Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 167 – Lan Qi’s Dad’s Travel Notes: Joy at the Academy
Hedon Kingdom.
It had already been one full day since Lan Qi entered the Shadow World.
On this Saturday morning, sunlight broke through the thick clouds, spilling across the bricks and glass of the royal capital Ikerite, leaving behind a warm glow.
In this city, which retained its ancient charm while also being highly modernized, red-brick buildings shone brilliantly in the morning light, while glass curtain walls reflected the azure sky and the pure white of drifting clouds.
At Ikerite Central Station, a magic-powered rail train glided smoothly along with a steady humming sound, carrying residents and tourists swiftly toward their destinations.
Walking through the station hall, the noise gradually faded into the distance, replaced by the crisp chimes of shop bells mingled with the melodies of traveling poets strumming instruments in the plaza outside.
A middle-aged man dressed like a merchant arrived at the square opposite the Central Station. He boarded a small sightseeing carriage and began his tour of the city.
The carriage’s leather seats swayed gently, bringing with them a refreshing breeze.
Though his sideburns had already begun to show a touch of gray, his demeanor and air of authority remained intact. Every corner of his clothing was neat and meticulously arranged.
“This brat… better not let me catch him.”
Noé Wilfort sat on the carriage, looking out at the scenery of Ikerite, muttering to himself.
He had just learned of a fine notice sent to his household by Professor Bolao, Dean of the Institute of Magic Engineering.
Lan Qi Wilfort’s father, Noé Wilfort, had rarely left his post at Gran Weavely City on the northern border of the Kreye Empire to return to his family territory of South Mantina on the southern border of the Hedon Kingdom.
A few days ago, when Noé received an inter-country magical communication from the butler, Hans, he was utterly shocked.
Before leaving the Hedon Kingdom last time, Noé had already instructed Hans: unless there was a particularly serious matter concerning Lan Qi, there was no need to use the expensive, complicated, and tightly regulated cross-border communication device to notify him.
If Lan Qi just caused small trouble, Hans should help smooth things over on his behalf.
As a result, for months in the Kreye Empire, Noé hadn’t received any news about Lan Qi.
Naturally, he assumed the brat had already experienced the gap between himself and other geniuses of his generation in the capital, and had slunk back to South Mantina, returning to his muddle-headed yet blissful days.
After all, there was no way Lan Qi could possibly pass the entrance exam to the Alchemy Institute after studying for such a short time.
“Sigh… my expectations for him were never that high anyway.”
Noé sighed. He knew Lan Qi wasn’t cut out for academics. Forcing him to study was merely a way of disciplining him.
From the very start, Noé had never expected Lan Qi to get into a good school like Ikerite Academy.
As long as Lan Qi didn’t go astray or cause trouble, that would be enough.
However—
Returning home revealed an entirely different story!
That brat had actually passed the entrance exam for Ikerite Academy and, ever since arriving in the capital, hadn’t returned home once!
And the institute he was accepted into was none other than the Sage’s Institute!
Even though both the fine notice from the Institute of Magic Engineering and the acceptance letter from Ikerite Academy looked authentic, Noé couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Thus, Noé had traveled overnight by domestic magic rail, arriving in the capital of Ikerite, and headed straight toward the Academy located in the city center.
The carriage carried the heavy-hearted Noé past Ikerite’s most famous landmarks.
In the early morning, Hedon’s pedestrian plaza had yet to fully bustle with activity. From the artful, flowing architectural designs at the base of Erica’s Magic Tower to the broad tree-lined boulevard along the Yara River, shops were just beginning to open, the faint aroma of coffee and sweets drifting outward.
After nearly an hour of travel—
The sightseeing carriage finally reached the Academy’s vicinity.
The legendary Ikerite Academy of Magic sat right at the heart of the royal capital.
Carrying a lightweight black suitcase, Noé stepped onto the Academy’s grounds.
Within a few steps, he was greeted by the deep, harmonious toll of bells.
It was the resonant tone of Ikerite Academy’s iconic ancient bell tower, which tolled nine times before stopping, marking the ninth hour of the morning.
The bell tower stood tall in the middle of an expansive lawn, encircled by lush trees. Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, scattering across the grass in a web of light and shadow.
Following the campus signs, Noé passed through various buildings.
He saw the Sage’s Institute’s ancient tower library, whose outer walls bore intricate relief carvings; the Knight’s Institute’s arena, with its pointed arch windows; and the magical screens everywhere, forming mirrored walls that reflected the sky and surrounding greenery.
After walking more than ten minutes, Noé found himself lost within the Academy grounds.
He felt the Magic Engineering Institute’s main building was nearby, yet no matter how he read the signs, he couldn’t figure out how to get through the grand garden to the old humanities building of the Magic Engineering Institute, then past it to reach the Institute’s sector.
At that moment of confusion—
He spotted a lone student in the otherwise quiet garden.
“Excuse me, student, do you know how to get to the Dean’s office of the Magic Engineering Institute?”
Noé quickly approached and asked the light-blue-haired girl, who looked approachable.
Hanging around her neck, besides a magic-recording camera, were two badges. She was clearly both a member of the Student Council and a reporter for the Hedon Times.
“Of course, I’ll take you there. But may I ask—did you make an appointment?”
The girl, whose badge read “Luweixier,” instantly broke into a bright smile, exuding energy and warmth.
As the Student Council’s secretary, she had recently been called back to help due to a shortage of manpower. She had just come down from the third floor of the old humanities building where the council room was, when she encountered someone in need of help.
“Yes, I made one. Professor Bolao will be waiting in his office before noon today.”
Noé answered, inwardly marveling that students at Hedon Kingdom’s best school were indeed so well-mannered and helpful.
“…If I haven’t been scammed, that is.”
He added afterward.
In truth, he still suspected the acceptance letter from the Sage’s Institute had been forged by that brat.
Perhaps, after running out of money, Lan Qi had come up with a terrible idea—to forge a fine notice and trick the family into sending him a large sum, so he could continue living comfortably in the capital.
The person he contacted yesterday through the domestic magical communication system might not even have been Professor Bolao, but merely an actor Lan Qi had hired.
If that turned out to be true, and Noé caught him red-handed, he would definitely beat that wretch within an inch of his life!
But the acceptance letter and fine notice looked far too real…
The only flaw lay in the fine notice itself.
It hadn’t been issued in the name of Ikerite Academy, but in the private name of Professor Bolao, Dean of the Magic Engineering Institute.
As a seasoned merchant, Noé knew that in compensation claims, it was reasonable for official-to-official or private-to-private notices to be issued.
But a private-to-official fine—Professor Bolao personally billing the Wilfort Trading Company—was extremely strange!
It looked exactly like Bolao and Lan Qi were colluding to scam money from their family!