Faerun: The arcane mage is still too imprisoned.

"You're clearly just kidding me!"

Lillian puffed up her cheeks, her cute twin tails swaying slightly.

"You just mentioned talent and hard work, but I already know those two things!"

Lance raised an eyebrow: "What, what do you want to hear me say? That I'm actually secretly studying spell models every night, even at 3 a.m.?"

Lillian paused for a moment, then asked, "A roll... what's that?"

"It's all about hard work."

Do you have one?

"no."

Lance said confidently, "Tomorrow I'll sleep in until I naturally wake up, copy some scrolls during the day, and go out to relax in the evening. I'll live a very comfortable life."

Lillian: "..."

What about all that hard training she does every day?!

She felt like she had been deceived by her teacher, but she couldn't quite put her finger on how.

Lance reached out and ruffled her hair. "Alright, don't overthink it. You seemed to be having a good time spraying that, now it's time to go back to class."

"Oh..." Lillian obediently followed him upstairs.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at Lance: "Teacher, are you going out again tonight?"

Lance looked at her: "Why are you asking that?"

Lillian's eyes sparkled: "I want to go with you! I was waiting outside last night, but I didn't do anything, I was so worried!"

Lance laughed: "What's the rush? After last night's scene, your presence would only cause trouble."

"But……"

"No buts," Lance interrupted her. "You're not suitable to participate in my operation tonight."

"Oh……"

Lillian pouted, but still nodded.

The two returned to the study on the second floor.

Lance sat down in the chair and pointed to the seat opposite him:

"sit."

Lillian sat still obediently.

"Today we'll continue with the spell model of [Light]." Lance raised his hand, a point of white light appearing at his fingertips. "Where did we leave off yesterday?"

"Speaking of energy nodes..." Lillian said softly.

"Yes." Lance nodded. "Look here—"

With his other hand, he made a sweeping motion in the air, and white light flowed with his fingertips, outlining intricate geometric lines.

Lillian stared at the glowing lines, her brows furrowed.

Her expression changed from focused to confused, from confused to bewildered, and from bewildered to blank.

……

"Did you understand?" Lance asked.

Lillian snapped out of her daze and looked at him with a blank expression.

Lance and she stared at each other for three seconds.

"Alright." He dispelled the spell. "That's enough for today."

Lillian panicked: "Teacher, I just sat down!"

"I've been sitting here all afternoon." Lance pointed to the sky outside the window. "The sun is almost setting."

Lillian turned her head and saw that the sunlight outside the window had indeed changed from golden to dark red.

She was stunned.

That short while just now... it felt like a long time?

No, is it that the teacher is speaking too fast, or am I just too stupid?

Lance stood up and dusted off his robe: "Let's continue tomorrow."

"Oh..." Lillian stood up and walked out with her head down.

As she reached the door, she suddenly turned back: "Be careful..."

Lillian said seriously, "Even though you're very capable, you still need to be careful."

"Okay." Lance waved his hand. "Go back and eat. Don't keep your mother waiting."

Lillian nodded and went out the door.

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

As darkness fell, twilight descended.

Riverside villas.

When Lance pushed the door open, Cielsa was squatting by the sofa, holding a cat toy and waving it at Little Black.

Little Black lay on the ground, its tail swishing back and forth, its eyes fixed on the cat toy without blinking, but it just wouldn't pounce on it.

"You'd better move an inch!!!"

Cielsa shook the cat toy. "Just once, just once!"

Little Black yawned and buried its head in its paws.

Sissa: "..."

Lance stood at the door, watching this scene, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Cielsa turned her head, saw Lance, and blushed instantly: "Lord Lance, you're back!"

"Hmm." Lance walked over, bent down, and scooped up Little Black. "What's wrong? It's still ignoring you?"

Little Black nestled in Lance's arms, making purring noises, and its tail wagged proudly at Cielsa.

Cielsa gritted her teeth: "This inherently evil little cat, one day I will personally deal with you..."

Lance put Xiao Hei down. After landing, Xiao Hei shook its fur and slowly walked to the cat bed in the corner, where it curled up into a ball.

After finishing his meal, Lance returned to his study.

The night outside the window was deep, and a few barks of dogs could be heard in the distance before quickly fading away.

Lance took advantage of the free time to copy a third of the scroll of "Secondary Spirit Bomb".

Little Black jumped onto the table, walked up to Lance, lay down next to his arm, and squinted at him.

Lance looked down at the cat.

"You said..." he began.

"Are those three noble families panicking now?"

Meow~~

"I bet they're panicking and scared right now."

Lance reached out and scratched its chin.

"But it's alright. How could someone as kind as me bear to let them live in constant fear?"

"call--"

Little Black squinted comfortably, making gurgling sounds in its throat.

Lance opened the panel.

Current experience: 250/4000

He stared at the number for a few seconds, then turned it off.

"After tonight, they will never have to be afraid again."

Xiao Hei raised its head and looked at him.

"What are you looking at?" Lance picked it up. "Go to sleep. Staying up late isn't good for a child."

Meow~~

When Xiao Hei was placed in the cat bed, it meowed in dissatisfaction, but quickly curled up into a ball and closed its eyes.

Lance stood up and put on [Mage Armor].

He pushed open the door and stepped into the night.

The Hagen family's residence is located in the east of the city. It occupies a considerable area, with three floors and two large red magic lamps hanging at the entrance.

Lance stood in the shadows across the street, looking at the building.

"Balford Hagen," he said softly, "the second son of the Hagen family, who runs three casinos and two brothels, and does business with the Thirsty Hands."

Third floor, in the bedroom.

Balfour sat at his desk, an account book laid out in front of him.

He held a quill pen in his hand, writing and drawing in the ledger, pausing every now and then to wipe the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

This afternoon he went to the city guard to inquire about news. He asked what had happened to Piyan Kesong, and the little fox actually asked him in return, "Yes, what happened?"

That's absolutely outrageous!!!

"It should be alright..." he muttered to himself, "It should be alright..."

He kept telling himself that he really couldn't bear to part with these possessions and really didn't want to leave this place.

"Knock knock knock".

A knock came at the door.

Balfour's hand trembled, and the tip of his pen drew a long ink mark on the ledger.

"Who?" he asked, his voice tense.

"Master, it's me." The butler's voice came from outside the door. "Someone is looking for you."

Balfour frowned. "Who?"

"A... half-elf." The butler's voice was a little strange. "He said his name was Lance."