Chapter 234

240. Chapter 240 Staff of God!

Outside.

In the opera house-style building, the spectator room.

"Pfft..."

"Hehehe...

Sandra laughed out loud, finally something had happened that made her mood a little better.

She swept away the many glooms that had arisen before.

She teased the grim-faced Shadow City leader whose face could drip water: "You Shadow City people, so discerning? Surrender when you can't win... truly... not taking the usual path."

The grim-faced man heard this, and instead his face cleared up, not at all angry, he hehe laughed: "I actually quite appreciate this captain, having self-awareness, able to know his own strength is inferior to others. Unlike some people, whose eyes are rolled up to the top of their heads all day, unable to discern the true strength of their own subordinates, yet boasting of exceptional vision."

This remark was pointed, full of mocking intent.

Obviously, when Lin Ke single-handedly instant-killed an entire squad of the Flame and Metal Trading Company, Sandra's shocked expression had been recalled by the grim-faced man.

He used this point to mock Sandra for having eyes but no pearls, as a counterattack.

"Hmph!"

Sandra's expression remained unchanged, yet she refused to back down, sneering: "I just don't believe you won't punish this team that surrendered voluntarily."

"No, absolutely not!"

The grim-faced man, either out of spite or for other reasons, declared firmly: "Not only will I not punish them, I will instead reward her! Because she preserved Shadow City's precious talent."

"Hope you're not just saying this to save face, we'll see, we'll wait and see, whether you'll end up slapping your own face."

Sandra flipped her palm, holding up a bean-sized bead, her face showing a smug expression: "Your attitude just now, I've recorded it all."

The grim-faced man instantly felt like he had swallowed a fly, nauseated to death.

His face grew even darker, what was dripping was no longer just water, but a downpour.

He hadn't expected that in an instant, Sandra would dig a trap with this, waiting for him to jump in.

If saying the grim-faced man had no intention of punishing Christina and her teammates to vent his frustration, that wouldn't quite match his personality.

Moreover, talking about giving rewards.

He was merely squeezed by Sandra into saying some polite words.

Now he was actually caught in a bind, caught between advancing and retreating.

If he imposed punishment, he would become a hypocritical villain.

If he gave rewards as promised, his anger would only fester and grow more resentful.

The grim-faced man grew angrier the more he thought.

Really... damn it!

The grim-faced man gritted his back teeth, turned his head, refusing to look at that smugly smiling Sandra.

Sandra laughed even more happily.

Beside her, Lanny keenly noticed something off.

The conversation between Lin Ke and Christina seemed too natural and smooth, with perfect rapport.

But she said nothing.

Not only because the current setting was inappropriate for telling Sandra this discovery, but also because she didn't want to tell Sandra.

From now on, she would think more for herself!

At this moment, the leader of Mesopotamia University suddenly did something extremely unexpected to everyone present.

Only seen, he took out the button every leader has, switched it to the "surrender" option, exercising his leader's authority, and pressed it hard.

Mesopotamia University, team competition, surrender!

The next second, the four Mesopotamia University teams still struggling toward the central competition zone were all transported out of the Barren World by white light pillars descending from the sky.

In just one or two minutes, fifty light pillars descended consecutively, causing a huge commotion.

Immediately drawing attention.

Especially since these light pillars fell in different directions, leaving the remaining teams bewildered.

What accident happened?

How did so many teams get eliminated at the same time all of a sudden?

"You sick?"

The "Scholar" of the White Tower Alliance turned to look at the Mesopotamia University leader, seriously asking: "I have medicine, you wanna take it?"

The Mesopotamia University leader ignored the "Scholar's" ravings, stood up, and walked to Sandra's front.

After locking eyes with Sandra for a moment, he solemnly said: "Many things cannot be forced by human effort, we must still go with the flow. We actually don't want to have a dispute with you, this competition, we will not continue participating, cutting a bit of 'education resources' is just cutting it, only hoping you can convey our attitude upward."

After saying that, the Mesopotamia University leader walked out of the spectator room.

His attendant hurriedly followed, leaving together.

Left behind were four leaders astonished by why the Mesopotamia University leader suddenly made such an out-of-line move, and three attendants each with their own thoughts.

Even if Linke Grande's displayed attack power was truly overpowered, but what about his defense?

As for this defense aspect, it hasn't been shown yet.

If his defense isn't that abnormal, with a good plan, he could still be killed.

At worst, just use a few more lives to test it.

Anyway, the participating Level 1 Wizards are not the true core family members and factions of their respective organizations.

Even if there are a few promising sprouts from small and medium families, if they die, they die.

In the name of the organization, giving those small and medium families some subsidies and some awards can fully make up for it.

Why surrender and admit defeat, losing opportunities for nothing?

Competition World.

"What's going on?"

The entire "Do Whatever Is Free" group, who were about to head back toward the center of the competition area, witnessed the spectacular sight of forty displacement light pillars descending simultaneously.

Mo Li walked up beside Lin Ke, stowing the "off-road motorcycle" while curiously asking.

Lin Ke scanned the surroundings, based on the positions where the light pillars fell, combined with the two maps he had previously recorded, and formed a judgment in his mind: "The landing points of the light pillars are all around the position of the Mesopotamia University team; they must have collectively withdrawn from the team competition, I suppose."

"Collective withdrawal? Why? How did they do it?"

Mo Li became even more puzzled.

Being in the task area of the Barren World is like being in a dark forest; different teams of the same organization have absolutely no contact with each other.

The rules of the competition area are set this way.

Long-distance communication wizard tools have lost their function; unless there is a special means like the one between Lin Ke and Christina for short-to-medium distances, cross-team communication cannot be achieved.

"I can't figure out the reason either. As for how they did it?"

Lin Ke said, raising his head to look at the three "suns" hanging across the Barren World, "Competitions, after all, definitely need spectators, referees, and judges. It's quite normal for the team leaders of various wizard organizations to have withdrawal authorization rights."

"Is that so?"

Mo Li pondered thoughtfully.

Based on Lin Ke's inference, could it be that the Mesopotamia University team leader, seeing Lin Ke as too formidable, feared not securing a good ranking, sought more educational resources, and didn't want to lose too many of their own potential geniuses?

The Flame and Metal Trading Company team of ten people didn't leave a single survivor.

This performance is truly brutal.

"Never mind that, we're setting out."

Lin Ke waved his hand, leading the "Do Whatever Is Free" group to resume their silent march on foot.

Vehicles always leave traces, create noticeable noise, and are hard to evade detection by reconnaissance wizard tools.

On foot, however, is more suitable for covert troop movement.

Elsewhere.

Hawk Lucia glared angrily at a cousin: "I disagree with doing this!"

Only now did he realize that the family was not only preparing to act on its own against Linke Grande, but had also colluded with a team from Shadow City.

Colluding with outsiders!

Is this because the academy's upper management's impression of the Lucia Family is still not bad enough?

Is this meant to force the academy to employ thunderous measures, to punish or even exterminate the Lucia Family?

What exactly are the clan chief and elders thinking?

"Since things have come to this, you must do it even if you disagree."

This cousin ignored Hawk's anger, directly commanded three other Lucias, subdued Hawk, and brought him into a cave.

Inside, two others were already firmly restrained—precisely the five other team members from this group who did not obey the Lucia Family's orders.

Considering the family had not yet made a final decision, and the mindset of three non-direct-line members, a few Lucias refrained from delivering a killing blow.

The two restrained individuals were quite perceptive—they neither shouted insults nor uttered threats like "The academy won't let you get away with this."

Instead, they sat quietly on the ground, allowing several Lucias to lock down their mental power and magic power.

They even proactively extended their hands and feet, cooperating fully as handcuffs and leg irons were placed on them.

"Stay here, don't shout or scream randomly, and I'll guarantee you won't die."

The cousin stuffed a gag into Hawk's mouth, but instead of gagging the other two, he said: "What we're going to do has nothing to do with you—understand?"

"Understand."

The two responded in unison.

After doing this, four Lucias and three peripheral members mutually groomed themselves, then left the cave.

Before leaving, the cousin came to Hawk's side, stared at him deeply for a long time, then leaned in and whispered softly into his ear: "You must remember, without the family, we have nothing. For the family's benefit, every sacrifice is necessary!"

After saying this, the cousin returned to the group.

They pretended to have encountered a strong enemy, suffered a crushing defeat and severe injuries, and, according to the prearranged plan with the Shadow City team they had bribed, fled "in panic" toward the center of the task area.

Inside the cave.

Hawk Lucia calmed down, yet still couldn't quite grasp the meaning of his cousin's words before leaving.

He twisted his body, trying to break free from the restraints, exerting great effort before finally spitting out the plug in his mouth.

"Why aren't you resisting?"

Hawk knew shouting and yelling would be useless, and as a lone individual, it was also hard to break free, so he turned his attention to the two similarly bound teammates, hoping to open a dialogue.

"Why should we resist?"

One countered.

"What good would resisting do?"

Another followed up.

"What they're doing is wrong; we should stop them."

Hawk Lucia spoke solemnly: "At this critical juncture, we absolutely must not do anything harmful to the academy's interests."

Upon hearing this, the two looked at Hawk Lucia with the expression of someone looking at a fool, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long while, one of them said leisurely: "The Lucia Family has finally produced someone who understands—knowing this is wrong, but still not enlightened enough."

"Yeah, still not enlightened enough."

The other picked up his rice bowl for the comic relief act, chimed in: "You just didn't guess it, or you're too scared to even consider that possibility?"

Then, the two spoke in unison: "The Lucia Family is preparing to defect—this is obvious, isn't it?"

Hawk Lucia was struck as if by lightning.

Could it be that the clan chief and elders have become so muddled?

Even two nameless Level 1 Wizards can see through the family's intentions.

Why must they persist on this path to the bitter end?

To oppose the Academy's upper echelons to the very end.

Isn't this just courting death?

Huo Ke couldn't figure it out, yet instinctively felt something was wrong.

At this moment, the figures of four Lucia family members and three peripheral members fleeing in panic had already appeared in the reconnaissance images of several teams.

The seven of them, whether in expression or movement, appeared extremely lifelike.

It seemed as if enemies were truly chasing them from behind.

In fact, someone was indeed pursuing them, but not enemies—rather, the Shadow City team bribed by the Lucia family.

The direction the Lucia members were fleeing pointed straight toward the center of the mission area.

No matter which direction, abnormalities here could be detected.

"Boss, there's a situation."

Dalton, in charge of reconnaissance, spoke up to signal, "Several Lucia members seem to be under pursuit."

Lin Ke walked over to Dalton's side, glanced at the real-time image, and then said: "Ignore them, proceed according to the predetermined direction."

"Yes."

Dalton acknowledged, operated for a moment, left only one flying saucer to monitor the Lucia members, sent the other flying saucers to other directions, and intensified reconnaissance efforts.

"Master, master, there's a situation."

To assist the master, Flandre expanded her range of activity, no longer confined to Lin Ke's vicinity, and ran wild within the mission area.

Indeed, she discovered valuable intelligence.

"Speak."

Lin Ke immediately linked into Flandre's vision and issued instructions.

"Master, Flandre has found that annoying hulk."

Flandre's sweet voice then echoed in Lin Ke's mind: "Should we beat him to death, Master?"

"Not yet, let me think again."

Through Flandre's vision, Lin Ke saw the Three-Point Wizard Vina holding up the iron-tower-like brute to mock him.

This team from the Flame and Metal Trading Company, though suffering no casualties, had multiple members wounded and was resting in a valley.

They should have engaged in battle with another team but gained little advantage.

The iron-tower brute, however, was completely unharmed, continuously devouring meat to replenish stamina and magic power.

This is a typical trait of Body Refining Wizards: they can restore their condition and self-heal injuries through massive food intake.

Based on Flandre's movement trajectory and the surrounding terrain, Lin Ke deduced the approximate position of the Flame and Metal Trading Company team.

It should be about 100 li or more from our side, in the 10 o'clock direction.

After careful consideration, Lin Ke made up his mind.

"Mo Li, you are now in command of the team."

After issuing the order, Lin Ke gave no explanation nor disclosed his own destination.

With a whoosh, he soared into the air, flying at supersonic speed.

"Do Whatever Is Free" is now matured, operating autonomously!

In the valley.

The iron-tower brute, who had been feasting heartily, suddenly stopped his movements and assumed a highly alert posture.

Body Refining Wizards specialize in the physical body and can independently develop or implant various talents.

It is widely known that the talents of Body Refining Wizards are equivalent to the Life-Bound Spells of Elemental Wizards and possess remarkable effects.

The iron-tower brute is a prodigy among Body Refining Wizards; upon advancing to Level 1 Wizard, he actually "awakened" two talents.

One is "Fanaticism," applicable in combat, which can greatly increase one's attack speed and attack power, doubling combat strength;

The other is "Danger Prediction," enabling one to sense danger in the dark, with greater danger causing a faster heartbeat.

Just now, the iron-tower brute felt his heart about to jump out of his throat.

What does this indicate?

This damn well indicates that a heavenly catastrophe is imminent!

The iron-tower brute had no time to warn others, he leapt up instantly, defenses fully activated, guarding against attacks from unknown directions!

Flee?

The moment the iron-tower brute entertained this thought, the sense of danger intensified.

Fleeing or not fleeing is actually the difference between ten deaths with no life and nine deaths with one life!

"Damn! Who the hell have I provoked?!"

The iron-tower brute cursed furiously in his heart.

Above ten thousand meters in altitude.

Lin Ke stood aloof, amplifying his mental power with the "Small World" Source Power, casting the True Spirit Wizard's 1-Ring spell "Soul Anchoring," firmly locking onto the iron-tower brute.

Then, again amplifying his magic power with the "Small World" Source Power, he unleashed his self-created composite spell of metal, fire, water, and light systems, the "Hyper-Electromagnetic Cannon," leveraging its immense propulsion to launch a super-hard metal rod extracted from the "Small World," weighing 10 tons!

High-end weapons often require only the most rudimentary attack method.

The so-called treasure meant to thrash the junior brother.

Take this blow from Old Lin!

Thanks to the book friend's partiality for your reward, thank you!