Approaching half-past four in the afternoon, the afternoon sun had already slanted down from high in the sky. It shone obliquely through the tall French windows, casting a rich, orange-red golden light on one side of the classroom, adding a touch of softness.

Flickering rays of light reflected on the desks, empty chairs, and steps, as if quietly telling stories about time.

In the back row of the classroom, behind the spacious wooden table, only Hyperion and Lan Qi remained.

Hyperion didn't know why Lan Qi was looking at her.

But after thinking about it, she met Lan Qi's gaze, stared into his beautiful emerald green pupils, and advised,

"Lan Qi, don't concern yourself with my affairs anymore. There's no need for you to get involved..."

However, Lan Qi remained unmoved after hearing this, only blinked his eyes, his expression calm.

"I won't watch my friends get bullied. Besides, when Modan called me a 'shoddy lawyer' earlier, didn't you want to defend me?"

Lan Qi smiled, always returning kindness with kindness.

"Anyway, if you need any legal help, you can find me at 101 Sage Hall dormitory. Once I pass the bar exam, I can hang a sign next to the dormitory door: [Lan Qi Law Firm]."

"..."

Hyperion once again fell into a state where she couldn't respond.

...

Lan Qi's words were inadvertently heard by other students.

Although no one still bothered to disturb Lan Qi, who looked tired and unwilling to deal with strangers,

many people were pricking up their ears, paying attention to what Lan Qi and Hyperion would say next.

The rules of Ygritte Academy were actually very humane.

Because there were often students with unique skills, such as blacksmiths, sculptors, painters, chefs, pharmacists, card makers, etc., who made their dormitories as popular as shops, students from all academies and grades often visited them.

The school tacitly allowed this diversified social life on campus.

But a law firm...

It seemed like no one had ever heard of that before.

Who the hell would look for a lawyer at school!

This is a magic academy, not a law school!

...

The branches and leaves of the trees on campus swayed gently in the breeze, their shadows dancing on the classroom floor like a silent dance.

Some students came and went on the campus paths, and distant laughter and conversations occasionally floated into the classroom, making time seem both illusory and incredibly real.

In the end.

After much hesitation, Hyperion nodded and accepted Lan Qi's sincere kindness.

"If I can find my father, I will definitely have him use the highest courtesy to invite you to become a consultant to the Aranzal Ducal House."

Hyperion's expression was a solemn promise.

Although it was more likely to be an empty check, it represented Hyperion's attitude—

She recognized Lan Qi as a friend, and he was also a friend of the Aranzal family.

And the Aranzal family always repaid kindness!

"A consultant to the Ducal House? If I really become one, it would be quite a prestigious title. If my old man knew I was doing so well in the royal capital, he'd probably be shocked senseless..."

Lan Qi smiled when he heard this. He didn't care whether the promise could be fulfilled or not. He just sighed about his new friend.

"Hyperion, although you always put on a cold and ruthless facade, you're actually surprisingly kind at heart."

"What do you mean?"

Hyperion didn't understand why Lan Qi would say that.

"Because you've never been thinking about inheriting the family, but about finding your father."

Lan Qi explained with a smile.

"..."

After hearing Lan Qi's words, Hyperion's eyes gradually drooped down, as if gradually sinking into inescapable sad thoughts, and she couldn't say anything for a long time.

Until a little while later.

"...Father, he'll be alright."

Hyperion's expression still didn't seem to change much, but her mood was obviously quite complicated.

She risked her life and finally investigated some clues related to her father's disappearance, but they only vaguely pointed to the Kruit Empire in the south.

She was too weak now.

Not only was she alone and weak,

but she also couldn't tell who was friend or foe or mole in the royal capital.

Going to the Kruit Empire alone to investigate would only be throwing her life away.

She had to get stronger quickly. Perhaps her father could still be saved, but she had to find him as soon as possible...

But Hyperion would never tell Lan Qi about these things.

She couldn't let Lan Qi get any more involved.

"Would you consider playing Shadow World? Let's team up and give Shadow World a little shock."

Seeing that Hyperion had fallen into silence and hadn't spoken for a long time, Lan Qi finally tentatively asked.

Among the people he knew now, Hyperion was undoubtedly the most cooperative teammate.

Not only did they have experience working together, but Hyperion had also been very reliable in previous battles.

This was also the reason why they were able to clear the super-doubled version of [Infinite Phantom Canyon] that day.

Hyperion's fingers froze on the page of the book. She stared blankly at Lan Qi, her mouth slightly open, as if she wanted to say something, or as if she wanted to breathe in some fresh air.

"...You, you mean, you want to go with me?"

Finally, she sorted out some of her thoughts and asked in a daze, still trying to understand Lan Qi's sudden message, this somewhat unrealistic invitation.

"Of course."

Lan Qi's tone was firm and certain.

Hyperion lowered her head, stared at the book on the table, and bit her lip, seemingly very conflicted.

The reason why Lan Qi was so friendly to her was because he didn't yet know that she was half-demon.

And she didn't know how to open her mouth and confess to Lan Qi.

Even if the friendship at this moment might just be a bubble accompanied by phantoms, which could suddenly shatter and dissipate at any time, she still didn't know how to burst it with her own hands.

"You can always go back on it."

Hyperion said in a low voice, her eyes downcast.

This was equivalent to agreeing to Lan Qi's team invitation.

However, she also accepted Lan Qi's unilateral change of heart at any time.

"I knew you'd agree! Why don't we take advantage of the fact that the Demon Engineering Institute hasn't gotten off work yet and hurry up and challenge Shadow World? I really can't stand this class anymore. Which bastard added 《Incantation-less Spellcasting》 to the required courses this year? I can't learn it at all!"

Lan Qi couldn't help but feel a stabbing pain in his brain when he thought of this morning's class, and he began to complain.

He didn't expect the courses at Sage Hall to be so difficult, or perhaps his magical practical talent was just too poor.

Especially this 《Incantation-less Spellcasting》, it was really torturing Lan Qi. It was clear that he didn't see this required course in the previous syllabus, but it just happened to be added this year due to curriculum reform!

"Today?"

Hyperion murmured in a daze.

She obviously didn't expect Lan Qi to be so wildly proactive.

This was even more surreal than a trip that you take on a whim, causing her heart to suddenly beat wildly in her chest!

For a moment, she didn't know what kind of expression to use to express herself, or what kind of voice to use to respond.

"Yes, right now."

Lan Qi stretched hard, as if stretching his muscles and bones,

"Want to come with me?"

When he leaned back in his chair and looked at Hyperion again, he revealed an absolutely confident smile.