Chapter 494: Lanqi Danger

The southernmost border of the Kingdom of Hutton is the Territory of Nanwantina.

This land is located in an area with an extremely advantageous natural geographical location, backed by the Knox Mountains known as the "Guardian's Spine". The mountains are rich in mineral and forest resources, and ancient ruins and unknown secrets are hidden deep inside, making it a paradise for adventurers and researchers.

Since crossing the long Knox Mountains will lead to the border of the Kreming Empire south of the Kingdom of Hutton, most travelers who are interested in ancient ruins will stay in the South Wantina Territory as a round-trip stop.

For merchants who want to trade with the Cretan Empire, it is more appropriate to take the sea route.

The South Wantina Territory is not only bordered by mountains on the south side, but also by the vast sea known as the "Blue Sea" on the east side. The busy port is filled with merchant ships and fishing boats. The beautiful beaches and clear waters on the coast are a great place for the residents of the South Wantina Territory to relax.

On an early summer morning in June, the Nanwantina Lord City Station welcomed the sunrise.

Lanci and Hyperion hurried out of the train that had just stopped.

The station is an ancient building, with the stone bricks in the corners covered with moss and vines, giving it a more natural feel than Ikerite Central Station.

Walking on the road, Lanqi and Hyperion introduced his hometown.

"That being said, although the Nanwantina Territory has always been very popular among residents of the Hutton Kingdom, I'm sorry, Hyperion, that I brought you here for the first time and we have to rush back to the Wilford family in such a hurry."

Lanci responded to Hyperion's admiration with embarrassment.

They hadn't unpacked their luggage yesterday, so they rushed back to Ikerite Central Station with their luggage, bought the fastest ticket, and took the magic rail train to South Wantina Territory overnight.

Hyperion didn't feel the continuous journey was hasty at all, instead she was looking forward to the new journey.

"It's okay, I came here a few times when I was a kid and I always loved it."

Hyperion smiled and said to Lanqi, "Even in my dreams I miss coming here."

In the station hall, the crowd was surging, and the passengers passing by and the family members who came to greet them looked quite relaxed as they talked in low voices.

The pace of life in Nanwantina Territory is very leisurely and slow, even most of the shops will be closed at five in the afternoon.

"I see."

Lanci was stunned for a moment, then nodded. He and Hyperion walked through the crowd and out of Nanwantina Station.

Behind the two men, the towering clock tower echoed in the morning air as the morning bell rang.

Lanqi remembered that in the illusion of falling gentle land, he and Hyperion, who looked like a young boy and a young girl, were indeed on a train. The scenery outside the window seemed inexplicably familiar. It turned out that it was the route from the royal capital Ikerit to the southern Wantina territory.

"By the way, have we met when we were kids?"

Hyperion stared at Lanci's face as she walked, muttering to herself in confusion.

When she accidentally mentioned it just now, she also recalled the illusion.

Traveling with Lanqi to Nanwantina Territory, reality inexplicably became like a dream.

"That depends on whether my father knows your father, Migaiya. Last time, he didn't realize you were a duke's daughter for a long time. He seemed to think you were an ordinary girl from a good family."

Lanci felt that Hyperion's face was too close, so he leaned back a little politely and answered.

After encountering Char's story in the Snow Province of the Northern Continent, Lanqi felt that this was not impossible. It mainly depended on whether the fathers of both parties had met many years ago.

"oh!"

Hyperion seemed to realize that she was too close to Ranchi, or maybe she suddenly remembered the last time at the Ikerite Academy Hospital, when Ranchi's father gloated and said, "Duke Migaia can marry a demon wife, but can Ranchi do it?" She ran away in embarrassment.

"Meow meow meow, what are you talking about?"

The cat boss poked his head over Lanqi's shoulder and asked in confusion.

"The time dad came to the capital, Hyperion, Frey and I had just finished the second Shadow World Sanctuary Villain Dinner. As soon as we came out of the Shadow World, Hyperion and I went to the hospital to visit dad. That night we went to Boss Cat's restaurant to look for Tata. It was also from that day that Hyperion started living at Boss Cat's restaurant, so that was right before I met you, Boss Cat."

Lanqi patiently explained to the cat boss.

"Huprieanne, why didn't you tell Tata?"

Boss Cat turned his head again and looked at Hyperion.

It always listened to Hyperion and Tata talking about interesting things, but it didn't expect that Hyperion had such a story that she didn't mention a word about.

“…”

Hyperion looked away with a slight blush on her cheeks.

It was all Lanqi's dad's fault. He told some weird jokes and she almost agreed to them accidentally.

The two people and the cat waited for a short time outside the Nanwantina Station, and Lanqi waved and called a magic vehicle.

"Go to Heart Square North, No. 25 Nosma Street."

"no problem."

The driver smiled kindly and motioned for the young couple to put their luggage away and get on the bus.

Soon Lanci and Hyperion both sat in the back seat, and the car started slowly, driving along the cobblestone road through the streets of South Wantina.

The architectural style of the city-state outside the window is fresher than that of Ikerite. The streets are filled with the golden light of the rising sun. There are rows of neatly trimmed sycamore trees on both sides of the cobblestone road, and the leaves sway gently in the breeze.

The cat boss sat between Lanqi and Hyperion, looking at them from left to right.

For some reason, Lanqi has become a little uneasy since yesterday.

The cat owner wondered if Lanqi was sick.

"By the way, Lanqi, is it a bit inappropriate for me to come to your house unexpectedly like this?"

Hyperion felt that the closer she got to Lanci's house, the more nervous she became.

"I brought you here suddenly. Don't worry. Dad also said that you are welcome to come to Nanwantina to play anytime. He has a very good impression of you."

Lanci replied.

“Is that so?”

Hyperion said softly.

In that case, she wasn't so scared anymore.

Next, I must continue to leave a good impression on the Wilford family.

But there shouldn't be any problem. She is a professional spy and priestess who has been trained by the Ice and Snow Witch teacher. There is no way she will fail in her friend's house.

The vehicle passes through the city center known as the "Heart Square", which is the prosperous political, economic and cultural area of ​​the Lord City of South Wantina. In the square stands a sculpture of the Wantina Border Earl hundreds of years ago, commemorating the founder and history of the city.

Lanqi's home was not far away, located in the northwest corner of the city, on a branch of an avenue called "Guardian's Path".

The street was wide and quiet, lined with tall oak trees and neat hedges.

As the vehicle moved forward, the outline of the mansion gradually appeared outside the window.

The Wilford family mansion is an elegant three-story building with a pale yellow limestone exterior and a roof covered with crimson glazed tiles.

The front door of the mansion is inlaid with the family emblem on the carved oak. In front of the door, two copper vases are filled with blooming blue and white irises, exuding a faint fragrance.

"We're here, Hyperion."

"good."

The car stopped on the street outside the courtyard gate of the mansion. Lanci and Hyperion got out of the car, took out their luggage and stepped onto the stone steps leading to the main entrance of the courtyard.

The hedges on both sides of the stone steps were neatly trimmed, with dew hanging on them and sparkling in the light of the morning sun.

"Master Lanqi, you are back?"

The guard outside the door said in surprise the moment he saw Lanqi, and then hurried forward to take Lanqi and Hyperion's luggage and cat.

They haven't seen Lanqi for more than half a year and missed him very much.

Lanqi, a rich boy who had a bad reputation for a while, became very popular again two months before he left home to go to school in the royal capital Ikerit. The servants in the mansion all fell in love with this good boy who had turned over a new leaf.

"I'll be back for a while. I'll leave the luggage to you guys."

Lanqi greeted them and hurriedly took Hyperion across the garden to the front gate, pushed open the heavy oak door, and walked into the mansion.

"Meow, meow, meow, I'm not luggage!"

The cat boss struggled in the guard's hands and jumped into the garden.

"Holy shit, cats can talk?!"

The guards looked at the little black cat running away in shock and shouted.

Boss Cat quickly caught up with Ranch and Hyperion and followed them into the mansion.

Inside the house, the spacious entrance hall appears bright and warm, with portraits of family ancestors and exquisite wall lamps hanging on the walls. A series of light footsteps echoed on the stairs, and it was obvious that everyone in the family had gotten up and were ready to greet the new day.

The door behind Lanqi and Hyperion closed, and they walked into Wilford's house. It seemed that the family had just finished breakfast, and the servants were clearing the dishes.

Before the two of them took a few steps, a familiar low voice was heard not far away.

"Oh? Master Lanqi?"

In the spacious living room on the first floor, Hans turned around and noticed the two people. As the butler of the Wilford family, he was directing the affairs of the mansion today.

Hans stood straight with a thin figure and neatly combed white hair. His face was marked by traces of time and deep wrinkles, but his eyes still sparkled with intelligence and kindness.

"Hans, I'm back."

Lanci nodded.

Sometimes I feel that Hans is like a killer. He will show a perfect smile even to people he obviously hates. But now Lanqi is no longer afraid of Hans.

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!

Although he didn't know why the wealthy merchants in the border territory of Nanwantina could recruit such an old butler who was at the sixth level, Lanqi was willing to believe that Hans was from their family.

"Master, you have become stronger."

Hans was surprised at first, then his eyes turned relieved.

Then, Hans turned his gaze to Hyperion who was standing next to Lanci, and raised his eyebrows slightly, obviously more surprised by this guest: "Oh, is this lady... Miss Hyperion?"

"Uh, yes."

Hyperion was stunned. She didn't expect Hans to suddenly call out her name. She nodded quickly.

She could see that the butler had a good relationship with Lanqi.

"Mr. Noe told me about you when he came back from the capital last time. He has been looking forward to Lanqi inviting you to Nanwantina to play one day. I didn't expect that such a good thing would happen today."

Hans maintained the dignity and courtesy of an experienced butler and explained,

"I will go to the study on the second floor and inform the master that Miss Huberian will be well entertained during this period."

"No, no, no, you don't need to arrange accommodation for me, and you don't need to use honorifics with me."

Hyperion just waved her hands.

She and Lanqi had to go back to Ikerit College to submit a report, so how could she stay at Lanqi's house? From what the old butler said, he was planning to arrange for her and Lanqi to have a good time in South Wantina for a while.

"By the way, Hans, do we have any guests coming to our house these days?"

Lanqi interrupted their conversation and asked solemnly.

Butler Hans turned to observe Lanqi. He rarely saw the young master with such an expression.

The last time, the young master was obviously a little uneasy. He found him in the living room and asked him to help deal with the matter of the pigeon that was accidentally shot back.

"No guests, but Miss Tata came to our house for breakfast this morning before you, and Francine is showing her around the house now."

Hans was stunned for a moment, but soon regained his composure, his voice still steady.

In his opinion, Tata was nominally the steward of their house. Although he seldom came to their house before, he was still Lanqi's tutor and not a guest.

Francine is Lanqi's most familiar maid and has met Tata several times. She is the person closest to Tata in the mansion.

The only strange thing was that Miss Tata and Master Lanqi happened to both come back, but they came back separately and didn't know each other's itinerary.

"!?"

Lanqi's eyes suddenly widened.

When he saw that everything was calm at home, he thought nothing had happened, but he didn't expect that death was one step ahead of him.

I don’t know where Tata is going now, but her target is definitely his bedroom on the second floor!

I don’t want to be the top brother of Tata——! Lanqi was sweating profusely, as if he had returned to a nightmare, and he cried out in his heart.

This is a kind of gravity called destiny.

Calm down.

Think positively.

Things are actually not that bad.

Now the mansion still looks very peaceful, which means Tata is not angry. She must not have reached her bedroom on the second floor yet!

If I could just get back to the bedroom before she did, hide the painting, and replace it with a portrait of a poor, miserable old lady, everything would be fine!

There is still hope.

"Hans, I have something to do!"

Lanqi didn't say anything else and hurried towards the stairs, as if all his anxiety and fatigue disappeared at this moment.

While speeding down the second floor, he saw Francine, the maid, sweeping the hallway.

"Hey, Master Lanqi, you're back!"

As soon as Francine saw Lanqi, a smile of great surprise immediately appeared on her face.

She was very happy to see Tata come back, but she didn't expect that Ranchi would follow her home.

"Yes, I'm back, let's talk later!"

Lanqi just replied hurriedly, his voice was hurried and brief, without stopping.

He now has only one goal, and that is his bedroom at the end of the corridor not far away!

"As expected, the young master likes Miss Tata the most and is so eager to see her."

Francine smiled and muttered to herself, but before she could say anything else, she saw Hyperion chasing after her.

Francine immediately covered her mouth, and the look in her eyes seemed to say: My God, Master Lanci actually brought two girls home! Although Francine was full of curiosity and shock, she still maintained her professional dignity and saluted Hyperion. She knew when to speak and when to remain silent.

On the other side, at the end of the corridor, the running Lanqi leaned against the doorway to slow down, grabbed the handle of the bedroom door, and pressed it hard impatiently.

Lanqi's heartbeat quickened, but he finally felt a little at ease at this moment.

etc.

Shouldn't Francine be accompanying Tata around the mansion?

If Tata wasn’t with Francine, then where was she.

Lanqi frowned slightly. He was in such a hurry just now that he didn't realize this problem.

The door was slightly open, letting in a ray of gentle light, and Lanqi's confusion and tension were intertwined in his heart.

When the bedroom door was completely opened, Lanqi stood in front of the door and was stunned by the scene in front of him.

In the spacious bedroom, sunlight shines through the gauze curtains onto the ground, creating mottled light and shadows.

Everything in the room was in perfect order, and even though the owner hadn't lived there for a long time, it was obviously cleaned regularly.

The most conspicuous position is a portrait on the wall. The woman in the painting is wearing a worn-out gray cloak. Her eyes reveal a hint of melancholy and indomitable spirit. She is as beautiful as a wolf in the snow.

And in front of that painting.

A gray-haired woman stood there, her side profile facing Lanqi quietly. Her coat was slim-cut and a silk tie was neatly tied under the collar of her dress, making her look elegant and rigorous.

The gentle breeze brushed across her face, causing her grey hair that rested on her shoulders to flutter slightly in the wind.

The golden eyes that were staring at the vague portrait were filled with confusion, emotion, and astonishment.

At this quiet moment, the figure with gray hair and golden eyes seemed to blend into a painting with the surrounding environment, and it seemed as if her existence was the only thing in this painting.

Lanqi stood at the door and took a half step back, which startled Talia.

The moment Talia's golden eyes looked at Lanqi.

Lanci suffered cardiopulmonary arrest.

(End of this chapter)