LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 810 - 810: 256. Optional Betrayal_3
Chapter 810: 256. Optional Betrayal_3
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“Conducting unauthorized observation and recording of the experiment, as well as detecting experimental props, without the permission of the experiment host, is a serious criminal offense in violation of the law. If it turns out that Marslank indeed acted on the instructions from your second brother to pry into our experimental results, I hope you will not obstruct my law enforcement actions,”
“I know…” Selena said, becoming noticeably distressed, “I’m sorry, I didn’t anticipate that Sidney would go to such an extreme.”
“Selena, let me be frank. Sidney Pomida has done more than just this one overstepping action. Do you think I can’t guess that it was Sidney Pomida who acted as a go-between for you and Dickler Fegan? If he hadn’t manipulated things, would you have offered yourself to Dickler Fegan, all for the sake of a Ten Rings-level meditation technique?”
Selena fell silent, obviously struck by Noland’s words.
Noland had no intent to use words to wound, he simply wanted to remind Selena that, from an outsider’s perspective, her older brother Sidney Pomida clearly prioritized interests above all.
After further contemplation.
The Pomida Family’s mastermind was Selena’s father, Mingwaq Pomida.
Without Mingwaq’s permission, how could Sidney have played matchmaker for Selena and Dickler Fegan?
This was a major matter related to a union between two families.
Therefore, Mingwaq Pomida was no kinder or gentler.
These things, Noland wouldn’t say to Selena.
He moderated his tone and said:
“First, call Marslank to your study. I want to meet him.
“To be honest, I’d prefer him to be a Tide Spy rather than a Deep-sea Wizard with connections to Sidney Pomida. Family ties can inevitably complicate matters.”
“…Yes, I understand, Jarvis. I’ll call Marslank right away,” Selena replied.
Noland took the Core Circle’s public vehicle to head for her study.
Halfway there, using ‘Soul Perception’, Selena relayed some unwelcome news to Noland:
“Jarvis, Marslank is missing.”
Noland pressed a button on the public vehicle’s control console, bringing the craft to a hover in mid-air:
“Missing?”
“Yes, he skipped class today and did not appear in the lecture hall. His classmates and mentor say they haven’t seen him today.”
After some thought, Noland replied:
“Tell me the whereabouts of Marslank’s mentor and Sidney Pomida.”
“Okay, I’ll find out and get right back to you.” Ten seconds later, Selena said:
“Found them. Marslank’s mentor is currently teaching in the castle teaching area on Teaching Island 5. Sidney is at his office in the castle on Teaching Island 8, specifically at the top of the tower in the southeast corner of the Third Floor.”
“Hmm, I will go see them now.”
Noland pressed several more buttons on the public vehicle’s control console, heading for Teaching Island 8.
The so-called Teaching Island 8 was a small island with low hills.
Out of respect for Selena, Noland did not apply the forceful entry approach to visit Sidney Pomida.
He explained his purpose to the guard, a Deep-sea Wizard guarding the island, who then led him into the castle, where he managed to meet Selena’s older brother.
Sidney Pomida, the wizard who was roughly five years older than Selena with the strength of Nine Circles, was also a Deep-sea Wizard, but not a Combat Wizard.
He meticulously groomed himself, with a sharp chin and a delicate, neatly trimmed moustache below his nose.
Such a moustache style, in the eyes of wizards, symbolized elegance and nobility. It required careful grooming to maintain the perfectly upturned curvature.
But in Noland’s view, he could only associate such a moustache with deceit and treachery.
It couldn’t be helped, a certain character in an unfinished blockbuster left a deep impression on him.
“You must be Noland Lee Jarvis, right? I have heard of your exploits. Your performance in law enforcement is astonishing,”
Sidney Pomida said with a gentle and polished smile, his brown hair shining under the sunlight:
“You’re here about Marslank, aren’t you? Please, have a seat, Jarvis. I’m very willing to cooperate in finding the missing Marslank. Feel free to ask anything, as long as it does not involve the secrets of the Deep Sea Branch, I won’t hide anything.”
Noland returned the gesture with a ceremonial smile.
A Deconstruction Technique followed his gaze, landing upon Sidney Pomida.
[System Message:]
[You have acquired knowledge and scholarly skills related to Deep sea magic, resulting in reduced Deconstruction Consumption.]
[You spent 351,000 Energy Points to launch the Deconstruction Technique on the target.]
[Deconstruction Success!]
[You have obtained the target’s Panel Information and recent Memory Fragments.]
[Name] Sidney Pomida
[Identity 1] Deputy Dean of Student Affairs at the Hotams Deep Sea Branch (currently in effect)
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[Identity 2] Special Tide Spy (Temporarily Disabled)
[Character Level] Level 90, Nine Circles Deep Sea Wizard, Sixth Ring Dread Sail Wizard
[Combat Level] Predicted to be Level 69
[Feature]
1. Soul Contract: Dark Scale Elder
This Deep-sea Wizard before you has signed a unique soul contract with the Dark Scale Elder.
2. Enduring and Meticulous
Sidney Pomida is very good at enduring and plotting. He is meticulous and leaves no clues that could expose him.
3. Optional Betrayal
Sidney Pomida has mastered a unique form of soul magic.
With this soul magic, he was able to strip the fruits of his meditation practice from himself and completely conceal the fact that he had practiced the “Deep Sea Scales” meditation method.
4. Heart of the Sea Monster (Temporarily Disabled)
Sidney Pomida’s “Deep Sea Scales” meditation has reached Level 181, unlocking the “Heart of the Sea Monster,” which can strengthen the “Mental Health Bar” and increase resistance to mental magic.
His sea monster form is the “Wildtide Caster,” a rather powerful deep sea caster form.
Upon activating this form, the “Heart of the Sea Monster” will be activated simultaneously.
Due to the soul magic, this feature is currently in a state of unusability.
[Skills]
– Active Skills
[Name] Meditation Deposit Box Construction Technique
[Type] Soul Magic
[Level] Unable to Upgrade
[Effect]
After casting this spell, the caster can separate the fruits of their meditation from themselves and encase it in a unique container made of soul energy.
Once the fruits of the meditation are separated from the caster, the caster’s “Identity,” “Basic Attributes,” “Feature,” “Skills,” and other columns will change accordingly.
As the fruits of the meditation are stripped away, all skills and features that require meditation will enter a temporarily unusable state.
If the caster inhales the Meditation Deposit Box into their body, they can recover the fruits of their meditation practice and restore the “Identity,” “Feature,” “Basic Attributes,” “Skills,” and other sections to their original state.
(The rest of the skills are omitted)
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Optional Betrayal? There’s such a feature too.
Noland Lee maintained a calm exterior, but internally, he was somewhat dumbfounded.
When he saw the words “Tide Spy” appear in Sidney Pomida’s “Identity” column, he almost pulled out the Life and Death Duel book to engage the other party in a one-on-one fair contest.
However, after seeing the two items “Optional Betrayal” and “Meditation Deposit Box Construction Technique,” Noland Lee forcefully dispelled the notion of initiating a life and death duel.
Simultaneously, Noland Lee also sighed inwardly.
After such a long period of smooth sailing, he finally encountered an opponent who could suppress the “flip the table” strategy.
Not bad, not bad at all.
Sidney Pomida, you’ve successfully piqued my interest.
Noland said nothing, harboring a faint smile.
He watched Sidney Pomida stroke his beard with an indifferent gaze.
Seeing Noland’s attitude, Sidney felt somewhat uncomfortable and even a bit intimidated.
However, being a mature, steady, refined, and sophisticated man, Sidney did not reveal his inner emotions on his face but instead responded to Noland with an even more affable gesture.
He brought over a teacup using [Mage’s Hand], first complimented Noland’s style, and then began to tell about the last time he saw Marslank.
Noland nodded, drank some water, and occasionally uttered a few words.
While he seemed to be listening attentively to the other party’s words, he was actually carefully reading through Sidney’s memory fragments.
When he saw certain scenes in a few memory fragments, Noland smirked internally.
Heh heh heh, let’s teach him what it means to shoot oneself in the foot, and what a damn surprise is!