling for students. Only those who agree can be admitted. Moreover, our analysis is very private. It will not be made public, nor will it be in-depth. It will only focus on counseling for the student’s mental health,” Keng Huo answered flawlessly.

"Excuse me, Mr. Keng, how old are you? How long have you been working at this academy?"

"As for me..." A look of reminiscence appeared on Keng Huo's face, "I started studying under Teacher Himeko when I was still in high school, and it's been almost ten years now. I've been teaching at this academy for about five years now."

"You said you studied under the headmaster in high school? How old was the headmaster back then? I feel like you two were about the same age."

"Well," Keng Huo smiled, "it's not easy to reveal a lady's age, but since everyone is interested in the headmistress's age, it just shows that the headmistress is very good at maintaining her appearance."

Keng Huo heard Himeko pop the soda very clearly.

Keng Huo was secretly pleased with himself: You thought you could throw me out to take the fall? I'll make sure you regret it!

"We still have some questions for the headmaster!"

"Headmaster! Are you married? What are your criteria for choosing a partner, given your outstanding qualities?"

Would you send your child to St. Freya Academy?

Keng Huo, backstage, smiled with a hint of success at digging a hole: "Although I feel like these questions are off track... well, anyway, I'm not the one being asked. I just hope Himeko doesn't smash the podium."

Himeko Murata felt her blood pressure soaring wildly.

How about being single?

I'm an older single woman, what's it to you?

And I'm only in my early twenties! It's not what you all think at all! (Although this "early" in my early twenties is indeed quite a lot)

Keng Huo, you're finished! Once I recover, you'll be the first one I use as a sacrifice!

"How was today's press conference?" Theresa asked with great interest in the principal's office.

"Headmaster, I know you had a lot of fun taking the students to the back mountain to catch rhinoceros beetles today, but could you please look us in the eye when you say that?" Keng Huo said weakly.

Theresa was engrossed in looking at the transparent box containing a large insect, not even taking off her straw hat. She had even left her insect net lying around, completely oblivious to the fact that her two subordinates had been busy all morning while she had spent the whole day playing with her students on the back mountain.

"Well, it's nothing," Theresa said somewhat awkwardly, placing the box on the table. "Did everything go smoothly at today's press conference?"

"No..." Himeko gasped weakly as she collapsed onto the sofa. Although the Valkyrie possessed formidable physical strength, the entire morning's press conference had left her feeling utterly exhausted.

"Those reporters were like mad dogs, bombarding us with questions..." Keng Huo rolled his eyes, sprawling on the sofa without any regard for his image. "If we hadn't been prepared beforehand, and if it weren't for my quick wit and silver tongue, we might have been exposed..."

"You absolutely can't imagine what this idiot did..." Himeko was supposed to confront Keng Huo after the press conference, but right now she was just too tired and wanted to collapse on the sofa like a couch potato. "He actually made up a complete enrollment process on the spot at the press conference... and had the reporters use it as a template for their reports..."

“They’re all minor issues…minor issues…I think I did a pretty good job making this up…” Keng Huo was like a fish with its belly turned white, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Well, the result is pretty good, isn't it?" Theresa nodded with satisfaction. "In that case, I'll give you all a day off tomorrow."

"Well, thank you so much..." Keng Huo rolled his eyes, feeling like he was about to die.

"By the way... Keng Huo... how did you figure out that reporter's personal information... don't tell me you specifically memorized all the information about the invited reporters beforehand..." Himeko rolled her eyes at Keng Huo with a charming air on the sofa, "Don't try to fool me, I want to hear the real explanation."

“I may seem to have shared a lot of crucial information, but it was all just nonsense.” Keng Huo perked up as soon as he heard Himeko asking questions related to him. “For example, his name and his wife.”

"His name is the simplest... It's written on his press pass hanging around his neck... He's wearing a wedding ring, so he's definitely married; his beard is a bit unkempt, and his hair isn't well-groomed, which shows that he's a rather casual person who doesn't like to spend too much time on his appearance, and could even be described as sloppy; But strangely, his shirt collar is very clean, his jacket is neatly ironed, his trousers are crisp, but his leather shoes have a slight stain on them, which may have been accidentally rubbed off on the way here."

“A sloppy person is unlikely to spend time carefully ironing his own clothes, so it must be someone else who irons them for him. Considering that he is married, it is highly likely that his wife irons his clothes. And a woman who takes such good care of her husband’s appearance is unlikely to not love him.”

"Even if the reporter felt that his wife did not love him, he would not say in public that his wife and he did not get along."

"Regarding the dog, I noticed dog hair on his trouser legs and cuffs. Our press conference is held very early in the morning, so it's very likely that he got up, washed up, and went straight to our news van. Therefore, it's unlikely that he encountered a dog running around him at the company or elsewhere. So it's only possible that his dog rubbed against him. When a dog sees its owner leaving, it comes up to say goodbye and jumps on the owner for a hug. This is a very common and reasonable thing. This is my second high-probability judgment."

"My claim of a meticulous work attitude is fabricated. No journalist is unserious; those who aren't would have been fired long ago," Keng Huo explained, seemingly regaining some strength and sitting up slightly. "Besides, at this age, still working as a errand reporter and not even an editor-in-chief, his career prospects are probably bleak. He should have been promoted long ago; why wait until he's almost retired to get promoted..."

"It must be very frustrating to never get a promotion, but his wife loves him very much, and they have a dog at home. Generally speaking, only families with a high happiness index have pets, so his family is probably quite happy. It's unlikely that he would take out his stress on his family. So, going to a street stall for a drink with his colleagues after get off work is simply the best choice for middle-aged office workers in the Far East."

"As for the child... I'm guessing. At this age, and not single, it would be a bit unreasonable not to have a child... On the other hand, if there is a child in the family, then it makes sense that this reporter is middle-aged and hasn't been promoted yet, and his wife doesn't complain about him or cause disharmony in the family. After all, children are the glue that holds a couple's relationship together."

"Hmm... and the one who encountered something not so good... I was just saying it casually, but this sentence will become a [memory beacon] for him. When I say this sentence with certainty, he will subconsciously search his mind for memories that match this sentence. In this way, anything that might cause him to feel bad can become a [beacon] that responds to what I just said."

"To put it more simply, it wasn't that I hit the nail on the head, but rather that he pulled out something from his own thoughts that was similar to what I was saying and tried to relate it to me."

"I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand. Anyway, have you finished writing your plan?" Theresa was determined to get everything done this time.

“Actually, we don’t need to write a plan for the future development of the academy. We just need to know what we want to do… So…” Keng Huo slowly slid off the sofa. “I won’t show you the written stuff. After I’ve rested, I’ll write down the short-term arrangements tonight, and you can distribute them directly to the current teachers… But I’d like to remind you first to be prepared to let these Valkyrie students continue their studies.”

"There are five years of college entrance exams and three years of mock exams. These newbies who have only studied for a year are not even considered new recruits."

Chapter Thirty-Five: Shock! The Big Boss is lurking in this academy?!

"Honestly, where have you been these past few days!" Kiana glared angrily at Keng Huo. "It's the school festival! It only happens once a year! And yesterday, when I was performing on stage, you didn't even bother to come and watch!"