Chapter 112

Two days passed.

The midterm exam was held on schedule amid various emotions.

The first-year Storm Sea Newblood, having experienced two exams, finally wasn't too noisy this time.

The exam process went very smoothly, except the difficulty of the questions kept getting more perverse.

After it ended, there were still scattered sighs rising and falling.

Hmm…

Lin Ke didn't notice whether it was perverse or not; he only learned of such talk by listening to their discussion.

Night fell.

The grades were about to come out.

Experimental building, third basement level, laboratory.

Lin Ke, Mo Li, Ba Ke, Aegio, Dijie, Lin En, Dalton sat around the long office desk, looking at the large screen of the office smart brain on the desk, waiting silently.

Even as steady as Lin Ke, he was very eager for this midterm exam's results.

But what he looked forward to wasn't his own score, but the ranking.

He wanted to know, among the top 30 who qualified for the Two Districts Grand Comparison, aside from his own side's seven people, which of the remaining could be seen as potential cooperation partners.

For Lin Ke, in a struggle where the forces are 30 versus 1000, uniting every possible force is common sense.

Soon, the academy's "official website" refreshed four posts, announcing the midterm exam scores for all four grades.

As for the second, third, and fourth years, we won't bother with them.

Opening the first-year midterm score and ranking sheet,

Lin Ke quickly scanned from top to bottom the top thirty, then pursed his lips, his expression subtle.

This time's first place was still not him; it remained Lan Ni. Tai Le.

Moreover, their scores were exactly the same!

What is this?

Great minds think alike, so the questions they got wrong, the points deducted, are also similar?

Moreover, when the academy ranks, they truly consider wizard aptitude, placing great importance on this.

They didn't even give Lin Ke a tie for first!

That's really going too far.

"How is it like this again!"

Mo Li noticed this, couldn't hold back her anger, jumped up with a swoosh, her tone full of resentment.

If this happened to her, she might not feel anything.

But it happening twice in a row to Lin Ke instantly broke her defenses!

"Forget it, don't be angry; their aptitude is naturally better than mine, that's a fact."

Lin Ke gave Mo Li a slight shake of the head, smiling to comfort her.

Mo Li took a deep breath, suppressed her recent rare emotional fluctuation, and sat back down.

But her face still looked a bit displeased.

"You all did very well on the exam, worth congratulating."

At this moment Lin Ke looked at the five companions and said seriously, "You all kept your rankings, didn't drop out of the top ten, not bad!"

Mo Li advanced one more place this time, ranking fourth.

This is the reward for her hard study and diligent research.

The five companions stayed in place, firmly occupying sixth to tenth.

The third place is Eri. Tomani, a medium-quality genius of the fifth tier whom the Sea Sail Alliance painstakingly recruited.

His grades have always been good, making the top five in three consecutive exams.

But he indeed indulges in entertainment and enjoyment, frequently going in and out of the academy's entertainment venues.

The Newblood Mutual Aid Society's Isco. Alex ranks fifth, somewhat shabby, not at all worthy of the status of a decades-old apprentice organization.

From eleventh to thirtieth, the Newblood Mutual Aid Society has quite a few, as many as eight.

Additionally, twelve people, nine of whom joined the apprentice organization.

Only three are lone wanderers, belonging to the objects Lin Ke can unite.

What?

Members of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society?

Lin Ke merely accepted the patronage of the Para wizard, with no intention of getting involved with the Newblood Mutual Aid Society.

Between him and the Newblood Mutual Aid Society, aside from conflict, there is nothing else.

Don't even talk about uniting their members; just hope they don't drag us down, affecting the wager between Para wizard and Peter Leonnel wizard.

After looking at the list of thirty, Lin Ke gestured for Ba Ke, Aegio, Dick, Lin En to each go back first.

Mo Li stayed behind alone.

"Anything to say?"

After the five companions left, Mo Li asked softly.

Lin Ke nodded: "Indeed there is something."

He organized his wording: "This Two Districts Grand Comparison concerns the wager between Para wizard and Peter Leonnel wizard, the stake being the Perseus Sage's Diamond and Perseus Sage's Staff."

I later looked up information and learned their value.

They are very expensive, very rare, very important!

Yet they are used rather childishly as the stake of this wager, obviously there is another hidden matter.

But, no matter what, whether it's the Paro wizard or the Peter Lionel wizard, victory is certain.

Since they were aiming to win the bet and take the opponent's stake, both sides held back their troublemaking thoughts before the Two Districts Grand Comparison.

Then, during the Two Districts Grand Comparison, there will surely be very fierce competition.

We have already been drawn into it, and this cannot be changed.

But please, do not further involve yourselves in the struggle between the Paro wizard and the Peter Lionel wizard.

Just keep delaying the invitation from Aila wizard of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society.

Aila wizard's threats, plus the rectification of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society's conduct over the past two months, have still yielded relatively ideal results.

However, she doesn't have enough time, and she also works at the pharmacy shop usually, so the conduct rectification isn't thorough.

The phenomenon of murky air has diminished greatly, but people's hearts remain restless.

Even despite repeated warnings, someone still can't help but have designs on Lan Ni. Tai Le.

Mo Li received several invitations to return to the Newblood Mutual Aid Society; upon learning the situation, she politely refused them all.

However, it's easy to foresee that the Newblood Mutual Aid Society, in order to compete with the Northern District's Pureblood Will for performance, cannot let Mo Li, who once joined, remain perpetually aloof.

These two days, they will surely think of a way to pull her back.

Lin Ke's meaning is to let Mo Li firm her belief and not waver easily.

Participating in the bet as an individual and participating as a member of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society are entirely different in nature.

"I know how to respond; don't worry."

Mo Li's face showed a genuine happy smile, but she did not give an affirmative answer.

Lin Ke, seeing this, also stopped urging.

Since that day, after witnessing the painful numbness of those "workers" in the Southern District factory, hearing Chris's death news and Christina's situation, and vaguely guessing Jimni's predicament, Mo Li has grown more mature day by day.

No longer acting coquettish, no longer often doing childish gestures, such as tugging at sleeves from behind, or reaching out with a little hand to secretly touch Lin Ke's chest muscles……

More self-reliant and independent, more opinionated.

This is a good thing.

Lin Ke also felt happy about Mo Li's changes and progress.

However, recently, Mo Li has faintly shown an intention to take over the Newblood Mutual Aid Society.

After a conversation that Aila wizard deliberately had with Mo Li.

Lin Ke doesn't know what Aila wizard said, but it somewhat moved Mo Li.

But he thinks the Newblood Mutual Aid Society is just a pit, with no need to step into it.

Not only would it bring no help, but it would also easily bring a stench upon oneself.

Look at Aila wizard: she has stepped down as chairperson for several years, been promoted to full wizard, and graduated from the advanced academy; this is exactly the time to launch an assault on a higher stage, yet she's being called back to straighten out the useless Newblood Mutual Aid Society, wasting a lot of time?

Having expressed his opinion and heard Mo Li's answer, Lin Ke no longer intends to concern himself with this matter.

Still, that same saying.

One's own life, one's own decisions.

Everyone must bear responsibility for their own choices.

Mo Li thought for a moment, then said seriously: "Don't worry, Lin Ke, I'm not that stupid."

Lin Ke's mouth corners slightly pursed, he smiled, and did not reply.

The two rarely disagree on something.

In a rather strange atmosphere, the two left the laboratory and each returned to their dormitory.

The next day.

Lin Ke early on received a summons notice.

Around eight in the morning, the sunshine was brilliant.

Administrative Building, a meeting room on the fifth floor.

The Paro wizard sat in the main seat, with a row of people standing in the area five steps ahead, totaling twelve people.

The twelve first-year Storm Sea Newbloods representing him in the bet are all present here.

"I have only one demand of you."

The Paro wizard swept his gaze from left to right, raised his right index finger, his voice low and solemn: "That is to be sincerely united and strive for first place."

As he spoke, his face turned extremely stern, his tone even more tinged with a hint of blood and fire.

"I know some of you have mutual grudges, even hatred. But!"

"But, whether it's grudges or hatred, you must let them go for me!"

"Whoever dares to ruin my affairs because of personal grudges, don't blame me for not warning you in advance!"

Under the gradually intensifying pressure emanating from the Paro wizard, everyone trembled, not daring to even breathe.

After hearing the lecture, they hurriedly shouted loudly: "Yes!"

Lin Ke was no exception.

Going with the flow, not standing out.

After a brief lecture, the Paro wizard waved his hand, signaling them to leave.

Lin Ke and Mo Li walked to the door, but were then called back individually.

This is a treatment that not even the Newblood Mutual Aid Society members, including Lan Ni. Tai Le, have.

The gazes directed at Lin Ke and Mo Li became increasingly different.

"What's going on?"

The Paro wizard bluntly asked.

Lin Ke naturally knew what the Paro wizard was asking, and was preparing his response.

Mo Li stepped forward and said, "Paro Wizard, it's my own choice not to return to the Newblood Mutual Aid Society; it has nothing to do with Lin Ke."

"Huh?"

Paro Wizard's eyes twitched slightly as he glanced askance at Mo Li.

An endless aura and pressure, like a mountain‑toppling wave, surged toward Mo Li, as if to crush her to pieces.

Even so, Paro Wizard had deliberately restrained himself.

Mo Li's face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of color.

But she clenched her lips tightly, even if they split and blood trickled down her chin, she held firm and did not relent.

Lin Ke did not act rashly; he considered taking Mo Li's place to bear the pressure.

"Give me a reason."

A fleeting satisfaction, unnoticed by anyone, flashed in his eyes; Paro Wizard withdrew his aura completely and asked coldly.

Mo Li's body swayed a few times, but she managed to stay upright, not falling, and let out a great sigh of relief.

＿ttkΛn＿co

She took a deep breath, steadied her breathing, and immediately replied, "It's too chaotic; going back now would be of no benefit and would only waste time."

"Hmm."

Paro Wizard squeezed out a sound from his nostrils, waved his hand, and let Lin Ke and Mo Li go on their way.

It seemed he actually didn't care at all whether Mo Li returned to the Newblood Mutual Aid Society; he had just asked casually to get by.

After Lin Ke and Mo Li bowed, they left the conference room.

Her lips trembled a few times; Mo Li wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.

She wanted to explain the reasons for her repeated hesitations and why she had earlier seized the chaos to take over the Newblood Mutual Aid Society, but some words were just hard to utter.

After hesitating a long time, Mo Li let out a faint sigh and suppressed that thought.

Let it be like this.

Anyway, it's already like this.

(End of chapter)