Chapter 713: Lanchi is Undoubtedly an Expert
Chapter 713: Lanchi is Undoubtedly an Expert
"Is this young lady from the College of Saint Kresia?"
Nicola asked thoughtfully as he sized up Naira.
At this moment, Red Falcon Nicola, dressed in the long coat of an Imperial Army officer, stood at the edge of Duke Oseta Square outside the First Station of Brierda, along with the secretary of Saint Kresia Abbey and the soon-to-be-appointed professor, Lanchi.
Nicola was supposed to escort Professor Landri to the Saint Kresia Abbey.
The two of them could have continued chatting on the way, but now someone from the abbey had arrived.
"Yes, I was entrusted by the abbot to welcome Professor Landrey of your school. If you have no other business, I shall take Professor Landrey away now and not delay your official duties any further."
Naira, who had not looked at Nicola from the start and had been speaking only to Lanchi, turned her head and replied respectfully to the Imperial Army officer.
Lanchi, who had been prepared to politely deal with Nicola, stopped in his tracks. He hadn't expected Naira to take such a firm stance.
Apparently, she had realized that their professor had caught the attention of this spy master, and it would definitely not bode well to let the latter continue his entanglement.
"Wait a moment, I still have some matters to discuss with Professor Landrey. Regardless of who he is handed over to, I need to ensure his safety."
Nicola raised his hand to stop her, having seemingly confirmed that Naira was indeed from Saint Kresia Abbey after observing her just now.
"Or does your school not acknowledge the friendship between Professor Landrey and me?"
He stared at Naira and asked.
"It's best if professors don't have too much involvement with spies, just as doves are best left untouched by hunting dogs."
Naira maintained the elegance of a secretary, with her hands gently resting on her abdomen, but her words no longer veiled her attitude.
"Miss Naira, you should understand that we are currently at war. As the head of the Domestic Countermeasures Department, I have the authority to investigate or protect any citizen of the Empire. Escorting Professor Landrey to Saint Kresia Abbey is part of my upcoming tasks, and yet you intervened. Are you now mocking me?"
Nicola's tone remained calm, but his voice had taken on a heavier tone.
"Are you not putting words into my mouth?"
Miss Naira looked at Nicola with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
She seemed to find the spy master a bit dense.
"..."
Just as the two of them were about to exchange even more unpleasant words, Lanchi wore an expression of worry as he looked at them.
He was concerned that they would end up in a dispute because of him.
Talia felt that whatever Lanchi said at this point would be wrong, so it was better for him to remain silent and let the two of them argue it out.
After all, one of them had to send Lanchi to Saint Kresia Abbey.
It was clear that Secretary Naira disliked the people from the Imperial Special Operations Department and had no intention of giving this spy chief any face from the start.
Whichever side she took would offend the other.
And to continue thriving in the Empire, Lanchi couldn't afford to offend either side.
"How about this—why don't the three of us go to the school together?"
Lanchi suddenly spoke up.
His friendly gaze made it seem as if he hadn't noticed the tension between the two, and he genuinely believed that everyone could get along harmoniously.
Both of them looked at him in confusion, wondering if he was joking.
"This way, Miss Naira would have fulfilled her duty of escorting me back to school, and Mr. Nicola would have accomplished his task of escorting me while also continuing to inquire about my work. The two of you can also ensure my safety along the way, thus satisfying everyone's concerns, right?"
Lanchi nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world and smiled as he replied.
"..."
Both Secretary Naira and Red Falcon Nicola fell silent.
Even Talia said nothing.
Sitting in the same car, traveling the same road... Do you want the conflict between these two to escalate even further? What a torture, having to deal with a man and a woman bickering like this.
"You have both shown me great care, and I am very grateful for your help. If possible, I would like to continue our conversation."
Lanchi continued, taking strides as if he were already inviting the two of them to walk with him toward the vehicle parked in the distance, which was headed for Saint Kresia Abbey.
His easygoing manner rarely caused Nicola to hesitate.
Naira stared at Lanchi, seemingly analyzing his mental state.
"Let's leave it for today. Since the abbey has already sent someone to receive Professor Landrey, I shall leave him in your care. I also need to attend to the investigation regarding the Allied Forces."
Red Hawk Nicola looked at Lanchi's sincere and determined gaze, furrowed his brows, and temporarily backed down.
However, he seemed a bit reluctant to let Lanchi go just like that.
After some thought, with someone from Saint Kresia Abbey present, this was a perfect opportunity to verify one of his suspicions by asking Professor Landrey some questions.
"Before I leave, I have a curious matter that I would like to ask Professor Landrey about, if I may?"
Red Falcon Nicola inquired politely of Lanchi.
Secretary Naira remained silent, standing by like a statue.
Her silence implied that she didn't mind.
"Please go ahead, Colonel Nicola. I'll answer to the best of my ability," Lanchi replied casually, nodding.
"As an expert in magical engineering, Professor Landrey, you seem to have a good understanding of demon magic engineering. I noticed that your specialties include Demon Magic Script and the demon-related magical engineering discipline. May I trouble you to explain the meaning of the demon script inscribed on the dome of the Brierda First Station earlier?" Nicola asked with keen interest.
"..."
Lanchi turned and glanced back at the Brierda First Station, falling silent for a moment.
"Your thoughts, Professor Landrey?" Nicola narrowed his eyes, studying Lanchi.
He clearly remembered that Professor Landrey had looked up at the dome as they walked through the station earlier.
If he were truly an expert, he should have been able to recognize the meaning at a glance.
Secretary Naira, who had been waiting by their side, glanced at Nicola and Lanchi.
She probably understood Red Falcon Nicola's suspicion.
This spy seemed to doubt whether the young professor before them was the real Landrey or an imposter who had been switched out during the accident.
While this possibility was close to zero, upon further consideration, it was not entirely impossible. Red Falcon Nicola, as the head of the spy agency, was not only suspicious but also meticulous in his thinking.
The young professor's brief hesitation seemed to further fuel Nicola's doubts, and his gaze fixed intently on the professor's face.
After all, if this fellow were an imposter, he would surely be unable to comprehend the supposedly familiar Demon script.
"Colonel Nicola, you flatter me. While I do have some knowledge of demons, I wouldn't call myself an expert. To truly unravel the infinite reservoir of demon magic script and its origins would require centuries of dedication," Lanchi replied in a relaxed manner.
"The script on the dome actually carries no literal meaning. It is a unique 'nonsensical script' in Demon script. Due to the grammatical differences between Demon script and human languages, many Demon words are solely used to adjust syllables, thus preventing casual conversations from triggering spells."
"I see."
Red Falcon Nicola nodded thoughtfully, as if acknowledging the lesson.
Of course, he already knew the answer before asking the question.
However, it appeared that the young black-haired, blue-eyed professor truly understood Demon script.
Naturally, this alone couldn't confirm his expertise, but it did significantly reduce the likelihood of Professor Landrey being an imposter. After all, such a hesitant and unfamiliar response could easily be provided by any student from Saint Kresia Abbey who had studied Demon Magic Script.
"But, Mr. Nicola, are you familiar with a demon tale?" Lanchi continued, as if he had more to say.
"Oh?" Nicola lifted his gaze, looking at Lanchi.
"The act of writing on the wall carries a hidden meaning beyond the words themselves," Lanchi explained, his eyes gleaming with a hint of depth, as if he were also explaining why he had hesitated earlier.
"Please elaborate." Nicola asked, eager to learn more.
He had never heard of such a tale.
"This is from the fifteenth chapter of Daniel in the Old Testament of the Demon Tome. In ancient times, there was a human king named Beshier who held a grand feast. Due to a shortage of tableware, he used the golden and silver vessels from the holy city to drink. Suddenly, a human hand appeared on the wall, writing words," Lanchi began his explanation.
"And then?" Nicola was intrigued but couldn't fathom how this tale connected to the demon script on the dome of Brierda First Station. He stared intently at Professor Landrey's profile, as if trying to discern some hidden clue.
However, whether the story was true or not, he could easily verify it.
After all, just like the "Book of Creation," the "Demon Tome" was an indestructible legacy and a treasure of the demon race spanning generations, with translated copies available in various countries.
"However, the scholars, sorcerers, and diviners in the country could neither read the words nor explain their meaning to the king. So, Daniel, who was half-demon, was summoned to interpret for the king. Daniel said that the words were written by God and read, 'Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.' These words could not be understood using human grammar, and their meaning could only be inferred. It was a sign of God's displeasure at the king's desecration of the holy vessels, and a foretelling of the end of his reign and the reckoning of his sins,"
That night, King Beshier was assassinated, marking the beginning of the kingdom's downfall."
Lanchi finished the story for Red Falcon Nicola.
"..."
Hearing Lanchi's words, Red Falcon Nicola furrowed his brows.
He now understood why Professor Landrey had not answered immediately earlier.
The problem encountered during the construction of the Brierda First Station was indeed related to the Demon-Human Holy War a hundred years ago. The design proposal of that half-demon imperial craftsman faced tremendous opposition and resistance, but fortunately, it was eventually built, ensuring that such an excellent plan didn't come to naught.
There seemed to be some connection between this ancient tale and what Professor Landrey had mentioned.
The allegory of that divine story had many interpretations, and one of the most straightforward was—arrogant rulers who act arbitrarily will inevitably bring about their own destruction.
However, such words could not be spoken carelessly in the Kresia Empire.
It might have been the dissatisfaction of that imperial craftsman towards the Kresia Empire or its ruler at that time.
Perhaps only now has someone deciphered the craftsman's hidden message with a unique understanding.
"Of course, it could also be that I'm overthinking it. After all, only a small number of ancient demons would interpret writing on the wall as an ill omen or a sign of impending doom."
Lanchi called out to Red Falcon Nicola, who was frowning thoughtfully beside him.
The fact that the Demon-Human Holy War had occurred showed that the demons had long forgotten the warning of this allegory.
Of course, this interpretation was shared by an associate professor of history at the Protoss Royal Magic Academy in the Northern Continent, and scholars in the Northern Continent, which had endured the brunt of the Holy War, tended to delve deeper into the study of the "Demon Tome."
"Very well, then I won't take up Professor Landrey's time any longer. We can continue our conversation another day."
Red Falcon Nicola quickly snapped out of his thoughts, lightly touched the brim of his hat, and bade Lanchi farewell.
Secretary Naira also looked at the professor with a peculiar expression in her eyes.
It was no wonder that the principal had high regards for him.
"No problem."
Lanchi replied to Nicola.
In a short while, Secretary Naira had already moved the silver magic-driven vehicle onto the road, waiting for Professor Landrey to get in.
Lanchi glanced to his side, the luxurious carriage with its leather-upholstered seats seemed to be far superior in performance to the magic-driven vehicles of the Kingdom of Horton.
Nicola held the car door open for Lanchi with one hand while the other rested on his back, seeing him off as he settled into the vehicle.
Until Secretary Naira silently started the engine.
Accompanied by a soft buzz, the car departed from the majestic Brierda First Station, heading south towards the distant location of Saint Kresia Abbey.
In the back seat.
The warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, casting a lazy glow on Lanchi's slightly weary face, adding a touch of nonchalance to his handsome features.
"You, deliberately made Nicola suspicious of you, and then dispelled his doubts, planning to repeat this a few times so he won't be able to suspect you anymore, right?"
Talia's voice whispered in his ear.
"It's not as complicated as you think. I really didn't know how to explain at that moment. After all, it's not a good omen, and I've just arrived in the capital of Brierda. I should be celebrating instead."
Lanchi chuckled and responded in his mind.
Speaking thus, he turned his gaze towards the passing buildings of the empire.
Everything seemed novel to him, and this most developed city on the Southern Continent boasted countless landmarks for him to explore.
Going with the flow was the best attitude, no matter what awaited him in the Kresia Empire.
"Professor Landrey, if you are targeted by that man called Red Falcon, your stay in the capital may become quite troublesome. He's like a hawk, always keeping an eye on his prey, which is why I wanted to minimize your contact with him earlier."
At this moment, Secretary Naira, sitting in the driver's seat, looked at Lanchi with her single pale blue eye, visible beneath the mechanical eyepatch.
"It's alright, my conscience is clear, so I have nothing to fear."
Lanchi replied, offering a grateful smile to Secretary Naira, confident that she could see him through the rearview mirror.
Seeing Professor Landrey's confidence, Secretary Naira remained silent.
Headmistress Violet's instructions to her were to keep a close eye on this Professor Landrey, as Saint Kresia Abbey was currently under scrutiny, and anyone trying to enter or leave might have their own agenda. The headmistress tended to be suspicious in such matters.
Now it seemed that this Professor Landrey was indeed skilled, and she could report the details of his conversation with Colonel Nicola to the headmistress.
(End of Chapter)
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