Chapter 261: 267. Chapter 267 Second Half

267. Chapter 267 Second Half

Luoken felt he had fallen into a den of thieves.

Looking at those undisguised eyes, which longed so much they faintly glowed green, he felt a chill.

It was precisely the opportunity he had painfully begged for to enter Serin Sage's Pharmacology Research Group and become an experimental subject.

Thinking about it, he always felt something was off.

It was as if he had delivered himself up for Linke Grand to reasonably torment, a poor lamb.

Ri oh.

Lin Ke, restrain a bit!

Serin Sage, looking down from above, saw Lin Ke's expression changes clearly.

He also sensed the change in Luoken's breathing behind him, and the sudden intertwining of resentment and frustration in his emotions.

She glared at Lin Ke angrily and shouted a reprimand.

Hehe.

Lin Ke grinned, but his gaze was no longer as fervent as before.

His whole demeanor had really become restrained.

He still stared at Luoken, not moving his gaze away.

Luoken looked at Lin Ke, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and appearing as a refined scoundrel, and felt even more displeased.

Has he got me figured out?

He really has me figured out.

Is it still possible to quit now?

Serin Sage shook her head and no longer bothered with the conflict between Lin Ke and Luoken.

Last time the two reconciled, on the surface it was settled.

After all, Luoken had come to admit fault and yield, and as an experimental subject had provided data.

But in truth, it was Lin Ke's voluntary restraint and retreat that brought about the reconciliation.

Now, first, Luoken had come of his own accord; second, Lin Ke's strength had increased, so he no longer feared Luoken.

Since there is an opportunity, given Lin Ke's nature, he will surely take good revenge.

Let Luoken suffer a bit.

What a petty person!

Serin Sage muttered a complaint about Lin Ke in her mind, then continued to explain her work arrangements for the Pharmacology Research Group.

First is the division of personnel.

The five main R&D members are Lin Ke, Mo Li, Tina, and Asande;

Luoken, as an experimental subject, and the research group's security;

Shaliya handles external contacts;

Aila manages the industry.

In the big environment of combining production and research, the Pharmacology Research Group having experimental results will inevitably need to go into production.

It is very necessary to rebuild a production system.

Next is working hours.

Considering that Lin Ke and Mo Li still need to pursue further studies, Shaliya, Aila, and Tina must make good use of the hard-won opportunity to enter the academy's main campus and enrich themselves.

Serin Wizard stipulated that the main working hours are the two days of the weekend, and evenings from Monday to Friday, coming when free.

As long as the project's progress doesn't lag, there's no need for too much extra work time.

The main point is a flexible work system.

Lastly is compensation and benefits.

There's not much to say about this; it's mainly paid by the academy.

Serin Sage bringing them into the Pharmacology Research Group is the best benefit.

After finishing all the arrangements, it happened to be noon 12 o'clock; the Serin Sage Pharmacology Research Group all together naturally took the opportunity for team building and had lunch together.

Then they dispersed on the spot, each returning to their own lodgings.

When Lin Ke and Mo Li returned to the villa, they found the gate blocked by several people standing in the middle of the road.

The backup vehicle used for transportation couldn't get in.

Looking at this posture, the visitors come with ill intentions.

What's up?

Lin Ke gestured for Mo Li to stay in the car, got out himself, and asked straight to the point.

Are you Linke Grand?

One of the people blocking the road held his head high, looked at people through his nostrils, and his tone was rather strange.

I am, what's up?

Lin Ke frowned slightly and asked again.

We have been asked to invite you to a place; will you give us face?

That person still looked at people through his nostrils, his manner of speaking as if inviting Lin Ke were bestowing a great favor.

After saying that, they waited for Lin Ke to be overjoyed and immediately bow his head and kneel.

A feeling of mania arose in Lin Ke's heart.

Serin Sage reminded him not to get caught up in the vortex of disputes among the children of great families.

Shandora reminded him not to accept an invitation to join any club.

They were all telling him to prioritize avoidance, not to get involved in any trouble.

He himself thought the same way.

Just focus on your studies and improve yourself with peace of mind.

I never expected that even Dean Friester's sign couldn't stop these annoying winds and rains.

Thinking this, Lin Ke's face darkened a bit, and he said in a cold voice:

"Sorry, please leave. Go tell the people behind you that Dean Friester personally handled my enrollment procedures. Yesterday I came to the Academy Main Campus and met the first two people, who were Grand Sage Ruiwo and Grand Sage Suosi."

"If he still wants to invite me to some place or another, then I'll have to really not give him face."

Upon hearing Lin Ke say that, the person's attitude changed instantly.

He felt a bit panicked and also angry.

Before coming, they indeed knew that Dean Friester personally brought Lin Ke and Mo Li to handle the enrollment procedures.

But what does that matter?

As long as you don't go overboard, don't cripple anyone, you can play however you want.

Even if you do go a bit overboard, the elders of each side will step in to settle things.

Idle good-for-nothings, of course they must constantly stir up trouble to show they're true spoiled brats!

But they truly didn't know that Grand Sage Ruiwo and Grand Sage Suosi had specially met with Lin Ke and Mo Li.

This nature is completely different!

After his expression wavered for a moment, he still endured Lin Ke's unsympathetic anger, leading the other few road-blockers away in embarrassment.

As for whether there will be any further action, or whether to continue showing off, that's not up to that person to decide.

He's just a lackey.

Lin Ke immediately returned to the backup vehicle and drove into the villa.

"Will there be trouble?"

Mo Li, while seriously amplifying the precognitive trait of the "God-devouring Insect" to sense fortune and misfortune, also spoke up to ask.

"No!"

Lin Ke answered absolutely.

If there really is trouble, then let's fight.

I believe that in disputes between juniors, as long as the scale is controlled and no lives are at stake, those high-level beings won't intervene just to save face.

This isn't somewhere else; it's the teaching campus of the Academy Main Campus!

The place where Grand Sage Ruiwo and Grand Sage Suosi most often stay!

In Lin Ke's past life's old saying, it's "under the emperor's feet, the foremost good land."

One must observe the rules.

As long as high-level beings don't intervene, in terms of fighting, below the sage level, Lin Ke fears nothing.

After an afternoon passed, indeed no one came looking for trouble.

Before nightfall, Lin Ke and Mo Li received a notice that classes could start tomorrow.

The next day, the advanced study life officially began.

Monotonous, self-disciplined, busy.

Both of them utilized their time to the fullest each day.

Lin Ke mainly took electives in Elemental Mage, True Spirit Mage, Pharmacology, Alchemy, and Strategy and Tactics Research;

Mo Li mainly took electives in Elemental Mage, Beastmaster Mage, Pharmacology, Logistics Management, and Economics.

Daytime was filled with courses, and at night they had to work at the Pharmacology Teaching and Research Group.

Moreover, they had to find time to go to the laboratory gifted by Dean Friester to conduct their own research and experiments.

Just like that, two months passed in a flash.

During these two months, the Academy Main Campus was entirely peaceful and harmonious.

However, the native wizard world stirred up a great commotion.

The promotion ceremony of Grand Sage Keddi the Wizard was held on the third day after Lin Ke and Mo Li entered the Academy Main Campus. Afterward, Grand Sage Keddi's figure vanished from public sight, unknown whereabouts.

Just as many people were about to forget Grand Sage Keddi,

Grand Sage Keddi once again entered the public eye, and with great dominance instantly sparked heated discussion.

Under the academy's arrangement, Grand Sage Keddi took command of the elite-formed Mixed Regiment of the Lukia Family!

After a brief integration, he carried out a secret mission.

Grand Sage Keddi commanded the Mixed Regiment, bypassing the surveillance of the Flame and Metal Merchant Company and the White Tower Alliance, and silently appeared behind the star fleet that attacked the rear base camp teleportation gate of Grand Sage Paro's regiment in the barren world.

One side was unprepared, the other side had meticulously plotted.

In a clash of scheming versus unprepared, Grand Sage Keddi and the Mixed Regiment won a complete victory.

They destroyed one main-force warship, captured three auxiliary warships, and took all the wizards aboard the destroyed main-force warship.

Ruiwo Suosi City held a grand celebration for this.

The academy actually directly had Grand Sage Keddi present a tribute of captives.

This move undoubtedly was a response to the attacks by the Flame and Metal Merchant Company and the White Tower Alliance.

Moreover, not only did he give them a resounding slap, he also tore off the faces of those two companies, threw them on the ground, and stomped on them hard several times.

This posture of not fearing full-scale war instantly caused public opinion in the Michelle Region and even the Tudor Large Region to boil over.

Just for face, they went this overboard—really?

Anyone with a bit of leisure, occasionally browsing the various wizard forums, started to gossip.

They looked forward to seeing how the Flame and Metal Merchant Company and the White Tower Alliance would respond.

Is it to just swallow one's anger and pretend it never happened;

Or to strike back fiercely, throw down a fight, and regain face!

After all, the High Council promised to allocate advanced resources to Ruowosith Academy, but they haven't been released yet.

In other words, Grand Sage Suosi has not yet completed his promotion.

Even though Ruowosith Academy is in Michelle District, beneath the Michelle Grand Sage's Tower, it is the foremost force; yet even taking on two opponents, its chances of victory are not high.

As many individuals and organizations were shocked and bewildered, they all turned their attention to the struggle between Ruowosith Academy, the Blazing Flame and Metal Trading Company, and the White Tower Alliance.

Another explosive piece of news spread.

Mesnotrad University decided to reconcile with Ruowosith Academy and handed over the received core members of the Lucia family.

Dean Friste didn't even show his face.

Sage Cedi represented Ruowosith Academy and came forward to receive this group.

Then, in front of all the wizards who had come to witness, he personally killed a batch of elders and some intermediate forces of the Lucia family, declaring it the academy's initial punishment for the Lucia family's defection; whether further disciplinary measures will follow remains to be seen.

The bloody scene, of course, could not shock the wizards who had come to witness.

What shocked the wizards was Ruowosith Academy's ostentatious and arrogant display.

It seems that in Michelle District, they can now run rampant.

They need not consider anyone's or any faction's feelings.

I do as I please, I alone am supreme.

For a time, not to mention Michelle District, the entire Duoduo region's attention was firmly captured by Ruowosith Academy.

The submissive Mesnotrad University, even if it took advantage of the situation to lift the blockade, did not attract much attention.

Just a declining old power.

Even the founder, Mesnotrad's eighth-rank Grand Sage, still possesses outstanding personal strength; it's just that the younger generation is disappointing.

Mesnotrad University, the president's office.

President Leopold Mesnotrad and Dean Friste sat facing each other.

Both were leisurely, not paying the slightest heed to external turmoil and public opinion.

Setting down his glass, President Leopold praised: "Your institute's Linke Grand truly has a good mind. These plant leaves, after such treatment, brewed into tea, actually have a quite nice flavor."

"Right?"

Dean Friste took a sip of the red tea in his cup and lamented, "Too bad this kid is so stingy, saying the yield of such high-end tea leaves is too low and refusing to give me more. Otherwise I'd surely split a few catties with you."

Gift-giving is a discipline.

Lin Ke has never personally gone over to give red tea to Dean Friste.

Only after deciding to go to the academy's main campus for further study did he order his steward Hamid to regularly mail some to the president's office.

What Dean Friste and President Leopold are drinking now are, respectively, river red tea and green tea.

After the pleasantries, President Leopold asked: "You guys are really thoughtful, actually achieving this extent. But attracting so much attention, won't it cause trouble?"

Dean Friste waved his hand: "Don't worry, it's trivial."

After a pause, Dean Friste gave President Leopold a reassurance pill: "My older brother is about to break through, right?"

"Your older brother?"

President Leopold didn't swallow the reassurance pill, but was greatly shocked: "Wasn't it said that Sage Waters found an opportunity for promotion?"

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Dean Friste looked at President Leopold like he was an idiot, curling his lips: "How can you, as a college president, not figure this out? No wonder Mesnotrad University has become more of a mess since you took office. Couldn't it be that both of you found promotion opportunities, just one big and one small?"

President Leopold turned a deaf ear to Dean Friste's sarcasm.

Because this is the fact.

Mesnotrad University has indeed become more of a mess since he took office.

But this is not the whole truth.

Deep-rooted problems are hard to reverse; to reform, one must first lance the abscess, naturally revealing more problems and greater decline.

Once a breath is caught, shedding the old heavy burdens and traveling light, naturally it will again show vigor and prosperous growth.

"So you're saying Waters still can't be promoted this time?"

President Leopold, unfazed, continued to press.

Upon hearing this, Dean Friste fell silent for a moment, did not answer the question, and instead countered: "How much longer does your old man need? At most we can support you for another month; after that we'll have to pull back completely."

"Rest assured, one month is enough."

President Leopold gave a very definite answer.

"Alright, then that's it, I'm leaving first."

Dean Friste threw down those words and instantly vanished.

Even the two boxes of tea he brought to the tea table were taken away, leaving nothing behind.

President Leopold looked at the empty tea table, shook his head and chuckled: "Really, not willing to suffer even a slight loss."

He just threw out a few lines, trying to feel out the bottom of Ruowosith Academy.

And when Dean Friste turned the tables and tried to sound him out, he didn't give an equivalent reply.

He even took back the green tea he had promised to give him.

"One month is nowhere near enough!"

With a sigh, President Leopold's eyes showed deep worry.

Amid a millennia‑unseen great transformation, the vast majority of wizard organizations are striving to refresh their customs and make more preparations.

Mesnotrad University, however, still cannot shake off its deep‑seated decadence, indulging in milking its own internal resources.

One by one, they have lost the ambition to expand outward, only dragging their heels.

Principal Leopold wanted to invigorate, but was completely tied up.

Helpless, he then turned to Ravosis Academy for help, launching an internal anti-corruption drive and... wholeheartedly supporting the Great Sage Mesobrad.

Hope to help the already elderly Eighth-rank Great Sage breakthrough to the Ninth-rank Great Sage level!

Ravosis Academy Main Campus.

The two-month deadline has arrived; Shanduola had already sent Lanni to notify Lin Ke to gather.

At this meeting, Lanni had unexpectedly advanced to a second-rank wizard.

Lin Ke did not ask what had happened during that period that allowed Lanni to so quickly complete the liquefaction of her mental power, and calmly accepted this fact.

Let's go.

With a greeting, Lin Ke and Mo Li followed Lanni to the gathering place.

Shanduola's small unit still numbered 12 people.

One more Mo Li, one less round-faced youth.

I don't know if he was eliminated by Shanduola or withdrew for other reasons.

Let's set out.

Shanduola glanced at the assembled unit members, said nothing more, and was the first to board the Cloud Rainbow.

After a somewhat lengthy intermission, Shanduola's small unit once again explored the insectoid world.

This time, there should be no further complications.