https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-159-Lanchi-s-Lucky-Star-Hubertian/12584103/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-161-Lanchi-Discovers-the-Hidden-Vampire-Cutie/12584118/
Chapter 160: Lanchi and Hiberlian's Intertwined Fate
Chapter 160: Lanchi and Hiberlian's Intertwined Fate
Outside the window, the chilly autumn moonlight bathed the ancient stone walls, while the warm lamplight within kept the cold at bay. Despite the howling mountain winds outside Lichten's Castle, the cozy bedroom remained unwaveringly snug.
A moment of silence filled the room.
"..."
Lanchi, deep in thought, rested his chin on his hand as he listened to the intelligence provided by the goddess priestess Stiara.
Arriving in the next couple of days...
And capable of causing an accident within the campus...
Why does the timing seem so peculiar?
"This dangerous individual you mentioned, could they be part of the Aloran Kingdom's academic visitation team?" Lanchi inquired of Stiara.
Wasn't this timing in sync with the arrival of the Aloran Kingdom's academic visitation team?
For a suspicious outsider to create mischief within the walls of the mighty and tightly secured Ikelite Academy would immediately draw attention. They would need a spotless, prestigious identity to flawlessly execute their sinister plan!
Lanchi felt that Stiara had just handed him a rather extraordinary piece of intelligence.
Infiltrating Ikelite Academy, where High Priest Lorren resided, with hidden followers among the local civilians to carry out an assassination was an extremely risky endeavor. If it triggered an investigation, an entire network could be uprooted.
However, the Aloran Kingdom was a different story. Should any of the visiting students from Aloran Kingdom run into trouble, the kingdom itself would bear the brunt of the blame, and it might not necessarily implicate the Church of Rebirth. It could even damage the trust and relations between the two kingdoms!
If the Kingdom of Horton insisted on a thorough investigation, it would inevitably involve international issues, causing friction one way or another.
Ever since Duke Migaya Alan, the bearer of the [Primal Tablet-Darkness], had gone missing, the Kingdom of Horton had relied on High Priest Lorren, the holder of the [Primal Tablet-Wind], to guard against Bishop Ivanos, the possessor of the [Primal Tablet-Fire].
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Aloran depended on the Undying Sword Saint, Juliana, the bearer of the [Primal Tablet-Regeneration], to counter Bishop Famer, the holder of the [Primal Tablet-Corrosion].
If Hiberlian's death served as the catalyst, and the Church of Rebirth further fanned the flames in secret, there would be countless ways to worsen the already strained relationship between High Priest Lorren and the Kingdom of Aloran's Knight-Commander, the Undying Sword Saint.
At that point, the two archbishops of the Southern Continent might very well join forces anew!
This piece of intelligence, fraught with implications for the turmoil and conspiracies on the Southern Continent, was of immense value. Even if Lanchi reported it directly to Dean Lorren, he would be lauded for his meritorious service!
"Most likely..." Stiara acknowledged gravely, her expression solemn. By divulging this information, she was staking her life on Lanchi. Should he choose to turn her in, her demise would be certain.
However, this intelligence was equally valuable and could very well compensate for Lanchi saving her life.
Everything now rested on Lanchi's conscience and capabilities.
Subsequently, a magic card that had been stored in Stiara's soul space appeared in her hand, which she offered to Lanchi to take.
[Proof of Rebirth—Destruction]
[Category: Equipment Card]
[Grade: Purple Rare]
[Attribute: Link]
[Rank: 0]
[Effect: Identity seal of the Church of Rebirth. Can be modified or upgraded by the Bishop's Seal. If the holder slays a bishop, it will be upgraded to the Bishop's Seal and unlock bishop-level permissions.]
[Note: Holder -, Number ±, Encrypted.]
"So, this is the identity seal of the Church of Rebirth?" Lanchi took the magic card from her.
Since it was a zero-cost card, it hadn't been discovered when he'd searched through her collection earlier.
The kind of secret mission Stiara had, along with her identity as a perfectly infiltrated elite follower, was highly confidential. Aside from her partner or the bishop directly above her, even other bishops within the church wouldn't have access to such information.
If Lanchi could capture an elite follower like Stiara, who had seamlessly blended into the world, steal her identity, and assume her place within the hidden yet real network of Southern Continent followers, he could then infiltrate other archbishops' branches on the Northern Continent with this cover. Due to the magical communication blockade between the two continents, unless the bishops from the Northern Continent crossed the sea to hold a bishop conference, they wouldn't be able to verify whether his follower identity was authentic or not!
"As for the individual within your academy who conveys the matching time intelligence for the Shadow World, I'm also completely unaware of their identity. However, since they can use communication magic, they must be at least a sixth-rank existence. I will also provide you with the exact times we received the intelligence for these two Shadow World entries, but the deduction and screening are up to you."
Stiara added timidly, "Don't worry, I won't let the Church of Rebirth suspect that it was you who leaked the information."
Lanchi's tone turned serious as he assured Stiara, "Rest assured, I won't let any harm come to you."
Upon his return to the mortal world, Lanchi took on an important role at Ikelite Academy—to capture the audacious member of the Aloran Kingdom's academic visitation team who dared to cause trouble under his very nose!
"How dare they bring their mischief to my doorstep!" Lanchi vowed to protect his campus and bring any evildoers to justice.
Hiberlian, who was standing by his side, kept her head lowered, sensing the weight of the situation in Lanchi's demeanor.
Finally, she murmured softly, her voice barely audible, "I'm sorry, Lanchi... I always cause you trouble..."
Her words were filled with countless apologies, and she didn't know how many more times she would drag Lanchi into dangerous situations.
If she were destined to die, her only wish was to do so alone, without endangering Lanchi.
However, Lanchi looked at her with confusion upon hearing her words.
"Trouble? Aren't you the one who always provides the charcoal when I need a fire?"
Lanchi could only marvel at Hiberlian's ability to attract high-quality monsters; each time, she managed to lure powerful foes that yielded substantial rewards!
And now, after their encounter in the Shadow World, his conversation with Princess Alexcia, and the intelligence obtained from Stiara, Lanchi had a growing premonition.
The more certain he became that someone was desperately and resolutely seeking Hiberlian's death, the more convinced he was of one hypothesis—
The bloodline clan of the Krexe Empire, the Church of Rebirth, and the mysterious disappearance of Duke Migaya were all interconnected with the future Wilford incident, bound together by intricate threads.
The bloodline clan's control over the Krexe Empire, the timing of Duke Migaya's demise, and the annihilation of the Wilford Chamber of Commerce all aligned.
And the Wilford Chamber of Commerce was the crucial link facilitating trade and transportation between the Kingdom of Horton and the Krexe Empire!
It was highly improbable that these events were unrelated!
In the original plot, if Lanchi had died and no one had interfered with the entrance exam at Ikelite Academy, Hiberlian might have perished during the exam or soon after, as the Church of Rebirth would have resorted to more radical means to ensure her death. There was no way she could have survived until the point in the main story.
However, Hiberlian was indeed a crucial figure, connecting the dots between the demon clan, the bloodline clan, and the Church of Rebirth—she was the duchess' daughter.
Whoever sought her death was undoubtedly a powerful force working behind the scenes.
This also implied that Hiberlian's death could be the critical turning point leading to the three events that would occur a year and a half later: the bloodline clan's control of the Krexe Empire, Duke Migaya's death, and the annihilation of the Wilford Chamber of Commerce.
If these speculations were correct, Lanchi could also be certain that long before the story began, the fates of the bumbling rich heir and the persecuted duchess' daughter were intertwined.
Helping her was, in a way, helping himself!
"Hiberlian, we must catch that despicable individual who dares to disrupt our campus and threaten the safety of our students. They need to be taught a lesson!"
Lanchi embodied the spirit of a diligent student council member, his words filled with a sense of duty.
He was about to embark on a covert and noble mission—to secretly protect the campus, the nation, and prevent the Church of Rebirth's conspiracy from causing a rift between the Kingdom of Horton and the Kingdom of Aloran!
His deeds would go unnoticed, but his impact would be profound.
"Huh?"
Hiberlian stared at Lanchi, unsure if she had heard him correctly or if she was the one making a mistake.
She was certain that Lanchi wasn't just being polite; he genuinely looked forward to her attracting more formidable foes in the future.
Hiberlian also gradually realized something.
Could it be that...
Every disaster she brought upon herself turned into good fortune for Lanchi?
Regardless of his true motives, he was definitely relishing the opportunity to let the evildoers destroy each other!
(End of Chapter)
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