Chapter 311
Chapter 311
Chapter 311
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 311 – Lan Qi Is Undoubtedly the Matchmaker of Fate
The pale daylight of the snowy plains filtered through the clouds, scattering across the drifting winds and snow. Like casual brushstrokes of winter, it painted a touch of warmth onto the frozen world.
Snowflakes swayed freely in the air, spiraling and falling onto the white earth, or else swept back up by the wind into endless dances.
Amid this wintry scene, two figures courteously accompanied Shaya back across the plains to retrieve his lost luggage.
Shaya led the way, while the pair followed a short distance behind.
“Ahh, so cold,” Lan Qi muttered upon stepping into the open wilderness.
“This little bit of cold is too much for you?” Sid glanced at him with faint mockery.
“Why aren’t you cold? You’re just a fourth-rank like me.”
“Ahh, so cold,” Sid repeated in a deadpan monotone.
Apart from their occasional banter, all was peaceful. Even the ceaseless shhh of snowflakes brushing across the ground felt like the snowfield’s steady breathing.
After a few minutes, the three found the spot where Shaya had dropped his suitcase earlier. They began gathering his belongings—mostly clothing, a few books, some small magical devices, and a map nearly identical to the one Lan Qi and Sid carried, charting the northern provinces of the Protos Empire.
North of the Restricted Zone lay three provinces.
Box Mountain Province – a vital hub of transportation.
Snowfield Province – a cluster of large city-states, with Kingston City among them.
Northern Border Province – far to the north, beyond them all.
At present, they had just left Box Mountain and stepped into Snowfield Province.
“Thank you both, I’ve caused you too much trouble.”
Shaya once again bowed deeply, ashamed of his earlier panic.
“It’s nothing. Serving the people wholeheartedly—that’s my duty,” Lan Qi said with a little flourish.
“…”
Shaya suddenly felt like his bow should’ve been even deeper.
Were all students of the Protos Royal Academy of Magic so kind? He had always heard the Academy was filled with ruthless competition and cold indifference. Had times changed?
Sighing a misty breath, he carried his case forward.
“Senior brother, senior sister—if this is for elective coursework, I advise you not to head further north. Once the rail line to Kingston is repaired, you should return straight to the capital.”
He spoke sincerely, then added:
“Perhaps it’s just my shallow view, but not only are the nearby city-states rife with both open and hidden conflict, the public order in these provinces is in shambles. I heard that the investigation team sent from the capital was to probe unrest further north.”
Clearly, unlike these two, he had lingered in the north longer, waiting for transport to resume.
“What’s happening further north?”
Lan Qi had heard a similar hint at the Box Mountain train station, though even the imperial officer there hadn’t known details.
“Perhaps only the lords of Snowfield’s cities truly know. But regardless, the north grows more dangerous by the day.”
Shaya shook his head as they trudged steadily toward Kingston.
“Not only are there more refugees, crime has skyrocketed. Many who can’t survive in the cities end up joining northern crime syndicates—like the Ghost Gang. Those bandits earlier were probably Ghost Gang affiliates.”
Lan Qi’s stride didn’t falter, though his thoughts deepened. He remembered the octopus-marked rings and tattoos on the corpses. They were indeed Ghost Gang insignia.
“Why are they so rampant?”
“The Empire’s army lacks resources to hunt them down, and Snowfield’s lords are divided, unwilling to share the burden. None have made serious moves to restore order.”
Shaya’s helpless tone carried resignation. He had learned firsthand how chaotic the north was compared to the south.
“I see…”
Lan Qi finally understood—the Snowfield Province was a mess no one wanted to clean up. Letting everyone suffer equally was, in its own way, the fairest option.
The Annihilation Branch’s main forces were tied up in the northwest, fighting alongside the Imperial Army. Helping Snowfield’s lords would only earn resentment, a thankless task that risked heavy losses among their high priests. Even Bishop Askson, commander of the north, was currently entrenched in the Border Province, facing foreign nations. With communications disrupted, his whereabouts were unclear.
“You’re a southerner, aren’t you? Why come north?”
Even before, when retrieving his luggage, Lan Qi and Sid had guessed his origins from his layered southern-style winter clothes.
“I’m the eldest son of a southern earl in name, but my family is impoverished. I came north to marry into the Kingston family. I don’t know what my fiancée is like, only that she’s said to be very talented—she even skipped preparatory courses and entered directly.”
Shaya’s voice was timid, embarrassed, as he revealed his situation.
Lan Qi and Sid exchanged a glance—they understood immediately.
A noble title without wealth? Then marrying into a stronger border family made sense.
“You’re not afraid life up here will be harsh? Or that northern nobles will mistreat you?” Sid asked.
“When I was a child in the capital, I once met a northern girl. She was brilliant, graceful, well-educated. She helped me find my father when I got lost.”
His expression softened with the memory.
He held no prejudice against northern nobles. He believed good and bad people existed everywhere—it was unfair to generalize. Perhaps it was that meeting which shaped his resolve not to let his family decline further.
“So, your fiancée is Lady Lilith Kingston?” Lan Qi suddenly interjected.
“How do you know her name?” Shaya froze, startled.
“Of course I know the name of every Royal Academy student—including qualified candidates not yet enrolled,” Lan Qi replied solemnly.
“…”
Who memorizes all that? It felt unsettling, like he’d catch you the instant you slipped up.
“I don’t know. It’s been ten years, I can’t recall that girl’s face. Only that she had striking orange-red hair. She must be a wise lady by now.”
Shaya shook his head.
Lan Qi nodded quietly, saying nothing more.
“To be honest, I rather enjoy witnessing young love stories,” Sid mused aloud.
“Really? You know matchmaking is my specialty!” Lan Qi perked up instantly, his voice brimming with excitement.
This—this was his moment.
“How about this? Hire us as escorts. Our fee is just the standard for fourth-rank bodyguards. When we reach the Kingston estate, surely you’ll have attendants or retainers—it’d be too shabby otherwise.”
Lan Qi made his pitch smoothly.
“I… I don’t have enough to pay you now,” Shaya admitted, his brief joy fading.
It was a generous offer. These two clearly weren’t ordinary. Standing beside them, it was hard to tell who was the true young master and lady.
But he had no money.
“You can pay later. Just send the money to our account in the capital,” Lan Qi assured, glancing at Sid.
Sid only shrugged, indifferent. She was fourth-rank, so payment at that rate was fair.
She couldn’t help but think how seamlessly persuasive he was—so smooth it almost seemed sincere.
His green eyes shone with such conviction that you wanted to believe him.
And just like that, they secured a role to enter the Kingston estate at Shaya’s side.
“…”
From the shadows, Boss Cat shivered.
It remembered all too well how it first met Lan Qi—because he boasted about matchmaking skills.
The result? Loren weeping brokenly in a chair, the holy high priest destroyed, all because it had believed Lan Qi. Now it still avoided the Ikerite Academy out of guilt, terrified of being mistaken as Lan Qi’s accomplice.
And now, Lan Qi was proclaiming himself a “love master” again.
Stop it, you bastard!! Don’t taint young people’s romantic comedies, meow!