NOVPUBEven though an equal score has no real use, only grade points and pass/fail statuses are useful.
But what they were betting on was who would score higher.
"What, is this professional evaluation given by Examiner Lanci?"
Talia looked at him with meaningful interest again.
It seemed she meant that if Lanci could say more, he should.
After today’s exam, hearing Lanci’s words had made her quite happy.
"Let’s not talk about this anymore."
Lanci smiled at her and quickened his pace forward.
"..."
Talia’s fist tightened subconsciously.
She felt this guy was doing it on purpose.
"Next round, I’ll be the examiner, after all, I can’t be subjective, I still need to maintain an objective attitude when evaluating you," Lanci explained with a clear sense of integrity. 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
"How would it be if you added subjectivity?"
Talia was curious.
It turned out that all his comments earlier were objective, and he genuinely thought she was very impressive.
"Cough cough, cough cough, cough cough."
All of a sudden, Lanci coughed as if he had some discomfort in his throat.
"Are you not feeling well? How about I cook some medicine for you when we get home tonight?"
Talia immediately placed her hand on his back and asked with pursed lips.
Lanci didn’t say a word, but she understood.
Maybe this guy did indeed need some medicine, to cure him of his bad habit of speaking.
"..."
Sweat started to appear on Lanci’s forehead.
He suddenly remembered that this woman had the power in the kitchen, and if she were to poison him, he truly wouldn’t be able to resist.
"Lanci, are you okay?"
A man’s greeting came from afar.
"I’m fine, I’m fine!"
Lanci quickly replied to the other party, diverting Talia’s attention.
The voice was familiar; the two of them looked into the distance and saw Executioner Nigel coming their way, seemingly looking for them.
Nigel took off his military cap, his neat short hair and heroic face exuded authority under the setting sun, but he appeared quite friendly to them.
"Sorry to disturb you two."
Nigel said, looking at Lanci who was very close to Talia.
Both Lanci and Talia reflexively stood a bit apart, pretending not to know each other.
"Could we talk over there in the coffee shop?"
Nigel pointed at the trendy shops on the banks of a tributary of the Selina River and asked.
He also continued to scan the surroundings.
He knew they could find Lanci and Tata near the Sacred Silvervine Arena after the second round of the Card Maker exam was over.
At this moment, he hadn’t detected anyone tracking or monitoring them.
But, in the human district, to recklessly monitor an executioner was actually more dangerous for the enemies.
"No problem."
After agreeing with Lanci and Talia, Nigel followed them to the nearby riverside commercial district.
The evening glow had already descended quietly, but the night in Floral City Pariel was not cold or clear, but possessed a charming haze.
The river’s surface mirrored the bright lights from both shores, like a flowing galaxy winding through the city center, filling the air with the damp freshness.
In the night of Pariel, Executioner Nigel led Lanci and Talia to an open-air café.
The café was situated by the river, looking exceptionally elegant under the dim street lights.
They stepped on the wooden steps inlaid in the stone-paved ground, walking up the path leading to the second-floor terrace.
A few rows of white wrought iron tables were laid out under the outdoor awnings, the sunshades gently swayed.
They sat down by a table next to the river on the open-air platform on the second floor and ordered three cups of espresso.
"Sorry for disturbing your rest time."
Nigel said.
"Not at all, not at all."
Lanci waved his hand.
Nigel was one of the few friends they had in Poseen Kingdom; having a friend invite them both to hang out was more than a delight for them.
On one side of the terrace stood tall Poseen sycamore trees, their dense canopy casting dappled shadows in the soft light of the evening.
From here, the beautiful nighttime view of the Selina River tributary could be seen in its entirety.
The waiter elegantly brought each of them a cup of rich coffee, the rising steam spreading the aroma of the coffee.
Nigel unfolded a soundproof barrier with a portable magic device.
"Do you two have any free time after the final round of the Platinum Level Card Maker exam on Sunday?"
The three began to chat about recent events while sipping coffee in small sips.
"Yes, we’re quite free after the exam, we plan to have a good time in Floral City Pariel."
Lanci and Talia exchanged glances, with Lanci replying.
In fact, their trip to Poseen was drawing to a close in terms of time.
According to their plan, after finishing their duties as examiners in the Platinum Level Card Making exam, they would stay for another two days in Poseen Kingdom, and then it would be time to return to Hutton Kingdom.
Although they would like to spend a few more days in the Demon World of Poseen, time did not allow it.
If they were any later, who could say whether the South Crayney Empire would suddenly declare war to the north; once in a state of war, it wouldn’t be so easy for them to return to Hutton Kingdom.
"This Sunday night, I’m going to the 10th district of the Demon World to attend a banquet of the Demon Race, I’ve always had a bad feeling about it."
Nigel didn’t ask anything of them, but he brought up his schedule for the coming Sunday night, almost as if he was settling his affairs.
"What’s going on?"
Lanci asked.
"Based on my current investigation, this Curse Spreader has been traced back over a year, and he is more likely to be from the Demon Race than a human. But, the remaining traces of his spells that have been observed contain signs of magic text not from modern Demon Clan Magic, resembling more than old demons that had come from the Northern Continent in recent years. This leads me to feel increasingly uneasy..."
