Chapter 2319 —The Dark Lord— <TOC> Chapter 2321 Green Scale
Translator: SumTLMan
Tidal Realm, Lost Forest.
Angel had previously, in the Wilderness of Dreams, secretly observed a conversation between Nemeti, Rhine, and others from the godly perspective at the Rosewater Pavilion. The specifics of the conversation were negligible; the atmosphere, however, appeared relatively harmonious. This was their first meeting, where both parties had secrets and exercised restraint, showcasing only their most genuine, kind, and beautiful sides.
Now, in this discussion within the Lost Forest, the facade of harmony was torn away due to the “Witch’s Confession.”
Even Nemeti, usually so detached, occasionally showed a firm stance.
The atmosphere teetered on the edge of a drawn sword and a ready crossbow.
This caused Dangros, who was watching from the side, to shiver with fear, constantly worrying in secret whether it could successfully flee if a conflict truly erupted? ——At this moment, Dangros failed to realize that its allegiance had naturally aligned with Angel’s side.
Angel could discern the unease in Dangros’ expressions, but he was much more optimistic than Dangros.
Despite the current disputes and confrontations, Angel felt that this was more authentic than the conversation in the Wilderness of Dreams.
After all, the future of the Tidal Realm was at stake, with the core issue being interests. When it comes to the redistribution of interests, how could it possibly be peaceful?
Disputes offer hope for continued dialogue.
Moreover, this meeting was just a minor one. What could be confirmed was that the real challenge would come in the future during negotiations with the monarchs of the Fire Domain and other elemental territories. That would be the true difficulty.
A multitude of elemental monarchs and sages would give rise to a plethora of ideologies. With different ideologies come different stances, and balancing them to make all parties accept the outcomes of the negotiations would inevitably lead to even more intense disputes, possibly even escalating to full-blown conflict.
Thus, compared to the future, the present is merely an uneventful Rehearsal, and Angel is well aware that a conflict is definitely not going to arise this time.
As expected, despite the loud disputes, everything eventually concluded peacefully.
Parlysania might have a loud voice, but listens to Nemeti; Lush Groot had also previously stated that it would follow Nemeti’s decisions; and since Nemeti had once received guidance from Feng and has a deep understanding of the Wizarding World, even standing partly on the wizards’ side, it was inevitable that their discussions would end up being all bark and no bite, sharing many thought processes with Rhine and other wizards, hence a peaceful conclusion was certain.
The real challenge lies in the future, facing those elemental monarchs who are yet to be met, whether they are radical, irritable, or conservative.
However, there is still time for Rhine to prepare.
Now with Nemeti’s support, Angel believes that no matter how difficult the obstacles in the future, there will always be a way to overcome them.
After the meeting, since Angel temporarily had nothing to attend to, he decided to follow Nemeti back to the vine tower, where they could practice without disturbances.
Sanders also came along, not to decide on the future development of the Tidal Realm, that was left to Rhine. His main purpose for visiting the Tidal Realm was to see the “Mad Hatter’s Coronation” that Angel had acquired.
As for Rhine, he too ventured into the depths of the Lost Forest, not knowing about the “Mad Hatter’s Coronation.” His reason for going to the vine tower was to see the traces left by Feng and to look for any remaining clues through the oil paintings into the void.
Since the depths of the Lost Forest were filled with Nemeti’s aura, an oppressive pressure that elemental sprites like Dangros couldn’t withstand, Angel decided to leave Dangros and the other elemental sprites with Parlysania.
Following Nemeti’s lead, they all made their way deep into the Lost Forest.
During their journey, Nemeti reflected on the previous meeting. In its view, the meeting went relatively smoothly, and the reason for this wasn’t just the sincerity of Rhine and others, but most importantly, the key was the “Witch’s Confession.”
Nemeti had heard of Mysterious Objects and had seen some in Feng’s possession.
But it was the first time she truly experienced the effects of a Mysterious Object, which completely disregarded logic and rules with its powerful impact, shocking her and arousing a deep curiosity about Mysterious Objects.
She couldn’t help but ask Rhine about some details regarding Mysterious Objects.
Rhine: “If you’re asking me, I can’t provide many answers. You might want to ask Angel; he’s the authority in this area.”
Not only had Angel almost stepped into the Mysterious Realm, but he also obtained Culuoli’s chronicles, making his understanding of Mysterious Objects far beyond what it used to be. So, Rhine’s direction was not misplaced.
Following Rhine’s advice, Nemeti naturally turned to ask Angel. She didn’t feel ashamed to “ask a junior,” as although Angel’s strength might not seem impressive, the fact that Feng had made arrangements for him was enough to show that Angel had something exceptional about him.
Even for Nemeti, the significance of Rhine and Sanders pales in comparison to that of Angel.
Naturally, there would be no hindrance in seeking answers from Angel.
Angel did not refuse and briefly explained the situation regarding the Mysterious Object.
After listening, Nemeti’s golden vertical pupils slightly brightened: Mysterious Object seems to greatly aid her desire to——no longer be insignificant. If she could obtain a Mysterious Object…
“What are you thinking about, Highness Nemeti?” Seeing that they had reached the base of the vine tower and Nemeti still appeared to be in a daze, Angel couldn’t help but ask.
Nemeti was momentarily startled, then withdrew from her reverie, casually saying, “Nothing much, just feeling a bit regretful about the Witch’s Confession. It would be nice if there were no restrictions.”
The “restriction” Nemeti referred to is Rule Three: When you are subjectively unwilling or subconsciously refuse, you can remain silent and not answer.
Hearing Nemeti’s words, Rhine also couldn’t help but nod: “Indeed, without this restriction, the effect of the Witch’s Confession would be exponentially stronger.”
Without the ability to refuse to answer, the Witch’s Confession would not only be applicable to contracts and meetings but could also be used for knowledge gathering and punishment. Even knowledge and secrets hidden at the deepest levels could be unearthed.
Rhine: “However, if there really were no such restriction, I fear even my old friend couldn’t keep this Mysterious Object safe.”
Angel did not express any opinion on this, but he had a speculation in his heart. He had been told before by Feng that even controllable Mysterious Objects have a small chance of becoming out of control, and even the Orderly Guild has a special research team trying to find a universal method to make controllable Mysterious Objects half-uncontrollable or even completely out of control.
If the “Witch’s Confession” really did become out of control, even just half-uncontrollable, it’s likely that the third rule’s restriction would vanish like smoke.
These involve the secrets of the Mysterious Object, and to avoid future research into making things go out of control in the Southern Region, Angel decided not to disclose this.
Because if not handled properly, the out of control state of any Mysterious Object is a disaster. To put it more significantly, it’s no less than the Demon God Calamity.
Like the Bud type of Mysterious Objects, no matter where you are in the universe, as long as the mechanism is triggered, it can completely devour you.
The terror of an out of control object is evident.
…
After everyone ascended the vine tower, they first arrived at the vine room, where Rhine and Sanders finally saw the oil painting drawn by Feng.
The artistic quality and aesthetic appeal of the portrait go without saying, but what Rhine was truly interested in was the passage hidden behind the oil painting.
The group ventured through the passage into the void, where Rhine sought any lingering clues and even visited the once treasure-laden site. However, their search ended fruitlessly.
At the treasure site, they encountered some shattered stones and the remains of deathly pale algae, indirectly confirming Angel’s words as truth, yet no further clues were unearthed.
Ultimately, they returned empty-handed from the void to the vine-covered room.
“What plans do you have next, Lord Rhine?” Angel inquired once they had settled.
“I’ve spoken with Lush Groot earlier. I plan to have him accompany me through the Green Forest Domain for a visit, to witness the uniqueness of this place firsthand and to engage with the elemental creatures here, to understand their attitudes and thoughts.” Rhine wished to delve deeper into the understanding of the Tidal Realm to aid future negotiations.
“I see.” Angel pondered for a moment, his lips barely moving as a soft voice carried on the wind.
“I’ve spoken with Lobert. When you, Lord Rhine, depart, Lobert will also follow to assist you,” Angel said.
Although the main and deputy heads of Lobert were not very reliable, but his tail head was quite useful. With the tail head’s assistance, Rhine could gain a quicker understanding of the Tidal Realm’s essence.
Rhine nodded, “And what about you? It sounds like you plan to stay here for the time being?”
Angel nodded, indicating not only his intention to stay but also Sanders’s desire to remain.
Rhine gave the two a profound look, sensing they harbored some secrets… However, as these were matters internal to Phantom Island, Rhine felt it inappropriate to intervene excessively.
“Alright then.” Rhine said, “I’m prepared to leave now, but before I do, I’d like to see the… gift from the Magic Painter you mentioned.”
The gift Rhine referred to was the painting left to Angel by Feng.
Because the oil painting contained energy fluctuations left by Feng, and Angel was unsure whether they were beneficial or harmful, he had planned to seek Rhine’s expertise for an assessment. Now that Rhine had broached the subject, Angel saw no reason to refuse.
After releasing the seal on the green runes near the painting, Angel retrieved it from his bracelet space.
Previously, neither Rhine nor Sanders had seen the painting, nor had Angel shown it through illusion, because, according to Angel, the painting itself was not important; what mattered was the energy contained within.
Therefore, Rhine and Sanders had no expectations regarding the content of the painting.
However, when they finally beheld the painting, they were utterly astounded.
To call it a painting was an understatement, for at first glance, it seemed to defy the very notion of flatness. The night sky depicted within seemed to transcend time and space, with the sparse midnight clouds weaving through the canvas, swirling before their eyes.
Yet, what truly astonished them was not just this, but the content of the painting itself.
Under the vast starry night that serves as a canvas, with the boundless wilderness as its backdrop, Angel and Feng sit opposite each other, their faces illuminated by the gentle starlight, casting shadows that blend into the laughter and sparse, bright moonlight.
The title in the bottom right corner, —Close Friends Night Talk—, is strikingly prominent.
Rhine’s gaze is intensely fixed on this painting.
He is not just looking at the painting itself but is trying to decipher the hidden meanings it conveys.
Although Rhine is not a fervent fan of paintings, his long life has afforded him the opportunity to see many of Feng’s works. He is well aware that Feng rarely paints himself.
Even on the rare occasions when he does, it is almost exclusively self-portraits; it is almost unheard of for him to include others in his paintings.
This is the only painting Rhine has seen that features both Feng and another person. Angel himself might not realize it, but Rhine is acutely aware of the value of this painting.
Feng’s paintings are usually spontaneous, but by explicitly depicting himself and Angel sitting together as equals, engaged in a joyful conversation, and even adding the title —Close Friends Night Talk—, he is sending a message through this painting to Angel and to the world:
Angel and he share a profound connection.
If someone who admires Feng, or a descendant of Feng’s family, were to see this painting, they might very well treat Angel with the reverence due to an ancestor.
And this is precisely the message Feng seems eager to convey.
The importance of Angel to Feng.
Should anyone in the future seek to harm Angel, this painting might well make them think twice.
Rhine can see what Feng is trying to express, but he is somewhat puzzled: what exactly does Feng value so much in Angel? Or is it truly just a case of immediate kinship?
Rhine found himself at a loss, eventually deciding not to dwell on it any longer. After all, the painting was now before him, symbolizing the connection between Angel and Feng. Knowing this, he might find this relationship useful in the future.
Rhine cast a meaningful glance at Angel, then turned to look at Sanders beside him, feeling a renewed sense of gratitude for Sanders’ decision to forcibly take Angel into the Savage Grottoes.
“Have you discerned anything, Lord Rhine?” Angel inquired.
“The energy contained within is indeed profound, though not vast in quantity, its level is exceedingly high, making it difficult to decipher the information within,” Rhine responded, not commenting on the painting itself but rather on the energy it contained.
He sensed that the energy must have reached the legendary realm, making it not easy to decode. However, since the quantity was small, he considered attempting a forceful decryption, but doing so could potentially damage any information contained within beyond repair.
Moreover, a successful decryption was not guaranteed.
Thus, Rhine felt somewhat helpless.
Even though he had reached the threshold of legendary, the methods of a true legendary wizard were still beyond his comprehension. The gap of a half-step was as vast as the heavens.
Seeing that Rhine was also unable to discern anything, Angel could only seal the painting again with the green rune, albeit reluctantly.
Angel was uncertain whether the green rune could effectively seal the energy within, but lacking any better option, he proceeded with this method.
“Based on my understanding of the Magic Painter, since he named this painting —Close Friends Night Talk—, he must truly regard you as a close friend. The energy contained within, even if it hides some information, I believe it should not harm you, so there’s no need for excessive worry,” Rhine advised.
Angel nodded, hoping things were as Rhine suggested. However, Angel didn’t place much importance on being considered a close friend, as his interaction with Feng had been limited to just a few short hours, hardly enough to constitute a deep friendship. Moreover, even if there was a bond of close friendship, it was with Feng’s strand of consciousness, not with Feng’s true self.