Luo Wei's Connections

"Principal."

Luo Wei decided to seek help from Principal Danton. "Which graduating class was Teacher Evelyn from? Can I find her graduation photo when I go back?"

"Uh, well..." Principal Danton paused for a moment. "Let me think, it's been quite a while..."

Evelyn gave a helpless look and leaned close to Luo Wei's ear. "You really want to see it that badly?"

Luo Wei blinked. "Of course."

Evelyn suddenly flashed a seductive smile and whispered, "Then how about I wear it for you when we get home?"

"Really!?" Luo Wei exclaimed in delight.

He practically wanted to go home right then and there. What was the point of some duke's lousy birthday banquet compared to seeing Teacher Evelyn in a school uniform?

As the two whispered flirtatiously, Helena abruptly leaned in.

"Brother, if you want to see, I can wear it for you too!"

Luo Wei and Evelyn both sighed in exasperation, wondering how her ears could be so sharp...

Helena glared defiantly at Evelyn. "Hmph, what's so special about her wearing a school uniform? Trying to act young?"

The unspoken words "old woman" hung in the air, and Evelyn felt deeply wounded.

Mentioning age drained all her will to argue, and she could only murmur wistfully, "Ah... Helena really is at the perfect age for a student, isn’t she..."

Helena suddenly had a brilliant idea. "Why don’t I enroll at Callen University too? Then I can wear the school skirt for you every day!"

Luo Wei burst out laughing and patted her head. "Helena... Callen University isn’t just for anyone, you know."

Helena, who had been feeling triumphant just moments ago, immediately deflated at his words.

That’s right... She had never even been to school in her life...

The Saint Callen Royal Academy of Magical Science only accepted the brightest students, after all...

Principal Danton, completely oblivious to the subtext, assumed she was just another eager learner and smiled kindly. "You’re Luo Wei’s younger sister? A thirst for knowledge is a wonderful thing! If you’re truly serious about studying, as the principal, I do have the authority to make an exception for you."

"Really!?" Helena’s face lit up with excitement.

"Don’t celebrate too soon," Luo Wei said helplessly.

"Huh?" Helena looked at him in confusion.

Principal Danton continued, "Callen University never turns away talent. If you truly have the aptitude, I can arrange a special exam for you. You don’t need a perfect score—just an excellent result will suffice."

"Oh..." Helena’s enthusiasm deflated once again.

Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh heartily, feeling like she had regained some dignity.

While the three of them were chatting cheerfully, the group of four at the other end of the hallway wore strange expressions.

Mike looked puzzled. "Principal Danton seems awfully familiar with that fraud, doesn’t he?"

Lairs frowned, suddenly recalling something. "Isn’t Evelyn from the same school as Principal Danton? That Luo Wei guy might be from there too."

Laney narrowed her eyes. "Maybe, but that doesn’t prove anything. Danton is just a craftsman who’s built mechanisms for our family before."

Mike chuckled. "Exactly. Even a fraud can have connections. Knowing Danton isn’t that impressive."

But just as he was thinking this, several other guests approached.

"It’s the heirs of the Philip and George families," Laney noted.

The three families—Sword, Shield, and Thornflower—had always maintained close ties, supporting each other for generations as hidden allies of the Abraham family.

"Let’s go," Lairs said, leading the group to greet them.

The other side smiled warmly in return.

However, to Lairs’ surprise, their real target was Luo Wei’s group.

"Principal Danton, won’t you introduce us to your outstanding student?"

Philip walked over with a smile, his guards following closely behind.

Principal Danton proudly clapped Luo Wei on the shoulder. "The hero who saved Saint Callen, splashed across the newspapers for over a week—I hardly think he needs an introduction."

Philip laughed heartily. "True, but young Luo Wei, this isn’t our first meeting, is it? Do you remember me?"

Luo Wei studied the two affable noblemen and was tempted to say no.

But in the end, he smiled politely. "We must have met at the royal banquet."

If they claimed to know him and held such high status, that had to be the occasion—the same banquet where he and Ophelia had made a minor splash and even received an audience with the emperor...

"Good memory," Philip said, even more pleased.

Luo Wei then engaged in the usual aristocratic small talk with them, discussing trivialities in the roundabout way nobles always did.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder—these two clearly had something to say to him.

After what felt like an eternity of pleasantries, Philip finally got to the point, lowering his voice. "The one handling the church delegation in the capital is Her Highness Ophelia, correct?"

Luo Wei frowned slightly. "What are you implying?"

Philip quickly clarified, "Given your close relationship with Her Highness, have you heard anything from His Majesty recently? Any hints?"

"You overestimate me," Luo Wei chuckled. "Why would His Majesty share his decisions with me? I’m just a student."

The other noble, George, gave him a look that said, "Don’t play dumb."

"Last month, Her Highness suddenly appeared in Brugge and met with the bishop of the southern diocese—and you were there too."

His expression turned serious. "Her Highness enjoys His Majesty’s full trust. None of her actions are without purpose. And sure enough, a month later, the church delegation arrived. His Majesty’s sudden closeness with the church must mean something."

Philip nodded. "Exactly."

Luo Wei sighed inwardly. What "exactly"? Ophelia’s visit last month was to settle the dragon tomb incident—it had nothing to do with the church delegation’s arrival this month. These two were reading way too much into things.

"This is highly unusual," Philip said worriedly. "What are the church’s true intentions? And what is His Majesty planning?"

George nodded solemnly. "Whether it’s war or cooperation, the stakes are high. Our three families must prepare accordingly..."

Luo Wei exchanged a glance with Evelyn. These nobles had no idea the emperor himself was in the dark—after all, no one knew what the church was really thinking...

But perhaps they’d find answers during their visit to Thornflower Castle.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Watching Luo Wei surrounded by so many important figures, basking in their admiration, Mike and the others were utterly bewildered.

"Could he really be...?" Mike suddenly found himself almost convinced.

Laney narrowed her eyes, only now beginning to truly scrutinize Luo Wei with genuine focus.

Yet the social dance in the corridor was far from over, for Bishop Lawrence approached Luo Wei from the other side, accompanied by the piercing gaze of the priestess Feilin.

Monica, standing off to the side, couldn’t help but snicker as she glanced at Mike. "Still planning to tattle to Father?"

Mike shook his head without hesitation. "Better not."