Chapter 2391 External Ally <TOC> Chapter 2393 No Prying
Translator: SumTLMan
As the de facto ruler of the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel, through the power of the Gatekeeper, was aware of everyone who had entered this mysterious realm. It was clear to him that Canter had never set foot in the Wilderness of Dreams.
How then, did Nisi manage to contact him?
Recalling Nisi’s previous statement that “Tree Spirit introduced the external ally,” the answer seemed to surface effortlessly.
Given that Tree Spirit could not leave the bounds of the Savage Grottoes, and Canter had not ventured into the Wilderness of Dreams, the conclusion was straightforward: Canter was currently in the Savage Grottoes. Through Tree Spirit’s messaging, Canter had accepted Nisi’s invitation.
With this puzzle resolved, Angel’s thoughts began to wander.
Why would Canter agree to Nisi’s invitation? As the head of the House of Lilith, Canter’s strength and status were indisputable. For Nisi to invite him for protection was no small feat. Could it be that Nisi offered something too valuable to refuse?
Moreover, why had Canter come to the Savage Grottoes? Had something prompted him to seek Sanders’ assistance?
Lost in thought, Canter, with a smile, said, “From what you’re saying, Nisi didn’t tell you that I was the external help he sought? He loves to keep secrets.”
Angel responded, “I hadn’t anticipated that Wizard Nisi could persuade someone of your caliber, Lord Canter.”
Canter glanced behind at the cave entrance, “He really did pay a hefty price this time.”
Angel suddenly understood. No wonder Nisi had mentioned “he had taken a big loss” earlier. It seemed that to secure Canter’s assistance, Nisi had indeed paid a significant price.
“I agreed to come because I saw the price Nisi was willing to pay, and the ancestral spirit of the Savage Grottoes vouched for him. However, I didn’t expect to be tricked. As soon as I left the planar passage, I lost a trump card. Hmph, he must compensate!” Canter expressed his frustration about the loss of his trump card.
“It’s not my fault, who knows where that fluctuation came from. And what do you mean Tree Spirit vouched? The moment you heard Angel was here, you immediately agreed to come… You must have something you need from Angel. I served as a free physical anchor for you, and not only did you not thank me, but you also took a large portion of my collection. A little uncontrollable factor occurred, and you blame me, even deliberately stepping on me. I’m the one who’s wronged here!” Nisi retorted.
Nisi had also emerged from the pit, but unlike Canter’s composed exit, he appeared disheveled and covered in dust and holes, with two footprints on his chest.
He looked both destitute and pitiful.
However, everyone present was no fool. From Nisi’s shifty eyes, it was evident he was merely playing up his misery to gain sympathy.
A formal wizard climbing out of a less than three-meter-deep hole with such a disheveled appearance? Hardly plausible.
Canter scoffed, seeing through Nisi’s ploy at once. He had no interest in further discussion, stating bluntly, “Anyway, we haven’t finalized any contract yet. If you don’t compensate, then I won’t agree to any contract.”
“You don’t have a fixed contract, and I won’t reimburse the magical materials you consumed coming here,” Nisi stated as the inviting party. He had previously agreed that he would cover the cost of the magical materials consumed by Canter in casting the planar passage. And the cost of casting a planar passage… that’s not cheap. In his view, this was also a kind of threat.
However, Nisi forgot that the person in front of him was not just any poor wizard.
As the current head of the House of Lilith, a family that has produced a true knowledge wizard in countless generations, lacking money was impossible.
Canter sneered, “Just some magical materials? Don’t talk about the reserves in the family vault; the magical materials I carry on me right now are enough for me to open the planar passage eight to ten more times. Do you think you can threaten me with that?”
Canter’s display of wealth left Nisi choked up and turned the complexion of Firo nearby ashen… They were the typical poor wizards.
Even Angel, who was not short of money, was astounded by Canter’s words. He also had magical materials for casting planar passages but had only prepared two sets at most. Compared to Canter, who had prepared ten sets of magical materials at once, he truly couldn’t compete.
Although Nisi didn’t speak, Canter was still not appeased, “You did say one thing right, I indeed have some private matters with Angel. So, even if I consumed the magical materials for a planar passage this time, it doesn’t matter, at least I got to see Angel.”
“So, do you have anything else to say?”
The attitude Canter displayed was clearly one that had already decided to peel another layer off Nisi’s pocket.
Nisi stammered, “You’re not short of magic crystals either…”
Canter: “I’m not short of magic crystals, but I don’t mind having more. And, do you think that my life-replacing straw man can be bought with magic crystals?”
Nisi: “Then what do you want?”
Canter narrowed his eyes, a sliver of sharpness shining through: “I’ve heard from Sanders that you’ve built a treasure vault.”
“Yes.” Nisi didn’t deny it but murmured with some confusion, “How did Sanders come to mention my vault to you?”
——Naturally, because there’s something I need in there, that’s why Sanders would mention it. Canter thought to himself, but his expression remained unchanged.
“Let me pick one item from your vault, and I’ll agree to your terms.”
“What item?”
“I haven’t been there yet, who knows what treasures you have in your vault. I’ll choose after I’ve been.”
Nisi looked suspicious; this proposal seemed a bit off.
“You don’t have to worry, I’m not a soul wizard, nor will I pick anything related to soul magic. I’ve only heard from Sanders that you’ve raided quite a few ruins and obtained some items whose purposes you haven’t figured out yet. Those are what I want.”
Nisi wasn’t foolish: “I don’t believe it’s that simple. You suddenly mentioning my treasure vault, you must have premeditated this.”
Canter spoke with a hint of intention, “I indeed have something on my mind, and there’s no harm in sharing it with you. A long time ago, I heard from Sanders that you had visited an ancient ruin in the Snow Dominion.”
Nisi frowned slightly, “That did happen.”
Canter continued, “The head of the House of Lilith two generations ago vanished while exploring a ruin in the Snow Dominion. I don’t know if the ruin you explored is related to that former head, so I wanted to see what you found there.”
Canter presented his case quite grandly, sharing the general situation, but Nisi felt that Canter was still hiding something.
Seeing Nisi’s hesitation, Canter said, “Anyway, I’ve said my piece. Without such compensation, I won’t sign the contract. At worst, I’ll consider this visit for the sake of Angel, and I won’t be at a loss.”
Canter put on an uncompromising demeanor, leaving Nisi with no choice but to concede, nodding, “Fine, you can choose one item from my secret vault, but it absolutely cannot be related to the soul school. Moreover, if you choose something I’m unfamiliar with, you must honestly tell me its function. If its effect is beneficial to me and I need it, you cannot refuse me the use of it.”
From Nisi’s words, it was evident he was also very reluctant. If Canter really chose something Nisi underestimated, he also wanted to secure some right to use it.
Canter looked deeply at Nisi, “Agreed.”
Nisi said, “Then let’s sign the contract now.”
The so-called contract was naturally like an employment agreement, such contracts, or oaths, have very strict and cautious drafting schemes in the Wizarding World, making it hard to find loopholes. Moreover, they possess great binding power, necessitating Nisi to sign a contract with Canter.
The contract signing process was swift. After it was completed, Nisi looked utterly disheartened, “Had I known, I would have had Tree Spirit give him a login device right there and then, signing the contract in the Wilderness of Dreams, and this would never have happened.”
“What’s the Wilderness of Dreams?” Canter caught a familiar term. After arriving at the Savage Grottoes, he had heard others mention this term but hadn’t paid it much attention. Now that Nisi mentioned the Wilderness of Dreams again, it piqued Canter’s curiosity.
Nisi huffed, “That’s an internal secret of the Savage Grottoes. You’re not one of the Savage Grottoes, so why should I tell you?”
“If you’re unwilling to speak, I can’t force you.” After a few seconds of silence, he said, “However, I must remind you of something. Although we have a mutual friend, our relationship isn’t so close that you can address me by my name so casually.”
Nisi’s expression froze, and after a moment, he obediently said, “Lord Like the Night.”
Canter nodded in satisfaction.
Once their contract was signed, Angel finally stepped forward, puzzled, “Lord Canter, did you need something from me?”
Canter nodded, “Indeed, I came to the Savage Grottoes specifically to find you. I only learned you had left after arriving. Initially, I thought to wait for you in the Savage Grottoes, but then this incident happened.”
Although Canter was indeed interested in visiting Nisi’s chamber, his eagerness was not overwhelming. It was only upon hearing that Angel was also present that he agreed to escort Nisi.
“What’s the matter?”
Canter sighed, “It’s about Cherie…”
Before Canter could finish, a roaring sound accompanied by mournful animal cries came from the distance, followed by a new fluctuation rolling in.
Everyone stopped in their tracks, and Canter frowned, looking in the direction from which the fluctuation was coming.
After the fluctuation had dissipated, Canter said to Angel, “The matter I wanted to discuss with you is not urgent; we can talk about it later. I believe what you are dealing with is more pressing.”
He paused, then expressed his curiosity, “Why are there so many Law Ripples around here?”
“Law ripples?” Angel asked, “Could you tell us more about these fluctuations?”
“Law ripples, also known as law fluctuations, are generally the unbound law powers that ripple continuously in the surroundings when unrestrained. The law power is strongest at the core and fades as it spreads out.”
It wasn’t Canter who spoke, but Nisi, who had just finished using a cleansing spell.
After Nisi’s explanation, Canter nodded, “That’s correct, Nisi’s explanation is accurate.”
He paused again, then continued, “It seems I didn’t misjudge you earlier. Knowing about the existence of law ripples, you still chose to place the anchor here.”
Nisi replied, “I only found out about it recently, from Tree Spirit.”
Canter tilted his head, “That’s interesting. From what I know, your ancestors never leave the Savage Grottoes. And now, located in the Devil’s Sea, how did you manage to contact Tree Spirit to sign a contract with me?”
“You said you only learned about the law ripples from Tree Spirit recently. How did you manage to contact him?”
Canter’s eyes were inquisitive.
The distance from the Savage Grottoes was immense; how did Nisi manage to communicate remotely with Tree Spirit?
Nisi responded, “That’s a secret of the Savage Grottoes, and I’m not authorized to disclose it to outsiders.”
And the person who was authorized to disclose it was right behind Canter——Angel, although Nisi wouldn’t say it out loud.
After hearing this, Canter didn’t pursue the matter further. Methods for long-distance communication exist; even cross-world communication is possible. Otherwise, why would there be expedition teams? Why would the Abyss have so many outposts? It’s just that the materials required are expensive.
Canter assumed that Nisi had also used valuable materials to communicate with Tree Spirit. This was logical, as Nisi had made it clear when signing the contract that this exploration was of great significance to him, and he was willing to spend his resources, which was normal.
Angel expressed his lingering confusion about the concept of the dissipation of the law powers, as mentioned by Wizard Nisi, wondering how such forces could possibly dissipate.
Nisi remained silent this time, allowing Canter to elucidate: “The law powers, in general, should not dissipate…”
Laws, in essence, align with certain rules.
Wizards of the legendary realm typically wield a certain amount of this law power, maintaining perfect control over it. Such forces would not dissipate unless they intentionally allow it, indicating a deliberate release or leakage is highly unlikely.
Moreover, within the Wizard Garden, the law power exists as an exceedingly precious resource, with virtually no one willing to squander it recklessly.
Additionally, certain special items contain solidified law powers, which might dissipate if they are unstable or deliberately activated.
In summary, while the law power is omnipresent, its dissipation is primarily associated with special items rather than legendary wizards, making the latter’s law power the least likely to dissipate.
This understanding reassured Canter, who, despite sensing the fluctuation of law, did not share the cautious fear of Angel, Nisi, or Firo. He reasoned that the presence of a legendary wizard was improbable.
If the dissipation originated from an item, it might be possible to seize control of it.
After hearing Canter’s explanation, Angel felt somewhat relieved. The fear of the unknown had kept them on edge; understanding the true nature of the fluctuation allowed them to relax slightly.
However, Angel’s relief was not complete, as he harbored lingering concerns.
Was the fluctuation of law truly emanating from a special item that had solidified the law power?
And who was the person Firo had encountered earlier?