Chapter 363
Chapter 363
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 363 – Lan Qi’s Emotional Value to Sigrid
With the arrival and renewed command of the Son of Annihilation, the transfer checkpoint at Rock Junction Station felt as though it had been injected with new vitality. The previous oppressive sluggishness had been replaced by an indescribable sense of smoothness. Under the glow of the lights, the white tiles reflected the hurried but now orderly flow of people, who had become calm and composed.
The clerics at the security checkpoint had begun to take over the work of the Great Deacons. In front of the Son of Annihilation, who acted as a harsh overseer, their actions became swift, decisive, and powerful, greatly improving the efficiency of passage.
Lan Qi swept his gaze around. Though he stood among the crowd, he seemed detached, yet his mere presence worked like a silent conductor’s baton, subtly reorganizing the surrounding order.
After letting go of the two students from his school, Lan Qi—now fully transformed into his Son of Annihilation form—shifted his attention to the Great Deacon standing beside him.
“Lord Anello, do you need us to accompany you on your way to the Imperial Capital?”
Sensing Lan Qi’s gaze, the Great Deacon quickly asked.
Though his mood was sour due to earlier failures, the Son of Annihilation’s seemingly harsh reprimand had left him some room to breathe, as if new tasks were awaiting him.
Lan Qi didn’t nod but motioned with his eyes for the Great Deacon to walk and talk. He stepped forward, gently pulling Sid along with the handcuffs so that she followed like a puppet.
The Great Deacon soon caught up, and they walked toward the broad station-level road behind the checkpoint.
Even the Great Deacon could clearly feel the terrifying magical power of the sealing mark on the woman beside the Son of Annihilation. It was obvious she had been “re-educated” to the point of near-total submission, her willpower nearly sealed away.
“I have a more important mission for you. I have already summoned the other Great Deacons. Go back to the temple first—today you must be ready to depart.”
Lan Qi issued the instructions simply and directly.
He had come from the Annihilation Knights’ Temple of the city-state. Having already given orders to many other Great Deacons, this was the last one.
Soon, Lan Qi would head to the platform level to catch the arriving magitek rail train that would take him to the Imperial Capital Helrom.
The interview was imminent, and there was no time to lose.
His broadcast would be shown on screens all across Helrom, including the largest mega-screen in the commercial plaza. If Huperion had already arrived in Helrom during his northern trip, there was a high chance she would see him.
It was just like the common-sense advice — if you get separated from your companions, you should wait at the most obvious place.
As Lan Qi and the Great Deacon passed through a large hall, the giant clock atop Rock Junction Station ticked softly, its sound echoing under the high dome, spreading out and sounding extraordinarily clear.
The further they walked into the now well-regulated concourse, the sparser the crowd became.
Eventually, they entered a passageway, leaving the noise behind. The sound faded like the receding tide, leaving only faint traces. The walls on either side cast their elongated shadows, swinging back and forth with every step.
“Aside from me, Askson has summoned all the direct troops and Great Deacons stationed in the North. You must go to the Northern Border Province as quickly as possible.”
Lan Qi finally revealed the mission.
“Lord Askson may be severely wounded, and I have a more urgent task in the capital. I cannot personally go to support him.”
At this point, Lan Qi lowered his voice slightly, his usually calm expression showing a rare trace of unease.
“Lord Askson is injured?”
The Great Deacon’s eyes widened with surprise. He had never expected that the Bishop of Annihilation would need reinforcements — it sounded like serious trouble.
“Tell no one.”
Lan Qi warned sharply.
“Understood.”
The Great Deacon nodded repeatedly. Yet, despite his words, he couldn’t help but feel a ripple of unease at the seriousness of the matter.
Askson had entrusted the Son of Annihilation with other tasks, sending him far away to Helrom, while calling the Great Deacons northward to provide support.
If the Bishop of Annihilation had become so weakened that he had to guard against the Son of Annihilation…
Would there be a chance to take him down if the Great Deacons worked together?
But when the Great Deacon looked up again, he found the Son of Annihilation staring straight at him. That gaze, as though seeing through his thoughts, shocked him to the core.
“I advise you not to entertain dangerous ideas. Since Lord Askson called you to go, he surely will not leave you any opening. If he discovers any sign of betrayal, he will annihilate you immediately.”
Lan Qi’s words were both a heartfelt reminder and the harshest of warnings.
“Of course… of course.”
The Great Deacon replied, cold sweat running down his back.
Their footsteps echoed crisply in the corridor. Occasionally, magical display screens flickered in the darkness, showing timetables.
This passage was rarely used, and the deeper they went, the quieter it became, until they were enveloped in a near-total darkness that felt almost deserted.
“Go back now.”
Lan Qi’s clear voice echoed in the hallway.
The Great Deacon saluted him, then turned and walked away, his figure gradually vanishing into the distant shadows.
Lan Qi watched him leave for a moment, then led Sid forward.
“I gave him a friendly warning. Whether he listens is up to him.”
Lan Qi shook his head.
Though Bishop Askson was severely injured, he had no sealing restrictions on him. After so many days, he had surely recovered enough strength to handle seventh-order enemies. Any Great Deacons trying to gang up on him would only be throwing their lives away.
Sid, still shuffling along obediently, remained silent.
But she was on the verge of breaking into a grin.
She had heard Lan Qi say this exact thing to every Great Deacon along the way.
She could swear that with all the hints Lan Qi had dropped, combined with earlier events, the Great Deacons would definitely begin to suspect Askson’s current condition — and start thinking about the Primordial Tablet – Seal, as well as the pink Sacred, purple Rare relics, and the chance to upgrade their Resurrection Proof to a Bishop’s Proof and even reach the seventh tier.
Especially since Lan Qi had scolded each Great Deacon about their failures before giving them their orders.
For example, this Great Deacon had botched the Milford Territory’s situation and was already in trouble.
Wouldn’t it be better for him to gather allies and look for an opportunity to stab Askson in the back?
If this group of scheming Great Deacons banded together and headed to the Northern Border Province to “find” Askson…
But Askson had never ordered them to come.
The moment he saw them, he would go on high alert.
And in the Great Deacons’ eyes, this would look like Askson had seen through their treachery.
Knowing Askson’s merciless nature, they would have no choice but to rebel preemptively.
Everything was falling into place — Askson would end up personally killing his entire cadre of Great Deacons.
In the end, he might never even know why they betrayed him, since he had never even told the Son of Annihilation about his northern injuries.
Lan Qi would have succeeded in weakening Askson just a little more.
Just thinking about this made Sid smile.
As the two strolled through the corridor, Sid tugged on the chain.
“Honestly, I’ve discovered another bright side of you that has irreplaceable value for me.”
Sid whispered.
“Oh? Do tell.”
Lan Qi leaned slightly closer, eager to hear. He always liked sincere compliments.
“If I ever want to do something bad and start feeling guilty about it, all I have to do is talk to you — then I realize I’m still a decent person and can do it without hesitation.”
She spoke in a voice so soft it was barely audible, like a mischievous student whispering in class.
Lan Qi just kept a polite smile, as though he hadn’t heard her, and led her toward the platform level.