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Chapter 710: Lanchi Will No Longer Serve the Empire
Chapter 710: Lanchi Will No Longer Serve the Empire
The mountain breeze gently caressed the forest, a tapestry of crimson and golden hues, as the Brierda Magic-Powered Train once again traversed the rugged Langal Mountains surrounding the capital of the Krexe Empire.
Within one of the train compartments, compartment 404 to be precise, Lanchi was undergoing an interrogation.
He appeared somewhat fatigued yet maintained his composure.
Of course, at this moment, he had switched to the seat across from his original one—the seat that belonged to Professor Landri Washington.
"Yes, it was I who took down the enemy on board the train," Lanchi answered truthfully, responding to the interrogating officer seated across from him.
"The situation had reached a point where I could no longer tolerate their actions. This took place in our capital, Brierda, and yet there are still those who dare to challenge the authority of our empire! I could not bear to let her continue her audacity for another second. I had to make her understand the concept of imperial sovereignty and the power of our empire's faith."
He couldn't help but gently tap the table as he spoke, his righteous indignation and hatred for evil evident.
His unwavering demeanor and hidden strengths resonated with the officer, who nodded along.
The passion and sincerity in the young man's words rang true; even the officer sitting across from him felt a sense of shame for not possessing the same unwavering dedication to the empire as this youth.
"Mr. Landri, my superior may have additional questions for you later. This is not intended to cause you any difficulty, but as you are the central figure in this incident, we need your cooperation to gather more information about the enemy." The investigating officer closed his notebook and stood up to address Lanchi.
"No problem," Lanchi nodded, seeing the officer out.
The corridor of the train carriage was riddled with scorch marks, a testament to the intense battle that had taken place. If not for the sturdy protective barrier that covered the train, it would have likely derailed and been buried in the rugged mountains.
Members of the Capital Garrison Force moved back and forth within the carriage, comforting the shaken passengers and collecting evidence for their investigation.
As the elite force guarding the heart of the empire, the Capital Garrison Force was renowned for its rigorous selection process and brutal training regimens. They were specifically tasked with ensuring the safety and security of the capital.
Within its command structure were several departments, including the "Imperial Guard," who served as the emperor's personal bodyguard and also guarded important locations such as the imperial palace and government offices.
The "Military Police" maintained social order in the capital region, suppressed resistance, and monitored the words and actions of both officials and civilians.
The "Air Defense Force" managed the air raid warning system and operated the capital's air defense forces, protecting against enemy air strikes. Meanwhile, the "Fortress Defense Force" garrisoned several large fortresses on the outskirts of the capital, forming the first line of defense.
In the case of the Brierda incident, it was the responsibility of the Second Military Police Brigade, tasked with maintaining order in the capital's outer regions, to respond.
Fortunately, most of the passengers had escaped unharmed, though in other compartments, the bodies of the imperial guards who had been escorting the train lay strewn about, their blood staining the shattered glass and warped metal.
"The extreme danger has passed, and the perpetrator is no longer aboard the Brierda Magic-Powered Train. Please rest assured, passengers, that the train is now under the control of the Imperial Capital Garrison Force. We ask for your full cooperation with the military's investigation. The train will arrive at its final destination, Brierda, shortly, so please bear with us for a little longer."
The train's broadcast continued to soothe the anxious passengers.
Most of the passengers were not as calm and collected as Lanchi.
Perhaps a display of panic would have been more fitting at this moment.
However, Lanchi, in his role as Landri, exuded a natural confidence that didn't require any pretense.
"Lanchi, are you sure you haven't defected? ...I'm a little scared," Talia said, resuming their conversation in his mind.
As his spiritual companion, she was now bound to his fate, witnessing his story unfold daily.
And at this moment, she felt that something was amiss.
While it was indeed a remarkable talent for a spy to be able to blend into their environment quickly, Lanchi had practically become a native in the blink of an eye.
"Talia, there's no need to worry," Lanchi assured her, his mental voice firm and resolute. "The incident where I inadvertently helped the empire capture the Allied spy was merely a coincidence, and it won't happen again."
Lanchi's eyes held a determined gaze as he continued, "I will not aid the empire any further, nor will I ever become a turncoat."
This time, unlike his experience in the Northern Continent with the Protoss Empire, he was clear about where his loyalties lay.
"That's good," Talia breathed a mental sigh of relief, her voice carrying a hint of laughter.
She figured that even if Lanchi wanted to rise through the ranks within the empire, he didn't have the capability to do so.
The empire was not that simple.
"It seems we're almost there," Lanchi said, sitting quietly in the compartment and gazing out the window.
Despite the twists and turns along the way, things had generally turned out well.
"I'm fine," Lanchi replied with a smile.
Compared to his usually reserved self, Professor Landri Washington's personality seemed to be more outgoing and confident.
"I am the commander of the Second Military Police Brigade of the Capital Garrison Command, Colonel Burke Von Arnold." The officer introduced himself without stepping into the compartment, standing tall and proud at the doorway.
"Colonel, please have a seat," Lanchi said, immediately recognizing the other's rank from his uniform and gesturing for him to take the seat across from him.
Although this officer seemed mild-mannered and polite, it did not detract from the fact that he was an imperial soldier who would carry out his duties with precision and force when necessary.
Imperial military police were known for their swift and decisive action at the first sign of dissent or disloyalty.
If Lanchi were to take up his position at St. Crexe Abbey on the outskirts of Brierda, he would likely have future dealings with this Colonel Burke and his Second Military Police Brigade in the event of any security incidents at the school.
"I heard that you were the one who repelled the enemy. Are you injured?" Colonel Burke Von Arnold asked, taking a seat and folding his hands on the table as he addressed Lanchi in a calm and measured tone.
He could tell that the young man before him, with his black hair and blue eyes, was a noble and an incredibly powerful one at that.
For the vast majority who had not yet reached the transcendent realm, a Sixth Stage practitioner was already a formidable force, be it on the borderlands or even in the capital.
It was fortunate that there was such a powerful individual on this train; otherwise, they might have faced a major security incident.
"I'm not injured," Lanchi replied humbly. "My battle with the enemy was brief and didn't escalate to that point."
Hearing this, Colonel Burke hesitated for a moment before taking the investigation records from the soldier accompanying him.
"But I heard from passengers in other compartments that you had an overwhelming advantage when facing that female enemy strongholder," the colonel said, glancing at the papers in his hand before looking back up at Lanchi.
"If she had been pushed to desperation, I might have sustained some injuries indeed," Lanchi admitted with a casual smile.
"I see," Colonel Burke murmured, his eyes never leaving the young man before him. There was a sense of restrained power about this youth, a mysterious depth that suggested he was even stronger than he appeared.
"According to passenger information, your name is Landri Washington. May I ask what brings you to the capital, Brierda?" The colonel continued his questioning while making notes.
"Work-related," Lanchi replied. "I received an appointment letter for a position here in Brierda."
He bent down to retrieve the relevant documents from his luggage bag by his feet.
As Lanchi raised his head again, he noticed that Colonel Burke had already turned to look out the window.
It seemed that they were almost at their destination.
Neither of them was in a hurry.
Arriving in Brierda only meant that they could now continue their conversation more at ease.
As the train gradually slowed down, a bustling train station came into view.
Upon hearing the news of the Brierda Magic-Powered Train being attacked outside the city, crowds of people and journalists packed the platform, jostling to catch a glimpse.
They whispered amongst themselves, and despite the Capital Garrison Force's efforts to maintain order, the train station in Brierda, the political and economic center of the empire, was inevitably abuzz with activity.
"Mr. Landri, I may need to detain you for a while, but rest assured, I will get you to your desired destination as soon as possible. Shall we chat as we walk, or would you prefer to stay here and finish our conversation?" Colonel Burke added.
"Let's chat as we walk," Lanchi suggested, standing up with his suitcase in hand.
"A wise choice. I believe that on your own, it won't be easy to get through that wall of people and journalists waiting outside," Colonel Burke said, not wasting a moment.
As they waited by the carriage door, it opened with a hiss, and another group of imperial soldiers in different uniforms stood ready outside the door of the fourth carriage.
Strangely, there weren't as many people on the platform as before, as if they were intentionally giving way to these imperial soldiers.
Their numbers were far fewer than that of the Capital Garrison Command's military police.
Or, to be more precise, it was just a single action team.
The leading officer had his hat brim pulled low, almost obscuring his forehead.
"Why, it's Chief Nicola. What brings you here?"
The first to speak was Colonel Burke, addressing the officer outside with the codename Red Falcon.
He clearly knew the other man.
Lanchi quietly observed, and upon closer inspection, he noticed that only the door of the fourth carriage was open. Apparently, passengers in the other carriages were not allowed to disembark, and the door was opened solely for these officers to board.
Even before arriving in the Krexe Empire, Lanchi had done his homework. The information Nigel had provided him included a detailed breakdown of the Krexe Empire's capital military structure.
Just from the uniforms of the officers standing at the carriage door, he could tell that they belonged to a department independent of the Capital Garrison Command—the Imperial Special Operations Department, also known as the Imperial Magitech Special Forces.
Within this department was the External Intelligence Section, which sent spies to infiltrate other nations to gather military and political intelligence, and the Destruction Action Section, which formally operated on enemy-occupied battlefields to carry out assassinations, kidnappings, and acts of sabotage to disrupt the enemy's rear.
The Domestic Intelligence Section was more focused on internal affairs, tasked with monitoring dissidents within the capital region, rooting out anti-war elements and traitors, and maintaining regime stability. There was also a secret laboratory that developed various silent and deadly weapons, such as poisons, alchemic creatures, and high-performance explosives. This lab was also located in the capital, Brierda.
The head of the Imperial Special Operations Department reported directly to the emperor and could directly mobilize resources from various departments.
As such, the Imperial Special Operations Department held considerable authority within the empire.
"We suspect that this attack was likely a result of collusion between internal and external forces, with an inside traitor involved," said Red Hawk Nicola, standing on the platform.
He was significantly younger than Colonel Burke, with a handsome face, sharp features, and well-groomed, deep reddish-brown hair that exuded the crispness and efficiency expected of a soldier.
As the head of the Domestic Intelligence Section, he was responsible for monitoring dissidents within the capital region and maintaining regime stability.
"In my opinion, I need to thoroughly investigate all individuals related to this incident, both the deceased and the survivors, as they may all be suspects. Out of an abundance of caution, I need to personally cross-examine them again," Red Hawk Nicola said, a faint smile on his face that nonetheless carried an undeniable chill.
"No problem," Colonel Burke replied gravely. He often worked with the Imperial Special Operations Department on cases and trusted Chief Nicola's judgment.
Colonel Burke readily agreed and then turned to Lanchi, giving his shoulder a light pat as if to reassure him and ease any pressure he might be feeling.
After all, the investigation by the Imperial Special Operations Department would undoubtedly be more rigorous, and as the young man at the center of the incident, Lanchi would surely face more questioning and scrutiny.
"..."
In Lanchi's mind, Talia was already panicking.
She thought Lanchi was nothing but trouble.
He had insisted on assuming Landri's identity and turning the incident into a story of how Landri had repelled the enemy! While this might have gained him a seemingly better identity, it also meant that he would now be under the watchful eye of the empire's true hawks. How could he ever hope to live peacefully in the capital of Brierda, let alone accomplish anything?
(End of Chapter)
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