Chapter 290

296. Chapter 296: Appetizer

The "Lark" class interstellar warship marched toward the predetermined coordinates.

The Shadow City otherworld reclamation team finally completed the reclamation and material collection before the deadline.

The wizards returned to their own interstellar warship and prepared to return.

Christina handed over the "valuable" materials she collected and sat alone in a corner of the warship, bowing her head in silence.

She had never expected beforehand that she would suddenly receive a conscription from the upper echelons of Shadow City to participate in this otherworld reclamation.

Regarding the rumors of this special world, Christina had actually heard some before setting off.

It is said that a disciple of a Level 9 Sage under the Nostradamus Saint, who made the prophecy of great changes not seen in thousands of years, hid part of the inheritance of the school founded by the Nostradamus Saint in this special world.

This was a backup plan forcibly made after the Saint prophesied that he would be extinguished and the school he founded would be lost.

In an attempt to let the school revive and reappear in the world during the great changes not seen in thousands of years.

Christina smelled a thick scent of conspiracy at that time.

Shadow City discovered this special world that was said to hide the inheritance; according to common sense, it should definitely do a good job of confidentiality.

How could it perform so poorly, letting rumors fly?

Isn't this deliberately attracting covetousness?

Or is it that the discovery of this special world by Shadow City itself is a trap?

Is it a wizard organization that wants to lure Shadow City into the trap, casting a baited hook?

Christina was puzzled and at the same time perceived the crisis contained within.

As long as one step is wrong, she might lose her life.

Therefore, before setting off, she hurriedly entrusted her daughter Galona to Linke Grande.

Hoping that Lin Ke could take care of her for the sake of a slight hometown friendship, and a point that Christina didn't want to admit but had to admit, that Galona possessed a certain research value.

Christina had no other requests, just wanting her daughter to grow up strong.

If possible, Christina was a bit greedy, hoping that her daughter could live a smooth life and be carefree.

Thinking of her daughter, Christina's mood became even more subtle.

I don't know if Galona is doing well with Linke Grande now, and if they can meet again in this life.

After being in a low mood for a while, Christina pulled herself together and began to check her state and make pre-battle preparations.

This otherworld reclamation lasted for more than a month, and the whole process seemed quite absurd.

The so-called special world clearly had no special arrangements, such as blocking high-level wizards from entering.

However, the otherworld reclamation team sent by Shadow City this time was only composed of 6 Level 1 Wizards and 6 Level 2 Wizards.

Not to mention Sage-level wizards, not even the shadow of a Level 3 Wizard was seen.

Moreover, after setting off, before entering the special world—a very small planet—the team members were not told the details of the task.

It wasn't until the otherworld reclamation team landed on the small planet that the captain told everyone the task goal and requirements.

After listening, Christina felt it was very ridiculous.

It was actually just letting them wander around at will, and collect items they felt were valuable.

Everything else was ignored.

What does this look like a proper otherworld reclamation?

Everything depends on intuition, simply without any rules.

It's as if the high-level officials of Shadow City just organized a batch of wizards this time to come and try their luck.

If they hit it, they found treasure and were happy.

If they didn't hit it, it didn't matter; anyway, the investment wasn't big.

Even if it really was a trap, it was just the loss of a team composed of 6 Level 1 Wizards and 6 Level 2 Wizards... that's all.

Various abnormalities made Christina's heart always tightly pinched.

And, according to her observation, other wizards in the team, including the captain, had similar thoughts to her.

For example, now, the warship is about to carry the team and the collected materials to return.

The 12 members of the otherworld reclamation team were all silently making pre-battle preparations.

It seems that everyone has determined that the team will encounter interception.

What the hell is this?

Collective hysteria?

No.

It's that no one is a fool!

The Mesopotamia University, which has been completely closed on the surface, not allowing entry or exit.

"What the hell are you doing?

Treating us like fools?

Huh?

No wonder you are getting more and more down-and-out year by year!

Can't even do a small thing well; if you are not down-and-out, who is?"

In the principal's office, Dean Forrest pointed at Principal Leopold's nose and scolded loudly.

The sound was so loud that it resounded through the entire campus.

Everyone, mentors, ordinary wizards, and wizard apprentices, heard it clearly.

Subsequently, sound-isolating witchcraft and anti-eavesdropping rune barriers covered the principal's office.

The outside world could no longer hear the sound in the principal's office.

However, everyone now knew one thing, that is, Mesopotamia University didn't know what it did, and provoked the Rivose Academy again.

So much so that Dean Forrest forcibly broke through the closure of Mesopotamia University and forcibly came to the principal's office to scold Principal Leopold.

For a time, various speculations arose.

The Mesopotamia University, which should have been isolated from the world, instantly became a sieve.

Various rumors and intelligence spread from here.

Extra! Extra!

Why did Dean Forrest of Rivose Academy scold Principal Leopold of Mesopotamia University?

Counting the grievances between Rivose Academy and Mesopotamia University.

Once iron allies, now like dead enemies, what happened? We tell it today.

The downfall of Mesopotamia University is actually due to Rivose Academy stabbing in the back!

Shocking! Sage Sosi's promotion failed, the reason is actually that Mesopotamia University held back!

In the principal's office.

Principal Leopold blew his beard and stared, very unhappy.

Acting is acting, no need to be so ruthless, right?

This makes him how to manage his subordinates in the future?

Isn't it just playing dumb last time and testing it?

This is revenge?

Really have you, Forrest.

It's really ruthless!

Dean Forrest smiled and sipped the tea soup cooked with Pu'er and dried tangerine peel, tasting it beautifully.

He didn't take Principal Leopold's glare to heart at all.

Silence, silence is today's principal's office. (╯□╰)

After a while, Principal Leopold broke the silence and asked in a muffled voice: "Forrest, what is the intention of these things you've been doing lately? How come I can't understand it at all?"

"It's right that you can't understand."

Dean Forrest put down the tea cup and said proudly, "I'm just messing around, understand? Even I don't know what the deep meaning of the arrangements I've made recently is. In this way, how can others know? Guess hard."

Principal Leopold could perceive that what Forrest said was the truth.

This...

What the hell is this?

Actually, there really is a trap that even the layout designer himself can't figure out?

Leopold didn't believe that Forrest, who was unparalleled in planning, would do useless things.

Even if it's messing around, there must be a deep meaning in it.

Perhaps...

Principal Leopold, based on his understanding of Forrest and the sentence "Guess hard" in Forrest's words just now, suddenly thought of a possibility.

Although it was a bit absurd, if you think about it carefully, it really makes some sense.

Turning his head to look at Forrest, Leopold's mood was subtle, not knowing how to express it.

Dean Forrest was also in a state of changing thoughts at this moment.

He didn't deceive Leopold.

He really didn't know what the deep meaning of the arrangements he made recently was.

After his own grandmother, Sage Sosi, hid from everyone in the Michelle District and quietly completed the promotion; his own eldest brother followed closely and also successfully promoted to a Level 7 Great Sage.

Forrest changed the strategy of making trouble again.

What covering for the iron ally Mesopotamia University, what uniting with the other three top forces in the Michelle District, joining hands to deal with the Michelle Great Sage Tower, all thrown aside.

I don't play this set anymore.

Forrest now has only one purpose, which is to mess up the situation in the Michelle District through constant messing around.

Not to mention turning it upside down, at least it must be stirred into a paste, so that all forces have no time to take care of other things.

Only in this way can the Rivose Academy obtain a relatively good environment, quietly digest this wave of improvement, and then wait for the special "Outsider" Iris Clark to pass the test.

At that time, it will be the time for the Rivose Academy, which has completed the improvement, to show its skills.

The small Michelle District is no longer in the eyes of the Rivose Academy.

Principal Leopold looked at Dean Forrest, who didn't hide his pride in his heart at all, and sighed slightly.

Many things don't need to be said through; just give a little hint, and you can guess the general idea.

Thinking about it, in the case that the Mesopotamia Great Sage still hasn't been promoted to a Level 9 Great Sage, the Rivose Academy must have achieved a breakthrough.

It's just that I don't know whether this breakthrough is on Sage Sosi, or on those two Level 6 Sages who want to be promoted to Great Sages.

Or... Principal Leopold instinctively didn't want to guess that possibility and stopped his thoughts in time.

Otherwise, why would Forrest use this method to stir up the situation and fish in troubled waters.

Fortunately, the Rivose Academy still values the friendship of allies and didn't leave Mesopotamia University behind.

Otherwise, why would Forrest use this method to remind him from the side:

Our Rivose Academy's strategy has changed, don't be led astray, keep speeding on the road set before, and you must hurry up and don't fall behind.

Sighing faintly again, Principal Leopold picked up a cup of tea soup and drank it up.

Hope Mesopotamia University can be like this cup of tea soup, bitter and sweet.

Don't fall behind.

Otherwise, ally?

Vassal!

In the starry sky.

This star field where the special world discovered by Shadow City is located.

Besides the interstellar warship of the Rivose Academy, the interstellar warship of Shadow City, and the interstellar warships of two other organizations are sailing in it.

Judging from their respective routes, the goals are all the same predetermined coordinate.

If there are no accidents, the warships of the four wizard organizations will arrive near the coordinate one after another.

At that time, a chaotic battle set by some means, or rules, will naturally break out.

The subsequent "plot" will then be staged.

Lin Ke wanted to make some accidents.

There are many people who are willing to be pawns, have the consciousness of pawns, follow the manipulation of the chess player, point where to fight, and never cross the line.

These people do not include Lin Ke.

He has always pursued freedom and does not want to be a puppet.

Therefore, this time, Lin Ke estimated from various aspects and found that there was a good room for self-play, so he decided to be willful and willful once, and make some trouble.

As long as it does not affect the execution of the task, I think the chess player or chess players of the academy standing behind the scenes will not impose punishment.

What is not prohibited by law can be done.

"Increase speed, modify route."

Sitting on the captain's seat, Lin Ke, who had thought it through, gave a brand new instruction to the Tower Spirit.

This instruction was quite unexpected to the 11 team members, and it was also beyond the expectation of Sage Fletcher Domingo, who had been hiding in the dark.

Coming out like this suddenly, what do you want to do?

"Warning! Warning! This instruction does not conform to the pre-setting of this voyage mission."

The Tower Spirit did not accept the instruction immediately, but issued a reminder.

Regarding this, Lin Ke had expected it when he saw the warship set off automatically after the team arrived.

However, Lin Ke didn't care about any mission pre-setting and gave the same instruction again: "Increase speed, modify route."

"Warning!..."

Just when the Tower Spirit replied to Lin Ke starting with "Warning" for the second time.

Lin Ke suddenly flipped the smart brain on the captain's seat and pressed a red button on the back.

This button, generally speaking, basically wouldn't be moved.

Once moved, the interstellar warship would fall into a long period of suspension.

For example, now, the lights, facilities, equipment, and engines inside the "Lark" class interstellar warship were all shut down suddenly.

Even the interstellar warship itself lost power after the engine suddenly shut down and gradually decelerated.

Lin Ke actually directly activated emergency measures and, with the captain's authority, manually uninstalled the Tower Spirit of the interstellar warship!

Let you talk too much nonsense.

After a while, the emergency measures of the interstellar warship were successfully activated.

The backup Tower Spirit went online and took over the warship.

Lights turned on one by one, and various facilities and equipment resumed operation.

The engine restarted, emitted thrust, and increased the marching speed of the warship.

The smart brain screens of the operation consoles where the 11 team members were located, the smart brain screen in front of Lin Ke, and the huge main screen in front of the cockpit lit up at the same time.

Items of data and instructions brushed the screen like a waterfall.

Lin Ke's operation didn't stop there.

His ten fingers flew, and he output one instruction after another on the smart brain screen that had just lit up.

At the same time, Lin Ke also used the brain-machine link method to directly take over the highest authority of the backup Tower Spirit and continue to "brush the machine."

All the pre-settings and control backups made by the academy were cleared by Lin Ke one by one.

All authority of the interstellar warship, even flushing the toilet, was personally received by Lin Ke, leaving no loopholes.

The 11 team members didn't get Lin Ke's hint, encountered sudden changes, even if they had opinions in their hearts, no one jumped out at this time to question Lin Ke's operation.

Sage Fletcher Domingo said very clearly that during the mission, everything listens to Linke Grande's command.

Captain Linke Grande also gave them the opportunity to express their thoughts.

A team leader who is a Level 5 Sage, a captain whose combat power is comparable to a Level 3 Wizard, although neither gave a threat, the potential meaning is very clear.

No matter what you want to say, I give you the opportunity, and you can say it; if I didn't give it, don't talk nonsense.

Otherwise, be careful that I kill you.

Roughly that's the meaning.

Not long after, under the gaze of the 11 team members with different thoughts, Lin Ke completed the four-step operation planned before:

Uninstall the Tower Spirit, start the backup Tower Spirit, "refresh" the backup Tower Spirit, and take over all authority of the warship.

In this way, Lin Ke truly mastered the control of this "Lark" class interstellar warship and could be considered a real captain.

Instead of a puppet who only had the name of captain but no power of captain.

All programs and control backups preset by the academy were all abandoned and could no longer remotely control this "Lark" class interstellar warship.

These were the knowledge and means Lin Ke learned in the process of learning alchemy and refining the Brood Nest warship.

Once used, it won the initiative for Lin Ke.

Knowledge changes destiny.

After manually inputting the brand new marching speed, route, and target, Lin Ke's hands and eyes left the smart brain screen and looked at the 11 team members, looking at them one by one.

After a while, Lin Ke asked in a deep voice: "Does anyone have any questions? Say whatever you want to say, and I will answer what I can answer."

Lanny Taylor stood up first, facing the eyes of other team members, and said: "I think if the captain has any thoughts, about this mission, he can tell us frankly. Communicate well in advance, and when encountering things, strength can be used in one place, rather than being scattered and not united at all."

"Hmm. Good suggestion."

Lin Ke nodded, and then changed the subject, "Do you all think so too?"

"Agree."

"Agree."

The voices of agreement sounded one after another.

The remaining 10 wizards, whether Level 1 Wizards or Level 2 Wizards, all agreed with Lanny's opinion.

"I have no thoughts."

Facing all the gazes, Lin Ke said frankly: "So far, regarding the mission itself, I have no thoughts. Because the situation is unclear."

Pausing, Lin Ke asked back: "Among you, who knows the background and purpose of this mission?"

No one answered.

Academy conscription is different from individual conscription.

The former is mandatory, at most 2 times a year, and the latter is a two-way choice.

The 12-person team, except for Lin Ke who was conscripted by the academy and conscripted by Sage Fletcher Domingo, everyone else was conscripted by the academy.

Therefore, even if the mission description was vague, everyone had no choice but to bite the bullet.

After getting on the warship, they finally got the mission details distributed by Lin Ke.

After reading it, they also found that there was not much useful information in it.

And there were some ridiculous restrictions.

For example, the attack intensity cannot be too fierce, and the lives of Shadow City wizards cannot be hurt.

This is simply absurd.

Making a sneak attack, actually still have to bind one's own hands and feet, and cannot easily hurt people.

What if the other party makes a ruthless move and you are counter-killed?

There is nowhere to cry.

Therefore, as the captain, Lin Ke dared to withstand the pressure, "violate" the academy's original intention, and make some trouble.

These team members supported it very much in their hearts, regardless of whether the trouble made could play a role.

But they really didn't know the background and purpose of the mission, so they could only remain silent.

"Don't know, right?"

Lin Ke waited for a while, and seeing no one speak, chuckled, "I don't know either!"

Words don't need to be exhausted, others understood Lin Ke's meaning.

Since the academy is vague and didn't explain clearly, they can naturally respond according to the situation.

Anyway, the premise of completing the task is to prioritize self-preservation.

Secretly unified the thoughts of the whole team and reached a tacit understanding with each other, Lin Ke then officially began to perform the duties of the captain, presiding over the mutual introduction, division of labor, tactical formulation, and plan rehearsal of the team members.

Three days of sailing, one day of preparation, four days of time, enough to knead a temporarily assembled team together and form combat effectiveness.

This is the biggest feature of wizards cultivated by the Rivose Academy.

Two and a half days passed quickly.

The "Lark" class interstellar warship arrived at the new destination half a day early after a jump march.

This is a meteorite belt that Lin Ke specially selected based on the star map.

Lin Ke parked the interstellar warship behind the meteorite belt and activated the full-power stealth function.

And ordered the 11 team members to take 6 shuttles and hide in various places in the meteorite belt.

The meteorite belt is only 10 minutes away from the original coordinates of the academy at the fastest speed of the shuttle.

Whether it is advancing or retreating, fighting or withdrawing, it is very convenient.

After doing these preparatory work, Lin Ke went alone, didn't take anything, and directly activated the life-bound spell, put on the interstellar life-support mode stealth battle armor, and lurked toward the original coordinates of the academy.

"Flandre."

At the same time, Lin Ke called out in his heart.

"Okay, Master."

Flandre responded sweetly, came out of the "Small World," and explored the surroundings with Lin Ke as the center.

After the fourth evolution of the "Small World" was truly completed, Flandre's ability to transform between virtual and real improved.

Lin Ke had tested it, even if it was the reconnaissance system of the main warship of the Sage-level legion interstellar fleet operating at full power, it could not find Flandre who was hiding wholeheartedly in a short time.

Therefore, Flandre as a scout now is the most suitable.

The two searched while marching, constantly approaching the original coordinates of the academy.

Sage Fletcher Domingo, who was hiding in the dark and following the team, didn't quite understand what deep meaning Lin Ke had in this arrangement.

As a captain, he left the team and acted alone; what does he want to do?

What does Lin Ke want to do?

He just wanted to use his superior combat power, high mobility, and Flandre's flexible reverse summoning to do a close-range reconnaissance first, to figure out which forces would be involved in this event.

If there is a chance, try to see if he can steal the batch of materials silently.

If it really doesn't work, he still needs to grab it hard, and he can also know himself and the enemy, choose tactics calmly, and command the battle.

"Master, Master, look what Flandre found?"

Flandre's slightly excited voice sounded in Lin Ke's heart.

Before the words fell, Flandre had already taken the initiative to share her vision.

I saw a familiar main warship appearing in Lin Ke's "eyes."

It was the main warship of the Three-Point Wizard Wina that Lin Ke had stabbed in the ass.

"The Metal and Flame Trading Company has arrived, can the White Tower Alliance be far behind? Will Mesopotamia University come?"

Lin Ke pondered, let Flandre temporarily ignore this main warship, and continue to expand the scope of reconnaissance.

He also increased his stealth intensity and was more careful while marching.

Not long after, Flandre found a strange warship belonging to the White Tower Alliance in another place suitable for lurking.

After searching for a while, he never found the trace of Mesopotamia University's warship.

I don't know if it hasn't arrived yet, or if it didn't get involved.

Lin Ke didn't care about it for the time being, and carefully recalled the respective positions of the academy's original coordinates, the Metal and Flame Trading Company's warship, and the White Tower Alliance's warship.

Found that the three warships were on a semicircular arc, blocking the three directions of 12 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 6 o'clock.

In other words, the three warships joined forces to set up a pocket array.

Quietly waiting for the Shadow City otherworld reclamation team to take the initiative to send it to the door.

Then bite down! (End of chapter)