Enclosed by soft, light-toned walls, morning sunlight streamed through the grand windows to illuminate the conference room, the light and shadow dancing across the potted plants like frolicking pixies.
Right now, this room—ordinarily the quietest and most dignified place in the building—had become uncharacteristically lively!
In sharp contrast to the surrounding buzz, Adams, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in conversation with Lanqi, was slightly stunned.
He had never expected Lanqi to actually agree, and to do so with such crisp decisiveness.
It was as though a wager of this magnitude were nothing more than a trifling matter.
Was this the sheer confidence of an astounding prodigy nurtured by Great Prelate Loren?
He could even make decisions on the dean's behalf.
Lanqi's tone hadn't sounded the least bit like a joke; in fact, it left no room for doubt.
Reflecting on it carefully, Adams realized that Lanqi—having just helped Great Prelate Loren eliminate the Saintess of Destruction under his arch-nemesis, Bishop of Destruction Ivanos, only a few days prior—truly possessed the capital to act this way.
He believed that a promise Lanqi dared to make in front of so many teachers and students would certainly not be broken.
And Lanqi would undoubtedly present an equally substantial demand, given that the commitment Lanqi had just taken on was monumental in its own right.
However...
If there was truly a chance to make that playboy Loren apologize to Juliana in person, Adams would spare no effort!
This was the only thing he, as the currently strongest third-year student at Aloran Royal Academy, could do for Knight Commander Juliana.
Although his opponent, Lanqi, possessed an unshakeable composure unbefitting his age, word had it that Lanqi had already suffered a defeat on the grounds of Ikerite Academy—he had lost a duel against Cervini, a third-year Gold rank challenger from the School of Knights.
Furthermore, the upperclassmen of the School of Sages had candidly informed Adams that Lanqi hadn't defeated the Saintess of Destruction, Adelice, on his own, but had instead rallied the challengers of the entire Shadow World to slay her together. That still left a considerable gap in raw personal strength compared to Adams, who was capable of going toe-to-toe with the Holy Son of Decay.
Thus, Adams was confident that in many types of contests, he was guaranteed to defeat Lanqi.
Yet Adams disdained taking unfair advantage. He would choose a contest that was fair to both sides, leaving Lanqi and the School of Sages thoroughly convinced of their defeat.
"Then what is your condition?" Adams asked solemnly.
"If I win, please have Knight Commander Juliana come to the Hutton royal capital for a one-day date with Dean Loren," Lanqi said with a faint smile, stroking the kitten's back with casual nonchalance.
"Nicely done, Lanqi!"
"You've got to win! Give Dean Loren a massive surprise!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, even the teachers in the conference room erupted into cheers.
"..."
Teacher Teresa, who had originally intended to keep Lanqi somewhat in check, instantly lowered her head upon hearing this, frantically glancing left and right, not daring to look up.
The atmosphere left her utterly speechless. Lanqi had chosen the path of total public approval; at a time like this, whoever tried to stop Lanqi would surely be stopped by everyone else!
Amidst the cheering throughout the conference room, Adams was completely dazed by Lanqi's condition.
Then, he shook his head vigorously in refusal.
"No. I can't make that call."
Adams knew the two demands sounded equivalent on paper.
However, there was no way he could promise a date with Loren on Juliana's behalf, nor could he ever accept such a thing happening!
"It won't do...?"
Lanqi fell quiet for a moment, gently petting the kitten in his hands. He didn't look particularly disappointed, merely observing Adams's expression.
"I didn't expect you to think so highly of me, Adams. I had assumed I would surely lose... Why not reconsider my earlier suggestion and just have a friendly match with no stakes at all?"
Lanqi offered an innocent smile, as though devoid of any competitive drive whatsoever.
"...!!"
Hearing this considerate remark, Adams couldn't help clenching his fists.
He had come to the School of Sages with the express intention of challenging their reputation, not to mention that he didn't believe for a second he would lose to Lanqi!
And recalling the scandalous rumors about Loren he had heard that very morning, Adams felt he simply couldn't stomach it!
"..."
Held in Lanqi's arms, Boss Cat looked up at him with a bewildered expression.
He felt that while Lanqi's words were ostensibly friendly and humble, for some reason they carried a distinct whiff of matcha!
Wait, that couldn't be right; this kid was supposed to be naturally pure.
As Boss Cat pondered, he continued his act as an ordinary cat, lying quietly on Lanqi's arm. He had to be overthinking it—how could there be such a thing as a male green tea bitch?
Better watch a little longer.
"Or perhaps we could do this, Adams: could you contact Miss Juliana using communication magic and let me talk to her?"
As though sensing Adams's dilemma, Lanqi offered a thoughtful suggestion.
He knew that Adams was indeed trapped in a predicament—reluctant to give up the opportunity to make Dean Loren apologize to Knight Commander Juliana in person, yet unable to accept Lanqi's condition on her behalf.
"If Miss Juliana agrees to the wager herself, it won't put you in an awkward position, right?" Lanqi added with a question.
Whenever he encountered someone in need of help, Lanqi would extend a helping hand. His acts of charity and virtue had always aimed for a single goal: to ensure everyone's desires were satisfied.
"...All right."
Adams hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.
He knew this offered an easy way out.
Adams was certain that no matter how polite Lanqi's attitude was, daring to propose Lanqi's demand to Juliana would only result in her immediately hanging up on him.
Once the wager fell through, both sides could naturally take a step back and renegotiate terms.
Next, Lanqi and Adams walked over to an elaborate magical apparatus in the center of the conference room.
It was a terminal capable of establishing an ultra-long-range communication magic framework. With the assistance of such magical machinery, signals could be relayed through the relay stations established across various nations by the Southern Continent United Kingdom Council, achieving real-time communication over distances greater than any ordinary communication magic could manage.
Adams inserted his Tier 6 magic card, [Ultra-Long-Range Communication Program], into the device, skillfully manipulating the crystal screen on the console to connect with the Aloran Kingdom.
Amidst the quiet anticipation of everyone in the conference room, Adams established contact with the Aloran side and waited for Juliana to take the call.
Before long, a proud and bright female voice came from the receiver in Adams's hand.
"Adams? What business do you have contacting me from the Hutton Kingdom?"
"Lady Juliana, this is Adams. I am currently at Ikerite Academy..."
Adams was somewhat at a loss as to how to explain the situation.
"Leave it to me, Adams."
Lanqi smiled and took the receiver from Adams's hand.
Then he said:
"Hello, Miss Juliana. I am a student of Loren's. Adams has proposed a sparring match between us: if Adams wins, Dean Loren will come to the Aloran Kingdom to apologize to you. If I win, Dean Loren hopes you could make a trip to the Hutton Kingdom, as he s-t-i-l-l w-i-s-h-e-s t-o a-p-o-l-o-g-i-z-e t-o y-o-u i-n p-e-r-s-o-n. However, should you be willing to forgive him, he hopes to invite you for a tour of the royal capital and share with you all the important words from the bottom of his heart that he has been longing to say."
"..."
A long silence seemed to fall over the other end.
"I accept."
With that, Juliana hung up.
In that instant, every student and teacher in the conference room leaped out of their seats in wild celebration.
Chapter 184