Meanwhile, elsewhere.
On the third floor of the Redmond Building on the north side of the Protos Royal Magic Academy, inside the conference hall.
The walls of the meeting room were paneled in dark walnut and inlaid with exquisite wood carvings, every cut displaying the craftsman's ingenuity. In the center of the room sat a set of stately genuine leather sofas. Finished in a classic deep brown with clean, flowing lines, they captured the elegance of modern design while preserving the dignity of traditional furnishings.
Upon the sofa, Lanqi and Warden Bakas were enjoying a pleasant conversation.
"I sit here today not merely as an administrator of a prison, but as an advocate dedicated to building a more just, efficient, and humane penal system. Our Herrom Prison shouldn't be a simple place of confinement; it is a complex social microcosm intertwined with the safety, rights, and future of every citizen of Protos. That is why I so deeply resonate with your views, Mr. Luoqi McCarthy. We are truly kindred spirits—I only wish we had met sooner."
"Indeed, quite so."
Several delicate little side tables were arranged around the sofas, their deep grain lending a timeless sense of depth. From time to time, porcelain teaware was lifted and set back down upon them, every gesture between the two men carrying an unspoken elegance.
Lanqi tilted his shoulders slightly, a smile playing across his lips as a gleam of intellect flickered in his eyes, listening to Warden Bakas speak.
Power and ambition intertwined, and a harmonious yet subtle atmosphere hung in the air. It felt as though, inside this VIP meeting room, the course of some momentous decision in the imperial capital of Herrom was about to be smoothly settled.
Expectation for the outcome of the discussions showed in Warden Bakas's eyes as well.
"As administrators, we are equally committed to safeguarding security and order. We maintain internal stability and external safety through advanced surveillance systems, a professional guard force, and strict regulations. Yet merely maintaining order is far from enough. As a modern prison, our ambitions reach much further—I want the prison to become a place of reform and education. In essence, the two of us are doing the very same thing..."
Yet just as Warden Bakas was expounding on his philosophy in a steady flow, Lanqi's eyes suddenly went vacant. His gaze locked onto a single point, as if he had plunged into some deeply intricate train of thought.
Noticing the shift, Warden Bakas's speech gradually slowed. A hint of bewilderment crept onto his face until he trailed off entirely, plunging the meeting room into a momentary silence.
The crystal chandelier glittering under the lights and the steaming teacup on the side table became the only evidence that time was still flowing.
Bakas was not sure whether his words had touched on some sensitive subject or if he had ventured an inappropriate proposal.
He could only stare fixedly at Lanqi, searching his expression for clues.
"Luoqi?"
Warden Bakas felt a prickle of worry, tempered by caution. He swiftly replayed their conversation in his head, hunting for any potential misstep.
Just as he was about to offer a probing question, Lanqi seemed to snap out of his reverie.
"Forgive me, Bakas. Work has been so terribly hectic lately that I often find myself forgetting important matters."
Lanqi's gaze cleared, turning steady once more. He slowly turned toward Warden Bakas, his features regaining their composure. With a faint, almost imperceptible apologetic smile, he let out a helpless sigh.
It was as if he had just remembered a matter that simply had to be raised.
"Hearing what you just said brought something to mind. Earlier, a student reported to me that bribery and corruption in Basement Level 1 of Herrom Prison are quite severe. For instance, a warden named Corendan even claimed that even if Luoqi McCarthy came in person, he would still have to bring him two cartons of cigarettes. I wanted to ask—is there any truth to this?"
Lanqi spoke with a look of concern, appearing deeply troubled over the discipline and atmosphere within the prison.
"Such a thing happened?"
Bakas raised his eyebrows in astonishment, sounding utterly incredulous.
Yet he immediately understood the reason for the headmaster's earlier contemplation.
Those words dispelled the doubts in Bakas's mind, bringing the conversation back on track and leaving him relieved that it was only an easily resolved matter.
Blowing hot air behind closed doors was one thing, but once it reached the ears of Luoqi McCarthy himself, the nature of the offense changed entirely!
Even if he had to eliminate that useless piece of trash when he got back, he could never afford to offend Luoqi McCarthy and ruin their friendship and cooperation over this!
"I will look into this matter thoroughly and immediately. Might I borrow the communication terminal in this meeting room?"
Though taken aback by the sudden turn, Bakas quickly adjusted his expression.
At a moment like this, sincerity was paramount. Handle it well, and he might even win greater favor with Luoqi McCarthy, allowing them to proceed even more pleasantly with today's cooperation plan and their discussions of the Protos Empire's current political intelligence and forecasts.
"Of course."
Lanqi nodded and rose. With a gentle, considerate demeanor, he guided Warden Bakas toward the side of the room.
A distinctive mechanical apparatus stood there—a terminal combining Herrom's latest communication magic with traditional craftsmanship.
Warden Bakas stepped before the device, swiftly retrieving an encrypted magical communication card from his inner coat pocket and inserting it. His expression turned grim, his brow furrowing deeply, while a flicker of suppressed fury showed in his eyes.
Before long, the terminal connected to the main lobby of Herrom Prison's base level.
"Get me Warden Corendan from Basement Level 1," Bakas spoke into the receiver as soon as the line went through.
Lanqi stood off to the side, observing Warden Bakas.
His face remained placid and unruffled, though a thoughtful light glinted in his eyes from time to time.
"Understood, please hold!"
The prison guard at the base level hurriedly transferred the line down to Basement Level 1. After a dozen seconds, Warden Corendan's leisurely voice, laced with bureaucratic self-importance, drifted through the receiver:
"Who is this?"
"It's. Me."
Warden Bakas's voice sounded bitterly cold over the line, his words practically ground out through clenched teeth.
"W-Warden Bakas? Do you need something from me, sir?"
Those two simple words made Corendan's speech speed up dramatically. The creak of an office chair echoed over the line, as though Corendan had snapped to full attention in an instant, stiffening his posture to receive the call from his superior.
"I hear you said that even if Mr. Luoqi McCarthy came, he'd still have to bring you two cartons of cigarettes?"
Warden Bakas's voice dripped with murderous intent as he demanded an answer.
Chapter 396