Chapter 242: Chapter 48: Out-of-play Tactic, Dilemma Situation?_2

Translator: 549690339

An in-depth explanation of a Level 1 Rule Rune could be exchanged for 1 “Academic Point”, which was not cheap by any means.

To have 12 Level 1 Rule Runes, one needs 12 “Academic Points”.

But this was an essential expenditure.

Despite the difficulty of earning “Academic Points”, Link spent them without hesitation and reluctance.

After browsing through the detailed explanations, Link arranged them in order of difficulty based on his impressions.

Then, he read through each one in detail, going from easy to hard, gradually increasing the difficulty.

To thoroughly understand 12 Level 1 Rune explanations was not something that could be done in a short amount of time.

It would need at least a month’s time.

Only Link, who possessed the “Mind Closure Technique”, the Hall of Mind, and the Talent for Spell Casting Studies, along with his own decent qualifications, could possibly make it.

If it were someone else, even a genius like Lanny Taylor might not be able to accomplish the task in a month.

No one caused any more significant disturbances for the remainder of the weekend.

Time passed quickly in tranquility.

A new week came along.

The moment the cooldown time for Link’s “Multi-Threading Thinking” status card was completed, he chose to use it again.

The effect was mediocre, nothing special.

Only with Link’s own effort, aidedby a tiny bit of help from the “Multi­Threading Thinking” status card, was he able to reduce the time needed to comprehend 12 Level 1 Rune explanations from a month to two weeks.

Two weeks is not a big deal.

Wiping off the cold sweat on his forehead caused by brain overload, Link licked his lips.

What a refreshing taste!

Having calmed himself down, he contained his overjoyed emotions.

Link left his dormitory to meet with the members of the ‘Do Whatever You

Like’ freedom-loving group in the cafeteria.

During the meal, he noticed that Dalton had voluntarily broken his invisibility buff.

His face showed a conflicted expression, as though he wanted to say something but was hesitant.

“Dalton, do you have something to say?”

On the way to the classroom after leaving the cafeteria, seeing that Dalton was still undecided, Link took the initiative and asked.

As the team leader, he had to show concern for the members from time to time, providing comfort and solving problems.

“No…nothing.”

Dalton, somewhat flustered, was surprised that Link asked him and responded hesitantly.

“If you have something to say, just say it, don’t be shy.”

Link reassured him while making his own stance clear.

“Dalton, don’t be coy. If the boss asks you something, just answer honestly.”

Buck gave Dalton a hard pat on the shoulder and said openly.

“You came back looking troubled after going downstairs alone last night. You definitely ran into some trouble.”

Linn analyzed calmly and then said, “Looking at you, it doesn’t seem like good news. Must be something that would trouble the boss. I suggest you think carefully about whether to bring it up or not to avoid causing him trouble.”

“Oh.”

Hearing his good friend Linn, Dalton’s face showed struggle, but in the end, he gave up his intention to seek Link’s help.

“It’s okay, just say it.”

Link first nodded and smiled at Linn, expressing his appreciation for his consideration or “loyalty”, then turned to Dalton and said softly.

“Really?”

Dalton’s eyes lit up, he asked in surprise.

“Hmm.”

Link gave a slight nod.

Not too much movement, not too loud a voice.

But it gave Dalton incredible encouragement.

A surge of warmth flowed through Dalton’s heart, feeling deeply moved.

The boss is definitely the boss.

Dalton sniffed, and as calmly as possible, explained the situation:

“Last night, Andriya Norman came to me.

She said she was being blackmailed by a guy named Hawk Lucia and was forced to work as an inside reporter for him.

At first, she wanted to eliminate herself to avoid betrayal.

But she was saved by the boss, so she had no choice but to disclose the boss’s whereabouts.”

“Get to the point. What does she want from you?”

Jasmine interrupted Dalton’s narrative at this point, her tone was cold, and she was somewhat angry.

From the language Andriya used to Dalton, Jasmine perceived a familiar sense.

Previously, Mina Havcheck had also used phrases like “had no choice” and

“was forced to” to gain her trust.

She smelled the same scent.

“Oh.”

Dalton pulled his head back and continued: “She said Hawk Lucia sent someone to find her, forcing her to repay a debt of Magic Stones that she never borrowed. If she didn’t repay, he would report it to the academy and sell her to the Southern Factory to pay back the debt.”

“Hmph! Who knows whether she really borrowed it or not.”

Jasmine scoffed, “If she really didn’t borrow, would she be afraid of him reporting it?”

“She said…”

Dalton stuttered.

“What did she say? Speak clearly, don’t dawdle.”

Jasmine urged with some impatience.

As she listened, it felt more and more off.

Perhaps as Linn inferred, this matter would likely put Link in a dilemma.

“She said, she was taken to the Black Market’s Underground Duel Field in the West District, got agitated, and out of fear, signed a debt agreement. But she never really received that magic stone.”

Dalton gritted his teeth and relayed Andriya’s claim.

He knew his words sounded far-fetched.

“Humph!”

Jasmine’s face showed anger, ready to scold.

Could this kind of nonsense be believed?

This is utterly absurd.

Link raised his hand, stopping Jasmine.

Everyone is a comrade, there ‘snoneedfor harsh words.

Moreover, Dalton didn’t really make a fundamental mistake.

He was just overly considerate, making him lost in his action due to old friendship.

Plus, Link was the one who brought this subject up.

If it was going to put him in a dilemma, it was his own doing.

You can’t blame Dalton for this.

Link asked seriously: “What are her demands? What does she want you to do?”

Jasmine, the four bros, and the three members of the Social Phobia Group all focused on Dalton, waiting for his answer.

Seeing this, Dalton realized he had caused trouble, and was filled with regret.

With a deep sigh of resignation, he said:

“She wanted me to lend her some magic stones to payback the debt. I can’t afford that much. She then cried saying that it would ruin her life. At that moment, feeling pity, I said I would help her figure out a way.”

At that time, Linn pulled the disheartened and angry Buck aside and asked, “How much does she owe? Why didn’t you discuss with us first?”

“500 magic stones.”

With things coming to this, Dalton didn’t have much to hide. With gritted teeth, he decided to just let it all out:

“I was afraid you would mock me as a simp, so I didn’t think of discussing with you first. I planned to consult with boss in private.”

Hmm…

Link was speechless when he heard this.

Initially, seeing Dalton’s distressed expression, he thought it was something serious.

Out of “consideration” as a boss looking out for his subordinates, he showed concern.

Turns out, he never thought it was about this.

However, now that it was brought up, it wasn’t entirely without benefit.

At least, in front of all the members, whatever decision Link makes and why he makes it can be clearly understood.

This matter, saying it’s severe isn’t severe, but saying it isn’t severe makes it worth noting.

500 magic stones isn’t a small sum, but it’s not completely unaffordable either.

Link and Jasmine’s patent dividends, if gotten in advance, could make up for it.

The main issues are two-fold.

Firstly, is it worth helping out and should we help?

Secondly, Hawk Lucia is pressuring Andriya because he wants to drag Link into this mess.

If he really wants to stir up trouble against the ‘Do Whatever You Like’ group, it definitely isn’t just this one move, he must be planning something else in different areas.

Link needed to think thoroughly about how to deal with it.

“This matter isn’t simple.”

After some thought, Link decided to lay everything out for everybody,

“Essentially, Hawk Lucia is trying to target the ‘Do Whatever You Like’ group members and drag me into it.

Helping Andriya is easy. The 500 magic stones, if we figure out a way to scrap together, can be handled.

But, what about after we help?

Who knows if she has other debts, or if she has other weaknesses being held against her by someone else?

By that time, we would be stuck in a swamp, sinking deeper and deeper.

Also, up until now, we only have Andriya’s side of the story. We don’t understand anything else.

Dalton, think about it carefully again. Do you want to do this favor?

If you want to help, then let’s come up with a long-term plan.

Before we fully understand the situation, we can’t act rashly!”

“Mm, I’ll listen to boss.”

After Dalton voiced his concerns, no longer conflicted, he felt greatly relieved and could think calmly.

Just like the boss said, this matter isn’t simple, we can’t simply trust one side of the story.

As for Andriya…

Thinking about Andriya, Dalton let out a sorrowful sigh.

Oh!

She came to look for him last night, putting him in a dilemma.

Today, he put the boss in another dilemma.

Truly, it’s hard to even describe with words.

He just hoped there won’t be any more troubles on the way.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to remain friends.

She can’t take me for a fool.