Westde had actually suspected from the start that their Holy Son wasn't Loren. Otherwise, he would have helped her kill Ascensão in Banderra City long ago. Or, if he really was Loren, Ascensão and the Black Robe wouldn't have survived that situation.

Unfortunately, only they knew the specific details of that battle.

From the perspective of the Silent Extinction Holy Son, Annelo, if Loren was actually manipulating things behind the scenes, it would be more plausible that the Tyrant Church managed to escape a two-on-one fight.

Ascensão couldn't possibly tell Annelo that he, a Cardinal, almost lost his life due to the Tyrant Holy Son's explosion. It might even expose his own weakened state, arousing the Silent Extinction Holy Son's rebellious thoughts and murderous intent.

"Understood."

Lan Qi held up Cat Boss, asking it to show the [Imitation Slate - Wind] to Westde.

Cat Boss wore a mournful expression as it pulled out the white card that had dragged its cat-life into the abyss.

"You're truly versatile."

Westde took the [Imitation Slate - Wind] and examined it. She couldn't help but marvel at its wonder. It was the first time she had heard of someone pirating the [Original Slate].

As a Slate holder herself, she knew how incredible this imitation technique was.

"So, what's your relationship with Loren?"

Westde handed the [Imitation Slate - Wind] back to the crying Cat Boss, gently stroked the little black cat's head, and then looked at Lan Qi and asked.

She now roughly understood that her Holy Son's true origin was actually from the Southern Continent.

No wonder he had remained unknown in the Northern Continent for so many years.

The more she interacted with him, the more she felt that her Holy Son's talents were more than this, that he shouldn't have remained obscure for so long.

So, a new question arose. To create this [Imitation Slate - Wind], one would definitely have to observe the original [Original Slate - Wind]. Even its raw materials must have come from the [Original Slate - Wind]. This meant that her Holy Son had definitely met Loren and gained Loren's approval.

"Both teacher and friend."

Lan Qi answered with a frank smile. He missed Dean Loren whenever he thought of him.

"?"

Cat Boss didn't know whether Lan Qi was referring to Loren or himself as the "teacher."

"Also, I'm not a member of the Goddess of Fate Church. Before becoming your Holy Son, I had never formally joined any church faction."

Lan Qi spread his hands and added.

"I believe you."

Westde nodded, gazing at Lan Qi.

This experience of shared adversity was the best promise between them.

"Then, do you want to pirate my [Original Slate - Basic]?"

She thought for a moment and suddenly asked.

Logically speaking, magical artificers were most eager to observe various Original Slates, and her Slate was definitely something inaccessible to people from the Southern Continent.

If the scholars of the Southern Continent knew that someone had observed the [Original Slate - Basic], it would definitely cause a sensation.

"Whatever. Your Original Slate is the most useless."

Lan Qi replied indifferently.

Anyway, there was no point in observing it now. They still had to wait for the Great Poet of Love to return before they could cooperate to create an imitation slate. She didn't have her own carving ability, and he didn't have her magical art level.

"...I'll hit you."

Westde raised her fist and shook it, feeling unable to contain her anger.

But she couldn't do what she said, really hitting Lan Qi.

"You want to see it? I wouldn't agree to show it to you. After all, I've never let anyone observe it before."

She sneered and turned her head away.

"Mm."

Lan Qi nodded.

"Didn't you hear me? I said I wouldn't agree to show it to you."

Westde looked at Lan Qi again, emphasizing her words just now.

"I heard you."

Lan Qi answered matter-of-factly.

"Beg me. It's obvious that I want you to try to fight for it. Can't you see that?"

"...Then please let me observe the [Original Slate - Basic]."

Listening to Lan Qi's perfunctory line delivery, which resembled a terribly acting stage actor, Westde was silent for a long time.

"You can forget about seeing my Slate."

She was simply furious and sighed regretfully.

Thinking about it, she was amused by his antics.

However, in any case, now was not the time to observe the Slate. They had only temporarily escaped the crisis.

"How do you plan to deal with Annelo next time?"

Westde raised her elbow and nudged Lan Qi, asking.

The same trick wouldn't deter Annelo twice. She didn't know how Lan Qi should face the more difficult and enraged Silent Extinction Holy Son next time they met.

And more than that, the most difficult hurdle at present was still the Box Mountain Province, guarded by the main force of the Silent Extinction branch.

"It's already over."

Lan Qi smiled easily and took out Cat Boss's sixth-tier spell card, [Super-Long-Range Communication Magic], from Cat Boss.

This distance was already sufficient to contact the city-states of the Snowfield Province.

He contacted the Snowfield Province Governor's Office's independent terminal, and soon a secretary from the Snowfield Province connected him.

"I am Rocky McCarthy. Let me speak to Viscount Leven Ceston."

He held the communication magic card to his chin, speaking as if he were holding a walkie-talkie.

"Yes, Governor. Please wait a moment."

Without needing to hear Lan Qi's voice, the other party was already extremely respectful when they noticed that it was the Governor's [Super-Long-Range Communication Magic] number calling.

Before long, after internal transfers within the province, his call was connected to the Ceston City Lord's mansion.

"Governor, have you returned? Is there any instruction that needs to be completed?"

A steady voice of a middle-aged man came from the other end.

As a powerhouse in Ceston City, Viscount Leven Ceston already possessed [Super-Long-Range Communication Magic]. He was filled with relief at the Governor's safe return from the north. As Xia's father-in-law, he had always been deeply grateful to the Governor.

"Yes, I do need your help."

Lan Qi acknowledged.

"I am pursuing a powerful Phantom Party member. He may escape into the Snowfield Province before noon. He has three characteristics. First, he is a fellow traveler with Professor Meqi and will lie that he is a high-level member of the Silent Extinction branch, possessing various perfectly forged seals and various Imperial military documents. Second, he suffers from mental derangement and will claim that High Priest Loren has come to the Northern Continent. No matter whether he says he has unlocked permissions, you must never hand over the city-state's communication terminals to him. Third, he is in a state of panic and mania, is extremely aggressive, and urgently needs sedation and treatment. Please help me set a trap to capture him in the city."

"Understood. The damned Phantom Party dares to use the same trick to deceive our Snowfield Province, is it? We have long been prepared to conduct drills!"

Viscount Ceston's gnashing voice was full of anger, as if he couldn't wait to set up an inescapable net to hunt this damned Phantom Party member.

Westde, who was standing next to Lan Qi, twitched her eyes!

She could already imagine Annelo being toyed with to the point of doubting his life and doubting the world!

As expected, she hadn't misjudged this guy!

(End of Chapter)