On the Eve of Lanqi's Three Cores and Six Threads

[—This is Antanas Radio.] [Hi, sweethearts! Today's host is still me, Antanas.] On an early February morning, two streets east of Ikerite Academy, a cozy log-cabin restaurant was nearing its opening hour. The familiar opening line drifted softly from the windows. A month had slipped by in the blink of an eye, bringing them to mid-February, right on the threshold of spring. The sky had not yet fully brightened. Starlight lingered faintly, while pale gray dawn descended as usual over the streets of Hutton Kingdom's royal capital, Ikerite. In the drowsy stillness of morning, the thoroughfares seemed about to drown in a wash of indigo. "Why does it feel like someone's grand finale is coming in the next couple of days?" Inside the Boss Cat Restaurant, Pranay stood behind the counter polishing a glass. He gazed out the window at the fading constellations as though reading an omen. Then he shook his head. Even he could not make sense of the stars this time. The line between grand auspiciousness and dire calamity was razor-thin. Perhaps he was simply mistaken. [Has the monotonous winter left you feeling weary and dull?] Antanas's broadcast carried clearly across both the first and second floors. "Good morning, Pranay!" Accompanied by the long, crisp jingle-jangle of the chime at the entrance, the wooden door of Boss Cat Restaurant was pushed open. A gust of winter wind swept in, bringing a clean, chilly bite. "Good morning." Pranay set down his glass and greeted Lanqi, who had arrived so early in the morning. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination or a change brought on by the vacation, but Lanqi seemed to be growing more and more cheerful. "Did your sister go to the Duke's estate?" Lanqi looked around the dining room and saw no sign of Pranay's sister, Sinora. "She went to hang out with Hyperion. She's taking the afternoon and evening shifts today, so I only have to cover the morning." Pranay remembered how Sinora used to stay over and sleep in Hyperion's bed at the Duke's mansion. At first, it was partly to protect Hyperion's safety and partly because they genuinely got along so well that they were practically inseparable during the day. Now, however, with no more need to protect Hyperion, Sinora flatly refused to stay overnight, politely and timidly declining Hyperion's invitations every single time. "So do you have tomorrow off?" Seeing that Pranay always ended up working the longest shifts, Lanqi asked. "Tomorrow will be quite busy here. Sinora and Antanas both want to go out and have fun, so I'll be covering for them." Pranay showed no hint of complaint, his expression remaining placid. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day on the Southern Continent, a tradition tracing back to the harvest goddess festivals of ancient Seros. Legend held that a millennium ago, a priest named Valentine had been executed for secretly officiating weddings for lovers, martyred for love. Later generations marked the date of his execution, mid-February, as a day of remembrance. Over time, it had evolved into the Southern Continent's Valentine's Day. Today, it was a major sales season for merchants. Festive items like greeting cards, bouquets, and jewelry were sold everywhere, while venues like restaurants and theaters were flooded with couples. Naturally, Boss Cat Restaurant would be busier than usual tomorrow. "That really is a pity. You won't be able to come to the Ikerite Opera House to watch the show Hyperion and I are starring in," Lanqi said regretfully. Abigail had deliberately scheduled the performance for tomorrow's auspicious date. Lanqi knew Pranay had provided the troupe with tremendous help regarding demon realm culture. Yet when the day of their premiere finally arrived, Pranay wouldn't be in the audience due to his work schedule. "It's fine. It'll be broadcast on the screen here at Boss Cat Restaurant." Pranay could simply watch while he worked. "Pranay, why not just come watch in person? Tomorrow is completely safe! Hyperion and I are the leads, so there definitely won't be any troublemakers this time. It's such a rare occasion—let's go together! The worst that could happen is Boss Cat Restaurant closes for a day. Abigail even prepared tickets for all of you." Lanqi tried to persuade him. "All right. Since you put it that way, I'll go watch." After pondering for a moment, Pranay agreed. In any case, he possessed the power of the Lord of Bones. When the time came, he could send a bone avatar to the Ikerite Opera House to watch the play while his main body stayed behind to run Boss Cat Restaurant. Neither would be neglected. "Wonderful!" The two chatted leisurely. The restaurant's interior was simple yet refined. Even in winter, the wooden tables, chairs, and floors gave off a faint, pleasant scent of pine. [Even though the Antanas Radio show is coming to an end...] [Please remember Antanas's blessing—] [Happiness is the true path; sorrow and worry have no place!] [Perhaps we'll hear it again in a new story. It makes a wonderful theme, after all.] When Antanas had first arrived at Boss Cat Restaurant, she was simply bursting with excess energy. Pranay had procured a small set of magic-engineering broadcasting equipment for her. Every day when Boss Cat Restaurant opened and closed, Antanas would turn on the broadcast to share stories with the patrons. As time passed, she gradually gathered a following. Soon, not only customers at Boss Cat Restaurant listened, but neighbors around Ikerite would tune in once they got home. Many women even visited or contacted her for relationship advice—especially young students from Ikerite Academy. Even when the magazine *Ikerite Gourmet Weekly* reviewed Boss Cat Restaurant, it included praise for Antanas Radio. Listeners sought her guidance on all sorts of romantic dilemmas, asking for advice on how to handle their partners, all with outstanding results. What had begun as a mere pastime for Antanas had slowly built a loyal audience, ultimately earning her an audition invitation from the Hutton Times Broadcasting Company. "The audition she did for the Hutton Times Broadcasting Company the other day—she passed, right? I remember they wanted to sign Antanas as a professional broadcaster and host, turning her private program here into an officially scheduled show on their network." Lanqi asked Pranay. The Hutton Times Broadcasting Company was an independent radio station based in the royal capital of Ikerite, located right near Ikerite Academy. It was famous for its around-the-clock news, current affairs discussions, and interactive call-in shows. Founded over twenty years ago, it held a unique status in the Hutton Kingdom's media sphere thanks to its groundbreaking topic debates and public participation format. "She did pass her audition that day, but not long after, the war broke out in the Southern Continent's Cretaceous Empire, so the program's debut was delayed. Until things settled, she had to stick to her usual routine. Fortunately, the war ended much faster than anyone anticipated, so the Hutton Times Broadcasting Company is back to preparing Antanas's segment now," Pranay answered. The station's programming covered diverse fields, including politics, law, finance, health, and culture, aiming to provide a platform where the public could communicate directly with hosts and guests. At times, certain programs also delved into relationship topics. The folks at the Hutton Times Broadcasting Company greatly admired Antanas's talent, which was why they extended the invitation. "Meow, meow, what are you two chatting about?" Boss Cat hopped out of the kitchen and landed on the counter, peering up at Lanqi and Pranay. He had just finished preparing breakfast, and with Lanqi's arrival, he could serve him right away. "We were just talking about everyone going to see the stage performance tomorrow afternoon." Lanqi watched comfortably as breakfast floated over under Boss Cat's telekinetic control. "Meow, meow! I want to go too! I want a VIP seat, meow!" "Of course there's a ticket for you. Though honestly, I don't think you need your own seat. Whomever you choose to sit on would be more than happy to hold you." As the two people and one cat chatted in the dining area, the scuff of slippers dragging across the floor echoed from the distant stairwell. "Yaaawn... Why does it smell so good? Did Tata make breakfast for me?" Sigrid yawned as she drifted down into the restaurant. Bleary-eyed, she guzzled from a bottle of pure water, sniffing the air as she asked around. "No, meow. Tata went out early this morning to see Ephathia, so she asked me to cook breakfast for you, meow," Boss Cat answered, raising his head toward Sigrid. "Ah... Tata isn't here?" Hearing that Tata was away, Sigrid instantly looked twice as sleepy, almost ready to lean against the banister and doze off right there. She had originally planned to capture Talia and cling to her for a good long sniff. Although Talia always scolded her for committing crimes, as long as she adopted her little-sister Sig voice, Talia would give up resisting. "Sigrid, come down and eat. In a bit, I'll go with you to Ikerite Academy to pick up your identification. Your exchange student paperwork is all done," Lanqi said with a helpless smile. "That works too!" Her energy instantly restored, Sigrid darted down the stairs as if jolted awake and pounced onto Lanqi's back, wrapping herself around him. If Tata wasn't around, Lanqi would have to serve as her substitute. "All right, Sigrid, get down already." Lanqi carried Sigrid on his back. Even though Sigrid was actually heavier than Talia, Lanqi didn't feel weighed down in the slightest. For one thing, Talia, at one meter sixty-eight, was noticeably shorter than the one-meter-seventy-five Sigrid. For another, Sigrid was a martial artist, so her weight was entirely reasonable. "Meow." Even Boss Cat could tell what Lanqi was thinking right now. Good thing Tata wasn't here today. Otherwise, she might have tackled Lanqi along with Sigrid straight into the floor. Every time Boss Cat looked at that abstract painting of a twisted pretzel in the restaurant, he had no idea what to say. The growing morning light spilled through the expansive windows onto the wooden furnishings of Boss Cat Restaurant. The soft clinking of cutlery and plates, light chatter, and the restaurant's background music intertwined in the air. Lanqi and the others sat down beside a long table, leisurely enjoying their breakfast. Sigrid took slow, deliberate sips of her latte, upon which floated meticulously drawn cat-head foam art, while Lanqi savored a bagel layered with avocado, a fried egg, and fresh tomatoes. They chatted intermittently, glancing at the newspapers Boss Cat flipped through on the table. Here, they could switch effortlessly between home life and urban pace, making the place feel less like a breakfast shop and more like their own living room. By the time they finished breakfast, the morning sun was already high in the sky. "Time to head out." Lanqi and Sigrid had only taken a few steps out of Boss Cat Restaurant when a melodious chime reached their ears. "That's the morning bell of Ikerite Academy." Carrying the little black cat, Lanqi walked beside Sigrid along the road toward the School of Magic Engineering. Because Boss Cat Restaurant was close to Ikerite Academy, the chimes from the clock tower could be heard across nearly the entire neighborhood. "You promised you'd take me all around Ikerite, and after all these days, you're only taking me to visit your school..." Sigrid grumbled, feigning grievance. In the distance, the campus's iconic red-brick clock tower struck nine times before falling silent, announcing the arrival of nine in the morning. "Why are you sounding so manipulative?" Lanqi asked her. "What right do you have to say that?" Sigrid laughed at his accusation, dropping the frail act to fire right back at him. "I know, I know. I'll show you a proper good time around Ikerite." Lanqi had spent most of the past month rehearsing at the Ikerite Opera House. Though he saw Sigrid every day, he hadn't had enough free time to take her out exploring. Once tomorrow's performance was over, he would have plenty of time. "Then tomorrow I'll make sure to enjoy your show. I heard the Gray Princess chapter got rave reviews at the Brillda Opera House. Tomorrow, I want to experience the Brillda Troupe and your performance live on stage." Sigrid patted Lanqi on the shoulder, urging the young man to work hard so she could be thoroughly entertained tomorrow. "Don't worry, it'll definitely be great this time," Lanqi promised. After such thorough preparation, he was confident that tomorrow's public premiere would be a thousand-percent success. Chatting like this, the two strolled between the architecturally diverse buildings of Ikerite. Before they knew it, they crossed the few streets separating Boss Cat Restaurant from the campus grounds and entered the school. Passing the station by the school gates, golden sunlight rose from the east, illuminating the entire campus and filling them with a crisp, refreshing vigor. "So pretty." Looking up, Sigrid could see the relief-carved Ancient Tower Library of the School of Sages. Strolling further, the scenery shifted into the pointed archways of the School of Knights' arena, steeped in classical charm. "I'll take you around the whole place in a bit." Lanqi's top priority right now was to get Sigrid her student bracelet, granting her access and privileges to the interior facilities. "By the way, Lanqi, since you're so good as a designer and patternmaker, why don't you make my Ikerite Academy uniform for me? Tailor it to whatever you like best," Sigrid said, glancing at the uniform reflected on the glass facade. She actually preferred skirts a little shorter. Tata did have a set, but the sizing was slightly off; Sigrid was built a bit larger than Tata. "Wait, did you steal Hyperion's clothes again?" Lanqi took a closer look at what Sigrid was wearing and realized she had put on a uniform before leaving—specifically, Hyperion's. Because Hyperion and Sigrid had completely different styles, Sigrid wearing Hyperion's clothes naturally gave off an entirely different vibe, so much so that Lanqi hadn't even noticed at first. Ikerite Academy uniforms came in various cuts that could be freely matched and customized at the student service center. Consequently, almost no two students wore the exact same uniform, yet everyone could tell they belonged to the academy, discerning their school and year from the colors and ornaments. "I didn't steal it. She said I could take it. Aside from underwear, everything else is fair game," Sigrid declared to Lanqi. Last time, when she had worn Hyperion's clothes at their residence in the Cretaceous Empire, Lanqi had caught her. If Hyperion's clothes were a looser fit, they fit her fairly well. So whenever she didn't know what to wear, she would just rummage through Hyperion's wardrobe, and she had put her own clothes in Hyperion's closet too. "So after coming to the Southern Continent, aside from the clothes in your luggage, you've barely bought anything new and just treated Hyperion's wardrobe as your own?" Lanqi mused that such bandit-like behavior was very typical of Sigrid's shortcut-seeking mindset. Shopping for fashion in boutiques might really be no match for a duke's daughter's closet. "There's no need to buy so much. Look at me, aren't I being thrifty and diligent?" Sigrid said as if it were only natural. Besides, Hyperion herself had agreed. Even if Hyperion felt a little strange about Sigrid wearing her clothes at first, whenever Sigrid acted cute and spoiled, Hyperion instantly folded, even proactively pulling out skirts from her closet for little sister Sig to try on. "You've really got Tata and little Hype wrapped around your finger." Lanqi felt that Sigrid had truly figured things out. As long as she turned into Sig, she could use her status as the youngest sister at home to do whatever she pleased, and both Talia and Hyperion would indulge her. "Besides, don't you think there's a special charm in Hyperion and me taking turns wearing the same outfit?" Sigrid whispered to him. "What on earth are you talking about, meow?" In Lanqi's arms, Boss Cat overheard their exchange and immediately suspected Sigrid of spouting scandalous nonsense. The two people and one cat walked beneath the clock tower, which stood majestically amidst a vast meadow surrounded by the silhouettes of winter trees. A few minutes' walk later, they passed through a garden and spotted the red-brick building standing on the edge of the School of Magic Engineering: the Old Arts and Sciences Building. "Remember when we were in Herrom, and we rushed to catch the train together like students?" Reminded of the past, Sigrid asked Lanqi beside her with nostalgia. "I was really surprised back then that the Archbishop would disguise herself as a schoolgirl my age." "What are you trying to say...?" "At first, I thought you'd disguise yourself as a teacher to sneak into the school." "I'm deducting affection points..." The greenery on both sides was bathed in morning mist and sunlight, exuding a fresh fragrance. Along the path bloomed countless flowers Lanqi couldn't name, some bright, some delicate, and some strange in shape. Accompanied by the songs of birds, the buzzing of bees, and the murmur of running water, they gradually walked from the end of the path onto a soft lawn dotted with flowers. The buildings in this area were all nestled inside gardens. "Is this where your student council is? Hyperion told me about it," Sigrid said curiously. They reached the building on the outskirts of the School of Magic Engineering. Statues and reliefs were embedded in its red-brick exterior walls—one of the campus's landmarks, the Old Arts and Sciences Building. She had heard from Hyperion that this historic building had once been a workshop where magic crafters gave free rein to their ingenuity. Decades ago, it was renovated and repurposed to provide magic-engineering technical services to students from other schools in need of assistance. It was also the place Hyperion and Lanqi visited most frequently. The first floor was the public magic-engineering technical service center; the second floor was the modern magic-engineering innovation workshop owned by Professor Borao, the research leader of the School of Magic Engineering, which Lanqi and Tata often frequented; and the third floor served as the Student Management Committee's office. "Yeah. Now it's mostly the president and the secretary handling the work. The president is very kind and reliable, but the secretary... I always feel like she's a total troll. Every time she sees me, it's like a fan meeting her idol. She even runs over with photos of me asking for an autograph." Whenever Lanqi thought about the student council members, he felt that Secretary Luweixier—who was also a reporter for the *Hutton Times*—was the most unhinged. Her reports never seemed to have anything technically wrong with them, yet they felt dripping with mischief. Dean Loren's current legendary reputation was largely thanks to her not-so-innocent pen. "Hmph, if I had been in the student council earlier, anyone who dared provoke little Hype would have met their end at my hands." Sigrid understood Hyperion's ordeal in Ikerite all too well during the period right after Mikhail's disappearance. "Please don't. It's already a miracle that you two didn't kill each other over a man, meow," Boss Cat chimed in, imagining how back in Herrom, an injured fifth-tier Sig and fifth-tier Hyperion had nearly come to blows upon meeting. If things had gone even slightly awry, Boss Cat would have had to figure out how to cook the sofa for Master Lan to make his punishment a little tastier. "That's called forming a bond through battle! I admired her even back then!" Sigrid retorted to the little black cat. "Meow..." Boss Cat figured there would never be another pair of 'sisters' quite like Sigrid and Hyperion. When they reached the entrance of the Old Arts and Sciences Building, they found the doors still locked. There were no students around either; after all, it was winter break. "Oh dear, we're too early... I forgot that during the winter break, the service center opens at ten in the morning and closes at four in the afternoon. Not a minute earlier, not a second later," Lanqi said regretfully. "It's fine. I'm used to it. The pace of life in Ikerite is much slower than in Herrom." Sigrid was more than happy to wait with Lanqi and enjoy the leisure. Many shops in Ikerite shut their doors promptly at five in the afternoon, refusing to make another copper just to clock out on time, let alone the school's administrative departments. Exchanging smiles, they stood on the lawn chatting, waiting for the staff to arrive. "Actually, enjoying the scenery isn't bad at all. We're on vacation anyway..." Sigrid looked up at the antique, artwork-like building before them, feeling as if the scent of flowers, grass, damp soil, and the moist air in the garden were wrapping around them. At the top of the Old Arts and Sciences Building's towering spire sat a carved Ikerite Academy crest. In the center of the silver shield at the crest's base was the statue of the Goddess of Fate, holding a laurel wreath in her hands, encircled by holy crosslight. "Do you feel like the statue of the Goddess of Fate is watching us?" Sigrid suddenly pointed at the statue and asked Lanqi. "When we first met during the Silence branch exam, the test prompt was to carve a statue of the Goddess of Fate," Lanqi recalled of their true first meeting. Back then, they were complete strangers to one another and hadn't paid much attention, with Sigrid thoroughly disguised as Sig. "Back then, I never imagined we'd hit it off later either. I just thought this kid's sculpting skill was extraordinary, but I didn't care much until you reported the examiner, Great Prelate Gaius. That was when I realized you were the talent I was looking for," Sigrid reminisced. "And then you altered my application preferences so I could never return to the Silence branch." Lanqi seemed to recall many things. "Right, tomorrow is the weekend again—time for our weekly run! You have a show in the afternoon, so let's do the morning." Sigrid had brought back several Oblivion Stars. One of her regular weekly pastimes was diving into memory phantasms with Lanqi. Whether Herrom or Brillda, they could return and play through them. Since both had brought up their first meeting, they could even set their session to the time they first met. "Oh... tomorrow morning, I promised Tata I'd go to the Golden Bee Amusement Park with her. There's a new event tomorrow, and she wants to get the Animal Crossing commemorative macarons." Lanqi lightly tapped his palm with his fist, recalling the invitation Talia had subtly dropped while cooking dinner for him last night. "That's unacceptable! Morning with Tata, afternoon with little Hype... Unless you stay with me the whole night, that's completely unfair!" Sigrid stamped her foot in frustration, regretting that she was a step too late. She had been too relaxed lately and completely forgot that tomorrow was Valentine's Day. Yet she couldn't bring herself to demand that Lanqi cancel his plans with Tata. Their consensus was family first, no interference. Still, it was hard to accept that Lanqi's daytime was entirely booked, leaving her with no time together on such a wonderful day. "I don't have any plans after the show, but I'll probably have to walk you home before eight, or Tata will get anxious," Lanqi said, analyzing tomorrow's schedule. "No, no! If you can't spend the day with me tomorrow, I'm staying in your dorm tomorrow night and not leaving!" In the expansive garden of the School of Magic Engineering, morning dew clung to the leaves, sparkling brightly. Just then, with the arrival of the staff, the garden's automated irrigation system began to operate. Meanwhile, Lanqi and Sigrid were still negotiating near the entrance of the Old Arts and Sciences Building. "Come on! Unless you spend the night with me, the evening won't be any fun at all. It'll just be dinner and done." Sigrid was very unhappy. "Can't you figure out a way to date both me and Talia at the same time, making each of us feel like we're on an exclusive date with you?" Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, her eyes lit up as she looked at Lanqi. "Do you even hear what you're saying, meow?!" Boss Cat hadn't expected Sigrid to demand that Lanqi voluntarily multithread. These two truly shared a single brain circuit. "Theoretically speaking, I can definitely pull it off," Lanqi admitted to Sigrid, though he wasn't sure if she would truly accept such a scheme and needed to confirm with her. "Lanqi, meow, don't do it!" The little black cat raised a paw to stop him. Although he had rarely succeeded in stopping Lanqi, he always tried his best to save his friend. Lanqi had managed to salvage every crash he'd ever encountered along the way, and his confidence was now at its absolute peak. If Sigrid gave the word, Lanqi might actually dare to try it! Sigrid's gaze looked past the little black cat, her hands resting firmly on Lanqi's shoulders. "This is a mission from the Archbishop. In short, the Archbishop's mission." "Understood." After thinking it through carefully, Lanqi agreed. Although he felt a strange sense of unease in his heart—as if the Goddess of Fate atop the Old Arts and Sciences Building were glaring at him with a rather piercing gaze—it really wasn't difficult for him. It had to be because he had grown too lax during the vacation, becoming uncharacteristically unconfident, which was why he felt divine retribution might strike. He had reached the grand finale of his career without a single fatal crash. Now that he was starting a new life, he might indeed need to fix many of his past bad habits, but confidence and courage were things he could never abandon. "Lanqi, throw away that rotten confidence of yours right now! The only thing keeping you from being a normal person is that you're too damn reckless, meow!" Boss Cat rolled around on Lanqi's hands, crying and fussing. He had witnessed Lanqi's transformation throughout their journey. In the end, the one thing that had never changed was his sheer willingness to gamble! "Hey, the Old Arts and Sciences Building is open." Lanqi spoke to Sigrid. Seeing that the building had opened for business, the two walked onto the first floor. Traveling with Lanqi, Sigrid found that everything went smoothly, as if the headmaster himself were handling her paperwork. In less than ten minutes, Lanqi and Sigrid happily left the School of Magic Engineering and headed toward the School of Sages. Since he was taking Sigrid to explore Ikerite Academy, the first stop naturally had to be the historic Ancient Tower Library. "Finally done!" Lanqi said, stretching his arms. "Ikerite Academy works this fast?" Sigrid had assumed the procedures would take quite a while, never expecting to receive her student bracelet and her beloved student monthly pass so quickly. "Professor Borao has administrative authority, so a quick sign-off was all it took. I'm his student and have taken over a lot of his work lately, so when he heard about your situation, he gave you the green light immediately," Lanqi explained. Stepping out of the Old Arts and Sciences Building into the garden at the entrance, Boss Cat climbed restlessly up Lanqi's arm until he was perched squarely on Lanqi's head. Whenever Lanqi went out with others, if Boss Cat sensed Lanqi was about to do something crazy, he would jump onto another companion. But right now, standing beside him was a female Lanqi; jumping to her side was utterly pointless. Only on top of Lanqi's head could he leap away at a moment's notice, which felt far safer than being in his hands. Ikerite Academy was massive; even if Lanqi showed Sigrid around until sunset, they would hardly scratch the surface of all the interesting spots. Just as they were about to begin their tour, Sigrid seemed to sense something and took out a purple communication magic card. "Lanqi, Boss Cat, could you wait for me for a second? The Ice Witch is contacting me." Sigrid paused, pointing to the glowing card in her hand. "Sure, no problem," Lanqi agreed. The Ice Witch and Sigrid had maintained official ties back in the Northern Continent, and they occasionally chatted in Brillda as well; their relationship was closer than he had thought. Right now, there were probably church matters they needed to discuss in detail. "Wait for me a bit, then. What we're discussing might not be suitable for a public area..." Sigrid explained as she backed away, then jogged off after seeing Lanqi's nod of understanding. "So busy... Sigrid came to the Southern Continent for a vacation, yet she still has to deal with work from the Northern Continent," Lanqi murmured, shaking his head. Official business between the Church of the Goddess of Fate and the Resurrection Church certainly couldn't be discussed in front of the Old Arts and Sciences Building. He didn't know where Sigrid had run off to, but she would definitely return here shortly. Lanqi strolled over to a bench in the garden and sat down. For now, he would let Sigrid talk with the Ice Witch in peace; he had no intention of interrupting her work. Yet before he had been sitting for long, Lanqi felt an incoming transmission on his end as well. "Lanqi, meow, yours!" Boss Cat handed Lanqi a glowing communication magic card. "Who's looking for me at this hour?" Lanqi currently carried the commemorative sacred communication magic card from the Silver Moon Restoration Society, while the one he originally used in Ikerite was kept with Boss Cat. "Wait, why is it Loren?" Lanqi glanced at the card and saw that the caller was the Emperor. He had heard Loren was indeed back in the Hutton Kingdom these past few days, likely staying in his hometown, the Crantel territory. Lanqi hadn't expected him to call now. Come to think of it, when he had used this purple communication magic card to contact Loren, Professor Borao had acted as the middleman. Loren didn't know the person on the other end was Lanqi; he believed he was speaking to his Love Drillmaster. Lanqi immediately accepted the call, not wanting to keep the Emperor waiting. "Mr. Love Drillmaster, I didn't think I'd actually get through. Am I disturbing you?" The purple light on the magic card flickered in time with Loren's voice. It was as though, having not contacted the Love Drillmaster in so long, Loren felt uneasy about calling out of the blue, worried that his lack of contact might come across as impolite. "Not at all, Mr. Loren. I know how busy your work is, so please don't feel like this is an imposition. I completely understand your difficulties, and I promised I would continue to help you in the future." Lanqi lowered his voice slightly, holding the communication card in front of him. "Drillmaster... you're too kind!" Loren sounded like a drowning man finding a lifeline, finally breathing a sigh of relief. "Please hold on a moment." Lanqi covered the communication card and stepped back into the Old Arts and Sciences Building, heading into a lounge area in the student service center. The towering ceiling and pillars created a spacious vista, where dark wood furniture intertwined with textured stone walls. Lanqi arrived at a meeting area furnished with several sofas and low coffee tables. A few floor lamps beside the carpet added a serene elegance. Holding the little black cat, he sat down. There was no one else here today. It was time for Lanqi to get down to business. This matter involved the national security of the Cretaceous Empire. As a registered member of the Imperial Special Operations Division, he had to handle it with extreme discretion. "Now then, take your time. What seems to be the trouble?" Lanqi asked Loren unhurriedly, using a measured pace to signal that he wasn't busy and had plenty of time to listen. "It's like this, Drillmaster. Almis just contacted me. As you know, I promised her last time that I'd take her on a short tour around Ikerite. It just so happens that there's a great opera playing recently, and tickets in Ikerite are practically impossible to get right now. A friend of hers gifted her two private box VIP tickets, so she thought tomorrow might be..." Loren began explaining his schedule for returning to Ikerite tomorrow. First, he had promised the Ice Witch a team-building outing for the Church of the Goddess of Fate. The Ice Witch had already finalized the itinerary through official channels, liaising directly with the Cretaceous Empire's God of War. The God of War expressed a keen interest in seeing the play—in particular, certain Gods of War had been looking forward to the Half-Demon Chapter for ages—and promptly approved the Emperor's schedule. Then came the next issue: his good brother Florence learned he was returning tomorrow and wanted to return his house keys while bidding farewell before heading back to the Kingdom of Canbera. Loren absolutely had to see his brother tomorrow no matter what; he missed his brother dearly. "However, the real trouble emerged: somehow, information about my itinerary leaked. Juliana took an entire year's leave from the Kingdom of Aloran and arrived in the Hutton Kingdom right on cue. She said she wanted to thank me in person for risking my life to save hers three hundred kilometers outside the eastern border of Aloran in Valhalla Gorge, and hopes I can have dinner with her tomorrow..." Loren's voice continued to filter through the communication card. Last time, the drillmaster had taught him that when faced with scheduling conflicts where Juliana, Almis, and Florence all wanted to hang out, rejecting two to accept only one would inevitably break hearts. He would either be seen as callous, disrespectful to the divine, or someone who prioritized romance over brotherhood. All three of his close friends were eighth-tier powerhouses on par with archbishops. Spending prolonged periods in close proximity meant a puppet would definitely be detected—even an eighth-tier puppet wouldn't suffice—forcing him to show up in person. The Love Drillmaster's method for pleasing everyone was to elevate his time-management skills, compensating for the difference in numbers through extreme execution. As long as he increased the frequency with which he alternated between the three, each of them would feel like he was constantly by their side, allowing him to hang out with all three simultaneously. For instance, he could stagger their schedules to take them to the opera separately, placing them in three different private boxes and spending a third of the time with each. By shuttling between the boxes whenever they weren't paying attention, each would feel he had never left. Theoretically speaking, this was hardly something a carbon-based lifeform could pull off. Back then, Loren hadn't even dared to contemplate it further. Yet now, facing this very dilemma, he felt only the drillmaster's maneuvers could help him bring tomorrow to a smooth landing. "..." Boss Cat's ears twitched wildly atop Lanqi's head. Granted, from Loren's perspective, he viewed the Ice Witch Almis as his pure white-moonlight colleague, Paladin Commander Florence as his best brother, and Juliana as someone more than a friend but not yet a lover. There was nothing technically amiss about any of it. Yet Boss Cat couldn't help feeling that tomorrow's calamity pool was fully primed to burst. "..." Lanqi remained silent for a moment. On any other day, it wouldn't have been an issue. The problem was that he had his own opera performance tomorrow. Setting aside how much calculating power he would need on his end and whether he could assist Loren throughout the rest of the day, during the two hours of the afternoon performance, he would be on stage while Loren would be in the audience. He wouldn't be able to provide real-time guidance, meaning he could only leave Loren with a pre-planned contingency schedule. "Drillmaster, are you very busy tomorrow?" Loren asked timidly. Not just Boss Cat, but even Loren could sense the difficulty through Lanqi's prolonged silence over the communication line. "Woof, awooo!" Boss Cat whispered desperately to Lanqi. Fearing that meowing would reveal his and Lanqi's identities to Loren, he had resorted to another language to warn Lanqi. *Run, Lanqi!* *You're going to die!* Lanqi's schedules had always been seamless; a single slip-up along the way could cause a catastrophic crash. Tomorrow, Lanqi's own workload was already packed to the brim. If anyone threw an unexpected wrench into things, Lanqi would be like a clay idol crossing a river—barely able to save himself, let alone Loren. Yet here he was, actually contemplating helping Loren through his ordeal. "Have no fear. This drillmaster has your back." After long deliberation, Lanqi finally responded. He would help Loren this time no matter what. He owed Loren, and he would definitely repay him. Besides, he had surmounted so many crises; he refused to believe he would crash at this final hurdle. As long as he planned it, there was zero chance of failure. He couldn't find even the slightest vulnerability. "Meow..." Boss Cat curled into a ball of fur. Lanqi's spirited, daring youth demeanor terrified him to no end. Yet aside from trusting Master Lan's sheer audacity and skill, there was nothing else he could do. "Drillmaster, you really don't have to force yourself. If it's truly too difficult..." Hearing the drillmaster sound so resolute, Loren felt a bit unsettled instead. The drillmaster was simply too aggressive; once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back. "Rest assured. If the threads blow up, I'll eat this coffee table!" Lanqi gave his guarantee, even slapping the table before him. It was right here that he had made that claim last time, so he would keep his word. "Then I leave it in your hands, Drillmaster!" After a moment of internal struggle, Loren decided to go all-in with no regrets. With the drillmaster's guidance, last time had been a resounding success. There was no way he would suddenly drop dead this time. "I'll draft your schedule tonight. I'll also specify the time slots when you won't be able to reach me. Yes, I won't be able to direct you throughout the entire day tomorrow, but you'll be able to reach me for most of it..." Lanqi spoke into the communication card with utmost seriousness. And so, one bold enough to speak and the other bold enough to listen, they conversed for quite a while. When Lanqi finished his call with Loren and walked back out of the Old Arts and Sciences Building with Boss Cat, Sigrid seemed to have finished her business as well, strolling back toward the entrance. "What a coincidence, Lanqi! Did you head back inside just now?" Sigrid waved, calling out to him. "Yes, a bit of official business for the Empire," Lanqi replied, his expression grave. "Huh? You're still working for the Empire?" Sigrid knew Lanqi liked the Imperial Special Operations Division and got along well with Kestrel Nikolai. If he wanted to stay in the Empire, he would have thrived like a fish in water. "No, Sigrid, don't say it like that! You make it sound like I'm an imperial spy. I've already left the Imperial Special Operations Division!" Lanqi quickly clarified. "It's fine. You were almost the Grand President of Protos anyway—what's a little side work for the Cretaceous Empire? It's not like I'd report you. Besides, if something goes wrong, we're partners in crime anyway!" Sigrid wore a conspiratorial smile, nudging Lanqi with her shoulder as she whispered. "Just consider it me doing a favor for Nikolai, then." Lanqi thought about it and realized the matter was too difficult to explain, and it certainly wasn't appropriate to leak the Emperor's schedule. In a way, this was indeed a task the Imperial Special Operations Division ought to handle, and since he was taking care of it now, saying he was helping Chief Nikolai wasn't an exaggeration. "Honestly, it's vacation time, yet you're still obsessing over work! Do you know what you should be thinking about right now?" Sigrid rested one hand on her hip while pointing her other finger at Lanqi, testing him. "What?" Lanqi looked puzzled, seeking the Archbishop's guidance. "Me, the Archbishop, of course! With such a stunning beauty right in front of you, shouldn't your mind be completely filled with your Archbishop?" Sigrid gave him the answer. "Why do you sound so much like Talia?" Lanqi burst out laughing at her antic. Last time, Talia had also poked her own cheek and told him that right here was a perfect woman. "Well? How was my impression?" Sigrid asked Lanqi. "Not quite as shocking as hers," Lanqi said, shaking his head. "Why?" Sigrid asked, unwilling to concede, wondering where she had fallen short. Did it really depend that much on natural talent? "Because when you say something like that, it actually makes a person's heart flutter. And every word you said is an unassailable truth." Lanqi acknowledged that Sigrid was indeed a beauty. "Oh!" Sigrid looked mildly surprised, yet she didn't hide how touched she was. "Either way, today and tomorrow, you have to show me a great time!" Sigrid excitedly grabbed Lanqi's hand and pulled him into a run, eager to dash across the campus without wasting a single second!