https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-878-The-Night-Before-Lan-Fu-s-Three-Core-Six-Thread-Part-2-/12937195/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-880-Lance-s-Gears-Start-Smoking-Part-1-/12937208/
Chapter 879: Lance's Romantic Predicament
Chapter 879: Lance's Romantic Predicament
February 14th, Valentine's Day on the Southern Continent.
At 7:15 in the morning, a light-blue-haired girl sat at an outdoor cafe on the street corner, writing in her notebook and pondering a long-standing question. She wore a mana-recording camera around her neck and two ID badges on her chest, sipping hot coffee as if on vacation.
Louiseville, the Student Council Secretary, was also a reporter for the Heton Times.
"Speaking of which, today is the day when Priest Valentine was executed. Why are couples celebrating today? Aren't they afraid of being executed too?" The girl asked, voicing her confusion.
"Well, don't couples usually throw away lots of bouquets in the trash on Valentine's Day? Isn't that like being executed?" Kurukarca, with her deep red hair, sat beside Louiseville and asked earnestly.
Kurukarca had joined the understaffed Student Council after transferring from the Alolan Imperial Academy as part of an academic exchange program, and she was now a new officer. Her brother, Kuse, was the eldest son of Duke Pacas, a noble from the Alolan Kingdom. He had been the most powerful fighter in the third year at the Alolan Imperial Academy, but during his visit to Ekitire last year, he encountered an unfortunate accident.
Even now, Kuse stayed hidden at home, afraid to go out. Not only was he afraid of fighting, but even the approach of his own servants would startle him, fearing they might attack him.
There was no doubt that the one who orchestrated that accident and presided over the competition was none other than Dean Loren, the head of the Sage Academy.
Although Kurukarca believed her brother got what he deserved, she still had complicated feelings about Dean Loren...
If he were truly the kind-hearted person everyone said he was, he wouldn't have so easily ascended to the position of Emperor. Everything seemed to have been meticulously planned to perfection.
"Well, it's not like they're going to be executed on the guillotine like Emperor Lan Yi Sixteen of Poson," Louiseville muttered to herself.
From time to time, she would take a sip of coffee and casually glance towards the distant promenade.
Under a distant tree on the promenade, a slightly anxious young man stood next to a circular wooden bench—a legendary emperor, Loren.
Today, he was facing off against an unknown opponent.
Go, Loren, the one we have high hopes for.
"Kurukarca, I taught you before that the essence of being a reporter is not much different from being a detective. When we're tailing an Eighth Rank Powerhouse, we can't focus our attention on them directly, or we'll be easily spotted. Instead, we need to position ourselves at an appropriate distance in the commercial district, stay hidden, and go about our business. We record what we can, and luck plays a role too." Louiseville turned to her junior and explained.
"What about tailing a Ninth Rank Powerhouse?" Kurukarca asked.
Her imposing demeanor and cold, deep red eyes seemed to see right through people.
Apart from the black and white family crest on her school uniform, her head was adorned with a striking inverted cross hair ornament made of red satin and golden metal, symbolizing the Holy Light.
Kurukarca was also a devout believer in the Goddess of Fate Church, which made her views on Dean Loren quite complex.
Initially, she revered Loren as a high priest, but after her brother's incident, she saw him as a hypocritical villain. However, when Loren ended the war in Crete, she couldn't understand him anymore.
"That's beyond my experience too. This is my first time tailing a Ninth Rank Powerhouse. Even though this is a town with restrictions, Dean Loren is a law-abiding citizen who wouldn't casually use magic. We need to maintain an even greater distance from him to avoid being detected by his senses. Also, don't be too coincidental; let's just act like we're out for fun today, and whether we run into him or not is up to fate." Louiseville instructed her junior.
If they stumbled upon something, great; if not, no loss.
To gather information about Dean Loren, Louiseville had been working hard to help with Student Council affairs these days. She had pleaded with President Monaster and Frey, asking around for information. Surprisingly, she finally obtained intelligence from her colleague, Miss Antanas, from another department of the Heton Times Broadcasting Corporation.
"I'll remember that, Senior," Kurukarca nodded, her eyes heavy with determination as she lowered her head.
"It's a shame that Frey isn't helping me this time. He might as well not have come back! If he were here, I wouldn't have to investigate personally; I could just entrust the task to him and get all the information." Louiseville complained, noticing Kurukarca's unease at secretly gathering news today.
That adorable junior of hers hadn't been listening to her since he returned.
Previously, his only flaw was his wealth, but now, he seemed to know everything about Emperor Loren's schedule, and money couldn't buy his services.
"So, Frey is back, but he's keeping a low profile?" Kurukarca was familiar with this name. Before coming to Ekitire Academy, she had heard about this student council member, and both President Monaster and Louiseville often mentioned him.
For instance, if the student council had a request, President Monaster would instruct Frey, and he would promptly take care of it without asking for compensation.
As for matters outside the student council, Frey could be hired for a price, and he would get the job done.
"He's back, but he's hard to find. Unless you contact him through communication magic, it's difficult to locate him," Louiseville said, closing her eyes and spreading her hands in resignation.
This guy seemed to have a passive ability to disappear from the map and become unselectable.
"Even if Frey isn't willing to sell Loren's itinerary, I can still deduce that there's a high chance he'll be attending the performance of 'Holy War Romance - Half-Maiden Act' this afternoon. After all, it's the perfect date spot."
Louiseville proudly took out two tickets from her pocket.
"Huh, Senior, where did you get these tickets?"
Kurukarca looked at Louiseville in surprise, holding the two semi-transparent tickets for the Ekitire College Theatre.
She had heard about this performance but couldn't get her hands on any tickets.
"Please, the leads are my adorable suspended junior and Senior Lance, ah, I mean, Principal Lance. My great Principal Lance, may he live forever. It was easy to get reserved tickets from them."
Louiseville explained to Kurukarca.
Kurukarca had joined the Student Council to take over the work of her seniors, Huberian and Lance. After Lance returned, he rarely attended the Student Council, seemingly focusing on the Sage Academy affairs entrusted by Professor Polao. As a result, she rarely crossed paths with Kurukarca from the Alchemy Institute.
"So, today, it feels like we're just out for fun?"
Kurukarca had been called out by her senior, prepared for a full day of work, but now it seemed that whether the work was successful or not, they could still have a great time.
"That's true. After all, the main event is definitely this afternoon's opera. Let's just wander around in the morning."
Louiseville handed a ticket to Kurukarca and patted her junior's shoulder.
There were two performances this weekend, both with the same content, one today on Saturday and the other tomorrow on Sunday.
She had gotten a ticket for the first show today.
Usually, the first day's tickets were more popular, and today was Valentine's Day.
After the first day's performance, the reviews would likely influence the resale price for the second day's tickets. If the first performance was a failure, the second day's tickets would plummet in price, but if the first performance was exceptionally successful, the second day's tickets would be sold at even more outrageous prices.
"Thank you, Senior. I'll definitely work hard when needed."
Kurukarca expressed her gratitude.
"But don't get your hopes up about digging up any big news today. The Emperor will most likely be watching from a private box upstairs, and the chances of us getting a shot of him are slim. There will be many other media colleagues focusing on the stage as well, unless there's a significant performance accident that even affects the Emperor, then we might get a big scoop."
Louiseville analyzed,
"Anyway, let's just enjoy the play today without overthinking. It should be a highly anticipated performance."
She couldn't understand why Frey had bought tickets for the second day.
This investment might not pay off at all.
Did he really believe the performance would be a success?
Louiseville was puzzled.
Frey was also a Yin-Yang Personality, sometimes winning big and sometimes losing it all.
"Huh, it seems someone's coming."
Kurukarca noticed a figure appearing at the other end of the promenade.
She immediately snapped Louiseville out of her thoughts.
They both picked up their coffees and nonchalantly gazed into the distance like tourists.
At the end of the promenade, under a large tree, Loren was slightly disguised, making it difficult for anyone who wasn't very familiar with him to recognize him.
Surprisingly, he exuded a noble aura, with his hair meticulously combed back from his forehead.
He gave off a completely different vibe from his usual self.
Although his face remained gentle, it now had an air of nobility and dominance, as if a stylist had transformed him into this image.
"He looks like he's about to walk into a wedding hall. Why is Loren so handsome today? Is this the Emperor?"
Louiseville secretly took a couple of photos, knowing that just these casual shots of the Emperor's daily life would be enough to complete her assignment for the press club.
"Shocking: Crethe Emperor Spotted on Ekitire Street, Suspected to Be Meeting a Mysterious Girlfriend!"
She jotted down a potential headline in her notebook.
However, the woman approaching Loren under the tree was somewhat unexpected.
Because—
She wasn't Juliana from the Alolan Kingdom.
Instead, she was a woman they had never seen before, yet strangely familiar.
Her features were delicate and refined, her skin fair and tender, giving off a sweet first impression.
Her lips were a vibrant red, not due to makeup but seemingly a natural trait, adding a splash of color to her face, complementing her fair skin and giving her a lively and energetic aura.
She was youthful and radiant, exuding an innocent yet mature charm.
At 7:22 a.m.
Loren had thought the woman was also waiting for someone under the tree.
Unexpectedly, she approached him as if mustering all her courage.
She seemed to have something to say but was too shy to speak.
"Miss, is there something I can help you with?"
Loren asked with concern.
He could sense her inner anxiety.
"Um, um..."
She stammered, unable to get the words out.
As if waiting for someone to come to her rescue.
"Take your time, I'm waiting for someone too, so I'm free right now."
Loren assured her, certain she needed help, and waved his hand.
Moreover, this girl gave him a strange sense of familiarity and kindness, and her pear-colored hair was similar to that of his brother and his brother's junior, Monaster.
Loren, it's Florence..."
Florence mumbled, her face flushing as she spoke.
Her ears turned red as she uttered those words.
She wondered how Loren would react.
Would he be shocked? Surprised? Or delighted?
Even though Huberian had told her she was beautiful, she wasn't sure if she was Loren's type.
Loren paused for a moment, seemingly understanding his brother's anxiety.
"Bro, why are you dressed as a girl?"
He asked with a relieved smile.
There was no hint of surprise, only curiosity as he examined Florence's new appearance.
"Huh?"
Florence looked up at Loren.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
Why was Loren reacting this way?
Even after seeing her true self, did he still think she was a boy?
"Don't worry, I won't laugh at you. I understand you must have your reasons for dressing as a girl."
Loren quickly added.
Now he finally understood why his brother had been so nervous earlier.
"...
Florence held back her tears, clenching the corner of her dress, feeling embarrassed and flustered as she tried to hide her discomposure.
The awkwardness was killing her.
"Ahaha, well, I'm dressed as a girl today because... because my family might see me meeting the Emperor alone, so I snuck out to meet you, and I had to disguise myself."
She forced a smile as she replied.
Instructor Little Hugh hadn't taught her what to do in such a situation.
She answered like that to ease the awkwardness, but as soon as she finished, she regretted it.
[Hugh: Miss Florence, you can't answer like that. It's too obvious a lie. Loren will figure out you're lying, and he'll also realize how flustered you are.]
Huberian immediately pointed out the problem.
"I see."
Loren nodded seriously, showing no doubt towards Florence.
He had another close friend who often dressed as a girl to avoid trouble.
"...
Florence froze once again.
This time, not only her, but Huberian also fell silent.
Had Loren accepted her excuse so easily? Florence thought her reason was too clumsy, and she expected to be exposed at any moment.
As a result, she found it even harder to reveal her true gender.
Moreover, how could she prove to Loren that she was a girl? With each exchange, she felt like she was reinforcing their bond as brothers.
Meanwhile...
"Bro, why aren't you saying anything?"
Loren was puzzled as to why Florence had been silent for so long.
The earliest item on today's schedule, "Meeting with Bro," was something he hadn't sought advice on from the instructor.
The instructor's help was limited to providing guidance when interacting with girls and creating a schedule for the entire day.
[Lance: ...
Indeed, the instructor was silent at this moment.
Perhaps he was unable to speak, or perhaps he was speechless.
Loren glanced at his watch.
It was 7:24.
By 7:35, he had to rush to the Golden Bee Amusement Park's east entrance to meet the Ice Maiden, chat briefly, and then...
Around 7:45, he would pretend to buy snacks, allowing the Ice Maiden to queue for the amusement park...
By 8:00, he had to find Juliana and have breakfast with her, then leave her at the restaurant...
At 8:10, he had to find Florence and enter the Golden Bee Amusement Park through the VIP entrance...
After settling Florence with an entertainment activity by 8:15, he had to return to the entrance and continue queuing with the Ice Maiden...
Loren silently recited the itinerary set by the instructor, knowing that today's schedule was tight, and every second counted. He couldn't afford to waste time, and the route planning had to be precise.
Although the instructor hadn't reminded him about time, he couldn't afford to stand there speechless with Florence. He had to hurry to meet the Ice Maiden; Armis might already be waiting for him.
"Florence..."
Loren looked at Florence, remembering their previous encounter, which the instructor had praised.
The instructor had instructed him to follow the plan or draw from successful past experiences when he was at a loss for words.
So...
Loren came to a conclusion.
He reached out and placed his hands on Florence's shoulders, pulling her into a wordless embrace.
"Huh? Hey!"
Florence was caught off guard and found herself in Loren's embrace before she could react.
[Hugh: Huh?]
Huberian was also taken aback.
Was Dean Loren this impulsive?
Florence's already spinning mind was on the verge of overload.
[Hugh: First, first, first, just go with it.]
After a long pause, Hugh's voice came through Florence's communication magic, sounding flustered.
Huberian didn't know what to do either.
How could someone think their soulmate was cross-dressing after learning they were a girl? That didn't make sense!
[Hugh: I'll stay hidden nearby and observe the situation before giving you advice. You're a bit overwhelmed right now, so take a step back and play it cool.]
That was the only way she could calm Florence down.
Under the Big Tree.
"Florence, I'm back. Sorry for worrying you."
Loren hugged Florence tightly, reassuring his brother.
"Ababa...Ababa..."
Florence had nearly fainted in Loren's arms.
...
It was 7:30 a.m.
On the other side of the Ekitire City-State.
At the North Gate entrance of the Golden Bee Amusement Park.
Even before the official opening hours, a long line had already formed, with tourists eagerly awaiting the park's opening.
Despite the absence of the evening's light show and fireworks, the grand amusement park was bustling with excitement.
The Ekitire Crown, to which it belonged, was the largest integrated entertainment group in the South Continent's Herthon Capital, including a casino, hotel, restaurant, shops, and conference facilities.
Located on the prime land along the Yara River, it was gradually developed into one of the largest integrated entertainment centers in the South Continent and a tourist attraction of Ekitire.
Since its opening, the Ekitire Crown had undergone multiple expansions and renovations, continuously expanding its scale and services, including more entertainment facilities, hotel rooms, dining services, and attractions for all ages.
Especially on this special holiday combined with the weekend, even before the Golden Bee Amusement Park's opening hours, a long queue had formed at the ticket gate.
Lance and Talia stood in the line, waiting for the ticket gate at the far end to open half an hour later.
"...
Lance listened to the situation on the other end of the communication magic.
His silence didn't mean he didn't want to talk.
He was just standing next to Talia, unable to speak.
Fortunately, he didn't need to help with the communication.
The other side was too weak, and except for Loren being a bit too aggressive, there were no hidden concerns.
"Lance, what are you daydreaming about?"
Talia tugged at Lance's hand, her cheeks puffed out as she asked.
She felt that Lance had been distracted.
Since he had promised to accompany her to the amusement park, he should be fully focused on her.
"Sorry, today has been really busy, and I only slept for a few hours last night."
Lance apologized to Talia.
"Is that so."
Talia observed Lance's eyes for a moment, as if seeing him during his time working in the Crethe Empire.
"It's okay, we'll play something relaxing later, and you can take a nap leaning on me on the bench."
Talia suddenly felt a bit heartbroken, and from his demeanor, she could tell he was probably genuinely exhausted.
And he had a performance this afternoon.
It was better to let him relax in the morning.
Additionally, if Lance could fall asleep, she could also guide Juliana later, and she would have to make time to teach Juliana how to date Loren.
"Thank you so much, Tata."
Lance expressed his gratitude to Talia.
Today, his task was much more challenging than Loren's, and he needed to follow Loren closely to understand the real-time situation on her end, while also ensuring that Talia and Sigrid were satisfied.
Since things had come to this, Loren had chosen the option to "date all of them" instead of "date one of them," so he could only help Loren to the best of his abilities.
He would definitely pass today's test.
"Meow..."
Cat Boss poked her head out from the shadow beneath Lance's feet but dared not fully emerge, only showing her cat head and bright eyes.
She was afraid, and Lance's schedule was even more packed than the Hell Corridor Academy's curriculum, with every moment meticulously planned. If any link in the chain failed, the entire plan might collapse.
Lance's schedule was twice as packed as Loren's, as he had to date both Wolf and Tiger simultaneously while also keeping an eye on Loren and teaching her how to date.
Cat Boss had originally planned to follow Prana today, but she was genuinely concerned about Lance, and since she was the only one who knew his plan, she decided to accompany him instead of helping Prana.
Her cat ears twitched, and she looked towards the distant end of the line.
Behind a large tree by the wide road, a leisurely figure leaned against it.
She hadn't joined the crowd in line, seemingly waiting for the queue to clear so she could enter without waiting.
And Cat Boss knew who it was—
Sigrid wore a beret today, resembling a grown-up version of Sigrid, looking more like a boy.
She had changed into a more boyish outfit suitable for traveling, with her hair tied up and hidden under the hat, allowing a few light-colored strands to fall naturally at her temples.
Later, when she played with Lance, she wouldn't stand out as much, and it would be easier to move around.
Her carefree appearance attracted the gazes of many girls.
Upon closer inspection, they realized that her face was that of a beauty.
Some girls sighed and averted their eyes, while others became more excited.
Sigrid was currently chatting via communication magic.
"Armis, don't be nervous. Don't think of it as a date between a man and a woman. Just treat it as official business. If you have any more questions, ask in the name of the gods. I might not be able to communicate with you in real-time later, but rest assured, I'll mostly be there for you. This morning, I'll be at the Golden Bee Amusement Park, and this afternoon, I'll be at the Brillada Opera House."
Sigrid spoke with focus.
She occasionally glanced at Lance and Talia in the distance.
She would wait for Lance to find an opportunity to settle Talia before coming to date her.
Until then, she had ample time to instruct Ice Maiden on how to converse with her date.
(End of Chapter)
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