NOVPUBInside the painting classroom, bright lights shine on the walls, radiating a faint glow.
Each colorful painting hanging on the wall seems to have its own life, constantly revealing ancient secrets.
The air in the classroom seems to have momentarily frozen, filled with a silent tension.
Lanci’s gaze drifts from the paintings towards the senior art professor, Mogut. His eyes sparkle like stars in the night, and a faint smile plays on his lips.
The other two students answer the latter half of the class more smoothly, and Lanci does not try to help or hinder them anymore.
After class, they receive their Credit Coins and swiftly leave the classroom.
Only Professor Mogut, Lanci, and Hyperion are left in the classroom, discussing how Lanci’s qualification reward should be realized.
"...Name your request. If it’s within my power, I will try my best to fulfill it."
Professor Mogut muttered. His dark eyes shone with profound light as he finally spoke.
He frankly didn’t know what award to give Lanci.
Even for the previous highest score of 21 points, the reward was choosing anything from the Arts department’s resources.
During these special times, the vice-principal had just warned them to follow the rules strictly, so even if Lanci demanded as much as he wanted, he would have to comply.
Especially considering that Lanci has an artistic talent that makes Professor Mogut extremely curious. He didn’t want to suppress such a gifted student.
"I’d like to ask two questions, can you promise to answer my queries to the best of your knowledge?"
Lanci asked politely.
He didn’t let his classroom performance get to his head.
"Yes, I assure you on the honor of the Karpas Family, I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge."
Despite some hesitation, Professor Mogut solemnly agreed.
If it was such an effortless request that wouldn’t put him in a difficult position, then it was safe to say that the student was on the right track.
However.
Just as Professor Mogut started to relax.
Lanci’s questions echo in his mind like thunder —
"Please tell me, what do you think is the most significant crisis that is about to occur in the academy, and what, in your opinion, would be the turning point?"
Lanci asked Professor Mogut earnestly.
Now that the deal was made and Lanci had absolute assurance from Professor Mogut, it wasn’t an issue to ask directly, or even to be a bit wild in the content, aiming for accuracy.
However, even Lanci did not expect Professor Mogut’s reaction to be so dramatic!
"How...how do you know that?"
Professor Mogut exclaimed, his query almost shouted in disbelief.
He stared intently at Lanci, like he suddenly realized something, but he dared not believe.
At this moment, as Professor Mogut remembered Lanci’s seemingly omniscient wisdom, unfathomable talent, and deep intellect, a terrifying suspicion emerged in his heart!
But Professor Mogut didn’t dare to question Lanci.
He could only feel his heart pounding as if it was about to burst out of his chest.
Something had begun to add up!
"Professor, you should not answer a question with a question."
Lanci said gravely.
He certainly couldn’t let this senior professor know that he got his clues from the information in the Shadow World and the music classroom.
All he needed was for the professor to fulfill their agreement honestly now.
"!"
At Lanci’s words, Professor Mogut’s eyebrows twitched and as he looked into Lanci’s deep eyes, his heart seemed to become more uncontrollable.
He tried to read Lanci’s eyes, but in those emerald green pupils shining like jewels, he could find no secrets!
Professor Mogut lowered his head and breathed deeply to calm his discomposed state.
Then, he took a deep sigh.
All of this led Professor Mogut to believe that the Radiant Demon standing before him was likely the Special Envoy from the Demon King’s Castle as the vice-principal had mentioned.
The question asked by the Special Envoy was to attempt to link up with the higher-ups of the school.
After all, the teachers in the school who knew the identify of the Special Envoy besides the vice-principal were just a few senior professors.
To meet the senior professors and have a private conversation, the only way was to pass through the classrooms with difficulty level 3.
Professor Mogut understood now that, regardless of whether Lanci was this Special Envoy or not, after making such a promise, he should honestly give the answer smoothly.
"Yes, our academy currently faces a significant crisis. This crisis will likely erupt tonight."
Professor Mogut slowly admitted. His voice was filled with helplessness and worry. His gaze once again fell on Lanci, nervously anticipating every little reaction of his.
"In a short while, a messenger from the Blood Clan will visit the school to investigate possible humans in the academy that the Blood Clan suspects."
"Once proven, we, the higher-ups of the academy, will be implicated."
"If there really is a problem with the academy, the only salvation for us is the Special Envoy from the Demon King’s Castle."
As he finished.
Professor Mogut eyed Lanci hopefully, as if his last words were directed at him.
He thought, if he were the Special Envoy.
By this point, it was time to reveal his hand.
"..."
Lanci remained silent, appearing to process this information with a massive amount of intelligence.
Meanwhile, Hyperion, who was beside him, tried his best to suppress his expression, as internally, he was roaring in frenzy.
The Special Envoy from the Demon King’s Castle?
Could that be the Silver Hair Demon that Lanci killed in the Demon King’s Restaurant?
So, the hidden storyline in this Shadow World is a chaotic battle with differing stands involving "a human disguised as a demon in the academy", "academy leaders that don’t want to be involved", "a Blood Clan Messenger wanting to catch the human", "The Demon World Inspectorate who doesn’t dare provoke the Blood Clan", and "the Envoy of the Demon King!"
The only way for challengers to survive the night is to grasp critical information as soon as possible and use the different standpoints of the demons to find a survival path amidst their mutual restraint.
This is a life-and-death challenge and a terrifying game that requires strategy, boldness, and survival skills to be pushed to their limits.
After figuring out how many hidden enemies there are in this Fourth-Order Shadow World that could threaten a challenger’s life, even Hyperion couldn’t help but feel a chill run through his bones.
But right now.
Hyperion found that.
There was a danger that neither the Demon Race nor the Blood Clan had predicted — Lanci, had already turned this messy situation even darker, all on his own without anyone knowing.
"..."
Lanci still didn’t say a word.
He silently took out the Black Jade Seal he had found on the Silver Hair Demon from his coat pocket and showed it to Professor Mogut.
Actions speak louder than words, and no words are needed at this moment.
