Chapter 241

248. Chapter 248 Spy Within a Spy?

"How so?"

Celine Wushi immediately turned her head and asked.

Everyone in the meeting room looked toward Cody Wizard.

The atmosphere unintentionally became somewhat complex.

Everyone was waiting to see what reason this Cody Wizard—original leader of the Paro Sage lineage—would give.

Tension, anticipation, solemnity, and various emotions lingered in everyone's hearts.

At this moment, it seemed they had reached the watershed in the relationship between the Cody Wizard lineage and the Paro Sage lineage, once closely intertwined.

If Cody Wizard's next words were merely opposition for opposition's sake, the situation would become very complicated.

Lin Ke recalled Tiffany's reply last night, reminding him to pay attention to Cody Wizard's movements.

For a moment, he couldn't help but repeatedly speculate about Cody Wizard's psychology.

Under everyone's attention, Cody Wizard said leisurely: "I believe we should prepare supplies for both aspects simultaneously. At this critical juncture, let's not busy ourselves with splitting households and living separately. My magic stones and supplies—all transferred over—should be used urgently here first."

Celine Wushi did not rejoice over Cody Wizard's stance.

She asked solemnly: "What about your legion?"

"Cold salad."

Cody Wizard leaned back, speaking lazily: "Anyway, no matter what, once I successfully advance, the academy will assign me a legion. At worst, I'll learn from Paro, command a rag-tag legion, and then slowly organize and train it."

After a pause, Cody Wizard emphasized: "If he could reduce legion construction expenses to nurse my injuries, why can't I repay him one or two?"

Upon hearing Cody Wizard say this, everyone present breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Not kicking someone when they're down, seizing the opportunity to break ties, or clearing up relations—just that.

After the relief, many felt their earlier worries were pure nonsense.

Cody Wizard isn't a fool; how could he do something foolish before the Paro Sage Legion faces a genuine life-or-death crisis?

Overthinking due to concern, overthinking due to concern.

Many thus excused their unfounded worries in this way.

Lin Ke intuitively felt Cody Wizard's opposition to preparing only interstellar combat wizard artifacts and supplies wasn't so simple, yet he had no evidence.

Thus he could only keep it in mind, to investigate later when free.

Celine Wushi accepted Cody Wizard's explanation and sincerely thanked him: "Then thank you for the trouble, Cody."

"It's my duty."

Cody Wizard waved his hand, signaling Celine Wushi not to be polite with him, not to treat him as an outsider.

The meeting then proceeded to discuss preparations for supplies on both fronts.

Lin Ke listened throughout without interrupting.

In the matter of procuring supplies, Lin Ke lacked both connections and channels.

The meeting didn't drag on endlessly.

From start to finish, adding a bit, it didn't exceed half an hour, concluded swiftly and decisively, executed firmly.

Cody Wizard didn't linger; he left as soon as the meeting ended.

At Celine Wushi's gesture, Lin Ke didn't rush to leave but stayed behind.

"Cody has changed."

Moving to the living room, Celine Wushi had the Smart Butler serve Lin Ke a cup of freshly brewed Green Tea, while she herself sipped and grew fonder of it, later additionally developing Milk Tea based on her preference, and sighed softly.

Lin Ke didn't respond to that remark, merely drinking tea.

Celine Wushi didn't mind, instead asking: "Did you have Mo Li come help me yesterday? Where is she?"

"Her condition is just right; I sent her to the Cultivation Secret Realm."

Lin Ke didn't tell the truth, but his explanation wasn't deceitful either.

Mo Li's condition is indeed fine; her grasp of various knowledge is excellent, lacking only Mental Power and Magic Power, as well as combat experience equivalent to a Level 1 Wizard.

The Official Wizard-level Cultivation Secret Realm can rapidly increase Mental Power and Magic Power, and also simulate combat to enhance experience.

"You really are willing to spend."

Celine Wushi couldn't help but feel a hint of envy as she sighed.

This is top-tier treatment she herself never enjoyed back then.

"She helped me a lot; this is just normal reciprocation."

Lin Ke explained this way his reason for letting Mo Li use the Official Wizard-level Cultivation Secret Realm, without mentioning that he himself no longer needs to enter the Cultivation Secret Realm.

"Forget it, I won't meddle in your affairs."

Celine Wushi waved her hand, took a sip of Milk Tea, and shifted the topic: "What do you think of these people who came today? Especially Cody. Don't hold back—say what you want to say."

"Want to hear the truth?"

Lin Ke pondered for a moment, then probed.

"Of course I want the truth."

Celine Wushi gave Lin Ke a sideways glance.

For some reason, despite her worries, Celine Wushi's charm not only didn't diminish but grew even more captivating.

Fortunately, the one sitting opposite her is a gentleman who can operate the "Brain Seal Technique" to firmly restrain his mind—Lin Ke.

If it were someone else, they'd probably immediately bow down beneath Celine Wushi's pomegranate skirt, obeying her commands.

Lin Ke spoke solemnly: "The truth is, relying on them, we cannot rescue Paro Sage."

"Sigh..."

Celine Wushi let out a long sigh.

She knows this fact as well as anyone.

Capable personnel are already within the legion.

Cody Wizard's thoughts are unclear now; even if he were willing to truly exert himself in rescue, being in the Transformation Period, he cannot exert much effect.

"As for the academy side..."

Halfway through speaking, Celine Wizard closed her mouth again, not continuing to finish.

Lin Ke doesn't need to hear it all; roughly, he can guess what Celine Wizard wants to sigh about.

Nothing more than the academy side not currently paying too much attention to the matter of the Paro Sage Legion being besieged by the Abyssal Demon.

The entire Rivors Academy, the local headquarters, within the academy's organization, the Sage-level legions alone number over two hundred.

Simultaneously opened myriad heavens battlefields, also over a hundred.

Almost every month, news of one or two defeats comes out.

If any random Sage Legion encounters some setback, the academy would have to rush out rescue in a frenzy; then what use would the academy have for these Sage Legions?

Establishing these Sage Legions is itself for expanding territory and opening up land; at the very least, it is for guarding important resource worlds.

It is impossible to invert priorities, using the academy to guard the Sage Legions.

Unless the besieged Sage Legion truly faces annihilation danger, or the benefits are truly too great, only then would emergency rescue be dispatched.

The Paro Sage Legion just being besieged by the Abyssal Demon, and the transmission portal to the rear camp being destroyed, does not mean complete severance of contact with the academy.

Being able to send back messages through special channels proves it has not yet reached the point of no return; one can attempt to break out, even counterattack.

Celine Wizard actually knows these principles as well.

But those are merely principles; Celine Wizard is not cold-bloodedly rational enough to think that because something is reasonable, she can therefore not care about it.

"You go attend to your business."

Celine Wizard's mood sank, and she did not keep Lin Ke.

"If anything comes up, call me anytime; I will also come every day to see where I can help."

Lin Ke rose, left a sentence, and departed from Celine Wizard's North District Villa.

Directly driving to the Grande Potion Shop, after checking recent accounts and potion reserves, Lin Ke went up to the second-floor potion laboratory.

Not engaging in potion research and production work, but instead taking out the Smart Brain, he ordered a batch of intelligent scout puppets with cross-boundary communication function.

Varying in size, amphibious across sea, land, and air, with all kinds of scout modes fully available.

He spent a considerable amount of magic stones.

After that, Lin Ke began reviewing materials, seeking precedents where the "Small World" origin gave birth to two similar cross-boundary portals beside it.

Unfortunately, information on this topic is extremely scarce; even if fragments are found, the information content is not much.

Better than nothing, but in reality, there is no progress.

Temporarily setting this matter aside, Lin Ke notified Ba Ke and Lynn to come over.

Not long after, the two came rushing from the Advanced Academy.

"Boss, what's up?"

In the Benevolent Brother Group, Ba Ke's personality has become increasingly unrestrained, Lynn increasingly steady; gradually, the spokesperson and nominal leader identity shifted to Lynn.

The one who raised this inquiry was precisely Lynn.

"How is the collection of depleted magic stones going?"

Since learning about the energy storage device and its function, Lin Ke has had "Do Whatever Is Free" purchase depleted magic stones exhausted of magic power.

Originally used only to power the "Sky Shuttle" vessel, now with two additional black portals, naturally requiring increased purchasing effort.

"Standard grade one: over 5000, standard grade two: over 900."

Lynn reported a less-than-ideal number, then explained, "The academy, major clans, the black market, and some organizations all purchase depleted magic stones, and since price wars cannot be waged, purchasing remains difficult."

The prevailing price war is low-price selling, which is profitable.

High-price purchasing of depleted magic stones, even with legitimate use, is purely foolish behavior.

Lin Ke, not seeking quick profit, merely instructed: "Already purchased ones, send them to the Riverside Villa this afternoon; return and mobilize more manpower, especially from the West District."

"Understood."

Lynn knew the boss certainly had business requiring large amounts of depleted magic stones, did not shirk, and immediately agreed.

After thinking, Lynn tentatively asked: "Should we also give those five some quotas?"

The so-called quotas are actually the "Fairy" potion.

A single tree does not make a forest; merely five low-level thugs, in the West District at most would be "dominating" one or two remote alleys.

Dare to enter densely populated areas, where there is somewhat more profit, how those five thugs would die is unknown.

They merely improved their wizard aptitude, not immediately increased their strength.

"Yes."

Lin Ke also wanted to try the recently optimized "Fairy" potion himself.

After consideration, decided to also take out the "Empowerment" potion for some case studies, to collect some data.

So he said: "Tell them, just say I still have a potion on hand that can boost their strength in a short time, the cost being excessive potential consumption, future upper limit extremely low."

"That's cheap for them."

Ba Ke beside him suddenly spoke: "They originally had no future to speak of; being able to boost strength, they would be delighted."

This is the truth.

Lin Ke did not respond, gesturing for Ba Ke and Lynn to carry out these two tasks.

Pacing in the potion laboratory, Lin Ke pondered Mo Li's premonition mentioned yesterday.

This matter is indeed somewhat strange.

Up to now, Lin Ke himself has utterly no intuition or premonition in this regard.

"Could it still be transferred?"

While lost in thought, the portable smart brain vibrated.

The ordered cross-realm intelligent scout puppet had arrived at the North District Villa, with butler Hamid accepting it on his behalf.

Lin Ke then left the Grande Potion Shop and drove back to his villa.

After instructing butler Hamid to send the cross-realm intelligent scout puppet to the wizardry laboratory on the third underground level, Lin Ke activated the villa's highest-level protection mode.

"Flandre, start working."

Having stored all twenty cross-realm intelligent scout puppets of varying sizes into the "Small World," Lin Ke sat upright and alert, ready for action.

"Yes, sir."

In the "Small World," Flandre moved the cross-realm intelligent scout puppets to beside the source, in front of the black door.

These puppets had already automatically split into two groups, ten each.

Flandre put on the holographic glasses linked to the ten scout puppets on the left, held the dedicated smart brain, and controlled the scout puppets to enter the left black door one by one.

With the "Sky Shuttle" in hand, Lin Ke must always keep depleted magic stones on hand for interstellar travel, using the energy storage device to convert them into energy storage magic stones.

Purchasing through "Do Whatever Is Free" is merely one channel. After the manufacturer of the "Hummingbird"-class interstellar starship sent over the energy storage devices, Lin Ke exchanged a batch of depleted magic stones with Celine Wushi.

The supply for the left black door at this moment is precisely these energy storage magic stones converted from that batch of depleted magic stones.

The source power in the "Small World" is extremely precious; do not waste it unnecessarily.

Lin Ke shared Flandre's vision, preparing to act at any moment to respond to unknown sudden situations.

The ten scout puppets transmitted real-time images in sequence.

All that could be seen was that the left black door connected to a vague space without any reference frame.

Faint traces of battle could be seen, a tiny fragment of an Abyssal Demon's body not yet dissolved, and remnants of a vast and complex high-level rune array.

"Sir, the boundary here seems similar to that of the 'Small World.'"

Flandre, while controlling the ten scout puppets to spread out for reconnaissance and search for other clues, spoke from within Lin Ke's heart.

"It's not just similar—this is exactly the boundary of some world."

Lin Ke had a faint suspicion in his heart, but not yet confirmed, so he did not speak it aloud.

"Ah! Really?"

Flandre tilted her head, curiously asking, "But how could the 'Small World' be connected to the boundary of another world? Sir, what's going on here?"

"Not certain yet."

Lin Ke replied, "Flandre, let these ten scout puppets move freely; report back if there's an important discovery. You go control the other ten and enter the right door."

"Yes, sir."

Flandre sweetly agreed, made some adjustments, switched to another pair of holographic glasses and a dedicated smart brain, and controlled the other ten scout puppets to enter the black door.

"Madam wasn't wrong, sir—you just like to keep secrets."

While operating, Flandre pouted and muttered complaints.

This time, instead of speaking from within Lin Ke's heart, she spoke directly aloud.

It seemed as if this way, Lin Ke wouldn't be able to hear her.

"Flandre, I heard you."

Lin Ke suppressed a smile and gently reminded her.

"Heard is heard—did Flandre say something wrong? Sir, you just like to keep secrets."

Flandre's big eyes blinked rapidly, speaking with confidence and justification.

Lin Ke remained silent.

Soon, the real-time images from these ten scout puppets were transmitted back.

The first thing to appear before Lin Ke's eyes was the familiar emerald green.

"As expected, these two doors connect to the Fairy World."

After repeated confirmation, Lin Ke stopped keeping secrets and voiced his guess.

"Eh? This is indeed the Fairy World!"

Although Flandre did not manifest in the Fairy World, during Lin Ke's execution of deep-in-enemy-rear reconnaissance missions, she observed the "outside" scenery through Lin Ke's vision.

She still had some understanding of the geographical features of the Fairy World.

After Lin Ke's reminder, she immediately recognized it.

"Sir, what should we do next?"

Flandre asked excitedly, "Should I let Flandre go explore the situation?"

"Not yet—first let the scout puppets clear up the surrounding situation before we decide."

Lin Ke refused Flandre's playful suggestion and decided to proceed cautiously.

"Alright."

Flandre pouted and agreed.

After the third upgrade of the "Small World," in terms of emotional expression, Flandre became increasingly unreserved.

To Lin Ke, this is a good thing.

From beginning to end, Lin Ke never treated Flandre as a mere tower spirit like an artificial intelligence.

Instead, he treated Flandre as a real, flesh-and-blood human.

Even though Flandre's original appearance resembles a flower fairy or similar small elf.

"Flandre, you keep watch—report any findings to sir immediately."

After confirming there was no danger, Lin Ke prepared not to stay longer.

He had other matters to attend to.

"Go on, go on."

Flandre actually muttered with a slightly disdainful tone, "The master and mistress didn't say anything wrong, the master is just a person who doesn't stay at home. Ah, poor mistress, she guards the empty bed alone every night, so lonely!"

Lin Ke heard this and remained silent.

How many bad things about him has Mo Li actually said.

Aren't you afraid of leading Flandre astray?

"Mischievous."

Gathering mental power, he lightly tapped Flandre's little head, Lin Ke terminated the real-time connection with the "Small World."

Leaving Flandre, who had put down the smart brain, covered her head with both hands, looking wronged and pitiful, he continued to monitor the fairy world opposite the right door opening.

After leaving the Underground Third Floor Wizardry Laboratory and coming to the study, Lin Ke pondered carefully for nearly half an hour, gritted his teeth and made a decision.

He picked up the portable smart brain and sent a meeting request to the Dean, whom he had only met once.

This operation carries considerable risk.

A person of the Dean's stature is like a celestial body in the starry sky, possessing strong gravity that attracts and gathers all kinds of people and events.

In the astronomy of his previous life, the description of this phenomenon is called the "Roche Limit."

If Lin Ke were to have more contact with the Dean, he would be like those small celestial bodies, being arbitrarily captured when passing by a large celestial body, drawn into one trouble after another.

But Lin Ke believes this adventure is necessary.

Many things, the more he thinks about them, the more he feels something is off.

Not long after, the Dean replied to Lin Ke, telling him to come to the Dean's Office immediately.

Lin Ke dared not delay, immediately drove his vehicle, rushing straight to the Advanced Academy Administrative Building at the fastest speed.

The "Phantom Coupe" was driven by him to eight times the speed of sound.

If not for the academy regulation that the speed limit for private traffic vehicles is eight times the speed of sound, Lin Ke would have pushed the "Phantom Coupe" to its maximum performance, capable of reaching twelve times the speed of sound!

A traffic vehicle of Level 3 Wizard Tool grade, a privately customized version, is not merely used for transportation.

How many Level 1 Wizards spend their entire lives unable to save enough magic stones to buy one "Phantom Coupe."

"Dong, dong, dong."

In just ten minutes, Lin Ke arrived outside the Dean's Office and lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The Dean's highly recognizable magnetic baritone voice came out.

"Good day, Dean."

Lin Ke pushed the door open, entered, walked to the desk in front of him, and politely greeted.

"Please have a seat."

The Dean gestured toward the chair with his hand, his attitude warm, "Looking for me about something? Don't be stiff, relax a bit."

"Yes."

Lin Ke smiled and agreed, then his expression turned serious as he asked, "Dean, I would like to ask, if a 'Small World' devours and digests the soul of a top-tier existence with an upper limit of Level 5 in a world, will it not produce a cross-world passage to that world?"

"Quite interesting."

The Dean had originally been expecting something, and upon hearing Lin Ke's question, his interest grew even greater, he laughed and said,

"It turns out that the fairy world assigned by the academy for Paro's conquest carried the newborn Fairy King, who bore the deep favor of the fairy world's will, and he was actually killed by you.

No wonder Paro's report sent back made no mention of the Fairy King's specific cause of death, only stating that the time of death could be confirmed, the place of death unknown, the cause of death unknown."

After a pause, the Dean curiously asked: "You didn't tell Paro about this?"

Lin Ke replied earnestly: "I have never found a suitable opportunity."

"Hmm..."

Having satisfied his curiosity, the Dean returned to his normal state, and did not go on to ask Lin Ke how he killed the Fairy King's soul, but instead answered Lin Ke's question,

"Although the newborn Fairy King has not yet grown into a Level 5 transcendent lifeform, he has already borne sufficient favor from the fairy world's will.

If he died in the fairy world, this favor would naturally return to the fairy world.

If you yourself killed the Fairy King's soul, this favor would, through a mechanism not yet fully researched, slowly return to the fairy world.

But as you said, it is a 'Small World' in its growth phase that devoured and digested the Fairy King's soul, and this 'Small World' naturally establishes a connection with the fairy world.

It generates a cross-world transmission channel, which is only just beginning.

Subsequently, it may even produce a tighter connection, exerting even more astonishing effects.

For example..."

Speaking to this point, the Dean suddenly paused, chuckled softly, as if he had thought of something even more interesting:

"For example, even if your 'Small World' has not yet grown large enough, you can still rely on the close connection with the fairy world to assist you in advancing to Great Sage.

This is an opportunity that Waters has been desperately seeking!"

Advancing to Great Sage and such, for Lin Ke at present, is too distant.

Lin Ke asked the main reason for this adventure: "Can I use this channel to contact the trapped Paro Sage and send supplies?"

"Of course."

The Dean slightly furrowed his brows, puzzled and asked in return, "What are you worried about?"

Lin Ke did not conceal it, and spoke his true concern: "The academy's handling of the Lucia Family has left me somewhat confused, hesitant, and even fearful."

A family that leaked the coordinates of the world where the Sage-level Legion was stationed, the academy actually took hardly any severe punitive measures.

"Allowing" the core members of the Lucia Family to defect to Mesopotamia University without saying anything, merely confiscating the properties that could not be transferred in time, and for those clan members who had not been transferred, merely imprisoning them without public punishment.

This made Lin Ke have to consider more.

"This matter..."

The Dean pondered for a moment, taking into account that Lin Ke, after discovering the passage to the fairy world, did not secretly go to find Celine Wushi and others, bypassed the academy, and directly aided the Paro Sage Legion in their performance and good attitude, decided to give a somewhat clearer explanation.

He waved his hand, and the entire Dean's Office entered a highly special state.

It was as if it were a spatial bubble attached to the Wizard World, rather than truly existing within the Wizard World.

Thus, unless the other party's strength and level far exceeded that of the Dean, any conversation taking place here would not be monitored by anyone.

"Words spoken from my mouth, entering your ears—if leaked, bringing you disaster, do not blame me for not giving prior notice."

The Dean first issued a warning, then said,

"This is a scheme.

The Lucia Family's core faction defected, the Paro Sage Legion was besieged by Abyssal Demons—these were all sacrifices they willingly made.

To send a signal to the outside world: that our Academy's alliance with Mesopotada University has been shaken.

Subsequently, our Academy will take further actions to draw attention from the Michelle District, including other wizard organizations such as the Michelle Great Sage Tower.

To focus their attention on our Academy, while gradually overlooking Mesopotada University.

I say this—do you understand?"

Lin Ke nodded: "Understood. Meaning, no matter what we do to rescue the Paro Sage Legion, it will not affect the Academy's grand plan."

"Your understanding is acceptable."

The Dean's mouth curled into a hint of a meaningful smile: "No wonder Paro has mentioned several times to me that you are a little slippery."

"Ah?"

Lin Ke exclaimed in surprise: "The Dean and the Paro Sage have a good relationship?"

The Dean laughed: "Without my support behind the scenes, Paro would dare to oppose the Lionel Family so directly?"

"Alright, now I understand."

Lin Ke let out a sigh, having resolved another doubt.

And finally found the true boss of this system.