Chapter 301
Chapter 301
Chapter 301
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 301 – Boss Cat Feels Very Happy
Night had already fallen, and the twinkling lights reflected across the southern district of Helrom.
As the moonlight was gradually swallowed by thick gray clouds, the bustling city shifted into a calmer rhythm.
In this city full of magic and supernatural phenomena, a young man walked alone along an empty path inside the grounds of the Royal Protos Magic Academy. On both sides were courtyards and residences, looking not much different from ordinary neighborhoods.
At this late hour, almost no students remained wandering outside.
But Lan Qi was different.
He had been busy with official duties at the school for the entire day.
In the morning, after briefly accompanying Zestira to the Endless Library, they had returned to the academy’s teaching district.
Many teachers had matters to consult with Lan Qi. The academy had undergone dramatic changes recently, and many tasks of implementation and coordination required someone with authority to make decisions or bear responsibility.
Fortunately, with his wealth of experience, Lan Qi handled everything smoothly, even without an assistant.
As he walked, a courtyard finally came into view.
Several lanterns glowed within it, their faint orange light flickering like tiny flames dancing, bringing a touch of warmth against the sharp chill that fell over Helrom every night.
The corridor lights were also lit, their soft white glow creating a sense of warmth and comfort.
Lan Qi gently pushed open the wrought-iron gate. The gravel path beyond was damp with night dew, slippery enough to trip an unsteady step.
Once back at his unit, he hung his coat on the rack, entered the living room, and lit the fireplace. The sofa cushions seemed to beckon him to sit down and rest properly.
“Another fulfilling day,” Lan Qi murmured with a sigh.
Outside the window, the cold wind roared, brushing over the treetops with a rustling sound.
He exhaled deeply, his whole body immersed in the comfort and peace of being insulated from the outdoor chill.
But even in this quiet hour, his thoughts lingered.
He had been trying to gather news in Helrom about Huperion’s disguised identity as “Miriam.”
But nothing turned up.
Judging by the direction she had gone when they parted, she was most likely now in the Aetherthalan Kingdom.
Lan Qi lived comfortably in the Protos Empire, while Huperion was in the south — a land culturally opposite to Protos, lacking order and structure.
He wondered if she was doing well.
He had to work harder, so that when she finally came to the Protos Empire, he could prepare a surprise for her.
Perhaps the first part of her journey hadn’t been pleasant, but he would make sure her time on the northern continent became filled with unforgettable memories.
“Lan Qi-nya, time for bed.”
Boss Cat emerged from the shadows, hopping onto the sofa. Seeing Lan Qi unmoving, he spoke up.
Humans needed both good food and good sleep to stay healthy and happy.
Lan Qi slowly snapped back to reality, his gaze shifting to Boss Cat as if remembering something important.
“Boss Cat, I have something good for you.”
“What is it, nya?”
The little black cat tilted his head, both puzzled and wary.
These days he was constantly worried.
Even though Lan Qi always seemed in control wherever he went… Boss Cat finally understood what Huperion meant when she spoke of his “dangerous ambition.”
Not only that—
Recently, Lan Qi seemed ready to wrap up his reform work at the academy and head north to handle affairs for the Annihilation Branch.
Compared to the order and structure of the imperial capital Helrom, the northern frontier near the war zone was terrifyingly chaotic.
The Desolation Saint Son there was not to be trifled with—cruel, ruthless, and incredibly powerful. Even ten Lan Qis couldn’t defeat him.
And the recently vanished Desolation Bishop might also be in the north!
The Empire’s northern lands gave off an ominous feeling… even news from there was completely sealed off.
Boss Cat was scared.
Scared in every sense of the word.
Lan Qi always played high-stakes games, and Boss Cat never dared to guess when one of them might go wrong!
“Boss Cat, put this on.”
Lan Qi took out a seventh-tier pink Sacred Spell Card: [Roar of the Storm Dragon], which he had acquired that morning from the Endless Library.
“Nya?! Nya?!”
Boss Cat froze on the sofa in disbelief.
“You’re… giving this to me?” he asked, his voice trembling.
“Yes,” Lan Qi nodded.
He had chosen a high-tier card with the intention of using Boss Cat as an external slot.
If Boss Cat was fully equipped with cards boosting Spirit attributes, he should barely be able to cast a seventh-tier spell once, even if it drained all his mana.
Spirit increased both mana capacity and recovery speed.
Luckily, simple Spirit-boosting equipment cards weren’t too expensive. With his recent hard-earned salary, Lan Qi could buy plenty of them for Boss Cat at Helrom’s large magical item shops.
“You’re not lying to me, nya?”
Boss Cat’s words sped up, his heart pounding with excitement.
“Of course not.”
Smiling, Lan Qi handed over the glowing pink card.
“Lan Qi, you’re the best, nya nya nya! I’ll cook for you forever!”
Overjoyed, Boss Cat hugged the card and soul-bound it immediately.
A seventh-tier Sacred Spell Card of pink grade was practically unobtainable on the market.
At most, the southern branch of the Ikerite Cardmaker Association occasionally auctioned second- or third-tier pink Sacred Cards for absurdly high prices.
Even if Boss Cat sold his entire restaurant along with his lifelong savings, he could never afford one.
As for higher-tier cards—their prices were astronomical. He had never even bought himself a seventh-tier blue rare card.
And now, Lan Qi had given him a seventh-tier Sacred card outright!
If he stuck with Lan Qi, maybe one day he’d be covered head-to-tail in purple and pink cards! His future as a cat was looking bright!
“Here, bind this one too. You can use it temporarily.”
After Boss Cat had bound [Roar of the Storm Dragon], Lan Qi handed him another card, a plain white one.
“What’s this, nya?”
Boss Cat caught it telekinetically.
[Forgery Tablet – Wind].
Suddenly, ordinary white cards felt beneath him.
“What does this card do?”
He examined the strange first-tier white card. It had no clear effect, and once bound, it didn’t seem to boost anything.
It was just like a blank tool card.
“It adds a special effect to wind-element spells. So when you cast [Roar of the Storm Dragon] for me, it’ll look especially terrifying. It might even scare enemies into fleeing outright. Of course, it could also trigger a massive manhunt or widespread chaos, so you can’t recklessly use [Roar of the Storm Dragon].”
Lan Qi warned him seriously.
“Whoa, awesome!”
Boss Cat happily bound the card.
So this was basically a “skill skin card.”
Lan Qi always enjoyed making quirky artistic cards—just like those “skins” he’d made for the Great Poet before.
Now Boss Cat finally understood their use.
Though Lan Qi was likely exaggerating.
Last time, when they used the seventh-tier [Sound-Sealing Barrier], it had only scared off those fifth-tier Silver-Armor clerics.
Against true seventh- or eighth-tier powerhouses, no amount of flashy effects would make them flinch!
But still—
As long as it wasn’t one of Lan Qi’s world-shaking schemes, he wasn’t worried at all.
Tonight, Boss Cat was so happy he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep!