https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-758-Rockie-McKasy-Meets-an-Old-Friend-Again/12585250/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-760-Talia-s-Review-After-a-Century/12585252/
Chapter 759: Lanchi's Retrospection after Half a Year
Chapter 759: Lanchi's Retrospection after Half a Year
A man who thinks all day and thinks about nothing else begins to detach himself from reality, living in a world that only he can see.
He stood there, clad in a sleek purple suit that hung elegantly on his frame. His smooth brown hair shimmered under the light, and his emerald eyes, like two deep, fathomless lakes, naturally exuded compassion and contemplation, perceiving the entire universe in silence.
"It's been over half a year since we last met at Protoss Royal Magic Academy."
Cardinal Lanchi, in the guise of Rocky Mackasey, stood in a room on the second floor of the Brilerda Opera House, a nostalgic look on his face.
After accepting the northern investigation commission from Duchess Chloris in Herlrom, Lanchi and Sigrid had traveled to the northern border province of Protoss.
They faced a series of dangers, and by the time they returned, Cid had gone missing, and Chloris had been imprisoned for treason. It was the most perilous moment for them.
Even later, with the help of the three great demon tribes who sent funeral gifts to Askassan in the Congress Building, they couldn't find an opportunity to defeat Duke Morotian.
Fortunately, the crucial evidence left by Associate Professor Cid for the military finally exposed Duke Morotian, helping them achieve a resounding victory.
"How are you here! And aren't you the Son of Dominance? So, even this identity as Rocky Mackasey is fake?"
Torriado hugged the back of his head with both hands, staring at Rocky in bewilderment.
"Am I dreaming? My goddess of fate!"
He would not have been as surprised if he had suddenly seen those old friends who had been separated for many years.
Rocky Mackasey shouldn't be here!
The guy in front of him must be Rocky Mackasey.
One glance at Rocky was enough to confirm his identity.
"How did you two start chatting again?"
Abigail was puzzled by Torriado's reaction.
"Who's Mackasey?" She asked, seeing the shocked expression on his face as if he had seen a ghost.
"Take you to the southern shore of the Northern Continent, Protoss Empire. If you ask anyone on the street who Rocky Mackasey is, they will immediately tell you who the people's favorite is for the next president."
Torriado replied, turning to look at her.
"Hmm?"
Abigail was confused and stared at Lanchi.
She found it hard to believe.
You're such a big shot up north, what are you doing here in the Southern Continent, stirring up trouble in the Krexi Empire?
"Do you know I'm from the Dominance Branch?"
Lanchi narrowed his eyes at Torriado.
He believed that Cid's kindness at Protoss Royal Magic Academy had been genuine, and even his little apprentice, Zestira, had liked Associate Professor Cid. After all, it was rare for someone like Cid to show no discrimination towards demon tribes in the traditional concepts of the Protoss Empire.
It was also because of this that Lanchi had taken an interest in this associate professor of history at Protoss Royal Magic Academy and had attended his lectures, which led to their encounter.
"Of course, I also know that Sigrid was willing to make an exception and take on a Son of Dominance as her disciple because she favored you so much. To her, you were a treasure. A Cardinal can clearly sense the followers of the Bishop below, and even when I disguised myself as Associate Professor Cid, I could sense the Mark of Rebirth on you, and it was probably of a high rank."
Torriado admitted frankly.
As a Cardinal, he had quickly sensed the Mark of Rebirth on Rocky during his interactions with him. Later, when he saw Rocky's interactions with the Dominance Branch at school and his past in the southwestern province, Torriado confirmed Rocky's true identity—
He had ties to the Dominance Church.
"Then, when I saw you and Sigrid playing undercover in the Extinction Branch, I found the whole situation intriguing. So, I helped you form an alliance with Duchess Chloris, aiding you in expanding your influence and power within the Empire. Perhaps with this, there was a chance to counter the union of Askassan and Duke Morotian."
Torriado shrugged and sighed.
However, Rocky Mackasey's strength had far exceeded his imagination.
Initially, Torriado had thought that the turmoil in the Protoss Empire would continue for a long time, and the Extinction Branch would engage in a cruel contest with the Dominance Branch.
Rocky and Sigrid's Dominance Branch would likely emerge victorious, but it would be a pyrrhic victory.
And he, Torriado, wouldn't have the spare capacity to return to the Northern Continent to help them anytime soon.
Unexpectedly, the Dominance Branch ended the situation in a single day.
News arrived from the Northern Continent that the harsh winter in the Protoss Empire had passed, and spring had arrived.
"So that's how it was. We really have you to thank for that..."
Lanchi rested his chin in his hand as he pondered.
Some things he hadn't understood back in Protoss now made sense.
"Why did you come to the Southern Continent? Weren't the Northern Continent and Sigrid good enough for you? I thought you two were married by now."
Torriado had hoped to forge a great connection in the Northern Continent and then pretend to be Associate Professor Cid, traveling carefree along the southern shore of the Northern Continent.
He never imagined that Rocky Mackasey would show up in the south.
And that he would be disguised as his little apprentice, Landry.
"It's a long story. I'm originally from the Southern Continent. Just like you, I used a fake identity to go to the Northern Continent.
Lanchi shook his head.
"Huh? You're from the Southern Continent?" Torriado had rarely seen anyone in their right mind choose to land in Lilom City in the Southwestern Province when traveling to the Northern Continent.
"Then why did you depart from Lilom City, a remote small town in the Southwestern Province, making yourself seem like a local and not like a regular tourist from the south at all?" The slightest misstep, and he would have been arrested by the Protoss Empire, which was practically in a state of war.
"Were you aware of the tsunami that occurred?" Lanchi asked in response to Torriado's question.
If it weren't for the Dimensional Bishop inciting the Destruction Bishop, resulting in a magical storm in the Southern Continent's seas, he wouldn't have encountered the maritime disaster and ended up displaced with Shubelian, beginning a arduous journey.
"My apologies, my apologies. There was this crazy woman chasing me all over the Southern Continent, and I had no choice," Torriado said, scratching the back of his head with a smile.
"..."
Abigail silently watched as Torriado and the man disguised as Landry chatted incessantly.
Torriado appeared casual and cheerful, but he was genuinely cold-hearted towards most people, and there were few he considered friends.
The fact that Lofty Mackasey was originally from the Southern Continent surprised her, and she wondered how he had achieved such remarkable success in the Northern Continent.
Abigail was perplexed, but she was fairly certain that he was not an enemy. Even though he had disguised himself as Landry, he was still a highly regarded partner by Torriado, and she had nothing more to say.
"Cid, let me tell you, we could have won that wave of skirmishes in the northern border if you had been there. We were so close," Lanchi said, seizing the opportunity to review the battle with Torriado.
At the time, he had never imagined that they had a hidden powerhouse among them.
"At that time, I was severely injured by Ivanoss and fled to the Northern Continent to recuperate. I might not have been able to defeat a seventh-order opponent," Torriado said, understanding Lanchi's train of thought—if he had been there, perhaps they could have defeated the lurking Askassan and Morotian in the northern border.
However, the reality was that Torriado, still injured, was no match for Morotian.
All he could do was hide from Morotian and play a game of cat and mouse.
"Your injuries were that severe?" Lanchi asked, astonished.
Yet another eighth-order Bishop-level casualty.
Lanchi understood all too well.
Sigrid had also been beaten to the brink of death in the Protoss' northern border, and her strength had only been at the fourth or fifth order.
"Yeah, that woman has no sense of pain. Her self-destructive fighting style that trades injury for injury is unbearable for anyone," Torriado said. He initially thought that provoking her a little wouldn't be a big deal.
But by the time he realized the seriousness of the situation, it was too late.
In his life, he had never encountered such a terrifying explosive person.
"It's fortunate that you're good at running away," Lanchi said thankfully.
If Torriado had been just a little slower, he would have shared the same fate as Beelzebub in the city of flowers, Pariah.
"And think about why Morotian didn't pay attention to you during the time you were in the northern border; it's because I drew all his attention away. He was solely focused on capturing me, and it wasn't easy for me to escape from the Protoss Empire," Torriado said as he walked over, placing his elbow on Lanchi's shoulder.
"So that's how it was..." Lanchi murmured.
He recalled the eve of the final battle in Protoss, when the situation was still unclear, and it was challenging to determine who was an ally or an enemy, even Cid seemed suspicious.
"Now I understand why Duke Morotian came to the principal's office to visit me that rainy night and inquired about you," Lanchi said, turning to Torriado.
Based on the outcome, he believed that Cid had trusted the right person.
However, it wasn't until today, several months later, that he fully grasped the underlying cause of the entire incident from Cid.
"Hahaha, so he still remembers me?" Torriado laughed heartily, clearly delighted.
"..."
Lanchi didn't understand why Torriado found this particular matter the most amusing.
"Sigh, with enemies on both the Northern and Southern Continents, life is truly difficult," Torriado sighed, shaking his head.
"Why don't you think about why you have so many enemies in the first place?!" Abigail walked over, pulled a book off the shelf, and smacked it on Cid's head.
Recalling the time she spent alone in the Krexi Empire, constantly worried about being found by Destruction Bishop Ivanoss, she felt like she could tear Torriado's skin off.
"But Morotian is truly despicable. If I were to pledge allegiance to the Goddess of Fate, getting rid of Morotian would be a great deed, wouldn't it?" Cid said sincerely to Abigail.
As he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh.
"You don't think it would be fun to frustrate Morotian, that arrogant mastermind of plots, do you?" Lanchi felt that Torriado had no respect for the goddess.
He showed none of the piety that Shubelian had, desiring to accumulate merit.
Lanchi only sensed Torriado's pleasure.
"No, I really want to surrender to the Church of the Goddess of Fate someday. Long live the Goddess of Fate! Have you heard about my donation to the Ikelite Academy? In the future, when I surrender to the Church of the Goddess of Fate, everyone will think it's reasonable. They will realize that I was bribing the high priest, Loren, all along," Torriado said.
Toreliado earnestly said to Lanchi, "You should just directly call me a traitor, Cardinal. I'm already prepared for that."
"...”
Lanchi didn't know how to respond. He couldn't tell if Toreliado was being genuine or not,
"Putting aside whether Loren will agree to your defection, won't the Pope of the Rebirth Church come after you?"
Sigrid had conspired with him in private about her intention to usurp the position of the Pope, but now Toreliado was openly shouting slogans, as if he wasn't afraid of the Pope taking his life.
"We must defect! Defection is the only way forward for a Cardinal! The Goddess of Fate will welcome me into heaven!"
Toreliado declared with a confident fist, a hint of a smile on his face,
"So what if the Pope is strong? It's another matter whether he can survive the ninth-order Doomsday Shadow World, and even if he does, it will be many years from now. By then, it might already be the second season, and the entire Northern and Southern Continents will have changed. There will be new ninth-orders, and with their support, I won't fear the Pope."
He was so eager that he was almost tempted to give it a try.
Abigail, standing by, felt her scalp tingle, her teeth grinding in annoyance.
While Toreliado caused trouble outside, she trembled in fear at home.
If there ever came a day when she reached the eighth-order, the first Bishop she would want to kill would be Toreliado.
Just as they were chatting,
The air in the mansion suddenly stagnated, and the scenery near the sofa gradually became unstable.
"Oh? There's someone else here?"
Toreliado sensed the spatial fluctuations and realized that there was another life form separated by an independent space within this room.
However, it seemed that they couldn't keep her confined any longer.
The entire mansion was under Abigail's control, and it was only because the opponent had walked into Abigail's trap that they had been able to hold her captive for so long.
"Thankfully, these two helped me with the performance. If we had relied on you tonight, it would have been a disaster. You useless thing."
Abigail scolded Toreliado.
"Oh? A girl? And you performed a duet with her?"
Toreliado immediately became interested and asked Lanchi.
"Yes, so what?"
Lanchi replied doubtfully.
"What kind of heavenly beauty could make you forsake Sigrid and travel as a duo with her in the Krexi Empire?"
Toreliado curiously probed.
"Pffft! She's just an older single unemployed grey-haired girl with a bad temper and a big appetite. Other than being good with kids, her cooking has been getting better lately, and it's getting harder to find any strengths."
Lanchi couldn't help but chuckle.
He discovered that their mental connection had been isolated by the space, so he took this opportunity to speak freely.
"Impossible, I don't believe it. She must be a heavenly fairy. Any girl who can perform a duet with you, Mackasey, can't be ordinary."
Toreliado waved his hand.
"Indeed, she played the role of the Grey Maiden quite effectively. When I first saw them, I never expected them to be so hilarious together."
Abigail added, her voice laced with amusement.
As the director, she had almost been fooled by the Governor's dignity and the Grey Maiden's cold beauty at the start.
"Impossible! The Grey Maiden's character isn't meant to be funny. How could she turn my play into this? You two must be pranking me."
Toreliado said in confusion.
Although he hadn't seen how tonight's opera had turned out, he was certain that any woman who could rival Bishop Sigrid couldn't be a comic relief character.
The thick ancient books on the bookshelf began to move on their own, their pages rustling loudly. Even the fragrant sandalwood scent in the air became pungent and suffocating, serving as an almost invisible warning.
Dazzling blue-white light tore through the space like a sharp blade, ripping open a hideous rift in mid-air.
The edges of the space distortion flickered with electric lights, emitting crackling sounds. From this bizarre portal, Talia and an arrow loosed from its bow suddenly burst forth. Her golden eyes blazed with fiery determination and worry.
Talia's movements were as swift as lightning. She landed lightly, her toes barely touching the ground before she flashed to Lanchi's side, a protective mother lion shielding him behind her.
Talia's gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing directly at Abigail and Toreliado. The hostility in her eyes seemed ready to transform into tangible blades.
"Lanchi, are you hurt?"
Talia asked softly, her mental voice filled with concern, but her eyes remained fixed on Abigail, not blinking for a moment.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the banquet hall became tense, sparks of invisible fire crackling in the air.
Talia, who had been about to strike, shifted her gaze to the mysterious man beside Abigail, the terrifying general-level magic causing her entire body to tremble.
Against such an opponent, she had no chance of protecting Lanchi.
"Wait, we won't make a move against you."
Abigail raised her hand to signal Talia not to panic.
If an eighth-order powerhouse were to initiate a one-sided attack in this place, it would be extremely detrimental, and in the worst-case scenario, it might even damage the barrier and attract the War God.
She sensed Toreliado's movement beside her and knew that something was amiss.
However.
Before she could stop him, Toreliado, upon seeing the grey-haired, golden-eyed girl, raised his hand and pointed at her.
"What the hell, Talia!"
Toreliado exclaimed.
(End of Chapter)
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