Lan Qingyou Raises the Stakes

"What! You're saying Miss Lan knows a magic formation that can protect a city?"

Adams stared in shock, his mouth hanging open.

His eyes were fixed on the maid standing in front of his desk.

She was the same maid who had accompanied Lan Qingyou on her outing earlier.

After hearing what Lan Qingyou had said, she had immediately returned to the main residence.

She had reported the matter to Adams in person.

And the news had turned Adams into the undignified mess he was now, with none of a nobleman's usual composure.

"Ahem..."

The butler beside him coughed pointedly.

Only then did Adams realize how badly he had let himself go.

He immediately put on his usual nobleman's expression again.

A butler was supposed to be useful at times like this, so Adams wasn't angry.

In fact, he gave him an approving look.

Then he turned his gaze back to the maid who had thrown him off balance.

"Tell me exactly what happened."

Adams spoke gently, then listened quietly as the maid recounted their shopping trip that day.

"I see. Butler, take her to collect her reward. The Mana Tide is coming tonight, so she should get home early."

After giving those instructions, Adams waved them away.

Then he sat alone behind his desk, leaned back heavily in his chair, tilted his head up, and closed his eyes.

There had been a noticeable gap in the maid's account.

Even so, it was clear enough that Miss Lan, the woman in black, could use a magic formation to shield the entire city from the Mana Tide.

No one understood what that meant better than the administrator of a commercial city.

No need to evacuate. No need to close the shops.

People still wouldn't be able to travel outside.

But within