Lanqi Is a Riddler Too

On the fifth floor of the Redmond Building, in the meeting area of the Headmaster's Office. Duke Morotian did not dwell long on the topic of Associate Professor Sido, quickly steering the conversation away. Every time the subject came up, Lanqi would apologize with an air of subtle grievance, to the point that even the genial duke began to feel a bit embarrassed. Besides, his true intention in coming today had never been to demand accountability. He merely wanted to meet Luoqi McCarthy and exchange greetings so they would not feel like strangers when they met at the bishop election three days from now. "I won't disturb Headmaster Luoqi's rest for much longer, seeing as you've already finished work for the day. However, there is one question I am quite intrigued by, which is also the main reason for my visit. I'm certain Warden Bakas must have asked you this very question today as well." Duke Morotian shifted the topic, asking with keen interest, "In the bishop election three days from now, whom do you intend to vote for, Mr. Luoqi?" "The Bishop of Extinction, Askesan, I suppose," Lanqi answered without hesitation. Yet, unlike Warden Bakas, Duke Morotian was visibly taken aback. "Is that so? It seems our thoughts differ, then." He shook his head with a chuckle. "Whom does Duke Bernhardt wish to vote for?" Lanqi asked curiously, as though seeking advice from the duke. Duke Morotian did not answer immediately, instead leaning forward slightly. "The Bishop of Domination, Sigrid," Duke Morotian replied in a low voice, a faint smile touching his lips. During Lanqi's momentary confusion, Duke Morotian carefully observed the expression on his face. "It just depends on whether she dares to show herself," Duke Morotian added. The subtle, enigmatic look in his eyes seemed to be asking Lanqi, *Don't you think so too?* "..." Lanqi offered no response. His eyes held a trace of bewilderment before clearing into sudden comprehension, as if he had only just caught the duke's meaning a beat late. "Is Duke Bernhardt referring to the grave felony of the Bishop of Domination allegedly slaughtering civilians?" Lanqi asked. "Naturally. Her recent decision to lay low was wise. If she were to appear in the public eye beforehand, the imperial military might follow protocol and obstruct her from participating in the vote on the day. But if she appears directly on the day of the election, the military cannot intervene mid-process due to priority protocols. Still, that is only if she is confident in winning. If she loses, she could truly be doomed beyond redemption," Duke Morotian mused thoughtfully. His meaning seemed to be that if Sigrid was confident enough to appear, it most likely meant she believed she could win and possessed strong prospects; hence, he also very much hoped to see Sigrid present at the bishop election that day. "I see. I hadn't thought that far ahead. I simply wish the best for Askesan. A prodigal who returns is more precious than gold. It's rare for him to have an opportunity to become a good man, so I hope he can walk the righteous path," Lanqi replied. In the administrative office on the other side, Antanas listened to the two riddlers converse. She could not help feeling that Pranay had made a valid point—the two men were ostensibly having a friendly chat, yet both seemed to be speaking in riddles, layers of hidden meaning tucked into their words that she could not decipher at all. Back in the Headmaster's Office, the conversation did not continue much longer. Duke Morotian glanced at the clock, deciding it was about time to take his leave. "Mr. Luoqi McCarthy, your rise has been far too swift. In the brief blink of an eye while I was away from the Imperial Capital of Herrom, a rising star like you emerged. It was difficult even to investigate your past background," Duke Morotian stood up, gazing out the window at the pouring rain. "However, after meeting you today, my mind is at ease. I am deeply gratified that the Protos Empire has someone like you." "Your Grace flatters me." Hearing this, Lanqi merely raised his teacup to his lips, responding with a smile. "By the way, does Headmaster Luoqi feel as though we hit it off like old friends from our very first meeting?" Duke Morotian turned his head, fixing his gaze upon Lanqi. "..." Lanqi sipped his tea, appearing lost in thought. "Then I shall take my leave." Seeing that Lanqi did not respond, Duke Morotian did not intend to linger any longer. He offered a courteous bow, walked around the coffee table, and strolled toward the office door. "Who knows whether the two of us have met before? As the saying goes, all encounters are merely reunions after a long parting. Don't you agree, Duke Bernhardt?" Lanqi set down his teacup and responded. "..." Duke Morotian's hand, which had already grasped the doorknob, paused slightly. The knob, half-depressed, was slowly released. Then, Morotian turned around, the same faint smile lingering on his face as always. "Mr. Luoqi McCarthy, I have one more question." Duke Morotian opened the door. The howling wind from the corridor rushed inside, causing the temperature in the office to plunge by several degrees. "Please, speak." "It seems to me that your style of doing things occasionally leads you to make choices that are far from optimal. Instead, you take into consideration many people or matters that have nothing to do with you, potentially placing yourself in deep danger as a result. I am concerned for you, and I wish to know: what drives you? Or rather, why do you bother with matters that have nothing to do with you?" Duke Morotian asked, a hint of genuine bewilderment touching his brow. "Those unrelated matters are related to me," Lanqi stood up, adopting the posture of seeing off a guest as he gave an understated reply. "..." Duke Morotian studied Lanqi, as if pondering his words. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside, intermittently illuminating the silhouettes of the two men in the dim office. "Do you need an umbrella, Duke Bernhardt?" Lanqi asked, retrieving an umbrella from one of the cabinet drawers. "No need. It was a pleasure meeting you today, Mr. Luoqi McCarthy." Duke Morotian bid Lanqi farewell. As he pulled the door shut behind him, the freezing draft vanished completely, as if he had only been playing a small prank on the headmaster just now. ... On the other side of the Redmond Building's fifth floor. Pranay and Antanas stood by the window, watching until Duke Morotian had completely departed the Protos Royal Magic Academy grounds. Only then did they both breathe a sigh of relief. After Antanas took over the barrier authority of the Protos Royal Magic Academy granted by Lanqi, she could use her innate magic at any time to sense movements across the entire campus and provide rapid support, having also erected a barrier to shield the offices adjacent to the Headmaster's Office. Just moments ago, the rolling thunder had made them feel as though, at any second, a deafening crack of thunder might herald a campus overrun by undead. Sinora had been listening to Pranay's analysis of the exchange between their King and Duke Morotian. A vague hunch had begun forming in her heart, though she possessed no concrete evidence to substantiate it. The conversation between the King and Duke Morotian had appeared casual on the surface, but in truth, it felt like the quiet prelude to a colossal clash before the storm. Had Duke Morotian shown any intention of making a move against their King, they would have dragged him straight into a battleground at the first possible instant. The three great demons continued monitoring the campus for a short while after Duke Morotian's departure before leaving the administrative office together and walking down the corridor to the headmaster's door. Pranay knocked. "Come in." Lanqi's voice was gentle as always, sounding remarkably serene amid the fierce roar of the storm. The door opened, and the three great demons entered the office. "My King, why didn't you detain him just now? Didn't you find the duke extremely suspicious? A riddler like him deserves a good beating!" Antanas was the first to speak, unable to hold back. She didn't know whether the King had truly failed to grasp Duke Morotian's meaning, or if he held other considerations. On second thought, however, it felt like she had just insulted the New King as well. Antanas despised riddlers above all else, and Duke Morotian was blatantly a seasoned riddler. Fortunately, the New King was a riddler too; according to the theory of riddle relativity, that meant neither of them had out-riddled the other. By contrast, aside from Pranay, who might have grasped something, neither she nor Sinora could make heads or tails of the deep-seated dialogue between the New King and Duke Morotian, which resembled both a pleasant chat and a high-stakes psychological game. "..." Pranay remained silent. He could roughly guess that if Duke Morotian truly were an enemy, killing Luoqi McCarthy here under the interference of the academy's ancient barrier would inevitably cause a major disturbance. Having Duke Morotian kill Luoqi McCarthy with his own hands would trigger unnecessary, massive complications right on the eve of the bishop election. Therefore, even if Duke Morotian were an enemy, he most likely would not have made a move today. On the other hand, if Pranay and the others fought inside the Protos Royal Magic Academy, while they enjoyed home-field advantage, it would undoubtedly inflict massive destruction on the campus and cause severe casualties. The King's benevolence was not an act; his actions were genuinely steeped in mercy. "A school is no place for fighting." With his hands behind his back, Lanqi gazed out the window before finally turning his face toward the three great demons. "The ultimate battle is not today." No one knew what he truly saw within those emerald green eyes.