Chapter 212: 218.Chapter 218 Almost Got Stabbed

218. Chapter 218 Almost Got Stabbed

"Have you thought it through clearly?"

Kodi Witch spoke, their tone a bit more serious.

If it's just about compensation for interests, no matter how you discuss it, it's just a numbers problem.

Once an apology is involved, especially an academic apology, the nature changes.

"I have thought it through clearly."

Lin Ke answered firmly.

He is a generous person.

Su Fei. Lu Qi Ya relied solely on their own intelligence to complete the experiment first and publish the paper first; Lin Ke no longer cared about it.

After all, revenge has already been taken.

But regarding the paper and patent on the new sprouting method of the Silver Star Flower, the matter isn't settled yet.

Even now, Su Fei. Lu Qi Ya is still profiting from that patent's dividends.

It's like a thorn stuck in the flesh; although it causes little harm or pain, it's unpleasant.

If the thorn isn't pulled out, it's uncomfortable.

Now that the opportunity has arisen, Lin Ke certainly won't be lenient; he will definitely take a small revenge.

Doing this also tells the Lucia Family that Linke Grand is still weak now, but he's not someone they can just kill or reconcile with at will—a 'soft bone'.

Linke Grand has his temper.

Although forced by various circumstances, this reconciliation must be achieved.

But Lin Ke must make his voice heard.

Tell the Lucia's, Linke Grand is not a piece of dough to be kneaded at will; he has a thorn.

Kodi Witch felt the firm attitude in Lin Ke's words and greatly appreciated this temperament and conduct.

"Good!"

He slapped his palm hard, Kodi Witch praised, 'This is exactly what should be done! Rest assured, this condition will definitely be implemented!'

Selin Witch also voiced agreement: 'The matter of reconciliation indeed cannot be only about interests; we must show our stance and principles. This point is good.'

"Thank you, Selin Witch, thank you, Kodi Witch."

Lin Ke spoke sincerely, expressing heartfelt thanks.

He knows many things cannot be judged by appearance alone.

On the surface, the few leaders of the Paro Sage, Selin Witch, and Kodi Witch lineage have not protected Lin Ke well.

Either they didn't conscript him, or they suggested he become a team leader, in various ways letting Lin Ke flee to avoid the spotlight.

In fact, behind the scenes, they have done quite a lot.

For example, why the academy's higher-ups noticed this matter and chose to strike the Lucia Family so hard is the result of their efforts to lobby upward.

In the order of address, Lin Ke remains as before, with Selin Witch first and Kodi Witch second.

There has been no change due to Kodi Witch soon attempting to re-enter the metamorphosis period, with hopes of advancing to Sage.

Kodi Witch has not generated resentment or similar emotions because of this.

On the contrary, he rather likes Lin Ke's such persistence.

Loyalty not absolute means absolutely disloyal.

Although the relationship between Lin Ke, Selin Witch, and Paro Sage does not warrant the word 'loyalty'.

But one also cannot be 'fond of the new and tired of the old', 'disdain the poor and love the rich', acting as a snob.

"Zizzle…"

Lin Ke's Portable Smart Brain suddenly vibrated at this moment.

This was something he deliberately set up before coming over, to discover the academy's notice at the first moment.

He took out the smart brain, tapped to open it, and indeed it was the academy's notice of team leader benefits, with a specific list attached.

"Benefits given by the academy to team leaders."

The Sage informed Selin Witch, Kodi Witch, and Mo Li three people; Lin Ke opened the benefit list, projected it, and they watched together.

"Wow! Not bad."

Selin Witch glanced at it, quickly finished reading the content, and let out an exclamation: 'The academy is really generous this time.'

"This benefit is indeed sufficient, more than enough to offset a first‑rank witch's loss of one and a half months of time."

After Kodi Witch finished reading, they held the same attitude.

Mo Li gazed enviously at the projected list, unwilling to move their eyes for a long time.

The list contains only three items:

First is a villa in the North District; second is one use of a formal witch‑level cultivation secret realm; last is a brand‑new 'Hummingbird‑class' starship.

What can be taken over immediately is the North District villa.

What can be used at an opportune time is the cultivation secret realm.

What needs to be waited for delivery is the starship.

The North District villa, given Lin Ke's current level, status, and income, can barely be afforded.

The cultivation secret realm, for Lin Ke who has completed the apprentice and witch chapters of the 'Great Universe Meditation Method,' is optional and not especially needed.

Even if it could greatly speed up cultivation progress, Lin Ke does not want to go in.

His recent improvements have been too many and too fast; it's time to settle down and solidify the foundation.

However, for Mo Li, who has only recently been promoted to first‑rank witch, if they could enter the cultivation secret realm once, the benefit would be huge.

The most valuable is, of course, the starship.

Even the smallest Hummingbird-class is still a starship.

Moreover, although the Hummingbird is small, it is fast and agile, especially suitable for first- and second-level official wizards who follow the legion to battle across the heavens.

If Lin Ke wants to buy one himself, he needs to operate the Grand Pharmacy for at least a year to save enough Magic Stones.

With that, he can probably only afford the standard configuration.

What the academy provides, however, is the latest model, top-spec.

Not to mention compensation for losing one and a half months of time; even one and a half years, there are handfuls of first- or second-level wizards crying and begging the academy for a chance.

Lin Ke's several trips to other worlds have all been activities within the world itself.

In fact, when battling across the heavens, most of the time is spent traveling through starry space or engaging in combat.

Owning a personal starship not only boosts combat power but also increases the margin for error in preserving life.

"The villa is not far from here; shall we go take a look?"

Lin Ke, having received the information about the northern district villa, extended the invitation.

"I can."

Selin Wizard was the first to agree.

"I have no problem either."

Cody Wizard nodded.

Thus the four rose, left Selin Wizard's villa, did not drive, walked for a few minutes, and arrived at the northern district villa assigned to Lin Ke by the academy.

Lin Ke operated the closed villa gate, verified the security information, and the villa gate slowly opened.

Viewed from above, the villa's layout is no different from that of many other villas in the northern district.

In front is a courtyard with flower beds, a path paved with goose soft stone, a round fountain landscape, and a parking lot;

In the middle is the main building of the villa, a small castle with three underground floors and three above-ground floors;

At the back is a large lawn, plus a ring of trees serving as a fence.

The four entered the villa gate, walked along the goose soft stone path to the miniature castle, and went into the first floor of the castle.

Immediately, an intelligent butler came forward to provide service for the four.

The academy's arrangements are very meticulous.

The intelligent butler of the northern district castle and the intelligent butler of the academy lakeside villa are the same in terms of software.

"Welcome home, Master."

The intelligent butler first bowed to Lin Ke, then turned to Selin Wizard and Cody Wizard, bowed and said, "Welcome, two honored wizards, coming as guests to Grand Castle; I am Hamid, and you two may call me anytime for any needs."

Next, under the guidance of the intelligent butler Hamid, the four toured the miniature castle in a cursory manner.

Selin Wizard and Cody Wizard tasted a cup of tea specially prepared by the intelligent butler Hamid from the academy lakeside villa, praised Lin Ke's ingenuity, and then each left.

Cody Wizard is going to receive that special world.

Renee Clark is not idle; she arranged to meet him at Selin Wizard's villa not to hang out, but to notify this matter on behalf of the academy.

Selin Wizard then returned to her own villa to prepare for negotiations with the Lucia family.

Since it was already late, Lin Ke simply did not return to the academy; he will stay overnight at the northern district villa.

Nor did he need to trouble the intelligent butler Hamid to fetch daily supplies from the academy lakeside villa; Lin Ke directly took some supplies from the "small world" and quickly set up two bedrooms.

After a simple dinner and a brief chat, Lin Ke and Mo Li each went to wash up and then to rest.

After entering the bedroom and engaging in deep meditation, fatigue suddenly surged.

It felt as if he had not rested for one and a half months, and his eyelids were extremely heavy.

Lin Ke lay down to sleep and soon began to emit faint snoring.

No matter how much the World Will Mother loves him, she will not be too lenient on this rule-level matter.

The due time deviation feedback is still given.

Bodily fatigue is merely the most inconspicuous and least important of these feedbacks.

Aging out of nowhere by one and a half months is the most "deadly".

This one and a half months is directly subtracted from the upper limit of lifespan, permanently lost.

No matter how much vitality is replenished, it is futile.

The next day after waking up, he felt refreshed and invigorated.

After moving his body a bit, Lin Ke began to get busy.

He first went down to the laboratory on the first underground level, examined the facilities and equipment configuration, and found it identical to that of the academy lakeside villa.

The academy is indeed very generous in material provisions.

If it can give the best, it will not give the inferior; if it can give everything, it will not give less.

The second underground level is a sorcery laboratory, with nothing much to see.

It is estimated that after Iris finishes her internship and returns home, it will again become a good place for the two female students to deepen their friendship.

Lin Ke focused on making a round of the biochemical laboratory on the third underground level, confirming that its security, disinfection, and isolation all met standards, even exceeding them, before returning to the first underground level.

Mo Li has a strong sense of being the hostess.

Early in the morning she went to the Grand Pharmacy and summoned the three members of the Social Anxiety Group responsible for managing the pharmacy for a meeting.

Even without explicit words, how could the three of the Social Anxiety Group not know that the elder sister is emphasizing her status as 'madam boss'?

While acknowledging this, they inevitably smirk inwardly, for the elder sister always appears somewhat 'at a loss' when dealing with matters involving big shots, overemphasizing them.

After the brief meeting adjourned, Mo Li personally delivered all the various raw materials needed to concoct the 'One Intent' potion to Lin Ke.

At this point Lin Ke had already activated the facilities and equipment, completed the pre-preparation, and seamlessly began to concoct the 'One Intent' potion.

While Lin Ke was concocting the potion, Mo Li was not idle either.

She directed the intelligent butler Hamid to quickly set up the castle.

The Northern District Villa went from being just a building to becoming a home.

It was filled with a plain yet warm atmosphere.

On the other side.

Selin Witch and Cody Witch began negotiating through an intermediary with the Lucia Family, discussing the terms of settlement.

This isn't something that can be decided in a short time.

It will inevitably involve some back-and-forth haggling.

Lin Ke patiently waited for the negotiation results, while simultaneously concocting potions in a frenzy.

In just a couple of days, Grand Pharmacy suddenly launched a giveback event for old customers.

It lifted the restrictions on some 'One-Thought' potions, raising the purchase limit to ten per person per day;

and added many new products, heavily promoting them.

If someone is familiar with the flagship products of the major pharmacies in the Eastern District, they would notice:

The promotional new products launched by Grand Pharmacy were directly aimed at Lucia Pharmacy's flagship products, openly competing head‑to‑head.

Moreover, they launched a full‑scale price war.

The efficacy is no worse than yours, heh, I'm not making a profit—just covering costs.

If you've got the ability, keep up.

Anyway, I'm not lacking—one person… two people can eat their fill, and the whole family won't go hungry.

You Lucia Family have many members and plenty of places to use Magic Stones.

Let's see who can outlast whom.

As soon as the promotion news spread, a long queue quickly formed in front of Grand Pharmacy.

Meanwhile, Lucia Pharmacy's business plummeted.

With such an obvious signal, how could the Lucia Family possibly miss it?

The Lucia representative handling negotiations with Selin Witch and Cody Witch was furious about this.

It felt as disgusting as eating a cake that a fly had lingered on for ages.

Yet they had to suppress that disgust, facing Selin Witch and Cody Witch who smiled approvingly and secretly praised Lin Ke's fine work, unconsciously speeding up the negotiation.

Stimulated by this, the negotiations quickly yielded a result.

The Lucia Family will pay a large sum of Magic Stones to Lin Ke and his faction behind him.

At the same time, Sophie Lucia must publicly apologize to Lin Ke on the Revos Forum for academic plagiarism.

This is the will of the entire Lucia Family.

No matter how unwilling Sophie Lucia is, or how much Soren Lucia looks after her, she cannot resist.

As long as she remains a Lucia, she must publicly admit her shortcoming in academic ethics.

This will greatly affect her future.

One could even say it has cut off more than half of Sophie Lucia's hope of pursuing a research position.

Sophie felt wronged, but before the deadline she had to record an apology video and upload it to the Revos Forum.

As this video spread, the name Linke Grand entered the public eye once again.

Many witches wondered what magic Linke Grand possessed that made the academy willing to endorse him, even 'forcing' the Lucia Family to suffer such a huge loss.

Not only did he proactively propose settlement and pay Magic Stones, but he also humiliated a direct‑line member.

It's utterly bizarre, sounding utterly absurd!

Lin Ke pulled out the thorn in his flesh, yet felt utterly bland.

He felt no satisfaction from successful revenge.

He merely felt a speck of mental grit brushed away, giving him a slight sense of physical and mental clarity.

The sole gain was obtaining precious time to develop domestically.

He could study well, open a shop, and nurture his direct line.

Against this backdrop, Christina showed up.

She brought all her data, her flesh and blood samples, and herself, abruptly appearing at Grand Pharmacy.

Mo Li felt a jolt when she heard that a pregnant woman had come to see Lin Ke.

After forcing down her turbulent emotions and confirming the circumstances, she then changed her attitude.

She gave Lin Ke a sideways glance while warmly ushering Christina to the Northern District Villa to receive proper hospitality.

"Thanks for the trouble."

Northern District Villa, underground three‑level laboratory.

Lin Ke, Mo Li, and Christina together watched the various data projected by the office smart brain.

Christina, after seeing Mo Li, never spoke, instead communicating by tracing characters in black smoke.

"It's fine, not a bother—I'll first do some research."

Lin Ke's eyes were fixed on the research ideas, experimental design, records, and detailed logs on the projection, and he casually replied.

Shadow City's academic line, especially in biochemistry, is not the same path taken by Revos Academy.

Revos Academy focuses on screening and optimization, while Shadow City pursues transplantation, 'genetic modification', and cross‑species hybridization.

Christina's biochemical alteration consisted of implanting a Shadow Magic Snake's 'bloodline', changing a witch's aptitude at the genetic level.

Furthermore, it granted Christina the Shadow Magic Snake's racial ability—Shadow Phasing—allowing her, at the First‑rank Witch stage, to merge entirely into the Shadow Plane to lurk, strike, and evade harm.

This grants the corporeal elementalization effect normally attainable only at Third‑rank Witch.

This line of thought and its result gave Lin Ke a feeling of déjà vu.

He felt as if he had seen something similar somewhere before.

After thinking it over carefully, Lin Ke suddenly realized.

The fairy's innate talent!