Chapter 41: Lanchi's Bad Start
Chapter 41: Lanchi's Bad Start
In the back row of the spacious lecture hall for first-year students at the Sage's College, the sudden clash between Lanchi's words froze all sound in the air, leaving only a stifling, pervasive, and impenetrable silence.
Even the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows seemed to dull for a moment.
The other students were like statues, each with a different expression. Some kept their eyes fixed on the view outside, listening with their ears, while others bowed their heads, pretending to be absorbed in their books, and a few boldly turned around in their seats to watch.
Regardless, they were all silently absorbing the drama unfolding in the back row.
These students finally realized what a despicable person Lanchi was!
His first statement had been a trap!
After successfully baiting Modan into his customary mocking remark, he proceeded to deliver the legal warning.
At this moment, Modan's face was as dark as a pot, and he remained silent, feeling as if he had been toyed with by Lanchi.
After what felt like an eternity, Lanchi finally spoke again, breaking the heavy silence.
"How old are you this year?" Lanchi asked, his tone casual.
Modan didn't understand why Lanchi was inquiring about his age, and he chose not to respond. Perhaps he was now reluctant to answer any of Lanchi's questions.
"He's 19," Hubertian chimed in, informing Lanchi.
She had a vague understanding of Lanchi's intentions. After several interactions, she had come to realize that while Lanchi's thought process was unique, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible; it was just difficult for most people to keep up with him.
Lanchi quickly calculated in his head and turned to Modan, "So, you'll be out when you're 27."
"?" Modan was taken aback for a moment before realizing the implication of Lanchi's words.
Lanchi didn't seem to be making vague threats; instead, he was seriously calculating the minimum of eight years he, as the plaintiff's lawyer, could secure for the defendant's sentence.
"Haa..." Lanchi yawned and lazily rested his head back on the desk, then winked playfully at Modan with his left eye.
It was as if the previous exchange had just been a lighthearted joke.
However, this friendly and non-confrontational behavior only served to heighten Modan's anger at that moment. Modan's pupils trembled slightly, his eyes resembling a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Despite his immobile facial muscles, his throat tightened as if struggling to contain the surging rage that threatened to spill out in the form of reckless words.
"You'd better wait and see if this Duchess can inherit the House of Aransal first, otherwise, all of this is just talk," Modan finally managed to restrain the fiery anger and impulse that felt like it had been ignited by the devil.
"Lanchi Wilford, if you don't want your Wilford Chamber of Commerce to be implicated, it's best if you stop meddling in her affairs," he added, his voice cold and threatening as he glared at the nonchalant Lanchi.
Lanchi frowned slightly at Modan's words.
"In other words... if I continue to help Hubertian, you'll find a way to bring down the Wilford Chamber of Commerce?" Lanchi asked, his tone conveying a mixture of curiosity and challenge.
"That's right," Modan replied without hesitation. "Our Marquis of Casigas family has plenty of ways to legally and commercially acquire your entire business at the lowest cost."
At this moment, Modan was being extremely cautious with his words. He knew that Lanchi's question was another attempt to induce him to reveal incriminating evidence prematurely. But repeating the same trick was simply ugly.
Inside, Modan was smiling coldly. He was confident that with his power and influence, he had countless ways to deal with this clever boy from the borderlands.
For instance, he knew Lanchi wouldn't be indifferent to the potential downfall of his family's business. But the next second proved him horribly wrong.
Never in his wildest dreams did Modan expect—
Lanchi to look at him with such earnest anticipation, as if he had just seen his savior.
The sincere look in Lanchi's eyes sent a chill down Modan's spine.
"? Are you serious?" Modan's expression was one of disbelief. "Who reacts with such inexplicable joy at the threat of their family's business?"
And just how did your father mistreat you when you were young to make you hate the Wilford family so much?! War in business is always winner takes all, loser takes nothing. If you want to swallow us up, then go ahead. There's no need to inform me."
Lanchi shrugged, his eyes closed and his demeanor nonchalant.
Modan inhaled sharply, finally feeling a sense of exasperation.
"Lanchi Wilford, your silver tongue means nothing. Your true abilities will soon be exposed in the Shadow World, and I hope you don't embarrass yourself in front of the entire royal capital. Many people are watching you."
Modan had realized something—Lanchi's ruthless attitude was akin to that of a demon!
No wonder he got along so well with Hubertian.
"Hubertian, let your ship of delusions sink to the bottom of the sea with your wild dreams."
Leaving those words behind, Modan turned and stalked away, his expression dark.
Modan's words were filled with conviction. He knew that if Hubertian wanted to become stronger and increase her chances of finding her father, she would have to beg and submit to him.
One day, she would come to her senses and seek him out.
...
After Modan left, the classroom buzzed with a myriad of soft whispers.
Some astute students realized that Lanchi's accusation against Modan could be a turning point.
This was because, in the history of many renowned schools in the southern continent, there had never been a case of a student successfully suing and imprisoning a fellow student.
If Lanchi set this precedent by helping Hubertian sue Modan, he could potentially influence the culture of Ikeritos Magic Academy.
In the past, when students had irreconcilable differences, they usually settled their disputes in the arena or in artificial shadow worlds with life protection.
At most, they would up the stakes and engage in a duel that affected their honor.
However, with Lanchi's demonstration, students would gradually discover—
The most effective and efficient way to resolve any campus conflict was to find a way to send their opponents directly to prison!
In the back row, Lanchi heaved a sigh.
"Ah..." Hubertian finally smiled helplessly.
From the moment she met Lanchi, she had found him to be a mix of seriousness and absurdity.
If he were an opponent, he would undoubtedly be a formidable rookie.
But as a teammate, he would undoubtedly be the most reassuring and beautiful rookie.
"Lanchi, thank you."
"It's nothing. I've always hated conflict and preferred reconciliation. There's no need for meaningless quarrels between classmates."
As Lanchi watched Modan leave, he mumbled, his head resting on the desk.
He felt that he was about to turn into a sleep emperor again.
With sleepy eyes, he glanced at the clock, feeling that every second was torture.
He didn't want to attend class.
Even the law books that he had been eagerly reading now seemed too much of an effort.
It reminded him of his high school days when he would feel like dozing off the moment a teacher of a subject he disliked started speaking.
Lanchi pondered whether he should go to the Shadow World today.
According to the school's rules and regulations, absences due to challenges in the Shadow World were not considered truancy, and students who passed would be granted some time off for adjustment.
Furthermore, the school would award a small number of real credits to students based on the difficulty and completion of their Shadow World challenges—enough to make up for elective credits in any semester, and if accumulated, even mandatory course credits could be waived!
As a result, many idiots from the Knight's Academy would exhaust themselves trying to beat the Shadow World, doing their best to waive mandatory course credits by unconventional means!
Lanchi felt that he was about to go down that path.
He glanced at Hubertian.
She seemed to be having an easy time with her studies today, unlike him who was suffering.
Moreover, Hubertian seemed like a cautious and steady person.
He wondered if she would agree to adventure into the Shadow World with him.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
