Chapter 312: 318. Chapter 318 Progress and Ambition

318. Chapter 318 Progress and Ambition

Listen to advice, eat a full meal.

Lin Ke was not unfamiliar with Sage Waters's deeds.

After entering the academy's main campus for further study, not just one instructor of the advanced improvement course, either directly or indirectly, has mentioned this matter.

Especially as Lin Ke's fame grew and his deeds multiplied, the instructors came to understand his situation better.

Each one who mentioned these deeds had a hidden intention.

He knew that Sage Fletcher Domingo's mention of Sage Waters at this moment was purely out of goodwill.

Just know it in your own heart.

Fletcher Domingo dropped that line and went straight back to his room.

Come over here and chat?

Sage Cody issued the invitation.

Okay.

Lin Ke didn't hesitate and agreed.

The two entered the room assigned to Sage Cody.

What Sage Cody offered to entertain Lin Ke was also the high-end tea arranged by Mo Li.

After drinking several cups of tea, Sage Cody brought up the topic and asked, "What do you think of today's negotiation?"

Lin Ke thought for a moment and said seriously, "The negotiation result is not important; having this negotiation is what matters."

Please elaborate on your thoughts.

Sage Cody became interested and pressed further.

Lin Ke explained in detail:

In terms of status, the Reverwo Sith Academy is not on equal footing with the Tower of the Great Sage Michael.

But in today's negotiation, their status is actually equal.

That is the significance of this negotiation.

Let the other wizard organizations in the Michael region realize that the Tower of the Great Sage Michael's status is no longer lofty as before, and the Reverwo Sith Academy can now confront it head-on.

Anything else? Keep going.

Sage Cody's expression brightened, and he praised highly.

There's also...

Lin Ke paused, then said, "Forcing people to pick sides."

Hehehe...

Sage Cody laughed and said, "What you said is all correct, but you're missing the most important point."

I'd love to hear the details.

Lin Ke leaned his upper body slightly forward to show he valued it.

Sage Cody didn't beat around the bush, directly revealing the answer: "That is to use this rather obscure way to tell everyone that the Great Sage Soth has successfully ascended."

Indeed.

Lin Ke nodded, indicating agreement.

The Reverwo Sith Academy, though it has never really submitted to the Tower of the Great Sage Michael and has always been opposed to it, has never before faced it in such a manner.

Status is proportional to strength.

Without strength to match or exceed that of the Tower of the Great Sage Michael, how dare one demand equal status?

Virtue not matching position brings disaster.

Sage Cody then said, "So, during this negotiation process, if the other side brings you up again, you must decide how to respond—know when to fight and when to endure, and get the balance right. You can't handle every time like you did today."

Hmm, thank you for the advice, Sage Cody.

Lin Ke, having been taught, sincerely thanked him.

Call me Wizard Cody, don't be so formal.

Yes, Wizard Cody.

The two then chatted further about negotiation topics, exchanging their views.

As they neared the end, Sage Cody suddenly grew curious and asked, "How are Paro and Serin doing now?"

Lin Ke smiled but had no intention of answering.

Hehehe...

Seeing this, Sage Cody burst out laughing.

After a while, he finally stopped laughing, unable to contain his joy, and said, "I used to advise him to face Serin head-on sooner and not keep dragging it on, but he wouldn't listen."

As he spoke, Sage Cody suddenly shifted the topic and asked, "What do you think of the relationship between me and Paro?"

Lin Ke met his sharp gaze directly, did not avoid the question, pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I stand aside and watch."

Good!

Sage Cody suddenly stood up and said seriously, "Remember your words today."

Of course.

Lin Ke promptly stood up, gave an affirmative promise, then said his farewells.

Sage Cody did not try to keep Lin Ke, seeing him off.

Returning to his assigned room, Lin Ke first checked for any listening or monitoring magical devices, then sat by the window chair, watching the twilight sky about to fade, silent, recalling today's experiences.

First, the negotiation itself had nothing to do with Lin Ke, but after that incident, he would likely keep getting dragged into it.

Beating up that third-rank wizard actually wasn't of much use.

Will the Michel Grand Sage's Tower take Lin Ke as material, or will they?

It's just a beating, having fingers chopped off—no big deal, not dying; at worst, just replace a few wizards responsible for negotiations each day.

Next, Lysandra suddenly appeared, designating Lin Ke, Codi Sage, and Fletcher Domingo Sage to teach the Michel Grand Sage's Tower negotiation team a lesson.

From Lysandra's demeanor at that time, she must have received some stimulation in the reception room.

It doesn't seem like they deliberately targeted Lin Ke, making him a target.

Finally, there is Watts Sage's experience.

This is a lesson that must be learned and kept firmly in mind as a warning.

After the reflection ended, Lin Ke no longer paid attention to the negotiation matter, and his consciousness entered the sea of consciousness.

"Young master, young master, you just looked so handsome!"

It only appeared for an instant; through Lin Ke's view, Flandre, who had witnessed the entire battle, immediately sweetly praised.

"Young master, young master, you just looked so handsome!"

Cornelia imitated, like a repeater.

"Just average."

Lin Ke responded lightly, then asked, "How's the progress?"

Flandre replied, "How could it be that fast? Young master, you're too impatient."

"You're impatient, right?"

Cornelia originally wanted to repeat the whole sentence, but seeing Lin Ke about to speak, she hurriedly skipped the preceding part and only repeated the end.

"Can't not be impatient."

Lin Ke rarely sighed, "Those who stand against the young master and oppose him are becoming ever higher in rank."

"Who can be blamed for this?"

Flandre pursed her lips and muttered softly.

"Who to blame?"

Cornelia did not lower her voice.

In her haste, Flandre quickly grabbed Cornelia, covered her mouth with her hand, preventing her from speaking again.

It was just supposed to be a whisper; how could it be said so loudly? Lin Ke chuckled, not taking it as an offense.

Two little kids who haven't grown up— the more lively, the better.

"Can't we think of a way to speed it up?"

Lin Ke posed a difficult problem.

"I'm asking you, Cornelia."

Flandre immediately released her hand covering Cornelia's palm and kicked the ball away.

"No, young master."

Cornelia has no hidden thoughts; she says what she thinks, very innocent.

"Like that."

Lin Ke was not disappointed either; he calmly accepted.

Actually, he himself knows there is no way to speed up the real "small world's" apocalypse and the rhythm of organic life's rebirth and evolution.

People are like that; they like to obtain negative news from others.

"You all pay close attention; inform me promptly of any situation."

After giving that reminder, Lin Ke's consciousness withdrew from the sea of consciousness.

By then, the sky had completely fallen into night.

The Michel Grand Sage's Tower entered the rhythm of nightlife.

The place where the negotiation is held is actually Michel City, whose status and function are similar to Revosoth City.

Looking out the window, Lin Ke saw a tower lit with lights, straight and towering, as if reaching the heavens.

Exactly the wizard tower built by Michel Grand Sage when he established the Michel region.

As an iconic building early in the wizard world that displayed high-ranking wizards' status and influence, the wizard towers that remain in the world are actually quite rare.

Even the entire western coast has fewer than ten.

The Tudor Grand Region even more so has only this one, a rarity.

Standing by the window, quietly appreciating the blossoming night scenery, Lin Ke nevertheless detected a hint of decay.

Just like Michel Grand Sage's age.

Under the facade of the Michel Grand Sage's Tower's prosperity lies the impending cruel reality of collapse.

Over the years, the Michel Grand Sage's Tower has never produced an eighth-rank Grand Sage outside the Michel family, which is one proof.

Lady Lysandra's face-to-face mockery of Kaveil Ludwig's remark is not baseless.

He shook his head, cleared those unrelated thoughts, and Lin Ke walked to the bedside and lay down fully clothed.

The daily essential deep meditation, he chose to pause for a day or a period.

Being in the Michel Grand Sage's Tower's headquarters in the wizard world's homeland, one must pay attention to many aspects.

Flandre's existence, and the existence of the "small world," are not secrets; revealing them is no big deal.

But the "Grand Cosmos Meditation Method" and special meditation ways are known by almost no one, and must not be easily exposed.

Especially the matter of preemptively comprehending the rules, which is even more top-secret.

Dean Fryst specially invited Sage Soth to help conceal it.

Lin Ke certainly doesn't want to act foolishly.

Closing his eyes, just before entering sleep, Lin Ke suddenly recalled the battle that Dean Fryst had taken him to watch—a grand melee of sage-level wizards.

Combining Lady L Sanders' remark at the start of today's negotiations that "still represented the Lie Jin Trading Company and the White Tower Alliance", Lin Ke gained a slightly different understanding of Dean Friest's action.

But we need to keep faithful, not add extra. Let's translate each line precisely.

We need to preserve paragraph breaks: each line separate.

We'll need to translate Chinese to English, preserving meaning, not adding.

Let's go line by line.

First, note the glossary: Lin Ke → Lin Ke, Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke.

We'll need to use those exactly.

Now translate each line.

Taking into account Lady Lisanra's remark at the start of today's negotiation—that they "still represented the Lie Jin Trading Company and the White Tower Alliance"—Lin Ke gained a slightly different understanding of Dean Freest's action.

Interpretation: Combining Lady L Sanders' remark at the start of today's negotiations that "still represented the Lie Jin Trading Company and the White Tower Alliance", Lin Ke gained a slightly different understanding of Dean Friest's action.

still represented the Lie Jin Trading Company and the White Tower Alliance

Thus: Combining Lady L Sanders' remark at the start of today's negotiations that "still represented the Lie Jin Trading Company and the White Tower Alliance", Lin Ke gained a slightly different understanding of Dean Friest's action.

We need to keep as one line.

Not giving it any further thought, Lin Ke fell into a deep sleep.

Translation: Not thinking further about that, Lin Ke fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

Translation: The next day.

Both negotiating teams continued their talks.

Translation: The two negotiating teams continued the talks.

They argued from morning until evening, yet still had no result and made no progress.

Translation: From morning until evening, they still got nowhere, with no progress.

As expected, the Michell Tower of the Great Sage raised the special 'Foreign Guest' issue again just as the talks were wrapping up, demanding that Lin Ke file a report and submit to questioning without condition.

Translation: As expected, the Michel Great Sage Tower again brought up the special "foreign guest" matter as the negotiations were about to end, demanding that Lin Ke make a report and unconditionally accept questioning.

This time, Fletcher Domingo, the Great Sage, stepped forward.

Translation: This time, Fletcher Domingo Sage stepped forward.

He did not directly respond to the Michell Tower's provocation, nor did he, like Lin Ke, draw the tower's hatred; he simply said calmly, "Is the Michell Tower of the Great Sage ready to go to war with the Rui Wo Si Si Biological and Medical Academy? If ready, then let's go to war directly."

Translation: He did not directly respond to the Michel Great Sage Tower's provocation, nor did he, like Lin Ke, draw hatred toward the Great Sage Tower; he simply said calmly: "Michel Great Sage Tower, are you ready to go to war with the Rui Wo Si Si Biological and Medical Academy? If you are ready, then just go to war."

Rui Wo Si Si Biological and Medical Academy

Having said that, Fletcher Domingo, the Great Sage, led his team away.

Translation: Having said that, Fletcher Domingo Sage led his team away.

From the slight bewildered expression of the fifth‑rank Great Sage from the Tower, Fletcher Domingo already had his answer and saw no need to stay longer.

Translation: From the slightly startled expression of the fifth-rank sage from the Great Sage Tower, Fletcher Domingo already had the answer; there was no need to stay longer.

If they were ready, would they still be bewildered?

Translation: If they were ready, would they still be startled?

Since they are not ready, what is it that prevents the Michell Tower of the Great Sage from immediately going to war with the Rui Wo Si Si Academy?

Translation: Since they are not ready, what is it that makes the Michel Great Sage Tower dare not immediately go to war with the Rui Wo Si Si Academy?

The answer is on the verge of surfacing.

Translation: The answer is about to surface.

However, after probing out an answer, the Rui Wo Si Si Academy delegation did not end the negotiations there.

Translation: However, after probing out an answer, the Rui Wo Si Si Academy delegation did not end the negotiations there.

That's a separate matter.

Translation: That's a separate matter.

In the reception room, there was not a single conversation all day.

Translation: In the reception room, there was no conversation all day.

The young witch of the Michell family sat beside Kaveer Ludwig, glaring all day at Lady Lisanra, who was calmly sipping tea by herself.

Translation: The young witch of the Michel family sat beside Kaveer. Ludwig, glaring at Lady L Sanders, who was leisurely drinking tea alone, all day.

Kaveer Ludwig

The young witch was indeed overwhelmed by the fragrant tea and the elegant aura exuded by Lady Lisanra as she brewed it.

Translation: The young witch was indeed angered by Lady L Sanders' tea-drinking, the fragrant aroma wafting, her refined demeanor showing.

The third day.

Translation: The third day.

The negotiations continued.

Translation: The negotiations continued.

After a whole day of verbal sparring, the talks finally made a bit of progress.

Translation: After a whole day of verbal sparring, the negotiations finally made some progress.

That is, the Michell Tower of the Great Sage promised to drop its incessant wrangling over the special 'Foreign Guest' matter;

Translation: Namely, the Michel Great Sage Tower promised to give up harassing over the special "foreign guest" matter;

while the Rui Wo Si Si Academy promised not to retaliate in any form against the Shadow City that had been substantially severed from the academy.

Translation: and the Rui Wo Si Si Academy promised not to retaliate in any form against the Shadow City that had substantially severed ties with the Rui Wo Si Si Academy.

This progress may appear to put the Rui Wo Si Si Academy at a slight disadvantage, but in fact it is not.

Translation: This progress seemed to put the Rui Wo Si Si Academy at a slight disadvantage, but in fact it was not.

The special 'Foreign Guest' Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke belongs to the Rui Wo Si Si Academy, which is beyond doubt.

Translation: The special "foreign guest" Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke belongs to the Rui Wo Si Si Academy, which is beyond doubt.

The Rui Wo Si Si Academy belongs to the Michell District, which is also beyond doubt.

Translation: The Rui Wo Si Si Academy belongs to the Michel District, which is also beyond doubt.

Before the Rui Wo Si Si Special District separates from the Michell District and drops the 'Special' designation, if the wizard world erupts into a full‑scale war with other worlds, the Rui Wo Si Si Academy must obey the commands of the Michell Tower of the Great Sage.

Translation: Before the Rui Wo Si Si Special District became independent from the Michel District and dropped the "Special" character, once the wizard world erupted into a full-scale war with other worlds, the Rui Wo Si Si Academy had to obey the Michel Great Sage Tower's command.

If the Michell Tower of the Great Sage no longer needs the pretense, it could temporarily draft the special 'Foreign Guest' Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke, thereby inserting a wedge and seizing the fruits.

Translation: If the Michel Great Sage Tower no longer needed face, it could temporarily conscript the special "foreign guest" Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke, thereby inserting a wedge and seizing the fruits.

Now that this exchange has been achieved, the Rui Wo Si Si Academy has one less hidden worry and is not at a loss.

Translation: Having reached such an exchange, the Rui Wo Si Si Academy has one less hidden danger, so it does not lose.

Seeing that the negotiations finally had nothing to do with him, Lin Ke felt a bit better.

Translation: Seeing that this negotiation finally had nothing to do with him, Lin Ke felt a bit better.

Although it was just a war of words, the Tower of the Great Sage didn't dare to act for real, but the arguing made their ears sore.

Translation: Although it was just lip service, the Great Sage Tower didn't dare really act, but the arguing made their ears uncomfortable.

That day, Lady Lisanra, through Dean Freest, took several packets of the finest tea leaves from Lin Ke and brewed them in various ways in the reception room.

Translation: That day, Lady L Sanders, through Dean Friest, took several packs of the finest tea leaves from Lin Ke, and brewed and tasted them in various ways in the reception room.

She did this solely to spite the young witch of the Michell family.

Translation: Not for anything else, just to anger the young witch of the Michel family.

Kaveer Ludwig was quite helpless.

Translation: Kaveer Ludwig was rather helpless.

One a sixth‑rank Great Sage, the other a fifth‑rank, both no longer young and rich in experience, yet they behaved like children.

Translation: A sixth-rank sage and a fifth-rank sage, both not young, with rich experiences, yet acting so childishly.

Really… they were utterly speechless.

Translation: Really... speechless.

However, Kaveer also began to worry.

Translation: However, Kaveer also felt worried in his heart.

Now the two are merely sparring like children, but when the Rui Wo Si Si Academy and the Tower of the Great Sage actually go to war, it is very possible that only one of them will survive the aftermath.

Translation: Now the two are merely sparring like children, but when the Rui Wo Si Si Academy and the Great Sage Tower truly go to war, it is very likely that only one of them will survive to see the aftermath.

In the history of the wizard world, such things have indeed happened before.

Translation: In the history of the wizard world, such things have not been absent.

Witches, being essentially women, share the common female traits of being petty and holding grudges.

Translation: Witches, essentially still women, being petty and holding grudges is the nature of most women.

Thus, on the fourth day of negotiations, Kaveer Ludwig found an excuse to send away the young witch of the Michell family.

Translation: Therefore, on the fourth day of negotiations, Kaveer Ludwig found an excuse to send away the young witch of the Michel family.

Lady Lisanra looked around, saw no trace of the young witch, immediately understood Kaveer's concern, and couldn't help but chuckle.

Translation: Lady L Sanders looked around, didn't see the young witch's figure, and upon thinking, immediately understood Kaveer's concern and worry, and couldn't help but chuckle.

She had indeed already harbored murderous intent!

Translation: She had indeed already harbored murderous intent!

Never before has anyone been able to tamper with others' perceptions, peek at their memories, and still survive to this day—except her!

Translation: Only she had ever altered others' cognitions and spied on their memories, and no one could have done such a thing and still be alive today!

When it comes to holding grudges, Lisanra has indeed inherited her grandfather Rui Wo the Great Sage's 'good' style.

Translation: Speaking of holding grudges, Lady L Sanders indeed inherited her grandfather Rui Wo Great Sage's "good" style.

Um…

Translation: Um...

Given the Rui Wo Si Si Academy's current strength, it actually qualifies to apply to the High Council for promotion from a 'Special District' to a full 'District'.

Translation: Given the Rui Wo Si Si Academy's current strength, it actually already qualifies to apply to the High Council to upgrade from a "Special District" to a "District".

However, Rui Wo the Great Sage has refrained from applying because, having been offended by the Michell Great Sage in his youth, he seeks revenge.

Translation: However, Rui Wo Great Sage, having been angered by the Michel Great Sage in his youth and wanting revenge, has simply not applied.

What Rui Wo the Great Sage wants is to overturn the Michell Tower of the Great Sage and rename the Michell District as the Rui Wo Si Si District.

Translation: What Rui Wo Great Sage wants is to overturn the Michel Great Sage Tower and rename the "Michel District" to the "Rui Wo Si Si District".

The difference in here is huge!