Chapter 272

278. Chapter 278: If There Really Is a Next Life

Alchemy has no shadow.

Public opinion has already exploded completely.

At the Academy Headquarters, a piece of news spread without legs.

Sandra Diomand, the great-granddaughter of two Great Sages and daughter of Lady Lisandra, actually joined a little-known organization.

Well, this organization still has some reputation.

At least its founder often appears on the "hot search" list, gaining significant traffic.

Moreover, the organization itself has high development potential and strong momentum.

Whether placed in the local Primary Academy, Advanced Academy, or even the foundational academy at the headquarters, it ranks among the best.

However, no matter how high the potential or strong the momentum, this organization is not qualified enough for Sandra to join.

This incident has made many scions of great families dissatisfied.

Intimidated by Sandra's lineage, identity, and consistent demeanor, the great family scions dare not confront her directly to demand she abandon the idea of joining that organization.

Even if they wanted to join an organization, just for fun or serious development, they could freely choose from the various organizations at the Academy Headquarters.

After all, these are organizations built by their own people; how they play doesn't matter, so why join an organization founded by an outsider?

Isn't this making everyone lose face?

Therefore, the great family scions wanting to vent their anger have set their sights on this organization and its founder.

Dare not target Sandra, but still not dare to target you?

This organization has not yet developed at the Academy Headquarters; it remains distant in the homeland, making it temporarily inconvenient to target.

Then let's just target the founder specifically.

Coincidentally, the founder of this organization is currently pursuing further studies at the Academy Headquarters.

Going to find his trouble, to teach him a lesson, wouldn't that be very convenient?

Perhaps we could even force the other party to proactively dismiss Sandra, which would be even better?

Many great family scions have harbored such thoughts.

Many of them originally wanted to give that guy named Linke Grande a good lesson, but due to the two Great Sages specially receiving him, they had to lay down their arms.

Now that the opportunity has come knocking, they naturally want to seize it.

Unfortunately, these restless great family scions have just taken action, holding a "Discuss Grande Assembly," when strict orders from their respective families arrived.

Absolutely do not go looking for Linke Grande's trouble blindly; otherwise, if injured or killed, the family will not come forward to protect them.

At first, these great family scions were still unconvinced, believing their side had numerical superiority and geographical advantage, so how could they possibly be injured or killed?

Just at this moment, a video suddenly played on the large screen at the meeting venue.

Only see a wizard clad head to toe in bright red battle armor, with a five-colored five-pointed star inlaid on the forehead and a white ring engraved on the chest, standing in the void amidst the starry sky, both hands raised high holding a great sword, fiercely slashing toward a supply ship ahead.

Magnified a full hundred times, the enormous sword-shaped light and shadow of a 200-meter-long, 15-meter-wide blade flashed past instantly.

It easily cleaved the supply ship's defensive shield, striking the slanted rear portion of the ship facing the armored wizard.

The supply ship's hull was severed, one-third of the rear section broke away, and the engines were destroyed.

The entire supply ship suddenly lost power and violently shook.

Countless supplies poured out.

At the end of the video, the identity of the armored wizard was revealed: it was none other than Linke Grande, whom these great family scions were about to go find trouble with.

Until now, these great family scions have finally been forced to face a fact they have long avoided.

That is, Linke Grande, who, upon entering the Academy Headquarters, gives them no face whatsoever—neither proactively visiting to pay respects nor accepting invitations, nor even greeting high-level wizards, and not allowing them to disturb him—this annoying fellow is actually an unreasonable super genius.

At the Level 1 Wizard stage, he can overwhelm veteran Level 2 Wizards.

Having just been promoted to Level 2 Wizard, not yet begun further studies, having mastered Second-ring Wizardry, he was praised by Dean Forrester as having combat power comparable to a Level 3 Wizard, a freak.

He is the fierce wizard in the video who, with terrifying power, single-handedly destroyed a ship.

He is a genuine article, possessing the combat power of a Level 3 Wizard, a tough nut.

If they just charge head-on like this, they might really end up breaking their own heads and bleeding.

Thus, gathered together to discuss how to set a trap for Linke Grande and how to strike him, a group of great family scions hung their heads in dejection and silently dispersed.

Among them, whether saying they couldn't find a single person who could match him, or all rushing together at once, as long as he hasn't stepped into an inescapable trap, they might not necessarily be able to defeat him.

And even if they swarmed him and succeeded, what would that even count as?

Would they still have any face left?

If the folks from Mesopotamia University found out, they'd probably laugh at them for decades.

Gerald watched the entire "Discuss Grande Assembly" from its origin, summoning, heated discussion, clenching fists and rubbing palms, sudden cold water, to final dispersal, feeling quite bored.

When did wizards coming from the homeland for further studies gain such great deterrent power?

Oh, this trend has existed since decades ago.

Then it's fine.

Gerald sat for a while, thought about some things, then immediately found Sandra, reported that the "Discuss Grande Assembly" ended hastily with no follow-up.

"Normal."

After hearing Gerald's description, Sandra felt doubtful and reflective, then spoke lightly: "The Academy Headquarters is like a greenhouse, which can well nurture plants. But these plants have never experienced wind and rain, very delicate. When facing plants that have fought their way out of cruel nature, greenhouse plants can initially rely on the greenhouse conditions and cultivation to gain a slight edge. Over time, they will gradually become evenly matched, then fall to the downwind."

Pausing, Sandra sighed: "I used to be just such a greenhouse plant, no different from them."

Gerald was not good with words, remained silent.

After thinking for a while, not knowing what he thought of, Sandra said to Gerald: "You go tell Linke this, and also tell him I've already found a base for 'Do Whatever Is Free'; please come inspect when you have time."

Gerald nodded, then asked doubtfully: "Do I need to join this 'Do Whatever Is Free'?"

Sandra casually replied: "If you want to join, just apply; if you don't want to join, it's also fine. 'Do Whatever Is Free' really is very free."

"Is that so?"

Gerard, lost in thought, left and, in the next room, found Lin Ke, who was buried in his studies, in the laboratory gifted by Dean Forrest.

"I need to talk to you about something. Do you have time?"

He tapped the table, and Gerard said to Lin Ke, who had lifted his head from the pile of documents.

"Hmm, go on."

Lin Ke stood up, walked to the reception area nearby, and brewed a pot of good tea for Gerard, with whom he was gradually becoming acquainted.

"Three things. First, Sandra asked me to tell you that she has already found a base for the organization; please go inspect it when you have time. Second, don't worry about being targeted by some people—they have already dispersed on their own. Third, I have also considered it and want to join 'Do Whatever Is Free'."

Gerard said everything he wanted to say in one go, then lowered his head to sip his tea.

After completing the mission and returning, only Gerard came to find Lin Ke several times among the six apprentices from the major families of the Academy Headquarters in the Micro Legion.

Here, Gerard drank exceptionally good tea and immediately fell in love with this flavor of beverage.

After returning, Gerard ordered a batch of tea leaves from the local area, but no matter how he tried, he could not reproduce the flavor he had tasted at Lin Ke's place.

Riverside Academy now has one more person who harbors resentment toward Lin Ke.

Lin Ke took a sip of the clear, fragrant tea and said leisurely: "No need for an inspection; let's just go take a look together. No trouble, and naturally better. If you want to join, just follow the procedure. Even if we are close, principles still cannot be broken." "Understood."

Gerard agreed in one gulp, downed a cup of good tea, stood up, and left.

As he was leaving, his right hand, for some reason, seemed to move uncontrollably, brushing across the tea table and taking something with it.

Lin Ke looked at the tea box that had originally been on the tea table, smiled, and said nothing.

Did he really not notice Gerard's little move?

This box of top-grade tea, two catties in weight, was prepared specifically for Gerard.

After setting aside this little incident, Lin Ke returned to his desk and continued studying the materials and literature on alchemy.

Transforming the ruined mother nest, realizing his vision of wizard tools, has always been moving forward.

He has already drafted the initial design, now reviewing the rationality of each part, whether it can be replaced or optimized and upgraded.

The envisioned wizard tools are not yet usable for now; take it slow, Lin Ke is not in a hurry.

Wizard World.

West Coast, Tudor Region, Michelle District, Rivothos District.

Riverside City, East District, Grande Potion Shop.

Asand Cornett first stepped onto the second-floor potion laboratory of the shop, where he summoned the Benevolent Brother Group, the Social Anxiety Group, and several core members of the Third Echelon of 'Do Whatever Is Free'.

He presented the appointment letter and seal formulated by Mo Li, but Asand did not rush to deliver his own inauguration speech; instead, he asked Ba Ke or Lynn to confirm.

Lynn, who had actually become the person in charge of 'Do Whatever Is Free' in the homeland, said to the partners whose attention he had drawn: "The boss wrote us a handwritten letter, detailing this matter. I and Ba Ke are very much in agreement, with no objections."

Ba Ke then passed down Lin Ke's handwritten letter for everyone to read.

Not long after, once everyone had finished reading the handwritten letter, the obstacles to Asand's inauguration were swept away.

From this moment on, as long as Lin Ke and Mo Li do not oppose, and as long as the few elders of the Benevolent Brother Group and the Social Anxiety Group do not cause trouble, Asand will become the frontline agent of the growing 'Do Whatever Is Free' in the homeland.

"Three things."

Asand raised three fingers: "After my inauguration, I will only do three things in the near future."

Facing the more than ten pairs of eyes fixed on him, Asand solemnly declared:

"First, fully advance the potion collaboration with the Clark Family; this is only right;

The organization wants to develop, so funding sources must be expanded as much as possible.

Second, fully advance the organization's recruitment efforts; this recruitment drive is not only aimed at Storm Sea New Blood, but also at local apprentices and local wizards;

The latter two parts will not be rushed forward; they must undergo consultation and voting, produce a charter agreed upon by the majority, and proceed in an orderly manner.

Third, fully advance the West District infiltration plan; the short-term goal is to control three alleys, the medium-term goal is to control one bustling street, and the long-term goal is to station in the Black Market.

If anyone has any misunderstandings, lack of comprehension, or disagreement, please speak freely—we uphold freedom of speech."

The core members of the Benevolent Brother Group, the Social Anxiety Group, and the Third Echelon, seeing that Asand truly demanded of himself as a member of 'Do Whatever Is Free', let go of their reservations and spoke up one after another.

Around Asand's three proposals, a heated but not angry discussion took place.

Finally, they efficiently produced three rough plans, adjourned the meeting, and each went to prepare for the execution plan.

Asand looked at the empty meeting room and could not help but sigh: "'Do Whatever Is Free' really made the right choice by joining."

It is precisely this non-hierarchical atmosphere, this decisive execution style, that as long as Lin Ke Grande, the founder, can keep holding up the sign, expanding fame, the development momentum will absolutely become even stronger!

For the time being, aside from Renee Clark knowing that Asand Cornett has already become the frontline agent of 'Do Whatever Is Free', the outside world remains completely unaware.

What the outside world knows is only what they have observed.

'Do Whatever Is Free' is undergoing orderly and steady expansion.

The Primary Academy, the Advanced Academy, the East District, the South District, and even the West District can all see the expansion steps and achievements of 'Do Whatever Is Free'.

With the help of some channels from Selin Sage, several skilled potion refiners were recruited, and the second Grande Potion Shop has already opened.

The tea drink series not only sells well in the East District and the West District, but also intentionally launched an affordable version, pushing into the South District.

It may sound strange, but it's not strange—the purchasing power of the chaotic West District has always been higher and stronger than that of the lethargic South District.

The expansion of 'Do Whatever Is Free' has not been without trouble, especially in the West District.

Five former street thugs, now the Five Tyrants of the Alley, died two of them in a sudden fire incident.

Even though they had all been injected with the 'Sublimation' potion and later Lynn had them injected with the 'Empowerment' potion, their strength and levels had greatly increased.

However, their development time was still too short, and they could not squeeze out the maximum of their limited potential.

Among the five, only the gang leader successfully advanced to Level 1 Wizard.

The other four were all Third-rank Wizard Apprentices.

Dalton represented 'Do Whatever Is Free' and attended the funerals of the two thugs.

This funeral was very rushed and very crude.

Just burned the two thugs to ashes, placed them in a box, and buried them in a plot of land specially purchased by "Do Whatever Is Free."

There was no master of ceremonies, no funeral music, and no one gave a eulogy.

"If there truly is an afterlife."

Dalton briefly said one sentence, repeated once: "May you have an afterlife."

The thug leader stepped forward, looking at the once-carefree underling who had once given him no worry, now buried beneath two tombstones, utterly silent, with no sound or laughter, and remained quiet for a long time.

"If there truly is an afterlife."

Taking a deep breath, the thug leader spoke in a low voice: "May you not be reborn in the West District in your next life."

The two surviving thugs came forward one after another to bid farewell.

The first thug's words were the same as his boss's—just wishing the deceased a rebirth not in the West District, even if it meant being reborn in the South District!

Although the people of the South District are numb, hopeless, and live in darkness, at least they can live in peace and safety, their lives secure.

But to be born in the West District, even with a patron's support, one could still meet with disaster at any moment.

It's not just about having someone else's head pinned to your own belt.

It's also about having your own head pinned to someone else's belt.

In short, death is inevitable.

"If there truly is an afterlife."

The second thug remained silent for a long time, then sighed and said: "May you have an afterlife."

"May you not be reborn as beasts of burden in your next life."