Early morning, three days later.
On the northern side of the Protos Royal Magic Academy, a masonry building inlaid with dark-gray bas-reliefs was guarded with extraordinary vigilance today.
Built in 1728, this Redmond Building served as the academy's primary administrative center. As one of the school's most iconic and magnificent classical structures, it had not been included in the renovation plan proposed by the new headmaster, Luoqi McCarthy, and was slated to preserve its original appearance for a long time to come.
Both Luoqi McCarthy's office and the reception areas for meetings with important external guests were situated on the upper floors of the Redmond Building.
Even when students passed by below, they merely cast a glance before quickening their pace.
They had a general idea of whom Luoqi McCarthy was receiving today.
Once the "Youth Campus Prison Tour" project proposed by Luoqi McCarthy was successfully implemented, the enforcement of school rules would be further reinforced.
While upholding the principle of ensuring student safety, the academy would replace student punishments with methods capable of generating greater public social value.
Of course, an order from the school alone would not have been enough to tempt Warden Bakas so deeply.
Had it merely been a matter of discussing this project, Bakas would have mostly wanted to make Luoqi McCarthy's acquaintance or do him a small favor.
However, when coupled with the large-scale cooperation plan for the Snowfield Province, it was an entirely different story.
This was a torrential, irresistible cascade of wealth. Even the trial run involving the transfer of the first batch of Spectre Party prisoners from the Snowfield Province made Warden Bakas hesitate to calculate the project's future value.
At this point, it was likely Warden Bakas who was courting Headmaster Luoqi's favor.
On the third floor of the Redmond Building, Luoqi McCarthy, dressed in his customary attire, walked slowly along the ancient hallway alongside a man in his thirties, everything around them steeped in the solemnity of historic artistic portraits.
"My apologies, Mr. Luoqi, for arriving a bit late. With the bishop election approaching, unrest has been on the rise, and the Imperial Police Department has been overwhelmed with duties."
Warden Bakas offered his apology to Headmaster Luoqi with considerable courtesy.
Today, he was not wearing his Herrom Prison warden uniform. Instead, he wore a crisp suit, his hair neatly combed, complete with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, giving an impression of seriousness, uprightness, and refinement. In truth, however, his methods were notorious throughout the Imperial Capital Herrom; he was hardly someone ordinary folk dared to cross paths with.
He favored an authoritative, indifferent, and unquestionable tone when dealing with inmates and subordinates, and his smiles were usually insincere, sarcastic, or mocking. Yet before Luoqi McCarthy, he became quite the gentleman.
Hearing this, Lanqi merely gave a slight nod, gazing ahead as though deep in thought.
The two stepped across the soft corridor floor. Beneath their feet stretched a deep-red carpet—rich in color, thick in texture, and delicately woven—flowing smoothly underfoot. The carved wooden walls flanking the hallway were adorned with intricate gilded patterns that shimmered with a subtle luster under the lighting, mirroring their unspoken thoughts.
"With great power comes great responsibility. I understand completely,"
Lanqi offered a polite smile and sighed,
"Though indeed, speaking of the bishop election three days from now gives me quite a headache."
Then, as if recalling some vexing trouble, Lanqi muttered in an ambivalent tone.
For neutral figures like them in the Imperial Capital, unless one had a clear bias, voting was like placing a bet: only by backing the eventual victor could one avoid offending either side.
"If Mr. Luoqi has caught wind of anything, please do share a word or two with me,"
Warden Bakas asked Lanqi for guidance.
Since Luoqi had brought up the subject, he naturally had some thoughts on it; otherwise, he wouldn't have so deftly seized upon the key point in Bakas's remark.
Over the past few days, Bakas had also been fishing for information. He had already leaned toward consulting Luoqi McCarthy, never expecting Luoqi would read between the lines so quickly.
Lanqi pondered.
"All I know is that the northern nobility and the Imperial Army hold the Extinction Branch in high regard. In my view, the one who earns my favor most is still Askesan,"
Lanqi glanced back down the hallway to ensure no one was around before speaking to Warden Bakas.
"..."
Bakas stared into Lanqi's emerald-green eyes. It was a gaze of heartfelt, genuine sincerity; he seemed earnestly to wish that Askesan would do well.
"It seems great minds think alike."
Bakas nodded slowly.
On second thought, it made sense. Luoqi McCarthy was himself the governor of the Snowfield Province, and the north was the territory overseen by the Bishop of Extinction. It was hardly surprising that Luoqi had some ties with the Extinction Branch.
The two strolled past a neat row of large adjacent windows. Framing the world outside like exquisite paintings, they revealed the academy's courtyards, distant ancient Herrom-style architecture, lush green trees, and the newly renovated campus scenery designed under Lanqi's master plan.
Upon entering the academy today, Bakas had been thoroughly struck by the scenery.
He had previously assumed Luoqi McCarthy was merely an administrator and leader with unorthodox methods who liked to use his authority to improvise awful creations. He had never expected that the man's artistic accomplishments were truly breathtaking.
Even setting aside Luoqi McCarthy's current stature within the empire, Bakas was certain that Luoqi McCarthy's works would become nearly impossible to acquire in the Protos Empire. Beyond these public facility designs, if someone could possess a private piece created by Luoqi McCarthy, its value would surely rise to legendary heights.
This only solidified Bakas's conviction that he must stay on good terms with the man beside him.
With these thoughts in mind, Bakas walked with Lanqi a little further.
"Mr. Luoqi, later today, an important figure of my acquaintance would like to speak with you in private. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision on his part, knowing he could definitely meet you today. Would you happen to have some free time?"
Warden Bakas lowered his voice slightly, speaking to Lanqi, who walked with hands clasped behind his back.
"Oh? And who might that be?"
Lanqi raised an eyebrow in curiosity, looking at Warden Bakas beside him.
"Duke Morotian Berenhard,"
Warden Bakas quietly murmured the name.
"If Mr. Berenhard wished to see me, would he really need Your Excellency to pass the message?"
Lanqi looked at Warden Bakas, asking with an ostensibly solemn expression.
Back when he had first arrived on the Northern Continent, an obscure nobody in the Protos Empire, he had already heard the name of Duke Morotian Berenhard.
Father of Lady Cloris, Duke Morotian Berenhard was the holder of [Original Slate - Undead] and one of the two supreme powerhouses of the Protos Empire.
He had not expected the duke to seek him out of his own accord today.
Chapter 388