Chapter 7: Lan Qi Knows How to Start
The grandfather clock in the study ticked away leisurely, its gears audibly clicking.
The fragrance of ancient books from the carved bookcase in the corner of the room wafted throughout.
Staring at the amber-colored, soft light emanating from the magic lamp on the desk, Noe took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and gradually relaxed his brows.
Regardless of whether Lan Qi was acting, at least his calm and collected demeanor was comforting.
“But Father, I need some money before the exam. Can you ensure that I have ample funds for these three months?”
Just as Noe thought Lan Qi was about to leave, Lan Qi’s words made him open his eyes again.
“What do you need it for?”
Noe asked, wary.
It seemed he suspected Lan Qi of trying to swindle as much money as possible before the entrance exam to squander it all away.
“The materials for making magic cards cost a lot of money, and I need to hire a suitable teacher.”
Lan Qi’s expression and tone remained calm.
Not at all like he was lying.
Indeed, he was telling the truth.
Because after reading the law codex, he planned to start researching magic cards.
“You can make magic cards?”
Noe asked in surprise.
This time, Lan Qi did not immediately respond.
He hadn’t learned yet.
He needed a perfect script to make his father trust him and willingly invest in him.
However, at that moment,
“I assure you, Master, he will create excellent magic cards.”
The butler, who had been standing behind Noe, spoke up.
He bowed slightly and spoke beside Noe,
“If you could see the painting in the young master’s room, you wouldn’t worry about him anymore.”
“Oh?”
Noe turned his head to look at the butler, surprised by his words but soon also delighted.
He then looked at Lan Qi with interest:
“Lan Qi, have you started drawing again recently? If Hans praises it so highly, it must be a decent piece.”
Hans was the butler’s name, but because the former self rarely used it directly, Lan Qi also followed the former self’s habit, referring to the butler simply as “You” when communicating.
“It’s more than that…”
The butler smiled and shook his head.
Clearly, the master had not yet realized the level of the young master’s painting skills.
Anyone could hear that Noe’s tone was like praising a child.
“Hans has always taken good care of me. He is exaggerating.”
Lan Qi briefly pursed his lips, interrupting the butler before he could finish.
That painting of Talya hanging in his bedroom was best left unseen by Noe.
Otherwise, if Noe happened to encounter Talya in town, who knows what absurd misunderstandings might arise.
“I see.”
Upon hearing this, Noe didn’t think much of it.
The only thing that surprised Noe was Lan Qi’s humility.
Generally, Lan Qi should have seized this opportunity to praise his own talents in order to seek investment.
After hearing Lan Qi’s words, the butler did not plan to say more.
He smiled inscrutably and retreated behind Noe.
“All right, I hope you can pass the Alchemy Academy’s exam smoothly. Hans…”
Noe said in a sighing tone, offering Lan Qi perfunctory encouragement before instructing butler Hans to provide Lan Qi with the financial support he needed.
It was for the butler’s sake, as well as because of Lan Qi’s good attitude today, that Noe agreed so readily to Lan Qi’s request.
After all, it wasn’t much compared to what he had already given his foolish son.
Hopefully, he would come to his senses sooner. May the goddess bless him.
If Lan Qi wasn’t just acting today but was truly as composed, humble, and polite as he appeared, that would be truly wonderful.
…
As the night deepened, the lamps along the spacious corridors of the mansion’s second floor glowed softly, enveloping the mansion in a tranquil and serene atmosphere.
Most of the servants had finished their work for the day and gone to rest.
Of course, there were still some servants who hadn’t finished their shift.
As Lan Qi pushed open the door of the study, he saw the waiting maid—
The understanding maid named Francine, who unlike other servants, wasn’t so afraid of him.
Lan Qi found that apparently only she and the butler were willing to take him seriously.
After a brief polite greeting,
“Master, are you sure you’re not just deceiving your father?”
Francine asked with some concern, following the Lan Qi who had walked out of the study, whispering beside him.
She had heard the conversation in the study just now and knew exactly how Lan Qi had been spending his days.
The Alchemy Academy’s entrance exam’s written portion alone included tests in Kingdom Arithmetic, Potion Studies, Material Processing, Basics of Magical Engineering, Alchemy Principles, and many other subjects.
Even if Lan Qi now hires the best teachers and starts studying desperately, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Just an entrance exam.”
Lan Qi chuckled lightly, closing his eyes confidently, seemingly unconcerned about the exam’s difficulty, with no intention of cramming.
“Uh…”
Seeing this, Francine even doubted whether Lan Qi had given up from this moment, experiencing one last hurrah.
However, she also knew that even if Lan Qi failed to enter the academy, he wouldn’t be returning home to be scolded or reduced to living under a bridge in the capital.
The young master could well strive in the capital.
Just selling paintings could earn quite a sum.
“Don’t worry, I will be studying the exam rules tonight.”
Lan Qi could sense the maid’s worries, and with a confident smile, he assuredly added one more sentence, his gaze as clear as when facing the law codex.
“That’s good…”
“Hm? Exam rules?”
Francine realized.
She felt there was more to Lan Qi’s words.
Though carefully reading the notes beforehand is undoubtedly a good habit…
What was there to study about the Alchemy Academy’s entrance exam rules?
Quickly, after saying goodbye, Lan Qi hastened his step towards the bedroom, leaving the puzzled maid with a puzzled face in the corridor.
…
Back in his bedroom and after closing the door.
Lan Qi pulled out the reference book for the Eklecte Academy entrance from the bookshelf.
He went to the desk, pulled out a chair and sat down leisurely, slowly picked up a pen, and stared at the book in his hand, planning his schedule for the next three months.
Regarding admission, he was serious.
He indeed promised his father that he would successfully gain admission.
But he did not specify which department he would enroll in.
“Although I am not fond of conflict, I excel at resolving it… But if I really have to make a move, with preparation, I don’t think I would lose.”
Lan Qi flipped through the Eklecte Academy’s recruitment brochure, muttering to himself.
This academy had departments focused on theoretical research and support roles, such as the difficult-to-pass exams of the Alchemy Academy and the Magical Engineering Academy.
Of course, there were also departments more focused on actual combat and tactical application, such as the Sage Academy and the Knight Academy.
Lan Qi’s method was simple.
That is, to enroll through a detour.
When the time comes, he would just change his application from the Alchemy Academy to another department.
The combat-focused Magic and Knight departments might have very different assessment points, but the main themes of their assessments throughout the years have been the examinees’ ability to adapt, conduct, character, and actual combat capabilities.
This is also closely related to the highest difficulty instance in this world, the “Shadow World.”
In the next three months.
As long as he can successfully create some “Lan Qi special” key magic cards and then purchase a few magic cards available on the market to form a combination.
Lan Qi wasn’t incapable of pulling off a move that would leave all the academy leaders dumbfounded!
(End of Chapter)
