https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-525-Sybrian-Wants-to-Become-a-Duchess/12584742/
Chapter 526: Lanchi Always Repays in Kind
Chapter 526: Lanchi Always Repays in Kind
The two emerged from the Alchemist Academy's garden, a sea of vibrant flowers, and soon spotted the buildings of the Magic Engineering Institute.
Only a handful of students were exiting the main building, books in hand, seemingly seeking last-minute clarifications from their mentors before the semester's end.
Lanchi and Xiubailian walked side by side into the main building of the Magic Engineering Institute.
"Let's head to Boss Cat's Restaurant for lunch later," Lanchi said, turning to Xiubailian.
They had planned to challenge the Shadow World together in the next couple of days, but having just returned to the royal capital by carriage, they naturally needed a day to rest and recharge.
"Thank you... for walking me home," Xiubailian said gratefully.
Ever since the middle of last semester, even though it was just a few blocks from the Ikeli Academy to Boss Cat's Restaurant, he never let her walk alone.
If Tata wasn't there to pick up Xiubailian after school, he would make sure to escort her to the restaurant himself.
"By the way, are you okay with seeing Tata later?" Xiubailian asked as they climbed the stairs together, her thoughts lingering on the matter.
"It's fine," Lanchi waved his hand dismissively. "It might be a bit awkward being alone with her after what happened today, but the three of us together at Boss Cat's will be no problem."
In a sense, looking on the bright side, the incredibly awkward situation that had occurred between him and Tata today would completely overshadow the extremely embarrassing incident that the three of them had experienced in the South Van Tina region.
Finally, they could put the tangled mess behind them.
Often, when one could find a silver lining in an unexpected incident, it seemed more acceptable, even thoughtfully planned, and less like a mistake. The embarrassment naturally dissolved as a result.
This was the Lanchi Defense.
"Uh, okay," Xiubailian replied.
She felt that Lanchi truly had a positive mindset.
After experiencing a painful social death early in the morning, he had now accompanied her on a stroll around the campus and seemed to have moved on.
That sentence, "Tata, you're so cute today... cute enough to make me want to eat you up for breakfast," coupled with Lanchi's voice, still made Xiubailian feel awkward when she thought about it.
She believed that recently, whenever Antanas and the others saw Lanchi and Tata together, they would unconsciously think of those words and have to exert all their effort to control their expressions so as not to give anything away to Lanchi and Tata.
Fortunately, Tata couldn't read minds; otherwise, if she heard everyone around her silently repeating that sentence, she would probably go crazy.
...
On the fifth floor of the Magic Engineering Institute's main building was the Dean's office.
Professor Bolao sat at his desk, surrounded by magic engineering blueprints and measuring tools.
He had arrived at his office earlier that morning and had been diligently working, mechanical pencil in hand, precisely drawing on the semi-transparent blue blueprints, occasionally pausing to inspect the uniquely shaped components on his desk with his magic engineering glasses.
His slightly uplifted pale hair quivered occasionally, his eyes completely immersed in his work.
At that moment, there was a cautious and gentle knock on the door, as if the knocker was trying their best not to disturb Professor Bolao's work.
"Come in," Bolao said without lifting his head, his deep voice indicating his continued focus. He was accustomed to being interrupted during his work by various people seeking his assistance.
The door slowly opened, and a beam of light poured in through the crack. Soon, two young men entered, softly closing the door behind them. They greeted Professor Bolao, "Professor Bolao, good morning! We're back, and we hope you're doing well?"
Lanchi's voice, devoid of distance, echoed in the spacious room surrounded by innovative blueprints and magical machinery, conveying his apparent longing for Professor Bolao after a long absence.
The first time they had come here was due to the Platinum-level card maker audit and the accidental damage to the artificial shadow world terminal, which had brought them to Dean Lorrain's office.
As a result, Dean Lorrain was scolded, and Lanchi proposed that the Wilford family compensate for the damages, leading to a simple handshake agreement with Professor Bolao. Their relationship gradually grew more familiar.
Later on, since the first floor of the old humanities building in the Magic Engineering Institute was the Public Magic Engineering Technology Service Center, the second floor was Professor Bolao's New Magic Engineering Technology Creative Workshop, and the third floor was the Student Management Committee, Lanchi and Xiubailian would occasionally run into Professor Bolao when they went downstairs, and they would greet each other.
"Hmm? Lanchi, Xiubailian?"
Old man Bolao looked up, taking off the silver-framed glasses from the bridge of his nose and placing them on the table as he gazed at the two visitors whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
"It's been a while since I last saw you both. I was just thinking that if I didn't hear from you soon, I'd have to ask Lorrain about your whereabouts."
Setting aside his work, Professor Bolao offered a rare smile.
"Is there something you need my help with?" Lanchi wondered, a guess forming in his mind.
Professor Bolao nodded and pulled out two candies from his drawer, pushing them to the far end of his desk, a gesture inviting Lanchi and Xiubailian to sit across from him, free from formality.
"Your Platinum-level card maker audit is almost complete. Next semester, you'll likely need to travel to the Kingdom of Bosen for a final certification and to serve as a chief examiner for their exam."
Professor Bolao explained, his gaze fixed on Lanchi.
"So smooth? I thought there would be a lot of trouble," Lanchi exclaimed, nodding in surprise as he took a seat. It had been a long time since he'd received such good news.
Lanchi had almost forgotten that he was still a provisional Platinum-level card maker.
After spending too much time in the Northern Continent, he had begun to neglect the association system of the Southern Continent.
"The Card Maker's Association of the Southern Continent also has its own interests at play, but fortunately, your fame in the Southern Continent is not that great. The big shots who care about their reputation wouldn't go out of their way to make things difficult for a newcomer like you with a clean and innocent background."
Professor Bolao recalled that Mia Gaya's Platinum-level certification had been anything but smooth. In comparison, Lanchi was a well-behaved and low-key young man.
There were also political reasons at play. Currently, the Card Maker's Association of the Southern Continent hoped that Lanchi would quickly become a formal Platinum-level card maker and take over Mia Gaya's work.
The Kingdom of Hutton was located at the easternmost edge of the central region of the Southern Continent, while the visiting Araloran Kingdom was in the center, slightly to the east.
The Kingdom of Bosen, on the other hand, was situated between the two, also in the eastern region. Although it didn't boast a large territory, it was exceptionally developed in terms of humanities and magic engineering technology.
The eastern region had been facing a shortage of Platinum-level card maker examiners, and with the recent enigmatic movements of the Kresise Empire, people were reluctant to travel far from their homes. Borrowing examiners from other regions was challenging.
Moreover, it was unlikely that other regions would permit their Platinum-level card makers to journey elsewhere during such uncertain times, as the security risks were difficult to assess.
"In that case, if they need me to be an examiner, I will certainly fulfill my duty," Lanchi replied, assuming the role of a model student.
Xiubailian glanced at Lanchi but remained silent.
The glory of Rocky McCassy in the Northern Continent had nothing to do with you, Lanchi Wilford.
"Xiubailian, I may have to ask you to accompany me to the Kingdom of Bosen in the latter half of the year," Lanchi said, turning to his companion.
"Me too?" Xiubailian asked, pointing to herself in confusion.
"Of course, I'll need a bodyguard," Lanchi replied, not considering going alone to a foreign land.
"The Card Maker's Association will cover the travel and accommodation expenses for the examiner and their assistant, so you don't need to worry about that," Professor Bolao interjected from behind his desk, his eyes shifting between the two young people with a hint of sigh and impatience.
"Also, the assistant doesn't have to be a card maker. Sometimes, they're just bodyguards or close friends with good chemistry. As long as the examiner is happy with them, it's fine," he added.
"Oh, okay," Xiubailian agreed. If Lanchi needed her, she would gladly join him.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Professor Bolao nodded in satisfaction and handed them a registration document from the Card Maker's Association. Before Lanchi and Xiubailian could bring up the topic of unlocking Shadow World permissions, Professor Bolao spoke again.
"By the way, why did Dimensional Bishop Torriad give our school two thousand pounds?"
Professor Bolao asked, his eyes falling on an invoice on his desk, his expression complex.
"Ah?"
Lanchi and Xiubailian exchanged glances.
Two thousand pounds could build a new building at the school.
Although the Son of Destruction was dead, it was unclear who had dealt the killing blow. They had assumed the Dimensional Bishop wouldn't send any money.
The question of who was ultimately responsible for the Son of Destruction's death remained unanswered.
"Should we send him a banner of gratitude?" Lanchi asked.
Professor Bolao fell silent, taken aback by Lanchi's suggestion.
"Good idea," he finally nodded in agreement.
Xiubailian's eyes twitched. Are you two really not afraid of inciting the wrath of the Destruction Bishop Ivanos and challenging Dean Lorrain to a duel?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
