Shi Sanniao

“You can refuse if you want.”

“I didn’t refuse. Since you’ve said that, I could use an excuse to switch experiments anyway.”

Sphinx gave Collins a thumbs-up.

“Alright, I’ll go contact the patron who wants to collaborate with you now.”

Collins nodded, began tidying his lab, and started thinking about how to arrange the coming days.

Sphinx bounced away happily.

Once out of Collins’s lab and sure his voice wouldn’t carry back, Sphinx dialed Landon’s phone.

“Is this Landon?”

“Yeah.”

“The thing you asked me to do worked. Collins isn’t opposing you on cold orders or anything—after I talked to him, he said he’d give you face. You can retract those dirty moves of yours.”

“Good. Well done, junior Sphinx. Consider me indebted; if there’s a chance to return the favor later, I’ll do my best to help you.”

“Don’t mention it, senior. You came to me—couldn’t just stand by and do nothing, right?”

After hanging up, Sphinx hummed a pleasant little tune.

Compared to other students’ childishness, he seemed more mature, almost adult-like.

The most mature thing about him was this: he never acted unless there was profit.

If he was moving, it meant something was in it for him.

Like now—he’d helped Landon, the headmaster’s grandson; Collins would shoulder this semester’s credit-heavy experiment; and, most importantly, the person who wanted to form a magic research group with Collins had paid handsomely to have Sphinx advocate on their behalf.

Three threads woven into one scheme, and Sphinx was tying them together to resolve everything in one fell swoop.

One stone, three birds—that was the idea.

What was a mid-tier mage, what was the school’s top student—just simple-minded children.

Living in this world wasn’t about how powerful your magic was; it was about social leverage, about mastering relationships.

Thinking that, Sphinx dialed a second number.

“Hello, is this Miss Victoria? I’ve already been in contact with Collins. He’s willing to form the magic research group with you. You can come to the school as an investor to apply for personnel subsidies. Of course, you’ll need to appear in person—best to set up a time to talk with us. I’ll help sort all the paperwork.”

“Yeah, bring your experimental data and intentions as well. Most importantly, clarify the division of benefits—otherwise if you fight over results later, it’ll be a mess.”

After hanging up the second call, Sphinx strolled toward the school cafeteria.

Halfway there, a woman blocked his path.

Sphinx recognized her: Hodo, the deputy of the Potion Department, second only to the department head Leng Qing.

But unlike typical rival deputies jockeying for position, Leng Qing’s talent had completely subordinated Hodo.

In other words, Hodo was Leng Qing’s flunky.

She’d already noticed his little maneuvering?

Just how much did Leng Qing resist Landon’s advances to have laid such a net to observe everything about Collins?

Despite that thought, Sphinx kept a polite smile and respectfully asked, “Esteemed Ms. Hodo, is there something you need from me?”

Hodo nodded.

“The head wants to see you. I’m sure you can spare a bit of time to accept her invitation, right?”

This was definitely a trap—if he could avoid it, he should.

“Um, I’m still about to eat. Can we talk after I finish?”

“The head has already prepared tea snacks for you.”

“Haha, snacks are just nibbles. They can’t compare to a proper meal. I have a flaw—when I’m hungry, I lose focus and start acting foolish. To avoid embarrassing myself in front of senior Leng Qing, I’d better eat first. I’m sure a small delay like this won’t bother someone with good upbringing like her.”

Hodo narrowed her eyes.

On the surface, nothing was said, but both of them understood each other’s intent.

No matter how smoothly Sphinx’s silver tongue worked, now was the moment—he had to be taken away immediately.

She scanned the surroundings, saw no extra witnesses, and a glow of magic flickered in her hand.

Sphinx’s body tensed.

He knew what Hodo meant: if reasoning failed, she’d move to action.

Although she sounded like a deputy, she had another identity—one of the top five summoners in the summoning discipline.

In the magical system, summoning stood alongside casting and melee as a super-violent branch that often surpassed its peers in combat capability.

Before he could try to escape, a blade materialized at his throat.

A summoned orc swordsman stood behind him, its cold gaze fixed on Sphinx like a knife, sending a chill deep into his bones.

The current situation was clear: enemy strong, him weak.

Refusing wouldn’t change anything.

Sphinx raised his hand.

“Then, Sphinx, since you’ve already summoned Little Ko out, I assume you’ve made the right choice.”

“What you say goes.”