Lanqi Law Firm

It was nearly half past four in the afternoon. The sun had already slanted down from high in the sky, streaming through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows and spilling obliquely across one side of the classroom. Its color had deepened into an orange-tinged gold, lending the room a gentle warmth.

Faint, fading radiance shimmered across the desktops, empty chairs, and steps, as if quietly telling a story about time.

At the back of the classroom, behind the spacious wooden table, there were only Hughberlian and Lanchi.

Hughberlian did not know why Lanchi was looking at her.

But after thinking it over, she still met his gaze. Staring into his beautiful emerald eyes, she advised him,

"Lanchi, don't get involved in my affairs anymore. You don't need to get dragged into this..."

Yet Lanchi remained unmoved. He merely blinked, his expression calm and undisturbed.

"I won't stand by and watch a friend get bullied. Besides, when Mo Dan called me a 'second-rate lawyer' earlier, didn't you try to defend me too?"

Lanchi smiled. Whenever he received kindness, he always returned it with kindness.

"Anyway, if you ever need any legal help, you can come find me in Room 101 of the Sage Institute Dormitory Building. Once I pass the bar exam, I can put up a sign by the dorm entrance for Lanqi Law Firm."

"..."

Hughberlian once again fell into a state where she could not respond to anything.

Lanchi's words were overheard by some of the other students.

Although no one came to disturb Lanchi, who clearly looked too exhausted to deal with strangers,

quite a few people pricked up their ears, paying attention to what Lanchi and Hughberlian would say next.

The rules at Ikelite School were actually very considerate.

There were often students with unique skills—blacksmiths, carvers, painters, chefs, apothecaries, Card Makers, and the like—who turned their dorm rooms into places as popular as shops. Students from different institutes and years would often come to visit after hearing about them.

The school thus tacitly approved of this diverse form of campus social life.

But a law firm...

He did not think anyone had ever mentioned one before.

Who the hell would look for a lawyer at school?

This was a magic academy, not a law school!

The trees on campus swayed gently in the breeze, their shadows dancing across the classroom floor like a silent performance.

Some students came and went along the campus paths. Distant laughter and conversation drifted into the classroom from time to time, making time seem ethereal and hazy while also lending it an intense sense of reality.

In the end.

After much hesitation, Hughberlian finally nodded and accepted Lanchi's sincere goodwill.

"If I manage to find my father, I'll have him invite you to become the Aransal Family's adviser with the highest honors."

Hughberlian's expression was solemn as she made this promise.

Although it was more likely to be an empty promise, it represented Hughberlian's attitude—

She acknowledged Lanchi as a friend, and he was also a friend of the Aransal Family.

And the Aransal Family always repaid kindness!

"An adviser to a ducal family? If it really happens, that would be quite a resounding title. If my old man found out that I'd made such a name for myself in the royal capital, he'd probably have a seizure..."

Lanchi smiled at that. He did not care whether the promise could be fulfilled; he was simply sighing over his new friend.

"Hughberlian, although you always put on a cold and heartless front, you're actually extraordinarily kind at heart."

"What do you mean?"

Hughberlian did not understand why Lanchi would say that.

"Because you've never been thinking about inheriting the family for yourself. You've only been thinking about finding your father."

Lanchi explained with a smile.

"..."

After hearing those words, Hughberlian's eyes gradually lowered. She seemed to sink deeper and deeper into sorrowful thoughts from which she could not escape, unable to say anything for a long while.

Until some time had passed.

"...Father will be fine."

Hughberlian's expression still showed little emotion, but her thoughts had clearly become extremely complicated.

At the risk of her life, she had finally managed to investigate some clues related to her father's disappearance. In the end, they only vaguely pointed toward the Krui Di Empire to the south.

She was far too weak now.

Not only was she without allies,

she also could not tell who in the royal capital was friend, foe, or traitor.

Going alone to the Krui Di Empire to investigate would only be suicide.

She had to grow stronger as quickly as possible. Perhaps her father could still be saved; she simply had to find him as soon as possible...

However, Hughberlian would never tell Lanchi about any of this.

She could not let Lanchi become even more deeply involved.

"Would you consider running a Shadow World? Let's team up and give the Shadow World a little shock."

Seeing Hughberlian fall silent for so long, Lanchi finally ventured to ask.

Of all the people he knew, Hughberlian was undoubtedly the teammate most suited to him.

They had experience working together, and Hughberlian had also been extremely reliable in their previous battle.

That was precisely why they had been able to clear the super-doubled version of Infinite Phantom Canyon together that day.

Hughberlian's fingers froze on the page. She stared blankly at Lanchi, her mouth slightly open, as though she wanted to say something—or perhaps simply breathe in some fresh air.

"...You mean, you want to go with me?"

At last, she managed to sort through some of her thoughts and asked in a daze, still trying to understand Lanchi's sudden piece of news and this rather unrealistic invitation.

"Of course."

Lanchi's tone was firm and certain.

Hughberlian lowered her head and stared at the writing on the book atop the desk, biting her lip as if deeply conflicted.

The reason Lanchi was so friendly toward her was that he still did not know she was half demon.

She did not know how to tell him the truth.

Even if their friendship might only be a bubble accompanied by an illusion, liable to suddenly shatter and vanish at any moment, she still did not know how to pierce it with her own hands.

"You can change your mind at any time."

With her gaze lowered, Hughberlian said this in a quiet voice.

It amounted to accepting Lanchi's invitation to team up.

However, she also accepted that Lanchi might unilaterally change his mind at any time.

"I knew you'd agree! How about we head over and challenge the Shadow World today, while the Magic Engineering Institute is still open? I really can't take this class anymore. Which bastard added 'Silent Casting' to the required courses this year? I can't learn it at all!"

Thinking of the class that morning, Lanchi could not help feeling a stabbing pain in his head as he began to complain.

He had not expected the Sage Institute's courses to be so difficult. Or perhaps his talent for Practical Magic was simply too poor.

This "Silent Casting" class in particular had tormented Lanchi terribly. It clearly had not been included in the old curriculum, yet it had just happened to be added during this year's reforms!

"Today?"

Hughberlian asked in a daze.

She clearly had not expected Lanchi's ability to take action to be so wild.

This was even more surreal than a spontaneous journey, making her heart suddenly pound erratically in her chest!

For a moment, she did not know what expression to use or what tone of voice to answer in.

"Yes, right now."

Lanchi stretched vigorously, as if loosening his muscles and bones.

"Are you coming with me?"

When he leaned back in his chair and looked at Hughberlian again, his face wore a smile of absolute confidence.