Chapter 169: Lance Has a Surprise

In the spacious garden beneath the old Liberal Arts Hall of the College of Magical Engineering, the plants basked in the morning mist and sunlight, releasing a fresh fragrance. It was accompanied by the singing of songbirds, the buzzing of bees, and the gentle babbling of a stream.

Two people were conversing on this open, flower-strewn lawn.

Her reporter instincts were screaming, so Luviselle curiously asked, "What made you suspect you'd been scammed?"

Noel sighed and explained, "Well, I received a fine notice. But the amount was so huge and so absurd that I felt I had to verify it in person."

The more Noel thought about it, the more convinced he became that Lance, that good-for-nothing kid, had tried to be clever, but made a blunder, issuing the fine incorrectly.

Then again, if his son truly possessed forgery skills of that caliber, he'd never have to worry about making a living. He would either end up fabulously wealthy, or...the kingdom's prison system would take good care of him.

Noel recalled the last time he had seen Lance. He had been deeply engrossed in studying the law. It was likely then that the kid had started down the wrong path.

His immediate priority was to verify the matter at the College of Magical Engineering before the fine's deadline. If the notice turned out to be fake, Noel would certainly punish his wayward son severely and steer the kid back onto the right track.

However, if it turned out to be real, then his feelings would be rather complicated, because that would mean his son had actually succeeded in enrolling at the Sages' College...

Luviselle said with a smile, "Could I take a look at the fine? I might be able to help you determine its authenticity."

Although she didn't major in commerce, her background in intelligence and investigation made her particularly adept at verifying the authenticity of official documents.

"I'd appreciate that." Noel readily produced the document.

Luviselle took the fine notice and examined it closely. Soon, a smile returned to her face. "Let me tell you, large fines issued in the private name of an Ikerite University faculty member are almost certainly fake. It's a common scam. Legitimate fines ought to be handled through official channels, institution-to-institution, rather than as a private transaction like this. A renowned magical engineer like Professor Boralo would never stoop to extorting a wealthy merchant—"

However, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence. She had spotted the recipient's name: Noel Wilford.

Luviselle looked visibly startled. She immediately snapped to attention before Noel, puffed out her chest, and delivered a solemn salute.

"Miss... just what has gotten into you?" Noel had been ready to arrest Lance based on the young reporter's earlier explanation, only to see her attitude execute a complete 180 for reasons unknown.

Luviselle's tone shifted, taking on a rather professional, broadcaster-like quality. "There is one thing I can assure you of."

Noel swallowed hard and nervously asked, "What is it?"

Could there be an even more serious offense behind this citation?

Luviselle handed the document back to Noel with both hands. "This fine is definitely genuine."

"So that kid really is enrolled in this school right now?!" Noel's eyes widened as he asked. Lance didn't know a single spell. How on earth had he gotten into the Sages' College of all places?

No matter how much he tried to dig up information or verify the details of the entrance exam, he found nothing. The more he investigated, the more Noel suspected the guy's admission letter was a fake. Yet, despite all odds, it had turned out to be real. He was starting to question reality.

Luviselle's tone shifted to one of enthusiastic delight as she exclaimed, "Of course! This university simply wouldn't be the same without him! Every report about his exploits gets rave reviews!"

Noel stared. "Every time?"

Luviselle nodded repeatedly. "That's right."

"...Could you describe the Lance Wilford you know?" Noel was worried that he and this young reporter might be talking in circles about different people.

Luviselle described him vividly, "He has black hair and emerald green eyes, and he's very handsome. He looks completely harmless and refined, yet sometimes he acts in such a twisted, unhinged way that you start to question his sanity."

"Hiss..."

Noel scratched his head in puzzlement. That was definitely the same goofball he knew. Good for nothing except his looks, with a brain that was constantly short-circuiting, and a tendency to go wild whenever he drank. Although the young reporter's assessment was brutally sharp, it was all true.

Noel immediately asked the question that worried him the most, "Has Lance caused any trouble at Ikerite University?"

Luviselle thought for a moment before answering, "Hmm... no, not really."

In her opinion, Lance had been doing a great job at the school! She often heard President Monaster praise her fellow club member for his solid work ethic and exemplary conduct.

As for matters outside the university, well, he had pulled off a major feat yesterday: taking out the Saintess of Destruction from the Church of Resurrection. He was likely sitting right at the top of the cult's most-wanted list by now. Luviselle couldn't even begin to guess the figure attached to the bounty the cult had placed on his head.

Noel finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Miss, in that case, do you know how to find Lance?"

He hadn't expected the kid to be capable of such surprising things. As long as he hadn't caused any massive trouble within the university, everything was fine!

Lance was turning out exactly as he had predicted: incapable of stirring up any real storms in the capital. After all, his son was just a foolish young master, basically the kind of guy who was all bark and no bite. He was certainly not the sort of uncontrollable menace who would transform into a monster the moment the environment suited him.

The heavy weight that had been pressing on Noel's chest had vanished, leaving him in high spirits. He actually didn't mind the eight thousand pound fine. He could simply view it as a celebration of Lance's successful enrollment at Ikerite University.

Luviselle glanced at the hands of the distant clock tower. "Uh, well, you probably can't find him right now. He's in the middle of a livestream."

Lance had entered the Shadow Realm yesterday morning. With four full days remaining before the challenge concluded, there was no chance of finding him on campus before then.

Luviselle turned to ask Noel, "The broadcast should be starting soon. Rumor has it he's presenting a special performance blending art, culture, and science this morning. I was planning to head to Gela Memorial Plaza to gather material for a report anyway. Would you like to watch it for a bit before heading to the College of Magical Engineering?"

Lance and his group had stayed up late, only ending their stream at two in the morning. Before turning their stream off, they had announced beforehand that the next broadcast wouldn't begin until after nine in the morning.

The timing was perfect. Having lived with Lance day in and day out, his father surely possessed nerves of steel. Seeing the footage of his son in the Shadow Realm likely wouldn't cause his heart rate to spike much.

Noel chuckled. "Heh, I'd really like to see what kind of antics the kid is up to."

Since the fine was genuine, there was no longer any rush for him to head to the College of Magical Engineering to verify the details. Could that kid possibly have some impressive talent worth showcasing to the entire student body and the residents of the royal capital passing by?

It was hilarious just thinking about it. He couldn't wait to see the show.