Translator: SumTLMan
Aside from the topic of the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel talked about the “ruin” topic he discussed with Rhine Mute.
However, Sanders seemed uninterested in ruins. On the contrary, he showed a look of surprise when Angel mentioned the reward given by Rhine Mute.
“What did you just say you received?”
Angel was momentarily startled, then replied, “The Phantom of the Path of Magic Siphon, the Experimental Lab of the Flowing Source, the High Cloud Map…”
Before Angel could finish, Sanders interrupted: “These are benefits that every wizard who successfully advances receives. I am asking about the specific reward given to you by Lord Rhine Mute.”
“The specific one… Are you referring to the activator of the Soul Garden?”
Sanders: “Activator? Are you sure it’s an activator?”
Angel nodded, describing the appearance of the activator. Midway through, Sanders’s face already revealed a moment of deep thought: “Yes, it’s an activator…”
“Is there something wrong with this activator? Isn’t it just a ticket to enter the Soul Garden?” Angel’s expression was puzzled. He could see that Sanders reacted oddly upon hearing about the activator, but why?
Sanders pondered for a moment: “It seems, Lord Rhine Mute indeed values you highly.”
Values? Angel didn’t understand: “Is it because of this activator?”
Sanders nodded.
“Could it be that besides entering the Soul Garden, this activator has other functions?” Angel asked.
Sanders waved his hand: “No, aside from allowing you to enter the Soul Garden, it has no other functions. Even so, it is still very special.”
Before Angel could ask “what’s special about it,” Sanders proactively explained, “Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it’s an activator, not the entry ticket you might think it is.”
Seeing that Angel still didn’t grasp his meaning, Sanders gave another example, “Although both eventually let you enter the Soul Garden, the process is different. It’s like an opera performance, where selling tickets and buying tickets are distinct.”
Angel wasn’t slow to understand; after a bit of thought, he got Sanders’ point.
The biggest difference between selling and buying tickets is that both get to see the opera, but their approaches are different. One is an opener, while the other is just a passive observer.
“So, Mentor means that this activator can open the Soul Garden?” Angel emphasized the word “open.”
Sanders nodded, “Yes, when you get this activator, it means you’ve earned the right to actively open the Soul Garden.”
If it were just a ticket to the Soul Garden, Angel would have to wait for the day it opens to enter.
But with the activator, Angel could open the pathway to the Soul Garden at any time.
Even if the end result is the same, entering the Soul Garden, one holds the initiative while the other participates passively.
“So that’s it.” A flash of joy crossed Angel’s face, realizing the activator could open the Soul Garden at any time. Although it’s still a single opportunity, it saves him a lot of effort and waiting.
Watching Angel’s face light up with understanding, Sanders sighed, “You still don’t get it.”
Angel looked at Sanders, puzzled.
“The greatest function of the activator is not to save you time, but to open the Soul Garden,” Sanders paused, “Did you think opening the Soul Garden was such an easy task?”
The Soul Garden is a top-rank Wizard Garden, naturally endowed with the nascent Law Lines. Every opening of the garden could lead to the consumption of these Law Lines. Therefore, each opening of the Soul Garden is carried out with utmost caution, and usually, it’s only opened when the tickets for entry are fully allocated.
“That means,” Sanders looked intently at Angel, “you have the activator, which means you can decide when to open the Soul Garden and who gets to enter.”
Angel was stunned, taking a while to grasp the reality: “… You mean, besides me, others can go in too?”
Sanders replied, “Yes, that’s the right granted to you when Rhine handed over the activator. It’s your decision to initiate the opening, and also your choice who accompanies you after it’s opened.”
At this point, Angel understood the significance of this activator.
It sounded like merely a ‘ticket selling’ device, but the ticket he was ‘selling’ was the aspiration of countless people.
Being the Southern Region’s most prestigious Wizard Garden, there were numerous wizards who would go to great lengths to get in. If they knew Angel held the activator, although they wouldn’t dare to snatch it, certainly many would be willing to pay a high price for an entry ticket.
This was a privilege, but at the same time, a burden.
“You seem not too pleased?” Sanders noticed that after realizing the importance of the activator, Angel’s brows were constantly furrowed, as if burdened with great worries.
“I would have preferred if Rhine had just given me an entry ticket. The activator is nothing but a burden to me.”
“Even if it’s a burden, it’s a sweet one,” Sanders paused, “Many are willing to pay a great price for this entry spot, like Baroque who has always wanted to get in but couldn’t find a way. You could discreetly manipulate the entries to the Soul Garden for your own benefit.”
Angel shook his head, smiling bitterly without a word.
He certainly could seek benefits, but he couldn’t possibly allow outsiders into the Soul Garden. Even if Rhine agreed, he himself would be embarrassed to do so.
If outsiders are not allowed, then only the people of Savage Grottoes can enter. Angel also felt awkward about asking his colleagues for a huge price, so seeking personal gain was also not feasible.
Moreover, deciding who can enter and who cannot easily leads to disagreements.
For others, it’s a sweet burden; but for him, it’s nothing sweet, just trouble.
Sanders also saw what Angel was thinking and smiled faintly in his heart: This is probably also Rhine’s purpose, to use a trigger not only to identify Angel’s sense of belonging to the Savage Grottoes but also to help him integrate more into his colleagues’ circle. At the same time, it lets others understand his importance to Angel.
His method is indeed a notch above the ball proposed by Tree Spirit.
“Can I go in alone?” Angel asked suddenly, as Sanders was admiring Rhine’s method.
“Enter the Soul Garden alone?”
Angel nodded: “Find a time when no one is around and sneak into the Soul Garden, then there won’t be so many hassles.”
Sanders: “…” Your approach to the problem is off!
“It’s possible, but it’s a waste. Also, the opening of the Soul Garden is not a small matter, you can’t completely hide it from everyone.”
“Oh… then what should I do?” Angel, playing with his hair, fell into deep thought with a troubled expression.
After pondering for a long time, Angel couldn’t think of any effective methods and eventually just gave up thinking.
Anyway, he didn’t plan to go to the Soul Garden for the time being, and it wasn’t too late to think about it later.