Chapter 13 Response
"Who are you?"
Link was extremely confused; he had never seen this person before.
And who are you? What's your relationship with Molly Kidman?
How come you're throwing out such a domineering CEO-style threat on our first meeting?
Even Gao Qiqiang, who went to eat fish with Old Mo, isn't as arrogant as you.
How scary!
"Who I am isn't important. What's important is that someone you can't afford to offend has taken a liking to Molly Kidman. You better watch your step, or you won't even know how you died!"
The burly man didn't answer Link directly, but continued to hurl threats.
As he spoke, the burly man pointed his right index and middle fingers at his eyes, then pointed at Link, indicating that he would keep an eye on him.
After uttering his threats and staring menacingly at Link for a while, the burly man turned and left.
Link quietly watched the burly man finish his boasting, watched him walk into a small group of upperclassmen, his face expressionless.
This was truly an undeserved disaster.
No wonder the ancients of his past life always lamented that beautiful women were a source of trouble.
Beautiful women do attract covetousness and conflict.
Even though Jasmine wasn't fully grown yet, just a beauty in the making, there were always some people with strange and wicked tastes.
Disgusting!
However, he couldn't immediately distance himself from Jasmine and sever ties with her, becoming strangers, just because of a sudden threat.
Link was merely trying to keep a low profile and focus on his studies; he wasn't truly devoid of any temper.
Of course, if Jasmine made her own choice and drifted away from Link, he wouldn't force her.
He didn't have any romantic feelings for Jasmine; his willingness to act alongside her and offer some assistance was purely out of kinship.
In this world, Link was a stranger.
The Grand couple, especially Mrs. Grand, were among the few connections Link had with this world.
Out of affection for Jasmine, Jimny, Chris, and Christina, who were all from the Quetzalcoatl Islands, Link felt a special affinity for them.
With the other three not around, Link, intentionally or unintentionally, showed particular care for Jasmine.
Ultimately, it all stemmed from their different mental ages.
"Link, why are you alone again? When you're out having fun, you should relax a bit,"
Jasmine said, approaching Link with a glass of sparkling wine after a few playful moments with her new friends.
"Go have fun, cheer up. I'm not really comfortable in these kinds of situations, so I won't force myself to join in,"
Link replied calmly, taking a small sip of his drink.
He had absolutely no interest in a group of teenagers imitating adults socializing.
"You can adapt slowly if you're not used to it."
Jasmine walked to Link's side and stood beside him, looking at the small groups scattered across the lawn. She said earnestly,
"Link, I know you're determined to study hard and become a full-fledged wizard within four years. I want to too! But people need friends, so that when you encounter difficulties, someone will lend a helping hand."
Link turned to look at Jasmine and replied just as earnestly, "Mountains crumble, trees run away. Jasmine, you can only rely on yourself; you can't rely on others. Instead of thinking about making friends, you should spend more time and effort improving yourself."
Jasmine took a deep breath, took a swig of her drink, and suppressed the urge to crack open Link's head to see if it was filled with mush. She constantly reminded herself to be elegant and to behave in accordance with noble etiquette.
To hell with elegance! To hell with etiquette!
If you can only rely on yourself, what does it mean if I occasionally think of relying on you?
Can I still have any hope for you?
Can I rely on you?
"You can stay here by yourself!"
Jasmine tilted her head back and finished her drink, then shoved the empty glass into Link's hand before turning and storming off.
Link raised an eyebrow, unconcerned.
It's normal for girls to have fickle thoughts.
...
Gradually, more and more people gathered in this corner of the South Lawn, making it increasingly lively.
Link remained detached from the crowd, watching his "New Blood Mutual Aid Society" president give his opening speech, watching everyone cheer and drink, watching him light the charcoal fire for a self-service barbecue...
The liveliness belonged to them; Link only felt inner peace and a steadfast goal.
The picnic and social gathering started in the morning, reached its climax at noon, and ended in the afternoon.
Link didn't waste any time, multitasking, walking around while simultaneously entering his mental palace to review everything he had learned in the previous two weeks.
Jasmine had drunk quite a bit and was unsteady on her feet when she left the South Lawn.
Several people offered to take Jasmine back to her dormitory, including the person the burly man had said Link couldn't afford to offend—a third-year student, supposedly about to be promoted to a second-class wizard apprentice, one of the five vice presidents of the "New Blood Mutual Aid Society," Rivers Francis.
Jasmine refused them all, then spotted Link at the edge of the crowd, staggered over to him, and said, her words slightly slurred, "Link... Link, will you... take me back?"
"Yes."
Link nodded, not offering to help Jasmine, letting her walk unsteadily, only speaking to her when she was about to go the wrong way.
Behind them, Rivers, the second-class wizard apprentice and vice-president who had sent someone to deliver a threatening message, stared at Link's back with a sinister gaze.
"Enrique, are you sure you've made my meaning clear?"
Rivers turned to ask the burly man beside him.
"I'm sure."
Enrique nodded heavily, adding fuel to the fire, "But his attitude was very disdainful; he didn't take us seriously at all!"
"Good!"
Rivers laughed angrily, "Very good! Find a chance to get him."
Originally, Rivers had only caught a glimpse of Jasmine Kidman and thought she fit his sensibilities, wanting to get his hands on her and play with her.
This wasn't just about Molly Kidman anymore; Rivers felt his authority had been disregarded.
Rivers' wizarding aptitude wasn't high.
His innate mental strength was only 12, with a high affinity for light elements and, unusually, a super affinity for fire elements.
By chance, Rivers obtained a fragment of a high-level meditation technique, "Raging Flame Meditation," and immediately switched to it.
After that, Rivers' life went smoothly, and he gradually developed an uncompromising and domineering personality.
Now, with his pride shattered, Rivers was consumed by rage, wanting to burn Link to death.
His remaining rationality prevented him from acting rashly.
The Rivosos Biological and Medical Academy strictly enforced academic discipline, prohibiting private duels.
After all, new blood who couldn't become full-fledged wizards within four years were merely resources—not a loss, but not much profit either.
But rules are always meant to be broken or exploited.
The prohibition of private duels didn't mean Rivers couldn't deal with Link.
Link, who had first escorted Jasmine back to her dorm before returning, was also contemplating a strategy to deal with this unexpected disaster.
He wasn't worried about anything else, but he was very concerned about his personal safety.
This world was one of extraordinary beings, where possessing a sharp blade naturally breeds a murderous intent, let alone possessing extraordinary power.
After much deliberation, Link finally took out two gold coins and 63 silver coins from his bag and went to the service building.
He decided to buy a weapon for protection.