Chapter 308: 314. Chapter 314: The Alarm Bell Rings Long

314. Chapter 314: The Alarm Bell Rings Long

It's already late.

Lin Ke returned to the laboratory, feeling bewildered.

Mo Li had finished today's experiment and was waiting for Lin Ke to return.

Seeing Lin Ke appear outside the lab door, she immediately stood up, went out, and said, "Let's go back."

She didn't even ask what Dean Friste wanted when summoning Lin Ke.

Those matters were too far removed from her; asking would be pointless, so she simply didn't ask to avoid annoyance.

As for forming the main force team, Mo Li was thinking she might be able to help Lin Ke a bit.

At least in terms of logistics like magic stones and supplies, she could do better.

Regarding personnel, whether recruiting or training, let Lin Ke worry about it himself.

After all, it's Linke Grand's main force team, not Mo Li Kidman's.

Getting too involved in personnel matters isn't good.

Each with their own thoughts, the two walked back from the laboratory to the villa.

Along the way, it was quite quiet, they were in tacit understanding, unspoken but mutual.

That night, there was no talk.

The next day, a new week began.

This week, besides studying diligently, Lin Ke took some time to concern himself with the situation on the western coast of the wizard world, especially the relations among the various wizard organizations in the Michel region.

Dean Friste would hardly bring him to watch a sage-rank wizard melee brawl for no reason.

As a result, he saw little news about the Michel Grand Sage Tower, Shadow City, Flame and Metal Trading Company, and White Tower Alliance; instead, he heard some gossip from Mesopotamia University.

As the Ravos Institute's troublemaking frequency decreased and its focus shifted, Mesopotamia University, which had been completely blockaded for over a season, now seemed out of place.

More and more wizards and wizard organizations began to doubt the true reason behind Mesopotamia University's total lockdown.

Perhaps its interior had become a sieve, unable to stop espionage, or perhaps to divert attention, Mesopotamia University's internal anti-corruption results over the past season were gradually exposed.

Those families parasitizing Mesopotamia University, those ledgers of corruption, were simply shocking.

Mesopotamia University couldn't resort to thunderous measures, cut itself off, and purge those families and wizards.

It could only adopt a relatively mild approach—recovering the embezzled funds.

As long as they were willing to repay the corrupt gains, even just half, it would guarantee the family's and their own safety.

At most, they would have to do some hard, dirty work as atonement.

Lin Ke believed that few wizards and wizard organizations would bother to watch this spectacle while neglecting to continue probing the true cause of the total lockdown.

The harder Mesopotamia University tried to conceal it, the greater the uproar when it finally came out.

With a mindset of watching a show, Lin Ke looked forward to that day arriving soon.

Having watched the spectacle, he certainly couldn't forget the important matters.

Through some clues and the faction distribution of that sage melee brawl, Lin Ke roughly inferred some information.

The Michel Grand Sage Tower, deviating from its former habit of preserving its reputation, intervened from multiple angles in the Michel region's internal struggles for interests and organizational conflicts.

Having seized the Saint's inheritance, it was still not satisfied.

Domestically, wherever there were disputes, the wizards of the Michel Grand Sage Tower appeared, suppressing all and enforcing arbitration.

Externally, it had dispatched multiple sage-rank legions to wage war across myriad worlds, plundering everything.

Lin Ke felt that this performance of the Michel Grand Sage Tower was highly abnormal.

It was completely unlike the conduct expected of a traditional, established major power.

On the contrary, it resembled a person about to drown, flailing desperately in search of a hope to survive.

Shadow City seemed to have already taken sides, completely tilting toward the Michel Grand Sage Tower in the standoff between it and the Ravos Institute.

Its cooperation with the Ravos Institute had essentially broken off where possible, and where not, it was perfunctorily negative.

Moreover, it actively cooperated with the Michel Grand Sage Tower's various actions, both internally and externally.

The Flame and Metal Trading Company and the White Tower Alliance have both become very low-key recently.

They even adopted a posture of ready to shrink their spheres of influence and hunker down for self-preservation.

Having learned this information, Lin Ke vaguely understood what Dean Friste wanted him to grasp from that sage-rank wizard melee brawl.

Don't look at the Ravos Institute, through various troublemaking, rallying Shadow City, the Flame and Metal Trading Company, and the White Tower Alliance to "resist" the Michel Grand Sage Tower, achieving some progress.

But, as soon as the Michel Grand Sage Tower reveals strength matching or exceeding its status,

these organizations will have to shrink, and indeed they must shrink.

Even like Shadow City, they may completely flip over.

That sage-rank wizard melee brawl was Dean Friste's reminder to Lin Ke.

For wizards, aside from their own mighty power, everything else—rank, fame, status—is illusory.

Even as fellow fifth-rank sages, three sages from the Michel Grand Sage Tower could jointly withstand eight sages from the Flame and Metal Trading Company and White Tower Alliance; even if they fell into a disadvantage, they would still be safe.

With the addition of three sages from Shadow City, they could gradually turn from a disadvantaged position into a balance.

This is the effect of true strength!

The institute's arrangement for newly promoted second-rank wizards to study at the main campus, with a rule forbidding easy return to the wizard world's mainland within two years, is based on deep consideration.

Lin Ke, relying on his talent and fortune, squanders time with frequent back-and-forth trips, appearing somewhat neglectful of his duties.

If this continues, his advantage over peers will vanish.

This is a warning bell!

It buzzes, resonating deep within Lin Ke's heart.

Precisely for this reason, Lin Ke sought out Sage Selin early Saturday morning.

"Speak up, why did you look for me so early, what's the matter?"

In the Teaching and Research Group's experimental building, top-floor office, Sage Selin glared at Lin Ke, who had arranged to meet and chat first thing in the morning, with displeasure.

"I want to pause my daily work at the Teaching and Research Group."

Lin Ke solemnly made the request.

"The reason."

Sage Selin's eyes sharpened a bit: "Your given reason had better convince me, otherwise..."

"I plan to devote myself wholeheartedly for a period."

Lin Ke said slowly, "Since my advanced studies, I've been distracted too much, affecting my strength's progress and rank advancement."

"Hehehe..."

Sage Selin burst out laughing upon hearing that.

Lin Ke waited silently for a moment.

After the laughter subsided, Sage Selin nodded slightly: "Alright, I'll count your reason as passing. However, what about the 'Construction' project? Are you also preparing to wash your hands of it?"

"That won't do."

Lin Ke immediately waved his hand and said solemnly, "I couldn't possibly screw over Sister Selin and Sage Paro."

The Construction system is Lin Ke's own creation, and its intellectual property belongs entirely to him.

Through Sage Selin's Pharmacology Teaching and Research Group, the collaboration on the Construction project achieved with Sage Paro's Legion yields benefits, a share of which goes to Sage Selin herself and the Teaching and Research Group.

Where are the benefits of the Construction project?

In those fairy servant troops that are about to be put on the 'shelves' for sale or lease to other sage-level legions of the academy.

So far, Sage Paro's Legion has, through the five-tribe joint government of the fairy world, organized over a dozen fairy servant troops of three different types, and is now conducting drills.

The first type is the product of the early 'Ascension' potion project; the second type is the product of the 'Ascension' potion 'Empowerment' potion project;

The third type is a product of the Construction project, simply implanted with the 'Barbarian Strike' gear set.

As for the experimental 'Barbarian' series gear set resonance amplification sandwiched in the second phase of the Construction project, the technology is not yet finalized, so no troops have been formed.

Whenever Sage Paro's Legion sells or leases a unit of the second or third type of fairy servant troops, it must give some dividends to Sage Selin's Pharmacology Teaching and Research Group and Lin Ke.

The proportion is not high, but it's a steady, long-term income.

Lin Ke said he couldn't possibly screw over Sage Selin and Sage Paro, but he wasn't referring to the two types of fairy servant troops that have already generated benefits.

Rather, it is completely foreseeable that it will surely win market favor—the "Savage" series set resonance amplification fairy servant legion; that is where one can truly earn a large sum of Magic Stone.

At least you still have a bit of conscience.

Sage Serlin scolded Lin Ke, then shifted tone to give advice: "Personal strength must be improved, and don't neglect the progress of building the main team."

Lin Ke immediately asked: "Serlin Sis, what rumors have you heard?"

Sage Serlin laughed: "Rumors are everywhere; which kind are you asking about?"

"Er..."

Lin Ke paused, then replied in a joking tone: "I want them all."

"Hehe..."

Sage Serlin let out another pleasant laugh, but stopped teasing, speaking seriously: "Whether there are rumors or not, there's no need to listen. In short, I won't lie to you."

"Yes, thank you, Serlin Sis."

Lin Ke then sincerely thanked her.

"Alright, go get busy."

After the business was settled, Sage Serlin issued the order to evict guests.

That Paro fellow somehow had an epiphany these past few days and became more attentive.

Conversations with her were no longer just business; he also tried to create some romance.

He had even pre-arranged a meeting with her yesterday to a uniquely scenic small world for leisure.

If Lin Ke hadn't come early in the morning to disturb her, Sage Serlin would have already gone to the appointment.

Lin Ke did not continue to disturb Serlin's interest, slipped away, and went to find Rene Clark.

Since the last time Rene the Wizard suddenly mentioned Iris, Lin Ke had not yet had a private chat with her.

This time he had to seek her out and confront her directly.

"Am I that scary? Do you need to keep avoiding me this whole time?"

Upon meeting, Rene Clark coldly posed the question.

"How could there be?"

Lin Ke smiled, then said seriously: "It's not that I'm avoiding you; I just haven't figured out how to respond to your probing."

These words came from the heart; out of respect for Asande Conrad's face, he spoke so bluntly.

Upon hearing this, Rene the Wizard fell silent, then sighed softly: "That day I had no other intention; I merely wanted to use your relationship with Iris to increase the Clark family's chances of introducing the Construct technology from you."

Although the Clark family's cooperation with Sage Serlin and Sage Paro could completely bypass Linke Grand's introduction of the Construct project.

But doing so would undoubtedly be a foolish act of losing the big for the small.

The Construct technology, which is even more formidable than the Savage series set resonance amplification, is still in Lin Ke's mind!

Rene's intention that day was good, but the result turned out negative.

However, she did not inform Asande, then tried to make amends through him.

Instead, she patiently waited, and finally today seized this opportunity to dispel the misunderstanding.

"For such cooperation, we can speak frankly; there's no need to beat around the bush or drag personal ties into it."

Lin Ke said this, his attitude clear and his stance firm.

The Clark family is the Clark family, Iris is Iris; to Lin Ke, they are not equivalent.

"I understand."

Rui Ni the witch nodded in response, as if thoughtful.

Lin Ke did not let the atmosphere fall into silence or awkwardness, but went straight to the point, handing over with Witch Rui Ni the summary and analysis of this week's resonance amplification for the 'Barbarian' series equipment set, as well as next week's plan.

After finishing the handover, Lin Ke did not linger in the teaching and research building, but went straight back to his own lab.

Last time I agreed with Shan Duo La to find another time to chat, but I've kept putting it off until now and still haven't talked.

Might as well take care of it together today.

Fortunately, their labs are on the same floor, so meeting in the lab to chat is quite good.

When Lin Ke arrived, Shan Duo La was already sitting in the reception room with Lan Ni.

Mo Li had prepared refreshments and welcomed them.

The three discussed matters concerning the 'Do Whatever You Want' branch, and they got along quite well.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Lin Ke sat beside Mo Li and apologized.

"It's fine, we've only just arrived ourselves."

Shan Duo La replied, then immediately ended her chat with Mo Li and got straight to the point, saying, "Last time I arranged to meet you, I actually wanted to tell you why the academy still gave you a reward after your mission failed. However, my uncle stopped me a few days ago and told me to pass on to you that you should figure out the reason yourself."

After a pause, Shan Duo La changed her tone and said wistfully, "I have never seen my third uncle care so much for anyone else; he is nurturing you in every way."

"Thank you, President Fu Li Si Te."

Upon hearing that, Lin Ke immediately expressed his stance and then sincerely said, "Thank you as well, Shan Duo La."

"Thanking my third uncle is only proper."

Shan Duo La laughed, "No need to thank me."

After the pleasantries.

Shan Duo La brought up another topic, asking, "Have you recently been pushing forward the preparations to form a main force team?"

"Indeed I have."

Lin Ke nodded slightly and frankly admitted, "I'm doing the preliminary preparations and have already applied to the academy for a training base."

"What about the members? How do you plan to recruit them?"

Shan Duo La then asked the most crucial question.

Lin Ke replied, "I will mainly recruit locally; if any wizards from the headquarters wish to join, I would also welcome them."

After he finished speaking, Mo Li interjected, "Shan Duo La, are you intending to recommend some people to Lin Ke, or has someone asked you to inquire about the standards for entering Lin Ke's main force team?"

"Both."

Shan Duo La first gave an affirmative answer, then hesitated and said, "I have organized two micro legions before, actually just wanting to take a path independent of family support. However, facts have shown that such a path does not exist. Therefore, the companions I previously recruited now lack a good place to go. Lin Ke, if you have no reservations, perhaps you could let them join your main force team."

After the 'Do Whatever You Want' branch, Shan Duo La further placed her bet on Linke Grand.

Shocking!