Following his brief, sharp interrogation, the section chief of the Imperial First Secret Service Section appeared to set aside his suspicions of Lanqi for the time being.
He signaled to Lieutenant Colonel Burke that the black-haired, blue-eyed noble youth was free to leave the train compartment.
"Mr. Landry, thank you for your cooperation."
Kestrel Nikolai gave Lanqi a nod. "As an important witness to this incident, our Imperial Special Operations Department may need to consult you for further details in the future. However, time is pressing, and tracking down the Allied spy takes precedence, so we won't keep you any longer."
After all, he was an imperial aristocrat; detaining him indefinitely would not look good.
"Providing clues to the investigation was merely my duty. Should you need anything further, I will gladly offer my full assistance," Lanqi replied with humble courtesy.
"In that case, please leave your information and contact details, Mr. Landry," Kestrel Nikolai said crisply, fulfilling the standard protocol for concluding an inquiry.
"I have only just arrived in Brierda, and my accommodations here in the capital will likely be arranged by my employer. If you need to reach me, contacting Saint Creti Monastery through official channels should find me easily enough," Lanqi replied.
"..."
Lieutenant Colonel Burke cast a dubious glance at Lanqi.
"Saint Creti Monastery? Mr. Landry, you work there?" Burke, who had remained quiet until now, could not help but ask.
"Yes. Earlier on the train, we were just about to discuss our work when we arrived at the station, and then Mr. Nikolai joined us," Lanqi explained smoothly. At the same time, he retrieved an official letter from his briefcase and handed it to the two officers to prevent Kestrel Nikolai from asking about it all over again.
Burke gave the document bearing the official seal of Saint Creti Monastery only a brief look before handing it over to Kestrel Nikolai for closer inspection.
"Landry Washington, newly hired professor at Saint Creti Monastery, reporting for duty prior to taking office, scheduled reporting date September thirtieth..." Kestrel Nikolai muttered softly under his breath as he scanned the letter.
At the mere mention of Saint Creti Monastery, the surrounding gendarmes immediately looked upon Lanqi with newfound veneration.
Nikolai mulled it over inwardly, his face remaining an unreadable mask.
"So that's how it is..."
Lieutenant Colonel Burke had already held a favorable impression of Lanqi, yet he hadn't imagined he was quite so distinguished. He looked Lanqi up and down once more in surprise. "No wonder you possessed the strength to resolve the train incident so easily. We are fortunate that an outstanding imperial talent like you was aboard, or those criminals would have wreaked far worse havoc."
A smile of surprise and admiration appeared on his face.
Burke had originally wondered what a man of such caliber from the frontier was doing coming to the capital. Now that he knew he was an incoming professor at Saint Creti Monastery, everything fell into place.
"It was nothing out of the ordinary; I merely did what my duty and obligations demanded," Lanqi said, every word firm and resonant.
"My apologies, Professor Landry, for our earlier discourtesy," Lieutenant Colonel Burke said.
"Think nothing of it."
Lanqi chatted casually with Burke while Nikolai took a moment to verify the documents.
The capital garrison gendarmes standing nearby could hardly conceal the curiosity and reverence in their eyes. They clearly longed to ask the professor a question or two, but it was inappropriate to interrupt their superior's conversation.
In their eyes, this black-haired, blue-eyed youth had become a mysterious hero who quietly performed great deeds without seeking fame.
"..."
Watching Lanqi laughing and chatting with the gendarme brigade commander, Talia felt that Lanqi had now completely morphed into Landry Washington.
He seemed even more authentic than the real Landry ever could have.
The reputation of Saint Creti Monastery was truly formidable, commanding awe even from the Empire's military and police.
Of course, that was only natural.
From what Talia knew, Saint Creti Monastery was the most secretive supreme academy on the Southern Continent. Even within the United Council of Kingdoms, none could rival it, and intelligence concerning it was exceptionally scarce.
To be hired as a professor at such an institution at such a young age naturally commanded deep respect.
Moments later, Nikolai handed the official letter back to Lanqi.
"Pardon my near-offense earlier, Professor Landry," Kestrel Nikolai said. "I did hear that Saint Creti Monastery had recently launched a new recruitment drive, but I never expected one of their appointees to be standing right before me."
He studied Lanqi closely.
Under normal circumstances, barring severe manpower shortages, the academy would provide a degree of protection for a treasured talent specially appointed to Saint Creti Monastery. But under the current circumstances, dispatching escorts all the way to the far northwestern frontier was simply impractical.
Or rather, a professor possessing such personal strength had no need for dedicated bodyguards in the first place.
Keeping his information strictly confidential and having him travel quietly and discreetly to the capital was by far the safest approach; dispatching an armed escort would only invite unnecessary danger.
"Understood. So long as it serves the Empire's interests, I could never harbor the slightest complaint."
Lanqi knew Nikolai was referring to the moment earlier when he had nearly pressed his hand against his forehead.
Nikolai offered a faint, ambiguous smile, then abruptly pivoted the conversation.
"By the way, since we are both heading to the station concourse, why don't we walk together? We can chat along the way—perhaps you might share more of your insights on this incident."
"Of course, that would be wonderful."
Lanqi sighed internally, but his face remained placid as he readily agreed.
Just as trust required no reason, suspicion required no reason for an imperial secret service chief. A predatory man like him would never pass up an opportunity to converse further with a person of interest.
"Lieutenant Colonel Burke, it seems this is where we part ways. Though our acquaintance was brief, it was a pleasure meeting you."
Before taking his leave, Lanqi turned to bid farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Burke von Arnold.
"Farewell, Teacher Landry. I hope we will not have occasion to meet again," Lieutenant Colonel Burke replied, returning the imperial salute.
After all, running into him—the commander of the gendarme brigade overseeing the capital's perimeter—was rarely good news. He was dispatched to scenes only when disasters struck.
And anyone who frequently turned up at crime scenes was bound to be a troublemaker of the highest order.
With those farewells spoken, Lanqi followed Kestrel Nikolai out of Carriage Four.
*He really doesn't plan on letting you off so easily, does he?* Talia remarked casually in Lanqi's mind.
*Let's just treat it as hitching a ride,* Lanqi replied through their mental link.
Under normal circumstances, his schedule wouldn't have been so tight, since mana rail trains rarely suffered delays compared to magic aviation. But due to the accident on the tracks, they had stalled in the Langar Mountains outside the capital for quite some time, followed by the Imperial Special Operations Department's lockdown that prevented passengers from disembarking. Glancing at the time, it was already past three in the afternoon.
He had to report to the school today, which meant arriving before five o'clock.
Taking Nikolai's vehicle would mean enduring another conversation along the way, but it was undeniably convenient.
Talia's earlier tension had dissipated, and her mental voice had relaxed considerably, as if she were lounging on a sofa watching a play unfold.
As they conversed, the two stepped through the train doors, navigated the bustling crowd, stepped onto the platform, and headed toward the concourse.
Brierda First Station was one of the Empire's busiest transit hubs. Soaring domes and sprawling arches vaulted overhead, while the marble floor mirrored the hurried footsteps of countless travelers. Flanking both sides of the hall, shop windows displayed an array of dazzling merchandise, their colorful billboards loudly pitching slogans to entice customers.
"Is this Professor Landry's first time in Brierda?" Kestrel Nikolai asked casually, maintaining an easy stride.
"Indeed. How could you tell, Lord Nikolai?" Lanqi withdrew his gaze from the station's vaulted ceiling and turned to the young secret service officer beside him.
"Because you seem quite fascinated by this architecture. It felt to me as though you'd never set foot here before," Nikolai replied. "I noticed your letter of appointment noted you are an expert in magic engineering, but I didn't expect you to have such an eye for architecture."
Situated at Duke Oseta Square in the city of Brierda, the station's construction began in the year 1664 of the Solar Calendar. Designed by the half-demon imperial artisan Urti Sterzini, it took well over a decade to complete and commission due to urban replanning and restructuring at the time.
Today, boasting twenty-six platforms, it served approximately three hundred thousand passengers daily, accommodated five hundred train arrivals and departures, and handled roughly one hundred and ten million commuters annually. Its massive steel-framed vaulted roof was the largest of its kind on the Southern Continent. Of all the stations across the continent, only this one was referred to simply as the First Station—a testament to Brierda First Station's recognized architectural prestige and leadership across the Southern Continent.
Nikolai could tell that the expression in the black-haired, blue-eyed youth's eyes just now was the gaze of an engineer beholding something that genuinely interested him.
Of course, another sort of person might look upon the Empire's core infrastructure with a similar gaze, though rarely with such candor and utter lack of concealment.
"Indeed, I know a little about architectural design," Lanqi said with a smile.
Exchanging pleasantries, the two crossed the expansive central concourse in no time and headed straight for the exit.
The moment they stepped outside the station, bright sunlight washed over them, bringing a long-missed warmth and lending an airy, brisk rhythm to the footsteps of the bustling crowd.
Lanqi took a deep breath of the crisp, dry autumn air of Brierda.
He had finally reached the heart of the Empire.
The first step of his assignment had been carried out smoothly.
In the distance, rows of tall buildings shimmered faintly in the hazy aura of sunlight, and an ancient, towering clock tower stood proud and erect, its hourly chimes rolling out long and melodious.
"Phew, finally some fresh air. The Empire is crawling with so many pests that I feel as though filth lurks beneath every foundation," Nikolai said in a light tone, gently pressing down on the brim of his cap with one hand.
"Section Chief Nikolai is too modest. With capable ministers like you serving the Empire, every dark corner will surely be swept clean one day," Lanqi praised from the side.
"Let's hope so." Nikolai let out a meaningful snort through his nose. "I believe that with Mr. Landry's talent and devotion, we will have plenty of opportunities to work together in the future. Now then, please come this way."
He gestured for Lanqi to follow him toward his department's parked vehicles.
Lanqi offered no further reply, casting only a fleeting glance across the ancient, bustling imperial capital. A flicker of eager anticipation flashed in his eyes as he followed along.
The clock tower behind them seemed to fade into yesterday as its low, resonant chimes heralded the start of a brand-new day.
Before they had taken more than a few paces, a crisp female voice rang out nearby.
"Excuse me, are you Professor Landry Washington?"
The sound drew both Lanqi's and Nikolai's attention.
Turning toward the voice, they saw a young woman dressed in a dark blue formal suit bowing courteously to Lanqi.
Her raven-black hair was gathered neatly into a bun at the side of her head, and her lips held a gentle, measured curve.
"I am..." Lanqi replied, sounding slightly puzzled.
To Lanqi's surprise, the woman's left leg and right arm were mechanical prosthetics forged of metal, glinting with a cold silver sheen in the sunlight. Her left eye was concealed behind an exquisite eyepatch, its strap extending behind her head and blending seamlessly into her dark hair.
"I am Secretary Naila to Headmaster Violet. I have been awaiting your arrival for quite some time," the suited woman introduced herself.
"To think the academy would send someone to meet me—I am truly flattered," Lanqi said, feigning surprise.
"Not at all. This is basic courtesy on the part of Saint Creti Monastery. Moreover, upon hearing of the train accident, the academy was concerned that information might have been leaked. Seeing you safe and sound, the headmaster can finally rest easy," Secretary Naila said assuredly.
"There is certainly no need to worry," Lanqi said with a touch of helplessness.
Even as he spoke, things had already become clear in his mind.
*Information really might have leaked from within the academy.*
Otherwise, the Allied spy Unity would never have received orders to assassinate Landry and steal his materials.
Yet even knowing this, Lanqi had to pretend total ignorance. According to his official statement to the military, he, Landry, was an absolute enemy to the female Allied assassin, and any communication between them would have been impossible.
*In other words, someone inside the academy—for whatever reason—might actually want Landry dead?* Talia asked Lanqi through their mental link, having listened to his thoughts.
*But how on earth was Unity, the Allied spy on the train, exposed in the first place?*
*Could someone among the Allies want Unity dead as well?*
She felt utterly bewildered.
In hindsight, the "original Landry" seemed to have been far from ordinary.
Not only the Allies, but someone within the Empire itself wanted him dead.
Now, for those conspirators, the good news was that the real Landry was dead; the bad news was that an imposter Landry had arrived to take his place.
*I can't piece together the full cause and effect either,* Lanqi thought, unable to make sense of it for the moment. *All I can say is that beneath the surface of this accident, multiple factions with their own hidden motives are clashing.*
He would just have to take things one step at a time.
Fortunately, his own objective remained clear and simple.
So long as he played the part of a dutiful, law-abiding teacher, he could smoothly carry out his espionage work.
Though things had deviated slightly from his initial plan, Saint Creti Monastery was a pivotal imperial institution, making it an exceptional point of entry.
If this journey through the Empire was to be the final chapter of his endeavors, then beginning and ending with an academy—just as his journey had begun—was fitting indeed.
Chapter 711