https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-196-Lanchi-Only-Attended-One-Public-Lecture/12584235/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-198-Lanchi-s-Promise-of-Redemption/12584237/
Chapter 197: Lanchi, the Savior of the Scoundrels
Chapter 197: Lanchi, the Savior of the Scoundrels
Outside the window, raindrops continued to patter against the panes, providing a natural backdrop that served as a reminder to those in the dim warehouse that time was slipping away with each passing second.
"Phoenix, if your sister ends up with a severe mental illness and you, her only relative, are imprisoned, what kind of life do you think she'll have in a psychiatric hospital? And how do you think she'll be treated as the sister of a repeat offender of the Resurrection Church?"
In the room, the Great Lover continued to interrogate Phoenix with his light, hypnotic words, his eyes bloodshot and brimming with tears.
"Stop... Let Phyllis go..."
His voice was broken and unsteady.
He tried desperately not to think about the scenarios the Great Lover was describing, but the images flooded his mind uncontrollably, driven by the Great Lover's enchanting voice, pushing him closer to the edge of insanity.
Finally—
"Great Lover, that's enough. Come back now."
Lanchi, seated at a table a short distance away, waved his hand to call the creature back.
"Tsk, I was just getting started."
The Great Lover looked at Lanchi, his tongue clicking in displeasure.
"I'll let you out to play more often in the future."
Lanchi said.
"No."
The Great Lover was unhappy to be interrupted while enjoying itself.
"I'll make you a new skin."
Lanchi added.
"A new skin?"
The Great Lover looked at him questioningly.
"Yes, aside from not being able to change your facial features, I can probably alter your entire appearance. You won't need to buy new clothes; with just one magic card, you can change your outfit instantly."
Lanchi explained.
The last time, during the Registered Card Maker exam, he had created a Tier 3 white ordinary equipment card called [Cartoon Mask], which allowed a summoned creature to be equipped, softening its fierce appearance to make it look cute and changing its form. Combining this with the principle of the spell [Transformation Technique: Demon], Lanchi should be able to create a customized appearance-altering card for the Great Lover.
Although it would be purely aesthetic and take up one of Lanchi's card slots, it could lower the Great Lover's recognizability. In the future, even if the Great Lover wasn't allowed to use its sonic powers openly in the Northern Continent, having a doppelganger with a psychic link could still prove useful.
Additionally, Lanchi was unsure if there would be a market for these new magic cards that gave summoned creatures exclusive skins. Since each one would be custom-made, the price would undoubtedly be high. Unless someone was a die-hard fan of their summoned creature, they probably wouldn't come to him to buy this type of card.
"Quick, quick, quick! Let's get back to work!"
The Great Lover immediately walked up to Lanchi, tapped the table in front of him, and then, obedient to his command, dissipated and returned to being a card in Lanchi's possession.
She was clearly excited by the prospect of these new disguises that Lanchi had proposed, eager to have her own exclusive cards that would fill up all of Lanchi's card slots.
"You two..."
Hyberlian felt a sense of unease as she watched Lanchi and the Great Lover treat Tata's form like a dress-up doll.
If Miss Tata ever found out about this...
After the Great Lover disappeared—
Phoenix finally felt like he had surfaced from drowning, gasping for air in terror.
He stared at Lanchi, seated behind the table.
Witnessing Lanchi's ability to command this unbelievably powerful and extraordinary summon, Phoenix found it harder and harder to gauge just how strong this man was and how many secrets he held.
At this moment, he even wondered if Lanchi had indeed been as terrifyingly evil as he and his sister had perceived him to be back in that demon academy.
Lanchi first turned on all the lights in the warehouse, then unlocked Phoenix's manacles and handed him a cup of steaming hot tea before returning to his seat at the table.
"My apologies, Phoenix. My summon may have been a bit too aggressive."
Lanchi offered a slight apology to Phoenix.
Hyberlian quietly recorded Phoenix's statement, knowing that Lanchi was indeed a conservative, always feeling that the radicals were too conservative.
"..."
Phoenix bowed his head and listened quietly, not daring to interrupt Lanchi's speech.
Although the atmosphere had been transformed from an interrogation room to a student council room with a simple change of setting, Phoenix's heart remained cold, and he could still hear the Great Lover's words ringing in his ears.
"First, I assure you that none of the situations mentioned by the Great Lover will come to pass."
Lanchi gazed at Phoenix with a gentle expression, a stark contrast to the Great Lover. His words and actions were exceptionally proper and dignified.
"!"
Phoenix couldn't tell if Lanchi was being sincere or speaking in code.
To him, the sentence seemed to imply, "If you don't cooperate, then we'll make sure those scenarios the Great Lover mentioned come true."
"I believe you're ready to turn over a new leaf. So, have you ever thought about leaving the darkness behind and embracing the light?"
Lanchi finally concluded his opening remarks and asked.
By now, both Lanchi and Hyberlian had a fairly good idea of what was going on.
For instance, they realized that each of their teammates they encountered in their first shadow world, the 'Infernal Corridor Academy', was there by a stroke of fate rather than mere coincidence.
And if Phoenix's sister wasn't a member of the Resurrection Church, he wouldn't have brought her along to the Infernal Corridor Academy or on this trip to the Kingdom of Hutton, indicating how important she was to him, and he wouldn't have been able to leave her alone in the Kingdom of Aiolan.
Phoenix's current expression said it all.
"... Do I even have a choice?"
Phoenix asked in a hoarse voice, his head still lowered.
He knew that this group of demons would use the same tactic as the Bishop of Destruction, holding his sister's safety hostage to ensure his full dedication to the church.
When he was young, he had faced the Bishop of Destruction, a being as powerful as a god, who had burned down their small town. He had gambled his soul and struck a deal with the bishop, who then took an interest and spared him and his sister, who was on the verge of death.
He was prepared to sell his soul to the devil again, even if it meant eternal damnation for himself. He would protect his sister to his last breath.
"Of course, I'm not like those heartless and despicable cardinal bishops of the Resurrection Church. I am clearly an upright young man of the Ikelite, law-abiding, and full of compassion. I am worlds apart from those people. You can open up to me."
Lanchi replied with a smile as gentle as a spring breeze.
This sent a chill down Phoenix's spine.
Phoenix dared not reveal his deep skepticism about Lanchi's words.
Because Lanchi didn't seem to be joking.
If he denied Lanchi's words, he might anger him, claiming that the prisoner's "thoughts were not yet in the right place" and subjecting him to another round of "treatment."
"Whether or not you eventually repent, as long as we determine that your sister is innocent, the Ikelite Academy will ensure that she is no longer harassed by the Resurrection Church. She is her, and you are you. You are not connected; that is all."
Lanchi added calmly,
"I am willing to help anyone in need. Even if you feel that you can never be redeemed, as long as you sincerely repent, I will give you the opportunity to start over and return to the right path."
"Your sister is also very important to you, isn't she? You are the only person she trusts and relies on. For Phyllis' happiness, please consider it."
After speaking, Lanchi covered his teacup and remained silent, giving Phoenix time to think.
"..."
Phoenix knew that Lanchi was inscrutable, dangerous, and mysterious.
But it was also at this moment.
Phoenix felt inexplicably that this demon, who seemed to be surrounded by a dazzling light and had a pair of emerald-green eyes that saw through his thoughts, was the only one who could offer him salvation.
Just like how he and his sister had been protected in the principal's office of the Infernal Corridor Academy.
He was terrifying.
But Phoenix found himself hoping that if they were on the same side...
He would be under his protection.
That thought brought more comfort than anything else.
(End of Chapter)
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