Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 138 Like adding wings to a tiger?

"That's interesting."

Monroe Briseño uttered a catchphrase, clearly quite interested in Link's statement.

"Please elaborate, explain in detail."

As he spoke, Monroe Brissonio casually reached into the leather bag on his left side, took out a complete set of commonly used botanical experimental equipment, and placed it on the ground: "This is the deposit, you can take it first. The follow-up ideas make me feel it's even more worthwhile, here's more."

This seemingly casual maneuver highlights one word: extravagance!

Link didn't stand on ceremony and directly packed the miniaturized botany equipment, which was compressed and packaged using special technology and then expanded to its normal size when needed, into his large bag.

He had several reasons for coming to see Iris.

Seeking cooperation (?) is one thing, and trying to gather experimental equipment is another.

Naturally, he wouldn't let useless pride arise just because he was facing a genuine rich second-generation heir, and there was a huge gap in their disposable wealth. He wouldn't pretend to be indifferent and abandon the experimental equipment.

This is not charity.

Instead, it is the legitimate benefit obtained through the collective discoveries made by the team after brainstorming.

The fruits of our labor are truly sweet.

I'm so happy to have it.

Say different things to different people.

Since Monroe was so generous with the "money," Link wasn't going to beat around the bush either.

Link, after a moment's thought, decided to be blunt with Monroe and said:

"By comparing the gigantic size of carnivorous animals with the relatively normal size of herbivorous animals, and the mutations in some plants, we speculate that the flesh and blood of the fallen gods in this world were most likely eaten by carnivorous animals, a small portion was absorbed by some plants, and a small portion seeped into the soil and water."

The current state of this world is that the world's origin was severely damaged in the great war between the god-killers and the gods. Carnivorous animals, some plants, and a very small number of herbivorous plants are all undergoing crazy mutations and evolutions, demanding more and more resources from the world.

With its origins damaged and resources depleted, this world has lost its time to recover and is not far from true destruction.

Monroe seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.

There was a reason why this elite squad hid in this dense forest after they reunited.

In essence, they discovered abnormalities in some trees, shrubs, and flowers, and wanted to investigate the cause of these abnormalities.

The so-called relics, the so-called god-killers and the great war of the gods, were information they were completely unaware of.

The reason Monroe had been so generous in providing a complete set of commonly used equipment for botanical experiments was precisely because of this.

Now, what Link said is clearly of higher value.

It can be said that the main idea of ​​completing the third main quest, which is the faction quest, will be revealed without any concealment.

These messages provided great inspiration for their team's future operational strategies.

Therefore, without hesitation, Munro pulled out two more sets of miniaturized zoological and microbiological experimental equipment.

He has never been stingy with money, and he never hesitates to use money or resources to solve problems.

This time, Monroe did not place the miniaturized device on the ground, but presented it to the customer personally.

Compared to the last time, this time they showed respect for Link.

Respect comes from status, but even more so from strength.

A wizard's core strength consists of his level and knowledge.

Link Grand's wizarding rank is not low, and his knowledge is extensive, making him worthy of Monroe Brissonio's respect.

"Thanks."

With a slight smile, Link took the two miniaturized devices and packed them into his large bag.

Whether or not someone is respected is not something Link cares about.

Therefore, Monroe's change of attitude did not cause any emotional fluctuation in Link.

Happy transaction.

After the equipment handover, Monro extended his right hand again.

Link didn't show any fear and gave her a light handshake.

The two touched hands briefly and then released them, maintaining a polite and respectful facade.

The objective was achieved, and Monroe was clearly preventing Iris from communicating with Link alone.

Link wasn't oblivious; he immediately took his leave, saying, "I'm leaving now. Contact me if you need anything."

"Alright. Goodbye."

Monroe did not try to stop Link, and watched him leave.

Only after Link had walked quite a distance did Monroe inform Iris.

Iris flew over in a flash, glanced at Link's retreating figure as he disappeared from sight, and sneered, "You just let him go like that? Without waiting for me to say goodbye?"

Seeing that Iris was about to lose control, Monroe's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness as he explained, "This man is very calculating. I don't think you'll gain anything by dealing with him."

"What advantage could he possibly gain from me?"

Iris rolled her eyes and said dismissively, "What advantage would he possibly gain from me? Like you said, making me his henchman to fight his enemies? That's my choice. If I didn't want to, I'd still blast him away!"

"Yes, yes, yes, you can still blast him."

Having previously endured Iris's furious outburst, Monroe chose not to dwell on the topic, instead repeating Link's words and saying:

"What he just said makes a lot of sense. He did show sincerity in this regard. However, his motive is still to drive us into conflict with the opposing camp so that he can buy himself time."

"Is there a problem?"

A hint of madness flashed in Iris's eyes as she chuckled:

"Hehehe... No one is not selfish, including me and you."

If it weren't for that huge inheritance that would give half to whoever marries me after I come of age, would you value a crazy person like me so much?

Ask yourself honestly, do you value me more, or that huge inheritance?

Monroe's expression immediately became extremely unnatural.

Even through the thick layers of paint, you can still see it.

The truth, the facts, even if there isn't a single dirty word in the entire text, is often the most hurtful.

Iris may seem crazy, but she is actually very clear-headed.

It's clear who has the deeper thoughts, and whose thoughts are more complex and obscure.

Link Grand was indeed wary of her, but also wanted to take advantage of her.

But everything was out in the open; there was no saying one thing and doing another, no pretense or deception.

What Iris hates even more are those who are secretly plotting to exploit others, yet claim they're doing it for your own good.

Nausea!

Shivering, Iris leaped to her feet and left Monroe Briseño.

Monroe stood there, motionless for a long time.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh, turned around and walked to his companions, and began to adjust their strategy.

Intelligence bought with money shouldn't be wasted; it must be put to use.

As for confronting the opposing camp head-on, Iris had this idea, and that's how she replied to Link.

But that doesn't mean Monroe and his friends think that way.

If something can be solved by using your brain, try not to use your hands.

Fighting and killing, it's not good to hurt the flowers and plants, right?

Link didn't expect the trip to go so smoothly.

He originally thought that the people Iris gathered, or the small group she joined, would be violent freaks with similar personalities.

Unexpectedly, the person who controlled the team's discourse and came forward to negotiate with him was the shrewd and calculating Monroe Briceño.

Without needing to discuss it in detail, just a few words were enough for Link to grasp Monroe's general personality, and thus he changed his strategy.

The exchange and cooperation have transformed into trade negotiations.

The process didn't go as planned, but the result was good.

With the three miniaturized experimental devices in the large bag, the research and experiments on reconstructing the ecosystem will proceed more smoothly.

Link decided to head towards the sandbar in the middle of the river.

Other pre-planned activities, such as finding a more suitable site for large-scale ecosystem construction simulations, will be postponed.

Using his familiarity with the terrain and the real-time feedback from the scouts, Link traveled at high speed for nearly an hour, avoiding several conflicts of varying sizes.

As we approached the sandbar in the middle of the river, an unavoidable obstacle appeared.

Lanny Taylor led 10 people to stand guard on the only way, waiting for Link's arrival.

Clearly, in the past two days, Lani has not only expanded her team,

All members of the "New Blood Mutual Aid Society" except Andrea Norman will be gathered together;

They somehow acquired a reconnaissance artifact even more advanced than the reconnaissance puppet, and discovered Link's whereabouts from afar.

"What's up?"

Link stopped and asked coldly, his attitude far from friendly.

He was indeed getting a little annoyed by the constant pestering.

It's like a persistent ghost.

Lani raised her right hand to calm her somewhat agitated and angry teammates.

She stepped forward, deliberately entering Link's attack range, then spread her hands and raised them to indicate that she meant no harm.

There's something I feel I must tell you.

With a serious expression and an even more earnest tone, she said, "Our South District only has 30 people participating in the inter-district competition. Nine people have already been eliminated. Apart from the ten of you, the rest are all here."

"and then?"

Link remained unmoved and quickly scanned the faces of the 10 people behind Lanny.

Two familiar faces, Lutz Berg and Bamir Valvez, were prominently featured.

Of the other eight people, five were members of the "New Blood Mutual Aid Association".

"What I want to tell you is that, apart from Andrea Norman, the other 8 of the 9 people who were eliminated were eliminated by the local apprentices from the North District who were in the same faction after the faction was determined."

Lanny's expression grew increasingly serious, and her tone became more earnest.

What he said is indeed worth taking seriously.

There are only two scenarios when a new recruit from the South District is eliminated by a local apprentice from the same faction in the North District.

Either they had internal strife and didn't win;

Either the local apprentices in the North District banded together, outnumbering each other, and deliberately eliminated new blood from the South District.

Lani's words implied a preference for the second possibility.

This is meant to imply or confirm something.

"so?"

Link raised an eyebrow, his heart unmoved.

"So, forget about partnering with local apprentices in the North District. You won't find any other trustworthy team besides us."

Lani revealed her thoughts, "We need to share information and work together to complete faction missions. Only in this way can we win the inter-regional competition and achieve good results and rankings."

Link smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Those eight eliminated people were all from the opposing camp, right?"

Lanny was prepared for Link's thought process and wasn't stumped. She immediately replied, "We are indeed on the opposing side, so what?"

"It's nothing."

Link shook his head. "Just asking."

"So what do you think? Will you agree to team up or not? This is the last time I'm asking you."

Lani didn't press further, but instead spoke in a very resolute tone.

Her face was hidden behind a veil, making it impossible to see her expression.

But his eyes were very firm, not like he was bluffing.

It seems that Link refused this time, and she really did turn around and leave with her team, never to look back.

"Why do you want to team up so badly? Knowing you as I do, you should be thinking of using me as a target to attract the attention of the local apprentices in the North District, while you quietly advance the main quest."

Link wasn't intimidated. Instead of answering the question directly, he made a statement that was somewhat sarcastic.

Once upon a time, Link also wanted to play it safe and develop slowly.

I understand the mindset of Lanny Taylor, who also spent a long time hiding and later realized that she had to stand out in the wizarding world to gain more and better support.

Without racking his brains or putting himself in Lanny's shoes, Link could roughly deduce what she was thinking.

Therefore, despite Lanny's repeated expressions of wanting to team up with him and even her willingness to follow his orders, Link remained unmoved.

Arsenic coated with icing sugar is still arsenic, not icing sugar.

It is poisonous if eaten, and could even be fatal.

A small team that obeys the orders of its leader but not the orders of the leader of its larger team remains a small team.

They may disregard the commands of the large team leader at any time and instead obey the orders of the small team leader.

Such a small team is of no use.

Moreover, Lani's team is no longer a small team, but a large team of 11 people, including herself.

There's one more person than Link's team.

If we force the two teams together, who knows if a situation of one team taking over the other might occur?

Lanny wasn't surprised that Link could guess her early thoughts after hearing what he said.

But she really does want to form a team now.

Moreover, he was quite eager and determined.

Why?

The more Lani progresses through the side quests and the more she advances the main quest, the more she discovers her own and her team's weaknesses and disadvantages.

Although the academy has been subtly cultivating a spirit of exploration and innovation in all wizarding apprentices from the very beginning.

But not every freshman in Stormsea can produce several research results like Link did in his first fall semester.

Most of the first-year students haven't even fully changed their way of thinking yet.

Lani Taylor is already very good.

In terms of overall ranking within the grade, she was able to surpass Link and take first place thanks to her comparable grades and superior wizarding aptitude.

However, in terms of research and experimentation, Lani had to admit that she was far inferior to Link, who had already published several "papers" and held several "patents".

The mission of the good guys is to save the world, which is clearly not about fighting and killing, but more about research and experimentation.

Furthermore, Link has made announcements on the faction channel for two consecutive days, claiming that he has made progress on faction quests.

This forced Lanny, who believed Link wasn't lying, to change her strategy and genuinely seek a team.

As for what happens after the team is formed and what results are achieved, we'll see.

Faced with Link's teasing, she gritted her teeth and said as if making a solemn pledge:

"We can draw up a contract: during the team period, everyone, including myself, must unconditionally obey your reasonable orders and not violate them, how about it?"

One can do something once or twice, but not three times.

Link didn't want to offend Lani too much, especially since she had already "compromised" to this extent.

Therefore, it is not advisable to refuse directly.

He really didn't want to take on Nalani's team, so he came up with a compromise, saying, "Forming a team is fine, but we need to change the way we form the team."

"you say."

Lani nodded, indicating that she was willing to accept.

Link said, "We'll be forming a team, but we'll be working separately. I'll explain to you and your team what you need to do each day, and why. You'll be responsible for completing the tasks assigned to you each day and reporting the results promptly and completely."

"Can."

Lani agreed without hesitation.

After all this trouble, it's finally come to a conclusion, which is a good thing.

The expressions on the faces of the 10 people behind her varied.

Link ignored these concerns and began to consider how to utilize the sudden increase in manpower.

Use it to the extreme as long as it doesn't kill you.

Anyway, they delivered themselves to my door.

Thank you to reader Wuzuniaoer831 for the generous donation!

(End of this chapter)