Chapter 321
Chapter 321
Chapter 321
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 321 High up on the viewing platform of the Kingston City Arena, Viscount Blake Bone’s face twisted with fury.
He could not accept that the match had been decided in mere seconds — nor that Shaya had ended it with fists and feet faster and sharper than any blade.
Veins throbbed at his temples as he gripped his cane so hard it nearly cracked, struggling to restrain himself from shouting for his men to kill Shaya — and those two troublemaking brats from the Royal Academy — on the spot.
His glare locked on Shaya, then shifted toward the distant stands, landing on Lan Qi and Sid.
“Professor Meiji… if I kill those two students, you have no objection, do you?”
Viscount Blake Bone’s voice vibrated like a growl between clenched teeth, radiating murderous intent.
Everything — all of this — was those two’s fault!!
“No objection.”
Professor Meiji nodded calmly.
“You will be governor soon. As for the capital, I’ll smooth things over there for you.”
Meiji knew perfectly well that in this moment, he had to side with the baron’s anger.
Viscount Blake Bone nodded, stood, and strode toward the viewing stand where the nobles of Snowfield Province were seated, inviting them to follow him to where Viscount Levin Kingston sat.
The silver-lit arena shone against the iron railings of the noble stands. A procession of gorgeously dressed nobles gathered and followed, the air rich with the scent of iris blossoms. The sunlight on the snowy winter plain glinted off their finery, giving the scene a ceremonial weight — as though the duel just ended was only the prelude to something greater.
As the nobles approached, the crowd of common spectators instinctively backed away.
The once-bustling section near Viscount Kingston gradually fell silent and empty.
Parents squeezed their children’s hands tightly, warning them to stay quiet. The sudden stillness pressed down like a suffocating blanket.
“Levin, congratulations on finding yourself a fine son-in-law. But… don’t you think he went a bit too far?”
Viscount Blake Bone leaned on his cane, standing in the aisle just a few steps away from Levin.
“I will pay for the medical expenses.”
Levin Kingston’s gaze never left Shaya, who was now being tended to by medics he had arranged ahead of time. His eyes were filled with calm warmth.
“Medical expenses?! Can you even afford them?!”
Viscount Blake Bone’s anger boiled over.
“Levin — make your position clear regarding the governorship of Snowfield Province. If you still plan to dodge the issue today, don’t blame me when we become mortal enemies!”
His cold smile cut through the air like a knife.
Around them, citizens of Kingston City turned pale.
Behind the baron, the other lords stood firmly at his side, their presence adding to the pressure — some staring Levin down, others glancing away apologetically, but none siding with him.
Even the crowd understood: this was no longer subtle negotiation. This was open intimidation.
The other lords had already agreed to install Viscount Blake Bone as governor.
If Levin still refused, Kingston City would be ostracized from the province, left vulnerable to Ghost Party raids — and perhaps even sabotage secretly backed by the baron himself.
It could well mean the city’s downfall.
Viscount Blake Bone’s eyes slid back toward Lan Qi and Sid, then to Professor Meiji, his lips curling into a wicked smirk — as if telling them that, whatever happened today, they would not leave this province alive.
The temperature in the arena seemed to plummet.
The earlier noise and cheers were gone; only silence and suffocating tension remained.
Every heartbeat seemed painfully loud.
All eyes turned to Levin Kingston — so calm, yet so utterly alone in the center of this storm.
But then, Lan Qi simply placed a hand on Levin’s shoulder.
Meeting his eyes, Lan Qi seemed to silently say: leave the rest to me.
“Gentlemen, allow me a few words.”
Lan Qi raised his hand. His voice was slow, steady — like an anchor in turbulent waters.
Even the nobles paused, curiosity piqued, as he drew several sketches from his pocket.
“These are portraits of each department head at the academy. If you truly are faculty, Professor Meiji, surely you can recognize some of them?”
The nobles hadn’t planned to get involved — but one glance at the sketches made them freeze in awe.
Every line carried such vivid life, such emotional weight, that they almost seemed like masterpieces.
Even Viscount Blake Bone’s eyes flashed with greed and malice.
The stands went quiet.
Everyone knew this youth — the one who had trained Shaya — was a student of the Royal Academy.
And his question was more than a question: it was a public challenge to Meiji’s legitimacy — and by extension, to the baron himself.
Normally the nobles should defend Meiji.
But…
Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to let this youth expose him first.
“Of course I know their names.”
Meiji’s voice was still calm, but his heart had begun to race.
“My question isn’t their names.”
Lan Qi smiled serenely.
“In the Academy, faculty have internal clearance levels — from Level 0, the highest, to Level 9, the lowest. Tell me, what level clearance does each of them hold?”
Meiji’s face darkened.
A trap!
If he denied such a system existed, and Lan Qi produced proof — he’d be exposed.
If he confirmed it, Lan Qi could still twist it against him.
Damn this brat!
“I’m afraid faculty clearance is classified information. You won’t trick me into revealing it so you can blackmail other teachers.”
Meiji forced a thin smile.
Lan Qi only chuckled, pulling out a copy of The Royal Academy Admissions Brochure — Solar Calendar 1798 Edition.
Even Sid chuckled behind him.
“This is fake!”
Meiji snapped immediately, pointing.
“You didn’t even look. How do you know it’s fake?”
Lan Qi asked, tilting his head in mock innocence.
The nobles began exchanging looks.
This youth’s tone was so disarmingly natural — yet every question was a pitfall.
Meiji tried to recover, claiming he had been away from the Academy for some time and that his reaction was a misunderstanding — but by now, the nobles were quietly beginning to doubt him.
Lan Qi’s questions hadn’t proven anything…
But the fact that Meiji had shown cracks under pressure was proof enough.
“May we look at that brochure?”
One of the nobles finally asked.
Lan Qi handed it over politely.
Viscount Blake Bone’s knuckles whitened on his cane.
The brochure contained magically sealed stamps impossible to forge.
Page after page turned — and no mention of Meiji appeared.
Panic rippled through the baron’s expression.
“Levin, you remember this! I will settle this with you someday!”
The baron shouted, preparing to withdraw — but Kingston’s knights blocked his way.
The other nobles said nothing.
Finally, one noble displayed the last page of the brochure.
“Baron, would you like to read whose name is signed here?”
Lan Qi leaned back in his chair, smiling faintly.
The baron’s mouth opened — no sound came out. His face was pale as death.
The knights moved in.
In moments, Viscount Blake Bone, Professor Meiji, and their guards were under arrest — accused of colluding with the Ghost Party and plotting to murder Count Shaya Candis.
The evidence Lan Qi provided was damning.
They would remain in Kingston City’s prison until transport could be arranged to the imperial high court in Helrom.
The remaining nobles, stunned, could only bow to Lan Qi.
“Forgive us, Mr. Rocky McCarthy. We misjudged you.”
“You’re victims too. I won’t hold it against you — nor will I let your reputations suffer in the capital.”
Lan Qi waved it off casually.
Some nobles shivered.
This man was smiling — but they could already picture what would happen if he spread word of their blunder through the Academy’s social circles.
“I came north to clean up the chaos in Snowfield Province. Will you support my reforms?”
“Of course, Lord McCarthy.”
“Good. When you see me in the capital next month, what will you call me?”
Lan Qi stood, gazing south — toward the distant capital.
“Governor Rocky McCarthy.”
Viscount Levin Kingston led the bow. The other nobles quickly followed.
It was decided.
Lan Qi would be the new governor of Snowfield Province.
No one dared object.
No one even wanted to.
Somehow, this man made them believe he could make the empire great again.
…
In the stands, Sid stretched lazily.
“Hmm… let’s raise his favorability score a little.”
He yawned as if waking from a nap.
Boss Cat glanced at Lan Qi’s receding figure, then back at Sid, uneasy.
“What is it?” Sid asked with a knowing smile.
“You… you don’t actually like him, do you?”
Boss Cat whispered, almost afraid of the answer.
Sid’s eyes turned cold for a brief moment — chilling Boss Cat to the bone.
“I’m raising him like a son. Do you think I’d fall for a boy that young? What do you take me for?”
Boss Cat’s fur bristled.
The memory of the first time she had ever seen Sid’s true terrifying presence returned.
She understood.
This woman had always been ice-cold, no matter how playful she appeared.
Boss Cat curled up, shivering — but oddly relieved.
As long as Sid didn’t fall for Lan Qi, this northern trip might end without catastrophe.