https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-95-The-Severity-of-Lanchi-s-Official-Problem/12584018/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-97-Lanchi-and-Fred-s-First-Team-up/12584022/
Chapter 96: The Encounter of the Crouching Tiger and the Fledgling Phoenix
Chapter 96: The Encounter of the Crouching Tiger and the Fledgling Phoenix
The Ikariot Academy, located on the outskirts of the Magic Engineering Institute, is marked by a Gothic Revival-style building that stands as a landmark on campus—the Old Humanities Building of the Magic Engineering Institute.
This historic structure, with its red brick exterior adorned by classical bas-relief sculptures, once served as the workshop where magic engineers crafted their wondrous creations. Decades ago, it was renovated and transformed into a public building offering magic engineering services to students from other departments.
When Lanchi first enrolled, he visited this place to collect his student wristband but didn't venture beyond the lower floors.
The first floor houses the Public Magic Engineering Services Center.
The second floor belongs to Professor Boraao, the leading researcher in magic engineering, and his workshop for innovative magic engineering techniques.
And the third floor is where the Student Council is located.
Today, the wind howls boisterously.
After their sole morning class, Lanchi and Hyperion made their way directly to the Old Humanities Building, climbing the stairs to the third floor.
As they emerged from the stairwell, a spacious and brightly lit corridor greeted them.
Delicate chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the entire hallway. The reddish-brown walls, adorned with gilt floral patterns, exuded an air of solemnity and tranquility.
Walking on the soft carpet that stretched the length of the corridor to the Student Council room, they could glance out the row of large windows and take in the campus scenery—the lush green lawns, rows of tall trees, and scattered students going about their day.
Finally, they reached the deepest part of the corridor, arriving at a set of double doors painted a deep crimson.
"Hyperion, are you ready?" Lanchi asked.
"Yes." Hyperion nodded.
With a gentle knock on the door, they awaited a response.
"Come in." A calm and steady male voice invited them in.
Lanchi pushed open the heavy mahogany doors, and a blend of coffee and candle scents wafted through the air. Before them lay a spacious council chamber spanning hundreds of square meters, occupied by just three individuals.
Seated at a desk facing the entrance was a handsome man with a straight spine and eyes sparkling like stars. He exuded the aura of a erudite scholar.
In front of him was a long table made of dark wood, polished to a mirror-like shine. Behind him, partially concealed by the massive window, deep red curtains hung like theater drapes, shimmering in the sunlight.
Standing by the table was a woman with a gentle expression, looking at Lanchi and Hyperion with a hint of curiosity. She held a stack of documents in her arms, seemingly intending to file them in the tall bookcases that lined the wall to the right.
To the left of the chamber was a relaxation area, furnished with a coffee table and a pair of luxurious leather sofas, their color matching the rest of the room's furniture.
Seated comfortably on one of the sofas was a man with grayish-white hair, wearing a pair of small sunglasses.
"May I ask if you two have encountered any troubles at school?" The Student Council President, seated in the main seat, directed a friendly and confident smile at the visitors.
He seemed to recognize Lanchi and Hyperion, two newcomers who had already sparked quite a bit of attention upon their enrollment.
However, the president didn't treat them any differently and simply inquired after their well-being as he would with any other student.
"Hello, we would like to ask if the Student Council is still recruiting members?" Lanchi replied, feeling at ease with the president's demeanor.
Not only did he show no hostility toward Hyperion, but he also regarded Lanchi with a calm gaze, devoid of the curiosity that typically marked the eyes of other students when they beheld him.
Indeed, as Vivian had mentioned, the president was a man of discernment.
The president nodded, understanding their intention, and rose from his seat, gesturing for them to join him in the relaxation area for a more detailed discussion.
Soon, the president sat down next to the youth with grayish-white hair, while Lanchi and Hyperion took a seat on the sofa opposite them.
The woman by the bookshelf finished arranging her documents and then brought over a tray with a porcelain pot and cups, pouring coffee for everyone.
"I'm Monaste, president of the Student Management Committee, and this is Vice President Asena," he introduced himself and the woman, thanking her for the coffee, before turning to Lanchi and Hyperion.
"And this is Fred, a new student from the Knight's College," he continued, spreading his hand to indicate the youth on the sofa.
Lanchi and Hyperion exchanged a glance, vaguely recalling this eccentric individual from the Knight's College.
The second round of the entrance exam had been a joint assessment for the Knight's and Sage's Colleges, only diverging into separate tests in the third round.
And this eccentric from the Knight's College had cleared the second round even faster than Lanchi—instead of arresting the wicked couple with legal means, he had chosen to take out a loan and endure the bitter cold and snow with his physical prowess.
Lanchi and Hyperion had wondered which team had scooped him up, never expecting that he would join the student council.
"To be honest, the Student Management Committee is severely understaffed at the moment. With the graduation of the previous student council members, we only have Fred, who was recommended by the Dean of the Knight's College. I was contemplating handling the many tasks this semester personally, along with Vice President Asena, after finishing the handover with the school. But now, with the two of you here, that burden is significantly lightened."
President Monaste took a slight sip of his coffee, his expression weary, before gently setting down the cup and smiling at the pair.
It seemed that their mere presence and intention to join had already eased a lot of his workload.
Lanchi nodded, understanding that the president was willing to accept them.
"Your abilities are well-known to me, and if you don't mind the potential hardships and troubles that come with being in the student council, I would be delighted to invite Lanchi Wilford and Hyperion Aransal to join us."
"... "
A moment of silence ensued.
A gentle breeze blew in through the window, causing the curtains to flutter and bringing with it a breath of fresh air. It rustled the papers on the desk, brushed past the sofa, and stirred the pages of books, creating a soft rustling sound in the quiet room.
Both President Monaste and Vice President Asena exuded friendly attitudes, and even though Fred's thoughts were unknown, his gaze upon the pair was no different from how he looked at anyone else.
Lanchi and Hyperion shared another glance, both nodding in agreement.
"I would be honored to join the student council," Lanchi replied.
"As would I," Hyperion added.
"Then I welcome you both aboard," the president said warmly. "Leave the school registration formalities to me, and there's also a second-year secretary from the College of Alchemy, but she's usually busy with the newspaper club and only drops by occasionally. You'll meet her eventually."
The pair nodded solemnly.
However, the president's solemn expression suggested that there was already some pressing matter that he needed their help with.
"In fact, the student council does have an urgent task at hand. I was hesitant to send Fred alone, planning to accompany him after finishing the backlog of work. But now that the three of you can work together, I can rest easy and focus on my own duties."
(End of Chapter)
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