As the magitech vehicle slowed and drove into the courtyard of the sprawling government compound, Lanqi knew they had arrived at the Imperial Special Operations Department.
Along the way, Lanqi had passed numerous sites, the scenery outside his window constantly receding into the distance.
"This is your first time visiting the Imperial Special Operations Department, Professor Landry. Please stay close to me once we're inside, and don't wander off on your own,"
Kestrel Nikolai gave a rare word of caution.
Otherwise, should any danger arise, he could hardly guarantee Lanqi's safety.
"Don't worry, Section Chief Nikolai. I don't have a bad sense of direction, and I won't go around taking liberties with leading the way,"
Lanqi chuckled as he leaned back against his seat and replied.
With that, he looked out the window once more.
Sprawling spires reached into the clouds, casting long, slanted silhouettes across the vast, open plaza. The Creti national flag reflected the empire's unshakeable, majestic might. Looking upward, one could see the headquarters of the Special Operations Department towering proudly beneath an azure, washed-clean sky.
The scenery before Lanqi's eyes came to a stop when the vehicle driven by the operative halted before the long flight of stone stairs leading to the building.
As if confirming Lanqi's thoughts, the car door was promptly pulled open by guards from the department.
The solemn, oppressive aura unique to a secret intelligence agency washed over him instantly.
The Creti Imperial Special Operations Department sat squarely in the heart of the imperial capital, Brierda, only a few broad avenues away from the magnificent imperial palace.
Its current director, Duke Dex Reynolds, was the Emperor's most trusted confidant. Having achieved illustrious military merits, he was hailed as the empire's sharpest shadow blade.
"We're here,"
Kestrel Nikolai's voice drew Lanqi's attention away from the window.
"Please follow me. I will give you a brief tour of our department's atrium before taking you to see Director Dex."
After stepping out of the car, Kestrel Nikolai's military greatcoat snapped back into its crisp, taut lines. He adjusted the brim of his cap as he spoke.
Lanqi nodded slightly, and Nikolai turned to lead the way.
Lanqi followed Kestrel Nikolai down the paths of the Imperial Special Operations Department.
The entire complex, reached by climbing the grand staircase, was built from off-white granite. Inscribed on all four sides was the motto: *"For the Glory of the Empire."* Golden ivy climbed the walls, its leaves tinged with a warm yellow, and delicate autumn foliage occasionally brushed past the massive metal doors that stood several meters tall.
Flanking the entrance were two stone lions carved from pitch-black stone, their eyes bright and piercing, offering a silent warning to all who approached.
Upon entering the grand hall, most personnel from the department offered Nikolai a curt salute.
On the wall at the back of the hall hung the black-and-gold bicolored banner of the Creti Empire, flanked by portraits of emperors throughout history.
Every now and then, pairs of operatives clad in midnight-black trench coats strode past briskly. Their chiseled faces were completely devoid of expression, and the crisp cadence of their military boots clicking against the marble floor quickly faded into the shadowy distance of the corridors.
"Why didn't they acknowledge you?"
Lanqi asked Nikolai in a low whisper.
Judging by military rank, Nikolai was an imperial major, whereas those operatives were merely non-commissioned officers. By all rights, Nikolai was their superior.
"They belong to the Action Team. They answer to Captain Maguire,"
Kestrel Nikolai replied indifferently, not minding in the slightest.
"..."
Lanqi nodded thoughtfully.
Nikolai was the chief of the Countermeasures Section, and his relationship with Captain Maguire of the Action Team appeared strained, as evidenced by the subordinates' attitudes.
From what Lanqi knew of their responsibilities, the Countermeasures Section and the Action Team often clashed over competing credit or tripped each other up; mutual hostility was only natural.
Guided by Nikolai, Lanqi stepped deeper into the core sector of the Imperial Special Operations Department.
*Lanqi... Lanqi, you really are something else.*
Though Talia was a demon princess who had seen much of the world, a ripple of emotion stirred in her heart as Lanqi brought her into this understated yet formidable edifice.
She found herself once again confirming an earlier suspicion.
It was rarely Lanqi who sought out jobs and opportunities. Rather, his sheer talent and uncontainable presence constantly drew institutions to take notice of him—even compelling them to invite him in.
Without her realizing it, that boy from the border territory had grown into such a formidable man. When had time begun to pass so quickly? She had almost failed to notice.
*Master, why are you talking so soft and sweet like a dainty girl?*
Lanqi shot back in his mind at once.
*You...*
Talia instantly felt that this blasted fellow had never changed one bit.
It served him right that no girl liked him.
*Now that's more like it.*
Lanqi instantly felt that familiar, rich vintage aroma resurface.
*Savor it all you want... If you have the guts, try sniffing me directly like last time...*
She couldn't touch Lanqi right now, but she was definitely keeping score, gritting her teeth as she fumed.
Navigating through the building's deep, winding corridors, the two arrived before a discreet lift.
Kestrel Nikolai drew a crystal card from the inner pocket of his coat, swiped it, and pressed several seemingly random floor buttons in an intricate rhythm.
"Whoa, which floor are we heading to?"
With a barely perceptible hum, the lift began its ascent, moving with such speed that Lanqi wondered if they were heading straight for the heavens.
He recalled that this building was toweringly tall.
The exterior of the Imperial Special Operations Department was fortified with hundreds of layers of restriction barriers accumulated from antiquity to the present day.
Even an eighth-tier expert would find it nearly impossible to storm the department by force. Naturally, once inside, breaking out by martial might was completely out of the question.
"Relax, Professor. The ascent can be somewhat disorienting, but you will likely be coming here often in the future,"
Perhaps sensing his tension, Nikolai remarked in a mildly teasing tone.
"I would much prefer coming here for an official post rather than having Section Chief Nikolai haul me in every day for investigation and interrogation,"
Lanqi spread his hands and shook his head helplessly.
"I never said that's what I meant,"
Kestrel Nikolai kept his hands behind his back, staring at the elevator doors in his usual upright posture.
When the lift doors parted again, Lanqi found himself in a spacious sky lobby. The wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows offered an unobstructed panoramic view of nearly the entire central district of Brierda.
Standing atop this skyscraper, all worldly commotion was shut out, leaving only the sound of footsteps and breathing.
Nikolai led Lanqi forward, looping through several corridors before finally reaching an atrium that occupied most of the floor's area.
At a glance, the open space spanned over a thousand square meters, surrounded by soaring glass curtain walls. A circular pillar of silvery-white light served as the focal point of the atrium, stretching from floor to ceiling, allowing light and air to circulate freely through its circular aperture.
The entire atrium was carpeted and fully appointed with desks, lounge areas, and sofas; essentially, it served as an executive office.
"Director Dex, I have brought Mr. Landry,"
Nikolai bowed toward the front.
Lanqi looked ahead and saw a tall, slender silhouette standing in the distance. The man was gazing out the window, quietly lighting a cigarette.
The silvery-white illumination outlined his contours, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the imperial capital outside.
"Come, have a seat."
A thin wisp of smoke drifted between his fingers, swiftly dissipating into the air as he turned around slowly.
He appeared to stand well over 185 centimeters tall, nearing fifty, lean yet sinewy. His jet-black hair was neatly combed, streaked with gray at the temples.
His eyes were a deep brown that verged on black, remarkably calm, framed by high cheekbones, a square jaw, and a neatly trimmed thin beard.
He matched the intelligence report on Creti's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Duke Dex Reynolds, which Lanqi had reviewed before departing from the Kingdom of Posen.
Even meeting him face-to-face, it was hard to imagine that this man was the head of a secret service.
"Duke Dex, thank you for the invitation."
Lanqi did not neglect his etiquette, executing a bow to Duke Dex in the exact same manner as Nikolai.
"..."
Kestrel Nikolai cast a sideways glance at Lanqi, then led him over toward the sofas.
"Professor Landry, there is no need to copy Nikolai. He was once my pupil, which is why he greets me like that. You can make yourself at home,"
Duke Dex lowered his cigarette and gestured for them to sit on the sofas by the window.
"Our department is not as rigidly hierarchical as the Imperial Army General Command. Due to the sensitive nature of our work, efficiency is paramount. Fulfilling our mission is the sole objective; serving the empire knows no distinction of rank."
Explaining with casual ease, he took a seat on the long sofa opposite them, crossing his hands over his knees.
The sofa was upholstered in premium black genuine leather produced by the Reynolds ducal family's enterprises, offering a plush, comfortable, yet dignified seat.
Rich, aromatic coffee and royal-issue pastries had already been arranged on the coffee table, clearly prepared in advance by other departmental staff for this meeting.
Kestrel Nikolai sat upright with a grave expression. Although he was merely attending the meeting as an observer, Landry was someone he had brought in, meaning whatever happened could directly reflect on him.
The director had personally requested Professor Landry's presence, an obvious sign of how highly he valued the man's research.
Beyond headquarters, the Imperial Special Operations Department maintained field stations across various provinces and cities, classified into several tiers based on territory size and strategic importance. Landry's hometown, the Nixassend border in northwestern Creti, was a relatively low-ranked Tier-3 station.
Headquarters had clear divisions of responsibility. Director Dex oversaw the chiefs of all field stations while concurrently serving as the chief of the Brierda station—the sole Tier-0 station—directly commanding the empire's elite operatives at headquarters.
Under him were four major divisions: the Intelligence Department, the Countermeasures Department, the Action Team, and the Research Institute. Nikolai, serving under the First Domestic Countermeasures Section, primarily handled first-response on-site investigations; under normal circumstances, Section Chief Nikolai did not engage in combat.
Frontal confrontations and arrests were typically carried out by Captain Maguire's Action Team.
The Intelligence Department leaned toward logistics, while the Research Institute was the most secretive of the support branches.
After Professor Landry's recruitment, though titled an honorary consultant for the Research Institute, he would mostly liaise with the Countermeasures Section. Nikolai had been assigned the dual duties of coordinating with Professor Landry and keeping him under surveillance.
Lanqi appeared relatively relaxed, seemingly following Dex's suggestion to dispense with stiff formalities.
"The empire is truly brimming with talent these days. You are even younger than I imagined. When Nikolai informed me that the professor who proposed the mana fission principles at Saint Creti Monastery was the very Sir Landry Washington he met on the mana rail train, I too was surprised,"
Duke Dex's obsidian-like eyes fixed steadily on Lanqi as he spoke.
"In eras of imperial transformation, those who love the empire tend to gravitate toward one another, gradually weaving connections across the pages of history. It has always been so, which is why I believe this was not necessarily a coincidence, but an inevitability,"
Lanqi met his gaze with unruffled composure.
"A brilliant young talent indeed. Compared to your brilliance, your ideological awareness is even more mature. Rest assured, since I have decided to use you, I will not keep you under constant suspicion. Passing Nikolai's scrutiny is proof enough. Even if your background warrants a deeper probe, that is not something for me to worry about; I will leave it entirely in Nikolai's capable hands,"
Dex seemed to see through Lanqi's thoughts, glancing frankly toward his star pupil, Nikolai.
His candid words carried a touch of humor.
He cared only about results.
Even if it were an act, if someone could deceive Nikolai's hawk-like gaze and keep up the deception indefinitely, it was as good as real. And what Dex wanted was to get things done.
"Since you have come here, Landry, it means you are willing to accept our invitation to become an honorary consultant for the Imperial Special Operations Department,"
Dex turned back to Lanqi and asked.
"Of course. I must express my gratitude for your invitation and favor,"
Lanqi affirmed.
"Hahaha."
Duke Dex chuckled upon hearing that.
"To be honest, Professor Landry, if I hadn't already witnessed your capabilities, speaking with you would make me feel like I were talking to a politician rather than a magic engineer. That is not an insult, of course; I genuinely find you very easy to deal with."
In just a few exchanges, he had taken the measure of this professor. Landry spoke with warmth and poise, having long shed the callowness expected of his age. He bore none of the eccentric temperament or arrogant self-importance common among magic engineers; rather than being intoxicated by academic acclaim, he understood that even with great achievements, one must remain considerate of others' feelings.
"You flatter me, Duke Dex. No man can accomplish great undertakings alone. Since I wish to serve the empire to the utmost, I have long understood that I must constantly consider others. In any endeavor, we need a leader—a leader of great vision and foresight,"
Lanqi made no effort to hide his ambition before Duke Dex.
Beside them, Kestrel Nikolai couldn't help but glance at him.
He knew that Professor Landry's candor, rather than masking his thoughts, made him far easier to trust. However, Landry's concluding words left Nikolai unsure whether the "leader" he referred to was the head of a research team or something even higher.
Regardless, the man's devotion to the empire did not appear feigned.
"Is that so? Perhaps such an opportunity truly exists. After all, every opportunity in this world is a reward reserved for the capable and talented,"
Duke Dex smiled with meaningful interest, as if recalling a fortunate alignment of events.
"What do you mean by that?"
Lanqi inquired intently, making no effort to conceal his eagerness.
Even if the prospect sounded slim,
he had no intention of letting any chance to rise within the empire slip through his fingers.
All of this was for the sake of love and peace.
"To begin with, as an honorary consultant in our department, you will not have fixed office hours. Nor will I let mundane official duties disrupt your research. Day to day, you need only coordinate with Nikolai, synchronizing your research findings from Saint Creti Monastery with our department and assisting us in maintaining operational security,"
Duke Dex shifted the conversation back to the primary agenda of today's meeting.
"Understood. No problem at all,"
Lanqi nodded with apparent understanding, extending a hand toward Kestrel Nikolai.
"Section Chief Nikolai, I will be in your care moving forward."
"It seems fate truly binds us,"
Kestrel Nikolai shook Lanqi's hand with a faint, wry smile.
Both men knew full well that this was mere professional courtesy.
Lanqi had anticipated that Dex would clarify the actual duties of an honorary consultant.
Before coming, Lanqi had already deduced as much.
His daily lectures and research at Saint Creti Monastery could become prime focal points for the empire's magic engineering and defense specialists, and many investigative matters fell under the purview of the Imperial Special Operations Department. The secret service acted as a crucial liaison; if Nikolai had to be dispatched every time Landry casually unveiled some groundbreaking theoretical framework without direct coordination, it would create endless complications.
By bringing Landry into their fold, future operations would run far more efficiently. Furthermore, if cutting-edge academic principles were leaked at Saint Creti Monastery, tracing the source and investigating faculty or students suspected of espionage would be much easier with Professor Landry's cooperation.
The only thing Lanqi couldn't pinpoint was how this primary duty related to the "potential promotion opportunity" Dex had touched on earlier.
"I heard from the station chief in Nixassend that during your university days on the northwestern border, Professor Landry was already a fine young gentleman who shared a mutual affection with a fiancée. I wonder, now that you've arrived in the capital and assumed multiple roles, will this affect your personal life?"
Duke Dex suddenly asked, leaning forward slightly as if prying into Landry's private affairs.
"..."
Lanqi fell silent.
His face remained completely composed, but his mind was flooded with question marks.
*Landry has a fiancée?!*
Talia had even more question marks than he did.
She could sense that Duke Dex was telling the truth.
Landry's parents were dead, and his only surviving relative was his younger sister, yet this fellow actually had a fiancée?
"It won't affect it. Not at all,"
Lanqi shook his head after a momentary pause.
"A rare glimpse of fluster from Professor Landry?"
Having remained silent until now, Kestrel Nikolai suddenly chimed in, seemingly quite intrigued.
"..."
As if words were caught in his throat, Lanqi offered no reply, lowering his gaze.
*Lanqi, are you alright?*
Talia felt that Lanqi's performance might be too strained, risking suspicion from Dex and Nikolai.
She was currently doing her utmost to read Dex's mind for Lanqi.
*Acting like this is more natural. The real Landry clearly concealed matters regarding his fiancée, which is why neither Secretary Naila nor Headmaster Violet ever mentioned it at Saint Creti Monastery. If I appeared completely unfazed right now, it would seem suspicious instead.*
Lanqi's inner thoughts remained calm and measured; he was focused entirely on how to handle the situation.
*...You're surprisingly experienced. Looking closely, that half-suppressed grimace is remarkably vivid. Where did you learn that?*
Caught off guard, Talia once again felt that Lanqi was dependable, though she wondered why his acting range was so vast.
Human experience had its limits; he couldn't possibly have encountered and personally lived through every conceivable scenario.
*Loren.*
Lanqi remembered that every time Dean Loren heard the word "fiancée," his face contorted into this exact expression.
*...*
Talia was left speechless.
Silence hung in the office for a brief moment.
Lanqi looked toward Dex as if seeking a lifeline, while the latter offered a deeply meaningful smile.
"Professor Landry is spirited, but quite the romantic as well. I hear that back in the northwestern border of Nixassend, quite a few women were enamored with you. Judging by that, could it be you have more than one fiancée?"
Dex finally posed the question he was truly interested in.
"I... Right now, the only thing that matters to me is my work. You need not worry about women distracting me, sir. Some rumors take on a completely different flavor after passing through a few mouths. If I must say so, the only woman I have an obligation to look after right now is my sister,"
Lanqi answered, breathing an inward sigh of relief.
It seemed his deduction was correct: the "fiancée" Duke Dex spoke of wasn't necessarily someone Landry had formal vows with, but rather the numerous women linked to him through gossip back home.
Lanqi knew such rumors could not be allowed to fester, or the tally of his fiancées would only multiply, becoming increasingly preposterous!
"..."
Hearing his response, Dex sighed, seemingly feeling that Landry had failed to catch his drift.
"Your research has caused quite a stir among the imperial high command. There are certain unsettled matters I cannot disclose to you just yet. What I can reveal is that you stand a very strong chance of being brought into this project. However, you are not irreplaceable. The empire's background vetting of you in the coming days will be of the utmost importance. Do you understand?"
Director Dex leaned in, murmuring softly into Lanqi's ear.
"So that's how it is..."
Lanqi's eyes brightened at once in sudden realization.
"I understand. Thank you, Director."
He offered his thanks immediately.
Duke Dex picked up his coffee and took a satisfied sip; dealing with smart people was always effortless.
The atmosphere inside the top-floor office of the Imperial Special Operations Department grew harmonious once more. Dex had covered the main agenda for today's meeting with Landry, leaving behind only light banter aimed at building rapport.
*What does that mean, Lanqi?*
Talia couldn't make heads or tails of what Lanqi had just understood.
She could only confirm that Duke Dex had spoken the truth and harbored no deceit toward Lanqi, meaning it was likely harmless.
*The project Duke Dex mentioned is very likely related to mana fission research. The empire has clearly recognized its strategic value,*
Lanqi patiently explained to Talia in his mind.
*And if they initiate such a program, the empire will strongly favor participants with dependents. Once the project begins, all researchers and their families will almost certainly be gathered in a single designated facility—both for protection and as collateral.*
Thus, Director Dex was subtly hinting that even if he had no family yet, he should hurry and bring his fiancée over to make her his dependent.
Though it gave Lanqi a headache, this was an opportunity he could not afford to pass up.
If he flatly denied having a fiancée, Kestrel Nikolai's suspicions would only deepen. In the worst-case scenario, Nikolai might go to extreme lengths, traveling to the Nixassend border himself to investigate Landry's personal connections.
Conversely, having a clever partner would not only help him secure greater trust from the Imperial Special Operations Department and pass the political vetting with flying colors, but also grant him a ticket into the empire's upcoming core project.
*Then where are you going to find a fiancée?*
Talia grasped the logic, yet the thought of Lanqi looking for a fiancée made her feel inexplicably uneasy.
*I can only seek help from the Allied Forces or Posen. Failing that, I could contact Landry's original shadowy organization to see if they can supply a female spy with civil registration in Nixassend to assist me, or perhaps lend me the identity so you can play the part,*
Lanqi communicated telepathically to Talia.
In any case, Landry's messy romantic past was actually a blessing in disguise. As long as the woman came from his hometown, she could pass as his fiancée; they would just need to align their backstories beforehand.
The advantage of using Talia was absolute trust: no need to rehearse lines, as they knew each other inside out, allowing her to portray his fiancée flawlessly. The downside was high energy consumption; keeping her summoned around the clock would place an immense burden on Lanqi.
Moreover, once Talia, who existed as a lingering spirit, acquired a physical identity in the Creti Empire, suddenly returning to Lanqi and vanishing would raise suspicions, demanding far greater secrecy.
*Fine. If possible, the best outcome would be having the Allied Forces send a reliable female spy for a guest appearance as your "fake fiancée,"*
Talia said to Lanqi, feeling a sense of relief.
She didn't quite understand why she had emphasized those last few words.
At any rate, it was merely an act. Once they crossed their doorstep, they would keep to their own quarters. She wouldn't feel uncomfortable about it, because she knew that fake was just fake.
Chapter 728