Chapter 707: The Opening Act of Lanchi's Imperial Legend

Chapter 707: The Opening Act of Lanchi's Imperial Legend

Late September.

In the southern reaches of the Kreese Empire, within the province of Botswana...

Golden leaves fluttered gently in the breeze, carried by the wind alongside rays of sunlight that filtered through a thin veil of clouds. They danced together, alighting on the roof of a magi-train as it pulled into the station, its passengers spilling out towards the platform.

Among the last to disembark was an elderly gentleman, his single bag in hand as he waited patiently for the crowd to thin before stepping off the train.

Gloved and leaning on a cane, his tall frame exuded an air of dignity. Though his age seemed to be around sixty, he stood with a straight back, a testament to his youthful spirit.

His face was angular, with high cheekbones and deep-set eye sockets that accentuated his bright eyes. The corners of his eyes may have been marked by wrinkles, but they did little to dim the lively spark within.

His silver hair, slightly curled, was meticulously trimmed and styled, pulled back into a small braid.

The gentleman took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp autumn air as he stood as still as a chess piece.

[Lovia, a resident of Granwilf in the northern borders of the Kreese Empire. A 62-year-old publisher with modest savings, he has come to the imperial capital of Brilida on business.]



—This was his new identity, crafted for his foray into the heart of the Kreese Empire.

To be honest, Lanchi had never disguised himself as an elderly man before, and he could only hope that he was able to emulate the demeanor of the professor he knew best—Professor Bolao.

Lanchi took one last careful look at his reflection in the train window, ensuring that his disguise was flawless before setting off towards the carriages at a leisurely pace.

The corridor inside the carriage was now much less crowded than when the train had first arrived.

Lanchi strolled through the aisle, his luggage in hand, feeling a sense of spaciousness around him.

"Sir, may I see your ticket, please?"

A polite attendant stepped forward, blocking Lanchi's path.

Unfazed, Lanchi reached into his pocket and produced the ticket, handing it over without haste.

"Welcome aboard the Brilida Magi-Train. Your room, 404, can be found by proceeding straight ahead to the fourth carriage. We hope you enjoy your journey."

The attendant spared an extra glance at the dashing elderly gentleman, using his device to verify the ticket before stepping aside and indicating the direction Lanchi should take.

"Thank you."

Lanchi nodded in acknowledgment and took back his ticket.

The interior of the train exuded an air of antique elegance. Intricate carvings adorned the rosewood casing, emanating a subtle fragrance that spoke of aged wood.

"Four-oh-three, four-oh-four..."

Lanchi murmured the numbers on the doors as he walked down the corridor, quickly locating his compartment.

He opened the door and stepped inside.

As it was only a short-haul train, there were no sleeping berths, and each compartment was designed for two passengers, though they were quite luxurious and spacious, featuring large seats and ample storage racks.

Lanchi placed his luggage on the rack and settled into the soft cushion, his body and mind relaxing into the comfort of the chair.

He was dressed in an elegant Kreese-style black coat, its collar and cuffs embroidered with subtle golden patterns. Underneath, he wore a dark green shirt, giving him the air of a merchant, albeit one with an ambiguous profession as a publisher.

The original bearer of this identity, Mr. Lovia, was a well-versed spy for the Kingdom of Bosch, knowledgeable in literature, history, and philosophy. Fortunately, Lanchi was also well-versed in these areas, making his impersonation all the more convincing.

A more convenient identity would have been preferable, he mused as he rested his chin on his hand, gazing out the window.

Obtaining and switching identities within the capital of Brilida would be a far more complicated affair, requiring extensive preparation and intelligence to avoid detection.

At that moment, he found himself missing Fred. When it came to investigations, evidence gathering, and intelligence work, Fred was in a league of his own. Back in the royal capital of Yikelite, Lanchi and Fred had worked together on numerous cases, and there wasn't a lock Fred couldn't pick or a piece of evidence he couldn't track down.

It had been nearly a year since they had parted ways before Lanchi's journey to the Northern Continent.

Inquiries to acquaintances at Yikelite Academy about Fred had been met with silence from both President Monastre and Secretary Luveshir. Only the president had offered a vague hint, suggesting that Fred might have headed south after their farewell.

South of the Kingdom of Herton lay either the Southern Van Tina border territory or the vast expanse of the Kreese Empire to the south.

Beyond the window, a panorama of lush green mountains stretched as far as the eye could see. The autumn hues painted the landscape in a myriad of colors, a breathtaking sight.

His new visage was reflected in the double-layered glass, a constant reminder of his disguise.

Slowly, Lanchi lowered his hand from his chin, aware that such a gesture was perhaps too youthful for an elderly gentleman.

He needed to exude more maturity and composure.

And the feeling of the gloves against his face as he touched the mask was somewhat odd.

But these precautions were necessary to avoid detection. Makeup alone couldn't transform him into a man in his sixties.

"Is it difficult for you to portray an elderly man?"

Talia's voice echoed in Lanchi's mind.

She had noticed his daily routine of applying makeup and found it tedious.

Though Talia, now the Mad Demon King, lacked the playful demeanor of the Great Lover, she had spent most of her time in the Kreese Empire in the form of a magic card, observing Lanchi's daily life. As a result, she found herself relying on their conversations to pass the time.

"At least I'm not a woman," Lanchi sighed inwardly.

Nigel had been clear from the start that ensuring absolute safety and reliability might limit their options for suitable identities. Additionally, Lanchi had requested that Nigel expedite the process, which further narrowed their choices.

Mr. Lovia, the elderly publisher, had originally been a spy for the Kingdom of Bosch, stationed in the Kreese Empire. Of all the identities that Nigel could find that met their stringent safety requirements, this soldier's build was the closest match to Lanchi's, simplifying the transformation process.

The outer reaches of the core city-states of the Kreese Empire were enveloped by unique dispersal magic barriers, a hallmark of Imperial Magi Engineering. To ensure their security, Lanchi not only had to rely on the everyday disguise magic, [Transformation: Human], but also on...

As Lanchi prepared to embark on his journey into the heart of the Kreese Empire, he also had to ready his physical disguise to assume his new identity. With a double disguise in place, he would ensure that even if his magic was dispersed by the dispersal barrier, his physical disguise would remain intact.

Fortunately, once he passed through the dispersal barrier zone and entered the capital of Brilida, he could rely on his unique transformation magic, [Transformation: Human], most of the time without worrying about this ancient magic being easily detected.

Now, with this new identity, Lanchi could step into the shoes of the original Mr. Lovia, who could finally retire to the Kingdom of Bosch.

"You're quite the actor, pretending to be an old man," Talia commented as she observed Lanchi. She felt that he was getting better and better at his act.

"..." Lanchi was momentarily lost for words.

By 'old man', Talia meant to praise him for looking like an immortal about to ascend, a compliment that Lanchi had once explained to her. He never expected that she would remember it.

"Come to think of it, if your appearance ages, it wouldn't feel out of place at all. Even Hyberlian often said that you looked like an old school principal at the academy, except for the fact that you had a young face, which made you seem a bit peculiar," Talia bluntly assessed Lanchi.

"..." Lanchi still didn't know how to respond.

He just felt that Talia was being a bit too blunt and needed to mind her words.

The magi-train's mana compressor rumbled as the train gradually left the station, picking up speed. The scenery outside the window flew by in a blur of lush mountains and golden leaves, creating a splendid, moving painting.

The carriage was quiet, with only the rhythmic sound of the wheels breaking the silence.

Unbeknownst to him, the day had finally come when he would venture into the heart of the most prosperous Southern Continent, the Kreese Empire. It was not only a dangerous place, being the birthplace of Imperial Magi Engineering, but also a gathering place for the powerful elite of the empire.

Moreover, there was a possibility of encountering the returning Twelve War Gods in Brilida.

According to the allied intelligence provided by Nigel, apart from the ten War Gods who would be rotating back, two War Gods would be stationed there permanently.

They were the first War God, Haxintos, bestowed with the Diamond Seat, and the sixth War God, Violette, bestowed with the Water Jade Seat.

They possessed the [Original Slab-Slash] and the [Original Slab-Ice] respectively.

Lanchi took out his Earth Tome from his pocket and carefully checked the transfer stations and connecting lines.

The transportation hub province of Botswana, which encircled the capital of the Kreese Empire, Brilida, was located in the southeast of the empire.

With an area of 229,654 square kilometers, it was the fifth-largest province in the empire, with a population of about 1.24 million and a relatively low population density.

It didn't take a long train ride to get from the edge of Botswana Province to the capital, Brilida.

This would also be Lanchi's last transfer. After passing through the dispersal barrier zone and inspection checkpoint of the capital, he would arrive at his destination.

As his thoughts wandered, the train suddenly jolted, bringing him back to the present.

With a long whistle, the train began to enter a tunnel surrounded by mountains.

Lanchi noticed that he was alone in the compartment, luck seemed to be on his side, and the other seat might not have been sold.

However, his peace was short-lived as the door to the compartment creaked open.

A well-dressed young man stepped in.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, with a tall, slender build and a tailored navy blue long coat and formal attire.

He must have boarded the train at the last moment and then spent some time looking for an empty compartment and seat.

"Looks like I won't get to eat the special Brilida box lunch..." Talia pouted in Lanchi's mind, sounding a little aggrieved.

She had hoped that Lanchi would have the compartment to himself, and she could have sneaked out to finish off the lunch. Now, it seemed that her wishful thinking was just that.

"I'll let you have control of my body, and you can eat it if you want," Lanchi offered, feeling a bit sorry for Talia.

After all, it was just a meal to fill his stomach, and it didn't matter who ate it.

"Really?" Talia asked.

"Yes," Lanchi confirmed, and he could sense Talia's excitement at the prospect.

After their brief mental exchange, Lanchi put aside his thoughts and straightened his posture to greet his fellow passenger politely.

The young man with black hair and blue eyes returned Lanchi's greeting with a friendly smile.

Their eye colors were both blue, though with slight variations in shade.

Or perhaps, it was the most common eye color in the Kreese Empire.

"Hello," the young man initiated the conversation.

His cheerful yet composed demeanor made him seem more mature than his age, probably in his mid-twenties to thirties.

"Good morning," Lanchi replied curtly. He didn't intend to say more, but since the other party had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation, he gave a slight nod in response.

Unlike his usual character, Lanchi Wilfort, the persona he was currently portraying, Mr. Lovia, was a solitary elderly man without a wife or children. Thus, he tended to be more reticent and taciturn, except when it came to business matters.

The black-haired, blue-eyed young man across from him didn't seem to mind Lanchi's cold demeanor. He simply smiled again and proceeded to settle into the seat opposite Lanchi, organizing his luggage neatly.

At that moment, the train whistled once more, signaling its official departure from the border city of Botswana Province.

As the train sped through the tunnel, faint shadows of lush trees could be seen flashing by outside the window.

In the distance, snow-capped peaks towered majestically, their white summits resembling sacred lotuses.

The Botswana Province of the Kreese Empire was renowned for its mountainous terrain, much like the Holy Chapel Castle in the shadow world, which was built atop a thousand-meter-high mountain. The climate at such altitudes tended to be bitterly cold year-round.

Lanchi was absorbed in his thoughts, staring at the newspaper spread out before him. It took him a while to remember that he had been reading the Kreese Central Daily.

A bold headline jumped out at him: The Western Expeditionary Force Breaks Through, the Fourth War God of the Jade Throne, and the Eighth War God of the Glorious Golden Throne Are Unstoppable!

Compared to the eastern region of the Allied Kingdom Alliance, the battle situation in the western hub zone remained intense and fiercely contested.

The newspaper also included a black-and-white photo, featuring yet another public announcement of the death of an eighth-tier strong ally.

The soldiers of the Kreese Empire wore triumphant expressions, their arms raised high as if proclaiming their victory to the world.

Lanchi's breath slowed as he regarded the scene before him.

Even though he was deep in enemy territory, he had to perfectly assume the role of a Kreese Empire citizen, setting aside his personal emotions. However, whenever he saw such scenes, he thought of Dean Lauren, and his heart felt heavy.

He wasn't in a position to criticize the Kreese Empire's three-on-one tactic as despicable, as he had used a similar strategy himself. But the crucial difference was that Siegfried's three-on-one battle against Askassan had been agreed upon, whereas Lauren would never have consented to being ganged up on by three War Gods.

In the end, Lanchi could only regain the calm he had cultivated in the Northern Continent, forcing himself to forget that he was, in fact, a citizen of the Kingdom.

"This war is truly a cruel business," a pleasant voice said, interrupting Lanchi's train of thought.

Lanchi slowly lowered the newspaper and saw that the black-haired, blue-eyed young man across from him was looking at him intently, as if he, too, had already perused the contents of the newspaper.

In response to the young man's initiative, Lanchi felt obliged to make some small talk.

"That may be true, but we common folk can't do anything about it," Lanchi said with a slight shake of his head.

He wanted to steer the conversation away from this topic.

From the young man's attitude, he didn't seem like a typical Empire youth who supported the war, and it was for this reason that Lanchi was willing to engage in conversation with him. However, Lanchi didn't want to delve into political discussions, as such topics were quite sensitive in the capital of Brilida at the moment. Expressing clear anti-war sentiments could lead to accusations of undermining military morale or even treason, resulting in arrest.

"May the Great Goddess protect the suffering people," the black-haired, blue-eyed young man said, as if understanding the old gentleman's concerns. "My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Landry Washington."

The young man extended his hand.

Lanchi noticed that his manners were quite elegant, indicating that he had received a good upbringing.

"I'm Lovia, a publisher," Lanchi replied truthfully, showing respect to the young man.

In the Kreese Empire, the absence of a surname indicated a commoner's background, a simple and straightforward distinction.

"Mr. Lovia, please don't be alarmed. My family used to be prominent, but we've long since fallen from grace," Landry explained, seemingly having noticed Lanchi's wariness.

Lanchi sized up the young man. So, he was of noble birth, which explained his refined speech, devoid of the typical aristocratic arrogance.

"Is this your first time visiting the capital, Brilida?" Landry asked.

"Yes, the borders are indeed unsafe these days. As an old man, I wanted to come to the capital to enjoy the scenery and retire in peace," Lanchi replied with a nod.

"And you? Have you never been to Brilida, despite your noble birth?" he asked the young man, sensing that they shared a similar unfamiliarity with the capital.

"This is my first time in the royal capital as well. In essence, I grew up as a commoner..." Landry, with his black hair and blue eyes, was quite talkative, and he proceeded to share his family's history with Lanchi.

Lanchi decided to indulge him, as he had no desire to continue reading the newspaper anyway. He folded the paper neatly and listened patiently as the young man spoke of his past.

His family, a once-prominent noble house in the distant western border of the Kreese Empire, had fallen from grace generations ago. By the time it was passed down to him, the family had lost its wealth and influence, retaining only an honorary title. The one consolation was that they were at least debt-free.

"My hometown, a remote area in the western border of the Empire, is not a pleasant place. It's a land of barren mountains and treacherous waters, far removed from the capital. Fortunately, I possess some talent, and through my own efforts, I graduated from the best magic research school in the border region. I had intended to live out my days quietly on the border and didn't consider reviving my family's glory. However, with the outbreak of war, to avoid being conscripted to the front lines, I had no choice but to apply for a job in the capital. Surprisingly, I was accepted without any issues."

Lanchi could sense that Landry was quite talented, with strong magic and a research background, even without Talia's help.

"Staying in the border region would likely have resulted in forced conscription by the military," Lanchi surmised.

"You flatter me," Landry replied with a smile, shaking his head.

"You must have secured a fantastic position," Lanchi probed further.

Rather than directly questioning him, Lanchi chose to continue praising him, allowing the young man to naturally reveal the information.

If their destination was indeed the capital, Brilida, and the young man exuded such potential, Lanchi saw no harm in trying to establish a connection.

"It's not that big of a deal, really," Landry said, scratching his temple awkwardly. "I'll be teaching at St. Kreese Abbey, or more accurately, the Royal Magic Academy of Kreese."

"Wow, that's impressive."

Lanchi was slightly taken aback but genuinely exclaimed in admiration.

The school the young man mentioned, originally known as St. Kreese Abbey, had now become a magic school supported by the Kreese royalty and was also called the Royal Magic Academy of Kreese.

Despite this, as it had preserved the original appearance of the ancient St. Kreese Abbey and had expanded into a town-sized campus, many people from the Kreese Empire still preferred to call it the Abbey.

It was known as the pinnacle of educational institutions on the Southern Continent, surpassing the numerous academies of the United Alliance of Southern Kingdoms, and was regarded as the foremost cradle of talent, attracting countless gifted students.

To become a teacher at St. Kreese Abbey, one had to undergo rigorous selection.

"You give me too much credit. I was just lucky to pass the assessment, perhaps because many teachers have joined the military due to the war, and the school's funds have been cut. The school doesn't want to expand the faculty, and it's challenging to find suitable candidates during this time, so a borderland fellow like me slipped through."

The black-haired, blue-eyed young man said humbly,

"Of course, on the other hand, it may also be due to the opposition between the noble faction and the civilian faction within the academy, leading the principal to choose me, a quasi-noble, as a compromise."

He added in a low murmur.

"Being able to pass the assessment already proves your strength. Even if there were many situational factors, I've heard that the evaluating teachers are exceptionally strict, intolerant of even the slightest flaw."

Lanchi offered words of comfort like an elder.

If he were the principal, he would also hold the young man before him in high regard. The subtle air of mystery about him was a manifestation of his abundant talent and unfathomable depth.

"Thank you for your encouragement."

The black-haired young man smiled, his worries assuaged.

As they chatted, the two of them gradually became more familiar with each other.

The journey by carriage felt much quicker.

Lanchi rather enjoyed the conversation.

Back when he first left his hometown in the Van Tina border territory and took the magi-train to the royal capital with Talia, their journey had felt like being in jail, as the two of them barely exchanged a few words along the way.

"..."

Talia seemed to have heard, or perhaps not, as she didn't say anything to him.

Back then, she indeed didn't have much of a favorable impression of Lanchi; she only saw him as slightly stronger than an ordinary person, a mere sponsor.

Now, she didn't have any particular goodwill towards him either. At most, she was willing to cook for him and take care of him.

Inside the carriage compartment.

"By the way, speaking of the war in the Southern Continent, have you heard a certain rumor?"

The black-haired, blue-eyed young man lowered his voice and asked Lanchi.

"What rumor?"

Lanchi asked curiously.

"It's said that the United Alliance of Kingdoms used an ancient divine artifact, the [Astrological Compass], for divination. They sought a very broad question, roughly asking about a special turning point that could affect this war."

The black-haired, blue-eyed young man explained.

"How could they possibly divine an answer from that? Did they really get a result?"

Lanchi smiled dismissively, pretending to not understand divination magic and artifacts very well.

In the days since he had arrived in the Kreese Empire, he had little access to internal intelligence about the war as a civilian. He also hadn't reached the point where he needed to meet with spies from the Kingdom of Bosch. Landry Washington, this soon-to-be professor at St. Kreese Abbey, clearly knew a lot of inside information.

Lanchi had already gained quite a lot from his simple conversation with Landry, and he even began to suspect Landry's identity.

But upon further reflection, it would be challenging for divination magic to uncover his traces, as the interference of the Goddess of Fate would severely mislead such magic. This was a conclusion he had drawn through multiple experiences and deductions with Pranai.

Additionally, the [Seal of Truth] bestowed upon him by Pranai also increased his resistance to divination magic.

According to Pranai, it would likely take at least ninth-tier divination magic to obtain somewhat accurate information about him.

Based on Lanchi's perception and deduction, Landry harbored no ill intentions, and his identity was not suspicious.

"The sand painting that resulted from the divination was blurry and unclear, but through the identification of landmark buildings, it seems to indicate the capital of the Kreese Empire, Brilida. And in the painting, a figure resembling a demon god was wreaking havoc in the city..."

The black-haired, blue-eyed young man's expression gradually turned puzzled as he murmured.

"Who is it?"

Lanchi asked nonchalantly.

"Even the Kreese Empire couldn't identify the figure in the painting. Through numerous comparisons, there are several possibilities with similar features. It could be the Venerable One of the internal terrorist organization, the Silver Moon Reform Society, or a strong individual from the Empire who has defected, or a powerful infiltrator from the Allied forces. Another possibility is that the collaborator, the Cardinal, is inherently untrustworthy. And the most shocking speculation is that it is someone who has returned from the dead."

The young man said in a low voice.

"..."

Lanchi remained silent.

"Aren't you surprised at all?"

The black-haired, blue-eyed young man asked.

"I just feel that it's mostly media speculation fabricated to attract attention."

Lanchi shrugged indifferently,

"After all, you know, rumors tend to change completely after passing through several mouths, and all sorts of outrageous claims emerge."

Although Lanchi said this, the cat boss hiding in the shadows had already become fearful.

It was definitely not groundless.

Because Lanchi indeed possessed the ability to resurrect people without their consent.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end