Chapter 208: with translation of chapter title

212. Chapter 212: Sudden Anomaly

Huh?

Lin Ke fell silent, his expression growing worse.

Since arriving at Starfort Fortress, nothing has gone smoothly.

How did he die?

After a moment, Lin Ke asked.

Christina shook her head, indicating she also didn't know the specifics.

Black smoke in the air traced out a sentence: I only received Jimni's last will and news of his death; I don't know the details.

Hmm.

Lin Ke nodded, indicating understanding.

Even after becoming an official wizard, he didn't have much free time.

Study, research, and work took up too much time; where would he find so much leisure to run around?

Up to now, aside from a few trips to other worlds, in the wizard world's homeland, Lin Ke's movements have been confined to the Reevesoth Special Zone.

Not to mention touring the Doduo Great Region or the entire west coast; he hasn't even walked through the Michelle Area.

Unless like Jimni used to do, spending all day traveling with caravans to trade.

Thinking of Jimni, a hint of melancholy flashed across Lin Ke's face.

Of the five youths who left the Qutet Islands together, another has died.

Only three remain.

Another passerby has been added to life.

Lin Ke still clearly remembers that evening, Jimni tilted his head back to drop the snack crumbs he had caught in his palm into his mouth, squinting his eyes as he savored them happily.

What a simple, honest young man.

Perhaps because he had just seen a ruin planet extremely similar to his past life's hometown, the impact was great; once the Brain Seal Technique slightly stopped operating, his mood would fluctuate.

This is not good.

After a long sigh, Lin Ke once again adjusted his state, decided to set these matters aside, first finish the main task of this exchange study, then talk about other things.

"Peikesi, is the docking ready?"

Lin Ke turned to face Peikesi, who was confronting the academy's twenty apprentices and the Shadow City team, and shouted.

"Leader,"

Peikesi continued to stare fixedly at the Shadow City deputy leader, loudly replying, "We're fine; they have a problem."

"What problem?"

Lin Ke frowned; he really didn't want to stir up any trouble.

"The Shadow City people say we must enter the Ruins World behind them."

Peikesi explained the reason for the standoff, emphasizing, "They aren't even willing to enter together with us!"

Lin Ke turned to look at Christina and asked, "What do you say?"

"One… together… enter."

Christina, with difficulty, threw out a sentence, then turned and walked toward the Shadow City team.

Just like that, a small dispute full of probing meaning was settled.

The exchange of learning, or rather competition, began from the moment they met.

Vying for time to enter the Ruins World was an offensive probe by the Shadow City apprentice team.

Once there is a first concession, there can be a second, third, and who knows how many more concessions.

That's what "give an inch, take a mile" means.

Under the constraint of both sides' leaders, the two apprentice teams stopped locking horns and instead each prepared.

On the academy's side, after reporting to Lin Ke and Peikesi, Lan Ni. Tai Le formally began to carry out the duties of captain.

She first called the two vice-captains, Lunna. Kelongna and Jilian. Kelake, to one side.

Unify thinking, discuss task division, and refine the team's management and command.

Lan Ni. Tai Le had obviously given detailed thought even on the way to the Star Fortress.

She planned to divide the eighteen members into four groups: one for guard, two for reconnaissance, three for searching supplies, and four for filling gaps.

Vice-captain Lunna led groups one and two, while vice-captain Jilian managed groups three and four.

Lan Ni. Tai Le herself oversaw the overall situation.

This plan received the approval of Lunna and Jilian.

Afterward, the three captains began to implement the grouping plan.

They broke up all the small teams, completed the personnel mixing, and formed four squads.

The operation on the Shadow City side was similar, with only minor differences in detail.

With both apprentice teams ready, the exchange learning could now officially begin.

Lin Ke, together with Christina, then applied to the Transport Hub Management Tower for permission to use the teleportation gate to enter the Ruins World.

This Star Fortress belongs to the entire wizard world's assets; any wizard organization registered with the High Council can use it for a fee.

However, unless the High Council expressly permits it, members of wizard organizations coming to the Star Fortress cannot loiter there; they can only transfer at the Transport Hub.

The usage application jointly submitted by the Ruowosuosi Academy and Shadow City is of this nature.

The Transport Hub Management Tower had already adjusted the relevant parameters of the teleportation gate after the Shadow City team arrived.

It had merely not yet opened the usage permission.

They obtained the two usage permission certificates jointly issued by Lin Ke and Christina.

After the Shadow City team arrived, the dimmed light gate lit up again.

Ready! Move out!

After Lin Ke confirmed with the academy-arranged intelligent puppet that the teleport coordinates were correct, he waved to signal the apprentice team.

No one dared delay; they immediately put on the isolation suits prepared by the intelligent puppet.

This time, Pex took the lead, Lin Ke brought up the rear, and twenty-two people filed into the teleport gate.

De... part.

On the Shadow City side, Christina gave the order at the same time, her speech roughly matching Lin Ke, who had deliberately slowed his pace.

They too were led by the vice leader, with Christina staying at the rear.

The two teams almost simultaneously stepped into the teleport gate.

Again came a feeling of spacetime dislocation.

With the natal witchcraft "Battle Armor" worn inside, the Defender 3202 suit in the middle, and the isolation suit outside, fully armed Lin Ke steadied himself and found himself standing on the roof of an abandoned skyscraper.

The apprentice team was not far ahead of him.

Under the command of Lan Ni. Tai Le, Luna Kolonna, and Gillian Clark, the four squads had clear divisions—some on guard, some scouting, some gathering information, some filling gaps.

Pex had already hovered in midair, concealed his form, with only Lin Ke able to see some traces.

Lin Ke immediately also floated up without any trace of fire, concealing his form.

From now on, it all depends on the apprentice team's own ability—whether they can find valuable items, with total value exceeding that of Shadow City.

The leader and vice leader, Lin Ke and Pex, definitely cannot interfere in this matter.

Although the academy didn't state it outright, one could guess that the leader intervening in material gathering would definitely lose points.

The leader's main task is to ensure the apprentice team's safety and to guard against the Shadow City leader and vice leader's shameless bullying attacks.

Shadow City team appeared on the roof of another abandoned skyscraper.

The two sides are not far apart, visible to the naked eye, gazing at each other from a distance.

Kelisite Na and her deputy leader took the same actions as Lin Ke's side.

All are floating in place, invisible and following.

The four exchanged a glance, no communication, yet they had some tacit understanding.

For a long time, neither side will attack the other's apprentice team.

Unless something unexpected happens, such as one team making a discovery of extraordinary value that could decide the outcome of this exchange and study in one fell swoop.

This is the meaning of equal power deterrence.

Having a sword but not using it, and not having a sword, are two different things.

If only one side has an official wizard accompanying them, or the numbers of official wizards on each side differ, the balance will be broken.

Whether the apprentice team will suffer a dimensional suppression strike from the official wizard depends entirely on the intentions of the extra official wizard on the other side.

If they want to fight, they fight; if they don't want to fight, they don't.

The apprentice team that is intimidated will remain in a state of anxiety.

Thus an unequal competition forms!

(Core……)

As the apprentice team continually searched downward in the building, Lin Ke saw more and more traces of his past life.

Strangely, this ruined world is unaffected by time.

Over six thousand years have passed, yet the buildings, decorations, and furniture show no signs of weathering or decay. Looking at those familiar decoration styles, at those cubicle-like workstations, at those computers, Lin Ke felt as if he had returned to the modern world of the twenty-first century.

It's merely a twenty-first-century modern world devoid of people.

Just like in *I Am Legend*, the virologist Robert lives alone in empty New York, with no companionship and no response.

Lin Ke has already recognized that if this ruined world is truly his past-life homeland, then the newly discovered area is Shanghai!

The skyscraper he is currently in is the world's third-tallest building, the Shanghai Central Skyscraper.

The skyscraper where the Shadow City team is located should be the Shanghai Global Financial Center.

Lin Ke never visited Shanghai in his past life; he merely enjoyed studying various maps and thus had a detailed understanding of Shanghai's terrain and various buildings.

As he was recalling his past life, turning a corner, several large maps appeared before Lin Ke's eyes.

World map, national map, Shanghai map, laid out in sequence.

The three groups of the apprentice team have already assigned personnel to photograph the maps.

Valuable items and supplies also include information and knowledge.

Glancing at the three maps, a building's name entered Lin Ke's view and lingered.

Shanghai Astronomical Museum!

It's not that this building is particularly special, but the two characters "astronomy" flashed in Lin Ke's mind, reminding him of his own created "Grand Cosmos Meditation Method".

He was lacking specific data on celestial bodies.

Now that he has the opportunity, how could he not seize it to gather such data, lest he have to "rack his brains" scraping memories from the meager astronomical knowledge reserves of his past life.

"I'll go check elsewhere; you keep watch."

Thought and deed as one, Lin Ke used a "Spirit Transmission Technique" to tell Peikes that, then turned and floated toward the fire escape.

He closed the normally closed fire door, blocking Peikes' and the apprentice team's line of sight.

Lin Ke summoned Fulanduo, sharing with her the address of the Shanghai Astronomical Museum and some renowned Shanghai institutions and research organizations, as well as all his memories of Shanghai from his past life.

Without needing the "Spirit Transmission Technique", Lin Ke could communicate with Fulanduo on a spiritual level.

"Understood?"

"Understood, master; Fulanduo will surely find the knowledge and information you need."

Fulanduo patted her little chest, nodded firmly, and gave her assurance.

Then go, be careful, if you encounter danger, return immediately to the 'Small World', don't fight head-on.

Lin Ke gave a warning, like an old father worrying about the safety of his little daughter about to travel far.

Mm-hmm, thank you for your concern, sir.

Fulan Duo's face lit up with a bright smile, and she happily agreed.

Sir really does care about her.

Go.

Sir, Fulan Duo is leaving now.

Watching Fulan Duo turn into a wisp of illusion, she passed through the wall and out of the building, then turned into a gentle breeze and immediately drifted toward the first stop, the Shanghai Astronomical Museum.

Lin Ke suddenly turned his gaze, his eyes darkly fixed on the corner where, after Fulan Duo left, Christina had hidden and crept over.

After a moment, Lin Ke gave up the idea of making a move.

This before him is not a real person.

Anything up?

The 'Soul Communication Technique' was used again.

It wasn't that Lin Ke didn't want to use the stronger-confidentiality 'Soul Link', but in the Advanced Academy's True Spirit Wizard course, this sorcery isn't taught.

Normal channels also couldn't find any related materials or documents on the 'Soul Link'.

It is said that one must join the True Spirit Wizards Union, a relatively loose organization, to obtain all study materials and permission for the 'Soul Link'.

Christina nodded.

A wisp of black smoke appeared in the air, twisting and coiling like a snake, outlining a few lines of text.

'This is my doppelganger phantom; it lasts only a short time, so let's keep it brief.'

'I can give you all the biochemical modification data I've received, and I can also provide you with some of my flesh and blood for your research.'

'I only have one favor to ask of you.'

'Let my child become a normal person.'

As the black smoke writhed, Christina placed both hands on her belly, her eyes flashing with maternal compassion.

When they first met at the Star Fortress, Lin Ke noticed that Christina was already pregnant.

At first he was quite surprised; could it be that Christina had met someone she could entrust her life to?

Only after seeing the words 'The one who modified her was devoured by me' did Lin Ke roughly guess the whole story.

I won't go into detail—it's just the usual rotten affairs of the world.

Sin, disgust, making one want to kill and then feel satisfied.

Lin Ke thought for a moment and replied, 'I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee it. As you know, biochemical modification is hard to reverse.'

Um……

Indeed, it's very hard to reverse.

For example, in the Fairy World, the Paro Wise Army Frontline Medical Department cannot reverse the fairies' mutations.

Still, it was only when Lin Ke took action that this was accomplished.

'Okay.'

The black smoke traced out that word, then vanished together with Christina's phantom.

Lin Ke turned and left the fire escape, found the unit that had advanced considerably, stood shoulder to shoulder with Pei Ke Si, and looked down at the orderly search of the apprentice unit.

It must be said, Lan Ni. Tai Le is extremely outstanding; these apprentices who are on the verge of becoming Official Wizards and are Peak Third-Class Wizard Apprentives are all top-notch.

Once in that state, each displayed exceptionally sharp abilities and knowledge that could be called profound.

Anything of even slight value, especially carriers of knowledge and information, was completely scavenged.

Fortunately, the academy had thought ahead and equipped the apprentice unit with a spatial storage device.

Otherwise, the final load would have crushed everyone in the apprentice unit.

A loud bang.

Then came continuous rumbling explosions.

Suddenly, from the direction of the Shadow City unit, came successive sounds.

Lan Ni. Tai Le immediately reacted, issuing the order: 'Team one expands the patrol range, team two conducts close reconnaissance, team three continues searching, team four becomes the reserve; whichever team lacks personnel will be reinforced.'

'Yes.'

The team members responded in unison.

The academy's education system always includes various segments to strengthen teamwork.

Either in the curriculum or in extracurricular practice.

A typical example is the Primary Academy's annual inter-year competition.

Apart from a few one-on-one arena matches, most emphasize teamwork and confrontation.

At the stage of the Advanced Academy, the internship begins halfway through advanced study, always conducted in small groups.

Thus, once the academy's wizard apprentices or official wizards enter mission mode, they can quickly break up mixed formations and cooperate in execution.

Eighteen team members swiftly acted according to the instructions.

Lan Ni. Tai Le then summoned the two deputy captains and whispered: 'What happened over at Shadow City? It's still unknown, but we must heighten vigilance to guard against the worst-case scenario.'

After a pause, Lan Ni. Tai Le emphasized: 'I believe we three must from now on unify our thinking and prepare to strike at any moment.'

This treats the movements from Shadow City as a significant discovery rather than encountering danger.

Prepared for battle.

'Okay.'

Lu Na and Ji Li An agreed with Lan Ni. Tai Le on this worst-case plan.

Strike first to be strong; strike later to suffer.

Even if Shadow City over there has no major discovery, even if Shadow City has encountered danger, striking first always secures the advantage.

As for the opposing side's two team leaders, our two team leaders will take care of them—no need for them to worry.

All they need to do is win this exchange study.

By proper means, victory goes to whoever gathers the more valuable supplies.

Launching an attack and wiping out the opponent is also victory.

The academy only cares about results; handing over results is enough.

Never mind how it's done.