Chapter 3 Three Days Later

Three days later.

The sky over Kinston City had been scrubbed spotless by a heavy rain.

Today was a rare, fine day. Sunlight pierced the thin layer of clouds over the snowy ground, scattering across the land, even chasing away the smog.

Despite the continued biting cold, there was a hint of spring in the air.

The Snowfield Arena, located on the north side of the city-state, had become the focus of attention. Marble floors and magnificent stone pillars, mimicking the structure of a temple, surrounded the center of the arena, while concentric tiers of seating formed the overall appearance of this grand building.

Many dignitaries from the Snowfield Province had come to the City-State Knightly Order Arena in Kinston City today.

It was often used for internal training within the City-State Knightly Order, competition events held within the city-state, or some large-scale activities.

In perfect harmony with the day's weather, the bright morning sunlight streamed through the opening at the top, scattering across the white floor tiles in the center of the arena, as if bestowing a sacred blessing upon the place.

Early on, many nobles dressed in splendid attire arrived one after another, sitting in the VIP seats high in the arena, either discussing matters or chatting and laughing.

At the same time, many residents of Kinston City had also come to watch this public duel.

As time passed, the seats in the arena became increasingly full.

The citizens' discussions, and even their expectations and curiosity about the upcoming match, coalesced into waves of lighthearted atmosphere, swirling above the entire arena, awaiting the excitement and spectacle to come.

"Perhaps today's contest will become a legend."

"I heard from Viscount Kinston that the two of them knew each other from a very young age. After many years, they meet again, only to have to overcome such a difficult hurdle."

"Although young master Xia Ya is unlikely to win, isn't it precisely the underdog's comeback that makes the romance between the young man and woman even more touching?"

"..."

In the VIP seats above, Viscount Blake Bonn snorted coldly as he listened to the chattering of these commoners.

"What beautiful things? Crushing them is all that matters."

Originally, after hearing that Xia Ya had hardly been seen in Kinston City for a full three days, he thought that Xia Ya might have already given up and run away.

He didn't expect that Xia Ya had already arrived in the选手休息室 (xuǎn shǒu xiū xī shì - contestant's lounge) today to prepare.

It seemed that those two students had taken him outside the city for special training for a full three days.

Viscount Blake Bonn found it amusing to think about, so he turned his head to look at Professor Meiqi beside him and asked:

"Professor Meiqi, what do you think are the odds of winning this match?"

"Ten to zero."

Meiqi still said it with such certainty and absoluteness.

"Hmph, today's auspicious day is perfect for a good omen for my inauguration as governor."

Viscount Blake Bonn sneered darkly.

He actually loathed those two young men and women who seemed to be deliberately calm.

The feeling of always watching a show in the reception room of Viscount Kinston's mansion at that time was as if they looked down on him, a kind of supreme contempt.

Moreover...

The most important thing was...

Clearly, the Ghost Party he commissioned could have taken care of that kid Xia Ya on the road.

In all likelihood, it was those two guys who intervened, allowing Xia Ya to come to Kinston City!

But now, the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. Soon, he will make these two pay some price in the Snowfield Province.

At the same time.

On the other side of the stands.

Viscount Levin Kinston, who was entertaining other dignitaries from the Snowfield Province who had come to Kinston City as guests, followed the gazes and movements and found the conspicuous figures of Lan Qi and Xi De in the seats.

Before long, Viscount Levin Kinston finished his greetings with the dignitaries around him, and he walked towards the two he had been thinking about.

Viscount Levin Kinston sat down wearily beside the two's seats.

"I'm sorry for not being able to entertain the two distinguished guests who have come all the way from Heluo Mu."

He said to Lan Qi and Xi De,

"I am personally very sorry that you had a bad experience as soon as you arrived in Kinston City. Please don't blame Xia Ya and Lilith."

Viscount Levin Kinston bowed sincerely to apologize. He didn't seem to mind sitting here and watching with the two of them, and chatting more like an uncle and the teenage boy and girl next door.

This belated apology was due to his busy official duties, and also because he heard from the butler that Xia Ya and the two of them had not been seen in the lord's mansion for the past two days.

He himself did not see where Xia Ya went.

"It's okay, we have a good impression of Kinston City, it's just that some criminals may be disrupting the Snowfield Province."

Lan Qi said with a smile.

The viscount of this Kinston City was a more easy-going, kind, and sensible person than he had imagined. It could be seen from his constant protection of Xia Ya earlier.

Xi De sat silently on the side, resting her face on one hand, looking down at the field.

In fact, as long as she wanted, it wouldn't be difficult to kill everyone in a province. What was in front of her was just a small fight.

"..."

Viscount Levin Kinston was silent for a moment, just taking advantage of the gap in his words to observe the two of them for a while.

Regardless of the superficial rank of this young man and woman or the situation in the academy that had just been asked about, their always calm aura that day left a very deep impression on Viscount Levin Kinston. He believed that these two students were not simple.

It was difficult to describe exactly what it felt like, or what evidence proved the uniqueness of these two people.

But Levin could judge one thing -

They were superiors.

As for the 40 and 60 credits, it must have been the two of them joking with Viscount Bonn.

"Could you tell us about the current situation in Snowfield Province?"

Lan Qi took out a notebook from the inside pocket of his suit, pulled out the steel pen hanging on the side, and began to ask Levin Kinston.

In addition to training Xia Ya these days, he had also been investigating. It was rare to have such an opportunity to sit down and ask Levin Kinston and verify some information.

"Ahem."

Viscount Levin Kinston subconsciously sat up straighter and cleared his throat.

He didn't know if it was a conditioned reflex, or because he had just received an investigation team from the imperial capital Heluo Mu some time ago, or because this young man had a unique temperament.

Xi De on the side just listened quietly. She naturally knew why Lan Qi didn't expose the impostor Meiqi at the lord's mansion in Kinston City at the beginning.

Although he could expose the impostor immediately, it would undoubtedly be a very stupid thing to directly close the net when he had just arrived in a town with isolated information and had not yet understood the information clearly.

Her saint son liked to cast a long line to catch big fish.

"Alas, this has to start with the historical problems left over from our Snowfield Province, that is, the vacancy of the governor's position."

Viscount Levin Kinston sighed and told the two of them in detail...

As a remote province with long-term autonomy, the Snowfield Province had a recognized or default agreement -

The appointment of the governor needed to be approved by the lords of several city-states.

Since the beginning of this winter, the Ghost Party had become increasingly rampant.

The lords also roughly believed that they could no longer allow the criminals to act recklessly.

"But an agreement could never be reached regarding the candidates. The local dignitaries all hoped to recommend someone from their own family to take the position of governor, while those with the ability and skills in the imperial capital would not run from Heluo Mu to their Snowfield Province in this situation. The several lords would not let those without the ability take office, so they were deadlocked again."

"Until this Professor Meiqi passed through our Snowfield Province, arrived in Bonn City, became friendly with Viscount Blake Bonn, and was soon introduced to the other lords by Viscount Bonn."

Viscount Levin Kinston said here, looking helplessly at Lan Qi, believing that he didn't need to continue, and the two guests from the imperial capital should understand.

Professor Meiqi did have the credentials of the Protos Royal Magic Academy, there was no doubt about that.

Viscount Blake Bonn used Professor Meiqi's authority, momentum, and connections to win over many dignitaries in a short period of time, forming a group of interests. Once a group of interests was formed, they could begin to squeeze out those who were unwilling to join them. Obviously, Viscount Blake Bonn wanted to take this opportunity to take the governor's position himself.

The other lords may have already made a decision. Viscount Levin Kinston had not yet stated his position.

From the looks of it, Viscount Blake Bonn may take the opportunity of today's competition to have everyone express their opinion on the governor.

"Have none of you lords questioned the authenticity of Meiqi's identity?"

Lan Qi asked as he recorded the statement, looking up.

"A few days ago, some guests from the imperial capital passed through our several cities and learned about the recent changes in the Protos Royal Magic Academy. It was abnormally consistent with the deeds that Professor Meiqi revealed intentionally or unintentionally, but even the guests from the imperial capital were not very clear about the internal details of the academy's changes, only knowing that it happened when they had just left the imperial capital."

Viscount Levin Kinston looked bitter and shook his head, answering in a low voice.

From then on, they completely dared not offend Professor Meiqi.

"Understood."

Lan Qi nodded. The "guests from the imperial capital" that Viscount Levin was referring to should be the investigation team, but Viscount Levin Kinston described the investigation team very vaguely, and it seemed that there was a gag order that prevented him from mentioning it too much.

He closed the notebook in his hand.

"I think the Snowfield Province really needs a capable governor."

Lan Qi once again held up the Cat Boss who had turned into a weeping cat head, looking at the field in thought, muttering to himself.

"..."

Viscount Levin Kinston didn't understand what Lan Qi meant by this sentence.

Perhaps Lan Qi, who came from the imperial capital Heluo Mu, was indeed dissatisfied with the current situation in their Snowfield Province.

But in the present situation, Viscount Levin Kinston was unable to look far ahead and worry about the overall situation.

He didn't even know how Xia Ya was going to fight Dean today.

He really hoped that Xia Ya could win.

If Xia Ya won, that would be good. Viscount Blake Bonn would not be so happy today, and it would also indirectly show that Professor Meiqi's teaching was nothing more than that.

But he couldn't see much hope that Xia Ya could win... he could only pray for the secret inheritance of the Candice family.

And Xia Ya's two friends had been training with him for three full days, this was the power of friendship!

That young man who was like a sleeping lion, maybe he had a magic called courage. Once awakened with love, he could create miracles!

Clang, clang.

With the ringing of the bell, the contestants who had agreed to have a duel should also enter the arena.

Finally.

A figure slowly walked out of the entrance near where Lan Qi and the others were sitting.

In the shadows, the ancient iron on the wooden door made a dull creaking sound. The sunlight only illuminated some unstable dust in the passage.

The figure gradually emerging from the shadows, dark red and jet-black chain mail leather armor was covered in dried blood, as if it was a mixture of countless enemies' flesh and blood.

Its thick bloody smell even floated to the audience席 (xí - seat), causing many people to cover their noses in horror and discomfort.

That pale face had a morbid beauty. His eyeliner was deep, the sparks in his eyes had long been extinguished, leaving only a pair of deep black eyes full of despair and ruthlessness. His swift steps were like drumbeats. With each sound, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop a few degrees, as if countless wronged souls were hiding in his shadow, reaching out to him.

When Viscount Levin Kinston saw Xia Ya appear again, he was instantly stunned.

Is this... my dear nephew...?!

(End of this chapter)