Chapter 814: Sigrid's Expectations for Her Sister

Chapter 814: Sigrid's Expectations for Her Sister

Amid the commotion of the distant students, Lan Qi was certain that the situation had escalated beyond his control. Rumors and whispers were about to spread like wildfire.

The cat boss, who had fallen to the ground, looked up at the trio in disbelief.

It retreated back into Lan Qi's shadow once more.

Lan Qi's embrace would likely cause a stir no less than Loren's public display of affection with two women at the Ikarite Academy.

"..."

Lan Qi had never encountered such a scene before.

What's more, Sigrid and Talia seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"Colonel Nikola, you know why I've kept a certain distance from them at school, right... And can you get me to the Operations Team as soon as possible?"

Lan Qi scanned the students around him, his scalp tingling, and gritted his teeth as he spoke to the Red Falcon Nikola.

He couldn't wait to leave the campus, and he had never found Nikola so difficult to deal with.

"It seems I misunderstood, Professor Landeri."

Red Falcon Nikola suppressed a smile, maintaining a stoic expression as he raised his hand, his voice carrying a hint of formal apology.

"Someone, please escort Professor Landeri and his two wives to the Operations Team."

He gestured for his subordinates to open the car door for Professor Landeri, allowing him and his wives to get in. The Countermeasures Division would take them to the headquarters of the Imperial Special Operations Unit.

After a brief moment, the black magic-guided vehicle parked on the other side of the square moved forward slightly, and the door was opened by an imperial agent.

Lan Qi, Talia, and Sigrid got into the car without a word.

It was ideal that the Operations Team was willing to give them a ride.

Nikola pulled open the front passenger door, signaling for his subordinate to get out, and took the driver's seat himself. Then, he started the engine.

With a soft hum, the vehicle departed from the Elliott Tower of the Holy Creed Monastery, heading towards the central area of the capital, Brillada.

"Nikola, are you driving yourself?"

Lan Qi, sitting in the back, asked Nikola, who was in the driver's seat.

Technically, Nikola outranked him, as Nikola was a formal officer, while Lan Qi was just an external consultant.

"Now that you're likely to take up the position of the Chairman of the New Energy Institution Committee, I can't afford to let anything happen to you under my watch. The Countermeasures Division can't take that responsibility."

Nikola glanced at the rearview mirror, responding nonchalantly.

"..."

Lan Qi fell silent, leaning back against the rear seat.

Sigrid and Talia remained close to Lan Qi, diligently playing the role of newlywed wives who were inseparable.

Lan Qi couldn't understand the relaxed demeanor of the two women.

Their next destination was the headquarters of the Imperial Special Operations Unit, located in the center of Brillada at Holworths Crossroads, known as the "Holworths Claw."

The history of the Krethi Special Operations Bureau dates back over a hundred years. Initially formed to counter the threat of demon spies during the Holy War, it later evolved into an intelligence organization targeting neighboring countries and the Kingdom United Parliament Alliance.

Its mission includes secretly gathering confidential information within and outside the empire to protect the national security interests of the Krethi Empire, countering terrorism, organized crime, regional conflicts, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and more. It has approximately three thousand well-trained agents, with multiple special duty stations and professional departments. It operates independently from the First Archangel Hestios and the Imperial Military General Staff and Command), but they also collaborate.

At this moment, Lan Qi didn't think it was appropriate to explain the situation to Sigrid, who had just arrived.

However, Lan Qi reconsidered. Sigrid and Talia seemed to be playing the part of inexperienced women who simply wanted to stay by their husband's side, and their acting was quite convincing.

"Professor, you seem more nervous than usual today. I thought you never had mood swings."

Perhaps due to the quiet ride, Red Falcon Nikola shifted gears and initiated a conversation with Lan Qi.

Even in the driver's seat, he sat as upright as a chess piece.

"Guess why I'm nervous."

Lan Qi almost suspected that Nikola was intentionally teasing him.

Every time Nikola glanced at the rearview mirror,

Talia and Sigrid would naturally snuggle up to Lan Qi, leaning against him.

Even in the middle of November, during the Krethi Empire's winter, he didn't feel a hint of cold; it was too warm.

In the back seat, Lan Qi sat in silence, awaiting the journey to the headquarters of the Imperial Special Operations Unit.

The scent of flowers, the breeze, and the afternoon sun filled the car, adding a touch of laziness to Lan Qi's expression. Sitting in the car, he looked as if he were about to take a nap.

"If you're tired, take a nap."

Talia's voice sounded in his left ear.

"I'll wake you up when we arrive. Just relax and sleep."

Sigrid leaned towards his right ear, coaxing him to sleep with a soft murmur.

He only felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, and all he could hear were their breaths and the rapid heartbeats of Talia and Sigrid.

Unconsciously, he gradually fell asleep, overcome by a wave of drowsiness.

As Lan Qi regained consciousness, the magic-guided vehicle had slowed down and entered a large courtyard. Even with his half-open eyes, he realized they had arrived at the headquarters of the Imperial Special Operations Unit.

"Sorry, I fell asleep again."

Lan Qi shook his head lightly.

"Professor Landeri, although you've visited the Imperial Special Operations Unit many times, this is your first time bringing family members. Please follow me later, and don't wander off on your own."

Red Falcon Nikola rarely offered a reminder.

"Don't worry, Colonel Nikola. We're not the type to get lost and lead the way on our own."

Talia leaned back in her seat and laughed softly in response.

"..."

Sigrid pouted at Talia and then glared at Lan Qi with a hint of resentment.

Tata might have been careless, but Sigrid suspected that Lan Qi had said something like that, which had influenced Tata.

"My wives understand the rules."

Echoing Talia's words, Lan Qi suppressed his smile, looking out the window.

The towering spires cast slender shadows on the spacious square, and the Krethi Empire's flag fluttered in the unshakable authority of the empire. Looking up, one could see the majestic and towering Special Operations Unit building standing tall under the clear sky.

The vehicle stopped in front of the long staircase leading to the building.

Talia and Sigrid's gaze came to a halt.

After a couple of seconds, the door was opened by the military guards of the Operations Team.

The solemn atmosphere unique to intelligence agencies enveloped them.

This headquarters building was located in the heart of the capital, Brillada, not far from the grand and magnificent imperial palace, separated by only a few streets.

"We're here," Falcon Nikola's words drew the attention of the three in the back seat to the window.

"Are we meeting with Director Deks today, or going to see the suspect Captain Maquaire caught?" one of them asked.

After getting off the car, Falcon Nikola straightened his military coat and adjusted his hat, asking, "Which one is it?"

In his opinion, there were only two reasons for Landri to visit the Imperial Special Operations Unit today.

Unfortunately, Director Deks was not in today.

"I want to see the suspect. I'm worried that my friend might have been mistakenly arrested," Lanqi replied.

Falcon Nikola nodded and led the way.

Lanqi, Talia, and Sigrid followed Falcon Nikola down the path to the Imperial Special Operations Unit.

The entire building, constructed from milky white granite, was adorned with ivy that had turned golden. Yellow maple leaves fluttered gently across the thick metal door, several meters tall.

Two pitch-black stone lion sculptures stood guard at the entrance, silently warning all visitors.

Upon entering the hall, most members of the Imperial Special Operations Unit gave a simple salute to Nikola.

Occasionally, agents in inky black trench coats strode by, their chiseled faces expressionless. The clacking of their boots on the marble floor echoed as they disappeared into the shadows at the end of the corridor, where light and darkness intertwined.

"During my absence, has the conflict between Colonel Nikola and Captain Maquaire escalated?" Lanqi asked casually.

Nikola was the head of the Countermeasures Division, and his relationship with Captain Maquaire of the Operations Team seemed strained, as evident from the attitude of the team members.

"It's not that bad. I don't have the energy to fight with him, but I do think this idiot is not suitable to be the next director," Falcon Nikola added.

However, the competition for credit and the attempts to hinder each other between the Countermeasures Division and the Operations Team had become increasingly overt, and both sides were no longer hiding their animosity.

Following Falcon Nikola's lead, Lanqi entered the core area of the Imperial Special Operations Unit.

They navigated the winding corridors inside the building, and Nikola led Landri and the others to a hidden elevator.

Falcon Nikola took out a crystal card from his coat pocket and swiped it, pressing several seemingly random floor buttons in a complex rhythm.

"I've never been to the headquarters' underground facilities," Lanqi laughed.

"Under normal circumstances, Professor, you don't need to visit the underground interrogation area," Falcon Nikola replied.

With a barely audible hum, the elevator began its descent, its speed akin to plunging into the earth's core.

The exterior of the Imperial Special Operations Unit was fortified with hundreds of ancient and modern layers of restrictive barrier spells.

Even an Eighth Rank Overlord would find it challenging to break through the Imperial Special Operations Unit's defenses, and it would be even more difficult to escape using force once inside.

"Relax, Professor. You're too tense today," Nikola said, sensing Landri's nervousness.

Today, he was not here to cause trouble for Landri.

"If there was more trust between us, the campus wouldn't be in such chaos," Lanqi shook his head.

As the elevator doors slowly opened, two cold anti-magic steel doors slid open silently.

The narrow and dimly lit cement corridor was illuminated by rhythmic flickering fluorescent lights, emitting a sizzling sound of flowing magic.

Falcon Nikola stepped out of the elevator, and the agents on both sides greeted him and followed.

Along the corridor, a row of tightly closed metal doors stood, each marked with a white-painted number on the outside. From within, faint moans and the clanking of chains could be heard.

In the underground facility of the Operations Team, all the commotion was blocked out, leaving only the sound of footsteps and breathing.

Falcon Nikola led Landri and his two wives further down the corridor, circling around several times before finally reaching the deepest part of this level.

At the end was a set of double anti-magic steel doors.

Falcon Nikola walked straight towards them, took out a key card, and swiped it in front of the sensor. The door lock emitted a short buzz, and the doors silently opened.

A vast courtyard-like room was revealed, with a metal table and two chairs in the center.

Inside the underground interrogation room of the Imperial Special Operations Unit—

Toriato sat there in handcuffs, his hands chained to the metal table.

"Sir, I'm just a civilian. I wanted to see if my friend Landri was home. Is that a crime?" Toriato's voice trembled as he desperately tried to explain himself.

Across from him was a man wearing a beret and a black leather jacket, with a sturdy build, likely in his thirties or forties. He had the air of both a police officer and a gangster, lightly tapping the table.

Lanqi immediately recognized him—Captain Marquell, the leader of the Operations Team.

When Captain Marquell was on a mission, he did not wear a military uniform but instead dressed in civilian clothes, ready to lead his team in surprise attacks.

The Countermeasures Division, on the other hand, might still negotiate at the scene. Colonel Nikola, head of the First Countermeasures Division, was primarily responsible for on-site investigations. In most cases, Colonel Nikola did not initiate large-scale battles.

Direct confrontations and arrests were more likely to be handled by Captain Marquell of the Operations Team.

As Falcon Nikola led them into the interrogation room, the team members of the Operations Team were ready for action.

"Brother, brother!" Toriato exclaimed upon seeing Lanqi, as if he had found his savior.

"..."

Lanqi's eyes were filled with helplessness, while Talia and Sigrid were speechless.

If they hadn't known Toriato's true identity, no one would believe that this seemingly timid man was the Cardinal of the Resurrection Church. He was indeed very good at putting aside his dignity.

"Maquaire, are your men welcoming me like this?" Falcon Nikola scanned the team members and asked.

"Hmph, a misunderstanding. I didn't expect it to be one of our own," Captain Marquell turned around, shook his head, and signaled his men to stand down.

"But what are you doing in the interrogation room I'm using, Colonel Nikola?" Captain Marquell asked in return.

Falcon Nikola did not respond but instead looked at Professor Landri behind him.

"Captain Maquaire, Mr. Sidi is my friend. You might have misunderstood," Lanqi stepped forward, understanding Nikola's intention, and explained the situation to Captain Marquelle.

Professor Randall... Good afternoon."

Captain Marquell's gaze lingered on the two women beside Lanqi for a moment before he averted his eyes from another man's wife and greeted Professor Randall.

He hesitated, feeling a twinge of jealousy as Randall had married two exceptionally stunning women.

"You've finally come to rescue me, Randall!" exclaimed Toriato excitedly.

"..."

Marquell glanced between the two men. Indeed, the man they had captured was named Xidu.

He was indeed an acquaintance.

"This is quite a mess," Marquell muttered to himself.

Initially, he had planned to force a confession out of this guy and charge him with a crime, hoping to claim some credit. However, Nikola had quickly brought Randall to ruin his plans.

That damn Nikola was always a pain in the neck.

"Captain Marquell, thank you for going to great lengths to ensure my safety. I'm sorry to have troubled you with such a valuable task. It was my mistake, and I will certainly make amends. If there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask," Lanqi said sincerely to Marquell.

Sigrid couldn't help but notice that Lanqi's words were as smooth as ever, giving his colleague a way out while praising him and assuring him of future gratitude. He seemed to have been in this line of work for a long time.

If she hadn't known that the Holy Son was actually from the Southern Wanitina region of the Hutton Kingdom, she might have suspected he was an Imperial.

Marquell stopped hesitating and stood up.

"I can't afford to offend Professor Randall," he replied with a smile, knowing it was unwise to antagonize Randall.

Nikola probably wished he could create a conflict between Marquell and Randall right now.

And Randall, at this crucial juncture, might become a bargaining chip for Nikola and Marquell's succession as the new director, tilting the scales in their favor.

"Hurry up and release Mr. Xidu," Marquell ordered, turning to his subordinate.

Immediately, the Operations Team member began to unlock the handcuffs and untie Xidu's restraints.

However, Red Falcon Nikola's attitude towards Marquell was not as friendly as Lanqi's.

"Captain Marquell, I advise you not to waste our Operations Team's valuable manpower. Instead of focusing on internal conflicts, you should strengthen the protection of Professor Randall," Nikola said to Marquell with a hint of mockery.

The best outcome for the day would have been for Marquell and Randall to develop a grudge, but even if Marquell couldn't add another achievement, it was still acceptable.

"I'm saying, do you have to be so distrustful of Professor Randall? You always like to focus your energy on internal struggles, either with me or with Professor Randall. It's really affecting the efficiency of our Operations Team," Marquell said, glancing at Professor Randall.

He intended for Randall to hear these words.

Marquell believed that Randall had already formed an opinion about Nikola.

Even a clay figure would have some anger, but Randall hadn't had the chance to thoroughly deal with Nikola, that annoying falcon.

"Don't forget our code of conduct—you can suspect anyone, but don't trust anyone. You can fight with me, but don't forget your loyalty to the Empire," Nikola replied, his hands behind his military coat and his back straight.

"There's no need to teach me how to do my job, Colonel Nikola," Marquell scoffed, not wanting to deal with Nikola anymore. He led his team past Nikola.

He approached Lanqi, who was standing at a distance.

"Professor Randall, if Nikola is causing you too much trouble, you can contact me at any time," Marquell said, removing his beret and placing it over his chest as a gesture of respect and a brief instruction to Randall.

Marquell believed that Randall had received his invitation, and this was not only an opportunity for them to join forces but also a great chance to bring down Nikola.

According to Marquell's observations in the Imperial Special Operations Unit recently, Randall had clearly been tolerating Nikola for a long time, with constant bickering both directly and indirectly.

And Marquell had never offended Professor Randall. He gave face when it was due, and there were no conflicts of interest. Perhaps in the future, they could even collaborate and reap significant benefits through deep cooperation.

"Thank you, Captain Marquell," Lanqi smiled and nodded in agreement, bidding Marquell farewell.

Nikola paid no attention to Marquell and Randall's conversation, showing no signs of retreat or fear at the possibility of their alliance. Instead, he waved his hand, instructing the Countermeasures Division member to return to the tower.

As he turned the corner, Nikola couldn't help but take one last look at Randall.

Until they were completely out of sight.

"Alright, I've rescued you. Let's go to the opera house to watch a play; we might still make it in time," Lanqi said to Toriato.

He didn't want to argue with Toriato, as Toriato was helping him, and he had indeed succeeded.

"Let's go, let's go," Toriato understood Lanqi's intention.

Now, they needed to rescue Ifatiya, but first, they had to reach a place with a spatial barrier so that Lanqi could use his eighth-rank teleportation magic without being detected by Brillada.

After speaking, Lanqi followed the Countermeasures Division member left behind by Red Falcon Nikola and took the elevator to the first floor.

They passed through layer upon layer of checkpoints.

Once again, they returned to the bustling main hall of the Imperial Special Operations Unit headquarters.

Stepping out of the building, they were greeted by a grand staircase that led to the end of the plaza. The group slowly descended the wide steps.

A brand-new magic-driven vehicle was parked in front of them, and the Countermeasures Division member opened the car door for the professor. Lanqi nodded slightly to the member and got into the car with his two wives.

Meanwhile, Toriato took the front passenger seat.

The car doors closed, and the magic-driven vehicle started smoothly, gradually disappearing into the busy traffic in the center of Brillada.

Inside the car, the Countermeasures Division sergeant sitting in the driver's seat didn't dare to initiate a conversation with the professor in the back seat.

All the Countermeasures Division members had been warned by Red Falcon Nikola not to speak to Professor Randall except for polite greetings.

Lanqi, sitting in the back, didn't mind. This was always the case when Nikola sent someone to take him home. He quietly gazed out the window, passing the time.

They wouldn't discuss anything under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Special Operations Unit.

Toriato, however, was keenly observing the three people in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Lanqi, Talia, and Sigrid's facial expressions told a story.

Despite Toriato's unexpected capture earlier, just witnessing their interactions gave him a rough idea of the situation.

After a few minutes, the magical vehicle slowly came to a stop on the street opposite a large building within the Saint Crethine Academy.

The Brillada Opera House was also located in the city center, on 33rd Street in the Manhot Center district, neighboring renowned art institutions like the Brillada Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brillada Royal Dance Troupe.

They exited the vehicle and hurried towards the Opera House as if rushing to a performance.

After a few steps, they could see the Opera House's extensive use of yellowish sandstone exterior and, through the glass curtain wall, the magnificent lobby within.

"I can't believe we left here at noon and are back again in the afternoon," Sigrid exclaimed.

She was amazed at how much fun Brillada was.

In just one afternoon, she had visited several unique attractions, enjoyed a satisfying meal, and even had a great time petting the big gray cat.

"..."

Talia silently looked at Sigrid.

She seemed to have read her mind.

They stepped through the heavy, intricately carved double doors, and in the next instant, under Toriato's spell, they crossed into another dimension.

Toriato had free control over the doors within the Opera House, even on the first floor, making it appear as if they were here to watch a performance. As they passed through the door, they found themselves in the corridor leading to the second floor.

Here, they could finally speak freely, as if they had returned home.

"How does Nikola have such a keen eye for people?" Talia complained, walking down the familiar Opera House corridor.

Since arriving in Brillada, Talia had been close to Lanqi, and she was well aware of Nikola's obsession with him.

Red Falcon Nikola seemed convinced that Landri was suspicious and needed only one piece of evidence to capture him. No matter what Lanqi did, he couldn't shake Nikola's suspicions.

"Should we take out that Red Falcon?" Sigrid asked Lanqi, turning her head as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She was used to being domineering.

And she didn't like anyone keeping an eye on her Lanqi.

"No, no," Lanqi shook his head repeatedly.

"First of all, it's not appropriate to use force within the city, and we can only act in the gray area without the city's defense core barrier. Secondly, the severity of assassinating the chief of the Imperial Special Operations Unit is beyond words. Even if we were to dig deep, the Imperial military would find the culprit in Brillada."

Toriato explained as he walked alongside them.

Red Falcon Nikola, as the head of the Empire's intelligence agency, was not only intelligent but also highly vigilant. It would be extremely difficult to put him in a deadly situation, and if they failed, Nikola would catch them red-handed and turn the tables on them.

Compared to the other three, Toriato seemed more like a native of Brillada, with a clearer understanding of the city's defense capabilities.

If they wanted to engage in a full-scale battle within a super-large city-state, it would require a large-scale armed rebellion, resisting the suppression of the city's defense core barrier, causing it to overload and almost fail within a certain time frame, thereby transforming the entire 'town mode' into a 'battlefield mode'.

"By the way, you call him Xidu? Is he the associate professor of history at the Protoss Royal Academy of Magic in the Northern Continent?" Sigrid suddenly asked Lanqi, remembering something.

She had a bunch of questions for the Dimensional Bishop Toriato back in the underground of the Imperial Special Operations Unit, and now she recalled the most puzzling part.

If Lanqi and Toriato had met before, it would explain why they were working together and seemed to have such a good relationship.

"Yes, that's right. At that time, I was beaten half to death and fled to the Northern Continent, where I took up teaching as a way to pass the time," Toriato replied proudly.

"Toriato, let me tell you, we could have won that skirmish on the northern border if you had been there. We were just a little short," Sigrid said, seizing the opportunity to review the situation with the Dimensional Bishop.

She hadn't considered that they had a hidden ace up their sleeve.

She was still feeling quite dissatisfied with the loss.

"At that time, I was severely injured by Ivanoss and fled to the Northern Continent to recover. I wasn't even sure if I could win against a Seventh Rank Overlord," Toriato said, understanding what Sigrid was thinking. His thought process was exactly the same as Lanqi's!

If Toriato had been there, they might have defeated the lurking Asksaan and Marotian.

Lanqi had already reviewed the situation with him once.

"The reality was that I was no match for Marotian while my injuries were still healing," Toriato explained, feeling a chill down his spine as he recalled the situation.

He could only hide from Marotian and play a game of cat and mouse.

"No, what are you guys talking about...?" Talia asked, walking alongside them, feeling more and more like she had missed an entire season of a show.

"Your injuries were that severe?" Sigrid patted Talia's shoulder, asking Toriato in surprise.

She hadn't expected Toriato to also be a battle-damaged Bishop Rank 8.

Sigrid understood completely.

"Yes, the Archdeacon of Destruction could probably rank in the top five in terms of combat power among ten Cardinals," Toriato said, feeling the power of that crazy old lady whenever he thought of her.

"What are you guys talking about? I feel like you're leaving me out of the fun," Talia finally lost her patience, grabbing Sigrid's shoulder and shaking her.

What she couldn't understand was that she knew all three of them, but in different ways, and yet the three of them could chat so warmly without her, making her feel a bit redundant!

It was as if they were a small group from the same society, and she was the only outsider.

"This is a long story, and it would take at least a few hundred episodes to tell," Lanqi said, soothing Talia.

They had indeed held a super cool party in the Northern Continent of the Protoss Empire, but one person hadn't been invited.

"I don't care, I don't care, tell me!" Talia complained.

"Talia, I'll tell you slowly before you go to sleep tonight. I need to save my sister Ifatiya first," Sigrid said, letting Talia shake her as she spoke with enthusiasm.

Talia was so cute, and her sister was even more unimaginable. Since she was under twenty-five, she might even be a teenager.

Currently, she only had a motherly older sister and a sisterly older sister, but no real younger sister.

Sigrid was full of anticipation for this new little sister.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end