Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 95 Reassurance

Rivers is dead.

To die thoroughly, to die casually.

The remains weren't completely gone, but they were scattered pieces, too fragmented to be pieced together neatly.

Link stared at the mangled corpse, unable to recover for a long time.

He died like that?

He's dead?

He died so easily?

Link looked down at his preparations.

The "Defender 3202" suit, ready to be unleashed at any moment, a ring of self-destructing fire grenades wrapped around the belt, and ten water shield spells waiting to be "activated" in the sea of ​​consciousness...

This was all for nothing, wasn't it?

After calming himself down, Link didn't rush to leave the scene. Instead, he took out his personal smart device, notified Wizard Paro, and then requested emergency assistance from the intelligent law enforcement puppet.

Regardless, Rivers Francis died at Link's hands.

Moreover, it was located not far from the academy.

This matter cannot be kept secret from the college; on the contrary, it must be made completely open and honest without any attempt to conceal it.

Before long, two intelligent law enforcement robots flew over.

"Link Grand, please stay where you are and await inspection."

"Repeat!"

"Link Grand, please stay where you are and await inspection."

One intelligent law enforcement puppet circled around Link, issuing warnings, while another intelligent law enforcement puppet surveyed the scene.

Link Grand slowly raised his hands to indicate that he had no offensive weapons, and then made no further moves.

Not long after, the wizards Paro, Celine, and Cody arrived together.

"What happened?"

Upon arriving, Wizard Cody took over on-site command of the intelligent law enforcement puppet, lifted the guard on Link, glanced at the mangled corpse, and asked in a deep voice.

He was fulfilling his duties as the head of the college's law enforcement department and the director of the office for investigating and mediating disputes and accidents on campus.

The wizards Paro and Celine did not stand outside the cordon that the intelligent law enforcement puppets had set up from the start, and did not rashly intervene in the matter.

"I'm not quite sure either."

Link first shared his impressions of the whole incident, and then briefly described the ins and outs of it.

Including what Rivers Francis said.

This place is too close to the college.

Who knows if there are any hidden surveillance cameras?

Or do higher-level, formal wizards like Paro have any kind of magic that allows them to recall images?

What if you get caught after playing a trick?

Wouldn't that just invite embarrassment and trouble?

Since there's nothing he can't tell others, Link simply opens up about everything.

"Well……"

After a moment of contemplation, Wizard Cody gave his verdict: "If what you say is true, then the responsibility for this matter does not lie with you at all, but rather with Rivers Francis, who suffered a backlash from the damaged 'Rage of the Meditation Technique' and lost his mind."

By manipulating the AI, the case can be closed, and Link can be cleared of suspicion.

Wizard Cody exchanged glances with Wizard Paro and Wizard Celine, and said, "You should go back to the academy first. Next time you encounter this kind of stalking, don't be too reckless, and remember to notify the academy in time."

"Okay, thank you."

Link still doesn't know the title of Wizard Cody and can only use the common honorific.

What respectable wizard would wear their name on their chest or on their head?

"Witch Paro, Witch Celine, I'm going back now. Goodbye."

After bidding farewell to the two wizards, Link left the bloody scene and walked steadily toward the academy.

"What do you think of this kid, Cody?"

With a wave of his hand, the wizard Paro quietly erected a soundproof barrier to prevent eavesdropping, enveloping the three of them.

"He's a talented person, worth nurturing."

Wizard Cody bluntly stated, "He seems honest, but he's actually quite cunning. He never tells a lie, but he doesn't always tell the whole truth. A slippery character!"

"And you, Celine?"

The wizard Paro then asked the wizard Celine.

"Hmm...very talented, quick to understand, seeks stability but is not timid."

After recalling the beginning and end of her contact with Link over the past two weeks and some details, the wizard Celine gave a detailed evaluation: "His learning speed in botany, pharmacology, and alchemy is extremely fast, and his foundation is solid. With more effort in training him, perhaps I will soon have another real assistant."

Moreover, from what I've observed, Link should already be a second-tier wizard apprentice, but he's kept it hidden, never showing off. You could say he's composed, or you could say he's somewhat shrewd; it's up to you how you see it.

"Um."

The wizard Paro nodded, but did not express his feelings or opinions about Link.

Neither Celine nor Cody insisted.

Ultimately, the decision rests with the wizard Paro himself. They can offer their opinions and suggestions for reference, but they won't interfere further.

the other side.

Link entered the academy, walking along while reflecting on the events of the evening.

At the apothecary, the wizard Paro asked, "Do you keep your promise?" It was a test, and Link handled it fairly well.

The fact that no measures were taken to prevent the infighting within the "New Blood Mutual Aid Society" can be interpreted as a warning from the Wizard of Paro to the "New Blood Mutual Aid Society," perhaps including Link as well.

Link had no idea what the wizard Paro was thinking.

But he knew that after watching the duel, he did have the thought that he should not easily betray or offend the wizard Paro.

The conversation between Peter Lionel and Paro is very informative.

This includes, but is not limited to, the Tree Spirit World, the War of the Heavens, the "Pure Blood Will," the bet between the two districts, and the attitudes of the Paro Wizard towards the Celine Wizard and the Cody Wizard.

The conflict between "subordinates" and "partners".

Putting these things together, Link could deduce that the standards by which the wizard Paro viewed his companions were far beyond what ordinary wizards could achieve!

This is quite normal; dragons do not live with snakes.

What impressed Link the most was the impermanence of life.

Just a few days ago, Antoine Hilton threatened Link and had an ideological debate with him.

Link thought he would have to deal with Antoine Hilton's covert targeting again.

Who would have thought that Antoine Hilton would die in the ring tonight, a death that was utterly meaningless.

Even Enrique Francis, who killed Antoine Hilton, was suspected of going insane after the duel and died easily at Link's hands.

The two argued back and forth, but gained nothing.

It truly left behind a vast expanse of white, so clean.

Link sighed softly, his resolve to continuously improve his personal strength growing stronger.

Everything is fleeting, drifting away with the wind.

True power comes from within oneself.

"Link, you're finally back!"

Just as Link was filled with many emotions, a clear call came from afar.

Jasmine rushed over like the wind, threw herself into Link's arms, and hugged his waist and back tightly with both hands, as if she wanted to crush Link, to hug him into her body, to hug him into her heart.

Her voice choked with sobs, and she said reproachfully, "Why did it take you so long to come back? I was so worried about you!"

Link spread his arms out to the sides, held them up for a while, and hesitated for a while before slowly hugging Jasmine and gently patting her back a few times.

A calculating mind suddenly becomes pure.

"I'm fine."

Link hesitated for a moment, then swallowed back all the words that were about to come out of his throat, uttering only three words.

However, those three words seemed to possess a magical power; after Jasmine threw herself into Link's arms, her still trembling body instantly calmed down.

"I'm glad you're alright."

Jasmine then realized what she had just done, blushed, released Link, and mumbled a reply.

She quickly took two steps back, turned to the side, and lowered her head so that Link could not see her face.

During the tea ceremony performance, Jasmine made even more intimate gestures than before, without feeling embarrassed or flustered at all.

But when her true feelings were revealed, she became genuinely shy.

Even just touching Link's finger would make her blush for a long time.

Feelings are truly a wondrous thing.

After a while, Jasmine calmed down completely and asked in succession, "What exactly happened today? Why did Wizard Paro say he wanted to take you somewhere? Do you know that Antoine Hilton, who went to the apothecary with Wizard Paro, died? I was so worried about you, afraid that something might have happened to you too!"

Link gleaned an important piece of information from Jasmine's question. Ignoring her numerous other questions, he immediately countered, "How do you know Antoine Hilton is dead?"

Instead of answering directly, Jasmine took out her personal smart device, performed a series of operations, and brought up a popular post on the "forum".

The long headline above read, "Warmly celebrate the killing of President Antoine Hilton by Rivers Francis, Vice President of the 'New Blood Mutual Aid Society'."

The poster's signature was "Pureblood Will".

After reading the contents, Link finally understood the whole story of tonight's life-or-death duel.

According to the rules of the "New Blood Mutual Aid Association", before the mid-term exams of the fall semester each year, the fourth-year president steps down and several third-year vice presidents run for president.

Antoine Hilton is reluctant to leave.

Not only did he refuse to step down, but he also began to secretly make moves to force qualified candidates for president to withdraw, violate the academy's rules, or directly harm them.

Enrique Bernalis dared to team up with Mina Havček to target Rivers Francis because Antoine Hilton was backing him up, providing intelligence and connections.

What was supposed to be a proper dogfight involving intrigue turned into a confrontation with Link.

After a series of bizarre maneuvers, Rivers and Enrique had a falling out and got into a physical fight, but they also learned that Antoine Hilton was behind it all.

Rivers Francis, whose future was ruined and who had no hope of becoming a full-fledged wizard for life, naturally hated the culprit Antoine Hilton.

In order to utilize his combat skills and have a 1v1 duel with Antoine Hilton, Rivers seeks out the "Pureblood Will," the North Campus's apprentice organization and nemesis of the "New Blood Mutual Aid Society."

What happened next was something Link witnessed firsthand: under pressure from wizard Peter Lionel, Antoine Hilton did not receive protection from wizard Paro and was forced to fight Rivers.

After reading the post, Link couldn't help but sigh, "Peter Lionel the wizard is indeed a ruthless man."

They set up elaborate schemes, one after another, each linked to the next.

but……

Link was also puzzled as to why the wizard Paro was letting the situation develop according to the other party's rhythm.

Does he have other plans?

They probably have a plan to retaliate.

We can't just let it go like this.

Thank you to the reader "狂三馬我吃桃子" for the generous donation!

(End of this chapter)