Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 279 There Will Always Be Reckless People

The funeral has ended.

Dalton called the three thugs aside.

He pulled two boxes from his pocket and handed them to the gang leader: "The boss heard about this from the boss lady and sent them back to you specifically."

The gang leader sincerely thanked them, saying, "Please thank the boss and the big boss for me."

Whether it's genuine or feigned, at least in the context of "being free to do whatever you want," Link Grand treats them as human beings, not as disposable tools.

Even though the "freedom to do anything" policy was expanding, it didn't force these lower-class people in the West District to complete tasks they couldn't or were destined to die on.

Even if some tasks may involve high risks, this will be stated in advance, and there has never been a case of concealing the truth.

The five former low-level thugs, who later became local bullies, felt fully respected.

They gradually came to understand what the "humanitarian spirit" that Grand often talked about really meant, starting from their own experiences.

The sudden conflict that resulted in the deaths of two underlings was, in the gang leader's view, not related to "being free to do whatever they want," but rather the eruption of hidden dangers left behind by their previous expansion of territory.

Unexpectedly, the big shot, who was far away at the main campus of the academy, actually sent something as a token of his condolences after hearing the news.

This truly moved the gang leader, stirring his emotions.

In front of Dalton and his two henchmen, the gang leader carefully opened the first box.

The contents of the box were simple: a standard level 2 magic stone and a note stating that the standard level 2 magic stone was a resettlement fee for the two thugs.

This is not a large sum; for Link at present, it's just a drop in the ocean.

It's located on the ground floor of the West District, yet it's incredibly expensive!

Moreover, it was something that had never been heard of before.

Which criminal organization has this so-called "settlement allowance"?

If they don't take advantage of your death to rob or seize your house, that's considered having a conscience.

settle down?

Whether the home can still be kept is an unknown.

The gang leader sniffed hard, closed the lid, and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

I plan to exchange this standard level 2 magic stone for a standard level 1 magic stone when I get back, and then give them to the families of my two underlings.

After calming himself down, the gang leader opened the second box.

hiss!

Three gasps of cold air occurred simultaneously.

Inside the box were three bright red vials, shimmering alluringly in the sunlight.

"This is?"

He slammed the lid shut, his emotions surging, and asked hopefully.

"The boss has developed a brand new potion called 'Growth.' The name is a bit of a mouthful, but it's very effective and perfect for you guys."

Dalton said earnestly, "It can make up for the potential loss caused by injecting the second-generation 'empowering' drug."

hiss!

Three more gasps of astonishment rang out.

After being injected with the "empowering" potion, all five of them, including the two dead thugs, gained additional witchcraft-like talents in addition to their existing witchcraft abilities.

It can become invisible, or have far-sightedness/X-ray vision, or walk in the shadows, or have a keen sense of sound waves, or briefly blend into its surroundings.

Strange but useful, it effectively solved the problem that thugs didn't have much time or resources to learn witchcraft.

The only drawback is that no more than three doses of the second-generation "empowering" drug can be injected.

Moreover, each injection depletes a certain amount of potential.

Current strength or future potential is not a question.

For the West Side thugs who live hand to mouth and whose lives are hanging by a thread, the obvious choice is to choose the strength they have right now.

Only those who are alive have the right to talk about the future.

Now that Grand has solved this only drawback, it's the best thing that could be said for the thugs.

Seeing this, Dalton instructed, "Because the raw materials for the 'Growth' potion are expensive and the refining process is complex, it can currently only be refined by the big boss himself, and the production is extremely limited. Go back and inject yourselves, and don't reveal anything for now, understand?"

"clear."

The gang leader nodded calmly.

He now manages at least twenty or thirty people under his command, and he understands the principle that it's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality.

"Understood, understood."

The two thugs nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, I'm going now."

Dalton looked up at the sky, left the cemetery on the outskirts of the South District, and returned to the new headquarters in the North District, where "you are free to do whatever you want," to report to General Manager Asander Cornet.

Yes, the position of general manager was created specifically for Asander by the big boss.

It means that all matters are handled by him.

A true master is a master; even the job titles they choose are imbued with profound meaning.

Processing, not final ruling.

The boss's position is president, and she is the one responsible for the final decision.

This leaves room for maneuver, so there's no need to worry about being usurped.

Filled with admiration for the big boss, Dalton returned to the new headquarters, which was converted from a villa in the North District.

When the members came in and out, they greeted Dalton, one of the eight elders, with great enthusiasm, and Dalton returned their greetings with a bright smile.

Boom, boom.

Dalton knocked on the door of the general manager's office and then went inside.

"Have a seat. Are you done with your work over there?"

Assander was making tea, pointed to the chair diagonally opposite him, and casually handed Dalton a cup.

"Um."

Dalton gave a brief reply and began to sip his tea.

After enjoying three cups of tea, the two began to discuss serious matters.

From the gang leader's perspective, the sudden fire they encountered was the eruption of previously unresolved hidden dangers.

But in Assange's eyes, this was a response and warning from some black glove organizations in the West End to the "freedom to do whatever you want" movement's continuous infiltration into the West End.

"It's time to keep a low profile and reflect for a while."

After discussing the matter, Asander instructed Dalton, who was in charge of penetrating the West End, "Stop expanding in the West End, and you might even have to scale back a bit. Take precautions, especially yourself; be extra careful when you go out."

"clear."

Dalton is not a fool.

After Andrea's fraud, Dalton had an epiphany and became increasingly discreet in his dealings with others.

Of the five members of the Brotherhood, Buck is no longer responsible for any external affairs and is focusing on training the people selected by Asander.

In the words of General Manager Asander, the Grand Boss will eventually conquer the heavens, and the sooner the main force is prepared, the smoother the future development will be.

As the deputy general manager, Lynn assisted Asander in handling all matters related to "being free to do whatever he wanted".

Dijer, that kid, played to his nature, taking charge of external liaison and incidentally controlling a portion of the intelligence system.

Dijer's right-hand woman was Mina Havelchick, who seized the opportunity and promptly defected.

Betty threw a tantrum and didn't give Dijk a kind look for more than half a month.

Even Asander, who made the personnel arrangement, and Lynn, who announced the appointment, were given the cold shoulder by Betty for more than half a month.

Ezio is a straightforward and taciturn person. He is in charge of internal investigation and reports directly to President Jasmine.

Therefore, Dalton, which was becoming increasingly inconspicuous, became the best choice to penetrate the West End.

After leaving the general manager's office, Dalton walked to the deputy general manager's office next door.

"What's up?"

Lynn was reviewing a document when he sensed Dalton's arrival and asked without looking up.

"The general manager is getting married soon, we need to prepare a gift."

Dalton expertly activated the office's security system, then sat down opposite Lynn and said this.

"really."

Lynn recalled the changes that occurred in less than a month when "there was freedom to do whatever she wanted" and strongly agreed with Dalton's idea.

Then, employing the art of leadership, she smoothly said, "Since you brought it up, you'll be in charge."

Dalton opened his mouth, staring at Lynn in disbelief.

Is he just looking for trouble and creating a problem for himself?

Besides, have you become this slick now?

Can't be bothered, can't be bothered!

Dalton suddenly felt the seat beneath him getting hot, so he quickly jumped up and hurriedly left.

He feared that if he stayed any longer, another errand would fall on his shoulders.

Lynn watched Dalton's retreating figure and smiled helplessly.

If we don't give Dalton some visible tasks, how can we convince those black gloves in the West End that "they're free to do whatever they want" and stop the expansion?

The main campus of the college.

"Freedom to do whatever you want" branch location.

After nearly a month of preparation, the "Freedom to Do Anything" branch was officially unveiled today.

Everything was done properly, and all procedures were reported.

Absolutely flawless.

Even if someone wanted to take advantage of the situation, they couldn't find fault with it.

After a brief unveiling ceremony, Link stood in the lobby of the branch headquarters, facing Jasmine, Sandra, Lanny, Tiffany, Gerald, and Fried, and calmly said, "I don't have many empty words to say, just one sentence: 'Freedom to Do Anything' was destined from the top-level design to be not an organization of one person, but an organization of all members. This may go against the mainstream of the wizarding world, but it is my heartfelt expectation as the founder. I hope everyone can work together to develop 'Freedom to Do Anything' well, and at the same time, develop yourselves well."

After a pause, Link emphasized, "If one day 'freedom to do whatever you want' becomes an obstacle to your development, I hope you can withdraw from it without any hindrance, without any psychological burden. However, I also hope that if you do withdraw, you won't kick it while it's down."

As he finished speaking, Link raised the crystal glass filled with golden liquid and said, "I hope that everyone here will one day find their own truth!"

"Cheers!"

The six people raised their glasses together, clinked them, and drank the entire glass.

After a few rounds of drinks, Link approached Sandra and got straight to the point, saying, "You'll be the Vice President of 'Freedom to Do Anything' and the General Manager of the branch. You'll have full authority over all branch affairs, and you'll also have the right to question headquarters. What do you think?"

"no problem."

Sandra calmly accepted her appointment and then said, "You know, I joined not for any position or authority."

"certainly."

Link nodded and said, "I have learned a little about your ideas, and I think that 'freedom to do whatever you want' could be a platform to put your ideas into practice."

"How so?"

Sandra immediately became interested.

Link glanced at Gerald and Fried in turn, then asked, "Did you notice the difference between them?"

"the difference?"

Sandra followed Link's gaze, looking thoughtful.

Link didn't keep him in suspense and directly stated his opinion: "Fried's presence has always been low-key, but he always manages to complete his tasks without standing out or making mistakes. Why is that? Because he has reservations, so he can't fully unleash his potential. Gerald, on the other hand, is outgoing, responsible, and can adjust his self-positioning in a timely manner, moving forward and backward with ease. However, in the long run, I predict that Fried's future achievements will not be lower than Gerald's."

"It could even be higher."

Sandra offered her perspective, omitting what Link hadn't fully articulated: "Gerald seems to be in complete control right now, but he doesn't seem to feel much of a sense of crisis. Fried's anxieties, on the other hand, are precisely what create his sense of crisis. As long as Fried's confidence and will aren't crushed by these anxieties, he can continue to climb higher, driven by that sense of crisis!"

"Correct answer."

Link wholeheartedly agreed with Sandra's words, "So..."

"Therefore, by leveraging the platform of 'freedom to do anything,' we can create a relatively equal and free atmosphere, bringing them closer together, making Gerald feel the challenge from Fried, and making Fried understand that what he fears is not something truly insurmountable. And so..."

Sandra's eyes sparkled, and her tone was excited.

"In this way, both sides can make progress and continue to progress!"

Link picked up where Sandra left off, adding what she wanted to say, before changing the subject, "However, finding the right balance is a very challenging thing."

At this point, Sandra fully understood why Link had asked her to serve as both the branch manager and vice president.

Only by taking on the role of vice president can Sandra more easily leverage the "freedom to do whatever she wants" platform and channels to recruit more local wizards like Fried from the region.

Whether they are purebloods or halfbloods from local families on the West Coast, or new blood from the Storm Sea, they can all serve as fresh blood, continuously flowing into the "freedom to do anything" world branch of the academy headquarters.

In the future, the local branches will be the real branches, and the academy headquarters will be the real headquarters!

Having figured these things out, Sandra reflected on her actions and compared her method of recruiting Lanny, Tiffany, and Fried through a miniature legion with the method of drawing outstanding wizards from the local area through a platform and channels that allowed for "freedom in everything."

She found that both had their advantages and disadvantages; the former mainly targeted the high-end market, while the latter was more inclusive and long-lasting.

She wanted to realize her vision of making more students from the main academy's elite families feel the pressure of competition, to break free from a state of complacency and strive for improvement.

Clearly, the latter is more suitable.

Sandra, who initially felt that her mother, Ms. Lisandra, had altered her perceptions but did not change her mind and continued to join the "freedom to do whatever she wanted" group, was now full of motivation.

"Thanks."

Sandra sincerely thanked Link for helping her find a path to put her beliefs into practice.

"You're welcome."

Link nodded slightly, then walked toward Jasmine, who was waving at him.

"There's been a minor incident in the teaching and research group. Wizard Celine is out and urgently needs you. She wants you to come over right now."

Jasmine whispered gravely in Link's ear, whose head was bowed, "It's extremely urgent, don't delay!"

"Okay, please tell them for me."

Upon hearing this, Link immediately walked outside and drove straight to the pharmacy teaching and research group's laboratory building.

Jasmine, facing the curious gazes of the crowd, explained truthfully, "The Sage Celine's Pharmacy Research Group has an urgent matter to discuss with Link."

"What about you? Do you want to come along?"

Sandra continued, "If you're busy too, we can wrap this up for today."

"Need not."

Jasmine shook her head and said in a low voice, "I'm afraid if I go there, I'll laugh until my stomach hurts."

The crowd was puzzled, but no one asked any further questions.

After all, it was an internal matter of the Sage Seren's Pharmacy Research Group, and Jasmine wouldn't keep it a secret if it was convenient to talk about it.

Link arrived at the experimental building as quickly as possible.

Salia, whom Link hadn't seen in a long time, waited anxiously downstairs. Upon seeing Link's car, she immediately came to greet him.

"Quick! Loken can't hold on much longer!"

Salia spoke anxiously, explaining the incident: "I don't know what happened, but while Sage Celine was away, Loken secretly took a body-refining potion that hadn't been fully developed yet, trying to forcefully break through to the third level of wizardry. The potion's effects mutated in an unknown way, and Loken has gone into shock, his vital signs are disordered, and his life force can't be replenished no matter what."

As Link hurried towards the third basement level, he asked:

"Is he tired of living his life and is eager to die?"

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! May your family be reunited, and may everything go smoothly and peacefully.

(End of this chapter)