Chapter 727: Lanchi's Imperial Career
Chapter 727: Lanchi's Imperial Career
Lanchi strolled along the interior corridor of the Elliott Building, situated in the central complex of the abbey.
The corridor formed a majestic arched loop, encircling the entire structure. As he walked, he committed the map of the building to memory. At every intersection that seemed to lead to a dead end, a sign on the wall gently guided, "Turn Ahead."
And true enough, beyond each turn, a new vista would unfold, revealing a pleasant surprise.
The phrase "Turn Ahead" kept catching his eye, and gradually, it resonated within him.
Perhaps there were no hopelessly lost souls in this world; perhaps some people just needed to learn to turn in a new direction.
"...You," Talia said, reading Lanchi's thoughts and hesitating to ask further.
She felt that Lanchi was always on some kind of task, but it wasn't the one she had assigned him. The more she got to know him, the more she sensed that there were traces of other people's influences on him.
"What else did you do when you went to the Northern Continent besides working on your research?" Talia finally asked, her curiosity piqued by Lanchi's story, which she had previously paid little attention to.
"I've just been focusing on my research," Lanchi replied, perplexed by Talia's sudden question.
"...”
Talia realized that he was telling the truth. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lanchi's life in a foreign land seemed too smooth and effortless.
"How exactly do you focus on your research?" Talia probed further.
"By enhancing my professional capabilities, honing my practical skills, and striving to satisfy my superiors," Lanchi answered thoughtfully.
"...”
"Then keep enhancing yourself and honing those skills, and try to satisfy me a little more so that I can enjoy it even more," Talia transmitted her thoughts to him, feeling completely justified.
After all, no matter how much Lanchi stirred things up in the North, she would ultimately be the beneficiary. Thinking of this made her feel that her journey to the Krissy Empire had been nothing but comfortable and pleasant.
Every day felt like she was still in Icerite.
"Of course," Lanchi replied, continuing their mental conversation as he strolled through the circular corridor and reached the suspended courtyard of the Elliott Building on the fourth floor.
The domed ceiling, adorned with mosaic tiles and supported by stone pillars, boasted a mural depicting the creation of the gods. Although the colors had faded over time, the grand composition still attested to its origins from the divine era.
The arched windows on either side towered several feet high, and the flowerpot sculptures on the window sills twisted and turned, creating intricate patterns. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would stir, causing the window frames to creak softly, and birds flying across the sky would cast fleeting shadows.
The interior corridor provided access to various parts of the Elliott Building, including the library, dining hall, and chapel.
Early that morning, Lanchi had received an email from Miss Nila, the principal's secretary, via the school's staff system. It informed him that Classroom 4-21 would temporarily no longer be used for lectures, and Professor Landrey's course had been relocated to Classroom 4-43.
So, he had arrived a little earlier than usual, taking into account the time needed to find the new classroom.
While it was not uncommon for teachers to be late or even skip classes at the free-spirited Icerite College, Lanchi's professional ethics and principles did not allow him to be so irresponsible. He always made sure to arrive at least fifteen minutes early near the classroom and enter the classroom five minutes in advance.
As he walked, the light gradually dimmed, and he found himself back in the corridor area.
Teachers and students passed by from time to time, their footsteps echoing in the spacious courtyard passageway.
At the corner of the corridor, a statue of the moon goddess of the Saint Krissy Abbey was engraved on the arch.
"...”
Lanchi slowed his pace as he gazed ahead.
At the end of the familiar passageway stood a man wearing a unique style of military uniform.
He had apparently been waiting for Lanchi for quite some time, standing beneath the sign for Classroom 4-21.
"It's been a while, although, to be precise, we met just last week, Professor Landrey," said the Red Falcon, Nicola, his hand resting on the brim of his officer's hat, which was pulled low, almost obscuring his forehead.
Even so, his eyes beneath the hat brim were fixed on Lanchi.
"For people like us who are busy serving the empire, every day feels like a month, so it's natural to feel like it's been a long time since we last met," Lanchi replied, slightly surprised but nodding in agreement.
"Well, if it isn't Colonel Nicola. What brings you here?" Lanchi asked as he continued walking forward.
The quickest route to Classroom 4-43, according to the map, was through the original Classroom 4-21, and Red Hawk Nicola had clearly taken that into account when choosing his waiting spot.
Of course, Lanchi had sensed a pair of eyes on him ever since he entered the Elliott Building, and he was certain they belonged to Red Hawk Nicola.
The last time they had met was at the Brierda First Station, where he had just arrived in the city aboard a magic-powered train. There, he had encountered an attack by Unity, an Allied female assassin, and afterward, he was investigated by this officer of the Imperial Action Department, code-named Red Falcon.
The officer had a sharp and handsome face, with deep reddish-brown hair that was neatly trimmed, exuding the crispness and efficiency expected of a military man.
The Imperial Special Operations Department, also known as the Imperial Magitech Special Forces, was directly accountable to the Emperor and could mobilize resources from various factions without going through the military system.
Any seemingly ordinary civilian walking the streets of the Empire, or an unassuming shop owner, could potentially be a member of this clandestine organization.
Among the various divisions within the Imperial Special Operations, the Domestic Affairs Division was more inclined towards internal affairs within Kreese. They were responsible for monitoring dissidents, weeding out traitors and anti-war elements, and maintaining stability within the Empire. Red Hawk Nicola served as the Chief of this very division.
"I thought you might pass by earlier, so I waited here as I wanted to discuss something with you, Professor. I don't believe it will take up much of your time."
Red Hawk Nicola stood by the door of Classroom 4-21, waiting for Lanchi to approach.
"This won't take more than five minutes," he added.
"That's no problem at all," Lanchi readily agreed.
He had allowed for ample time and didn't expect this to interfere with his upcoming lecture.
Red Hawk Nicola twisted the doorknob and gestured for Lanchi to enter the classroom.
Lanchi nodded and followed him into the room they had used just yesterday.
Golden sunlight streamed through the Kreese-style arched floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a lattice of light and shadow on the ancient oak floorboards.
They strolled slowly past the century-old long tables and desks, and Red Hawk Nicola's gaze fell upon the densely packed oil pen markings that covered the glass window. In an instant, he seemed to be lost in deep thought.
The graceful handwritten demon magic incantations and techniques seemed to flow directly from the mind of a master.
These were the rigorous deductions of magitech engineering, woven from strings of demonic alphabets and human languages. Sparse sentences encapsulated the vast material world, and some blurry, sketch-like revisions hinted at the birth of a fermenting new theory...
"I must admit that when I first laid eyes on this window, I felt as if I had stepped into the cognitive realm of a genius. Through these dazzling symbols and formulas, one could almost glimpse the very essence and laws of fire and seals."
Red Hawk Nicola murmured, his voice heavy with contemplation.
The intricate formulas and symbols exuded an aura of religious sanctity and devotion.
It was as if a theoretical bombshell had detonated within the classroom, its impact reverberating in the microscopic realm beyond the reach of the naked eye.
From that day forward, this century-old classroom stood quietly, becoming a fertile ground for the cultivation of wisdom, harboring countless precious intellectual legacies, awaiting the enlightenment of those destined to uncover them.
"I have underestimated you, Professor Landrey."
Or perhaps, he felt that there were increasingly more aspects of Landrey that warranted his attention.
"Are you also a major in Magitech Engineering, Chief Nicola?" Lanchi asked with interest.
It was evident that Violet Principal's secretary, Miss Nila, did not hold the Imperial Special Operations in high regard, which was why she neither facilitated nor informed Lanchi about Red Hawk Nicola's request to meet with him.
As a result, Red Hawk Nicola had to take it upon himself to find Lanchi within the school premises.
However, Red Hawk Nicola's position granted him the authority to meet with anyone in the Kreese Empire if he so desired.
Aside from the professors of the Magitech Engineering Academy and personnel related to the Imperial military, this classroom was now off-limits to ordinary students and staff. It was only accessible during specified time slots, and visitors were required to register their identities. Additionally, the glass windows and blackboard, adorned with intricate writings, were protected by a magical barrier to prevent unauthorized alterations, erasures, or damage.
Red Hawk Nicola was among those with the authority to access this classroom at any time for investigative purposes.
Should any of these invaluable magitech engineering principles fall into the hands of the Silver Moon Reformists or Allied spies, Red Hawk Nicola would need to scrutinize every trace of evidence to deduce who might have leaked the information and when.
Even if such an incident occurred, finding concrete evidence would be challenging, but as the head of the Internal Affairs Division, any morsel of information could serve as a lead to uncover individuals posing a threat to the Empire.
"I'm not a Magitech Engineering major. I'm self-taught, but that doesn't hinder my understanding of magitech knowledge. My duties require me to be adept at a little of everything."
Red Hawk Nicola shifted his gaze from the window back to Lanchi as he replied.
"Are you interested in Magitech Engineering? If you have any questions or doubts, I'd be happy to discuss them with you," Lanchi offered sincerely.
"Now is not the time for that. After all, I am keeping Professor Landrey from his lecture, and we need to discuss something more important," Red Hawk Nicola said, his eyes fixed on Lanchi with a smile that held little emotion.
"Regarding the clue you provided on the Brierda Maglev Train, that 62-year-old publisher, Lovia from Granwilfry in the northern border of the Kreese Empire, unfortunately, our investigation did not uncover any obvious suspicions.
"That's unlikely."
Lanchi said, a puzzled expression on his face as he propped up his chin. "If I didn't mishear, I can guarantee that there was definitely something off about that old man."
His eyes remained as firm as his words.
"..."
Red Hawk Nicola studied Professor Landrey's expression, but the black-haired, blue-eyed professor's face revealed little more than deep suspicion, with no hint of panic.
He seemed both stubborn and even more convinced that there was something amiss with Lovia, the traveling companion he had mentioned.
"Rest assured, I will continue to investigate that person further," Red Hawk Nicola nodded, making a promise to the professor. "Until everything is concluded, please don't worry, Professor Landrey. We will neither wrongfully accuse any loyal subject nor let any traitor go unpunished."
Red Hawk Nicola believed that Lanchi was a clever man. By publicly disclosing a part of his academic achievements in the Empire, Lanchi had set in motion a rapid chain reaction within the Empire's academic community. Perhaps this was all according to Lanchi's plan.
If it turned out that the intelligence about Lovia was indeed fabricated by Lanchi, there would surely be people in the Empire who would stand up for him, making it difficult for the Imperial Special Operations to take action against a magician engineer like him.
However, if Nicola wanted to arrest him, he had plenty of ways to make it happen; it was just a matter of waiting for the right moment.
"So, is there anything else?"
Lanchi asked nonchalantly, glancing at the clock in the classroom. Both he and Talia remained calm, unlike the previous time.
Red Hawk Nicola had been unable to uncover any evidence that the 62-year-old man, Lovia, was an Allied spy, and Lanchi had yet to secretly reveal any information that would incriminate him.
This guy seemed to be playing a game, deliberately leading Nicola to suspect him, only to dispel his doubts when they reached their peak, and then completely turn the tables.
He was toying with them.
Talia even felt that Lanchi could juggle multiple girlfriends, keeping each of them happy and making them feel guilty for ever doubting him.
As long as nothing unexpected happened, he could manipulate people's psychology with ease.
He was a natural-born player.
Playing both men and women.
"I would like to invite Professor Landrey to serve as an honorary consultant for the Imperial Special Operations Department's research institute."
Red Hawk Nicola bowed slightly towards Lanchi and presented him with a card edged in gold. It bore the Kreesi military crest and the unique emblem of the Special Operations.
In the card's corner was the certification seal of the research institute.
Lanchi's gaze fixed on the card before lifting his eyes to meet Red Hawk Nicola's once more.
Even among civilians, rumors abounded about the Imperial Special Operations' secret laboratory, where they allegedly developed all sorts of silent and deadly weapons, such as poisons, alchemic creatures, and high-performance explosives. The research institute was said to be located in the capital, Brierda.
Honorary consultant wasn't an official position, but it nominally made one a part of the Imperial Special Operations, and from then on, Nicola wouldn't need to go through any hassle to meet with Lanchi.
"Are you inviting me to join the Imperial Special Operations, Colonel Nicola?"
Lanchi asked with a mix of surprise and interest.
"Of course," Nicola replied firmly.
"That's a thankless job; he must be crazy to accept," Talia commented in Lanchi's mind.
It offered no official position, no real power, only a title, and he might even be summoned by the Imperial Special Operations to assist them from time to time.
If anything went wrong, Red Hawk Nicola would suspect Lanchi first, and his every action within the Imperial Special Operations would be highly monitored.
Moreover, if Lanchi agreed, Red Hawk Nicola could arrest him at any time, even without solid evidence.
It was a trap, a setup.
There were only disadvantages and no benefits.
"But Talia, think about it. If you were a magician engineer truly loyal to the Empire and wanted to make an irreplaceable contribution at this juncture, what would you choose?"
Lanchi replied through their mental connection.
"...Then, I might actually agree," Talia admitted, putting herself in the role Lanchi had described.
"So, the answer is clear," Lanchi said to Talia in his mind, as he smiled and extended his hand to Nicola in the classroom.
It was unquestionable loyalty, unwavering stance, and unwavering determination.
"It would be my honor, Mr. Nicola," Lanchi said. "Let us work together for the Empire."
(End of Chapter)
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