Chapter 1 The Antique Clock

The antique clock in the office ticked softly and regularly, its hands having just passed nine o'clock.

Lan Qi paid no attention to the time, completely out of sync with the spring sunshine outside. He was simply passing the morning leisurely, everything around him appearing serene and orderly because of him.

Until a gentle knock sounded on the office door, and Pranai's voice came from outside, "Mr. Locke, Miss Chloris wishes to see you."

"Please, come in."

Lan Qi looked up towards the door, his voice calm and friendly.

The door slowly opened, and Pranai stood respectfully in the doorway, followed by a woman of extraordinary bearing.

She was still wearing a noble hunting suit and fitted trousers, her finely braided hair draped over her shoulder, only more formal than before.

"Headmaster Locke, it's been over a month."

Miss Chloris, the duchess, removed her hat and sat across from Lan Qi's desk, sighing.

Her bright aura seemed to bring a breath of fresh air and floral fragrance. Even though it was a clear spring day outside, her arrival seemed to brighten the entire office even more.

"Being confined in the Duke's mansion during this time must have been difficult."

Lan Qi smiled and stood up, gesturing for Miss Chloris, the duchess, to join him in the conference area to the left of the office.

Before, as headmaster and student, they could sit at the desk and talk slowly, but that was no longer appropriate.

"Yes, every day I didn't know if I could live to see the next, it all depended on whether I bet right. But fortunately, the results show that I've won a great victory."

Chloris said, spreading her hands.

One would never guess that she was a woman who had just experienced dozens of days on the edge of life and death.

After the two were seated on the sofa in the conference area, Pranai turned nimbly and walked towards a cabinet. He opened a drawer, took out a small package of select tea leaves, and began to prepare tea for Chloris.

Lan Qi quietly watched Pranai's tea-making movements, unable to help but sigh at this peaceful and leisurely daily life.

After several months of relatively intense work, he had relaxed and his mind was at ease.

As Pranai brought over the freshly brewed flower tea for the two of them, he excused himself again and gently closed the office door behind him.

"When did our school get such an amazing teacher?"

Chloris felt that she had only been under house arrest for a little over a month, but she hadn't expected such a professor to appear, one she had never seen before and couldn't understand at all.

"Maybe he's always been here, but no one noticed."

Lan Qi replied with a smile.

"I see."

Chloris seemed to understand something, but she saw through it without saying anything.

"I heard that His Majesty Franklin III invited you to dinner yesterday."

She picked up her teacup and looked at the headmaster with interest, asking.

"That is true."

Lan Qi nodded.

In fact, the Emperor of the Proto Empire was also quite frightened on the day of the bishop elections.

Or rather, Franklin III hadn't been at ease for the past few months.

Until Locke McCarthy appeared and helped him resolve everything.

This dinner also had some implicit meaning, such as the Emperor hoping that he would not care about public opinion and continue to lead the Proto Empire.

Lan Qi and His Majesty the Emperor of the Proto Empire talked for a long time.

Although Locke McCarthy was getting too close to the Batians, many imperial dignitaries were now unwilling to see Locke McCarthy wield too much power again. To avoid suspicion, he shouldn't actively seek too much power.

But the Emperor still expressed his trust in Lan Qi, hoping that he would not mind the prejudices of other political parties in the Empire.

Lan Qi knew that this meeting might have been partly at Isis's instigation. The Emperor was quite nervous when he dined with him.

However, after gradually communicating, Emperor Franklin III slowly opened his heart to Lan Qi.

Franklin III admitted that he was also afraid of Locke McCarthy. Many people felt that Locke McCarthy was an existence that ordinary beings could not understand.

But rather than betting everything on the unknown, it was better to bet everything on someone capable.

In the currently undisclosed information, the investigation revealed that Duke Morodian, in conjunction with Bishop Ascsan of the Nihilistic Church, orchestrated a conspiracy to trigger a war causing massive deaths, helping Morodian to massively absorb the spiritual essence of living beings and advance to the ninth rank.

Once Duke Morodian's conspiracy succeeded, not only would the war-torn provinces in the northern part of the Empire be devastated, but the northern countries would also become a massive feast for the two dehumanized masterminds after their revelry.

It's just that the figure of the Northern Demonic Tribe and the changes on the Duke's body still haven't been explained.

It may be related to the Calamity Wasteland in the far north of the Northern Continent. No one knows whether the Church State was involved.

After all, the Proto Empire is just a country on the southern shore of the Northern Continent. There are still many unknown mysteries in the north that are difficult for contemporary humans to understand.

Perhaps one day in the future, even deeper dangers will return, and Franklin III hopes that the Proto Empire will still have him, Locke McCarthy, at that time.

"I see."

Chloris nodded.

She could probably guess what the headmaster and the Emperor talked about.

In the end, it was nothing more than Locke McCarthy gaining the Emperor's trust and agreeing to continue in his position.

"Miss Chloris, what brings you here to see me today?"

Lan Qi looked at Chloris and asked,

"No, I think I should call you Duchess Chloris now."

He thought for a moment and slightly adjusted his wording.

The [Primordial Tablet - Undead], as the national treasure of the Proto Empire and the treasure of the Bernhard family, is currently in the custody of Grand Sage Isis after the death of Duke Morodian.

Isis said that she would return the tablet to the Bernhard family after Chloris reached the seventh rank, also out of protection.

Chloris has now been acquitted and will inherit the leadership of the Bernhard family, becoming the Duchess of the Empire.

Although this news has not been made public yet, it will be announced soon. The upper echelons of the Empire are well aware of this.

"No matter how my identity changes now, the Bernhard family will remain your ally. Thank you for maintaining your trust in me until the very end."

Chloris replied gratefully.

Each of her steps was a risky move. If she lacked even a bit of trust from her allies, everything would completely collapse.

"You're welcome."

Lan Qi shifted his gaze and smiled with lowered eyes.

"Why?"

Chloris stared at him and asked.

She didn't know why Locke McCarthy rejected her.

"I'm preparing to retire."

Lan Qi leaned back in his chair and said with an indifferent look, as if he was preparing to retire tomorrow.

"..."

Chloris couldn't understand this person.

He was only one step away from controlling the Proto Empire, yet he didn't want anything.

What was all this for then?

"I've never been interested in fame or fortune. I just want to go back to my hometown and live a peaceful life."

Lan Qi showed a relaxed smile,

"After I retire, the Proto Royal Magic Academy will return to its previous headmaster-less operating form. The position of governor of the Northern Snowfield Province will be handed over to Viscount Kingston. As for the Batian branch, if possible, I hope Duchess Chloris will take care of it."

He knew that the duchess in front of him was somewhat similar to her father, Duke Morodian, in some ways, but they were fundamentally different, making her a more trustworthy partner.

"Of course, we have always been allies."

Chloris nodded, her voice quite firm.

She paused slightly, looked at the clock on the wall, and seemed to feel that she had been taking up too much time.

"Then I won't disturb Mr. Locke any longer."

Chloris stood up and bid farewell to Lan Qi.

Her demeanor was elegant and composed, and she walked lightly towards the door of the headmaster's office.

As she grasped the doorknob, she turned around, a smile flitting across her face.

"Oh, right, headmaster, earlier downstairs at the Redmont Building, a light-haired girl asked me to tell you that she's waiting for you by the lake and wants you to change into some casual and handsome clothes before going to see her."

Chloris said, then nodded slightly, gently closing the door and leaving a quiet space.

Lan Qi's gaze lingered on the slowly closing door for a moment.

He didn't move any further, a little dazed.

Then he smiled in relief.

"Is it really okay for a bishop and a saint to be dating?"

Lan Qi stood up and muttered to himself helplessly.

Originally, he was just giving Sigrid an example that night, telling Sigrid what words not to say before the battle, but he didn't expect that the two of them would accidentally turn it into a real date.

That being said, he didn't stay here any longer and walked out of the headmaster's office full of energy.

The theme of the new fourth volume is mainly daily stories and campus life!

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