NOVPUBAfter regaining their freedom, Lanci and Talia walked along the nighttime streets of Floral City Pariel, with the lights of the Pariel Police Headquarters gradually receding behind them.
They arrived at a spacious square across the street, and within half a minute, they flagged down a Magic Energy Vehicle.
Lanci stepped forward and informed the driver of their destination. The driver nodded and gestured for them to get in.
They were soon weaving through the night, with the street lights flickering past the car windows.
"It seems you have some influence."
Talia transmitted her thoughts to him.
They had only just entered the Pariel Police Station when someone received the intelligence and took the initiative to redeem him.
"I was indeed invited to the Poseen Kingdom as a research scientist, but the Southern Continent Card Maker Association arranged my itinerary more like a private trip for safety reasons."
Lanci replied silently.
It had already been arranged with Professor Bolao that once they arrived in the Poseen Kingdom, they would meet the Countess.
Countess Rosalinda did not want too many people in the Poseen Kingdom to notice Lanci’s visit to her, so she didn’t arrange for anyone from Count’s Mansion to pick him up, but instead asked Chief Zefa to inform him to come to the Count’s Mansion.
Of course, Count’s Mansion was not too far away.
Lanci and Talia sat quietly, perhaps both a little sleepy, with not much conversation between them.
Finally, after more than ten minutes, they slowed to a stop in front of a grand entrance to a luxurious mansion in the north of Pariel.
This residence hid in a tranquil district of Pariel, away from the bustle of the city center.
Lanci paid the fare and stepped out of the vehicle with Talia.
Looking up, they saw the main building of Asturias’ Count’s Mansion still brightly lit, like a city that never sleeps.
The doors of the Count’s Mansion were tightly closed, with patterns of dark brown roses carved on them, flanked by two guards in classical uniforms standing solemnly by the courtyard.
Before Lanci and Talia could step forward to speak, the doors opened.
An elderly butler in uniform stepped out, his posture erect, and his face sharp as a chisel, like a retired military officer.
"Good evening, Mr. Lanci, Miss Tata, welcome to Asturias Count’s Mansion. The Countess is ready to receive you."
The butler’s voice was quite gentle, and not as deep and hoarse as imagined.
Lanci and Talia exchanged a glance, nodded and followed the butler into the courtyard of the Count’s Mansion.
Through a winding garden, they were suddenly illuminated by the expansive entry hall.
The walls around them were hung with paintings, unfolding like a gallery before them, and the floor was carpeted with long rugs, every step revealing the noble’s penchant for adornment reminiscent of a castle.
Guided by the butler, Lanci and Talia passed through several unique porches, eventually arriving at the mansion’s reception room.
The decor here was even more lavish, with entire walls meters high made of floor-to-ceiling windows, and aside from Divine Era style reliefs on the stone walls, there were also fountains connected to the interior, with mist emanating from the edge of the pool waters, mingling with the soft candlelight and ground lamps, bringing a warm glow to the entire reception room and filling it with a fragrant aroma.
Within such a space, a stunning woman sat near a window, with the moonlight spilling over her, making her especially radiant and captivating.
She was dressed in a crimson evening gown, with the rose patterns on the sheer fabric glistening, elegantly highlighting her figure.
As Lanci and Talia stepped into the reception room, Countess Rosalinda set down her wine glass and stood up to face them, her eyes full of a welcoming smile and unhidden curiosity.
"Welcome, Mr. Lanci, Miss Tata. I am the master of this mansion, the chairperson of the Southern Continent Card Maker Association branch in Poseen, Rosalinda Asturias."
The Countess’s voice was mature and magnetic,
"I am very sorry for not having greeted you personally, but if I had come to welcome you myself, it would have amounted to indirectly telling others about the examiner’s identity."
Countess Rosalinda extended her hand in an extremely elegant manner, inviting the two guests to sit, and she herself settled back into her seat with composure.
"Not at all, we really appreciate your care. It’s quite a story to enter the prison as soon as we arrived, making you worry."
Lanci bowed slightly in gratitude.
The Countess was not only in charge of managing the Poseen Kingdom branch of the Card Maker’s Association, but she was also a Platinum Level Card Maker and one of the examiners who would work alongside Lanci.
"Professor Bolao must have told you about me, right?"
Countess Rosalinda asked outright, as if seeing underclassmen.
"Sort of. He said that you are an extremely passionate and composed student, and hoped we wouldn’t bother you too much."
Lanci nodded.
Before departure, Professor Bolao had briefly mentioned that the Countess Rosalinda assisting them was a Poseen noble closely associated with many figures from the Hutton Kingdom.
But she was too enthusiastic; if one did not wish to speak with her, they should simply ignore her.
Strictly speaking, Rosalinda was not a student of Bolao, but often sought his guidance on issues of Magical Engineering, and therefore also referred to him as teacher.
In this regard, she was like Duke Migaya.
Those willing to spend time under Professor Bolao’s tutelage as a Magic Artisan were certainly talented.
"Oh, not at all. How could you be a bother? Besides, there’s no need for formalities; we will be colleagues from now on."
Countess Rosalinda’s eyes crinkled with a hint of a smile as she fanned herself and spoke.
"..."
Talia glanced at Lanci, remembering that Professor Bolao had never said that; it was completely interpreted by Lanci.
But it really did seem to make women happy.
"Sigh, I thought the Platinum Level Card Maker exam in the eastern region couldn’t be held this year, but luckily you, Lanci, suddenly appeared."
Rosalinda leaned back on the sofa, relaxing as she let out a long sigh,
"What’s going on with your Hutton Kingdom, how do you always produce such talented new Cardmakers?"
She looked at Lanci again, her interest piqued as she asked.
There are many kinds of geniuses.
Ordinarily, young people who can participate in the Platinum Level Card Maker exam are already considered phenomenal newcomers, yet Lanci and Duke Migaya both belonged to the dominant class of newcomers who, without much maturation, could overshadow everyone upon arrival.
"I can’t compare to Duke Migaya of the same age. At least when I went to participate in the Platinum Level Card Maker exam, I could only rely on luck, while Duke Migaya overwhelmed others with his performance,"
Lanci shook his head, muttering to himself.
"You’re being modest. Professor Bolao mentioned that you’re not a technical talent but a management talent. It’s hard to imagine what your real skills are like, given such a reputation from Professor Bolao,"
Countess Rosalinda began to laugh,
"But didn’t little Hyperion come with you this time? I’ve heard from Professor Bolao that the three of you are quite close."
She picked up her wine glass for a sip and then looked at Lanci and Talia curiously.
"For safety reasons, it’s better not to let her travel far for the time being. Even the Rebirth Church has set their sights on her."
Lanci answered.
"Ah, that’s too bad. I was hoping to take this rare opportunity to improve our relationship."
Countess Rosalinda sighed, tilting her head back.
"Don’t you get along with her?"
Talia asked.
Her expression was calm, but she evidently cared greatly about anything concerning Hyperion.
"I saw her when she was little, but she doesn’t like me."
Countess Rosalinda raised her hand helplessly, indicating the height of Hyperion when she was only a few years old.
At that time, she was also in her twenties.
"Why is that?"
Talia’s voice grew slightly cold.
If Hyperion didn’t like someone, she would most likely feel the same.
"Maybe because I wanted to be her stepmother? But she didn’t acknowledge me?"
Countess Rosalinda admitted unabashedly.
Talia nearly choked in shock.
She hadn’t expected the countess to be so forthright.
Lanci shook his head to himself.
He had thought Hyperion was indiscriminate towards mother figures, but it seemed she was quite selective after all.
The current three mother figures accepted by Hyperion did indeed have something in common—they were aloof, carried an air of the Demon Race, and were exceptionally old.
And this very popular type, Miss Rosalinda, apparently did not meet Hyperion’s criteria.
"...!"
Talia seemed to have read Lanci’s mind, biting her lip, reaching behind him, and pinching him hard on the waist.
Lanci shivered with pain, but to maintain his dignity, he tried hard to keep a composed expression.
"By the way, do you fancy Mr. Migaya?"
Braving the pain, Lanci diverted Countess Rosalinda’s attention with his question, avoiding her noticing the subtle interaction between him and Talia.
"Yes, I’ve hinted at him several times, and I believe he understands my feelings, but he’s turned me down each time,"
Countess Rosalinda, like a box of opened secrets, suddenly became melancholic, draining the contents of her wine glass in one gulp,
"I can’t understand what kind of magic that woman who abandoned him possesses, to make him so obsessed. Honestly, she is a mysterious member of the Demon Race who drifted over from the Northern Continent—lazy, with a terrible personality—yet he dares to house her, showing such a singular preference! It really does make one envious. What’s wrong with me?"
The countess put down her glass with a thump on the table, having found an outlet for her frustration, she spoke with a resentment to Lanci and Talia.
