Wizard: Starting with Dealing with Magical Plants

Chapter 252 Growing Divergence

When they finally saw the familiar rock face in the direction of the outpost, it had already darkened again.

This journey deep into the silent corridor took almost a whole day.

Back at the outpost, the heavy gate opened, and Station Master Walker's weary face appeared at the door.

"I thought you wouldn't be back until at least tomorrow, or—" Walker looked Rowling up and down, and seeing that he looked tired but was unharmed, his tone softened a bit. "Looks like you're in luck. Come in."

Back at the underground base, Rolin asked for some water and food, which he wolfed down before feeling some strength return.

Walker sat across from him, smoking his pungent-smelling bitter root cigarette, waiting for him to speak.

"How's it going inside? Did you find what you were looking for?" Walker asked.

"We found clues, but also encountered some—unexpected events."

Luo Lin carefully considered his words and briefly described the interaction between the central platform in the valley and the Moon Silver Flower. He omitted the specific details and the details of encountering the mechanical spider, only saying that he had triggered some ancient mechanism, obtained some information, and attracted unknown automatic units. After some "exchange," he was able to escape.

Walker frowned. "Automatic unit? Like a visitor?"

"They're not quite the same; they're more like those responsible for internal maintenance and protection," Rowling said vaguely. "They haven't shown any direct hostility, but they're difficult to deal with."

"Hmph, these ancient relics are all so troublesome," Walker exhaled a smoke ring. "Did you get the information you needed?"

"I've obtained a portion; I need to go back and analyze it slowly." Rolin nodded. "Station Chief, I may need to rest here for another night and then teleport back to the forward base first thing tomorrow morning."

"Whatever you want." Walker waved his hand. "It's still the same room. Make a list of anything you need, and I'll prepare it for you before you leave tomorrow."

"Thanks."

Back in his simple room, Luo Lin took out the moonflower seedling and carefully examined its condition.

The little guy's silver light had recovered somewhat, but its spiritual fluctuations were still somewhat weak, like the fatigue after overexertion.

He mobilized the power of [Quiet Dust Star], gently nourishing it, while simultaneously sorting through the vast fragments of memories in his mind.

The truth about ancient experiments, the nature of benign imprints, and basic operating protocols—this information is invaluable, but it also raises more questions and a heavy responsibility.

In particular, the possibility of using benign imprints to harmonize or even guide aberrations, which was vaguely mentioned in the agreement, may be the key to fighting the terrifying presence deep within the throat of the dead, or even dealing with the Purifiers.

However, how exactly to proceed and how great the risks are still require further research and preparation.

Meanwhile, at the Santa headquarters—Karen and his group's unauthorized actions were thwarted, but the conflict was only temporarily suppressed.

Master Veranica sent him to the Silent Corridor to find new bargaining chips. Now the chips have been found, but how to use them, given the turbulent situation within the Santa, is another problem.

Rowling felt he was being pushed into a more complicated position.

They are no longer simply frontline combatants or researchers, but are gradually becoming a key node connecting ancient secrets, real-world crises, and the power struggles among various forces.

The pressure was immense, yet a strange sense of calm and determination lingered within me.

Although the road was full of thorns and fog, every step seemed to bring him closer to something essential—about power, about the world, and about his future path.

He glanced at the silvery flowers on the windowsill, which were quietly emitting a silvery glow, and then touched Baha, who was quietly preening his feathers on his shoulder.

In any case, let's return to the Seventh Forward Base first, bring back the intelligence, and see how the situation develops there.

Having made up his mind, Luo Lin closed his eyes and began his routine meditation, allowing his mind and body to slowly recover in tranquility, preparing for his return journey the next day.

The night was deep, and the only sounds in the outpost were the low hum of the energy instruments and the faint wailing of what could be either the wind or spatial fluctuations.

Meanwhile, in the distant direction of the Throat of the Dead, the blockade field deployed by the Purifiers continued to operate coldly, the countdown still running.

Early the next morning, Rowling, carrying the supplies prepared by the outpost, stepped into the teleportation array once again.

After a brief jolt, the familiar scorching heat and cacophony of the Seventh Forward Base enveloped him once more.

Stepping out of the teleportation room, the atmosphere inside the base was noticeably more tense than before.

Soldiers and wizards hurried along the corridor, their faces grave, their whispered conversations interspersed with words like "negotiation," "stalemate," and "sanctions."

A sense of impending doom hung in the air.

Without delay, Rowling went directly to General Hossman's command center.

The atmosphere in the command center was equally somber.

General Hossman stood in front of the huge tactical sand table, his brow furrowed. Blake, Ella, and Liana were all there, along with several senior officers and representatives from the Santa base, all of them looking grim.

Upon seeing Luo Lin enter, the others turned their gazes to him simultaneously, filled with inquiry and anticipation.

"Rolling, you're back," General Hossman spoke first, his voice visibly weary. "How is the situation?"

"We've found some key information about ancient benign imprints and how to coordinate with them." Rolin's tone was succinct and pointed; now wasn't the time for a detailed report. "What's happening at the base—?"

General Hossman and Blake exchanged a glance, both wearing wry smiles.

"While you were gone for more than a day, the Santa headquarters was in complete chaos," Blake said, his tone indignant.

"After Master Karen and Master Sores's unauthorized operation failed, instead of showing restraint, they turned around and accused each other."

"Turning the tables?" Rowling frowned.

“That’s right.” Ella replied coldly, her eyes sharp. “They claim that our conservatives and cowards on the front lines deliberately sabotaged their carefully planned strategic probing operation that could have effectively disrupted the Purifiers’ deployment, resulting in the loss of a valuable opportunity and causing our team members carrying out the disruption mission on the front lines to be unnecessarily exposed and exposed to unnecessary risks—referring to me and Liana.”

Liana nodded slightly, a helpless look on her face: "They accused General Hossman of overstepping his authority, suppressing the reasonable tactical innovations of frontline officers, and even implied that Master Veranica disregarded the safety of the frontline for her personal research project, forcibly deploying key personnel, referring to you."

"This is utterly a distortion of the truth!" an Imperial officer nearby exclaimed angrily.

General Hossman raised his hand to signal everyone to calm down, but his face was also terribly grim: "Of course they're not just talking nonsense."

"Karen and Sores have deep roots within the Santa and have won over many factions that are dissatisfied with the Observer Legacy research project led by Master Veranica or who are anxious about the status quo."

"On the Imperial military side, although Major General Felix is ​​temporarily under control, he has several radical generals speaking on his behalf."

"Currently, both the Supreme Council of Santa and the Imperial Command are exerting pressure to investigate the failure of this operation and the internal conflict, as well as to assess the frontline command structure."

"Investigation? Assessment?" Rowling immediately understood the sinister intentions behind it.

This is clearly an attempt to use this as an excuse to weaken or even replace General Hossman and Master Veranica's influence on the front lines, and to seize control of the Scorching Hell and the initiative in subsequent response strategies.

"What did Master Veranica say?" Rowling asked.

"The master is arguing his case in the council, but he is under a lot of pressure."

The representative of the Santa base, a middle-aged wizard, pushed up his glasses and said with a worried expression.

"The divisions within the committee have become public."

"The research faction that supports the masters and a group of moderates are arguing fiercely with the radicals led by Karen and Sores, as well as the traditional school that both fears and covets the observer's legacy."

"The Empire's attitude is also ambiguous. Although General Brand supports us, the Empire's high command seems to prefer a more actionable solution."

"So, the current situation is that there is an imminent threat of the Purifiers from the outside, while internally everyone is busy fighting for power and hindering each other?" Roland's voice turned cold.

Silence fell over the command center, which was tantamount to acquiescence.