Chapter 487: A Dimensional Strike via Real-Time Intelligence
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 487: A Dimensional Strike via Real-Time Intelligence
"Hey! Hey, Adalin! Do you think it’s actually possible? It’s only been half a day—half a day since the joint exam started—and the Witch Academy has already occupied fifteen resource points?" Lifaeya glanced up at the midday sun, then hurried to catch up with Adalin, who was already walking away with the supplies they’d gathered.
"Fifteen? Where are you getting that kind of confidence? Do you even know how many resource points there are on the main island in total?" Adalin didn't even look back as Lifaeya caught up. As if she had anticipated the move, she swatted away Lifaeya’s reaching arm and pivoted slightly to dodge an enthusiastic hug.
"That’s exactly why I’m asking you! But this was Xiao Han’s prediction. It’s completely unsubstantiated."
"Xiao Han?" Adalin turned her head, looking at Lifaeya with a hint of surprise. "What did she say to you?"
"She said she wanted to play a game with me. She made a prediction about the current state of the joint exam and told me to go verify it when I had the time. Then she claimed the Witch Academy candidates have already taken over a dozen resource points. Since we’re heading out to deliver supplies anyway, why don't we go check it out?"
"I was going to deliver the resources regardless. If you want to tag along, fine, just don't hold me back."
"Huh? Wait, how could I possibly hold you back just by delivering stuff?" Lifaeya hurried to keep pace. "By the way, do you even know which resource points these supplies are going to? Why are you walking so fast?"
"We’ll just go wherever the main force of the Witch Academy is. If we run into any candidates, we’ll just ask," Adalin said nonchalantly. They were patrol teachers, not mentors sitting in the back monitoring live data.
Once a resource point was occupied, the initial distribution of points was recorded according to the pre-negotiated terms. After this first allocation, points would be distributed again every day. Thus, an occupied resource point could be seized multiple times, but the points gained from it would only be awarded the following day.
The resources secured by the teaching assistants of each academy could be distributed to the resource points occupied by their respective schools. They could be spread out evenly or targeted toward specific locations, depending on the teaching assistant's judgment.
Of course, if an academy hadn't occupied any resource points, they couldn't distribute the supplies even if they had them. Resources could not be handed directly to the candidates.
Just as the two were about to set off, both Lifaeya’s and Adalin’s phones buzzed simultaneously. It was a notification from the small teaching assistant group chat.
"What is this... What did Xiao Han just post?" Lifaeya opened her phone to check the message. Adalin didn't open hers, instead leaning over to glance at Lifaeya’s screen.
"It’s a map. A map of the Bobapus Archipelago," Adalin identified it quickly.
"I can see it’s a map!" Lifaeya retorted, but several more messages followed in quick succession.
They spent a few minutes reading through the information. Lifaeya couldn't help but send a "?" back.
"Wait, my brain is lagging. Xiao Han wants us to drop these supplies at specific coordinates? She even marked the resource points for us? Where did she get this intel... wasn't she with us when we were intercepting resources halfway through?"
"Stop talking."
Adalin gave Lifaeya a light kick to shut her up. She seemed to have figured something out. While they were still thinking of petty tricks to help the Witch Academy candidates, someone had likely already made contact with a portion of the students right under everyone's noses.
"We’ll know once we get there. And remember! This is information Xiao Han obtained through that 'prophecy spell' of hers," Adalin said decisively.
"Huh? Oh... right."
Seeing Adalin’s reaction, Lifaeya finally caught on. She was just finding it hard to believe; in her mind, Xiao Han shouldn't have had the chance to do so much.
Xiao Han hadn't had many opportunities to interact with the Witch Academy candidates alone. Even if she had, no one knew if the current scene was being broadcast live. If they were caught red-handed, it would be over.
Soon, they arrived at the nearest resource point with the supplies. They checked the resource distribution in the group chat—there were over a dozen points listed. Some points were only assigned basic food, while others were left empty; for instance, the resource point on the island where the Witch Academy had first landed was already deserted.
In contrast, other points were allocated a massive amount of supplies, including but not limited to potions, alchemy items, and other vital strategic materials.
The locations of these heavily supplied resource points were quite far from the original landing site. Looking at the map, they realized the Witch Academy candidates had actually pushed forward that far.
Lifaeya was the most shocked of all, as she remembered she was supposed to be "verifying" things.
This wasn't just a prediction of which resource points were occupied; it was a real-time update on their current status and... the status of the other academies.
For example, on the southeastern coast facing the Beast Academy, a group of candidates led by Ninglan Qiuyue was death-gripping the opposition. The Beast Academy students were currently stranded on driftwood floating on the sea, keeping a safe distance from the main island to stay out of spell range.
There were only three resource points along that entire coastal stretch, but the girls had found and occupied every single one of them.
If that could still be called a coincidence, Tan Han’s current trajectory was clearly toward the dormant volcano on the main island’s highlands—and they had occupied as many as six resource points along the way!
By the time Lifaeya and Adalin arrived and delivered the resources, the candidates were already preparing to set off for the next point.
If they hadn't realized the gravity of the situation by now, they would have been fools.
Once they finished distributing all the resources, they sat down to analyze the situation.
"Fine, fine... Xiao Han did all this behind our backs while we were just wandering around aimlessly?"
"A patrol teacher's duty is to wander around. Is there something wrong with that?" Adalin took it in stride. She pulled out an alchemy item shaped like a ley line operating system, and a 3D projection appeared before her. It was a topographical map of the Bobapus Archipelago that she had spent some time completing.
In truth, she didn't need to run all over the place to make this map; it could be generated from existing data. However, she had marked a wealth of data on it—useful information she had collected during her travels. As for what she had originally intended to do with that information... it didn't matter now. Someone had already beaten her to the punch.
"Looking at the current stage, the Witch Academy’s numerical advantage has been split into four groups. Relying on the advantage of their early landing on the main island, they’ve suppressed the Beast Academy on one side. The remaining forces have split into three: one is heading for the core highlands of the main island. These two groups will likely have a head-on collision with the Holy Angel Academy. If the timing is bad, they might even end up in a three-way clash with the Elves."
"It really looks that way!" Lifaeya watched as the resource points lit up on the map. Based purely on the occupation status, that was indeed the layout of the battlefield.
"Xiao Han is being a bit too reckless... her ideas are a little naive. Has she really considered other factors? If they aren't careful, any one of those groups could be wiped out. By being this blatant, it’s not like the other academies won't catch on." The teaching assistants of every academy were hidden sources of intelligence. If it came down to a matter of survival, sacrificing a teaching assistant to save the candidates from a major loss was entirely worth it.
To be this aggressive right out of the gate and engage on multiple fronts—was she really leaving them no path for retreat?
At the very least, they should be more steady. Take Tan Han’s objective, for instance: occupying the most advantageous terrain. So what if the Beast Academy from the southeast made it onto the island?
Even if the Holy Angel Academy on the northwest side wanted to expand this way, it would take time. The further they pushed, the thinner their rear would become. In the end, all they’d need to do is give them a little nudge and sit back to watch the Elves and Holy Angels clash. Wouldn't that be better?
If they played it right, the Witch Academy candidates could basically avoid getting burned by that fire.
As Adalin thought this, she unconsciously fell into the trap of "taking things for granted."
The battlefield of a joint exam was ever-changing. Any action required its own framework, and then every new factor required an adjustment to that framework—be it a minor tweak or a total overhaul.
No one could say for sure what was best. Disagreement was inevitable.
After organizing their thoughts, the two decided to head back and have a proper discussion.
Earlier, everyone had been wandering around casually, but now the intensity had suddenly ramped up. Still, with a start like this, no one could deny it was a good thing.
When they returned, however, they couldn't find me. After asking in the group chat, they finally learned I was at a certain beach.
At that moment, I was strolling along the shore. The Bobapus Archipelago, shaped by the False World Space Great Witchcraft, was already a mess, but my Spirit Vision allowed me to see through the spell to the bustling reality of the world. I saw the beach, the sunlight, the waves, the crowds of people, and the vast expanse of summer scenery.
If anyone asked what I was doing, I would say without hesitation that I was scouting the location.
I had almost never been to the seaside before, except in videos and movies. Those images plastered countless labels of "beauty" onto sand and sea, every frame striving to make a person yearn for it.
It felt like I had never truly traveled. The real purpose of travel is to relax oneself, not to be stuck in a framework, following a set process of what to do and where to go. If travel has regulations and procedures, how is it any different from paying money to clock in at a job? It’s just paying to be stressed in a place with better scenery, all while comforting yourself that you’re "on vacation."
When a place adopts the framework of the tourism industry for development, the "travel" there is already dying. The so-called enjoyment of a popular tourist spot is nothing more than experiencing its final death throes.
Inevitably, walking here alone, my mind wandered. I knew what was wrong with me—I was missing Sister Bai.
Suddenly, the joint exam didn't seem that important to me anymore. After losing interest, the previous planning and scrambling for points felt a bit tasteless.
"Found you, Xiao Han. What are you doing here?" A voice suddenly called out. I looked up to see the three of them approaching from a distance. I was a bit surprised; I hadn't expected them all to show up at once.
"Don't you guys have your own things to do? Coming all this way to find me... if it was urgent, couldn't you have just summoned me back?" I asked, puzzled.
"Oh, I guess so... wait, that’s not the point! Xiao Han! You did all that behind our backs without saying a word to us?"
"What did I do? Haven't I been a total slacker this whole time? I’m just scouting a spot to sunbathe once this exam is over." I kicked at the slightly charred sand beneath my feet, acting as if I knew nothing.
"What fine taste. I also think this is a good spot—a perfect place to relax after the exam," Lin Yi stepped forward, speaking before Lifaeya could. "Since there’s nothing to do anyway, why don't we analyze the current state of the exam right here?"
"Sure, whatever," I said with a shrug.
From the look of them, they probably had a general grasp of the situation on the main island and wanted to exchange intel with me.
Adalin quickly produced an alchemy item that projected an interactive 3D sand table map of the Bobapus Archipelago.
Everyone could see the numerous markers, temporary notes, and hand-drawn arrows on it.
They quickly briefed me on the current situation. I cross-referenced their report with the deductions from my Qi Observation Art spellbook; it seemed to be roughly the same.
It appeared that my progress with the Qi Observation Art was now sufficient to support deductions regarding the shifts in Luck within the Bobapus Archipelago. From now on, I wouldn't even need to run around to know exactly what was happening outside.
"That’s the gist of it. I have to say, our academy’s candidates are very proactive. They’ve already started coordinating a multi-threaded strategic layout on their own. But for now, this behavior seems a bit too aggressive. Xiao Han, what’s your take?"
"Hmm... my take is exactly the same as the decisions they’ve made..." I said casually.
They quickly caught my drift.
"Then, Xiao Han, do you have a general prediction for the upcoming situation?"
"A prediction, huh..." I trailed off, my gaze shifting to the results of the Qi Observation Art. From a macro level of Luck, Tan Han was sailing smoothly but was destined for a major battle. On the other side, Ninglan Qiuyue was a force unto herself, suppressing multiple strands of Luck; there was no need to worry about her. The only one I needed to keep an eye on was Lucianne.
From the perspective of Luck, Lucianne was undoubtedly the one being suppressed. The only variable she currently held was starting a forest fire, and even that would only barely weaken the enemy’s momentum. The other variable would most likely come from the Afuhemi Forest Elves.
It would all depend on Lucianne’s own performance... or perhaps I should step in to turn the tide?
That might be a bit too arrogant. To put it more modestly, I wasn't exactly cut out for commanding.
So, I simply spoke my thoughts aloud to discuss them with the others. During our conversation, they soon realized a problem.
"Xiao Han, isn't it a bit reckless to make such bold assumptions about the enemy's actions? Won't there be other interfering factors?" Lin Yi asked.
"Hmm... I’ve thought about it, but I’m extremely confident I won't be wrong. If anything unexpected happens, I’ll know immediately."
After all... the game of Luck does not lie. It’s like the saying: 'Before the troops move, the grain and fodder go first.' If you want to know if the enemy is going to war, just see if their supplies are moving. If you want to know if the other academies' candidates are plotting something, just look for ripples in the flow of Luck. That’s usually enough to make a judgment.
When I finished speaking, the three of them looked at me with immense surprise. It was clear they were baffled by my inexplicable confidence, but they were also intensely curious about what kind of method gave me such certainty.