https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-683-Lanchi-Won-t-Date-Talia-Part-1-/12585074/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-684-Lanchi-Holds-the-Reins-Today-Part-1-/12585076/
Chapter 683: Lanchi Won't Date Talia (Part 2)
Chapter 683: Lanchi Won't Date Talia (Part 2)
However, in the human district, openly monitoring an Executioner would be more dangerous for the enemy.
"No problem," Lanchi and Talia replied, following Nigel toward the nearby riverside commercial district.
As night fell, the evening glow of Pariyer was not cold and clear, but rather shrouded in a captivating haze.
The river reflected the bright lights of the riverbank, resembling a flowing galaxy winding through the city center, filling the air with a moist freshness.
In the evening glow of Pariyer, Executioner Nigel led Lanchi and Talia to an open-air cafe by the river.
The cafe, nestled on the riverbank, exuded a unique charm under the soft lamplight.
They climbed the wooden steps set into the stone brick floor and made their way up to the second-floor terrace.
Several rows of white wrought iron tables were arranged under the outdoor canopy, with curtains gently swaying in the breeze.
The three of them sat down at a table by the river on the second-floor open-air terrace and ordered three cups of espresso.
"Sorry to bother you during your time off." Nigel said.
"No problem at all." Lanchi waved his hand dismissively.
Nigel was one of the few friends they had made in the Bosen Kingdom, and they were delighted to have a friend invite them out for a change.
On one side of the terrace stood tall Bosen plane trees, their dense canopy casting dappled shadows in the evening breeze.
From this spot, they could take in the enchanting night view of the Serlina River tributary.
The waiter elegantly served each of them a cup of rich coffee, the aroma wafting up with the rising steam.
Nigel unfolded a portable magitech device and activated a soundproof barrier.
"Do you two have free time after the final round of the Platinum Card Maker exam on Sunday?" he asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Yes, we'll have plenty of free time after the exam. We plan to explore and enjoy ourselves in the Flower Capital, Pariyer." Lanchi and Talia glanced at each other before Lanchi replied.
In fact, their trip to the Bosen Kingdom was nearing its end.
According to their plan, after completing their duties as examiners for the Platinum Card Maker exam, they would stay in the Bosen Kingdom for two more days before returning to the Hutton Kingdom.
Although they wanted to explore more of the Bosen Demon Realm, time did not permit it.
If they delayed any further, there was no telling if the Krexe Empire to the south would suddenly initiate a war, making their return journey to the Hutton Kingdom much more difficult.
"On Sunday evening, I'll be attending a demon clan banquet in Demon District 10, and I have a bad feeling about it." Nigel didn't make any requests but instead shared his plans for that evening, as if he were preparing for the worst.
"What's going on?" Lanchi asked.
"Based on the progress of my investigation so far, this curse spreader is likely a demon clan member who first appeared over a year ago. Compared to a human, he's more likely to be a demon, but the residual magic I've observed contains traces of non-modern demon magic script, making him seem more like an ancient demon clan member from the Northern Continent rather than one of the Bosen demon clans. That's why my deduction makes me feel even more uneasy..." Nigel took out a magitech sealing box, which was composed of interlocking mechanical blocks, from his coat pocket and opened it in front of Lanchi and Talia.
Inside was a piece of cloth scorched with deep blue flames.
"This is a piece of evidence we barely managed to preserve from a victim during our search in the Demon Realm two days ago, after finally encountering the curse spreader." Nigel explained.
Although Nigel didn't want to bother Lanchi and Talia, he hoped that these two, who could dispel curses, might be able to discern more clues than he could.
He was fairly certain that Talia was stronger than him and might even possess the terrifying strength to confront the curse spreader directly.
Lanchi glanced at Talia upon hearing this.
This was indeed right up her alley.
Not only was she a demon, but she was also a native ancient demon, so who better to understand ancient demons than her?
"Is this the man who cursed Miss Lissancy at the station?" Talia gently reached out to touch the piece of cloth, her eyes closed as she frowned in concentration, sensing the residual magic upon it, and asked Nigel.
That day, the reason they had been attacked on the floating castle airship and encountered the crazed pastry chef, Lissancy, was because a mysterious man had cursed her in advance.
"Yes, it's the same guy from the video I showed you before." Nigel nodded.
This was the most crucial clue the Senate Execution Squad had obtained so far.
Even so, they had lost many colleagues in the process.
Their opponent was formidable.
If not for his desire to avoid conflict and remain undetected, the casualties would have been even worse.
Even Nigel could sense the terrifying upper-level demon clan aura from the residual magic he left behind.
"Is the curse spreader really not from your Bosen demon clan?" Talia's analysis of the magic made her feel that something was amiss.
"No, it's definitely not the same." Nigel stated his conclusion with certainty.
"..." Talia fell into deep thought.
As they waited for her to analyze the situation, Lanchi took a sip of his coffee.
"Have you ever encountered this kind of magic and magic script before? During the Holy War a hundred years ago, aside from the powerful demon clans that survived, were there any other powerful demons left behind?" Lanchi couldn't help but glance at Talia and asked through mind-link.
An eighth-rank demon might not be able to pass the Great Demon Trial and obtain the marks. Without three marks, even a ninth-rank demon could not become a Great Demon.
Additionally, renowned noble clans like the Shinora and Pranay often received marks of heart and might from the Great Demon Trial, and it was easier for them to obtain the third mark from a Great Demon elder, thus becoming a Great Demon.
"I don't know every demon clan member, but I'm quite sure there wasn't a demon with this feeling among the powerful demons in our lineage." Talia replied to Lanchi through their mental connection.
If there had been such a talented ancient demon, she would have known about it.
"This magical energy sample feels more like it came from a being from the Cataclysmic Earth." After a long hesitation, she finally added her conclusion.
Lanchi and Nigel were both slightly taken aback.
Nigel didn't seem to have expected this situation.
And even though Lanchi had been to the Northern Continent, he had only heard vague mentions of this term in the southern lands of the Protoss Empire.
The Cataclysmic Earth was located at the very ends of the earth, an extremely unstable region.
There were only a handful of tomes about it in the Protoss Royal Library.
"I've seen ancient records mentioning that the Cataclysmic Earth in the Northern Continent is also connected to a lost land, and there may be other demons and humans on that lost land."
Talia explained.
Of course, it was hard to determine the truth of these accounts in the royal library of the demon kingdom, dating back to before the demon kingdom's destruction.
The Cataclysmic Earth was so treacherous that even an eighth-rank demon would be in great danger if they ventured there, and no one knew where it ended. So, most people wouldn't dare to cross it.
"I see."
Lanchi contemplated indifferently, his interest not piqued by this desolate land at the world's end. He was only intrigued by Talia's suggestion that there might be another system of demons in existence.
Nigel looked at Tata, puzzled as to why she knew so much.
But he didn't ask further, knowing it was unnecessary to probe too deeply into an ally's background.
"Meow."
Cat Boss sat on Lanchi's lap, looking from Tata to Lanchi, and the table fell silent for a while.
When they first sat down on the terrace, the streets of Pariyer were bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
As time passed, the glow of the sunset gradually faded, and the city was enveloped in the shadows of dusk, the sky turning into a deep indigo hue, with stars twinkling in the night sky.
"By the way, haven't you been to the Northern Continent?"
Talia asked, looking at Lanchi.
"If that person is a mysterious demon who came from the Northern Continent a few years ago, then it's quite possible that they haven't heard of my name."
Lanchi mused.
Because at that time, the legend of Lochi McCathy in Protoss had yet to begin.
Cat Boss didn't know what to say, only feeling the stirrings of unpleasant memories.
It recalled that when they were in the Protoss Empire, they hadn't really learned much about the secrets of the Cataclysmic Earth, as the Protoss Empire was in the southern lands, and the Cataclysmic Earth was far away in the northernmost region.
However, Lanchi, being from the Southern Continent, probably wouldn't be interested in venturing into such distant lands, and even if there were stories set in the lost lands, Lanchi was unlikely to be the protagonist.
"What are you talking about? Who do you think you are that your name would be famous in the Northern Continent? I'm asking if you've heard of that person."
Talia found Lanchi's response a little amusing.
"No, I haven't."
Lanchi shook his head.
"But a friend of mine from the Northern Continent told me that there seems to be a group of unknown demons hiding in the Northern Continent."
Lanchi remembered that Sigrid had mentioned in her letter that there used to be a panic in the northern lands of Protoss, sparked by the appearance of mysterious demons.
"Could it be that they really came from the other side of the Cataclysmic Earth?"
Talia wondered to herself.
"According to the ancient records of the demon royal palace, there once appeared an unknown and powerful demon who infiltrated the demon world. When they were captured and put on trial, it was discovered that they had come from the other side of the Cataclysmic Earth. Their magic and artifacts were extremely dangerous, and yet they were eventually released, as the demons did not want to make an enemy of them."
Talia conveyed what she knew to Lanchi through their mental connection, not sure of the truth of this demon royal palace secret, which only she and Ifatia might know about.
And even Ifatia might not know, as she didn't like to read.
"So, you're saying that the one spreading curses in Pariyer might be a demon from another, more mysterious system, unrelated to your world?"
Lanchi asked through their mental link.
In that case, the unrest in the northern lands of Protoss and the betrayal of Duke Morotian would all make sense.
"It's possible."
Talia agreed.
"... "
Nigel looked at Lanchi and Tata, who had been exchanging meaningful glances without uttering a word, unsure what they were up to.
He didn't ask any further questions.
"Anyway, Nigel, according to Tata's assessment, the culprit is most likely a demon, not a human, and definitely not one of the old demons from the Holy War."
Lanchi, noticing Nigel's expectant gaze, shared his conclusion.
Talia's eyes twitched slightly.
She felt that Lanchi had somehow emphasized the word "old" when he said "old demons."
"Alright."
Nigel nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
Just knowing that the curse spreader was most likely a demon was a significant piece of information.
He had suspected his teacher, Lord Perlman, of being the curse spreader.
Because, among the eighth-rank demons he knew, only Lord Perlman and Lord Aetio could match the strength of the curse spreader.
Hearing Lanchi and Tata's assessment, he felt that the likelihood of his teacher, Lord Perlman, being the culprit was much lower.
And as for Aetio, who had once been Migaya's follower, she was one of the demon lords most friendly to humans, so it was unlikely to be her.
Therefore, it was highly probable that the true culprit was a mysterious demon who had recently infiltrated from outside the Bosen Demon Realm.
Their activities could almost certainly be confined to the Bosen Demon Realm—if the culprit was indeed a demon, with the recent sudden tightening of border controls by the Senate, it would be very risky for them to try to cross the border disguised as a human, and they would likely be caught.
The curse spreader had not anticipated that Lissancy would be cured of her curse and that the interrogation would reveal crucial information, leading to a series of countermeasures and chain reactions from the Senate.
"By the way, Nigel, you mentioned that you're attending a demon clan banquet this Sunday evening. Do you want us to come with you?"
The conversation always came back to the beginning.
Lanchi remembered what Nigel had said at the start.
Nigel seemed reluctant to trouble them, but he did ask if they were free.
"I'm worried that a curse might occur at my teacher's banquet because the curse spreader is now under a carpet search by the Senate in the Demon Realm, and they will become more desperate. I fear that their plan is accelerating, and the final battle may break out at any time. Many prominent figures of the Bosen Demon Realm will be gathered at that banquet."
Nigel explained with a bitter expression.
"If a demon goes berserk at the banquet and causes a disturbance, according to the rules of the Bosen Demon Clan, they must be executed, or else the Senate Inquisition will be called upon."
There was already some discord between the Bosen Demon Clan and the Senate, and they certainly wouldn't give the Senate any leverage to suppress them further.
Should a berserk incident occur, Nigel wasn't sure if he could convince the other demons to let him take away the afflicted demon.
There was also the possibility of a clash with the other demons.
In their eyes, they didn't trust Nigel, an agent of the Senate, and allowing him to take away the berserk demon might play into the hands of the Senate.
The previous battle with Astolos had left Nigel in a difficult position to explain himself.
He couldn't reveal that the cursed demon could now be cured, nor could he expose Lanchi's presence.
Fortunately, Lanchi now had the mature disguise of Lochi McCathy, so his return journey wouldn't be jeopardized.
Thus, as long as Lochi McCathy, who could dispel curses at any moment, was by his side during the banquet, even if a cursed demon went berserk, he could subdue and cure them immediately.
"So, if the curse spreader chooses to cause trouble at the banquet, we might be able to persuade the other demons to help us capture them by dispelling the curse on the spot, right?"
Talia simply and bluntly summarized Nigel's conclusion.
The curse spreader was highly likely to seize this opportunity to bait Nigel.
If Nigel wanted to save the demon, it would provoke the other demons, and the curse spreader would then have the perfect chance to get rid of Nigel without having to show himself.
"Yes."
Nigel nodded.
He felt that something was brewing in Pariyer, reaching a critical point.
Due to Lanchi and Tata's unintentional interference, the decisive battle in the Demon Capital seemed to be approaching sooner than expected.
"Then we'll go with you."
Lanchi responded decisively.
"Thank you."
Nigel hesitated for a moment and then sincerely thanked the two of them.
"We just finished work and were planning to visit the Bosen Demon Realm for fun. We don't know anyone there, so it would be great if you could take us to experience the upper-class banquet in the Bosen Demon Realm."
Lanchi said with a smile.
If this curse was left unattended and allowed to spread further, it could also endanger Heuberian and the others.
"Then, see you outside the Holy Silvervine Arena on Sunday evening. It's getting late."
Nigel didn't deny that they were friends and bid farewell to the two of them.
He glanced at his watch and realized that it was getting late.
Lanchi and Talia nodded, watching Nigel's back disappear down the stairs leading from the terrace to the shop's interior.
Unknowingly, they had chatted for a long time, and the night had completely enveloped Pariyer.
The dim yellow light of the terrace and the flickering candlelight on the table cast a dusky golden hue over the open-air cafe.
Lanchi's gaze drifted past Talia's shoulder, focusing on the river's surface.
"Will you win on Sunday?"
Lanchi asked softly, his voice filled with a mix of immersion and emotion.
Sunday was not only his final official work day but also a crucial exam for Talia.
Only if Talia passed smoothly could they enjoy their trip to the Bosen Demon Realm.
"... "
Talia didn't want to answer him.
Only Lanchi would confidently give an affirmative answer to such a question.
He was overly confident, and it would eventually backfire on him.
"If you're nicer to me now, maybe I'll be in a better mood during the third round of exams on Sunday and give you a better score."
Lanchi's smile was like a glimmer of light in the summer night, always full of vigor as he spoke to her.
"You won't."
Talia said.
If he really let personal feelings affect his work, he wouldn't have been so casual with Karen in the first round.
She had been observing him and had come to understand Lanchi better.
This man would never hold a grudge, and every pore of his being exuded a sense of worldly cultural tolerance, accommodating others to the point of making them feel inferior and ashamed. If things got too suffocating or unbearable, the only option left would be to run away.
She was certain that Lanchi had no intention of taking revenge on Karen.
Talia hadn't wanted to get involved, as she knew that Karen would eventually discover the truth, but Karen had taken the issue to her, changing the nature of the situation.
Moreover, she couldn't stand seeing others bully Lanchi.
"Do you think you're the only one who can bully me? Are you some kind of domineering princess?"
Lanchi seemed to have heard Talia's inner thoughts and exclaimed in surprise.
"... "
Cat Boss saw that Talia was stunned and could probably guess what Talia had been thinking and what Lanchi had perceived.
No, Boss Cat, are you the only one who reads a lot of books? Why do you have to translate? Cat Boss knew that Lanchi was very perceptive.
However, sometimes he deliberately interpreted a girl's thoughts.
It could make the girl feel very embarrassed.
Such behavior was even worse than a straightforward man.
"You're so confident and carefree, but the way you beg for mercy beneath me is truly amusing."
Talia whispered in his ear, her voice cold and disdainful.
Her tone, laced with contempt, was filled with sarcasm directed at Lanchi.
Accompanied by the sound of light footsteps.
Nigel, who had just paid the bill and was passing by the stairs on the lower floor, looked embarrassed and pretended not to see them as he quickened his pace out of the shop.
"No, no, Mr. Nigel, it's not what you think!"
Lanchi quickly called out to Nigel, who was downstairs.
"I didn't hear anything. By the way, the Bosen Kingdom holds a fireworks festival on the last day of August every year. That day is perfect for a date, right after the Platinum Card Maker Exam. It is said that the priests of the Love Temple will dress up as ghosts on that day, and the more affectionate the couple, the more likely they are to be caught and humiliated."
Nigel turned back and explained to them.
"We're not going on a date that day!"
The two of them heard this and immediately reacted, both voicing their disagreement.
Their relationship hadn't progressed to the point where they would go out together on such a special day!
If the update exceeds 4,000 characters, it may not be updated by 9 p.m., and the update time may be delayed, but as long as there is no leave, it will be updated by 12 midnight.
PS: Promoting a friend's book, "Everyone Is a Villain, So Why Are You Canonized?"
(End of Chapter)
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