Chapter 207

211. Chapter 211: Such ruins, such a reunion.

Have you heard?

The academy's designated meeting place.

Six South District Newbloods, eight North District local Pureblood apprentices, and six North District local half-blood apprentices.

Altogether twenty third-year students from the Junior Academy, on the verge of becoming full wizards, peak third-class wizard apprentices, have gathered here.

They stood scattered in their own small groups, waiting for the two leaders to arrive.

The six South District Newbloods split into one group of the Benevolent Brother Group, and Lan Ni. Tai Le formed a group alone.

Lan Ni. Tai Le could actually have completed her promotion before Mo Li and become a full wizard.

For some unknown reason, she has delayed until now.

The six North District local half-blood apprentices huddled together for warmth.

The eight North District local Pureblood apprentices split into three groups.

Cuixi Luqiya formed a solo team, while Luna Kelongna, Nash Yuehansun, and Parley Poxiweier formed a three-person team.

Both sides originated from the former 'Pureblood Will' and the current 'Pureblood Glory'; their boundaries are clear, with no sign of merging.

Even the latter three especially reject the former.

The effeminate man, the pale-faced fat man, the icy woman, and the burly brute each hold their own territory. (This volume's thirty-third chapter first featured a mushroom cloud in the sky).

After the pale-faced fat man asked a question, seeing the effeminate man not respond, he jabbed him again with his elbow, raising his voice somewhat, almost shouting: "Have you heard? It's said that the proper leader of this exchange study is Wizard Linke Grand, and the academy has directly appointed him as leader."

The effeminate man, without meaning to, glanced at Luna Kelongna from the corner of his eye and replied solemnly: "How could one not inquire about such a thing? It's said that a wizard, dissatisfied, challenged Wizard Grand, but couldn't last two seconds, was beaten into helplessness, and still lies in the Advanced Academy's 'clinic'."

"Hmph, helpless? Not at all."

The pale-faced fat man burst out laughing like a pig, saying: "I heard that below the neck, every bone was shattered, the organs ruined beyond repair. This was still Wizard Grand showing mercy, promptly giving healing magic to cling to life, so he could be sent to the hospital in time."

Although no names were mentioned, most of those present knew they were talking about Scott Kelongna.

Moreover, everyone knew they were using this to embarrass Luna Kelongna.

Luna Kelongna, however, remained expressionless, her heart equally undisturbed.

What does Scott Kelongna's lost face have to do with her?

Besides, they aren't even on the same team or in the same department.

They aren't complete strangers, but it's true they have no interaction.

Mock them, mock them to your heart's content.

Lu Na thought, any reaction on my part would mean I lose.

Seeing this, the effeminate man and the pale, chubby guy simply abandoned the idea of mocking them over this.

Being of pure-blood families themselves, they actually understood why the other side reacted that way.

Now that they've caught an opportunity, not giving it a try always feels like a loss.

After trying, they found it didn't produce the expected effect, so they just stopped.

Anyway, there's no sunk cost.

Moreover, it could send a signal: that these four of them hope to gain Lin Ke's understanding.

Regarding the siege incident in the Two Districts Grand Comparison for first-years.

Chatting about this sort of thing always ends up like pressing down a gourd only to have a ladle pop up.

With the Northern District now calm, the Benevolent Brother Group's five members certainly won't just let this opportunity slip by.

They keenly grasped the subtle thoughts of the effeminate, chubby, cold, and reckless four, exchanging a glance.

Ba Ke immediately shouted, 'Boss is awesome!'

Lin En glared at the foul-mouthed Ba Ke, annoyed, and solemnly corrected: 'Boss is mighty!'

Aijiao, Dijie, and Dardun shouted along: 'Boss is mighty!'

Not far away, Lan Ni. Tai Le looked at the five as if they were idiots.

I really can't figure out how these five people's brains are wired.

They are obviously talented geniuses, yet they insist on putting on such a foolish act.

We've been classmates for three years; even with the North and South districts divided, could we really have no understanding at all?

Who are they putting on this act for?

Who would believe it?

They're really a bunch of immature brats.

Six half-blood apprentices stood silently to the side, not uttering a sound.

The liveliness belongs to the pure-bloods and Newbloods; the half-bloods have nothing.

At this time, Lin Ke walked over alongside the vice leader who had just been decided after several bouts.

The two had just been formally introduced to each other by Karim Usman.

Speaking of which, it's truly fate—the vice leader, Pexs Murphy, happens to be the grandson of Old Man Murphy, a direct grandson!

Lin Ke only learned of this when Karim Usman just mentioned it.

After an entire autumn semester passed, Lin Ke and Pexs Murphy had never properly interacted.

Let alone using Old Man Murphy's connection to build rapport.

Pexs Murphy is introverted, speaks little, and is quite dull.

All along the way, the two ended up exchanging no more than five sentences.

'Boss, good!'

Upon seeing Lin Ke approach, the Benevolent Brother Group immediately started messing around.

The five of them bowed in unison and greeted in unison.

This kind of behavior, this show of force, if placed in Lin Ke's previous life, would sooner or later be cracked down on and eliminated as evil.

Lin Ke gave a sideways glance.

The Benevolent Brother Group immediately stood ramrod straight, eyes on nose, nose on heart, putting on a proper demeanor.

It was as if the people who had been messing around earlier were not them at all.

Fall in.

After glancing at the twenty peak third-grade wizard apprentices from the south and north districts who had entered the elementary academy the same year as him, Lin Ke issued a solemn order.

Though the same age, their different wizard ranks now symbolized status.

Moreover, Lin Ke was also the chief leader of this exchange study.

At his command, the apprentices scattered in twos and threes quickly lined up by height, forming two neat rows front and back.

No need for many words, just one sentence: No matter how hastily the academy arranged this exchange study, you should firmly establish the resolve to give your all and bring glory to the academy. We set off now; detailed materials will be distributed after arrival.

After a brief mobilization, Lin Ke waved his hand and led the way to the hovering 'bus' parked not far away.

After boarding, Lin Ke went straight to sit in the compartment at the front of the bus.

Perkins Murphy felt responsible for counting heads and verifying names.

Being the deputy leader is just to assist the chief leader.

After finishing the headcount and verification, Perkins also entered the compartment.

Soon after, the bus set off, its destination the interworld transfer gate.

In fact, even now Lin Ke does not really understand the ins and outs of this exchange study.

What he understands least of all is that specially described ruined world.

But for some reason, when Mo Li mentioned the exchange study this morning, Lin Ke felt compelled to take part.

That thought came rather strangely.

Like an intuition, or the kind of foreboding spoken of in 'utmost sincerity brings foreknowledge'.

It also felt like an inspiration from some unseen existence.

Whether intuition, foreboding, or inspiration, in this world that values mind and matter equally, they hold great reference value.

Lin Ke chose to follow his intuition, foreboding, or inspiration.

He secretly anticipated what gains this exchange study would bring him.

His gaze lingered wistfully on the scenery rushing past the window, his thoughts turning over and over.

The bus was not slow.

It soon reached the interworld transfer gate.

After leading the twenty apprentices off the bus, Perkins felt it his duty to consult the tower spirit overseeing the gate's daily operation and perimeter defense, to set the destination for this transfer.

All right, chief.

After negotiating, Perkins walked up to Lin Ke and reported solemnly.

You've worked hard.

Lin Ke nodded at Perkins, then faced the twenty apprentices and said, 'The one chief and two deputy captains are Lan Ni. Tai Le, Luna Kolonna, and Jillian Clark. Any objections?' Newblood, pureblood, halfblood—the three captain posts are distributed evenly, without bias.

Lin Ke himself thought this appointment posed no problem.

Especially Lan Ni. Tai Le, who has the highest wizard aptitude and best overall scores, is absolutely qualified to be chief captain.

Lin Ke had his own reasons for not appointing Lynn as chief or deputy captain.

Not holding office allows one to be selfish.

Once in office, one must handle affairs impartially.

This is disadvantageous for Lynn, whose scheming nature and fondness for intrigue would not be able to shine.

Any objections?

Lin Ke asked again, 'If none, we set off. After departure, the chief and deputy captains must shoulder responsibility; don't disappoint me, or punishment will follow.'

The twenty apprentices remained silent.

In this situation, the Benevolent Brother Group would certainly not cause trouble.

Others who were slightly dissatisfied—such as the effeminate man, the pale fatty, the cold woman, and the burly brute—felt they were no worse than Luna Kolonna, yet dared not speak up.

They were quite afraid Lin Ke would bring up old scores, so they dared not provoke trouble.

Depart.

After waiting a moment and still hearing no objection, which fully demonstrated democracy, Lin Ke waved his hand and led the way into the interworld transfer gate.

After a familiar sensation of spacetime dislocation, Lin Ke found himself at the traffic hub of an interstellar fortress.

The intelligent puppet arranged by the academy had already been waiting aside; upon seeing Lin Ke, it immediately handed over an encrypted smartbrain.

He signaled for Perkins and the twenty apprentices trailing behind to wait, then used the decryption method Karim had privately told him to open the smartbrain and examine its contents.

The more he looked, the more alarmed he became, his brow furrowing tighter.

He handed the smartbrain to Perkins, saying, 'Tell them this.'

Lin Ke then walked to the porthole on the right of the hub and silently gazed ahead at the special ruined world that the wizard world had monitored for six thousand years.

Perkins's voice sounded:

As is well known, the universe is diverse, with many similar parallel universes.

The universe our wizard world inhabits is no exception.

In one or several of those parallel universes exist worlds similar to our wizard world yet vastly different.

The special ruined world we are about to visit is a parallel world that has been utterly destroyed by endless destructive war.

This parallel world, due to a mechanism still not understood, has broken free from its universe and become an extremely special celestial body.

o￠o

When observed, it truly exists in this universe where our wizard world resides;

When not observed, it does not exist in our universe.

The origin of the mechanized wizards comes from continual exploration of this special ruined world.

The content of your exchange study this time is to conduct exploration and development in a newly discovered area of this special ruined world, seeking valuable knowledge, items, etc.

During the exploration and development, some dangers may arise.

You can choose to cooperate with the Shadow City team, or you can choose to attack the Shadow City team.

All actions depend on yourselves.

The academy only looks at the results.

As the captain and vice-captain, Grand Wizard and I will not act lightly.

So, after the exchange study officially begins, the three captains and vice-captains must shoulder their responsibilities, unite the members, and direct the exploration...

Listening to Peikes's words, looking out the porthole, that faintly visible azure hue, outline extremely familiar, looking down, partially similar terrain of the planet, Lin Ke's mood was extremely complex.

He had a thought that he was reluctant to believe.

Could this be the planet where he lived in his previous life?

Having completely lost vitality due to endless war, it became a ruin?

"Captain, the Shadow City people have arrived."

After finishing reading the content, Peikes discovered a new situation and promptly reported to Lin Ke, interrupting his worries.

"Let's go, meet them."

Lin Ke executed the Brain Seal Technique, restrained all emotions, adjusted his state, turned and walked toward the Shadow City team.

Like Ruowosuo Si Academy, the Shadow City team is also composed of two captains and twenty peak third-grade wizard apprentices on the verge of becoming full wizards.

This is the format agreed upon by both sides.

The closer they got, the more Lin Ke felt that the Shadow City's captain was very familiar.

After searching his memory, Lin Ke soon recognized the other party.

"Kristina, long time no see."

Lin Ke's face showed a genuine smile, and from afar he extended his hand.

Having just seen what seemed to be his hometown from a past life, and now seeing a person from his hometown in this life, one sorrow and one joy, the contrast is strong.

"Hmm."

Kristina, however, did not extend her hand, merely responding with an extremely hoarse, grating sound, like two pieces of rusted iron being ground together.

Lin Ke's brows furrowed slightly.

It was not because he felt slighted from being ignored.

But Lin Ke discovered something off about Kristina.

Her voice was off, her demeanor off, her soul off, her body off—everything was off.

After careful thought, Lin Ke realized the cause of the oddness.

Kristina had undergone bio-chemical modification!

This also explains why, with Kristina's third-grade wizard aptitude, she could advance to full wizard so early and become the captain of Shadow City's exchange study team.

All gains come at a cost.

However, costs vary in size, and the price Kristina paid is especially high.

The dangers and side effects of the bio-chemical modification she underwent are far greater than Selin Wizard's Bone-devouring Worm plan and Lin Ke's Fairy potion.

The feeling Kristina gave Lin Ke was not that of a living person, but more like a cold, venomous snake.

The slight joy of reuniting with an old compatriot instantly dissipated.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Ke gave Peikes a look, signaling him to connect with the Shadow City's vice-captain.

Lin Ke asked, "Shall we step aside to talk?"

"No……."

Kristina spoke with some difficulty, faintly revealing a tongue like a snake's fork.

This, along with her snake-like eyes and the chilling aura emanating from her whole body, "fits well".

"I now specialize in bio-chemical research and potion-making, and my level is not low; if you need help, just say so."

Lin Ke tried again.

He did not suddenly develop a saintly complex.

He partly wanted to help Kristina out of mild feelings for an old compatriot;

and he also had the idea of researching and learning from Shadow City's bio-chemical modification to improve wizard aptitude.

"No……."

Kristina again spoke with difficulty, again refusing, "Thank…… thank…… concern……".

Perhaps feeling her own voice was too grating, mid-sentence Kristina simply used wizardry techniques to replace speaking.

In midair, a strand of black smoke appeared out of nowhere, outlining a few simple lines of text.

"I am fine everywhere, there is no place needing help."

"My brother's vengeance has also been avenged."

"Those who killed my brother and those who modified me have all been devoured by me."

"Furthermore……"

"Jimni died."

A minor setting in chapter ninety-nine was revised.

This time, the exchange study team with Shadow City consists entirely of third-year apprentices, with no fourth-year members.

This chapter filled a few small plot holes concerning Christina.

It also resolved the foreshadowing laid down when reuniting with Jimny a while back, which hinted at Jimny's dire situation and foreshadowed an unhappy ending.

Moreover,