Chapter 4 Within the Elliott Building

Lanchi walked along the fourth-floor corridor of the Elliott Building, in the heart of the monastery complex.

The corridor ran around the perimeter, forming a magnificent arched loop.

As he walked, he memorized the map.

He found that whenever he reached a dead end at an intersection, a sign would appear on the wall: "Turn Ahead."

And after each turn, the path ahead would invariably open up into a bright and spacious vista.

The large characters "Turn Ahead" repeatedly struck his eyes and gradually opened his heart.

It turned out that there were no hopeless cases of getting lost in the world, just people who couldn't make turns.

"You..."

Talia listened to Lanchi's thoughts, hesitant to ask.

She always felt that Lanchi was on a mission, but it wasn't her mission.

The more familiar she became with Lanchi, the more she felt a trace of someone else on this man.

"When you went to the Northern Continent, what else did you do besides work on your project?"

Talia, who hadn't been too concerned about Lanchi's story, finally became a little curious.

"I was just focusing on my project,"

Lanchi said, bewildered, wondering why Talia would suddenly ask him that.

"..."

Talia realized it was the truth.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that Lanchi was too familiar with life in a foreign country.

"How do you usually focus on your project?"

Talia asked tentatively.

"Improve my professional skills, hone my practical abilities, and strive to satisfy my superiors."

Lanchi thought for a moment and replied.

"..."

"Then you should improve and practice your skills so that I am more satisfied and enjoy it more,"

Talia transmitted her thoughts, taking it for granted.

No matter how Lanchi messed around in the Northern Continent, she was the one who benefited in the end. Thinking about it, she felt that the trip to the Kryyitian Empire was full of ease.

Every day was no different from staying in Iklit.

"Of course."

As Lanchi chatted with Talia in his mind, he passed through the circular corridor and arrived at the fourth-floor hanging atrium of the Elliott Building.

The mosaic dome was embedded at the top of the stone pillars, and the inner walls were painted with murals of the gods creating the world. Although the colors had faded with the passage of time, the grandeur of the composition still convinced people that it was a building left from near the age of the gods.

The arched windows on both sides were several meters high, and the flowerpot sculptures on top stretched and curled along the window sills. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow, the window lattices would creak softly, and a few birds would fly across the sky, casting a faint silhouette.

The inner corridor was connected in all directions, leading to the library, dining hall, chapel, and other facilities attached to the Elliott Building.

Early this morning, Lanchi saw an email sent by Principal Nera through the school's staff system. Classroom 4-21, which was used yesterday, would no longer be used for teaching for the time being, and Professor Landry's lecture course had been moved to Classroom 4-43.

So he had to come earlier to account for the time it would take to find the new classroom.

Although it was common for teachers to be late at the free Iklit Academy, and there was even a small chance of teachers skipping classes, Lanchi's professional spirit and standards did not allow him to do such irresponsible things. He would always arrive near the classroom at least fifteen minutes in advance, and enter the classroom five minutes early.

As he walked, the light gradually dimmed, and he entered the corridor area again.

From time to time, teachers and students passed by him, and the rustling footsteps echoed in the empty atrium passageway.

At the arched corners of the eaves, there were also statues of the moon god of the Holy Kryyitian Monastery.

"..."

Lanchi's pace gradually slowed as he looked ahead.

At the end of this familiar corridor stood a man in a special military uniform.

The man was standing under the 4-21 classroom sign.

He seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time.

"Long time no see, although strictly speaking, we only met last week, Professor Landry."

Crimson Falcon Nikola, his officer's hat pulled down low, almost covering his forehead.

Even so, his pupils under the brim were watching Lanchi.

"People like us who are busy for the empire feel like every day is a month, so it's normal to feel like it's been a long time."

Lanchi was slightly surprised but nodded, indicating that he deeply agreed.

"Section Chief Nikola, what brings you here?"

He continued to walk forward.

According to the map, the fastest route to Classroom 4-43 was through the original Classroom 4-21. Crimson Falcon Nikola had obviously taken this into account and was waiting here.

Of course, Lanchi had felt a gaze ever since he arrived at the Elliott Building, which must have been Crimson Falcon Nikola.

Last time, at the Brielda First Station, he had just arrived in this city on the magic-powered railcar when he was attacked by the Allied female assassin Unity. After the incident, he was investigated by this Imperial Action Department officer Nikola, codenamed Crimson Falcon.

The officer had a handsome face with sharp features, and his deep reddish-brown hair was neatly trimmed, showing the neatness and competence that a soldier should have.

The Imperial Special Action Department, also known as the Imperial Magic Agent Force, was directly responsible to the emperor and could directly mobilize resources from all sides without going through the military system.

Any inconspicuous commoner passing by on the streets of the empire, any seemingly ordinary shop owner, could be a member of the Imperial Special Action Department.

Among the various sections of the Imperial Special Action Department, the Domestic Intelligence Section, which was more inclined to internal affairs, was responsible for monitoring dissidents in the country, ferreting out anti-war elements and spies, and maintaining the stability of the regime. Crimson Falcon Nikola was the chief of the Domestic Intelligence Section.

"I thought you'd probably come this way if you came early. I happen to have something to talk to you about. I hope it won't delay your class, Professor?"

Crimson Falcon Nikola waited for Lanchi to walk to the door of the classroom where he was standing and asked.

"This time, it won't take up too much of your time, Professor, about five minutes will do,"

he added.

"Of course, no problem."

Lanchi agreed readily.

He had allowed himself plenty of time, and it wouldn't affect his teaching.

Crimson Falcon Nikola grasped the doorknob, twisted it open, and gestured for Lanchi to enter the classroom.

Lanchi nodded and followed Crimson Falcon Nikola into Classroom 4-21, which he had just used yesterday.

From the Kryyitian-style arched French windows on one side of the classroom, golden rays of the setting sun outlined a grating pattern on the antique oak floor.

They walked slowly past the long tables and desks that had weathered a century of storms. Crimson Falcon Nikola's gaze was already fixed on the dense, paint-pen handwriting covering the glass windows, and he seemed lost in thought for a moment.

The flowing, handwritten demonic magic incantations and formulas seemed to flow directly from the mind of a master.

It was the rigorous deduction of magic engineering, woven from a string of demon letters and human language. In a few words, it contained the vast and boundless material world, as well as some vague, draft-like revisions, seemingly verifying the birth of a new theory that was fermenting...

"I have to admit, when I first saw this glass window, I felt as if I were in the intellectual realm of a genius. Through those glittering symbols and formulas, I seemed to be able to glimpse the origin and laws of the operation of fire and seals,"

Crimson Falcon Nikola muttered in a deep voice.

The tortuous formulas and symbols were exuding an almost religious holiness and piety.

It was as if a theoretical blockbuster had exploded in the microscopic world inside the classroom, which was invisible to the naked eye.

From now on, this century-old classroom would stand quietly, becoming fertile ground for nurturing wisdom, hiding countless valuable intellectual legacies, waiting for those who were destined to peep and comprehend them.

"I underestimated you, Professor Landry."

Or rather, he felt that Landry was becoming more and more valuable.

"Are you also majoring in magical engineering, Section Chief Nikola?"

Lanchi asked with interest.

Principal Violet's secretary, Nera, obviously disliked the people from the Imperial Special Action Department, so she didn't help Crimson Falcon Nikola arrange to meet Professor Landry, nor did she inform Lanchi.

So Crimson Falcon Nikola had to find Landry in the school himself.

But Crimson Falcon Nikola's authority meant that as long as he wanted to see anyone in the Kryyitian Empire, he would definitely find a way to do so.

Except for professors from the School of Magical Engineering and relevant personnel from the Imperial military, this classroom was no longer open to ordinary students and school staff. It was only open at fixed times and required registration of identity, and the handwriting on the glass windows and blackboard was protected by a barrier, which could not be easily tampered with, erased, or destroyed.

Crimson Falcon Nikola was one of the people who had the authority to enter the classroom at any time to investigate.

If these magic engineering principles, which were of immeasurable value to the Kryyitian Empire, were leaked to the Silver Moon Restoration Society or Allied spies, Crimson Falcon Nikola would also have to deduce from the clues who was suspected of transmitting the original content and when.

Even if such a thing really happened, he might not be able to find evidence, but as the head of the Imperial Internal Affairs Department, any information could become a clue to find out the elements that were endangering the empire.

"I don't major in magical engineering. I'm self-taught, but that doesn't stop me from understanding magical engineering knowledge. My duty requires me to know a little bit of everything,"

Crimson Falcon Nikola replied, turning his gaze from the glass window back to Lanchi.

"Are you interested in magic engineering? For example, if you have any questions, I'm happy to discuss them with you,"

Lanchi said frankly to Nikola.

"Now is not the time to talk about this. After all, I'm taking up Professor Landry's time. I need to talk about something more important."

Crimson Falcon Nikola looked at Lanchi's frank appearance and smiled without much emotion.

"Regarding the clues you provided on the Brielda magic-powered railcar last time, the sixty-two-year-old publisher, Lovia, a Granweifley from the northern border of the Kryyitian Empire, has been investigated by us. Unfortunately, he has no obvious suspicions."

He stated.

"That's unlikely."

Lanchi held his chin in doubt.

"If I didn't hear wrong at the time, I can guarantee that there was definitely something wrong with that old man."

He said firmly, his eyes still so determined.

"..."

Crimson Falcon Nikola observed Professor Landry's expression.

He didn't see much panic on the black-haired, blue-eyed professor's face, only deep suspicion.

He either seemed to be trying to justify himself, or he was even more certain that the Lovia who was traveling with him at the time had a problem.

"Okay, don't worry, I will investigate this person further. Before everything is finalized, Professor Landry, please rest assured that we will not wrongly arrest any loyal subjects, nor will we let go of any rebels."

Crimson Falcon Nikola nodded and promised the professor.

He thought that this Landry was very smart.

Now he had publicly disclosed part of his academic achievements in the empire, and this content was now rapidly fermenting in the imperial academic community. Perhaps everything was in Landry's plan.

At that time, even if Lovia's information was fabricated by Landry, someone in the empire would protect Landry, making it difficult for the Special Action Department to move such a magic engineer.

But he, Nikola, had plenty of ways to arrest people. It was just that the time had not yet come.

"Is there anything else?"

Lanchi looked at the clock in the classroom and asked Crimson Falcon Nikola nonchalantly.

Not only was Lanchi calm, but Talia wasn't as nervous as last time.

Crimson Falcon Nikola hadn't found out that Lovia, the sixty-two-year-old man, was an Allied spy, only that Lanchi hadn't secretly divulged the information yet.

This kid seemed to be deliberately trying to get Nikola to suspect him first, and then start dispelling Nikola's suspicion when it was at its deepest, until it was completely reversed.

He was deliberately playing with him here.

Talia even felt that even if Lanchi had several girlfriends at the same time, he could coax each of them well, and even make them feel guilty and unwilling to doubt him.

As long as nothing unexpected happened, he could play with people's minds.

What a natural scumbag physique.

Playing with both men and women.

"I would like to invite Professor Landry to serve as an honorary consultant to our Imperial Special Action Department Research Institute."

Crimson Falcon Nikola bowed slightly to Lanchi and handed him a gold-edged card, which was engraved with the Kryyitian military's emblem and the unique logo of the Special Action Department.

In the corner of the card, there was also a certification coating from the research institute.

Lanchi stared at the card and then looked up at Crimson Falcon Nikola again.

Even among the common people, it had always been rumored that the Imperial Special Action Department had a secret laboratory that developed various silent and special weapons, such as poisons, alchemical creatures, and high-performance explosive devices. The research institute was also located in the capital, Brielda.

Honorary consultant was not a formal position, but nominally he was a member of their Imperial Special Action Department. In the future, Nikola would not have to go to great lengths to see Lanchi.

"Is Section Chief Nikola inviting me to join the Imperial Special Action Department?"

Lanchi asked Nikola with surprise and interest.

"Of course."

Nikola replied firmly.

"This job is completely free labor. You'd be crazy to agree to him,"

Talia said in Lanchi's mind.

He would have neither a formal position nor actual power, only a title. At the same time, he might be summoned by the Imperial Special Action Department to help them with their work.

If anything changed, Crimson Falcon Nikola would be the first to suspect Lanchi. At the same time, everything Lanchi did in the Imperial Action Department would be highly monitored.

Moreover, as long as Lanchi agreed to him, Crimson Falcon Nikola could arrest Lanchi in the Imperial Special Action Department at any time, even without solid evidence.

This was like asking someone to walk into a trap.

It could be said that it was all harm and no benefit.

"But Tata, think about it. If you were a magic engineer who was truly loyal to the empire and wanted to make your irreplaceable contribution to the empire at this time, what would you choose?"

Lanchi responded mentally.

"...Then I might really agree."

Talia substituted herself into the role described by Lanchi and came to this conclusion.

"Then there's only one answer."

Lanchi said in his heart to Talia, and at the same time smiled and extended his hand to Nikola in the classroom.

This was unquestionable loyalty, an unshakable position, and unwavering determination.

"Then it is certainly my honor, Mr. Nikola."

Lanchi said to Crimson Falcon Nikola.

"Let us work together for the empire."

(End of this chapter)