NOVPUBThe next day.
In the eastern part of Ichrite City-State, the new residence of the Wilfords.
The spacious and bright dining room on the first floor was bathed in the soft morning sunlight, which shone through the window lattice and gently fell into every corner, carrying with it the outlines of the leaves outside the window.
In the courtyard, a soft summer morning breeze occasionally passed, bringing the subtle and elegant fragrance of a variety of flowers from the distant garden.
The Wilford family’s breakfast today was different from usual.
At one side of the table, in addition to the head of the family, Noe, there was an additional special presence.
"Dad, can you give me some money?"
"No!"
The head of the family sitting in the main seat of the dining table, Noe Wilford, wore his usual expression, his gaze landing on Lanci and involuntarily revealing a mixture of complex emotions.
Noe felt anger whenever he remembered that because of this boy, the numbers in his account had rapidly decreased over the past year. Now, the company’s multinational trade had shrunk by a large margin, and there was a significant expenditure for purchasing a new residence in Ichrite.
If it weren’t for the fact that Lanci himself was quite outstanding in his studies, he would be no different from those profligate wastrels!
"Alright, then."
Lanci knew that he had already taken quite a bit of money from his father over the year, and it seemed he couldn’t milk any more.
But he was actually very short on cash now.
Apart from the bonus he got from completing the Seventh-order Shadow World from the South Continent Shadow World Management Association and the little savings he had left, he didn’t have any other money.
He did bring back quite a few rare-quality Encapsulated Magic Cards from the Northern Continent, but he hadn’t declared them when passing through South Continent customs, implying they were for personal use. If he were to trade them, not only would listing them be troublesome, but he’d also need to pay a large amount of back taxes.
Moreover, these cards were indeed his reserve fuel. He was soon heading to the Cerryti Empire and didn’t want to sell them.
Next, he’s going to the Poseen Kingdom, and he expects to spend a lot of money buying auxiliary materials for the production of "Calila’s Shadow Weave Record".
Although as a Platinum Level Card Maker proctoring exams, he earned a generous salary and privileges, and could purchase materials at an extremely high discount from the Southern Continent Card Maker Association, it would still be best to have as much money as possible on hand before heading to the Poseen Kingdom.
He certainly couldn’t go to Hyperion and say, "Hyperion, I’ve run out of money, could you lend me some?" That just felt all too awkward.
The Duke’s House surely had money, but it was all in the accounts of Duke Migaya and couldn’t be accessed until after the inheritance, while the money she had was saved from her frugality since childhood, living far more modestly than most other noble ladies.
In order to make money, Lanci even started taking Card Making commissions.
Of course, the remuneration from the association president was quite generous, fully commensurate with his Platinum Level Card Maker status.
However, such commissions were few, and unless it was someone he knew well, he wouldn’t casually help to make a Shapeshifting Card, a unique secret of his.
The dining table, carved from fine redwood, was coated with a thin layer of bright varnish, reflecting the silver cutlery, glass wine glasses, and the reflection of Lanci’s contemplative expression on the table.
As he pondered, the delicious breakfast brought from the kitchen gradually filled the table.
"How have things been at school lately?"
Noe signaled for Lanci to eat, picked up his silverware methodically, and asked.
"After starting the second year, overall, I have had quite a bit more free time. There haven’t been as many student council duties, and I only need to go to Professor Bolao’s workshop to learn from the professor every day, it’s just that these past few days might be a bit busy."
Lanci reached for a dish from the Wilford family with his fork as he spoke.
Today is Friday, and tomorrow will be the weekend.
After returning home yesterday, he finished making the card that transformed into a young boy for Miss Florence. In a while, when he goes to the Old Literature Building, he just needs to stop by the third floor first to deposit the card in the student council room.
After returning from the Shadow World, Lanci had not yet been home.
His old man had moved from the Nanwantina Border and was now temporarily residing in the Capital City Ekrite, in a residence located to the east of the Boss Cat Restaurant, closer to the commercial district of the Southern Continent Card Maker’s Association near the Erica Tower and Hutton Pedestrian Squares.
So, after leaving the student council room last night, Lanci went straight back to the Wilfort house.
Since Professor Bolao told him that it was actually fine to arrive at the laboratory by 9:30, Lanci now could enjoy breakfast at home leisurely and then head back to school in no hurry.
As for the Great Love Poet, she had the key to Lanci’s dormitory; she didn’t leave school with Lanci yesterday and went straight to the cardmaking workshop in Lanci’s dormitory after getting off work at the lab. Presumably, she had also gone to the College of Magic Engineering early this morning.
"That’s good, seeing your current state really makes me sigh," Noe said.
Noe glanced towards one side of the restaurant, feeling quite emotional.
Seeing that Lanci was not drinking, the new restaurant at home even had a new liquor cabinet installed, displaying fine wines from various places in the Southern Continent.
Every time the rascal got so drunk that he completely lost his memory, Hans said that he was particularly happy about shooting a pigeon that day and even accidentally barged into the Church of the Goddess of Destiny, carelessly knocking a gemstone off the statue and causing quite a bit of trouble for the priests.
Fortunately, the benevolent and pure priests didn’t hold it against him, saying that it could be considered fate.
While the father and son were chatting, a new program sound came from the household magic device that Noe had previously turned on in the restaurant.
"Hutton Daily channel, bringing you the Good Morning Melody today, is a song by the newly signed artist Lan Fu Wilfort from the Ichrite Academy College of Magic Engineering."
Lanci’s spoon trembled in his hand.
Subsequently, the familiar yet saccharine voice began to resonate in the Wilfort family’s dining room—
"♫ My dear, you look so cute today~"
"♫ So cute that I want to eat you up in place of breakfast~"
"♫ The words I could not express, I can now convey to you without reservation~"
"Wilfort, isn’t that the same as our family name?"
Upon hearing it, Noe initially thought it was Lanci Wilfort.
"Is this the kind of music that young people are into these days? However, this voice sounds a bit like Miss Tata."
After listening for a few lines, Noe commented.
"♫ Just being near you, the acceleration of my heartbeat uncontrollably sweeps in mixed with sweetness~"
"♫ Your cute appearance intoxicates me so, before my memories start to fade, like a lucid dream, I want to stay forever by your side~"
"It’s unlikely. Miss Tata’s tone of voice is completely different from this one."
Hans, the butler carrying a plate, frowned slightly and answered after a brief listen.
He was just passing by.
Having put down the plate, he left again.
"♫ oh~ I’m feeling almost suffocated, and you are the air, I can’t wait a moment more~"
"I think it is indeed Miss Tata’s voice," Noe said, putting down his utensils and after thoroughly savoring the sound, he spoke. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
"Lanci, why aren’t you saying anything?"
Noe suddenly looked at Lanci, who was sitting rigidly next to the dining table.
