Chapter 1286: 416. Infiltrating the Hazardous Area
“The ‘Dark Priest’ hidden occupation is a bit odd.”
Noland Lee felt he had underestimated the harm of the game source code leakage.
Clearly, the Dark Divine Cult did more than just tarnish the character of the players; it also extended its malevolent claws toward the players’ physical bodies, souls, or something else in reality.
Based on Noland’s understanding of the Plane Core, players are not truly human in the full sense. noveldrama
Every Plane Core has the ability to nurture souls.
As the hidden mastermind behind the Starry Sea Game, ‘Command’ Plane’s Core didn’t really need to find a planetsphere and scatter game helmets across it.
...
It only needed to mold souls into the image of players within its own plane space, set up scenarios for living and working, and thus it could create human souls who enjoyed playing games.
From this perspective, the pollution of the players’ true selves by the Dark Divine Cult meant that ‘Command’ Plane’s Core was being eroded by the Dark Divine Cult.
This was undoubtedly a major incident.
If left unchecked, the erosion would destroy ‘Command’ Plane’s Core, and the players would become minions of the Dark Divine Cult.
“The task I received previously displayed that the game was being repaired. This indicates that ‘Command’ Plane’s Core is aware of the issue. Now I can only place my hopes on ‘Command’ Plane’s Core, as only it has a way to eradicate the pollution from the Dark Divine Cult.”
Noland Lee pondered, then sprang into action.
Before departing for the Angel Enterprises Alliance, he needed to ensure everything at the Academy was in order.
The players who had joined the Academy were now at the Wizard Apprentice level.
By completing daily, weekly, and side tasks, they could earn Academic Points.
Academic Points could be exchanged for pre-mage courses and materials.
Following the Ulnas Circle’s wizard training scheme, Noland made “Magic Herbology,” “Monster Studies,” and “Magic Knowledge” mandatory courses for the pre-mage stage.
With just superficial knowledge, they could complete the content of these three courses without much strain on their brains.
Once players accumulated 10,000 points, they could exchange them for the opportunity to test for advancement to First Rank Wizard.
The test content was straightforward.
A paper with a perfect score of one hundred points, where only thirty were needed to pass, was practically a giveaway.
In addition, they needed to help Noland hunt a sufficient number of Artificial Angels.
Upon completing these two parts of the test, one academic and the other practical, players could exchange points for the Meditation Method and Spells and officially take up their new profession.
To ensure the Academy’s affairs remained orderly during his absence, Noland specially expended a great deal of energy and time summoning magic puppets of high intelligence.
They were a group of elves whose height and proportions resembled humans.
Pointed ears, large eyes, pale skin, slender figures dressed in magic robes—charismatic and pleasing to the eye, sure to captivate the players’ attention.
Noland assigned these elves the roles of instructors, mentors, and professors, responsible for guiding players through standardized tests and the curriculum for First Rank Wizards.
Since Noland restricted the daily dosage of Spiritual Care Magic Medicine, even the most hardcore Krypton Gold big shots would need two months to advance to First Rank.
Thus, for the short term, this group of elven teachers would certainly suffice without any staffing shortages arising.
One day later, with all arrangements in place, Noland boarded the United Bureau’s shuttle ship in his true form.
It would take another two days for the Star Gate to open for the players, but at this moment, Noland was already able to proceed to the Angel Enterprises Alliance a step ahead.
This was one of the terms agreed upon between Noland and the United Bureau.
The shuttle ship carrying Noland departed from the Deep Space Zone housing the black hole, arriving at the Star Gate in the Lisom Star System.
To better manage space traffic, the Star Gates of each star system were only connected to the Star Gates of the corresponding star domain.
After a brief wait, the giant circular Star Gate flashed with bright light.
The luminance enveloped the shuttle ship.
A second later, Noland arrived at the Star Gate of the Kleda Star Domain.
After waiting for another minute, the same-appearing Star Gate whisked the shuttle ship away with a flash of light.
The quantum leap process lasted roughly five minutes.
During this time, Noland traveled from the Corridor Seat where the Lisom Star System was located to Candle Seat, which was closest to the Angel Enterprises Alliance.
Once the shuttle ship exited the Quantum Leap Channel, Noland was presented with a decrepit Star Gate, heavily guarded to the extreme.
The star gate looked like an open hand with five outstretched fingers, its iron-gray metal exterior patchworked with repairs and welding strips.
Surrounding it were numerous space watchtowers, suspended in orbit, and countless United Bureau Security Escort battleships stood like formidable foes.
“Whoosh—”
On the shuttle ship’s Control Console, a holographic screen was projected, floating before Noland.
The holographic screen displayed the image of negotiation expert Doris.
She spoke:
“Your Excellency, you have arrived at the Hackapuck Star Gate. This gate is a remnant of the last major invasion of United Bureau Territory by the Angel Enterprises Alliance. It is currently in a deactivated state. We will activate it once you are ready.”
Noland was currently attired as a wizard in a dark purple magic robe, his head covered with a hood and face mask.
He said,
“I am ready and can depart at any time. Has it always been this tightly guarded here?”
“Not exactly. Previously, there was only a permanent Security Guard stationed here. However, since the decision was made to keep the Teleportation Gate open long-term, for the Undying to enter and exit the Angel Enterprise Alliance, the United Bureau has deployed five Security Guards to anticipate any possible invasion by Artificial Angels.”