Chapter 279: 285. Chapter 285 After the Wedding

285. Chapter 285 After the Wedding

The wedding ended.

Within the Clark family, no one said Renee Clark had married down anymore.

Nor did anyone think Asand Cornett marrying Renee was marrying up, or that he was currying favor to advance himself.

Asand Cornett certainly would not instantly rise to fame and have his status soar just because of a light gray access card from the Academy Headquarters.

What it represented was not his strength and rank, but merely his network and development potential.

The earlier murmurs and discussions about Asand preferring to work at "Do Whatever Is Free" rather than join the Clark family system have all dissipated.

In fact, in terms of scale, ten current "Do Whatever Is Free" groups still cannot match one Clark family.

In terms of standing, the big figures the Clark family associates with are of the level of Dean Forrester, and not even Sandra Diomand could compare.

But family is family, and individual is individual.

Separated from the family, many Clarks cannot even reach the level of Sandra Diomand.

Asand being able to achieve private interaction with Sandra Diomand through "Do Whatever Is Free" is something many Clarks desire but cannot obtain.

Even Renee's grandfather, the elderly Clark who led the wedding party, finally gave Asand a smile.

This was the first smile Asand had received from Renee in their ten years of acquaintance, and it was extremely rare.

Asand did not become conceited due to these changes, mistakenly believing he had transformed and could now act willfully.

On the contrary, Asand remained very clear-headed, with a clear understanding and positioning of himself.

The next morning, Asand came to the headquarters of "Do Whatever Is Free," which was not far from his villa, and began working normally.

Lin Ke and Mo Li had already arrived and were having tea and chatting in the president's office.

In their conversation, Mo Li repeatedly mentioned how envious she was that Renee could have such a warm wedding.

In the Wizard World, wizards who seek pleasure and fun are numerous.

Due to family pressure or other reasons, those who pair up, choose to hold a wedding, and support each other through life are few and far between.

Even when a wedding is held, it is mainly ceremonial, leaning toward the nature of a press release.

Very few are like Asand and Renee, whose main focus is warmth.

Lin Ke listened silently, saying nothing.

Asand's timely arrival "rescued" Lin Ke.

"Come, Asand, sit down and chat."

Through the open office door, seeing Asand passing by, Lin Ke immediately waved and called out.

Mo Li gritted her back teeth, feeling somewhat annoyed by the layout of the headquarters.

Who put the president's office in the middle, with the general manager's office and deputy general manager's office on the left, and two vice president offices on the right?

Really, what a genius!

Asand sensed Mo Li's change in mood, not really wanting to enter, but unable to resist Lin Ke's constant gaze, so he reluctantly went in.

"There's something I need to communicate with you first."

Lin Ke promptly changed the subject, saying, "I and Mo Li brought some gifts for the members; we need to deliver them today."

"Understood."

Before Lin Ke could finish speaking, Asand quickly grasped the meaning, "I'll notify Lynn right away to gather everyone."

After saying that, Asand ignored Lin Ke's gaze, stood up, and left.

"No rush, we can still chat a bit more."

Watching Asand's departing back, Lin Ke said that.

Mo Li stared at Lin Ke with her big eyes, unblinking, expressionless, saying nothing yet conveying everything.

Lin Ke smirked, then fell silent while sipping tea.

How should he continue the conversation about the wedding?

"Hmph."

After two cold snorts, Mo Li put away the tea she had brewed herself, sat behind the desk, and refused to look at Lin Ke's face.

"Old master, tsk tsk..."

Flandre, who had not come out to play for a long time, had transformed into a wind spirit, fluttering around Mo Li's president's office, observing the awkward interaction between the two, and letting out a sound like silver bells.

Is she mocking?

She is mocking!

Lin Ke's response was to leave the president's office, ignore the big and small who had formed an offensive-defensive alliance, and walk toward Lynn's deputy general manager's office.

When initially selecting the headquarters location and carrying out internal renovation and arrangement, Asand prepared to assign Lin Ke an office, but Lin Ke refused.

After the charter amendment of "Do Whatever Is Free" and the update of top-level design, Lin Ke only retained the founder's title and did not hold any position.

Not even an honorary chairman title.

Theoretically, Lin Ke has made a clear separation from "Do Whatever Is Free," thoroughly remaining behind the scenes.

"Hello, big shot."

In the deputy general manager's office, the Benevolent Brother Group, the Social Anxiety Group, and the core members of the Third Echelon gathered together.

Seeing Lin Ke walk in, they all stood up to greet him.

"Good! Everyone good!"

Lin Ke warmly responded to everyone's greetings, with hands slightly pressing down, "Sit, everyone sit."

After Lin Ke sat down, the Benevolent Brother Group, the Social Anxiety Group, and the core members of the Third Echelon all sat down again.

"No talk of business, report matters to your big sister head."

After everyone sat down, Lin Ke directly set the tone for this exchange, "How have you been this period? Any questions in subjects like witchcraft, potion-making, or runology?"

The Benevolent Brother Group, Social Anxiety Group, and core members of the Third Echelon had discussed the deeper meaning of the new constitution after studying it.

They were not at all surprised that Lin Ke truly let go of the "Do Whatever Is Free" affairs.

Upon hearing such a question, everyone quickly followed Lin Ke's lead and continued the conversation, each raising problems they encountered in cultivation.

Lin Ke listened very patiently and then gave advice one by one.

Or he would give a book list, letting the other party look up materials and documents themselves;

Or he would point out the key points in just a few sentences, getting to the point, letting the other party think and comprehend on their own;

Or he would break it down and analyze it thoroughly, helping the other party understand better.

A fervent discussion lasted nearly an hour until Asande notified that he had recalled all members.

"Come on, let's go out together."

Lin Ke stood up first and walked outward.

Asande gathered all over two hundred members in the front courtyard.

Sandra brought Lanny, Tiffany, Fried, and Gerald out from the Vice President's office, meeting up with Lin Ke's group here.

Personnel from both sides merged, forming their own order and formation.

Lin Ke led, with Mo Li and Sandra on his left and right, slightly behind by half a body length.

Asande followed behind Lin Ke, Lynn followed behind Asande by half a body length, then came the Benevolent Brother Group, Social Anxiety Group, Lanny, Tiffany, Fried, Gerald, and finally the core members of the Third Echelon.

When they walked from the second floor to the front courtyard and stood before the over two hundred members, the management of "Do Whatever Is Free" had already put on solemn expressions.

After scanning the over two hundred members, Lin Ke did not deliver a long speech, nor even make a self-introduction.

He simply said: "It's rare that I've returned recently, to meet everyone face to face, I've prepared some gifts for everyone, small tokens, please accept them with a smile."

After speaking, he lightly waved his hand, and seven open boxes appeared before him.

The boxes respectively contained the boots, underwear, outer pants, belt, upper garment, outer coat, and cloak of the "Defender 3202" set.

Among the over two hundred members, only a minority had personally equipped themselves with the "Defender 3202" set.

Lin Ke's meeting gift this time was quite grand and perfectly suited to the members' urgent needs.

Declining others' help, Lin Ke personally handed out the "Defender 3202" sets one by one to all members.

Each time he presented a "Defender 3202" set, Lin Ke would briefly chat with the recipient, asking for their name and whether they had encountered any insoluble problems.

After presenting sets to over two hundred members, it took nearly a full hour.

Yet no one present showed any sign of impatience.

No one is a fool.

Lin Ke's behavior clearly shows he is here to win people's hearts.

But the more Lin Ke tries to win people's hearts, the happier the management and ordinary members of "Do Whatever Is Free" become.

This shows that "Do Whatever Is Free" is not insignificant in Lin Ke's heart, but holds a relatively important position.

If an organization is not valued in the heart of its founder or leader,

then this organization cannot possibly develop.

The organization's members would be better off disbanding early.

After making a show of presence and remembering everyone's names and appearances, Lin Ke dismissed the ordinary members.

Everyone's time is precious and cannot be wasted.

Facing the Benevolent Brother Group, Social Anxiety Group, and core members of the Third Echelon, Mo Li similarly prepared gifts for Lin Ke.

One person, one vehicle of 2nd Ring Wizard Artifact-level traffic vehicle. 1st Ring Wizard Artifact-level is too low, 3rd Ring Wizard Artifact-level is too expensive; a compromise was made—neither too expensive nor unsuitable for the current identity and status of the Benevolent Brother Group, Social Anxiety Group, and core members of the Third Echelon.

Of course, these 2nd Ring Wizard Artifact-level traffic vehicles are all top-tier models of their level.

As for Lanny, Tiffany, Fried, Gerald, and Sandra, Mo Li also did not forget them.

After discussing with Lin Ke, Mo Li prepared tea.

Flandre, following Lin Ke's idea, recently cultivated a kind of rock tea with excellent taste and appearance, not yet released.

Used as a gift for the five people, it does not seem shabby.

Lanny, Tiffany, Fried, and Gerald each received two boxes.

Sandra exclusively enjoyed four boxes.

Asande looked enviously at the tea boxes in the five people's hands, his eyes almost growing hooks.

"Don't stare, there's none for you."

Lin Ke "quietly" said to this guy who saw the situation and immediately tried to slip away: "The first batch only produced this much, I didn't even keep any for myself."

"I don't care, even if there's no new tea, you still have to give me a few boxes of other tea, otherwise don't even think about returning to headquarters."

Upon hearing this, Asande, though feeling somewhat regretful, immediately resorted to shamelessness, demanding other varieties of good tea.

Only then did a trace of his former frivolity become visible.

"I've prepared it for you, in Mo Li's office."

Lin Ke curled the corner of his mouth with a strange smile: "You just walked too fast, I couldn't hold you back. Want it? Let Renee go find Mo Li."

"This..."

Asande glared at Lin Ke, resentful and dissatisfied.

The tea landed in Renee's hand, does he have a share too?

Wanting to drink some tea, one has to beg for half a day and sign a series of unequal treaties.

Just as Lin Ke was preparing to tease Asande again, the portable smart brain he had re-registered yesterday after returning suddenly vibrated.

Taking it out to look, it turned out to be a meeting invitation from Cody Sage.

As a newly promoted Sage, Cody Sage commands a legion equipped by the academy, has set out for the frontline battlefield, and is conquering a 5th Tier Extraordinary World that is very similar in all aspects to the Fairy World.

Asande's wedding yesterday, yet he had sent an invitation to Cody Sage.

Cody Sage, like Paro Sage, arranged for someone to deliver a congratulatory gift in advance, though he himself was not present.

Today he suddenly returned to the homeland and urgently requested a meeting with Lin Ke, which certainly means something is up.

After informing Mo Li, Asande, and Sandra of the situation, and also notifying Selin Sage, Lin Ke went to the appointment alone.

This was Lin Ke's first visit to Cody Sage's residence.

Upon driving into the villa's front yard, Lin Ke was surprised to see Peter Lionel's vehicle.

He immediately suspected the purpose of this meeting and simultaneously recalled Flandre, instructing her to stand ready to enter the Fairy World for a reverse summon at any moment.

"Very well, sir, you can rest assured."

After understanding the situation, Flandre patted her small chest and gave her assurance.

Although the fourth evolution of the "Small World" is somewhat "hollowly inflated," in the reverse summoning emergency evasion mechanism, it has seen a significant improvement.

As long as Flandre is prepared and generously supplies energy, Lin Ke can be reverse-summoned to the Fairy World for safety within 0.1 seconds.

Having adjusted his condition, Lin Ke entered the first-floor living room of Cody Wizard's villa.

"You're not surprised?"

Host Cody Sage had not yet spoken when the guest Peter Lionel Sage spoke first, posing a question.

"Surprised."

Lin Ke replied calmly.

"Is that so?"

Peter Lionel smiled, suddenly erupting with a strong aura that pressed toward Lin Ke, saying, "Are you not afraid I'll kill you?"

Lin Ke's response was simple: he directly ignored Peter Lionel's pressure and said lightly, "If you cannot instantly kill me, you cannot kill me."

This statement directly left Peter Lionel speechless.

As a Level 4 Sage, instantly killing a Level 2 Wizard should pose no difficulty.

But, setting aside the fact that Lin Ke Grande is not an ordinary Level 2 Wizard,

just saying that at this moment he is in Cody Sage's villa, Peter Lionel truly cannot instantly kill Linke under Cody Sage's very nose.

Peter Lionel had watched the recording of Solon Lucia ambushing Lin Ke, knowing Lin Ke possesses a strange escape method.

Unable to instantly kill, he truly cannot kill!

Lin Ke is not bluffing.

Cody Sage then interjected: "Lin Ke, sit. Peter, put away your act. If you want to communicate, then have the proper demeanor for communication."

Peter Lionel snorted coldly and withdrew his aura.

Lin Ke sat steadily on Cody Sage's left, facing Peter Lionel directly, silent.

Cody Sage raised his hand, rubbed both temples, and said: "I was entrusted to act as a mediator, to create an environment for equal dialogue between you. Peter, if you have something to say, just say it straight—don't waste everyone's time. My Legion still has a mountain of affairs awaiting my return to the front lines."

Peter Lionel's expression shifted slightly, then he said to Lin Ke: "I too was entrusted to mediate a reconciliation between you and the Lucia Family once more—what do you think? The Lucia Family is prepared to offer..."

"No need to discuss."

Lin Ke refused to hear the Lucia Family's proposed terms, making his stance clear: "I won't fall into the same trap twice."

Peter Lionel's expression unchanged, he closed his mouth and turned his head to look at Cody Sage.

"Looking at me won't help—I only brought Lin Ke here at your request; I won't help you persuade him."

Cody Sage ignored Peter Lionel's gaze and remarked: "You people are too self-centered. Know that not everyone, not everything, will go as you wish."

Saying this, Cody Sage told Lin Ke: "Since your mind is made up, just go back. I'll handle this side for you."

Lin Ke nodded, locked eyes with Peter Lionel, and said seriously: "The conflict between me and the Lucia Family currently has nothing to do with the Lionel Family, and I hope it remains that way in the future."

Without regard for the impact this statement had on Peter Lionel, Lin Ke turned and walked away directly.

"Is he threatening me?"

Peter Lionel suppressed his anger and muttered coldly.

Cody Sage replied displeased: "So what if he threatens you? Would the Lionel Family really dare to act against him while under the Academy's wrath?"

Peter Lionel had no reply.

Given Lin Ke Grande's current standing with Dean Forrester, as long as no one from the Diomand Family nods in approval, truly no family would dare to act blindly and strike fatally.

Haven't you seen that the beloved fourth-generation Sandra Diomand has joined that "Do Whatever Is Free" group?

If Lin Ke Grande did not already have a girlfriend, and if their relationship were not so strong, like glue and lacquer,

who knows how many would think the Diomand Family wants to take Lin Ke Grande as a son-in-law?

"Alright, my task is done—you may leave."

Cody Sage waved his hand, issuing the eviction order without a shred of courtesy, his tone extremely impatient.

Among the forces that once obstructed his path to Sagehood, the Lionel Family was one.

Had it not been for the petitioner, who once did him a favor, Cody Sage would not have bothered with this thankless intermediary role.

Fortunately, it appears Lin Ke Grande has not thus overthought things, believing he has become entangled with the Lionel Family.

Otherwise, his past investments would have gone to waste—truly a pity!

After leaving Cody Sage's villa, Lin Ke immediately sensed something amiss, turned to look toward the left-front corner, and spotted a somewhat familiar figure.

After careful sensing, confirming no trap lay there, Lin Ke walked over slowly.

Surely no one would be foolish enough to cause trouble in the North District!

"Anything up?"

Looking at the heavily disguised Hawk Lucia, Lin Ke asked expressionlessly.

"No...... no."

Hawk had long wanted to find Lin Ke, and when he finally met him, he didn't know what to say.

What else could he say?

"If you have something to say, just say it straight—I don't have much time."

Lin Ke decided to give Hawk, one of the few Lucian he could look upon, an opportunity.

"Thank you."

After muttering a few words with his lips, Hawk gritted his teeth and said, "Solon has already exiled himself, the Lucia Family no longer exists, from now on there is only the Yaqi Family. Moreover, the Mixed Legion, which was originally formed from the elite forces of the two major legions of the Lucia Family, has now completely come under Cody Sage..."

Lin Ke glanced coldly at the incoherent Hawk, threw down a sentence, and no longer paid attention to Hawk Lucia, who had suddenly faced a family upheaval and thus lost all his former bearing.

"What happened between me and Solon has nothing to do with the Yaqi Family.

You can take my words back.

One day, Solon and I, only one of us can live.

With me, without him!"