NOVPUBThis man, akin to a falcon, would not miss an opportunity to converse with key figures.
"Colonel Burke, it seems we are parting ways now, although our acquaintance was brief, I’m glad to have met you."
Before saying goodbye, Lanci turned and saluted Colonel Burke von Arnold.
"Goodbye, Mr. Landry, I hope we won’t have to see each other again."
Colonel Burke, too, responded with an imperial salute.
After all, encountering him, the officer in charge of the Capital’s outer perimeter, was usually not a good sign.
He only appeared on the scene when there was an accident.
And those who often appeared at the scene of crime were usually troublemakers.
With that, Lanci followed Red Falcon Nicola and left carriage four.
"He really didn’t plan to let you go just like that."
Talia also casually chatted with Lanci in her thoughts. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
"Think of it as hitching a free ride."
Lanci communicated with her telepathically.
Originally, there might not have been such a rush, as compared to magic aviation, the Magic Power Rail Train seldom experienced delays.
But due to a train accident that caused a long delay in Langal Mountains outside the Capital, followed by an investigation by the Empire’s Special Operations Department, nobody was allowed off the train, and now it was already past three in the afternoon.
He needed to report to the school today, meaning he had to reach the school before five.
Taking Nikola’s ride, although it meant another long conversation, was also a convenience.
However, Talia no longer felt the tension she had earlier; her thoughts now were much more relaxed, as if she were watching a play while lounging on a sofa.
Meanwhile, they passed through the train doors and the bustling crowd, stepped onto the platform, and walked towards the station’s grand hall.
Blielda’s first station is one of the busiest hubs of the Empire, with a towering dome, continuous arches, and marble floors reflecting the bustling figures hurrying to and fro; the shop windows on both sides displayed dazzling goods while colorful advertising slogans vied for the attention of the customers.
"Is this Professor Landry’s first time in Blielda?"
Red Falcon Nicola asked casually as he strolled leisurely.
"Indeed, how could you tell, Lord Nikola?"
Lanci, shifting his gaze from the top of the station, asked the young military officer beside him.
"Because you seem very interested in this building, my feeling is that you’ve never been here before."
Nikola answered,
"I saw on Professor Landry’s appointment letter that you are an expert in Magical Engineering; I didn’t expect that you’d have such an understanding and grasp of architecture."
The station, located at Blielda City’s Ducal Oseta Square, was founded in the Solar Calendar year 1664, designed by the Half-demon Imperial craftsman Ulti Strezini. Due to renovation and city planning issues at that time, it took over a decade to complete and come into use.
Today, it has 26 platforms, approximately 300,000 travellers daily, with 500 trains arriving and departing, serving about 110 million passengers each year. Its massive steel structural dome is the largest on the South Continent; it is the only train station referred to as ’First Station’, underscoring its leadership and architectural influence among all train stations on the South Continent.
Nikola probably understood; the black-haired, blue-eyed young man had the gaze of an engineer intrigued by something.
Obviously, there was another type of person who would show such interest in the imperial central buildings, but they wouldn’t be as straightforward and openly unguarded as this young man with black hair and blue eyes.
"Indeed, I know a little about architectural design."
Lanci responded with a smile.
As they chatted back and forth, they swiftly passed through the spacious central hall of the station and walked straight towards the exit.
Stepping out of the station, the bright sunlight immediately bathed them, like a long-missed warmth,
making the footsteps of the crowd sound mellifluous and light.
Lanci took a deep breath of the slightly dry and refreshing autumn air of Blielda the Capital.
He had finally arrived at the heart of the Empire.
His first step in his job was smoothly accomplished.
The towering buildings around were faintly visible in the hazy glow, with the distant tall and majestic ancient bell tower standing proudly, the hourly chimes resounding long and melodious.
"Phew, it feels good to breathe some fresh air at last, the Empire has too many pests, it almost feels like everything underneath the buildings is filthy."
Nikola casually adjusted his cap as he spoke with a light tone.
"Captain Nikola has been modest, with talents like you in the Empire, one day, all dark corners will be swept clean."
Lanci praised from the side.
"Let’s hope so."
Nikola half-heartedly snorted with profound meaning,
"I believe, with Mr. Landry’s capabilities and awareness, we will have many future opportunities for collaboration. Come, follow me now."
He signaled Lanci to follow him to the parking area of their unit’s vehicles.
Lanci didn’t continue the conversation, but instead briefly gazed at Blielda, the ancient and bustling capital, a gleam of eagerness flashing in his eyes before he caught up.
Behind them, the bell tower seemed to have become a thing of the past, a new day unfolded amid the deep and prolonged ringing of bells.
As they had barely taken a few steps, a crisp female voice suddenly rose not far away.
"Is this Professor Landry Washington?"
The sound drew Lanci and Nikola’s attention.
Both turned toward the voice and saw a young girl in dark blue formal attire bowing to Lanci.
Her black hair was neatly tied into a bun at the side of her head, and her lips carried a perfectly gentle curve.
"Yes..."
Lanci responded with slight confusion.
To Lanci’s surprise, the woman’s left leg and right arm were both made of metallic mechanical limbs, shimmering with a cold silver light in the sunlight, and her left eye was covered by a delicate half-mask, its strap extending backwards, blending into her hair.
"I am Nyla, the secretary of Headmaster Violet, I’ve been waiting for you."
The formally dressed woman introduced herself.
"The fact the school even sent you to meet me is surprisingly flattering."
Lanci feigned astonishment.
"Not at all, it’s a courtesy Saint Kray Temple ought to show. Moreover, hearing that there was an accident on the train, the academy worried that some information might have leaked. Seeing that you are safe and sound, the headmaster can also rest assured for now."
Nyla, the secretary, assured confidently.
"Well, that’s certainly reassuring."
Lanci said helplessly.
Despite saying so, he was already clear in his mind.
—There might indeed be a leak within the academy.
Otherwise, the Allied Forces’ spy Unity wouldn’t have received orders to assassinate and seize Landry’s information.
However, even knowing this, he could only pretend ignorance because, according to his explanation to the military, he, Landry, and the female assassin of the Allied Forces are absolutely enemies, thus a conversation between them is out of the question.
"So does that mean that someone in the academy, for some unknown purpose, might want Landry dead?"
Talia conveyed Lanci’s thoughts to him.
But then, how was the Allied Forces’ spy Unity exposed on the train?
Could it be that someone within the Allied Forces also wanted to harm Unity?
She felt completely confused.
Now, it seemed like "the original Landry" was indeed extraordinary.
Not only the Allied Forces but also people within the Empire wanted him dead.
For those people, the good news was that the real Landry was dead; the bad news was that a fake Landry had arrived.
"I can’t deduce the cause and effect either; all I can say is that these scheming factions erupt into a chaotic mess beneath the surface of the incident."
At the moment, Lanci couldn’t figure it out either; he could only take it one step at a time.
Fortunately, his goal was relatively simple.
Next, as long as he kept a low profile and acted the part of a good teacher, he could smoothly carry out his espionage work.
Even though it deviated slightly from his initial expectations, Saint Kray Temple, being a significant institution of the Empire, was also an excellent entry point internally.
If his journey to the Empire was to be the final chapter of his quest, then starting and ending at the academy was naturally the best.
