Chapter 1728 Days of Companionship <TOC> Chapter 1730 Granting of Authority
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel observed meticulously for the entire morning.
In the Sin Fog Laboratory, researchers, more or less, would have moments of slight laxity. Yet, this was natural. Amidst intense work, taking a brief respite is understandable, as long as the tasks at hand are ultimately accomplished. Occasional rests fall within the realm of reason.
However, Labu was quite distinct. He had been assigned observational experiments and data research by Freud. Moreover, with the assistance of Researcher Coleus, Labu’s workload was relatively light. But throughout the morning, he showed no hints of distraction, fully immersing himself in his experiment.
Even though no one was directly supervising him, Labu still adhered strictly to discipline.
Some might consider this rigidity, but in the realm of research, such focus and sense of responsibility are paramount.
From Angel’s brief observation, Labu showcased commendable qualities. As of now, he indeed seemed qualified to inherit the Power of the Sin Fog. However, Angel planned to consult with Freud first before making a decision.
After being absent for nearly half a day, Freud finally logged back into the Wilderness of Dreams.
Upon his arrival at Azure Tower, a hint of fatigue was evident in his eyes. Angel, suspecting some mishap, inquired gently, only to learn that Freud had returned to reality earlier to host a group of gifted individuals.
Ever since Freud began managing the “Dawn of Slaughter Dream Orphanage,” gradually, some guides began bringing their discovered gifted individuals to the orphanage for trials.
After all, such tests could not only discern the temperament of the gifted but also ensure their safety to the greatest extent, naturally gaining popularity.
Throughout the course of managing the orphanage, Freud encountered a diverse array of gifted individuals.
That very morning, Freud had met someone who left him feeling quite drained.
Owing to Freud’s amicable relations with Eniya of the Silver Heron Royal Family, Eniya was well-informed about the Dream Orphanage operated by Freud. In a bid to alleviate Freud’s stress, she dispatched an elderly apprentice from the Silver Heron Wizard Order to assist Freud.
With the assistance of this elderly apprentice, Freud had rarely returned to reality. However, an anomaly transpired today.
“Nearly all the gifted individuals who entered the Dream Orphanage this time have perished,” sighed Freud, massaging his temples, “Of the seven gifted ones, only one managed to survive.”
Angel’s expression displayed a hint of astonishment. He was the one who had established the illusions in the orphanage. While there were inherent dangers, they shouldn’t have been this perilous, should they?
“This time, the participants of the trial belonged to a wizard family called ‘Heavenly Kingdom’, an established lineage. They have collaborated with our orphanage numerous times previously without any mishap. However, on this occasion, out of the seven family members who came, six met their demise, naturally infuriating the guides.”
The elderly apprentice from the Silver Heron Wizard Order was incapable of handling the situation. In the end, Sunny had to beckon Freud back to reality.
“I initially surmised that there might have been a procedural hiccup, or perhaps Sunny couldn’t contain herself and went on a rampage. However, following an investigation, and after collecting testimonies from both Sunny and Alda, it was revealed that the situation was not as such.”
Angel, firm in his belief that there wasn’t an issue with the illusion, speculated: “So, was it the surviving individual who murdered the rest?”
Taken aback, Freud nodded, “You’re right, indeed it was that sole survivor who killed the others.”
Initially, Freud had speculated that the survivor harbored a grudge against the others and took advantage of the Dream Orphanage’s trial to covertly eliminate them.
However, he later discerned that the individual held no animosity towards the others. The murders were committed simply because… he desired to kill.
These seven gifted individuals belonged to the same generation. Upon commencing their magic practices, they would inevitably vie for the family’s bestowed resources. By eliminating his peers ahead of time, the perpetrator ensured that the tilted balance of resources would be exclusively his to enjoy.
Freud deeply understood his own thoughts. In the Wizarding World, even crueller incidents have occurred. However…
“It just so happens that they chose the orphanage for the trial and then made their move,” Freud sighed, “The orphanage was renowned for having the highest survival rate in trials, yet this was disrupted by that individual.”
While damage to their reputation was one thing, what truly irritated Freud was that the perpetrator, in an attempt to cover up their murders, sought to harm both Sunny and Alda.
While Sunny wasn’t fearful, Alda was genuinely terrified by the individual’s malevolence, and even now, the shock hadn’t worn off.
This was another point of resentment for Freud.
“Alas, after this incident, I estimate that wizard organizations won’t be sending their gifted individuals here for a while,” Freud shook his head, “But it doesn’t matter. We were only earning a few magic stones from it anyway. With less of them, we now have more time to focus on the Wilderness of Dreams.”
“However,” he continued, “speaking of the survival rate of the trials for the gifted, I think that if we open up the Wilderness of Dreams in the future, we could expose them to even more terrifying nightmares here.”
Angel didn’t comment on Freud’s suggestion. They would deal with the future when it came.
After Freud had vented his frustrations, they moved onto the main topic. Angel shared their opinion on Labu, and Freud nodded in agreement, recognizing Labu’s sense of responsibility and once again affirming his character.
However, when Angel suggested granting the Sin Fog power to Labu, Freud hesitated for a moment.
According to Freud, although Labu was qualified in many aspects, to be absolutely certain, he intended to design a trap to test him.
After attentively listening to Freud’s trap design, Angel surmised that the crux of it revolved around feigning a Sin Demon’s loss of control. The scheme would then compel Labu to face a myriad of choices. These dilemmas range from deciding whether or not to rescue a companion to making life-and-death decisions when confronted with peril.
Such binary choices in dire situations were crafted to test Labu’s mettle.
If Labu passed, he would be granted the authority of the Sin Fog.
Freud, brimming with pride, concluded his testing method, anticipating Angel’s admiration. However, Angel merely responded, “Tomorrow, I will find some time to bestow upon Labu the power of the Sin Fog. Make sure you inform him.”
Freud paused in surprise, “Aren’t you going to test him first?”
“No need.”
“Why?” Freud furrowed his brows, “Is there something wrong with the testing method?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it; it’s just unnecessary.”
Human nature is the least resilient under scrutiny. Not to mention the ramifications of a failed test; even if one passes, it might sow a seed of resentment in Labu’s heart. This grudge, although initially trivial, might burgeon and accumulate over time, eventually morphing into genuine animosity.
Moreover, when there’s a necessity to test human nature, it indicates the weightiness of the matter at hand.
From Angel’s perspective, he can always reclaim the granted power through the Power Tree. Given this, he pondered, why go through the rigmarole of Testing human character?
Chapter 1728 Days of Companionship <TOC> Chapter 1730 Granting of Authority