Love, Gun, Cupid

I think buying a set of hard armor from a master craftsman, along with some medical tape and bandages, would be more useful than these two spells.

In other words, it enhances spells, and only with mods do they become somewhat useful. Whenever I review the spells I've learned, "terrible" is the only word to describe them.

After taking stock, Lin Jiade suddenly lost interest in the sesame seed cake in his mouth. He looked down at the floor and continued: "So, I, who am so incompetent, have been given gifts and protected by others many times."

I desperately wanted to do something, but my lack of ability meant I could only be a spectator. How I longed to fight alongside them, to hear them say, "It's your turn," instead of "Let me do it."

Jianlan listened silently, and when Lin Jiade finished pouring out his heart, she said, "Do you feel any better after saying it out loud?"

"Ah, oh, is that so? I'm sorry..." Lin Jiade scratched his head, "I know I'm not very good at reading people, and sometimes I say some really thoughtless things, please don't mind."

“No, you make me feel at ease,” Jianlan replied.

"So, ma'am, do you think I have any hope of becoming stronger?"

After thinking for a moment, Jianlan said, "I can't promise anything else, but if the plan goes smoothly, I will help you upgrade the spells in your current magic set before the end of the year, making them level three B magic."

When you possess level three magic, you'll immediately be promoted to Junior Magic Researcher. You should know the difference in benefits between different ranks, right?

Lin Jiade knew, of course, that after becoming a junior magic researcher, he could unlock a new batch of exchangeable resources (although he didn't have enough points). Once his authority was raised, acquiring bullets would become a legal act, and he didn't need to worry that he and Senior Mumian were doing something that skirted the edge of the law.

He immediately jumped off the chair, struck his usual goal celebration pose, and exclaimed, "Yay!"

His joy also infected Gladiolus, who smiled and said, "Your talent is average, but you are very lucky. Although you started this path too late, you have been helped by many benefactors along the way. I believe you have a bright future."

"Thank you for your kind words, madam. I will never forget your help."

“I owe you something, so please tell me if there’s anything I can do to help you besides magic… like your troubles with Jasmine, I’d be happy to be your mediator.”

"Ah, strictly speaking, this is Cupid's business."

“But even I can see that your girlfriend and your benefactor don’t get along.”

Lin Jiade leaned back in his chair: "Sigh, that's how it is. Jasmine is honest, but she holds grudges a bit, while Dujuan likes to tease her. On one side is my lover, and on the other is my benefactor, so I'm in a pretty difficult position."

"So, who do you want me to help?"

“Jasmine,” Lin Jiade answered without hesitation, “Jasmine is more lonely than I am, and has more sorrows that she cannot confide in me. Before, I could only watch helplessly, but now, I feel it is an opportunity.”

I owe 59 chapters in total, have paid 9, and still owe 50.

Chapter Nineteen: Korobochka (Part 1)

At 3 a.m. on October 24, when Lin Jiade realized that he had been used as a life-saving tool by a mysterious lich, Kapok also arrived at the Orchid Tower Hotel.

This is the best hotel in Fusion City. Before the imperial throne was vacant and the administration of the country was taken over by the Intercontinental Lords of the Thirteen Continents, it was often the candidate resort for the emperor—the most powerful magic researcher, oracle protector, and sorcerer among the human race.

Even though Kapok is a calm and composed person, she couldn't help but feel excited when she stepped into the Orchid Tower, imagining a great man who had once stepped into it and lived there. Although he is no longer here, his glory lives on like gold.

The Orchid Tower is under heavy security, not only because it is now an entertainment venue that only caters to the upper class, but also because of the impromptu meeting tonight.

Kapok knew why she had been summoned here. Guided by the receptionist, the bodysuit-clad monster arrived at the conference room on the 35th floor, where all the important figures from Area 18 were gathered.

In the center of the conference room, a cobalt blue phantom flickered erratically. Mu Mian glanced at it and then looked away. The man in the bodysuit had once told Lin Jiade that if you encountered a master-level magic researcher, you should run as far away as possible... This was Mu Mian's own wish, but unfortunately, Mu Mian couldn't escape it.

The tight-fitting monster's strength was at the bottom of the crowd gathered in the conference room, so Mu Mian herself very consciously hid in a corner.

Master-level magic researcher Xinghai cast a glance, and in that instant, his illusory image materialized, his silvery-white material body surface was flawless, and the four-hole imaging device embedded in his eye sockets rotated, scanning the kapok from four angles: light, heat, electromagnetic, and mantle energy.

"A rusted sword, yet after cleaning and sharpening, it can still reach a state of brilliance. Can you find your ideal master?"

The meeting room initially held a dismissive or indifferent attitude towards the existence of the kapok tree, but a single sentence from an important figure caused them to change their attitude, like chameleons, to look at the kapok tree with newfound curiosity and speculation.

Kapok disliked this kind of occasion, but the straitjacket had to show respect to a master magic researcher... at least outwardly, so Kapok replied, "I already have someone in mind."

"That's a real shame. A fine horse and a discerning eye seek each other out, just as a fine sword and a swordsman do."

The master-level magic researcher mentioned swords and swordsmen, so Mian naturally paid attention to his weapon. When she saw the high-frequency sword and the matching wireless charging device, she couldn't help but smile.

“I don’t want to be someone else’s secondary weapon. Swordsmen have a desire to possess their swords, and swords have the same desire for swordsmen. I hope to be the most frequently used weapon by the swordsman who wields me, not an emergency substitute,” said Kapok.

The surroundings were completely silent. No one expected that Mu Mian would dare to speak to a master-level magic researcher like this. However, the master-level magic researcher did not feel offended. Instead, he nodded and said, "If there is a chance, I would like to see which swordsman you admire."

The so-called "chance" is actually "never to see you again." Master-level magic researchers are busy with their affairs and spend most of their time on 007. Being able to come to a small place like the 18th District to clean up the aftermath of a terrorist attack is already a rare vacation time for them.

The Empire has the capacity to produce more master-level magic researchers, but simply increasing the number may not be beneficial to the Empire's order. An increase in armed forces will inevitably lead to some changes at the top and drastic changes at the middle level. No one can guarantee that they will be a beneficiary of the shifting power structure.

Therefore, under the empire's basic national policy of "maintaining the status quo," the number of master-level magic researchers will not increase or decrease rashly, but will maintain a status quo where there are slightly more troubles than people dealing with them.

Therefore, Mu Mian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the other party's reply. It was not a good thing that the swordsman chosen by the bodysuit monster was being targeted by a master-level magic researcher.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the master-level magic researcher got down to business. He beckoned to the side, and the pay-to-win sow with a devilish figure and an ordinary face stepped forward.

The "Pay-to-Win" sow looked haggard; she'd been working non-stop lately. The suspicious terrorist attack in the early hours of October 4th not only destroyed the new project team that was about to move into Revitalize City, but also ruined the "Pay-to-Win" sow's vacation in Suyab.

The security force for the new project team is led by Korobochka, the deputy head of the Armed Escort Section of the Special Transportation Bureau and a master of witchcraft.

Korobochka possesses a Class 1B sorcery called "Death Whisper," one of the greatest spoils of war the Empire acquired during its conflict with a foreign race from beyond its borders.

Korobochka was chosen to learn this witchcraft at the age of 12, graduated at 18, and worked for 12 years in the elimination team of the censorship bureau.

Around the age of 30, she went for a medical check-up in preparation for marriage. The examination revealed that the Deathrattle spell had caused an irreversible effect on her eggs, rendering her infertile.

Upon learning of this, the husband chosen for her by the Empire refused the marriage. Her inability to have children caused Korobochka to become depressed, and she applied for a transfer to the Armed Escort Department, where she worked for two years... until this accident ended her life.

Years of political vetting, an impressive work resume, and psychological evaluations proved Korobochka's reliability. Apart from working for the Empire, all she cared about was finding a reliable and loyal husband and having offspring with her blood.

Then, in the October 4th incident, after being attacked, she activated a deathrattle spell, splitting her soul and launching it in all directions. In destroying her own personality, she also killed all the attackers and the project team present. She herself died after being taken to West Ham Hospital.

The battlefield cleanup, information blackout, writing investigation reports, tracking down and bringing to justice those who aided and abetted the terrorist group... these tasks have been completed.

One of the unfinished tasks was presented to them by the pay-to-win mother pig.

"With the help of AI calculations from master-level magic researchers, we determined that the situation was not beyond saving when Korobochka used the Deathrattle spell."

Why Korobochka used Deathrattle at that time remains a mystery. Therefore, we need to recover her soul fragments and reforge them to clarify the details of the events;

Secondly, her soul fragments contain secrets such as Class B witchcraft and experimental projects, which must not be allowed to be collected and assembled by those with ulterior motives in order to glean secrets from them.

The secret itself is not important; it is simply a mistake. For an honest or mediocre person, possessing a wrong secret has little impact, but for someone with evil intentions, possessing a wrong secret can lead to unpredictable changes.

This is why I've gathered you all here tonight. From this moment on, recovering the fragments of Korobochka's soul will be the top priority for each region.

Chapter Twenty: Korobochka (Part Two)

The pay-to-win sow took a sip of water and continued in a hoarse voice, "The soul fragments of Korobochka are divided into two categories: core fragments and other fragments."

The core fragment preserved her personality, common sense, and knowledge, while the other fragments fragmented her memories. The core fragment can attract other fragments, merging them and moving towards convergence.

There are two difficulties in accelerating the soul aggregation of Korobochka by external forces: the core of Korobochka's soul has split into two, one of which is missing and the other has fallen into the Mirror World—another world where the Empire is still at peace.

According to the ceasefire agreement, we cannot send our institutional magic researchers to retrieve these fragments. In other words, we can only mobilize our peripheral members to handle this matter. Each of the six major districts near the incident site will send a small team into the Mirror Realm to retrieve the core fragment.

This is the significance of Kapok's arrival. In Fuxing City, and even in Area 18, the bodysuit-clad monster is theoretically the strongest fighting force among the non-imperial members... Of course, Kapok's experience of losing to the tuna also caused some doubts about her.

Meanwhile, Kapok's background makes her a trustworthy figure, so having the bodysuit-clad weirdo lead the team from District 18 to retrieve the core fragments of Gladiolus from the Mirror Realm becomes the safest option at present.

The Mirror Realm, currently in a ceasefire, is not dangerous. The real risk in the mission lies with other individuals who possess fragments of the Sword Orchid Soul. Some of them will inevitably head towards the Mirror Realm to seize the core fragments of the Sword Orchid Soul.

“I have no objection,” said Kapok, “but how do I enter the Mirror Realm?”

The "pay-to-win" pig explained, "The Mirror Realm uses mirrors as a medium. Around 20 PM every day, visible cracks will appear in mirrors, or anything that can be considered a mirror. These cracks are large enough for people to enter, but only those whose souls resonate with the Mirror Realm."

Then, at 6 a.m., it expelled the visitors again, only reopening its embrace 14 hours later.

"Echo... refers to the fragments of Korobochka's soul?"

"Yes, now the soul fragments of Korobochka are like invitations. Anyone who possesses a certain amount of Gladiolus soul fragments can enter the Mirror Realm, and this may even include ordinary citizens. This is giving us quite a headache."

"How many people can you send in?" Mu Mian asked.

"The soul fragments collected in District 18 are enough for five people, but we need to keep one soul fragment to create a path so that our rear can provide support, and also to leave you a safe retreat route."

We will prepare three teammates for you as soon as possible. This is a test, but also an opportunity. Kapok, Brilliant City is your home. Your father hopes you can prove you are worthy to return to Brilliant City.

“I think that’s the main reason I was summoned here,” Mu Mian said coldly. “From the day he stopped treating me as a human being, he was no longer my father.”

Kapok was in a terrible mood, and the gold-digging sow declined to comment on this drama of filial piety between father and daughter.

The man in the tight-fitting suit took the fragment of Gladiolus's soul, which was in the form of a small blue sphere sealed in a lead box.

The pay-to-win pig added, "Oh, by the way, we suspect that the core of the Korobochka soul fragment possesses the ability to communicate."

Given that she is presumably suffering from amnesia, if you are fortunate enough to encounter her and she doesn't respond when you call her Korobochka, you can address her by her other name, which is the name she is registered under in the Magic Registry.

For magical researchers/oracle protectors/sorcerers affiliated with the Empire, names can be changed, but registered names remain constant. They may forget their own names, but they will never forget their titles within the Imperial apparatus.

"What is her registered name?" Kapok asked.

“Gladiolus,” the pay-to-win sow replied.

"I've noted it down."

Kapok was only there for this one thing: the team of the bodysuit monsters, their logistical support, and supplies were matters for the whale (a term for someone who spends a lot of money on in-game purchases). Other than that, the so-called terrorist attack was still unclear and needed discussion; it wasn't Kapok's place to listen in.

Kapok didn't want to stay a second longer. As she left in the elevator, Cupid's image was reflected on the silver wall, but the bodysuit-clad weirdo was completely unaware of it.

As a celestial ally, Du Juan witnessed the Empire's actions, but the master-level magic researcher who arrived via projection did not require her to fulfill any obligation to cooperate with the Empire's actions. She was happy to have some peace and quiet. After observing Kapok for a while, her projection dissipated and she returned to her original body in Lin Jiade's bedroom.

Then, she proposed a win-win solution to Lin Jiade and the lich lady who called herself Gladiolus.

Although the individuals involved are unaware of it, their fates are converging under deliberate manipulation.

Jasmine and Du Juan went out together in the morning, not because they were particularly close, but because Du Juan told Jasmine about her guesses regarding Jianlan's identity.

“Although I have no evidence to prove that the Imperial Grandmaster of Wizardry and the Gladiolus who appeared in Lin Jiade’s life are the same person, their characteristics are so similar and the time period is so close, it is hard not to be suspicious,” Du Juan said.

Jasmine was a little angry: "If that's the case, you're practically bringing Lin Jiade to his death!"

"The top-level sorcerers are dead; their concern is whether the secrets will fall into the hands of those who plot against the empire."

Lin Jiade is considered a civilian close to the system, and within the rules, he is an active member who can be won over. In addition, he has no bad intentions, so obtaining the wrong secrets will not cause a disaster.

Therefore, gathering the fragments of Jianlan's soul will not only not bring him death, but will also allow him to directly advance to the intermediate level of magic researcher.

The higher the professional title, the greater the authority, the more friends one can choose, and the safer your situation becomes. I also received a higher score in my graduation project.

Look, through my hands, an ordinary human youth can rise through the ranks within the Empire at rocket speed. Doesn't that prove that I have a keen eye for talent and am capable?

Furthermore, Lin Jiade didn't intentionally contact Jianlan's soul fragments; he was a victim in this matter. Therefore, it's acceptable for me, as Cupid, to offer him some diplomatic asylum.

Jasmine glanced at Azalea: "Are you sure your intervention won't make Lin Jiade's situation in the Empire even more difficult? The Celestial Realm is an ally of the Empire, but no one wants an ally to exert too much influence on their own territory."

"If I hadn't intervened, would Lin Jiade's situation be any better than it is now?" Du Juan retorted.

"You're not doing this for his own good; it's just that his interests happen to align with yours. You're purely selfish. Once you've made enough profit from him, you'll abandon him without hesitation to pursue the next opportunity."

“But I’m not someone who knows how to be satisfied. Do you think I’ll just take advantage of him a few times and then abandon him?” Du Juan smiled. “Don’t be silly. You, and Lin Jiade’s potential partners, are all going to be involved. None of you can escape.”