Chapter 1 The Moonlit Night

The Saint Creith Abbey was quiet late at night, the fervor of the Moon God Festival having subsided. The moonlight gradually dimmed and disappeared, blending into the vast night of Bril الدا.

"You really do weigh more than Boss Cat."

Lan Qi carried the big gray cat, walking along the corridor toward the Grand Priest's Hall at the deepest part of the main palace.

"Meow meow meow!"

Talia Cat struggled in Lan Qi's arms again.

She was angry, but she had promised Lan Qi that she wouldn't speak once they arrived, so she could only warn him in this way.

Important figures from the Saint Abbey could appear here at any time.

According to her and Lan Qi's understanding, if Principal Violet was telling the truth, she would remain silent. But if she detected a lie, she would immediately alert Lan Qi.

"Like a spoiled child, my cute little gray cat."

Lan Qi smiled, hugging the liquid blanket-like gray cat a little tighter, and lowered his head to speak.

"Meow!"

Talia was even angrier, but when she heard Lan Qi call her little gray cat, she didn't know why her resistance seemed to weaken a bit.

If he had called her that so closely and directly, she would have thought Lan Qi was crazy, saying such strange things.

But now, as one human and one cat, they could unexpectedly say things that would normally be impossible to say naturally.

Only at times like this could she hear Lan Qi call her that.

Lan Qi really seemed to regard her as a cat.

He could always perfectly integrate into the environment and accept facts with extraordinary speed, an adaptability that Talia even now considered exaggerated.

She could only accompany him in adapting.

"Our timing should be just right."

Lan Qi estimated the approximate time and spoke to the cat.

The Sixth Army God, Violet of Aquamarine, had returned to the main palace before the end of the festival. Lan Qi had taken Talia to watch the main palace from the outside for a while, and then wandered around for a bit. Now should be close to the time Secretary Naira had arranged for him.

Just as he finished thinking, Lan Qi saw that familiar slender figure standing at the end of the corridor.

"Professor Landry, you've arrived."

Secretary Naira had been active near the main palace all day. She was working overtime today, needing to be by Principal Violet's side.

She was waiting for Lan Qi not far from Principal Violet's office.

"Miss Naira, thank you for your hard work. If I hadn't troubled you, you would have been off work long ago."

Lan Qi quickened his pace, walked to her side, and said.

"It's nothing. I almost always have to work during the Moon God Festival every year. Chatting with you and then guiding you is the easiest part of the job, not even work."

Naira replied.

As Principal Violet's entrusted one, with many rights delegated to her, she also needed to be responsible for many coordination tasks within the abbey.

She had slacked off for a while this afternoon, and she actually felt not bad.

Especially seeing Landry working overtime today as well, her mood instantly improved a lot.

"..."

Lan Qi looked at the sly smile that Nair's mouth curved up casually, wanting to say something but not knowing how.

Why make things difficult for fellow working stiffs?

He understood how happy Toliado was when he ran out with the cat today.

From the beginning, Naira's attention had been drawn to the big gray cat in Lan Qi's arms.

"Professor Landry, you actually have a cat. I thought you only had Little Black Bread."

Naira tentatively reached out her hand, saying the cat was too cute.

But she saw that the cat seemed fierce, becoming alert as soon as she moved her hand closer, so she withdrew her hand.

Compared to Little Black Bread, this big gray cat seemed to only want to be close to the professor.

"Meow meow!"

The big gray cat raised its paws and protested.

Letting Lan Qi touch her was already the biggest concession. She didn't want anyone else to touch her in cat form.

The most terrifying one was Sigrid. Even in human form, she was hugged and sniffed by Sigrid every day. If she transformed into a cat, Talia didn't dare to imagine what would happen next.

"I'm sorry, Miss Naira. It's rather shy and probably won't let anyone other than me touch it."

Lan Qi apologized.

If it were another cat, he might have tried to let Naira touch it.

But this cat was his master, an eight-hundred-year-old senior, so he really couldn't let anyone touch it casually.

"Meow!"

Talia Cat vigilantly raised her head, looking up at Lan Qi.

Although she felt good being protected like an ancestor by Lan Qi, she was sure that Lan Qi's intentions weren't so pure.

"It's okay. I was very grateful last time you let me touch Little Black Bread."

Naira replied amiably.

Professor Landry almost always brought that fifth-tier little black cat with him on campus, whether for classes or administrative work. He only brought the big gray cat out today, probably because he lent Little Black Bread to Elsa and Ursula again today.

The secretary and professor, not knowing who took the first step, then walked toward the principal's office.

As Lan Qi followed Naira along the corridor of the Saint Creith Abbey, employees and priests in academy uniforms occasionally passed them.

In the corridor they walked through, there were always some figures doing the finishing touches on the Moon God Festival.

The gray cat was much quieter in Lan Qi's arms.

Even though she was being held by Lan Qi, she was still a bit uncomfortable. But as long as she spent this less than an hour quietly, her brief mission as a cat would be over.

As Talia thought to herself, Lan Qi and Naira were also quickly approaching the vast, hollowed-out area in the center of the main palace.

The emerald lawn was like a soft velvet carpet, and the fallen golden and red leaves had turned into patches of colorful gems, decorating the open-air garden-like palace.

Naira led Lan Qi through the garden to a secluded corridor paved with brown stone bricks.

Through the continuous colonnade, plants could still be seen, until the shadows of the flowers disappeared, and they gradually walked into the area governed by the Grand Priest.

"We're here."

Naira gestured to Lan Qi to go directly to the door at the end. She had already told Principal Violet in advance.

She believed that Professor Landry was no stranger to this place. They had come here together a month ago.

"Okay, thank you."

Just as Lan Qi was about to speed up and walk alone to that room, a sudden voice startled them both, stopping their steps.

In the distance.

"Violet! It's all your fault!"

A male voice, passionate and angry, came from the doors of Violet's priest's hall.

Lan Qi and Naira also heard the sound of heavy table slamming.

They exchanged a glance.

Obviously, Naira didn't know that before Professor Landry's appointment, there would be others visiting Violet's territory.

It seemed that the other party had forced their way into Violet's office and found Violet, not even having time to open the barrier to shield the conversation.

"As the Grand Priest, I can't always make reckless choices like you do. Don't blame everything on others."

Violet's voice from inside the door also rarely carried a bit of fire, but more of helplessness.

She was also stunned by the barrage of scolding.

"Fine, whatever you say is right. Talking to you is a waste of my time."

After saying this, footsteps followed, and then he slammed the door open and walked out.

"The Empire is what it is today because of you indecisive guys, always worrying about this and that!"

He turned back and cursed in exasperation.

The young man walking along the corridor of the main palace had slightly messy dark red short hair, revealing fair skin and angular features beneath the strands.

His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his black eyes looked fierce, as if he was always angry. Although he was dressed casually, he couldn't hide his noble temperament. That angry and impatient expression, yet maintaining an upright posture and calm demeanor, revealed his good upbringing since childhood.

Lan Qi looked at the dark red-haired young man in surprise.

Because he discovered that after the young man walked out of Violet's office, he glared at him and Naira.

The young man's furrowed brows and pursed lips carried a hint of restraint, as if constantly reminding himself to control his emotions.

He endured his temper, glanced at this harmless professor he didn't recognize, and walked away.

Today, it seemed that he wanted to kick any dog he saw on the roadside.

After a long time, Secretary Naira watched the figure leave, completely disappearing at the end of the corridor, and then she breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, Professor Landry. I didn't expect the Tenth Army God, Julius, to come here today. This reckless guy must have forced his way into the main palace. I'm very sorry if it affected your mood."

Naira bowed slightly to Lan Qi.

Her tone was quite impolite when she mentioned the Tenth Army God, Julius. Naira clearly resented Julius's rude attitude toward Violet earlier.

Even though Julius was also an Army God, Naira was only biased towards Violet, unconditionally supporting Principal Violet, whom she regarded as a close friend and elder.

"It's okay. You can't control this kind of thing. It's normal for disagreements and arguments to arise between big figures like the Army Gods. Don't take it too seriously."

Lan Qi held the big gray cat and comforted Naira.

He had only just recognized the dark red-haired young man in casual clothes as the Tenth Army God of Ruby, known for his constant battlefield oddities and eagerness to win.

It seemed that he had just been summoned back to the Empire for a hearing and went to military court some time ago.

The Tenth Army God, Julius of Ruby, the Empire's top heavy-weapon master, was prone to forming fire suppression on the battlefield. He was basically pure output, with no fancy abilities other than output, and even the control abilities attached to heavy firearms were rare.

It suited this person's personality very well.

"Okay, let's go find Principal Violet."

Naira said to Lan Qi, bringing Lan Qi to a door carved from sandalwood.

Professor Landry was always easy to talk to, and at times like this, he would turn around and consider the feelings of those around him. Naira felt more and more that Professor Landry was a very good person to work with.

Naira knocked lightly on the door, the crisp sound echoing in the silent corridor.

"Principal Violet, I've brought Professor Landry over."

Just as she finished knocking –

"Please come in."

That dignified but warm voice came slowly.

Naira helped Lan Qi push open the heavy sandalwood door.

"Thank you."

Lan Qi thanked Naira, held the cat, and walked into the magnificent hall.

As soon as he stepped through the threshold, a rich, fragrant floral scent wafted over him, the air filled with the fragrance of roses, jasmine, and violets, like a garden temple. Moonlight shone through the rose window, casting translucent silvery-white waves on the marble floor, like a beautiful oil painting.

Sitting under the rose window, the woman behind the desk looked at Lan Qi.

The moonlight cast a hazy glow on her fair face.

"Professor Landry, I should have talked to you again long ago, but as you know, I've been too busy recently and haven't even been able to return to Bril الدا."

Violet slowly stood up, smiling and looking at Lan Qi as he entered, gesturing for him to sit on the sofa.

She seemed to have adjusted her mood in the blink of an eye, treating the previous quarrel as something that had passed.

Having returned to the principal's office after the festival, Violet had changed out of the light clothing for the prayer dance and put on a slender, dark礼袍 again. Her head of deep绀色 long hair, cascading like a waterfall, was particularly similar to Landry's sister, Elsa.

"I'm the one who's taking up Your Excellency's time."

Lan Qi nodded to Violet.

Secretary Naira did not come in, but waited outside, helping them close the principal's office door.

Compared to Lan Qi, Talia Cat in Lan Qi's arms was even more nervous at the moment.

It was also her first time being a cat, and she didn't know if she was acting like one, so she could only try not to speak and try not to move around in Lan Qi's arms.

Even so, Talia could clearly feel that the Sixth Army God, Violet of Aquamarine, in addition to her noble status, was also at the peak of the Empire's strength, counted as a general-level figure in their demon realm, and even Yapo admitted that he couldn't beat Violet.

"Julius scared you and Naira just now, didn't he?"

Seeing the professor so calm, Violet told him the truth.

There was no need to pretend in front of smart people like Professor Landry.

She was a little worried that Julius was fierce to Naira, because Naira also had a stubborn temper. Hearing Julius arguing with her, Naira would definitely not give Julius a good look.

"It's okay. Mr. Julius walked past quickly."

Lan Qi replied, holding the cat and sitting down on the sofa.

"That's good. Sigh, Julius is just like that. Actually, we usually have a pretty good relationship, so he would talk to me like that."

Violet breathed lightly and opened the soundproof barrier accessory on her desk.

She seemed to have recovered her mood.

Despite this, Violet's eyes were still a little sad when she heard her colleague Julius's harsh words.

"Don't take it to heart. It's common for friends to quarrel."

Lan Qi sat on the sofa, looking at Violet and optimistically persuading her.

Violet was conveniently picking up a box of Moon God Festival Saint Creith Abbey's special pastries, walked to the opposite of the sofa, gently stroked the back of the velvet sofa with her slender fingertips, and sat down opposite Professor Landry.

The touch of the sofa was soft and delicate, as if sitting on a fluffy cloud, and the fabric underneath was of the finest silk, emitting a faint scent of gardenias, which made her depressed mood a little better.

"No matter what, I'll talk to Julius again after he calms down."

Violet opened the pastry box, placed it on the coffee table, and looked at the big gray cat in the professor's arms.

"What a cute cat. I heard that Professor Landry also has a little black cat that is fully fifth-tier, and protected Elsa. I didn't expect you to have a big gray cat as well. It seems you like it even more, bringing it out even for the Moon God Festival."

She observed the big gray cat and said.

The big gray cat in the professor's arms was plump and had a fluffy, soft coat. The professor's fingers were sunk into it, as if touching soft, long cotton candy.

At this moment, it seemed a little restrained and nervous, slightly curling up in Lan Qi's arms, with a hint of resistance to strangers in its golden eyes.

"I'm sorry, Principal. It's different from Little Black Bread. It doesn't let anyone touch it. If it were Little Black Bread, I would have handed it directly to you."

Lan Qi obviously saw Violet's love for the gray cat and even specially brought over pastries that both humans and cats could eat.

"It's okay. I can see that it's very attached to you, like it regards you as a lover."

Violet leaned on the sofa and joked with relief.

The gray cat in Lan Qi's arms struggled, as if Violet's words made her subconsciously unable to stick closely to Lan Qi anymore, wanting to get away from Lan Qi a little. But if she acted like a woman in this situation, it would further confirm Violet's words. She could only try to adapt to Lan Qi's embrace.

"Can I feed it?"

Lan Qi shifted his gaze to the pastry box that Violet had opened on the coffee table. The lid had been lifted off by Violet, and inside were several fresh pastries. The cheese yolk酥 presented a perfect round moon shape, and the surface was covered with fine white sesame seeds, exuding a gentle luster in the candlelight.

"Of course. Bring two more boxes back later. I have plenty here and no time to eat them."

Violet agreed, pointing in the direction of the desk.

There were still some iron gift boxes piled on the desk.

"It seems you've also been very busy today, Principal, and you even got scolded by a colleague. In short, don't mind it too much. The Empire is now at a critical period of change. The more people who care about the Empire, the more impatient they will be."

Lan Qi said with empathy to Violet.

"I'm used to it. Not everyone is as good-tempered as Jacinto, or rather, most of the Army Gods have strange personalities."

Violet shook her head while leaning on the sofa, and looked at the professor with interest.

Professor Landry was also an easy-going person, generous, gentle, and understanding of others.

If Professor Landry, according to current rumors, successfully became the head of the Empire's New Energy Organization Committee in the next few days, then it would be a good thing for Saint Creith Abbey, because Professor Landry would be a member of their Saint Creith Abbey no matter what.

"So Mr. Julius, whom you regard as a friend, despite his bad temper, also has very bright spots?"

Lan Qi asked Violet.

He took a pastry from the box, broke off a little, and held it between his thumb and forefinger, sending it to the gray cat's mouth in his arms.

A faint aroma of cheese and the sweet aroma of grilled beef grains filled the air, mixed with the rich floral fragrance in the room, weaving an invisible net of seduction.

The gray cat's nose twitched. She knew that Lan Qi's chat about the Empire's Army God was a rare opportunity to gather information about the Army God, and that Violet's mood after the argument was not so suitable for talking about urgent matters. It was better to chat about trivial matters first.

However, Lan Qi seemed to have no intention of finding out anything at all. He was just simply chatting, naturally, focusing on sincerity.

"You seem to be able to see a more unusual side of things... But what you said is indeed correct. Julius is full of shortcomings, but he is very loyal and quite talented, just looks like an idiot. Back in the Empire's Mechanical Academy, he even got better grades than his senior classmate, the Fourth Army God, Jasper of Jade, in many subjects. He's actually quite smart, you know."

Violet smiled twice after hearing Lan Qi's words.

Jasper of Jade, the Fourth Army God, who graduated a few years earlier than Julius, was originally a rare mechanical genius in the Empire for many years. It was thought that many of the records she left behind would not be broken in a short period of time. As a result, a few years later, Julius became a new star in another field and later became the Army God of this generation as well.

The big gray cat in Lan Qi's hand was somewhat resistant, feeling at a loss for this sudden feeding.

It slightly tilted its head, emitting a low whimper from its throat, hesitating whether to accept this kindness.

"To be able to understand Imperial mechanics is really amazing."

Lan Qi said in surprise.

He learned from Professor Bolaao that the [Mechanical] attribute was very difficult to learn. He couldn't master it anyway.

"You're not very good at it? You're an expert in magical engineering."

"There's a sequence to learning, and each profession has its own focus. Mechanical engineering is my weakness. I mainly study energy. I can't do anything alone. I need everyone's help."

While chatting with Violet, Lan Qi didn't get discouraged, but patiently waited for the gray cat to accept the pastry in his hand.

The empty hand stroked the cat's back, the palm conveying a comforting warmth.

"No wonder Duke Dex values you. Is this how you view your achievements?"

"Achievements themselves are meaningless. The key is what they can bring to future generations."

Under Lan Qi's stroking, the gray cat's tense body slowly relaxed, its breathing gradually stabilized, it narrowed its golden eyes, and the lingering aroma of the pastry wafted over its nose.

It felt that Violet also seemed to be looking at it from time to time, curious about why this cat wasn't eating anything.

It wouldn't be good to attract Violet's attention any further.

Finally, it cautiously stretched out its pink tongue and tentatively licked the pastry on Lan Qi's fingertip. The taste of soy-grilled dried meat and cheese bloomed in its mouth, and the gray cat found long-lost comfort, greedily biting the whole pastry into its mouth, making chewing sounds.

Anyway, I'm pretending to be a cat. Just tell myself that I'm a cat and don't think about anything!

Talia told herself.

"Although you put it that way, I seem to see more of Julius's good side again, and I don't want to be angry with him. But on closer inspection, I feel that the recent rumors on campus may have increased in credibility. Professor Landry, you are indeed very good at handling interpersonal and public relations."

Violet commented.

She was just thinking whether the cat didn't like this kind of pastry, but it seemed to like it very much.

"Don't kill me with compliments, Principal Violet."

Lan Qi shook his head directly.

The rumors he heard today were outrageous. The speed of version iteration had exceeded his imagination, but it should have come to an end.

He habitually fed the cat in his hand, while gently stroking its fluffy coat, his fingertips slowly combing through its neck, back, and abdomen, causing the cat to make a soft whimper.

"In the end, it's because Your Excellency has a good temper. It seems this kind of quarrel isn't the first time."

Lan Qi said to Violet.

Listening to Violet talk about the Tenth Army God, Julius, felt like a mother coaxing her son.

"Professor Landry, are you thinking something impolite?"

Violet stared at Landry, seeming to see through his thoughts a bit, and asked.

But she didn't mind too much, just felt that this person wasn't completely gentle and honest. Sometimes he would think of things that made people want to laugh and be angry at the same time.

"No, I was just thinking that the wolf race is indeed very kind. Thank you for taking care of my sister, Elsa, usually. She's also a kind child."

Lan Qi thought so from the bottom of his heart, so he said so.

"Is that so? I'm inadvertently being praised by you. But I do feel that your affinity is very special, making you hard to dislike. Especially animals will approach you without any defense, perhaps because you believe that everything has a spirit and you won't hurt them from the bottom of your heart. And they rely more on their instinctive intuition than humans, so they are willing to lower their guard against you and treat you as a friend."

Violet's eyes looked at the gray cat with beautiful fur in the professor's arms, muttering to herself.

The big gray cat completely let go of its restraint, immersing itself wholeheartedly in this long-lost pampering, making comfortable and pleasant sounds.

Under the young man's unconscious stroking, the gray cat felt unprecedented relaxation and satisfaction.

The cat also emptied its mind and closed its eyes to adjust its posture, lazily lying on his lap, actively catering to his palm, allowing his hand to easily touch the positions that made it more comfortable.

It looked completely different from when it first came in.