Don't Take Away My Human Record Chapter 311: Lanchi, the Undisputed Matchmaker - Novel Cool

Chapter 311: Lanchi, the Undisputed Matchmaker

Chapter 311: Lanchi, the Undisputed Matchmaker

The pale daylight of the snowy plain seeped through the cracks in the cloud-filled sky, crisscrossing in the wind and snow like random brushstrokes of winter, lending a subtle warmth to the icy world.

Dancing snowflakes swayed freely in the air, drifting downward to rest on the snowy ground or being swept up by the wind, spinning endlessly.

Amidst this snowy landscape, two figures accompanied Xia Ya as he retraced his steps to retrieve his lost luggage from the plain.

Xia Ya led the way, with the other two trailing behind at a comfortable distance.

"Brr, it's freezing out here!" Lanchi exclaimed as he ventured onto the snowy wilderness.

"And here I thought you were tough enough for this weather, being a fourth-ranker," Xide teased, glancing at him.

"Why aren't you affected by the cold? You're a fourth-ranker too."

"Brr, it's cold!" Lanchi replied, his voice devoid of enthusiasm.

Aside from their occasional remarks, everything around them exuded tranquility. Even the constant rustling of snowflakes stirred by the wind created a soothing backdrop to this snowy plain.

After several minutes, the trio finally reached the spot where Xia Ya had abandoned his luggage earlier and began to gather his scattered belongings.

There were mostly clothes, a few books, some small magical artifacts, and a map similar to the ones Lanchi and Xide carried, detailing the terrain north of the Protoss Empire.

Upon entering the northern restricted area, there were three provinces directly to the north.

Box Mountain Province was a transportation hub.

Not far from Box Mountain Province was the Snowfield Province, known for its large city-states, one of which was Kingston City.

Further north lay the Northern Border Province.

They were currently on the outskirts of Snowfield Province, having just left Box Mountain Province behind.

"Thank you both for your help. I apologize for any inconvenience," Xia Ya said gratefully, still embarrassed by his hasty retreat earlier.

"Don't mention it. Serving the people is my duty," Lanchi replied with a slight wave of his hand.

"..." Xia Ya felt the need to bow even lower.

Moreover, he couldn't help but wonder if all the seniors at the Protoss Royal Magic Academy were as friendly as these two. He had heard that the academy was rife with intense competition and cold-hearted students. Could it be that times had changed?

Pondering this, Xia Ya lifted his head, exhaled a sigh that turned into a puff of white mist, and spoke with sincerity. "Seniors, if you're here for an elective course, it's best not to venture further north. Wait for the railway to be repaired, and then head back to the imperial capital, Herrom."

He offered this heartfelt advice and then took a step forward, "Perhaps it's just my shallow judgment, but not only are there hidden struggles between the nearby city-states in the north, but the provincial governance is also poor. A few days ago, an investigation team from the imperial capital seemed to be looking into some unrest further north."

These two must have traveled directly from the imperial capital to the north, unlike him, who had initially hoped for the transportation services to resume and ended up staying in the north for several days.

"What's going on further north?" Lanchi asked, recalling that he had heard something similar from an imperial army captain back at the Rock Junction Station in Box Mountain Province. However, the captain didn't seem to have a clear understanding of the situation either.

"Perhaps only the lords of the Snowfield Province's city-states know the full story," Xia Ya replied with a shake of his head. "But even setting that matter aside, the north is becoming increasingly dangerous."

As he walked steadily toward Kingston City in the north, Xia Ya continued, "Aside from an increase in refugees, the crime rate is skyrocketing. Many people who couldn't find relief in the city-states have voluntarily or forcibly joined criminal organizations in the north, like the Ghost Party. Those bandits we encountered earlier were likely external members of the Ghost Party."

Lanchi's footsteps remained steady as he listened, his mind deep in thought. He remembered the octopus-shaped emblem or ring on the bandits' bodies, likely symbols of the Ghost Party.

"How are they able to act so brazenly?" Lanchi asked, his voice carrying through the wind and snow.

"The imperial army doesn't have the spare capacity to focus on eradicating them, and the lords of the Snowfield Province can't agree on how to allocate resources and efforts, so the external security situation hasn't improved," Xia Ya explained, his tone conveying a sense of powerlessness. Having personally experienced the north, he was now certain that the southern regions of the empire were far safer.

"I see," Lanchi said, now understanding the situation in the Snowfield Province.

At present, it was like a mess that no one wanted to deal with. Everyone suffering together seemed to be the most equitable solution.

The northern forces of the Extinction Branch were in the Northwest Province, assisting the imperial army. If they were to help the nobles of the Snowfield Province suppress the bandits, it might earn Bishop Askesang of the Extinction Church considerable prestige. However, there was no doubt that it would be a thankless task, as the nobles would likely pass the buck to the Extinction priests. Even if they succeeded in the short term, they would still suffer significant losses, and the high-ranking priests were unwilling to take on such a task.

"It is said that Askesang himself is guarding the Northern Border Province, facing off against the northern nations. Due to the slow flow of information, his exact whereabouts are uncertain."

"Are you from the south? Why did you come to the north?"

Earlier, when Lanchi and Xide were helping Xia Ya collect his luggage, they could tell where he was from, and even from his attire, he seemed to be wearing multiple layers of winter clothing typical of the south.

"Although I am nominally the eldest son of a southern earl, my family is poor... I came to marry into the Kingston family, and I don't know what my fiancee is like. But I've heard that she's quite excellent, finding it easy to skip the preparatory course and enroll directly."

Xia Ya lowered his head, feeling embarrassed as he shared his true situation with the two.

Lanchi and Xide exchanged a glance, immediately understanding.

Having a noble title but no money, it made sense to marry into a somewhat powerful noble family on the border.

"Aren't you worried that you'll find it hard to adjust to life in the north, or that the northern nobles will treat you poorly?"

Xide rarely spoke up, but she asked this with concern.

"When I was a child, I met a girl in the imperial capital of Herrom. She was supposedly from the north, yet incredibly intelligent, elegant, well-mannered, and she helped me find my father when I was lost."

Xia Ya's expression softened as he recalled something, his voice taking on a relaxed tone.

He didn't hold any prejudices against the northern nobles and even had a rather favorable impression of them. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that good and bad people could be found everywhere, and one shouldn't judge an entire group by the actions of a few.

Perhaps it was that encounter that subtly influenced him, leading to the person he was today. He didn't want his family to continue down the path of decadence that his father had set them on.

"So, is that girl your fiancee, Lilys Kingston?"

Lanchi casually added.

"How do you know her name?"

Xia Ya was taken aback, realizing the implication, and turned to look at Lanchi.

"Of course, I know the name of every student at the Protoss Royal Magic Academy, including those who have been accepted but not yet enrolled."

Lanchi explained seriously.

"..."

Who in the school would remember the information of every student?

It sent a shiver down Xia Ya's spine.

It felt a little scary, like any mistake he made at school would be caught by Lanchi.

"I don't know, ten years have passed, and I don't remember what the girl looked like now. I only remember that she had eye-catching orange-red long hair, and she must have grown into a wise and elegant lady by now."

Xia Ya could only shake his head in response.

Lanchi nodded but didn't say anything further.

"To be honest, I quite enjoy witnessing the love stories of young men and women."

Xide commented as they walked.

"Really? Did you know that I'm especially good at playing matchmaker?"

Lanchi suddenly became enthusiastic, his voice full of energy, as if he couldn't wait to get started.

When he started talking about this, his usual sleepy expression vanished.

"How about this, you hire the two of us, and we won't charge a high price. Just pay us as you would a fourth-rank bodyguard. When we get to the lord's mansion, there should be a butler or attendant accompanying you, or else it would be too shabby."

Lanchi proposed to Xia Ya.

"But I don't have enough money to pay you right now."

Xia Ya was initially delighted but soon became dejected again.

It was a very generous offer.

Indeed, the two of them looked extraordinary.

Standing next to them, it was hard to tell who was the young master or lady.

But he didn't have the funds.

"You can pay later and transfer the money to our accounts in the imperial capital," Lanchi suggested, glancing at Xide.

Xide shrugged lightly, indicating that she had no objection. As a fourth-rank herself, she was content with being paid the standard rate for that rank.

She just felt that Lanchi's ability to persuade others was incredibly smooth and natural, almost making her want to believe him.

The look in his emerald green eyes seemed to convey that he would believe in the other person, and it made one want to believe in him as well.

And so, naturally, they acquired an identity that would allow them to enter the lord's mansion with Xia Ya.

"..."

Listening to Lanchi's plan, the cat boss hiding in the shadows felt a chill run down his spine.

He had first met Lanchi when the latter claimed that he was skilled at matchmaking.

But the result...

He recalled Loren, sobbing uncontrollably in his chair, and how he, the cat boss, had trusted Lanchi's words and failed to save the noble high priest. Afterward, he hadn't dared to go to the Academy of Ikelite, fearing that he would encounter the high priest and be mistaken for Lanchi's accomplice.

Now, Lanchi was claiming to be a master of love once again.

You scoundrel, stop right there!!

Don't go corrupting the youth's romantic comedy, meow!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end

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