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Chapter 491: Lanchi's Adventures in the Royal Capital
Chapter 491: Lanchi's Adventures in the Royal Capital
One month later, the Kingdom of Hutton.
As the magi-rail train came to a smooth stop, the scenery outside the window slowly came to a standstill. The station that greeted them upon exiting the train had a roof constructed from reddish-brown bricks.
"We've arrived!"
Antanas' cheerful voice and footsteps echoed on the platform of the Central Station of Echelon.
The towering twin towers flanking the station made it a grand sight to behold. Marble columns, murals, and stained glass windows all spoke of the weight of history, a style they had never encountered in the Protoss Empire.
After a long journey of over a month, they had traveled by train from the Protoss Empire to the southern shore, where they met up with Shuberyan and embarked on a sea voyage. They had then traversed several nations of the southern continent before finally arriving in Echelon, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Hutton, from its northern border.
She couldn't wait to see her dear friend, Talia.
"Now, you must all be tired from the journey. Let me take you back to your accommodations first."
Lanchi counted the group and addressed them as they stood on the platform.
"...”
Shuberyan didn't feel tired at all. In fact, she had just enjoyed a six-month-long vacation, but she didn't feel it appropriate to mention that.
Moreover, she had even more fun on the return journey.
What had started as a party of two humans and a cat had now become a group of two humans, three demons, a cat, and a fox.
Most of the time, Mr. Pranai kept Lanchi company, while Antanas and Shinola spent time with her on the cruise ship. Despite being an entire generation older than her, the two powerful demons interacted with her without any generational gap or distance, treating her more like a confidante than a niece.
"Meow meow meow, I miss home so much!"
The Cat Boss purred and rolled about in Antanas' arms.
It had taken a particular liking to Antanas and spent most of its time being cuddled by her.
The Cat Boss gazed at the three companions from the Northern Continent, now familiar friends, and felt nothing but contentment and happiness.
Lanchi had brought back three elites from the Protoss Empire—the lively and cheerful Antanas, the dignified and graceful Shinola, and the steady and capable Pranai. Each of them had won over the Cat Boss' affections! Moreover, they all treated it with utmost respect, almost as if it were a guardian beast of the nation, a treatment that left it pleasantly surprised! It was indeed a formidable seventh-rank beast, but it didn't expect such reverence!
The Cat Boss purred with increasing satisfaction.
"Phew."
Seeing how happy the Cat Boss was, Lanchi couldn't help but feel happy himself.
As long as everyone was content, he had achieved his goal.
They passed through layers of gates and left the platform level of the station.
Lanchi had arranged for their luggage to be delivered directly to the dormitories of Echelon Academy, while Shuberyan and the others were headed back to the Cat Boss Restaurant, so their luggage remained in the vehicle.
The group walked through the concourse level of the Echelon Central Station, leaving the bustling noise behind. They found the magi-vehicle they had booked beforehand in the spacious square and set off on their long-awaited journey through Echelon.
The afternoon sun of spring bathed the city in a leisurely and pleasant light, making it look especially beautiful.
Not long after they set off in the vehicle, the reddish-brown walls, the pointed eaves, and the tulips and water lilies in the Royal Botanical Gardens came into view. The various plants created a misty, floral landscape, filling the air with the scent of a wildflower meadow.
"Is this Echelon? No wonder Talia loves this city so much. It truly is a wonderful place."
Antanas, with the Cat Boss in her arms, looked around in awe.
Compared to Helrom, the style here was much fresher and brighter.
The Protoss Empire had a preponderance of dark and gray structures, and its cities often exuded a surreal, mystical ambiance. In contrast, Echelon favored beige and white architecture, blending ancient charm with modern influences in a well-planned and orderly manner.
"Indeed, status is crucial. As citizens of the Protoss Empire, we are considered international friends here in the Kingdom of Hutton. Otherwise, even if we sneaked in secretly, we would be regarded as illegal immigrants."
Sitting quietly on the other side, Shinola recalled the tedious identity verification process they had undergone when entering the northern border of the Kingdom of Hutton, and she couldn't help but sigh.
Fortunately, the second princess held the title of Duchess in this nation, which spared them a great deal of trouble. Otherwise, even if they were allowed entry, the three of them would have had to endure a months-long observation period at the border before being permitted to travel to the heart of the kingdom and its confidential cities.
"Now, we're all considered guests of the Duke's family, and with Duchess Shuberyan vouching for us, we can head directly to the royal capital, Echelon."
"Having you here with us, Shuberyan, is truly a blessing." Sinora said to Shuberyan, who was beside her.
"Huh? It's no big deal." Shuberyan replied, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly.
This was the first time she had received such praise. Ever since she was little, she had always been secretly disliked by her half-demon relatives in Echelon...
"Shuberyan, why don't you become a female duke already? Then even the boss will have to cling to your thighs, and he'll kneel at your pomegranate skirt." Antanas said, nudging Shuberyan's shoulder and encouraging her playfully.
"What are you talking about?" Shuberyan asked, startled, looking up at Antanas.
"Didn't the boss say that his goal on the Southern Continent was to cling to Duke Migaya's thighs and then retire at home when he turns twenty? If you become that female duke, won't the boss have to cling to your thighs then?" Antanas countered cunningly.
The Kingdom of Hutton was too peaceful and stable, and Antanas felt that Wang Yi had become lazy ever since his return. No wonder Wang used to tell Shuberyan that he would definitely help her rescue Duke Migaya and then rely on the duke's family to support him in his old age.
After saying this, Antanas looked out the window again. The winding canal reflected the spring breeze, with ripples dancing on the water's surface, mirroring the gentle sway of the tree branches above.
"..." Shuberyan lowered her head, leaving the demon beside her guessing at her thoughts.
Lanchi's previous statement now made more sense to her. He truly didn't seem to have any desire for power, as he had easily set aside his achievements in the Protoss Empire.
If Lanchi was content with a peaceful life, she would gladly support him, but somehow, the idea of their relationship turning into something that resembled a sponsorship didn't sit well with her.
However, the more Shuberyan recalled their first encounter with Lanchi in the Northern Continent and how he had been led by the nose by that wicked woman from the Bastion branch, the more she felt that she would rather be the one to support Lanchi herself, keeping him away from such toxic influences.
For several minutes, a silence hung in the air as the scenery outside the window gradually transformed into a bustling commercial district, with cafes, restaurants, bars, and malls lining the wide avenue, buzzing with the lively atmosphere of people going about their daily lives.
"Is the security in this 'Echelon' really that stable?" Pranai, who had been observing their surroundings, remarked. He noticed the exceptionally civil behavior all around—vehicles yielding to pedestrians, everyone abiding by the rules, and not a police officer in sight.
In contrast, Helrom City was a melting pot of humans and various mixed-blood species, filled with uncertainties. One could easily encounter an out-of-control alchemical beast escaping from the underground magi-rail tracks, and chaos, crime, and violence were common occurrences.
"Pranai, my boy, do you know how good the security is around Echelon?" The Cat Boss lifted a paw, striking a mentor-like pose as he addressed Pranai.
"What is it?" Before Pranai could respond, Antanas, who was holding the Cat Boss, looked down at him, puzzled by his behavior.
"Take the wild wolves outside the city-state, for example. Many years ago, they used to go hungry quite often and would even gang up to attack passing caravans." The Cat Boss offered an illustration.
"And now?" Antanas recalled that they hadn't seen any high-specification barriers set up by the farmers on the outskirts of Echelon during their journey on the magi-rail train. There were only ordinary fences, which didn't seem like adequate protection against fierce wild wolves.
"Now, the residents of the royal capital often go out to feed the wild wolves all sorts of delicacies, to the point where they're almost feeding them into obesity." The Cat Boss shook his head, as if lamenting the changing times. "As a result, they've lost all aggression towards humans and will even approach people affectionately, expecting food."
"Pfft!" Lanchi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Pranai was the first to look at Lanchi, then quickly averted his gaze, feigning ignorance.
(End of Chapter)
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