Chapter 210: Lance’s Desire to Do Good Explodes

Deep within Ikerite University, near the garden of the College of Magical Engineering, was a majestic Ikerite Gothic-style building, where the red brick walls bore the marks of time and history settled like dust. Two figures were walking and talking next to the historic building.

"Lance, have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

Lance and Hyperion were chatting just as they usually did as they entered the old Liberal Arts Hall of the College of Magical Engineering. They were intimately familiar with this place.

"You haven't been to the Sages’ College these past two days, so you wouldn't know. Word is going around again that Dean Lawrence is in frequent contact with Knight Commander Juliana. Just today, while the dean was in the middle of a lecture, a message came through from the Knight Commander."

Hyperion paused and then said, "It sounded like she was planning to come to Ikerite in person to see him. The dean turned pale with fright and immediately promised her that no further accidents would befall the students from the Kingdom of Yaloran's academic delegation. Only then did Knight Commander Juliana temporarily cancel her trip to the Kingdom of Hutton."

Lance blinked and asked, "He answers magical communications while teaching a class? Doesn't he get his pay docked for that?"

Hyperion rolled her eyes. "Is that really what you're focusing on?"

The pair stepped onto the second floor, which was home to Professor Boralo’s research workshops. The building was filled with the faint hum of machinery and the hushed murmurs of magical engineers engrossed in their work. Suddenly, they spotted a familiar figure coming down the stairs around the corner.

"Lance, Hyperion."

Frey, sporting his signature look with his sunglasses casually perched on his face and an air of uninhibited nonchalance, quickly walked over to greet them.

Since returning from the Shadow Realm, the three of them had largely gone their separate ways. Lance and Hyperion had more pressing matters to attend to, while Frey had been busy assisting the Student Management Council president with administrative duties.

Frey had caught snatches of their conversation while still on the stairs, though the snippets had been disjointed, so he asked with a hint of curiosity, "Were you two just talking about Dean Lawrence?"

"Yes." Hyperion quickly recounted the conversation she and Lance had just shared.

"I see." Frey nodded after hearing the story.

Hyperion said with a hint of concern, "Frey, please don't spread this around the Knights’ College."

Frey laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not the type to go around gossiping with other students."

Soon after, he bade farewell to Lance and Hyperion and headed off to handle the tasks the president had entrusted to him.

As Lance and Hyperion reached the third floor, where a long, carved-wood corridor steeped in history lay before them, Hyperion paused to wonder aloud, "By the way, who was it that leaked the story the president told us about Dean Lawrence and Knight Commander Juliana?"

"It wasn't me." Lance replied with a smile.

"Yeah I figured," Hyperion murmured to herself, puzzled.

She knew Lance wasn't the sort of person who enjoyed spreading gossip.

A chandelier overhead cast a soft, steady glow. As they walked down the corridor, the plush carpet muffled their footsteps, guiding them toward a pair of stately, deep-red double doors. That single doorway seemed to separate two vastly different worlds.

When Lance pushed the heavy mahogany doors open, the spacious interior of the Student Management Council headquarters came into view. It was a space that felt both classical and refreshingly airy.

Seated behind a long table, President Monaster looked up at the two of them. He smiled slightly, his voice deep and resonant as he said, "I had just sent Frey to fetch you, and here you are."

Lance and Hyperion exchanged looks. Clearly, the president needed their help with something. However, before the president could speak, they noticed an extra figure sitting on the sofa in the lounge area to the side of the room.

A young lady with long, deep-purple hair sat there crying her heart out, while Vice President Asina sat beside her, gently wiping away her tears and offering words of comfort. Hyperion and Lance recognized the person instantly, their eyes widening in surprise.

Why is Lady Sophia here?

The president said nothing. He simply gestured silently for the two of them to come over. They nodded in acknowledgment.

As Lance and Hyperion took their seats on the sofa opposite her, Sophia finally noticed their presence. Upon seeing Hyperion, she found it even harder to hold back her tears, feeling a sudden urge to pour out her troubles.

However, when she caught sight of Lance’s smiling face, her tearful expression froze instantly. She looked like a startled child, hurriedly wiping her face and pretending she hadn't been crying at all.

Lance’s tone was gentle and concerned as he said gently, "Lady Sophia, whatever trouble you’re facing, you can tell us. We’ll help you. Helping my fellow classmates resolve conflicts, or deal with psychological or emotional issues, is part of my duty."

Sophia glanced up at Lance briefly, but then immediately looked away, completely afraid to speak.

Ever since that incident at the Card Maker’s Association, she had dreaded seeing Lance again. It had been an utterly mortifying experience. The moment she saw him, the arrogant things she had said back then would echo in her ears like a curse! She wished she could just vanish into a crack in the ground.

Hyperion was truly worried about her friend, so she said with genuine concern, "Sophia, you can rest assured regarding Lance’s competence. I can vouch for that. Why don't you tell us what happened first?"

"Hyperion..." Hyperion’s gentle demeanor made Sophia’s eyes sting with tears again, and she finally couldn't hold back the tears welling up again. She glanced at the two people sitting on the sofa opposite her, speaking in a faint, hesitant voice, "You know that second year genius card maker from the Yaloran Kingdom’s academic exchange team, right?"

Hyperion replied casually, "Oh yeah, I know of her. A second year Gold Certified card maker. Pretty impressive if you think about it."

Sophia was momentarily stunned by her friend's blasé response. She wondered if Hyperion actually looked down on Gold Certified card makers.

Then she paused and thought about it. Both Hyperion’s father and the guy sitting next to her were absolutely outrageous, monsters among monsters. In comparison, from Hyperion’s perspective, a second year Gold Certified card maker like Karen probably didn't seem like such a big deal...

By this point, Lance had clearly guessed what was going on. In his usual calm, steady tone, he asked, "Sophia, was it Karen from Yaloran who caused the misunderstanding between you and His Highness Ainor?"

Tears immediately began streaming down Sophia’s face again, and she couldn't get the words out through her sobs.

"It’s alright. Take a deep breath and slowly tell me what happened. I promise to help you. Even if you feel the situation is beyond repair, I’ll find a solution." Lance spoke every word softly and deliberately, like the soothing melody of an angel’s harp, instilling a feeling of calm.

Sophia looked at Lance through her tears. She found it hard to believe that the same guy who had once left her with deep psychological trauma at the Card Maker’s Association was now someone she felt a genuine, heartfelt urge to trust.

Sophia asked timidly, "Will you really help me?"

She felt that Lance ought to hate her. After all, she had been full of jealousy toward him and had never treated him kindly, yet he remained gentle and forgiving. If she had to use a single word to describe such magnanimity, then, while it might not be the perfect fit, he was truly as noble and kind as a true saint.

Lance nodded with the confident assurance of a mentor. "Not only will I help you, but if you wish, I can also help to become a part of the royal family."

As long as Sophia was willing to learn, he was willing to teach.

Hyperion immediately whipped her head around to stare at Lance. Upon hearing Lance’s assurances, which were basically the whispers of a devil, she sensed that something terrible was about to happen!