Chapter 381: with translation of chapter title

After finishing the main topic, they continued drinking tea.

Of course, Lot Sno. Grand still wasn't used to the taste of green tea.

He merely took a superficial sip out of politeness, then found an excuse and left first.

Lin Ke didn't follow them; he still had many personal matters to discuss with Dean Frister.

"The person has left; say whatever you want."

Dean Frister set down his teacup, looked at Lin Ke, and spoke gently.

"Dean, I can't keep avoiding responsibilities; what plans does the academy have for my future?"

Lin Ke sat up straight and asked solemnly.

Dean Frister countered: "Do you have any plans of your own?"

"I'll follow your lead."

Lin Ke kicked the ball back again.

Anyway, the principle is this: keep your own opinions to yourself until you've figured out the new understanding between the Supreme Council and the academy; don't reveal them lightly.

That's what adaptability is about.

"Hehe..."

Dean Frister chuckled, somewhat helpless in the face of Lin Ke's roguishness.

Really, there's nothing to be done?

Not necessarily.

At the end of the day, it's because Lin Ke has shown great value, so the academy must continue to value his psychological impression.

Otherwise, even if Lin Ke once again demonstrated tremendous growth potential, having advanced far in the Fourth Stage Sage realm and likely to reach Fifth Stage Sage within a few years, that still wouldn't warrant Dean Frister treating him with such caution.

To put it bluntly, Fifth Stage Sages are a dime a dozen at the academy.

After laughing, Dean Frister said solemnly: "The academy does have plans for you—return to the main campus and serve as a teacher for three months, prepare well, and you may soon be assigned to a parallel universe. What do you think of this arrangement?"

"I have no objections."

Lin Ke replied truthfully.

"Really, no objections?"

"Really, no objections."

"Alright, that's settled. Keep me updated on your situation."

"No problem, thank you, Dean."

Having reached an agreement, they ended their private conversation.

Leaving here, Lin Ke didn't go home but drove his transport to another place.

Paro Sage, Selin Sage, and Codi Sage had agreed to meet him there.

I don't even know what day it is today—everything's piled up at once.

Spacious, Lin Ke arrived at the agreed location, a high-end club in the northern district of Ruowosith City.

The club had been rented out by the three sages today, with no other guests; everyone inside was one of their own.

"Sorry I'm late."

As soon as he entered, Lin Ke apologized first.

"It's fine; we haven't been here long either."

Selin Sage took over the conversation, offering an out.

"Have a seat, what would you like to drink?"

Paro Sage sat beside Selin Sage, extremely intimate.

After all that push-and-pull, they've finally become a couple—congratulations.

"Um..."

Actually, in Lin Ke and Mo Li's private chats, they don't use the phrase 'become a couple'; rather, Selin Sage has single-handedly trained Paro Sage.

And Paro Sage has come to understand his own heart, adjusting his attitude and position.

The lone Codi Sage sat diagonally opposite them, trying to stay as far away as possible from the sour smell they were giving off.

At their age, after confirming their relationship, they're still acting like lovestruck kids, all clingy and gooey.

If you're sitting down to talk, just talk—why are they still holding hands?

They're just showing off on purpose.

"Let's have some drinks."

Lin Ke had just had tea with Dean Frister and wanted a change of flavor.

Paro Sage lightly snapped his free right hand.

A bottle of wine aged six hundred years appeared out of thin air.

The club's smart attendant glided over, taking the wine to awaken its flavor.

Another smart attendant brought four naturally crystal-carved wine glasses, placing one before each sage.

Soon, the wine was ready.

The earlier attendant poured each sage a glass from the bottle, then stepped back.

"The ambiance and service here are great."

Before drinking, Lin Ke gave a word of praise.

Compared to the establishments run by great clans that employ first‑class mages with no hope of promotion as servants, Lin Ke prefers this place's tranquility.

"I told you Lin Ke would like this place, and you still didn't believe me."

Selin Sage glanced at Paro Sage beside her with a smug smile, raised her eyebrows, and looked very pleased.

Pa Luo Sage lifted his wine cup for himself, without saying anything.

There won't be any jealousy either.

"Come, let's clink cups; it's been a long time since we've gathered like this."

Pa Luo Sage changed the subject and made a suggestion.

"It really has been a long time since we last gathered."

"We must clink cups."

"Come, cheers!"

The four lightly clinked their wine cups, then each downed the beautiful wine in their cup.

The intelligent servant immediately refilled the four emptied wine cups with beautiful wine.

After clinking cups as a brief celebration, we naturally move on to the main topic.

Pa Luo Sage got straight to the point, saying: "Lin Ke, I invited you today because there is a matter I need you to review together and give your opinion on."

"What is it? Please speak."

Lin Ke had no intention of shirking and directly agreed.

"Over the past two years, the Supreme Council has been fighting on two fronts: continuously increasing deployment to develop parallel universes, while continuously warring with the myriad god civilizations. The Academy is the same. Se Lin and you are better off, both holding positions in the Academy, but Ke Di and I are annoyed, always being assigned petty tasks, making it hard to find time to expand other worlds."

Pa Luo Sage laid out the background, then continued: "Ke Di and I both feel we can't keep going like this; we need a different approach. Coincidentally, the Academy has begun recruiting individuals and teams to develop parallel universes. After discussion, Ke Di and I agreed we might form a joint legion to participate. You are more familiar with parallel universes than Ke Di, Se Lin, and I. We want to ask you: can you go on this trip, and if so, what aspects must we pay attention to?"

Lin Ke felt no surprise after hearing Pa Luo Sage's words.

He had already guessed as much before coming.

As for Pa Luo Sage's question, Lin Ke felt there was nothing to hide or avoid, and spoke frankly: "I think we can go, and if we want to go, we should go early." "Why do you say that?"

Se Lin Sage asked curiously from the side: "Although the Supreme Council has already sent several forces over, and I hear progress is smooth, our Academy besides Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke has not yet gone to the parallel universe as a vanguard. Moreover, over there is Michel Great Sage Tower hostile to us; going early would surely bring many troubles."

Lin Ke replied: "The vanguard corps of the Immortal-Deity civilization in the parallel universe is about to arrive here; the cooperation between the Supreme Council and the Heavenly Court is about to enter the next stage. Sending people from the Academy now is precisely to seize more first-mover advantage before their large-scale cooperation begins."

Don't look at the fact that the first batch of wizarding forces stationed in the parallel universe, represented by Michel Great Sage Tower, have been constantly reporting good news; in truth, very few have actually reaped the benefits of developing the parallel universe.

Rui Wo Suo Si Academy dispatched only Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke, yet already seized a huge amount of latent first-mover advantage and benefits.

Over the past two years, the reason Rui Wo Suo Si Academy hasn't sent more people is merely not wanting to appear too greedy, not because they cannot or fear Michel Great Sage Tower's targeting.

To put it bluntly, Michel Great Sage Tower's influence in the parallel universe still doesn't match that of a single Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke.

Of course, combat strength is a separate matter.

Ke Di Sage interjected: "How does the Immortal-Deity civilization's vanguard corps operate? Is it the same as Michel Great Sage Tower and theirs?"

The first batch of wizarding forces stationed in the parallel universe, represented by Michel Great Sage Tower, after arriving there were directly led by the Immortal-Deity civilization's personnel to the front line where they oppose the Demon-Monster civilization.

After allocating a star region actually occupied by the Demon-Monster civilization to these wizarding forces, the Immortal-Deity civilization merely provides intelligence support and paid material support.

All these matters have been transmitted back, bit by bit, to the universe where the wizarding world resides over the past two years.

"Of course, that's the principle of reciprocity."

Lin Ke nodded, affirming Ke Di Sage's statement.

Between the Supreme Council and the Heavenly Court, there has long been a broad framework cooperation agreement.

After each side's vanguard corps enters the other's universe, they simply act according to these cooperation agreements; there's nothing hard to understand.

"Is that so?"

Ke Di Sage muttered, as if thinking of something.

Pa Luo Sage glanced over curiously, then asked Lin Ke the question he wanted answered: "And you? When do you plan to make a trip to the parallel universe?"

"The Academy has arrangements; I can't disclose them."

Lin Ke spread his hands, indicating he had difficulties, and could only remind: "If you secure the Academy's first batch of slots to go over, perhaps before long we'll be able to look out for each other in the parallel universe."

"Really? That would be great."

Se Lin Sage let out a sigh: "By then we'll look after each other; more people means greater strength."

"Se Lin Sis, are you also planning to go? What about your lab?"

Lin Ke immediately asked with concern.

Over the past two years, Se Lin Sage has continually achieved new accomplishments in potioncraft.

The title of Grand Potion Master truly lives up to its name.

Especially the several potions recently released are truly suitable for wizards embarking on expeditions to the parallel universe.

If it weren't for limited materials and high production difficulty.

Just selling those few potions, Se Lin Sage could earn the equivalent of twenty Pa Luo Sage legions over these two years.

Even so, the profit in hand is roughly enough to buy ten Pa Luo Sage legions' worth of Magic Stones.

"Of course the lab can't be abandoned; it's just a matter of going out to gather materials."

Se Lin Sage said with a smile: "After all, I've shifted my research focus; a field trip to the parallel universe would aid development."

After a pause, Se Lin Sage's face showed curiosity as he asked: "You really have just been peacefully teaching these two years, without continuing to study potions and alchemy?"

"That can't be; it would be too wasteful of time."

Lin Ke waved his hand, denying Se Lin Sage's statement.

"Why haven't you seen any new products from your business these two years, whether potions or alchemy?"

Se Lin Sage continued to ask.

Before Lin Ke could answer, Pa Luo Sage interjected: "Selling gear alone has already made him filthy rich; why would he still sell potions and alchemy products?"

"Exactly, selling gear is already profitable enough."

Ke Di Sage also voiced his agreement.

Seeing this situation, Lin Ke thought, "Well, today I'm going to bleed."

He simply said directly: "Three elders, just tell me how much you want; give a number, stop beating around the bush."

Hahaha……

Senlin Sage, Paluo Sage, and Kedi Sage all laughed out loud together.

After laughing enough, Senlin Sage waved a hand: "It's not that I want you to fetch Magic Stones; rather, I want your Grand Sage Legion to join our United Legion. Of course, if you have enough Magic Stones on hand, you also need to produce a sum of Magic Stones as the United Legion's public military funds."

"No problem, what's the charter?"

Lin Ke thought for a moment and directly agreed.

Based on Dean Fulisite's tone and Lin Ke's understanding of how the academy and the High Council operate, Lin Ke judged that after going to a parallel universe, there wouldn't be much chance of bringing the Grand Sage Legion along for free action.

Rather than leaving the Grand Sage Legion in one's own universe, it's better to take it to form a United Legion.

As for taking out a sum of Magic Stones as public military funds, that's quite normal.

"As for the charter, it's quite simple: you provide people and money, then let Mo Li oversee the Grand Sage Legion and take a position in the United Legion's command headquarters, and that's it."

Senlin Sage didn't make Lin Ke wait long, and quickly gave out the cooperation charter they had discussed among the three of them.

"Alright, I've agreed to all of it."

Lin Ke readily agreed.

Even if Senlin Sage didn't mention it, Lin Ke would ask Mo Li to oversee the Grand Sage Legion.

Over the past two years, Shanduola and Lin Ke have gradually grown distant.

Lanni, Tiffany, and Fulade have always been followers of Shanduola, so they naturally wouldn't easily drift away.

They haven't withdrawn from the "Do Whatever Freely" group; instead, they remain relatively active participants, maintaining its development.

This already counts as the strongest connection between Lin Ke and them.

Therefore, regarding the Grand Sage Legion, aside from Lin Ke himself, only Mo Li can manage it; there is no other suitable candidate.

The Brother Heavenly Group and the Socially Anxious Trio have remained loyal, but their current rank is too low.

"Come on, let's toast to our successful cooperation."

Paluo Sage, seeing that the matter was settled, raised his/her glass and made a proposal.

"Good, cheers."

Another round of clinking glasses sounded, celebrations lively.

Today's main business is basically all done.

Lin Ke didn't rush to leave, staying a while longer in the clubhouse, chatting with Senlin Sage, Paluo Sage, and Kedi Sage.

As they chatted, they somehow ended up talking about the past.

Kedi Sage dug up two incidents from Lin Ke's past, both related to killing, and they chatted enthusiastically.

Lin Ke also felt somewhat emotional hearing that.

Looking back on the past, that version of myself was precisely when I was most psychologically sensitive.

Both worried that my identity as a transmigrator would be discovered, and yet having a contradictory desire to be discovered sooner.

Wanting to lie low and develop, but things kept coming one after another.

Truly a protagonist's physique, a humanoid trouble-attractor!