https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-120-Lanchi-and-the-Bonds-of-the-Magecraft-Institute/12584058/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-122-The-Student-Council-Bullies-Assemble-in-the-Shadow-World/12584060/
Chapter 121: Lanchi's Filial Piety Knows No Bounds
Chapter 121: Lanchi's Filial Piety Knows No Bounds
Twenty minutes later.
On the fifth floor of the main building of the Magic Engineering Institute.
The shattered glass window on the floor filled the entire corridor with natural light. Occasionally, faculty members of the Magic Engineering Institute would walk by, and the carpet laid on the original wooden floor reduced the sound of footsteps and noise.
Dressed in a black classic suit, a white shirt, and a golden tie, with a rhombus-shaped Holy Light cross pattern on the buttons and collar, Lorence, the Dean of the Sage Institute, led Lanchi from the staircase to this floor.
They walked along the left corridor, which was filled with glass walls, chatting from time to time. Their voices were friendly and clear, like that of a mentor and a close friend.
Along the way, they passed by several other offices and classrooms, heading towards the dean's office.
"Dean Lorence, can I borrow your Primordial Stone Tablet of Wind?" Lanchi asked with a smile.
The first Stone Tablet holder he met was probably the gentlest person among the strong in the world. Lanchi felt no sense of distance standing next to Lorence.
"Oh, you're relentless," Lorence sighed helplessly. "I have to go to the Church later. There seems to be a lot of turmoil in the Northern Continent lately, which has also increased the workload for the Fate Goddess Church. Wait for me to free up in a few days, and I'll have someone inform you to come to my office."
It was as if Lorence knew that Lanchi would make this request. Gold-level card makers were usually not qualified to make such a request, but although Lanchi's status as a Platinum-level card maker was not yet official, Lorence fully recognized his talent and would not make things difficult for his student.
Studying the Magic Craftsman's Stone Tablet was not something that could be done in a short time; he would probably need to set aside one or two hours for Lanchi.
"Thank you, Dean!" Lanchi happily expressed his gratitude.
Soon.
The two arrived at the door of the dean's office.
Lorence didn't actually need to come here in person today.
He could have just asked a teacher from the Magic Engineering Institute to take Lanchi to meet Professor Polaoz.
But Lorence was particularly worried that Lanchi would further offend Professor Polaoz, so he accompanied Lanchi here.
Ever since the second round of entrance exams, Lorence had rushed over to the Magic Engineering Institute to ask Professor Polaoz to repair the Artificial Shadow World activation terminal. Lorence had not received special reimbursement approval, so he dared not face Professor Polaoz for a long time.
This time, due to the affairs of Lanchi, the culprit who was a Platinum-level card maker, Lorence had no choice but to meet Professor Polaoz. He felt that he would inevitably be scolded again.
When Lorence was still a student at the Sage Institute, Professor Polaoz was already the dean of the Magic Engineering Institute.
Even though he was the top freshman at the Sage Institute, he never thought that he would offend the dean of another faculty.
The more Lorence recalled his well-behaved student days, the more outrageous he found Lanchi's behavior.
Lorence paused his thoughts and knocked lightly on Professor Polaoz's door.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
After receiving a response, Lorence turned to Lanchi and instructed, "Don't come in until I call for you later. Understand?"
After making sure that Lanchi understood, Lorence steeled himself and pushed open the door, stepping into the office of the dean of the Magic Engineering Institute.
Immediately after.
Standing at the door.
Lanchi soon heard a stream of curses and apologies coming from the dean's office—
"The repair cost this time will be at least 8,000 pounds! Who's going to pay for this? You or us? If it comes out of the Magic Engineering Institute's funds, I'll make sure that kid pays for it with interest!"
"Rest assured, I'm already applying for special funding from His Majesty the King. If things really don't work out, I'll personally cover the cost rather than let the Magic Engineering Institute suffer any loss in research funding."
"..."
It seemed that during the entrance exam, Dean Lorence was scolded even more harshly by Professor Polaoz.
"Let me see that kid."
Along with these words, the door to the dean's office opened.
Lanchi only saw the door suddenly swing open, and a gentle breeze seemed to carry him into the room like a cloud.
In this building with its avant-garde style, the dean's office also featured a streamlined design and clear geometric lines. The large transparent windows allowed sunlight to fill the room, creating a dynamic picture scroll with the bustling campus scenery outside.
At the core of the office, a spacious white workbench akin to a surgical table stood majestically. The tabletop was neat and orderly, and its smooth silver metal legs shone brilliantly under the light.
Professor Polaoz sat at the desk, his eyebrows furrowed as he scrutinized Lanchi.
Lorence, standing on one side of the office, looked dejected, his fingers lightly tracing the air—he had clearly used wind magic to bring Lanchi inside.
Lanchi's toes touched the ground, and he stood firmly on the carpet of the dean's office, marveling at the smile on Dean Lorence's face.
He couldn't help but marvel at the convenience of Lorence's magic. He wished he could always be carried by the wind like this.
Suddenly, Lanchi turned his gaze towards Professor Polaoz, whose anger had yet to fully dissipate.
He actually understood why the old man was angry.
Because he had just overheard the entire conversation between the two outside the door.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the Dean's office of the Magic Engineering Institute was exceptionally dry and oppressive, the air almost palpable with tension.
The anger that was about to erupt but was forcibly suppressed by Polaoz hung in the air like a heat wave, silently spreading throughout the room and suffocating those within.
All Lorence wanted now was for Lanchi to behave and not provoke Professor Polaoz any further.
However, to Lorence's surprise, Lanchi did not back down. Instead, he boldly approached Professor Polaoz.
He stopped in front of the table, looked sincerely at the elderly magic craftsman, and bowed to him:
"Professor Polaoz, regarding the issue of research funding, I actually have a solution."
"What?"
Professor Polaoz asked, his arms crossed and a doubtful look on his face.
Eight thousand pounds was a huge sum, even for Lorence. So how could Lanchi, a mere student, confidently claim to be able to solve the problem so easily?
Lanchi smiled confidently and said, "Here's what you do. First, have Dean Lorence continue to apply for research funding from the King, but change the reason from 'repairing the Shadow World activation terminal' to 'further research and development on existing issues.' Then, send my father, Noe Wilford, an invoice for the cost of damaging the terminal, along with my confession letter. If the King's funding doesn't come through, you can take the eight thousand pounds from my father. If the King's funding does come through, take the eight thousand pounds from the King first, and then my father will pay you another eight thousand pounds, which we will split seven to three. The two amounts are independent and do not conflict with each other, nor will it be considered defrauding the King of a portion of the funds."
Lanchi finished, his hands clasped together as if the problem had already been solved.
"Whew—"
Professor Polaoz took a deep breath and stared at Lanchi for a few moments.
With the crucial issue of funding resolved and even the possibility of making a substantial profit, Professor Polaoz looked at Lanchi, who was about to become a Platinum-level card maker at such a young age, and felt that he liked him more and more.
What their Magic Engineering Institute needed was someone who could make the electricity meter run backward!
"You're a clever one, and I think I'll be inviting you more often to help us detect safety hazards in new magic artifacts. You are undoubtedly the best candidate for a tester, and I appreciate your divergent thinking."
Professor Polaoz stood up, walked to Lanchi's side, and patted him on the shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of approval.
From Lanchi's outrageous suggestion, he could surmise that his father, Mr. Noe Wilford, must also be quite wealthy.
"Professor Polaoz, I admire you so much, and I've been a fan of yours for a long time. I've read all your books in South Ventina, and I want to take more of your classes in the future. If there's a need for safety testing, I'll be more than happy to help."
Lanchi scratched the back of his head, having understood Professor Polaoz's implication, and smiled humbly.
Consider it a contribution to his tuition and an investment in the great construction of magic engineering.
And when his father finds out how excellent his academic performance is, he will surely be delighted!
"Aside from the matter with the Card Maker's Association, you can find me most afternoons on the second floor of the old humanities building, right below the student council. I'll usually be in the laboratory there, researching and developing new magic engineering artifacts. Feel free to drop by and lend me a hand whenever you have free time, and don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about magic engineering."
It had been years since Professor Polaoz had encountered such a promising young man.
Talent was one thing, but what was more crucial was being astute and savvy.
In the distance.
A place almost forgotten amidst the sudden harmonious and cheerful atmosphere.
"..."
Lorence watched as Lanchi naturally discussed quick money-making schemes with Professor Polaoz, the most temperamental teacher in the Magic Engineering Institute.
For a moment, he felt like he had a bone stuck in his throat.
Why did he have to endure that scolding earlier? And what was the point of enduring it for Lanchi's sake?
Lorence now felt that life was unfair.
He finally realized that whether it was during the entrance exam, in the Shadow World, or with the student council, whenever there was a conflict, Lanchi could always easily come up with a solution that made everyone feel as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly, and yet the problem would be resolved, and everyone's demands would be met as much as possible.
It was sheer luck that he had managed to survive until now.
The Shadow World begins tomorrow!
(End of Chapter)
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