Chapter 693 Lanqi Received a Date Challenge

On a misty autumn morning, a mansion in District 2 on the south bank of Parrieu stood quietly among the maple trees.

This majestic building made of gray stones has a black tile roof, and chimneys stand at both ends of the roof. It seems that no smoke has risen for many years.

Golden and reddish-brown maple leaves fell quietly, forming a thick carpet of fallen leaves on the dry stone steps.

"Then I'll probably just report it. Count Baptiste, please take a look at the document."

In the reception hall, the Sergeant Major of the Senate Executive Force in black military uniform sat on the sofa next to the oak coffee table and handed Count Baptiste a document album with diamond-shaped cowhide stripes.

This is the old home of the Baptiste family.

After most of the mansion in District 4 on the North Shore was destroyed, it will take some time to repair it.

So the whole family moved here.

"Thank you, Mr. Lieutenant General."

Count Baptiste took the document and thanked him.

Regarding the turmoil of the past two days, their Baptiste family was involved in the investigation related to the curse spreader.

If it were an investigator who wanted to embarrass the Baptiste family, they might be very harsh in their investigation.

And Nigel the Executioner seems to have a good relationship with their housekeeper and Christina.

So the investigation work almost involved matching their confessions.

"No need to thank you."

Nigel shook his head.

After that turmoil, many things happened.

Among them, the Senate hopes that he will take over District 10 of the Posen Demon Realm instead of his teacher Perlman, and the Demon Realm hopes that Nigel will take the lead in thoroughly investigating the historical issues left by the great wizard Parroni's Grudge. Yi refused and chose to stay with Mr. Tiffany.

Correspondingly, because he became the hero on the surface of this battle, deeply trusted by the residents of Huadu and the demons of the Posen Demon Realm, he was promoted from the colonel of the Parrie Defense Force of the Posen Kingdom to the lieutenant general in response to public expectations. Military rank.

The only job Nigel took over was the aftermath.

For example, he took over the investigation of the Baptiste family on his own initiative.

He is good at completing a report without loopholes under the premise of complete truth, and at the same time, he does not want some hostile factions of the Baptiste family to take this opportunity to harm the Baptiste family.

Inoan was the one he had rescued from the crazy demon clan in the Posen Demon Realm. Later, after experiencing the battle on that rainy night, he roughly knew the story and outcome of the incident.

The two chatted.

The butler of the Baptiste family was in the corner of the living room.

He was still dressed like that, wearing a black butler's uniform and a dark green striped bow tie at the collar.

The brown-haired butler with green eyes was silently preparing tea at a small table in the corner of the living room. He skillfully put the tea leaves into the silver teapot, poured in hot water, and then closed the pot lid to let the tea leaves expand in the hot water. , a fragrant tea fragrance filled the air.

The head of the family and the officer were chatting at the long table. Both of them had a solemn expression, their brows were slightly furrowed, and they exchanged opinions in a low voice.

"You two, please have some tea."

The butler served tea to the two of them, and his eyes met the officer's inadvertently.

They nodded slightly to each other.

Despite their familiarity, they exchanged brief greetings as they went about their work, each focusing on the duties at hand.

"Rocky, thank you for your hard work and coming to our house today."

The head of the family, Count Baptiste, thanked Lanqi directly.

"It's okay, it should be."

Ranchi replied and put the tray away, not disturbing them again.

He felt like he didn't have much work to do today.

This old house is half the size of the Earl's Mansion on the North Shore, and the maids have done their job in an orderly manner.

After thinking for a moment, Lan Qi walked forward along the corridor and up the stairs to the second floor, the thick carpet absorbing the sound of his footsteps.

When he came to the small living room on the second floor, he saw Miss Christina sitting by the high floor-to-ceiling window.

At this moment, she was holding her chin in ecstasy and looking out the window, her eyes reflecting the colorful autumn scenery of Huadu Parrieu.

Her hair was cut short, only reaching her shoulders. It was partly scorched by the mysterious demon that came that day, and it looked like this after trimming it.

Lan Qi walked to Christina and gently placed the tea tray on the round table nearby.

Christina seemed to wake up from her meditation and turned to look at Lan Qi.

"It turns out to be Rocky."

Christina gradually relaxed, her eyes fell on the autumn scenery outside the window again, and her thoughts drifted away again.

Red-brown maple leaves danced in the breeze, and a few fallen leaves clung lightly to the glass.

"Miss, why do you look so listless?"

The butler asked, standing behind and to her right with a smile.

Christina looked back at Lan Qi and wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, she decided not to.

This butler stands out as a kind of annoying old man who knows everything he knows.

She picked up the tea cup and took a sip of hot tea. The warmth of the tea seemed to dispel some of the coolness of autumn.

"Lodge, thank you for the linden flower tea."

Christina said softly, her voice as smooth as silk.

"If you need anything, just let me know."

Lan Qi stepped back in time and said to her.

Just as Lan Qi was about to leave.

"Rocky, stay with me a little longer."

Christina said in vain.

"It's unbelievable that the lady doesn't dislike me anymore."

Lan Qi paused, returned behind her, and spoke in slight surprise.

Christina glanced at him.

"In fact, I have also discovered that you are not a bad person. It is my fault that I have preconceived that you are a wrong existence. I should thank you for your care for our family during this period of time."

She said frankly,

"Thinking carefully, you taught Yinoan how to be a kind person. I don't know anything. You who know more have more say."

I don't want to communicate with Butler Rocky at all. For some reason, I feel that some things can only be confided to him.

After listening to Lanqi, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

"... Yearning is the farthest emotion from understanding, and love is the bridge between poor knowledge and rich knowledge."

He also looked along Christina's line of sight.

Christina and Ivanos are not from the same world.

Christina can't understand Ivanos, and Ivanos's yearning for Christina will never be conveyed.

But this does not mean that the brief intersection between their life trajectories is not beautiful.

At least Christina will understand in her future life that her kindness and courage can infect others and even create miracles.

"Rocky, I say you are really amazing. You actually taught Yinoan so much healthy and correct knowledge."

Whenever Christina thinks of Yinoan's true identity as the Bishop of Destruction, she feels as if she has had a dream during this period.

A not-so-real dream.

Her company alone may not change Yinoan.

It also has to benefit from a good teacher like Rocky, who has shaped a new sense of right and wrong for Yinoan, who is like a blank sheet of paper.

"Why, Miss, do you want to listen too?"

Lanqi understood and asked her with interest.

He remembered that every time Christina brought Yinoan to psychological counseling, Christina fell asleep while listening beside her.

If he were a teacher, he would actually be sad if there were such a student in the class.

"Well, I don't like to discuss philosophical issues, and I think my mentality is quite normal. Do you think I need to learn it?"

Christina shook her head, but asked him.

She felt that the things that the butler Rocky usually said were neither as practical as magic, nor as easy to come into contact with in life as humanities and social sciences, nor as basic and universal as mathematics.

"This is a subject that will not bother you if you don't learn it."

Lanqi lowered his eyelashes and replied with a faint smile.

"I thought you would tempt me to learn it like a salesman."

Christina stared at Lanqi behind her.

I always felt that this butler had changed a little, but observing his expression and tone, maybe he had let it go.

"But, Rocky, have you noticed something?"

Christina asked him again.

"What is it?"

Lanqi asked slightly leaning forward in confusion.

"Today is Wednesday."

Christina also answered with doubts.

Although it was a statement, it was questioning.

"I'm very sorry. My absence from work on Monday was a major mistake at work. I won't quibble."

Lanqi bowed in embarrassment.

"..."

Christina stared at him, feeling that he really blamed himself.

She didn't mean to torture him, but she felt that he really didn't find the problem. In fact, today was a day off.

But seeing this well-mannered butler actually show this look, she found it quite interesting.

"I didn't expect you to be absent from work, Rocky."

Christina said to herself, with a half arc,

"But it's okay, a butler like you is obviously unqualified, it's reasonable for me to fire you for this reason, right?"

She added.

"... Indeed, I have nothing to say, I can only go out."

Lanqi smiled helplessly at her, feeling that this might be a flaw in his career that could not be erased.

Being fired for absenteeism, he never thought there would be such a day since he first became the principal.

"Well, I will probably pay you when my money arrives at the Saint Silver Vine Arena, and then sign a termination contract with you."

Christina nodded with satisfaction,

"Okay, go and get busy, Butler Rocky. But the Baptiste family still welcomes you in the future, and you can come to our house anytime."

She turned around and waved to Lanqi, as if to say goodbye to him.

"..."

Lanqi seemed to hesitate for a moment.

At the time of parting, he took out a hair ornament from his pocket.

"Christina, this is what I brought you from Inoan."

The small hair ornament Lanqi took out of his pocket was a silver hairpin, carved with a delicate rose, and the edges of the petals were inlaid with tiny rubies, shining in natural light.

He handed the hairpin to Christina, his tone gentle and solemn.

This is a hair ornament of Inoan.

Christina gave it to her, but it was damaged after the battle, and Lanqi repaired it.

Christina stared at the familiar hairpin in a daze, and reached out to take it.

Her fingertips gently brushed the rose, as if caressing a memory.

"Yinoan...she..."

Christina choked, tears gradually welling up in her eyes.

The tears finally slid down from the corners of Christina's eyes, leaving a crystal trail along her cheek.

"Then I'll leave first."

Lanqi was ready to leave.

Christina closed her eyes and let the tears flow freely. She clutched the hair ornament tightly, as if it was the last connection between her and Inoan.

"Will I ever get a chance to see her again?"

Christina reached out and grabbed the hem of Lan Qi's butler uniform as he was about to leave.

"It's best not to meet again."

Lan Qi looked at her and replied.

He believed that Christina also understood the truth of this sentence.

For a young lady like her who lives in the right world, the best outcome is to never meet the Bishop of Destruction in her life.

"That's great...that's great..."

Tears flowed down Christina's fair cheeks, gathering into a drop of crystal water on her chin, and finally fell on her snow-green skirt, spreading out into a dark water stain.

Her lips trembled slightly, trying hard to force a smile, but her tears flowed more and more uncontrollably.

"She is alive and alone cannot defeat me."

Christina put it close to her cheek, her smile seemed a little bitter amid the tears, but it was full of endless relief and touch.

"Rocky, thank you."

Christina murmured to herself, her tone full of relief.

She closed her eyes, with tears hanging from her eyelashes.

"..."

Lan Qi's eyes trembled slightly, he pursed his lips and looked away.

"I went to work."

He emphasized again and left quickly.

Seeing Christina's mixed expression of joy and sorrow, he felt mixed emotions in his heart.

Lan Qi left the room, closed the door, and walked alone down the long corridor, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.

He felt like going outside to breathe.

When he came to the terrace on the other side of the third floor, he stopped.

"call--"

He held on to the railing, looked at the garden, and took a deep breath.

Then he stared at the maple forest outside the courtyard for a long time, with the leaves falling quietly.

"Meow."

A little black cat quietly jumped onto the railing and squatted down next to Lan Qi's hand.

It raised its head and looked at Rocky with its bright eyes, its tail wagging slightly.

"..."

"Boss Cat, don't fall."

Lan Qi stretched out his hand and stroked the smooth fur of the little black cat.

"Have you forgotten that I am a divine beast?"

Boss Cat asked in his childish voice.

It can use telekinesis magic, and even if an ordinary cat jumps from this height, there won't be much problem.

"Meow, are you feeling bad?"

Boss Cat blinked and made a soft sound.

"Actually, I think I made a mistake by not telling her the truth."

He muttered, his voice low and tired.

Some people believe that lying is always immoral, regardless of the consequences.

Some people also believe that we should pay more attention to the consequences of actions. If the overall happiness brought by an action is greater than the misfortune it brings, then this action is moral.

However, sometimes only considering the consequences will ignore the autonomy of the participants.

"It's definitely better not to tell Christina the truth, meow."

The cat boss felt that Lan Qi was doing fine, but he didn’t know why he felt even more uncomfortable when he looked at Christina like this.

"Boss Cat, imagine if your brain is connected to a magic terminal machine, which is probably more advanced than the artificial shadow world startup terminal. It can bring endless happiness to you for the rest of your life, only joy, no sadness. If Let you choose, would you like this kind of machine?”

With a helpless smile, Lan Qi reached out and gently stroked the little black cat's back.

Just as Boss Cat was about to answer, Lan Qi continued to speak:

"It should be noted that once you enter this experience machine, you will never be able to come back from real life, but it will be difficult for you to discover this fact yourself. You will not be able to tell whether you are in the real world or the virtual world. Your life should be Some ups and downs will be replaced by smooth sailing.”

"Meow……"

When Boss Cat heard it, he felt very good.

But if you think about it carefully, isn't this the gentle land of falling?

However, this machine does not sound like the soul-melting negative effect of the falling gentle land. It is a pure and harmless experience.

"You don't want to enter, what's the reason?"

Lan Qi seemed to see the hesitation of the cat boss and understood what he was thinking at the moment.

It's obviously such a good thing, why do you still hesitate?

If according to hedonism, the most important thing in life is to maximize net happiness, because happiness is the most precious gift that life gives us, what we pursue must also be things that can bring maximum happiness.

In other words, that’s what it feels like to fall into a gentle land.

But what is stopping you from choosing this endless happiness?

"That's what this question is trying to prove and disprove, and we still have good reasons not to go into this machine."

Lan Qi said to the cat boss.

"What meow?"

The little black cat jumped on Lan Qi's shoulder, looked at him and asked.

It feels like the answer is in its heart, but it doesn't expect it.

"Authenticity."

Lan Qi stared at it, his emerald green eyes glowing with thought,

"Maybe this analogy is a special case, but for Christina, is protection more important or authenticity is more important? Compared with the sense of security of being deceived, whether the pain is real, for her Is it better?"

He once again cast his eyes on the autumn scenery outside the railing.

If she didn't know the truth, Christina was actually living in her own "experience machine."

It doesn't hurt, but it's not real.

Originally, Lan Qi could use the magic [Falling Gentle Land] on enemies without hesitation, but he would never use it on his own people.

His understanding of this magic may be different now, and some things may not be described as right or wrong at all.

"I don't understand meow, I'm just a little kitten."

Boss Cat shook his head,

"I think lies are more like a tool? For example, Tata can use a knife to cut vegetables, or he can put the knife on your neck. You can only comment on the right or wrong of the user, but you can't comment on the right or wrong of the knife itself. Meow , I think it’s okay for you not to tell Christina, she is still so young and cannot be left to recover.”

"Huhu..."

Lan Qi was amused by it for a moment.

It seems to be more because of the content of Cat Boss’ metaphor.

Not to mention that he still misses Tata who would put a knife to his neck if he disagreed. Now that she can only cook quietly, Lan Qi feels that he can no longer experience the adrenaline rush.

One person and one cat are working hard in this rare place.

Lan Qi was immersed in his own thoughts, and the little black cat on his shoulder was curled up quietly.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Rocky, you are here."

Lan Qi turned around and saw the young Earl Kyle standing in the corridor outside the terrace, smiling at him.

"Master Kyle, do you have any orders?"

Lan Qi asked with some apology.

He felt as if because of his laziness, Kyle came to him for something, and he searched around the mansion before finding him.

Kyle waved his hand, walked to Ranchi, and pressed the railing like him.

"It's nothing, I just want to tell you that you should go and rest early."

Kyle said to him.

"I haven't been expelled yet..."

Lan Qi was in a daze and looked at Kyle in confusion.

"Rocky, although our family may need your help these days, today is actually a legal holiday, so you don't need to come to work."

Kyle chuckled and patted Rocky on the shoulder.

"..."

Maybe it was because Lan Qi had slept for almost two days and was a little stupid. He didn't even realize that today was the Fireworks Ascension Festival in the Posen Kingdom, and this festival was a holiday where he didn't have to work.

Thinking back carefully, Nigel did tell him during the dinner on Monday morning that the Hanabi Ascension Festival would be in two days.

"oh oh……"

Lan Qi nodded.

He had never slept for so long before, and even just remembering that today was Wednesday, he even ignored it.

"You have worked hard during this period. Please rest for a few more days. This old house is easy to take care of."

Kyle nodded in understanding,

"Thank you for taking care of me. After Christina cried just once, she became much more energetic and returned to her usual heartless self."

He just went to the second floor to see his sister. He was originally worried about his sister's depressed state in the past two days. As expected, he just wanted to talk to Rocky.

"Then I'll take my leave first."

Lan Qi picked up the little black cat on his shoulder, said goodbye to Kyle and walked to the butler's lounge on the first floor.

A few minutes later.

He changed into casual clothes and left the Baptiste family's old house.

At half past nine in the autumn morning, the dazzling sunshine shone on his body, bringing a touch of warmth.

He strolled along the streets on the south bank of Parrieux, and soon left the maple forest, and the surroundings once again turned into streets flanked by plane trees.

"I didn't expect to be so free today."

Lan Qi took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill his lungs, and murmured.

In this environment, the irritability and fatigue in my heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a rare kind of peace and relaxation.

There were not many pedestrians yet, and the streets were filled with a reviving tranquility and chatter.

"Lanqi Meow, there is communication, Meow."

Suddenly, the cat boss jumped on Lan Qi's head and handed a purple magic card to him while hanging upside down.

"Who will be looking for me at this time..."

Lan Qi took the communication magic card in confusion.

During this period of time, except for the epics that could not be unbound, all of them were transformed into magic cards that reduce mana consumption, increase mental attributes, and speed up mana recovery. These tool magic cards have always been placed with Boss Cat.

It feels like the cat boss has turned into a cat-shaped phone.

…

Flowers on the north shore of Parrieu.

A magnificent iron tower towers majestically on the banks of the Selina River at the end of the field of vision.

In the square under the Iron Tower, a particularly elegant lady was standing quietly, her long gray hair flowing down like a waterfall, and a white aristocratic dress covering her noble and graceful figure, reflected in the morning sun. There is a gentle and soft sheen underneath.

The approaching footsteps disturbed the contemplative lady.

She turned around and looked to her side.

Those bright golden eyes fell on Lan Qi who was standing not far away.

After Lanqi received Talia's communication, he came to the agreed place in North Shore District 1 to meet her.

He looked at Thalia with some confusion, as if he didn't understand why she suddenly called him over.

And at this moment, Thalia seemed to have dressed up again.

"Lan Qi, let's go on a date!"

Thalia had already changed her clothes, raised her finger and pointed at him and said, as if she was going to duel with him.

The wind blew, accompanied by the falling leaves, curling up the ends of Lanqi's hair, but it did not change the surprised expression on his lips.

"... Me, and you?"

Lanqi pointed at himself and Talia with an uncertain look on his face and asked.

"Yes."

Talia nodded seriously.

Today, in order to avenge Lanqi's damnation for the past month, she decided to pretend to be a perfect and gentle girl and disgust Lanqi!