Chapter 1640 House of Hearts <TOC> Chapter 1642 Covert Operations
Translator: SumTLMan
Faced with Sanye’s expectant gaze, Angel paused for a moment in contemplation.
Truth be told, the House of Hearts had little utility for him. He wasn’t primarily focused on heart illusions, and though he had some lingering emotional fixations, they were far from spiraling out of control.
However, Angel did have certain thoughts about the House of Hearts.
Upon hearing its effects, the first person he thought of wasn’t himself, but Toby. If Toby could face the inner demons representing his Tribulation of Resentment through the House of Hearts, perhaps it would be a beneficial experience for him.
Considering this aspect concerning Toby, Angel felt a bit of hesitancy.
Ultimately, after much internal debate, he chose not to proceed with the exchange.
As Angel shook his head, disbelief painted itself across Sanye’s face. In her opinion, once the House of Hearts was brought into play, there was no reason for Angel not to agree to the trade; it seemed like a win-win situation.
Even Sanders looked somewhat puzzled at Angel. Although Tree Spirit had cautioned him earlier against trading the Rhythm of the Ocean, the House of Hearts was an object on par with it — a trade would not be disadvantageous.
“I don’t specialize in heart illusions, so it’s not particularly useful to me,” Angel responded, maintaining a stoic exterior while inwardly he sighed.
It’s not that he didn’t want it; the issue was that the Rhythm of the Ocean couldn’t be traded.
The Rhythm of the Ocean was specifically crafted for Mirror Lady… Of course, he could produce something else for her, but the essential point was that the Rhythm of the Ocean contained personalized benefits tailored for Mirror Lady.
It featured the likenesses of numerous high-profile figures in the Wizarding World. Should someone discover this, he reckoned his reputation would be tarnished beyond repair.
It was precisely for this reason that Angel felt compelled to decline.
“However, the Rhythm of the Ocean won’t have much impact on you, would it? I think a trade would be beneficial for both parties,” Sanye continued to persuade, not giving up.
“At times, inner demon obstructions could even hinder one’s path to advancement. You might want to consider that,” Canter chimed in. What he said was true, but he had ulterior motives as well. If Angel were to make a deal with Sanye, perhaps they could later borrow the House of Hearts to assist Cherie, who was deeply plagued by inner demons.
Sanders, on the other hand, was indifferent. Although he didn’t understand why Angel chose not to trade, it was ultimately Angel’s prerogative to decide what to do with his own property.
Nevertheless, Sanders thought for a moment and added, “The House of Hearts is actually not bad.”
“Both Lord Phantom Master and Lord Like the Night have said the same. Maybe you, Super Dimensional Wizard, should give it more thought?” Sanye spoke again.
Angel glanced at Sanders; the tone he heard suggested that Sanders was urging him to make the trade. However, there was a subtle difference in Sanders’s tone that indicated there might be something fishy going on.
Angel fell into contemplation.
In Sanye’s eyes, it seemed like Angel was hesitating about whether to make the trade or not. She let out a small sigh of relief, genuinely not wanting this transaction to fall through.
However, what Sanye didn’t realize was that Angel had already made up his mind not to trade. What he was pondering was Sanders’s peculiar attitude.
As Angel was lost in thought, Cherie, standing in the distance, silently observed the scene unfolding before her. She hadn’t forgotten the time she and Angel had spent together in the Purification Garden. Back then, they were in a mutually beneficial relationship, but now… the gap between them had widened significantly.
Cherie lowered her head and gently patted Luna, who had somehow come to her side, letting out a soft sigh.
The silence in the air didn’t last long. Soon, Angel collected himself. When he spoke again, his tone was noticeably softer than before.
“My inclination still leans toward not making the trade,” Angel’s opening sentence immediately cooled Sanye’s enthusiasm by half. However, Angel quickly changed tack, “But, since my mentor has advised me, I’ve also reconsidered this transaction.”
“I can’t make a decision on the trade just yet. However, I do have a small request.”
Sanye replied, “Please go on.”
“I’d like to experience this ‘House of Hearts’ first-hand. At least let me understand its true efficacy before I make a decision,” Angel paused for a moment. Seeing Sanye frown, he quickly added, “Of course, for fairness, I will also activate ‘Rhythm of the Ocean’ for you, Witch Sanye, to experience. In this way, we can both make an informed comparison.”
Initially, Sanye was resistant to Angel’s suggestion. However, his subsequent words made her hesitate.
Indeed, Jiebo’s persuasion was only surface-level; if she could personally experience the ‘Rhythm of the Ocean,’ she could then ascertain its true worth for a trade.
Moreover, Sanye had also thought it through carefully. Both ‘House of Hearts’ and ‘Rhythm of the Ocean’ are strategic-level support items. The essence of ‘House of Hearts’ is not in its one-time use but its contribution to the entire mental illusion school. Allowing Angel to try it once wouldn’t be detrimental. Similarly, ‘Rhythm of the Ocean’ doesn’t target a single individual but provides significant enhancement to all those aligned with the ocean’s essence.
Taking these points into consideration, Sanye nodded her agreement, “Alright.”
Once Sanye nodded, they immediately prepared for the Exchange of Experiences. Since Sanye had come alone and to ensure no mishaps occurred while she was testing, it was necessary for them to sign a contract as a precursor for mutual trust before starting the exchange.
Angel did not decline and entered into this contract with Sanye.
Because of the terms of the contract, Sanders and the others left the hall, leaving Angel and Sanye alone on the scene.
Subsequently, they entered a state of mutual experience.
As a red light and a blue light illuminated each other, Sanye plunged into a roaring sea, while Angel arrived in front of a tranquil cottage door.
Directly ahead of Angel was the House of Hearts.
Unlike the previous model he had seen, the House of Hearts now resembled an actual home at the end of the road, right before his eyes.
Angel had only caught a fleeting glimpse earlier, but he already appreciated the artistry of this illusion. When he was actually within this environment, the craftsmanship was even more clearly perceptible.
A gentle breeze brushed against his face, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers.
He could find no trace of illusion; it felt as though everything was real.
As Angel surveyed his surroundings, a shadow appeared on the window of the wooden house. It seemed someone was inside.
It appeared that upon his arrival here, the House of Hearts had already materialized his inner obsessions.
Angel was somewhat curious; who could the shadow inside be? His obsessions could only pertain to a few individuals, so which one could it be?
Though Angel was very tempted to open the door and take a look, he did not do so. Instead, he turned his back to the wooden house and looked outside.
“Thankfully, it’s an illusion. Even if it’s flawless, escaping from it isn’t too difficult.” Angel muttered softly to himself, slowly closing his eyes. Soon after, subtle ripples flickered across his form, as if distorting both light and space.
Swiftly, Angel’s figure vanished entirely from sight.
When Angel opened his eyes, what he saw was Sanye, seated opposite him, deeply engrossed in the Rhythm of the Ocean with her eyes tightly closed.
Before Sanye on the table was the House of Hearts.
Angel glanced at Sanye, then back at the House of Hearts, and thought to himself, “It’s a bit deceptive, but there’s no helping it. The Rhythm of the Ocean is truly non-negotiable.”
As these thoughts flowed through his mind, Angel reached into his bracelet and withdrew two items.
A geometric lock that resembled a three-dimensional puzzle and a conch brimming with a mysterious aura.
Chapter 1640 House of Hearts <TOC> Chapter 1642 Covert Operations