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Chapter 304: Lanchi's Ambitions Were Clearly Lacking
Chapter 304: Lanchi's Ambitions Were Clearly Lacking
As the conversation paused, the thoughts that had been flowing in the dialogue were sealed, giving an illusion of time standing still.
In the silent office, only the soft ticking of the clock and the crisp sound of the rain tapping on the window panes remained, now distinctly audible in the quiet principal's office.
The books on the desk seemed immersed in this tranquility as well, and the brass desk lamp trembled slightly, casting a warm, yellow glow on the table, blending with the deep wood grain to create a serene hue.
Cloris gazed at Lanchi's desk, deep in thought.
"So, student Cloris, is there something troubling you that you need my help with?"
Lanchi picked up his teacup, still slightly warm, and brought it to his lips for a sip.
Cloris lifted her head slightly.
"I want to form an alliance with Mr. Rocky McCarthy to stop the empire's war."
She replied straightforwardly.
"As far as I know, although Duke Morotian cannot be completely considered a warmonger, your family should lean more towards the hawkish side, wouldn't you say?"
Lanchi was willing to trust Cid, after all, he had no ill intentions towards Zestila, and more importantly, through their interactions and his writings, one could discern his aversion to war.
However, when it came to this duchess, Lanchi was not yet convinced of her stance.
"My father has actually been missing for a long time, and the current Duke Morotian is actually a puppet controlled by me."
Cloris sighed and explained.
"..."
Faced with Cloris' revelation, even Lanchi was taken aback, his teacup hovering in mid-air.
He was not just surprised by Cloris' startling disclosure but by the fact that she dared to do such a thing.
No wonder when Zestila and he had first arrived in the imperial capital of Helrom, they had heard that Duke Morotian had been refusing any visits related to the [Primal Tablet-Undead]. Only through the Protoss Royal Magic Academy's credit points could one gain access to the [Primal Tablet-Light] of the Great Sage Isis of the Empire.
So, the [Primal Tablet-Undead] was gone.
"You're calmer than I expected. Aren't you questioning how a duke who possesses a Primal Tablet could possibly go missing?"
Cloris observed Lanchi's reaction and smiled as she asked.
In fact, she didn't need to joke about it; as for whether it was true or not, she could easily demonstrate it to Lanchi with a visit to the duke's mansion.
"For a young lady whose father has gone missing, I would choose to believe her first and question her later, as she is the one bearing the most burden."
Lanchi put down his teacup and regained his composure, speaking with assurance.
"..."
Cloris looked at Lanchi, silent for a moment.
Up to this point in their conversation, it seemed like she was the one who was most taken aback.
"Do you have any clues about the duke's disappearance?"
Lanchi asked.
"No, except that I am certain he went missing in the North, and the trail has gone cold in a way that is baffling. That's why I've been able to keep the duke's disappearance a secret."
Cloris shook her head.
Lanchi nodded in response.
Theoretically, Shubelian could have done the same when Duke Migaya went missing, but one misstep would have led to irreversible consequences. Moreover, Shubelian simply didn't have the capability to pull off such a feat.
Without even taking a moment to mourn her father's disappearance, Cloris immediately seized control of all the family's power. One had to admit that she was far more ruthless than Shubelian and possessed an audacity that was uncommon in others.
Upon further reflection, this step taken by Duchess Cloris might have directly altered the current situation in the Protoss Empire.
If Duke Morotian had disappeared at a very inopportune time, it would have caused people to rely more on the Resurrection Church, and the panic would have been even greater, easily igniting unrest.
Although Duke Morotian appeared to be one of the pillars supporting the warmongers, he was, in fact, a critical pillar maintaining the balance in the Protoss Empire at present.
The spark that ignited the war in the Protoss Empire was born out of fear and hatred, and Duke Morotian, as a figure who could suppress fear, should not have disappeared.
"What do you plan to do next?" Lanchi asked again, turning to Cloris.
Her stance was clear, crystal clear; she had to be against the war.
The truth would come out once the war began, and Cloris' actions would be exposed, leading to severe consequences and irreparable damage to her reputation.
By temporarily deceiving the empire and assuming this power, she had gained significant initiative, but she also had to bet that this initiative would give her the winning edge to overthrow the mastermind behind it all.
The mastermind naturally wouldn't expose her, as doing so would risk revealing their own clues and exposing themselves. Prematurely coming out of the shadows was the last thing the mastermind wanted.
Cloris had calculated all of this, and it was both a game and a gamble.
Perhaps even the mastermind hadn't anticipated her daring move.
"Maybe I can keep stalling, but I believe someone won't let me delay any longer. I'd guess there's a month at most. Once the collaboration between the Resurrection Church and the Empire is complete, even without Duke Morotian as the linchpin, the void will be filled, and a balanced war can be ignited."
Cloris maintained her nonchalant demeanor as she spoke, appearing indifferent even though she was the one in the most dangerous situation.
"So, what do you hope I can do to help you?"
Lanchi was confident that Cloris would be an excellent partner.
At this point, their positions were aligned, and they could benefit each other, so a deal might be possible.
The good news was that her power was even greater than he had imagined, as she controlled the entire dukedom. The bad news was that partnering with her meant taking a risky gamble as well.
It was a choice between being condemned forever or becoming a shining beacon for eternity.
"There aren't many investigative leads at the moment... But since you firmly believe that those guys aren't demons, I'd like to ask you to go to the north and investigate. Although the hope is slim, if you can find any evidence and bring it back, Associate Professor Cid and I can use all the channels of the dukedom to expose it. Correspondingly, our dukedom will also stand behind you in the future."
Cloris spoke slowly, her eyes fixed on Lanchi.
"The tricky part is that you'll need to figure out a way to get a pass to the northern defense line. The north is currently not only under a communications blockade but also requires a pass issued by the Empire's National Defense Department."
She quickly added, explaining the one thing she couldn't help him with. If he were associated with the dukedom before departing, it would be extremely dangerous for him in the north.
In the imperial capital of Helrom, there were the Empire's Grand Sage Isis and other eighth-rank powerhouses. Even if the enemy wanted to cause trouble, they would face greater risks. But the north was a different story.
"I have a pass, so it's not a problem. In fact, I also have official business to take care of in the north."
Lanchi leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed and dignified, reminiscent of a principal's composure.
Despite this, Cid, sitting on the sofa beside him, still felt a twitch in his eye.
Lanchi's calm assurance gave him the sense that the principal had all sorts of documents readily available, and people who were overly reliable like that often didn't seem to be doing legitimate work.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Principal Rocky."
Cloris stood up and smiled as she bowed to Lanchi once again.
She didn't hold much hope that Lanchi would be able to dig up any substantial information in the north.
However, if he did manage to bring something back, he might soon find himself on the cover of the Empire Weekly, with numerous interviews and speeches, and even the distant northern nations would take notice of this Rocky McCarthy.
It was just a pity that such fame held little significance to him.
He seemed too content and devoid of any ambition.
Perhaps this was his loneliness—even if he accomplished great deeds, there was no one to share the joy with.
(End of Chapter)
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