Translator: SumTLMan
As the phrase “Human Purge Plan” tumbled from Angel’s lips, a ripple of commotion stirred the assembly on the floating iceberg.
The expression of each individual present shifted as they contemplated the implications. If Angel’s assertion held true, it signified their precarious placement on the precipice of danger.
“Is he speaking the truth?”
“From whence does an apprentice like him receive such information?”
“The ‘Human Purge Plan’ reeks of demonic machinations! However, its veracity needs corroboration. This could be a snare craftily set by demons.”
“We need to employ a Truth Spell to confirm this.”
The chorus advocating the use of the Truth Spell amplified. Maher, with a look of consternation, turned to Mengke, “Lord Mengke, should we relay this to Lady Samantha?”
Mengke glanced at Sanders, whose stony countenance betrayed no emotion.
Mengke shook his head, “Samantha knows what to do. Moreover, even if we were to use the Truth Spell and establish Angel’s sincerity, we cannot ascertain that he has not been hoodwinked.”
“He’s speaking the truth,” Sanders declared with an unwavering tone.
“Upon what basis do you make this claim, Lord Phantom Master?” Velite inquired.
Sanders cast him a cold glance, “Intuition.”
In the realm of mere mortals, intuition might be deemed an ephemeral specter, far too insubstantial to serve as empirical evidence. However, the intuition of a true knowledge wizard could not be dismissed so lightly.
“I just conducted a predictive intervention, coupling the Good Luck spell with Bad Luck detection, and the Response I’ve received essentially confirms we are currently ensnared in a vast conspiracy of misfortune.” At this point, the prophecy wizard of the Frost Moon voiced his conclusion. According to his prophecy, this nefarious misfortune is likely synonymous with the rifts in the void.
With the prophecy wizard’s authoritative verdict, all those questioning Angel fell silent. Now, they were confronted with a fresh quandary — if the void’s rifts were genuine, and the human purge plan was to encapsulate them all, how should they retaliate?
“Even if we’re dealing with the void rifts, the demons would probably only dare to operate mid-air. If they were to act on the ground, La Sutherland would likely face total annihilation… Given this, perhaps we should descend to the ground?” One of the wizards suggested.
“Mengke, what should our next course of action be?” Maher queried.
At this point, everyone’s gaze pivoted to Mengke, eagerly anticipating his decision.
Rather than exhibiting the frantic urgency reflected in the expressions of others, Mengke was the picture of calmness. “Ignorance of this information could have led us down a dangerous path, yet its awareness provides us with a wealth of strategies,” he opined.
Mengke’s equanimity somewhat mollified the tension amongst the rest. He was right, after all. Wizards didn’t conquer the multiverse through brute force… A recollection flashed across their minds — a faltering plane of existence, teetering on the verge of collapse. With the wizard’s knowledge, they rebuilt its elemental equilibrium, created new laws to govern it, transforming it into a subsidiary of the Wizarding World. This salvaged plane eventually became the Permafrost Tundra — the stronghold of the Frost Moon Alliance.
“Evading is one option, but certainly not the only one,” Mengke reassured them. “Fear not, now that we are privy to this information, the power of choice is back in our hands.”
A swift movement of Mengke’s lips signaled a new command to the Frost Moon team. Unbeknownst to all, the strategy of Frost Moon subtly shifted.
“Angel’s timely missive was likened to a timely rain that revives a parched desert — no wonder I saw him as an actor … ah, no, a seed of an actor, wrong again, a seed of potential indeed.” Mumin was leaning against the iceberg, his face ghostly white, yet still running his mouth endlessly.
Sanders shot him a frosty glance, instantly freezing his blabber. Mumin attempted to utter another word but found himself tongue-tied, his face the very picture of bafflement.
“Indeed, Angel’s message is of utmost importance. Once this ordeal passes, I shall bestow upon him the highest honor of the Frost Moon,” Mengke declared, his words tossed casually but with an impact like a bomb being dropped among the crowd. Everyone was left stunned.
“The highest honor of the Frost Moon… Isn’t there only a couple of recipients?” someone finally managed to mutter after a while.
Although Mengke didn’t verbally confirm, his expression made the affirmation crystal clear.
The two greatest rewards of the Frost Moon were the Blossom of Frost and Chapter of the Moon.
Opting for either held staggering opportunities! Not just for wizard apprentices, but even for formal wizards, either reward would provide tremendous benefits for advancement!
For a fleeting moment, the light of envy flickered in the eyes of all those present. Even if they acknowledged in their hearts that Angel’s revelation had been their salvation, deeming him worthy of his accolades… Yet, any impending calamity, be it an apocalyptic disaster or the looming shadow of a Demon God, once it is averted or prevented, tends to lose its prominence in the minds of the survivors. Even if they understand the underlying reasons and the importance, they psychologically struggle to assign it significant weight.
Sanders felt a ripple of surprise in his heart. To his knowledge, Samantha’s swift journey on the path of true knowledge was greatly influenced by the ‘Chapter of the Moon’. However, once the surprise subsided, Sanders found a steady calm. He was confident that as long as Angel didn’t sabotage his own destiny, he would undoubtedly tread upon the path of true knowledge in the future. The rewards were indeed enticing, but not as pivotal as one might imagine.
As his calm settled, Sanders began to see the flicker of greed and envy in the eyes of the surrounding wizards. Apart from a sardonic smile in his heart, his gaze increasingly turned towards Mengke.
Mengke, by voicing such words in the presence of many, surely had his own calculations. Notably, there were still many amongst them who harbored discontent towards Phantom Island, such as the Song of the Deep Sea and Gravity Forest… In fact, this list even includes the Frost Moon Alliance.
At this, a cold smirk fluttered across Sanders’ heart.
“The reward promised to Angel, we shall speak of it another day. At the moment, apart from addressing the so-called purge plan of the demons, there is also the hunting plan targeted at Olucia. All these bits of information still require Angel’s verification,” declared Mengke. After his words, he signaled to Maher to resume the communication with Samantha.
Meanwhile, atop the scorched earth…
Having grappled with the surprise sprung by the “purge plan”, Samantha managed to keep her tone steady as she addressed Angel, “Regarding the human purge plan you mentioned, I have relayed it to Lord Mengke. I believe, measures of response will soon be in place. If it turns out to be true, you would have done us a great favor.”
Relief washed over Angel; now that the message had been passed along, he no longer had to fret over this issue. He surmised that his mentor would have a solution upon receiving the news.
“However, I would like you to inform me, where did you acquire this piece of information?”
Unwittingly, Samantha’s tone had taken on an interrogative edge again. Canter coughed lightly, saying to Angel, “We simply wish to verify the origin of this news. It’s alright if you choose not to answer.”
“Begging your pardon, but I am unable to disclose that,” Angel’s face softened into an apologetic expression. Regardless, he had to take into consideration Canaan’s awkward position.
Samantha glared daggers at Canter, then, her ire seemingly subsiding, she turned to Angel: “Since you’re not inclined to share, then so be it. After all, I trust that Lord Mengke is fully capable of discerning the veracity of this news.”
Samantha subtly shifted her tone as she continued, “How much do you know about the Hunting Museum and Olucia?”
Caught off guard, Angel thought that upon hearing of the human purge plan, wizards would be quick to react. Yet, it seemed that to Lord Mengke, the matter of the Demon God’s Descendant took precedence.
“Curator Night of the Hunting Museum, the prospective Lord poised to ascend the throne — I don’t know much about him. As for Olucia, my knowledge is only skin deep, confined only to her background,” he confessed.
Samantha regarded Angel with a penetrating stare, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips, “You’re not being completely honest.”
Angel returned Samantha’s gaze: “I’m telling the truth. Given my position, how much can I possibly know?”
“Our spies distinctly observed Olucia paying a visit to your shop,” she pointed out.
“Your spies?” Angel paused, “*Tower?”
“*Tower? Who’s that?”
As Angel gazed at Samantha’s air of confusion, he realized it didn’t seem feigned. It appeared that the appearance of *Tower here was unrelated to them, or more precisely, unrelated to the inhabitants of Frost Moon.
Standing atop the floating iceberg, Mengke whispered “*Tower” to himself, his mind bearing no recognition of the name. However, hearing it spoken from Angel’s mouth, he was convinced that it couldn’t belong to a person of no significance.
Mengke asked Maher, “Do you know who *Tower is?”
Maher, too, shook his head. Across the entire expanse of the floating iceberg, only Sanders furrowed his brow, as if a faint image flickered into his mind.
None on the iceberg had any knowledge to offer. It was Canter, standing beside Samantha, who expressed his curiosity: “*Tower you speak of, could it be the one I’m thinking of?”
Angel affirmed, “If, Lord Canter, you’re referring to *Tower who helped you break through Monument Valley, then yes, it’s him.”
“It really is that young man? From what you’re saying, he’s in La Sutherland too?”
Angel nodded in confirmation, “Indeed, I saw him while I was patrolling with a scouting puppet. He seemed to have slain a good number of Purgatory Flame Slaves.”
“He’s only an apprentice, isn’t he? How could he possess the power to slay Purgatory Flame Slaves?” Canter expressed his doubts.
Angel found himself somewhat perplexed; even if the chain of *Tower bore the mark of a Supreme Demon God, it should not be so powerful. Could it be that the Supreme Demon God has imposed his avatar’s will upon the chain?
“No matter who this *Tower is, or whether they are in La Sutherland, it bears no relevance to us. What I truly wish to know is, what exactly did Olucia gain in your establishment?” Samantha sought to redirect the conversation that had veered off course.
“She simply partook in the Voyage of Experience, nothing more,” Angel responded.
“So, you’re admitting you’re the shop owner?”
“I am not the shop owner, merely an ordinary employee. Given my abilities, how could I possibly be the shop owner?” Angel answered with a wry smile, casually deflecting the inquiry.
Unfazed, Samantha returned the smile but did not persist with her question. Instead, she queried, “I am indeed quite curious about the enchantment of this so-called Voyage of Experience you mentioned. What sort of sorcery has such appeal that even demons are welcoming of it, to the extent that it even attracted Olucia herself?”