Chapter 831: Lan Qi's Unwavering Dedication to Work

Chapter 831: Lan Qi's Unwavering Dedication to Work

The Moon Goddess Festival is one of the grandest public celebrations in the Empire, eagerly anticipated by both commoners and the noble elite as the annual feast.

In addition to the temporary shops in Saint Kreithian Monastery that attract tourists for blessings, activities also commenced near the Main Hall at 4 p.m.

Monastery students and faculty, dressed in formal wear, gathered in a specially constructed outdoor banquet hall and its connected activity pavilion, clinking glasses and chatting happily amidst the melodious music.

The only difference between the outdoor and indoor banquet halls was that the former hosted even more guests.

The place was bustling with celebrities and socialites, with eye-catching nobles engaging in lively conversations and toasting each other.

Strangely, in such a lively atmosphere, a professor wearing a gray coat seemed to have no interest in participating.

He appeared to be quite popular, with many people wanting to curry favor with him or simply chat.

But today, he seemed tired, politely responding to them, only showing a genuine smile to his students, chatting briefly before moving on.

"Where is Elsa..."

Lan Qi gazed at the vast banquet hall.

Inside the Main Hall, four majestic cathedrals stood, their domes crafted from pure gold, divided into two levels. The cathedrals were bustling with devout monastery students praying before the statues, while the deep and rich sounds of the organ reverberated beneath the domes, mingling with the prayers of the faithful.

He had just returned indoors from the outdoor banquet hall, and Elsa, Landry's younger sister, could be anywhere. Finding her would likely require some effort.

Communication magic was not effective here, and he couldn't casually use detection magic either. Lan Qi didn't know how to use connection or detection spells; he needed Xiao Hei Mao or Tata to help him, but neither cat was with him at the moment.

Additionally, Elsa was only at the second rank and couldn't use regular communication magic.

"I'll just have to search slowly."

Lan Qi shook his head.

He decided to take a stroll, offering blessings to his students and casually asking if they had seen Elsa.

If he spotted Elsa's good friend Ehrula, the marquis's daughter from the Griffin Clan, he might find Elsa immediately.

Ever since Elsa was attacked, Ehrula had been inseparable from her, even sharing a dormitory at night.

"I'll just bless my students and finish dinner. It's almost time to meet with Principal Violet. How time flies."

He still wasn't entirely sure what had compelled him to put aside his busy work and appear here.

Perhaps it was partly to fulfill Landry's duties, to avoid any breach of etiquette by attending the required banquet, and partly because this was his only break for the day. So, Lan Qi decided to come and take a temporary break from work.

Inside the activity hall, voices of casual conversations could be heard both upstairs and downstairs.

"Did you hear? One of our professors married his aunt and niece."

"Oh my, how will he address his mother-in-law, no, his aunt, now?"

"I suspect he doesn't want to let go of his niece either. She looks like an innocent woman, and I heard she's already married with a daughter."

"The version I heard is even more shocking. Some speculate that the professor's ultimate goal is to marry his niece's husband as well, not letting a single family member slip through his fingers."

"Wow, is he even human?"

The mingled voices occasionally floated through the banquet hall, and Lan Qi couldn't make out the specifics. As soon as one voice rose, it was quickly drowned out by another.

These were the kinds of topics people have always enjoyed discussing to pass the time.

Lan Qi continued walking forward, focused on his task.

He had come from a residential area several kilometers away, busy without even a moment to rest or drink water. Now, in the banquet hall, he felt a bit thirsty.

The Saint Kreithian Monastery occupied an enormous area. Previously, when he first visited the school, Secretary Nera had driven him from the Main Hall to the residential area, which took some time.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Lan Qi emerged into the spacious courtyard of the first-floor banquet hall, immediately feeling countless gazes from all directions.

The unconcealed appraising eyes seemed to indicate that more and more people were taking an interest in him.

Most of them were parents of Saint Kreithian Monastery students, with a significant proportion being socialites from the Creedentia Empire. Naturally, they would be interested in the Empire's new energy research, which could bring about significant productivity gains in both military and civilian applications. As the core figure behind this research, Professor Landry was a person worth getting to know.

If Professor Landry's status continued to rise, the difficulty of befriending him might increase as well.

Lan Qi could only walk faster without being impolite, quickly finding a student to talk to or locating an exit from this massive venue to head to the next pavilion.

"Professor Landry."

A light female voice caught Lan Qi's attention.

He turned his head and noticed a slender figure standing beside him, her height reaching just up to his shoulder.

Her left leg and right arm were mechanical prosthetics made of metal, while her left eye was covered by a black eyepatch, the strap extending to the back of her head, blending with her hair.

Her silver-gray hair and pale blue eyes made her resemble a doll.

"Secretary Nera," Lan Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

Secretary Nera maintained her elegant posture, hands lightly resting on her abdomen, but her tone was that of a familiar acquaintance.

The appearance of Secretary Nera at this moment would undoubtedly help him disperse the crowd of Empire elites who wanted to approach him. With someone to talk to, he seemed more engaged in official business related to Principal Violet, the Sixth War Deity and Goddess of Healing.

"You're looking for Elsa, right? I saw her earlier; if you head in the direction of the pavilion ahead, you should find her."

Secretary Nera seemed to have understood his dilemma and took the initiative to come to his side.

"Thank you so much for your help; you've been a great help."

Lan Qi expressed his gratitude to Secretary Nera.

Ever since he was received by Secretary Nera at Brillada's First Station and brought to Saint Kreithian Monastery, he had been relying on her assistance, allowing him to quickly settle into teaching and research at the school.

"I saw Professor Landry wandering here alone and knew you'd be surrounded. But how could someone as busy as you afford to waste time on those noble lords?"

Secretary Nera spoke in a joking tone, but she wasn't kidding as she helped Lan Qi find his way.

"You shouldn't say such things in front of others," Lan Qi said in a subdued voice.

He noticed that Secretary Nera, as always, didn't give any special treatment to nobles. When talking about them, she became straightforward, not noticing the slight change in expression of the noble who had just tried to approach them, as if intentionally helping Lan Qi drive them away.

The last time they met Red Falcon Nicola at the station, Nera had been especially assertive towards Nicola, and in the end, she had snatched Professor Landri away from Nicola's grasp.

"It doesn't matter. No one dares to give me a hard time anyway. I have the support of the Sixth War Deity, Principal Violet," Secretary Nera replied nonchalantly.

"Besides, I have a good relationship with the Princess. I'm not against all nobles, but those who are full of themselves, I really don't want to please them."

She glanced at Professor Landri.

It was as if she was telling Professor Landri that Landri and his sister Elsa were also nobles, but she didn't distance herself from them because of that.

"The Princess, is it Her Royal Highness Princess Alexia?" Lan Qi asked, looking at Secretary Nera beside him.

As far as he knew, among the graduates of Saint Kreithian Monastery in recent years, it was probably only Princess Alexia.

"Yes, after all, taking care of Her Royal Highness the Princess is a very important task. Principal Violet can't possibly focus all her attention on a single student, so the responsibility falls on me. Fortunately, the Princess is actually a very easy person to get along with, and these years of working with her have been good memories for me."

Nera replied as they walked.

"I understand, the principal's work is indeed very busy. Even if the princes and princesses come, she doesn't have time to take care of them."

Lan Qi shook his head and sighed.

"Listening to your tone, you sound just like the principal."

Nera continued to observe him,

"From the moment I first met you, I felt that you and Principal Violet have some similarities, but it's hard to describe."

She said thoughtfully.

"If I were the principal, I would definitely feel at ease having a secretary like Miss Nera. After all, a good secretary is crucial to a principal. I say this because I often imagine myself in the principal's position."

Lan Qi explained with a smile.

If it weren't for Secretary Nera's timely intervention, those covetous people would have surrounded him long ago.

He felt relaxed chatting with Secretary Nera, unlike his previous experience with Secretary Lisandra from the Inferno Corridor Academy. Although Lisandra was also very capable, she was more reserved towards him, unlike Nera who could be more casual.

"If you were the principal, it would indeed be a bit troublesome."

Nera pondered for a moment, then made a judgment based on her professional experience.

"Why do you say that?"

Lan Qi asked, puzzled.

"For those who work with you, it might be easy, but the number of things to worry about could also increase significantly."

Secretary Nera looked at the young professor with his unfathomable gaze.

This professor always made it hard for her to guess his true thoughts.

Compared to dedicated scholars, Landri seemed more like a noble who had been in politics for decades.

She didn't think she had the ability to see through people, let alone understand Landri's thoughts.

After listening to Nera's response, which was like a fortune-telling result, Lan Qi analyzed for a long time.

"You think my gaze reveals that I'm still on the side of the nobles..."

Lan Qi lowered his head slightly, feeling a bit dejected.

"No, the way you effortlessly pull yourself together and don't care about losing face is something a noble wouldn't do."

Nera covered her mouth and chuckled.

"The reason those self-righteous nobles consider themselves nobles is that they spend their days flattering and posturing to showcase their noble status, isn't it?"

Nera revealed a meaningful smile and told Lan Qi.

"I can't comment on that. After all, these things involve positions and are quite delicate, so one must be cautious."

Lan Qi nodded, indicating his agreement.

The two of them walked out of the pavilion again, preparing to pass through the open-air garden and head to another pavilion of the Main Hall.

As they walked by the open-air banquet hall, two men holding champagne glasses were in conversation. One of them was clearly an official from the Brillada Municipal Planning Department, and Lan Qi recognized him. He was pleading earnestly with another noble, while several elegantly dressed individuals nearby were listening with keen interest, eager to hear the outcome.

At first glance, the conversation seemed to be going smoothly.

"That's Deputy Minister Dennis from the Municipal Planning Department," Secretary Nera said.

"You know him?"

Lan Qi wasn't surprised that Nera knew about Brillada; he even felt that Nera had a database of information, always ready with an answer to any question.

"I just know about the students and their family backgrounds. He's a rather boring guy."

Nera spoke indifferently.

She had a memory far superior to ordinary people.

Due to her work, she encountered many people and events daily, and she recorded everything without missing a detail, to the point where she couldn't forget even if she wanted to.

"And I know the name of the noble he's talking to as well. It's Baron Braun. Do you know what they're discussing?"

Nera asked Lan Qi, testing him.

"It's probably just about some municipal project they can collaborate on to make money."

Lan Qi replied nonchalantly.

Even without hearing their voices, it was clear from Deputy Minister Dennis's body language and earnest expression that he was trying to please the count to gain the support of the count's family. This was beyond doubt.

The count could provide him with land or renovation permits, which would save them a lot of trouble if they could come to an agreement privately.

If they developed a deeper relationship of trust and cooperation, it would be even more convenient for them to help each other.

"Oh?"

Secretary Nera's lips parted slightly as she looked at him with curiosity.

"Everyone is thinking about getting rich these days. Whether the empire wins or loses this war, most of the powerful people are taking advantage of their influence to gain benefits. Only a small number of people are truly dedicated to the empire's cause."

Lan Qi had seen such opportunists in the North Continent's Protos Empire, and he neither liked nor disliked them.

"You even know this?"

Secretary Nera raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise.

She knew more inside information than Landri.

She was also certain that Landri had never met those two nobles before.

In reality, the truth was exactly as Landri had guessed.

"I've seen it before. It's like that."

"Lan Qi's gaze drifted north, as if gazing into the distant horizon or perhaps a memory from his past."

Secretary Nera nodded in understanding.

"In the end, this exchange of interests is just a matter of each party getting what they need."

She had witnessed such occurrences countless times.

"After the Slaughter Day, the already deteriorating situation in the Empire worsened again after about twenty years. Although the Slaughter Day itself was a tragedy, it did bring about some changes. Now, the Empire is once again consumed by material desires, and these powerful aristocrats speak of ideals while their hearts are set on business."

Just as Landry had said, only a small fraction of the population still held firm beliefs in the Empire.

"But occasionally, these absurd charades can be quite entertaining."

Nera chuckled lightly. Her abilities were limited, and assisting Principal Violet, the Sixth Divine General, was her greatest contribution to the Empire.

"On the contrary, it seems you've grown weary of these situations. You're like a monarch who has seen through the mundane world."

Secretary Nera shared her thoughts.

"You once said I was born to be a disaster."

Lan Qi paused, then said in a daze,

"I didn't realize it at the time, but now I feel that if I don't work hard, I might put the important women in my life in the same crisis as me."

When he first arrived at the Saint Kreithian Monastery, Nera had commented on his popularity with women, saying that only those with fate and luck could get close to him.

"I told you I was right. If you're not careful, you might regret it."

Nera led Lan Qi through the Main Hall garden, their conversation taking them to a place where the view opened up and the surrounding chatter diminished.

"Sigh, if the situation in the South Continent weren't so dire, I'd be more serious about facing life's challenges... or rather, after coming out of the Shadow World, I realized I should give them an explanation. Since I have a choice, I don't want to miss out again."

Lan Qi gazed at the garden, where the flowers cast a hazy shadow, and sighed.

The garden belonged to the Main Hall, and on regular days, only clergy were allowed to enter. In the center, a clear fountain continuously gushed forth, creating a pleasant babbling sound. The water, glistening in the golden afternoon sun, would occasionally erupt into several giant crystal flowers, which fell into the dense bushes.

"It seems you had a profound experience in the Shadow World."

Nera was well aware that Professor Landry had recently visited a Shadow World.

Although she didn't know which Shadow World it was, it had clearly had a significant impact on Professor Landry's state of mind.

Even Nera could sense the newfound depth of emotions within him.

"Are you sure you're not a fortune teller?"

Lan Qi asked with a smile.

"I'm not skilled enough in fortune-telling to become a true fortune teller, but I've read many books, so I can make some judgments based on experience. By the way, does Professor Landry know about the recent rumors regarding you?"

Nera brought up a more important matter.

Fortune-telling attribute holders were the rarest among the thirty-one attributes, and it was often those with this attribute who enjoyed discussing such esoteric topics.

As the principal's secretary, with countless ancient books stored in the Saint Kreithian Monastery, her role allowed her to browse freely.

"Don't even mention those rumors calling me a Casanova! Do I look like that type of person to you?"

Lan Qi turned his head, palms up, looking exasperated.

"..."

You must have heard an old version.

Nera muttered to herself, then shook her head slightly, deciding not to continue the conversation.

She led Lan Qi through the garden and up a wooden bridge to a quiet, brown stone-brick corridor.

Through the continuous colonnade, they could still glimpse the garden until it eventually disappeared from view. They had reached the second floor of another activity hall in the Main Hall.

Nera was so familiar with the Main Hall that she took the quickest and quietest route.

"In all honesty, I always get the feeling that you're a person without desires when we talk."

Nera changed the subject.

"I don't think such a person exists. Look at me; I have three unmarried wives. That's not someone without desires."

Lan Qi spread his hands.

"So, what are you pursuing now, aside from those three?"

Nera watched as Landry seemed to be making fun of himself, but in reality, his mind was clear, allowing him to acknowledge this.

"What am I pursuing? I'm also searching for the answer."

Lan Qi's gaze gradually intensified.

There was something he hadn't wanted before but now desired, and that was probably the answer to his long journey.

"It seems you're looking for this answer, and you've basically found it."

Nera smiled with relief.

A person like Professor Landry would never be lost.

The two entered the new pavilion, and their eyes began searching again. According to Nera's guess, Elsa was very likely to be in this building.

From the second-floor corridor, it was easy to spot familiar figures in the lower, open levels. Nera had considered this as well.

"Speaking of which, you should be aware of your appeal to other nobles, right?"

Nera noticed that as soon as Landry arrived, someone else had already given him a challenging look, so she asked him.

"Don't worry, Nicola will help me deal with those guys."

Lan Qi said confidently.

This was their bond as members of the Imperial Army.

"Tsk, Red Falcon Nicola, I didn't expect you to genuinely get along with him."

Nera clicked her tongue lightly.

"He's actually a very upright person."

Lan Qi spoke up for Nicola.

He remembered that Nera didn't like Nicola much. During their first meeting outside the train station, Nera had almost called Nicola a lapdog.

"That's true, I admit he's better than most nobles, but he acts too much like a noble's lapdog. I know you can get along with everyone, and I felt that way from the start. You're very smooth and generous in your dealings. However, I didn't help you get rid of those flies because I like you; it's because of your personality. I've never tried to please people I dislike."

Nera valued his personality, which was why she considered him a friend and helped him ward off other nobles.

This unspoken understanding was natural for people like them and didn't need to be stated.

"That's also why I'm willing to work with you, Miss Nera."

Lan Qi spoke honestly.

"Since you understand, that's perfect. So, don't expect me to get along with Nicola.

Secretary Nera nodded in satisfaction.

As they chatted, a familiar figure caught their attention in the distance.

Lan Qi and Nera's steps slowed as they looked towards the courtyard on the first floor.

It was none other than Ehrula, the daughter of the ancient Griffin Clan and the Roland family, with her striking appearance.

She was also a close friend of Elsa, Landry's younger sister.

The last time in Brillada, the mafia was able to find and rescue Elsa in time thanks to Ehrula's help.

Dressed in a deep-colored gown, she appeared in the corridor leading outdoors, her refined and elegant makeup couldn't hide her unease, a stark contrast to her usual carefree and confident demeanor.

And standing next to Ehrula was Elsa, the very person Lan Qi was looking for.

"What's wrong with Ehrula?" Lan Qi wondered, gazing from the second floor towards her.

Following Lan Qi's gaze, Nera also spotted Ehrula looking towards a group of people in the banquet hall.

In the center of the nobles, they quickly recognized Ryan, the Marquis of the Roland Clan.

Beside him were several imperial dignitaries engaged in conversation, all vying for his favor.

This Marquis Ryan of the Roland Clan also held a more resounding title—the Ninth Divine General, Ryan of the Crystal Seat, which was enough to put him on equal footing with Principal Violet, the Sixth Divine General, of Saint Kreithian Monastery.

"What, are you interested in the Roland family? Or is Ehrula a student who requires special attention?" Nera asked, noticing Lan Qi's gaze.

"I owe her a favor," Lan Qi nodded, his eyes never leaving Ehrula.

"To owe you a favor is no small matter. Many of the dignitaries here would simply hope to gain your favor," Nera said in surprise, covering her mouth.

"Miss Nera, you're exaggerating. You're making it sound like you're boasting about being my friend, and I can't live up to that," Lan Qi shook his head, causing Nera to emit a soft laugh.

His attention remained on Ehrula and Elsa as he walked towards them.

At that moment, Ehrula was gazing at her brother from afar, her expression complex.

Ground Floor of the Banquet Pavilion.

Ehrula was torn, seemingly hesitant about whether to avoid her brother.

She couldn't understand why she didn't want to see her brother today or why she was secretly hoping to meet him.

She was even surprised that her brother, Ryan, had come to Saint Kreithian Monastery today.

After much inner turmoil, she finally clenched her teeth and stopped in her tracks, waiting for Marquis Ryan to approach her.

Perhaps it was a glimmer of hope that she might see her brother today, for which she had specially changed into her most beautiful gown, making herself look charming and graceful, no longer acting on her whims and embarrassing the Roland family as she usually did.

However, when Ehrula truly saw Ryan approach her, her legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

A wave of fear and anxiety washed over her, almost suffocating her.

Marquis Ryan was dressed in the family's formal attire, with short, slightly curly deep purple hair, and his handsome, well-defined features exuded a noble and cold aura. His facial features and emerald eyes were identical to Ehrula's, but his age made him seem more intimidating.

Marquis Ryan's gaze was even colder than Ehrula had imagined.

It was not the gaze of a brother looking at his sister.

"Brother," Ehrula took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.

She had mentally prepared herself.

"..."

Elsa looked at Ehrula beside her with concern, holding her friend's cold hand.

It was always Ehrula who liked to approach others, but today, Elsa could see that Ehrula needed a friend's care.

Ehrula had longed countless times for her brother to return to how he used to be with her, such as visiting her today. However, when Ehrula finally stood before her brother, she felt endless pain and despair in his cold gaze.

The guests around them recognized Ehrula and whispered among themselves, but Ryan didn't even seem to want to look directly at her.

"Why did you come here today..." Ehrula started tremblingly, but before she could finish, the voice in front of her interrupted.

"Disgraceful thing," Marquis Ryan said in an emotionless tone.

"..."

Ehrula remained silent, knowing that Marquis Ryan was scolding her.

The Ninth Divine General, Ryan of the Crystal Seat, had returned from the distant frontlines, only to hear about his sister's embarrassing actions that brought shame to the family. His anger was understandable.

"Follow me, don't make a scene here," Ryan finally spared a glance at Ehrula, devoid of any familial warmth, before turning and walking away.

Ehrula shuddered, her brother's words like a blade piercing her heart.

She had even dared to hope that her brother would offer her blessings like other parents.

Now, it seemed like a miracle that he could even look at her normally.

She opened her mouth but couldn't utter a sound.

Her pale face was devoid of any blood, and her hands clutching the skirt were trembling uncontrollably.

She didn't want to argue with her brother like this anymore, but if she threw another tantrum, it would only prove to the other imperial dignitaries why her brother despised her so, further embarrassing the Roland family.

"Okay."

Tears welled up in Ehrula's eyes, but she held them back, fearing she might lose control in front of everyone.

If it weren't for Elsa's support, she might have embarrassed herself further.

Just as Ehrula was about to leave in despair, a tall figure blocked her path, separating her from Ryan.

Ryan, who was already walking out without a backward glance, stopped in his tracks and turned around silently.

"Who are you?" Ryan asked, his eyebrows furrowed in displeasure.

At that moment, the man in gray stood like a barrier, hiding Ehrula behind him, even preventing Ryan from seeing her.

Lan Qi didn't immediately respond to Ryan; instead, he turned around, facing Ehrula's surprised gaze.

"Landry..."

Ehrula exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth.

It was only after they returned from Brillada that she would call Landry by his name, which was actually an impolite way of addressing him; she should have added a title.

"I was just about to come and wish you a smooth new school year. Your hard work and dedication have made me proud," Lan Qi said to Ehrula and Elsa, fulfilling his objective for coming here today.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end