Chapter 301: with translation of chapter title

307. Chapter 307: Shadow Obliteration

Forget it.

Fletcher Domingo, the Sage, shook his head.

It doesn't matter whether it's a favor or not.

It's not that I consider it unworthy due to Linke Grand's cold‑blooded demeanor.

If he were in Linke's shoes, Fletcher Domingo thinks he would respond similarly.

It's somewhat related to being cold‑hearted, but not strongly.

It's just rational thinking, rational action, weighing pros and cons, and making a decision.

Fletcher Domingo lifted his hand and saved Christina, whom Linke, under threat from the shadows, dared not rescue.

It's just a simple favor; consider it an investment.

Hehe.

Stepping forward, Fletcher Domingo appeared with the near‑dead Christina in the medical bay of the Lark‑class starship, whose mission had failed and returned empty‑handed.

"Come by; I have something to discuss."

Fletcher Domingo, the Sage, sent a telepathic summons to Captain Linke Grand.

Shortly after, Linke, having quickly given his orders, came to the medical bay.

"Thank you, Domingo Sage."

Without acting rashly, Flandre turned away but kept watch on Christina, and Linke saw her disappear into thin air.

He immediately suspected that a fifth‑level Sage had acted.

Upon seeing Christina lying on the floor, he immediately gave his sincere thanks.

"Just a small favor."

Fletcher Domingo, the Sage, candidly said, "I was going to give you a favor, but then I decided against it—it wouldn't take much effort anyway."

"I owe you a favor."

Linke, hearing this, gave a solemn promise.

He then got straight to treating Christina's wounds without further pleasantries.

Fletcher Domingo, the Sage, held no grudge against Linke's cold demeanor and quietly watched his treatment.

A wizard from the Rivawoss Biological and Medical Academy would be laughed at if they lacked skill in bio‑cultivation or extraordinary medicine.

Fletcher wanted to test whether the formidable Linke Grand was up to the task of his academy wizard duties.

Observing Linke's treatment of Christina from beginning to end, Fletcher found nothing to criticize.

He conceded that even his present self might not improve on certain aspects of the procedure.

"Damn, what a monster!"

Fletcher couldn't help but sigh.

Remembering Linke's promise, he thought he'd surely profit big this time.

It wasn't that Fletcher sought to call in a favor.

Rather, should he ever need Linke Grand's assistance, this small favor could serve as a connection.

Fletcher Domingo had always been blunt; the only time he tried to ingratiate himself with Frederic Deimond, he was firmly rebuffed. Later, after many experiences, he learned the value of connections and investment.

He's placed a small stake on the academy's up‑and‑coming star and is simply waiting for the returns.

"Thank you, Linke."

Though barely alive and not in unconscious shock, Christina heard their whole conversation.

After her mind and magic stabilized, her belly wound tended, and her vitality restored, Christina spoke her thanks as soon as she could.

"Don't thank me; if you're grateful, thank Domingo Sage."

Linke, watching the readouts of Christina's medical chamber, spoke seriously.

He truly thought so.

Fletcher and Christina could both feel the sincerity in Linke's voice.

"Thank you, Domingo Sage!"

Christina turned to Fletcher Domingo and gave her sincere thanks.

"No need to thank me."

Fletcher waved his hand, saying, "I've earned a favor; we're square, and I've actually profited."

With his words done, Fletcher disappeared, leaving the medical bay to the two of them.

Christina stopped the thanks and asked anxiously, "How is Garona? Is the plan to fix her soul problem viable? How expensive is it? I have some savings; I'll give them all to you—will it be enough?"

After a pause, Linke replied, "Are you planning to go back to Shadow City?"

"Of course."

Christina nodded slightly.

Linke didn't ask why; he said, "Even if you need to return, there's no hurry. Rest first, and once you're fully recovered, I'll show you some information and take you to see your daughter."

"Okay, thanks for the trouble."

Though Christina didn't get an answer, she didn't push further and accepted Linke's plan.

Seeing her daughter in person is far more immediate than just hearing about it from Linke.

Linke remained the sniper team's captain aboard the ship and couldn't abandon his post for long.

He gave Christina a calming sedative; after she drifted off, Linke left the medical bay and went back to the cockpit.

All the crew members noticed this little incident.

But the wizards busy with the return journey didn't pay attention.

Time passed in a flash.

The Lark-class warship, after sailing for nearly three days, returned to its point of departure.

Team Leader Fletcher Domingo appeared just in time, without many words, summoned a temporary portal, and entered first.

Eleven mages, under Lin Ke's arrangement, entered in single file and were transferred in an orderly manner.

"Go in."

Looking at the fully recovered Christina, Lin Ke urged, "Don't resist, don't overreact, understand?"

"Understood."

Christina nodded lightly.

During the three-day voyage, Lin Ke had already written the mission report and proactively stated that he would take primary responsibility for the mission's failure.

Incidentally, he reported Christina's existence to the Academy, applying for her to be transferred via the Academy headquarters and sent back to the native world of the mages.

The Academy gave no response to this mission, yet approved Lin Ke's application.

It merely emphasized that transfer was permissible, but Christina must undergo the strictest inspection.

That is reasonable.

Lin Ke had no objection, and Christina, eager to see her daughter sooner, gladly agreed.

The two entered the light portal one after another, heading to different locations.

Before Christina completed the rigorous inspection, Lin Ke could not possibly meet her at the Academy headquarters.

"I announce, the team is disbanded."

At the Academy headquarters, on the interworld transfer platform, Team Leader Fletcher Domingo the Sage put an end to this somewhat absurd sniping mission.

The twelve mages dispersed on the spot, each going home.

Lan Ni. Tai Le greeted Lin Ke, then boarded Sandora's car that was far away, which Lin Ke had waved at.

Lin Ke also had someone come to pick him up.

Mo Li, through Sandora, learned the exact time Lin Ke would return, and of course came to "pick him up".

"How was it? Did it go smoothly?"

As soon as he got in the car, Lin Ke was greeted with concern.

"There were many twists; I can't explain it all in a moment."

Lin Ke gave such a vague answer, not to brush off Mo Li, but because that really was the situation.

"All right." Mo Li didn't press further, driving straight to her own villa.

"Some things happened; I brought Christina to the Academy headquarters, where she is undergoing the Academy's inspection."

Lin Ke spoke up, explaining, "After the inspection, perhaps we could meet briefly, but then I must send her back to the mages' native world."

"Christina?"

Mo Li asked doubtfully, "Wasn't she drafted for this mission to go to that special planet to excavate the Saint's Legacy?"

During the period when Lin Ke led the team on the mission, the forums of major mage organizations were flooded with many posts about the Saint's Legacy.

Under the push of an invisible giant hand, everyone in the West Coast District knew that several top mage organizations in the Michel District were vying for the inheritance of the Nostradamus Saint School.

Moreover, someone anonymously revealed that the Michel Archmage Tower was very likely to join the fray for profit.

Thus, Mo Li actually had some understanding of the background of Lin Ke's mission this time.

Upon hearing Lin Ke's words, she immediately began to make associations.

"Hmm."

Lin Ke nodded, then explained, "I don't know why, but the Shadow City Lord actively sent Christina to the Michel Archmage Tower as bait, hoping to lure me in. I didn't take the bait, so the Archmage Tower threw Christina into space to let her die."

"You didn't save her, did you?"

Upon hearing that, Mo Li immediately seized the point and asked, "If there's one trap, there can't not be a second."

"The person was saved by Team Leader Fletcher Domingo the Sage, who called in a favor from me."

Regarding Christina, Lin Ke laid out every detail, big and small, without hiding anything.

"Oh."

Mo Li nodded slightly, showing no particular reaction.

By then, the car had already driven into her own villa.

The two got out of the car.

Under Mo Li's lead, they headed straight to the restaurant.

The phrase "welcome and cleanse the dust" came up in a casual chat, which Mo Li learned from Lin Ke.

The fact that Lin Ke is an "Outsider" had long been clear to Mo Li.

She even laughed and teased Lin Ke then: "No wonder you don't seem like a blacksmith's son, knowing so much—turns out you're a greasy old guy!"

In reality, she never actually treated Lin Ke as a greasy old guy.

Regarding "Outsiders," the mage world has conducted extremely thorough research.

The Supreme Council has issued the most authoritative ruling.

The "Outsider's" soul belongs to the mage world, merely having self-awakened past-life memories.

Whether from body or soul, they are actually naturally grown natural persons.

In plain terms, Lin Ke and Mo Li are peers—an indisputable fact.

After learning that Lin Ke is an "Outsider," Mo Li occasionally asks about foreign customs.

Thus she came to know the phrase "welcome and cleanse the dust".

Picking someone up equals welcoming and cleansing the dust, so let's just have an afternoon tea.

Although this mission didn't take long, it was exactly seven days.

But Lin Ke really did quite miss his own tea and snacks.

So delicious.

After taking a sip of tea and biting into a piece of mung bean cake, Lin Ke let out a sigh.

Since it's so delicious, eat some more.

Mo Li smiled, watching Lin Ke eat heartily.

The tea and snacks were both made by Mo Li herself.

After finishing afternoon tea, the timing was just right; Lin Ke received a notice and went with Mo Li to pick up Kèlísīdìnà.

The two did not bring Kèlísīdìnà to their own villa, but went straight to the laboratory.

Kèlísīdìnà was eager to learn about her daughter Jiāluónà's physical condition, as well as Lin Ke's solution that could resolve the soul problem, and she gladly accepted.

In the laboratory.

Lin Ke pulled up a series of reports, pointing at each datum, and gave Kèlísīdìnà a detailed explanation of one aspect of her daughter Jiāluónà's physical condition.

Do you understand?

After finishing his explanation, Lin Ke asked.

I roughly understand.

Kèlísīdìnà replied in that way.

That's enough of a rough understanding; let's move on to the next item.

Lin Ke waved his hand, and the office smartbrain, following his will, pulled up an overview of the Construct system, as well as the special set 'Shadow Demon Snake Bite' designed specifically for Jiāluónà.

This explanation was more detailed.

Mo Li, who was listening in, took the opportunity to gain a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of Lin Ke's self-created Construct system.

Kèlísīdìnà, who was encountering the Construct concept for the first time, actually didn't fully understand.

But she distilled a few key points from Lin Ke's explanation, thought it over seriously, and agreed to let Lin Ke implant a Construct into her daughter Jiāluónà.

This was not an easy decision to make.

This decision meant that her daughter Jiāluónà had to be fostered in Ruìwòsuǒsī City, fostered with Linke Grand.

For Kèlísīdìnà, who secretly regarded her daughter as her most important, even everything, not being able to see her daughter for a long time was an extremely intense pain.

But she had no choice but to make this decision.

First, Jiāluónà could better accept the Construct implantation; second, Kèlísīdìnà's return to Shadow City this time left her own future uncertain.

Lin Ke, what's wrong?

Mo Li promptly noticed Lin Ke's abnormality and asked aloud.

Nothing.

Lin Ke was startled awake by the shout, and he shifted his gaze away from Kèlísīdìnà.

Having just finished explaining the design of the Shadow Demon Snake Bite set, he looked at Kèlísīdìnà's pupils, which had not yet fully reversed, a flash of inspiration struck, and a powerful surge of inspiration burst forth in his mind.

A brand-new, specially tailored set for Kèlísīdìnà quickly took rough shape in Lin Ke's mind.

At this moment, the three great talents of Witchcraft Specialization, Alchemy Specialization, and Materials Specialization, which had not been triggered for a long time, all came into play simultaneously.

Feel free.

To prevent the inspiration from slipping away, Lin Ke greeted them and then set aside Mo Li and Kèlísīdìnà.

He switched the office smartbrain's function on his own and began designing the new set.

Mo Li, seeing this, silently gestured for Kèlísīdìnà to sit aside, making space for Lin Ke.

Neither of them spoke, fearing to disturb him.

Just like that, one after another Construct component quickly took shape in Lin Ke's hands.

After about five and a half hours, the design of a full eight Construct components was thoroughly completed, then they were linked together into a whole, forming a set.

Even if one doesn't quite grasp Lin Ke's design thinking, nor the Construct techniques employed.

But, seeing a few familiar 2-ring spells, Christina's emotions suddenly surged.

This is a Construct set tailor-made for her!

If the Construct is truly as good as Lin Ke described — no, even if only half as good — once she implants this set of Constructs, her strength will leap forward by leaps and bounds.

By then, she will not only not be easily backstabbed by the captain and four teammates,

but will also be able to bare her fangs at them and bite back.

"What is the name of this Construct set?"

Mo Li noticed Christina's excitement and restraint, and asked on her behalf.

Lin Ke reviewed his design once over, confirmed there were no omissions, and said solemnly:

"Shadow Oblivion."