Chapter 220: The Legion Commander’s Invitation
In the morning, Chen Ran received a notice that Director of Academic Affairs Miss Mina wanted to see him.
When Chen Ran arrived at the director’s office, he soon learned the reason for her summons from Miss Mina.
Regarding the selection for the Netherworld competition, the palace had already prepared a series of rewards for the winners. However, due to the accident in the Inner Netherworld, the schedule of the palace was affected. Coincidentally, the war in the north was about to start again, and the imperial city could not spare time to meet the winners of the academy selection this time. Therefore, the rewards were handed over to the academy and distributed by the administrators.
What was handed to Chen Ran was a scroll of appointment. The silk-based appointment scroll stated that Chen Ran, a tutor of the Dawn Academy, was appointed as a viscount of the empire. With this appointment scroll, he could go to the imperial city district to receive the title of viscount and a certain amount of gold coin reward.
This was almost equivalent to a civil servant, with a certain bonus every year. For ordinary people, it meant no worries about food and drink. At the same time, a high-end villa near the imperial city district was also gifted. The area near the imperial palace was basically inhabited by the wealthy and noble families of the city, much like the Noble Neutral Zone specially established in Diya City back then.
This title didn’t mean much to Chen Ran for the time being, but at least getting an imperial luxury villa worth nearly a million for free was not bad. This was not something you could live in just by having money; you also needed enough status.
Unknowingly, just because he participated in this Netherworld Challenge, he got a viscount title for free. Although there was no ceremony, Chen Ran was not a person who stuck to etiquette. He didn’t care how good the imperial city was. For him, taking a nap was more practical than wandering around.
In addition, Miss Mina took out a letter from her clothes and handed it to Chen Ran.
“By the way, Cheryl took her appointment letter earlier. She knew you were coming too, so she asked me to pass this letter to you.”
Chen Ran took the letter, slightly surprised. “I haven’t seen her for a few days. Why didn’t she wait and tell me directly?” Chen Ran said as he opened the well-sealed envelope.
“Who knows what unspeakable secrets happened between you two,” Miss Mina glanced at Chen Ran with a very ambiguous look and shrugged. “After returning from the Netherworld this time, Cheryl unexpectedly became much stronger. I don’t know how she did it. I guess it has something to do with you. But this is also a good thing. The strongest student since the founding of the Dawn Academy has appeared. In these few days, Cheryl finished her studies and planned to go out into the world alone to relax and hone her newly learned skills. I don’t know when she will return. With her style, she should be leaving soon.”
“Uh, so fast…” Chen Ran was stunned.
Although Cheryl had told Chen Ran about her plan long ago, he hadn’t expected her to move so quickly. That lovely girl with a lazy expression in his memory actually said goodbye so directly. Chen Ran had thought he could see her one last time before she left.
But on second thought, what would happen if he saw her again?
A sad farewell? This was not in line with Cheryl’s usual style.
In Chen Ran’s impression, Cheryl had always been a very cheerful and straightforward girl who couldn’t stand trivialities and sadness.
Taking the appointment letter out the door, Chen Ran began to read the letter Cheryl left for him on the laurel-scented academy path.
The scent on the letter paper carried a fragrance like a laurel flower walking towards him, naturally reminding him of the girl’s snow-like skin in the temple.
The laurel petals fell one by one on his head, on the letter paper in his hand…
“Perhaps, when you receive this letter, I have already left. Now, I can finally start a brand new life with my own ideas. This is what I have always longed for. I am very happy to meet you before leaving school. Although I feel a little sorry for my good friend Ella, I don’t regret everything I experienced with you…”
“Our story is not beautiful, but it is still unforgettable. I am grateful to the first man in my life. He taught me a lot of things, but I understand more clearly what I pursue. I am not used to sad partings. This allows me to leave more freely. Maybe one day, when I am tired of walking, I will come back, back to this familiar school…”
“Mmm, that’s it. Goodbye, my beloved Teacher. I hope that when we meet next time, you won’t have too many sisters…”
At the signature, there was a lazy smiley face.
Chen Ran smiled helplessly and shook his head.
However, all he could give her was his blessing.
Cheryl had her journey, didn’t he?
At least this time, he didn’t feel a trace of sadness. At least he understood why Cheryl left.
But after experiencing the temple incident, another regret in his heart deepened a little.
Lia, who was far away at the ends of the earth, forever owed him an explanation. If she had said goodbye like Cheryl, he would have no regrets in his heart, even if there was no chance to see her again forever…
Putting away this letter paper and sealing it back to its original state, Chen Ran put it into the storage room of his storage ring.
When he returned to the apartment recently, Chen Ran found that the place was much quieter.
He didn’t know if his arrival had added spiritual energy to this piece of land, raising the luck index of his two neighbors nearby.
The warrior tutor Hans accidentally met a fallen noble widow at a hotel party. The two instantly clicked and had a fierce battle like dry wood and raging fire in a quiet park. Then, Teacher Hans fell and planned to live with the young woman. The young woman also appreciated Hans’s identity as a teacher at the Dawn Academy… It had even reached the point of discussing marriage…
As for the magic tutor Lawson on the other side, it was even more extreme. It seemed that it was also at that party of teachers. Everyone drank happily. A female teacher of the warrior department got drunk in a drinking contest. Afterwards, everyone unanimously decided to let the most honest Teacher Lawson send the female teacher to her apartment. Only he was the most reliable. But after arriving at the place, the drunk female tutor’s temperament changed strangely, and she directly pushed Teacher Lawson down. How could a mage like Teacher Lawson be her opponent? Under a round of pain and happiness, he chose to compromise. Afterwards, he also bravely took responsibility. It was just that he always felt guilty about his spiritual love for Miss Mina, which was helplessly broken…
As for that kid Colin, once he started, he was not slow at all. The girl named Leili was completely eaten by that hypocrite Colin. She had delicious meals at Chen Ran’s KFC all day long, and relying on her status as a VIP guest of Ella’s cousin, she never paid for the meals. It was heard that this kid had gained the trust of the president of the magic department. When the president was about to graduate, the magic department of the academy would be solely in his charge. Now a group of guys in the magic department were rushing to curry favor with that kid, and he was doing very well.
Chen Ran sighed to the sky.
A lonely person, swinging on the swing at the door.
Chen Ran was wondering if his time in the Imperial Capital was coming to an end, and he would soon continue his next journey. Although, he hadn’t really gone out to visit the real Imperial Capital.
Just then, a carriage appeared in his sight.
A middle-aged general wearing light armor and a beard jumped down from the carriage.
“Is this Mr. Chen Ran?”
“I am,” Chen Ran stood up from the swing and walked doubtfully toward the military figure. “What’s the matter?”
After getting the answer, the general gave Chen Ran a very standard military salute, his back straight, very professional. “Hello, my general wants to thank you for saving his daughter, Miss Lucy, and specially asked me to bring you over for a chat. Please get in the carriage.”
The general’s tone carried an undeniable sincerity. Looking at his confidence, his background seemed not weak.
Chen Ran looked at the rank on his shoulder. Colonel of the Second Legion of the Empire. The rank was not low, and he personally had the strength of the eighth tier. To be able to send a colonel to pick someone up casually, his superior must have a high rank.
Was the background behind that little girl Lucy so amazing?
He had always thought that Lucy was just a girl whose development in certain areas was larger than most girls…
Seeing the sincerity of others, Chen Ran couldn’t refuse. He got into the carriage and, under the guidance of the coachman, went to meet Lucy’s relative.
Passing through most of the city, Chen Ran arrived at the territory of the noble district of the Imperial City and drove into a luxurious manor.
When he got off the carriage, Chen Ran heard a burst of barking. Looking closely, he saw a group of various fierce dogs being raised here. It seemed that they had been specially trained. They showed their fierceness to Chen Ran, a stranger. The finger-thick chains seemed unable to hold the fierce dogs, as if they would break free at any time.
The leading colonel walked up to Chen Ran and explained casually, “A little hobby of my lord’s. It’s just a bit noisy. Sir, please follow me.”
Chen Ran smiled and followed closely.
The sentry duty here was very tight. A few well-trained soldiers could always be seen in some important corners. Although the number was not large, the vigilance intensity seemed not much worse than that of the Imperial City, although this place itself was very safe.
Instead of going to the main hall in the house, the leading colonel led Chen Ran straight toward the backyard.
In a small garden, a middle-aged man wearing a military uniform and a buzz cut was playing strategic chess with a girl with a low ponytail. Chen Ran was brought to the man’s side. The colonel at the side made a gesture for silence and watched the two play chess quietly.
Chen Ran didn’t understand this otherworldly chess game, and he wasn’t interested in learning it. He first sized up the middle-aged man playing chess who had the strongest aura in the field.
This person was about fifty years old, with a neat beard. He looked very imposing. Holding a chess piece, his gaze was deep, unruly, and sharp, with a rare smoothness. He didn’t give the impression of a high-ranking official, but more like an old soldier ruffian who had been through many battles.
Chen Ran noticed the rank on the man’s shoulder.
Commander of the Second Army Group of the Empire…
