Karula completely ignored Lilas's accusatory grumbling.
With an excited wave of her hand, the fading remnants of the Magic Circle rekindled, coalescing into a complex structural diagram that hung suspended in mid-air, its intricate details barely discernible to the naked eye.
"Look! I've preliminarily confirmed that the aberrant behavior of all living beings in this world isn't due to curses or illusions, but a higher-dimensional 'shift in the rules'!"
She pointed at the diagram, her words tumbling out like a rap, brimming with fiery passion.
"The Elven Race, with their unique life forms and minimal worldly desires, have become 'immune samples' to the rule changes! They're my control group!"
"Oh my god! This is the perfect experimental environment!"
Her findings aligned almost perfectly with Lin Qingyue's earlier deductions.
To see through the underlying rules of the game while still being caught within its machinations—this Mage was truly a genius.
As Karula continued her impassioned monologue, Lilas quietly sidled up to Lin Qingyue and whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Madam, I can sense that her research has already touched upon something at the very bottom of this world..."
"I fear that such probing will attract the attention of 'The Administrator.'"
The Administrator?
Lin Qingyue's eyes flashed.
Isn't that the "Dungeon Core" I'm looking for?
Based on past experience, while Dungeon Cores are powerful, they are not omniscient or omnipotent.
Karula's research is of immeasurable value. Forcibly taking her away would not only be difficult but also interrupt this potentially groundbreaking investigation into the source of the anomalies.
The mission only required finding her, not necessarily bringing her back.
With her mind made up, Lin Qingyue directly interrupted Karula's impassioned speech.
"Mage Karula, I understand the importance of your research, and I don't need you to leave with me."
Interrupted, Karula's face darkened with displeasure, her eyes tinged with suspicion.
"I just need some proof."
Lin Qingyue spread her hands, proposing a win-win solution.
"Give me a personal item that represents your identity, and record a Magic Image proving you're alive and well, just unwilling to leave. I'll submit them as proof to complete my mission, and you can continue your research undisturbed. Perfect."
Karula froze, as if she had never considered such a maneuver.
"Is it really that simple?"
"Exactly that simple."
"Perfect! Let's do it! You're a genius!"
Her tone instantly shifted from addressing Lin Qingyue as "you" to "genius," rubbing her hands together with feverish enthusiasm.
Her gaze swept over Lin Qingyue as if she were scrutinizing another rare and precious experimental subject.
"Fascinating, utterly fascinating! Your way of thinking resonates perfectly with my own."
Like a child who had just discovered a new toy, her research mania was fully ignited.
"Merely having you deliver results for me would be far too dull. I suddenly feel the itch to test my skills... Come, let's see where the limits of your talent lie."
As Karula spoke, her gaze swept over Lin Qingyue's Priest robes. Suddenly, she extended a finger, a soft Holy Light illuminating its tip.
"Try it," she instructed. "Use your power to 'decipher' this."
Lin Qingyue complied, reaching out as a wisp of Holy Light wrapped around her hand.
But instead of conducting a conventional analysis of the energy's attributes, she instinctively began examining the Holy Light's underlying "Rune structure" and "energy circuits" at a deeper, more fundamental level.
"Hmm? This structure... it's like forcibly grafting the stable model of a Healing Spell onto the explosive model of an attack spell..."
The moment these words were spoken, Karula's eyes lit up!
Her admiration instantly transformed into the frenzied joy of discovering a kindred spirit.
"You... you're actually analyzing my spellcasting model?! Instead of just sensing the energy's properties?!"
She abruptly withdrew her hand, pacing back and forth excitedly, her voice dropping to a low murmur fueled by feverish intensity. Her gaze burned with near-boiling fervor.
"Genius! You're a true genius too!"
"Conventional Divine Spells must bore you to death... Come, I'll teach you something truly fascinating."
Karula leaned in suddenly, her hushed tone laced with demonic temptation.
"Wouldn't you like to learn how to initiate a controlled chain fusion with Holy Light?"
Upon hearing "Holy Light Chain Fusion," the light in Lin Qingyue's peach-blossom eyes exploded, nearly illuminating the entire laboratory.
Holy shit!
What kind of divine skill is this?!
A Holy Light-infused nuclear bomb?!
Just hearing the name, that absurd, powerful, and exhilarating aura nearly blew the top of her head off!
Learn it! I absolutely must learn it! To refuse this would be the ultimate disrespect to the Elation System!
The little person in Lin Qingyue's mind was already doing backflips and spins, itching to prostrate herself before Karula right then and there.
But then she remembered her teammates, who were still outside drinking tea.
We accepted this mission together. I can't hog all the rewards for myself.
"Ahem."
Lin Qingyue cleared her throat, forcefully suppressing the grin threatening to stretch from ear to ear. She adopted a businesslike, serious expression.
"Mage Karula, I appreciate your kindness. But this mission was a team effort. As the saying goes, 'share the blessings, share the burdens.' Could my teammates learn this skill as well?"
Karula, who had been eagerly anticipating a display of ecstatic gratitude, was taken aback by this unexpected response.
She paused, her probe-like eyes scanning Lin Qingyue from head to toe, as if analyzing this novel behavior pattern.
After a few seconds, she suddenly smiled—a genuine, approving smile.
"Intriguing. This mindset truly befits a capable captain."
Karula nodded, her tone shifting to one of respect.
"You've earned my friendship! Come, let's go right now!"
Before the words had even left her lips, she had already acted, seizing Lin Qingyue's wrist and dragging her out of the room.
"Whoa, hey, hey—"
Caught off guard, Lin Qingyue stumbled, tugged along by Karula, and could only follow, torn between laughter and exasperation.
-
Meanwhile, in the guest reception area of the Elven Fortress...
The Sky Garden was serene and elegant. Lin Xiyue, Su Wan, and Xia Lian were being meticulously attended to.
Stone tables overflowed with the elves' signature nectar, fragrant teas, and naturally sweet fruit pastries, each bite a sublime delight.
"Wow, this is so delicious!" Lin Xiyue murmured, taking a small bite of a pale green pastry, her eyes closing in blissful contentment.
Though Su Wan maintained the composure of a young mistress, the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her good mood.
Xia Lian, meanwhile, was completely captivated by a young elf maiden playing the lute. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she listened, utterly engrossed.
The atmosphere was serene and beautiful.
Until—
BOOM!
A thunderous crash shook the garden as the vine-covered gates were violently forced open.
A black-robed figure stormed in, trailing a reluctant Lin Qingyue in her wake.
"Alright! Tea time's over!" Karula's booming voice shattered the peace.
The lute player's fingers trembled, striking a dissonant chord that pierced the serene atmosphere with a jarring screech.
Sular and the surrounding elves froze in place, staring in stunned disbelief at the invading "barbarian."
Lin Xiyue sprang to her feet instantly, her massive tower shield materializing instantly to protect Su Wan and Xia Lian behind her.
A flash of icy energy flickered at Su Wan's fingertips, and a complex, razor-sharp ice spike materialized, her elegant seated posture belying the lethal intent hidden within.
Xia Lian let out a startled yelp, but her body reacted faster than her voice. Drawing her twin blades, she crouched low, poised like a panther ready to pounce.
"Relax, she's with us," Lin Qingyue said, pressing a hand to her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "This is Mage Karula, the one we've been looking for. She's... rather energetic."
"Sular!" Karula barked, completely ignoring the tense atmosphere, and immediately ordered the still-stunned Elven Ranger, "Take us to the training grounds! I'm going to give these little ones a little... combat upgrade!"