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Chapter 167: Father Lanchi's Travelogue: A Joyous School Visit
Chapter 167: Father Lanchi's Travelogue: A Joyous School Visit
In the Kingdom of Horton, a day had passed since Lanchi entered the Shadow World.
On this Saturday morning, the sun pierced through thick clouds, casting a warm glow on the bricks and glass of the royal capital, Ikriti. The city, a blend of antique charm and modern sophistication, sparkled as the morning sun illuminated its red-brick buildings. Glass walls reflected the deep blue of the sky and the pristine white of the clouds.
At the Ikriti Central Station, maglev trains glided smoothly with a steady hum, carrying residents and tourists swiftly to their destinations.
As one walked through the concourse, the bustling sounds gradually faded, replaced by the crisp jingle of shop bells intertwining with the distant melodies of minstrels playing instruments in the square.
A middle-aged man, dressed as a merchant, arrived at the square opposite the central station and boarded a small carriage designed for touring the city. Thus began his journey through this metropolis.
The soft leather seats of the carriage swayed gently, carrying a pleasant breeze.
Though his temples were tinged with silver, his demeanor and authority remained undiminished, and every crease of his attire was meticulously neat.
"That boy, I'll get my hands on him if I catch him."
Noe Wilford sat in the carriage, gazing at the sights of Ikriti, muttering to himself.
Upon hearing that Master Bolao of the Magic Engineering Institute had issued a fine to their family...
Noe Wilford, father of Lanchi Wilford, had returned to the South Vantina Territory in the southern border of the Kingdom of Horton, a rare trip back from Granwythe Fort in the northern border of the Kreese Empire.
A few days ago, when Noe received a cross-border magical communication from his butler, Hans, he was extremely shocked.
Before he had left the Kingdom of Horton, he had told Hans that there was no need to use the expensive, complicated, and strictly regulated cross-border communication equipment to notify him unless the news about Lanchi was particularly bad.
If Lanchi had gotten into some minor trouble, he could just ask Butler Hans to smooth things over for him.
As a result, Noe had not received any news about Lanchi during his months in the Kreese Empire.
Naturally, Noe assumed that the little rascal had realized his shortcomings compared to his genius peers in the capital and had returned to South Vantina, resuming his carefree and blissful days.
After all, there was no way Lanchi could have passed the entrance exam for the Alchemy Institute after studying for such a short time.
"Sigh, I never had high expectations of him anyway."
Noe sighed; he knew that Lanchi was not cut out for academia, and his intention behind pushing him to study was more to discipline him.
In fact, from the start, Noe hadn't really expected Lanchi to get into a good school like Ikriti College.
As long as Lanchi didn't turn to a life of crime or cause major trouble, Noe would be content.
However...
He wouldn't have known if he hadn't returned, but what a surprise awaited him back home!
That little rascal had reportedly passed the entrance exam for Ikriti College and hadn't returned home since leaving for the royal capital!
And he had been accepted into the Sage's College, no less!
Despite the authenticity of the fine from the Magic Engineering Institute and Lanchi's admission letter, Noe felt that something was amiss.
So, Noe took an overnight maglev train within the country to Ikriti and headed straight for Ikriti College in the city center after disembarking.
Along the way, the carriage carrying the pensive Noe passed by the famous landmarks of Ikriti.
The Horton Walking Plaza was still quiet in the early morning, not yet bustling with activity. From the artistic streamlined buildings beneath the Erica Magic Tower to the broad avenue lined with trees along the Yala River, various shops were preparing to open, and the delicate aromas of coffee and sweets wafted through the air.
It had taken most of the morning, but the sightseeing carriage had finally arrived near the college.
The legendary Ikriti Magic College was located right at the heart of the royal capital.
Noe alighted from the carriage, a lightweight black briefcase in hand, and stepped onto the college grounds.
After walking a few steps, he was greeted by the sound of a grand and harmonious chiming of bells.
The melodic tolling emanated from the iconic clock tower of Ikriti College, ringing a total of nine times before falling silent, indicating that it was now nine in the morning.
The tower stood amidst a sprawling lawn, surrounded by lush trees, as sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting a complex pattern of light and shadow on the grass.
Noe consulted the map on the signpost and made his way through the various buildings.
He passed by the Sage's College Ancient Tower Library, its outer walls adorned with intricate bas-relief sculptures, and the Knight's College Arena, with its arched lancet windows. Magic screens were everywhere, and the walls they formed reflected the sky and the shadows of the surrounding greenery.
After walking for over ten minutes, Noe found himself lost in the vast campus.
He felt that the main building of the Magic Engineering College should be nearby, but no matter how he consulted the signs, he couldn't figure out how to get to the old humanities building of the Magic Engineering College in the vast garden, and from there, make his way to the Magic Engineering College district.
Just as he was puzzling over this...
He spotted a student in the sparsely populated garden.
"Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the Dean's office of the Magic Engineering College?" Noe hurried over and asked the girl with light blue hair, who seemed more approachable.
In addition to the magic recording camera hanging around her neck, she also wore two work badges, one indicating that she was a member of the student council, and the other identifying her as a reporter for the Horton Times.
"Of course, I'll take you there. But have you made an appointment?" The girl, whose name was Lucheryl, as indicated on her badge, immediately broke into a cheerful smile, exuding an energetic and lively vibe.
As the secretary of the student council, she had recently been called back to help out due to a shortage of student council members. And now, as she descended the stairs from the third floor of the old humanities building, where the student council room was located, she happened to encounter someone in need of assistance.
"Yes, Professor Bolao is expecting me in his office before noon today," Noe replied, marveling inwardly at the fine qualities of the students in the best school in the Kingdom of Horton, all so helpful and well-behaved.
"If I haven't been scammed..." Noe added after a moment.
In truth, he still suspected that the admission letter from the Sage's College was a forgery by that good-for-nothing brat.
Perhaps the scoundrel had run out of money and concocted this despicable scheme, forging a fine notice to swindle a large sum of money from his family, allowing him to continue his carefree life of leisure in the capital.
And the person he had communicated with via the intra-country magic communication yesterday was likely an actor hired by the brat, not the real Professor Bolao.
If that were indeed the case, and Noe caught him red-handed, he would make that wretched boy pay! But the admission letter and the fine were so convincingly fake...
The only suspicious part was that the fine was issued in a rather odd manner.
Instead of being levied by Ikriti College, it was a personal claim made by Professor Bolao of the Magic Engineering College.
As a seasoned businessman, Noe was well aware that in such cases, it would be more reasonable for the fine to be issued by the college as a whole, either officially or privately.
It was highly unusual for a private claim to be made by Professor Bolao against the Wilford Chamber of Commerce, as if the professor were colluding with Lanchi to defraud his family!
(End of Chapter)
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