For a moment, the study fell into silence.
The atmosphere between him and his father probably made Lanqi guess that this conversation might be of great significance to them.
Judging from the look on his father's face, it was a conversation about the future, responsibility and family honor.
So he couldn't say anything before his father spoke.
His eyes moved slowly and Lanqi noticed that the butler was smiling at him.
Still smiling like that old fox as always.
Lanqi felt a little uncomfortable, and then he looked away.
Then the places where you can temporarily focus your eyes are the dazzling array of books neatly arranged on the towering bookshelves and the oil paintings hanging on the walls.
It is said that this is an ancient masterpiece that has been treasured by the family for a long time. Illuminated by the elegant magic lamp, it fills the entire study with an artistic atmosphere.
But obviously.
It is not as good as Ranci's paintings.
a long time.
Noe finally seemed to have thought of the words and spoke:
"Lanqi, you have been an adult for a month... Your family has dealt with too many problems for you during this period. I think you can't live like this anymore."
There was another brief silence.
Or maybe it’s a waiting time.
Noe wasn't sure if Lanci would get angry and mad at his performance being exposed after he said this.
Because of Lanqi's changes in the past two days, it seemed to him more like a temporary performance strategy.
It is likely that Lanci also realized that his family would begin to curb his extravagant spending and reckless behavior.
So he should be enduring his bad habits, hoping to get through this disaster safely by pretending to be good temporarily.
However.
This was beyond Noe's expectation.
Lanqi's eyes were always clear and calm.
After reflecting on the problem for a while, he nodded seriously.
He replied:
"I'm really sorry. I promise I won't do anything that would damage our family's reputation again."
This made Noe a little stunned, and he couldn't help but squint.
He looked at Lanci again.
No matter how you look at it, he's a good boy.
For a moment, Noe even felt that he should be proud of having such a well-educated and bright-eyed son.
This guy has either really repented or he is still being stubborn.
Although Noe hopes the former is the case, he also knows the latter is more likely.
It's impossible that this silly son's entire mental state suddenly changed because of some opportunity
But it doesn't matter.
Regardless of whether Lanci is acting or not, Noe has a way of fundamentally determining how to treat Lanci next.
“Ahem.”
Noe cleared his throat, sat up straighter, and looked at Lanqi.
"How are you preparing for the Alchemy Academy entrance exam?"
His tone seemed to soften, but his words were more severe.
"You should know that although I need to be in the Empire all year round due to cross-border trade, it does not mean that I completely ignore you. My tolerance towards you is also based on the premise that you are living a serious life."
"Hehe..."
As soon as the words fell.
The butler standing behind Noe couldn't help but smile slightly.
Three points of it are gloating over the young master's predicament, and seven points are interesting because they want to see how the young master will deal with it.
"… "
Lanqi didn't say anything for the time being, but he was also shocked when he heard it.
As far as I can remember from my previous life, I have never learned it!
The Alchemy Academy that Noe was referring to was a branch of the Ikerite Academy, the oldest academy in the kingdom, located in the capital of the Kingdom of Hutton.
This academy recruits potential students of appropriate age from the Kingdom of Hutton and surrounding countries every year, and is well-known throughout the entire southern continent.
The Alchemy Academy is one of its four branches.
The entrance exam to the Alchemy Academy, which was renowned for its alchemical techniques and theoretical research, was so difficult that my predecessor gave up before he even started trying.
His predecessor had always lied that he was working hard to get into the Alchemy Academy, thereby deceiving his parents into trusting him, and he squandered a lot of his pocket money on fun all day long.
Damn, this damn predecessor.
I've enjoyed all the blessings, and now it's my turn to take the blame!
Lanqi cursed in his heart.
However, in its original development, the predecessor would not have encountered the trouble it is facing now.
Because Talia will help this stupid rich boy end his troubles in life.
Thinking of this, Lanqi suddenly frowned.
"Father, is there any other company in the world with the same name as 'Wilford Chamber of Commerce'?"
Lanci asked.
"Um?"
Noe seemed puzzled by Lanqi's sudden change of subject, but looking at Lanqi's serious eyes, he still answered proudly:
"I can't say for sure whether there are other small companies with similar names, but we are the only large-scale trading company that conducts trade between the Kingdom of Hutton and the Empire of Crane."
After Noe finished speaking, Lanqi's expression did not change, he just nodded silently.
Since he has changed his fate of being killed by Talia and survived, he will face some situations that the stupid rich boy would never encounter.
Lanqi had long felt that his last name "Wilford" sounded somewhat familiar, but he could not remember where exactly he had heard it.
After hearing Noe's words, Lanqi finally remembered that in the main story of the game two years after the present timeline, there was a side quest called "The Wilford Massacre"!
The mission prompt is that a multinational trading company suddenly closed down overnight for unknown reasons, and the people related to the company's senior management were killed one by one. The player can choose whether to investigate, and the mission level is very high.
My last name is Wilford, and my family's business is also called Wilford Chamber of Commerce, and it is the only large multinational company...
That seems to be my home for sure.
It seems that I can't just lie down and do nothing. I have to work hard for at least a year or two to investigate and resolve the potential risks of the family in advance!
The family’s money is my lifeline for retirement at the age of 20, so I must protect it well.
Recalling the relevant information about Ikerite Academy in my memory,
"I promise I will pass the entrance exam successfully."
Lanqi answered calmly for the time being.
He actually didn't mind going to this academy located in the royal capital.
It can even be said that in the memory of the predecessor, it was a dreamlike academy—
Not only will it have the most advanced magic engineering technology and many advanced facilities and resources of the Kingdom of Hutton, but it will also be well protected.
He was still a first-rank jobless person with no combat capability, without the power to protect himself, nor the status that was "enough for the big guys to pay attention to him and protect him."
It would be suicidal to hastily go to the most likely source of the problem - the Crane Empire - to investigate.
It would be better to develop your potential in the Kingdom of Hutton first.
If you want to become famous as quickly as possible.
You can even gain the favor of some of the most powerful or strongest people in the world and build up your network of contacts.
Then becoming a card-making master must be the shortcut that best suits your talents.
Going to Ikerita Academy and relying on the resources of the Magic Engineering Institute is a hundred times more efficient than staying in such a border city-state to research card making alone.
The royal capital is also a stage more suitable for him to display his talents.
At worst, as long as he could make a fortune in the royal capital of Ikerite, he could find a way to bring down his father's Wilford Chamber of Commerce with his own hands and avoid the destruction of his family!
"Um?"
Noe raised his eyebrows, not realizing Lanqi's filial piety at the moment, but he doubted Lanqi's confidence in enrolling in school.
He thought that his stupid son, who acted like a gangster, would be exposed here.
Unexpectedly, Lanqi not only frowned but also continued to be stubborn.
Lanqi's reaction today was indeed beyond Noe's expectations at every step.
Although Noe did not have much energy to take care of Lanqi's daily life, every time he asked the housekeeper and the maid about Lanqi's condition, they both tried their best to protect Lanqi.
But Noe is not stupid. He can roughly judge what kind of state Lanqi usually lives in.
"Since you put it that way, if you pass the entrance exam successfully, then I misunderstood you, and I will apologize to you..."
Noe said in a deep voice, his eyes as sharp as torches, deeply exploring Lanqi's emerald green eyes.
"But if you can't pass the college exam, does that mean you're deceiving our trust in you?"
"Of course, to the point."
Lanqi's response was still unhurried.
"Then I won't bother you any more today. Just continue to study hard. I will buy the train ticket to the capital for you in advance, so you don't have to worry about these."
At this point, seeing Lanqi promised so readily, Noe was satisfied.
Since Lanqi is still trying to be stubborn.
Noe wouldn't mind using this as a pretext to make Lanci accept the punishment willingly after suffering some setbacks.
Noe actually didn't think that Lanqi could pass the Alchemy Academy exam.
Or it is simply impossible.
Given the complexity of the Alchemy Academy exam, the number of subjects, and the extremely high passing standards, it would take at least two or three years of serious preparation.
This year's entrance examination for Ikerit College will begin in three months.
Even in the Alchemy Academy, which requires the least talent, Lanqi couldn't handle it.
When he goes to the capital and meets the talented peers from the other three academies, he will probably realize how stupid and pathetic his laziness, arrogance and short-sightedness are.
"I see."
Lanci said affirmatively.
Although his father had been questioning him in his heart, he always spoke with high emotional intelligence and wanted to send him to the royal capital. Lanqi felt respected.
Then he will definitely respond to his father's expectations.
"As long as you are sure that you can send me to the capital to show my talents, I promise that you will receive the good news that I have successfully enrolled in the Ikerita Academy in the capital."
“…Heh.”
Noe almost laughed out loud when he heard this.
He picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and suppressed the mocking expression that was about to appear on his face.
Also flexing his muscles.
You just go to school, and you can't give me anything big
Noe didn't expect today's conversation to go so smoothly. He had been prepared for something rather unpleasant between him and his father.
Punishment of Lanqi is inevitable, because he wants to teach the arrogant and overconfident Lanqi to pay the price for his mistakes.
Unexpectedly, today, a good peace treaty was reached because of Lanqi's sincere attitude.
But in Noe's opinion, the only difference is that before punishing Ranchi, he is allowed to go to the capital to see the world.
Anyway, Lanqi was only going to take the entrance exam for Ikerit College to embarrass himself.
As for letting Lanqi go to the royal capital, Noe was not worried at all that Lanqi would become a wild horse that broke free from its reins.
In this small border town, Ranchi, who has never seen the world, can act arrogantly.
But in Ikerit, the capital city full of big shots and the real big stage of the southern continent, this dog boy will definitely not be able to cause any waves.
after all.
Noe knew Lanci very well. Lanci was just a paper tiger type of stupid dude.
It is definitely not some devil that will evolve into an uncontrollable monster once it reaches the right environment.
This is still very reassuring.