Chapter 1 A Lengthy Conversation

For a moment, silence filled the study.

Lan Qi guessed, based on the atmosphere between him and his father, that this conversation would likely be significant for them both.

Judging by his father's expression, this was a dialogue about the future, responsibility, and family honor.

Therefore, he didn't want to say anything before his father spoke.

His gaze slowly shifted, and Lan Qi noticed the butler smiling at him.

Still that same old fox-like smile as always.

Lan Qi felt a slight discomfort and immediately looked away.

So, the places where he could temporarily rest his gaze were the dazzling array of books neatly arranged on the towering bookshelves, and the oil painting hanging on the wall.

It was said to be an ancient masterpiece that the family had treasured for a long time, and illuminated by the elegant magic lamp, it filled the entire study with an artistic atmosphere.

But obviously.

It was not as good as Lan Qi's own paintings.

After a long while.

Noe finally seemed to have composed his words and began to speak:

"Lan Qi, you have been an adult for a month now... During this time, the family has smoothed out too many troubles for you. I don't think you can continue to live so recklessly."

Another brief silence followed.

Or perhaps a waiting period.

Noe wasn't sure if Lan Qi would fly into a rage and throw a tantrum after his performance was exposed.

Because Lan Qi's changes in the past few days seemed more like a temporary performance strategy to him.

It was likely that Lan Qi also realized that the family would start restricting his extravagant spending and reckless behavior.

So, he was probably suppressing his unruly habits, wanting to get through this crisis safely by pretending to be well-behaved for a short time.

However.

To Noe's surprise.

Lan Qi's eyes remained clear and calm.

After reflecting on the question, he nodded seriously.

He replied:

"I'm really sorry. I promise I won't do anything that damages the family's reputation again."

This surprised Noe a bit, and he couldn't help but squeeze his eyes.

He examined Lan Qi again.

He looked like a good young man in every way.

For a moment, Noe even felt that he should be proud to have such a knowledgeable and bright-eyed son.

This kid had either truly repented, or he was still being stubborn.

Although Noe hoped for the former, he knew that the latter was more likely.

It couldn't be that this silly son had suddenly undergone a complete transformation in his mental state because of some opportunity, right?

But it didn't matter.

Regardless of whether Lan Qi was acting or not, Noe had a way to fundamentally determine how to deal with Lan Qi next.

"Ahem."

Noe cleared his throat, sat up straighter, and looked at Lan Qi.

"How are you preparing for the Alchemist Academy entrance exam?"

His tone seemed to soften a bit, but the meaning of his words was even stricter.

"You should know that although I often need to be in the Empire for international trade, it doesn't mean that I completely ignore you. My tolerance for you is also based on the premise that you are living your life seriously."

"Heh heh..."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The corners of the butler's mouth behind Noe couldn't help but reveal a slight smile.

Three parts were gloating over the young master's predicament, and seven parts were amused by wanting to see how the young master would respond.

"..."

Lan Qi didn't say anything for the time being, and was also startled when he heard this.

In his predecessor's memory, he had never really studied!

The Alchemist Academy that Noe was referring to was a branch of the oldest Iklite Academy in the royal capital of the Hutton Kingdom.

This academy recruits promising people of the right age from the Hutton Kingdom and surrounding countries every year, and it is considered famous throughout the Southern Continent.

The Alchemist Academy is one of its four branches.

The entrance exam for the Alchemist Academy, which is known for its alchemical craftsmanship and theoretical research, was so difficult that the predecessor gave up directly before even starting to work hard.

And the predecessor had always lied about working hard to get into the Alchemist Academy, thereby deceiving his parents' peace of mind and trust, and squandering a lot of pocket money playing all day long.

Damn it, this damned predecessor.

You enjoyed all the blessings, and now it's my turn to take the blame!

Lan Qi cursed in his heart.

However, in the original development, the predecessor would not have encountered the current trouble.

Because Talia would help this foolish young master end the troubles of his life.

Thinking of this, Lan Qi suddenly frowned.

"Father, are there any other companies in this world with the same name as the 'Wilford Trading Company'?"

Lan Qi asked.

"Hmm?"

Noe seemed puzzled by Lan Qi's sudden digression, but looking at Lan Qi's serious eyes, he still answered with pride:

"I can't say for sure whether there are small businesses with similar names, but there is only one large trading company that trades between the Hutton Kingdom and the Crete Empire, and that is us."

After Noe finished speaking, Lan Qi's expression didn't change, and he just nodded silently.

Since he had changed the fate of "being killed by Talia" and survived, correspondingly, he would also face some situations that the original foolish young master would not encounter.

Lan Qi had long felt that his surname "Wilford" sounded a bit familiar, but he couldn't remember exactly where he had heard it.

After hearing Noe's words, Lan Qi finally remembered that in the main plot of the game two years after the current timeline, there was a side quest called "The Wilford Tragedy"!

The quest prompt was that a multinational trading company suddenly went bankrupt overnight for unknown reasons, and the people related to the company's senior management were also killed one by one. Players could choose whether to investigate, and the quest level was very high.

His surname was Wilford, his family's company was also called the Wilford Trading Company, and it was the only large multinational company...

Then it seemed to be his own family.

It seemed that he couldn't just lie down and relax. He had to work hard for at least a year and a half to investigate and solve the family's potential hidden dangers in advance!

The family's money was his reliance on retiring at the age of 20, and he had to protect it.

After recalling some information about the Iklite Academy in his memory,

"I guarantee that I will pass the entrance exam smoothly."

Lan Qi answered quite calmly for the time being.

He didn't really mind going to this academy located in the royal capital.

It could even be said that in his predecessor's memory, it was a dreamlike academy—

It not only had the most cutting-edge magic engineering technology and many high-level facility resources in the Hutton Kingdom, but it would also receive excellent protection.

He was still a first-level unemployed person with no combat power and no "status sufficient to make the bigwigs value him and protect him."

It would undoubtedly be courting death to rashly run to the Crete Empire, the source where the problem was most likely to exist, to investigate.

It was better to develop his potential in the Hutton Kingdom first.

If he wanted to rise to fame the fastest.

Or even gain the favor of some powerful or supreme beings in this world and accumulate connections.

Then becoming a card master must be the shortcut most suitable for his talent.

Going to the Iklite Academy to use the resources of the Magic Engineering Academy would be a hundred times more efficient than staying in such a border city-state to study card making alone.

The royal capital was also a stage more suitable for him to show his skills.

At the very least, as long as he could make a fortune in the royal capital Iklite, he could find a way to personally bring down his father's Wilford Trading Company to avoid family ruin!

"Hmm?"

Noe raised his eyebrows, not realizing Lan Qi's filial thoughts at the moment, but questioning Lan Qi's confidence in wanting to enter the academy.

He thought that his foolish son, who acted like a hoodlum, would show his true colors here.

He didn't expect that Lan Qi was still being stubborn besides frowning.

Lan Qi's reaction today was indeed beyond Noe's expectations every step of the way.

Although Noe didn't have much energy to take care of Lan Qi's daily life, every time he asked the butler and the maid about Lan Qi's situation, they tried their best to protect Lan Qi.

But Noe wasn't stupid. He could roughly judge what kind of state Lan Qi was usually in.

"Since you said that, if you pass the entrance exam smoothly, then I misunderstood you, and I will apologize to you..."

Noe said in a deep voice, his torch-like gaze deeply exploring Lan Qi's emerald green eyes,

"But if you can't pass the academy's exam, does it prove that you are deceiving our trust in you?"

"Of course, that's fair."

Lan Qi's response was still unhurried.

"Then I won't bother you any further today. Continue to study hard. I will buy your train ticket to the royal capital in advance. You don't have to worry about these things."

At this point, seeing Lan Qi's straightforward promise, Noe was also satisfied.

Since Lan Qi was still being stubborn now.

Then Noe didn't mind taking this opportunity to let Lan Qi accept the punishment wholeheartedly after experiencing some setbacks.

Noe didn't really think that Lan Qi could pass the Alchemist Academy's exam.

Or rather, it was impossible at all.

Given the complexity of the Alchemist Academy's exam, the number of subjects, and the extremely high passing standards, it would take at least two or three years of serious preparation.

And this year's Iklite Academy entrance exam would begin in three months.

Even Lan Qi couldn't handle the Alchemist Academy, which required the least talent.

When he went to the royal capital and saw the outstanding peers in the other three academies, he would probably realize how foolish and pathetic his laziness, arrogance, and short-sightedness were.

"I understand."

Lan Qi said affirmatively.

His father had always been questioning him in his heart, but he had always said things with high emotional intelligence and wanted to send him to the royal capital. Lan Qi felt respected.

Then he would definitely respond to his father's expectations.

"As long as you are sure that you can send me to the royal capital to show my skills, I guarantee that you will receive the good news that I have successfully entered the royal capital's Iklite Academy."

"...Heh."

Noe almost laughed when he heard this.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and suppressed the meaning of ridicule that was about to appear on his face.

Show his skills?

You're just going to enroll in school. Can you give me a big wave?

Noe didn't expect today's conversation to go so smoothly. He had originally prepared for a very unpleasant quarrel between him and his son.

Punishing Lan Qi was inevitable, because he wanted to teach the arrogant and overconfident Lan Qi to pay the price for his mistakes.

Today, unexpectedly, a good peaceful treaty was reached because of Lan Qi's sincere attitude.

But in Noe's opinion, the difference was that before punishing Lan Qi, he would let him see the world in the royal capital.

Anyway, Lan Qi was just going to embarrass himself in the Iklite Academy entrance exam.

As for letting Lan Qi go to the royal capital, Noe wasn't worried that Lan Qi would become a wild horse that had broken free from its reins.

In this small border town, Lan Qi, who had never seen the world, could be arrogant and domineering.

But in the royal capital Iklite, where there were bigwigs everywhere, on the real big stage of the Southern Continent, this canine son would definitely not be able to make any waves.

After all.

Noe knew Lan Qi very well. Lan Qi was just that kind of paper tiger, a foolish playboy.

He was definitely not a mixed-up demon king who would evolve uncontrollably in a suitable environment.

This was still very reassuring.