Translator: SumTLMan
“What do you know about the Void Travelers?”
The Enforcer glanced at Woof Woof opposite him and replied in a low voice, “Not much.”
“Even the wizards of the Source World have limited knowledge of the Void Travelers?” Angel was somewhat surprised.
The Enforcer nodded, “They rarely show themselves to humans, only residing within the void. Moreover, their numbers are sparse, and with their strong ability for void traversal and the vastness of the void, it is indeed difficult to encounter them.”
Angel looked at the Enforcer, thinking to himself that he indeed had a way with words.
The Enforcer’s meaning was essentially “scarce, timid, and evasive,” but his polished words made it sound less harsh.
At least Woof Woof seemed to understand the implied message of the Enforcer’s words.
Angel asked, “Have the Void Travelers ever appeared in the Source World?”
The Enforcer replied, “There might have been, but I haven’t seen them myself. However, I did hear something about Gruz De Weld’s City of Phantasm, where there seems to be Void Travelers.”
The Enforcer paused, seemingly recalling something, and looked up at Angel with a questioning gaze.
Angel nodded slightly to him, acknowledging the Enforcer’s confusion.
Now the Enforcer understood. It turns out Woof Woof was interested in the Void Travelers of the City of Phantasm… No wonder, in the pure white chamber, it was so targeted towards Gruz De Weld and Magnificus De Pawel.
The Enforcer was clear in his mind, but he didn’t show it, as he still didn’t know exactly what Woof Woof wanted to cooperate on. If it involved making a move on the City of Phantasm to rescue the Void Travelers… that was something he couldn’t manage. Not to mention the real strength of Gruz De Weld, the citizens inside the City of Phantasm alone were more powerful than him; he would merely be delivering himself up on a platter.
“Do you know how many Void Travelers there are in the City of Phantasm?” Angel asked.
The Enforcer shook his head: “I’m not sure about that. The City of Phantasm doesn’t welcome humans, not even me.”
Angel nodded. What the Enforcer knew was about the same as what they knew, but the only certainty was that the City of Phantasm definitely contained Void Travelers.
“Lord, having heard this, you should know what Woof Woof intends to do, right?”
The Enforcer couldn’t deny it, especially after exchanging looks with Angel: “It wants to save its kin from the City of Phantasm?”
Angel nodded.
The Enforcer asked, “So, it hopes I can be its collaborator, to help rescue its companions?”
Angel replied, “Yes, and no.”
The Enforcer asked, “What do you mean?”
Angel explained, “Woof Woof knows how dangerous the City of Phantasm is, and it wouldn’t want you to risk your life. What it hopes is that you can help it devise a strategy, using the chips you hold, to successfully rescue its companions.”
The Enforcer originally had a grim expression, presumably because if he really had to breach the City of Phantasm, it essentially meant a dead end. But as soon as Angel spoke, the Enforcer’s expression immediately normalized.
If it was just about devising strategies and making plans, then there was no issue.
“Letting me create the plan and strategize was your idea, wasn’t it?” the Enforcer suddenly spoke up, turning to Angel.
Angel had never thought he could keep the Enforcer in the dark. Among those present, Woof Woof was clearly an otherworldly recluse, inexperienced in worldly affairs, while the spotted dog itself did not need to be worldly-wise being the Great Demon Lord. Managing such a refined role could only be his doing. Thus, being noticed by the Enforcer was only a matter of time.
He pointed it out first, which also spared Angel from further explanations.
“I cannot deceive you, Lord.” Angel nodded. “It was I who proposed it, and it benefits you as well.”
After his words, Angel squeezed his eyes towards the direction of the spotted puppy.
The Enforcer immediately understood Angel’s hint.
Previously, Angel had mentioned that to leave this place, they must obtain the spotted puppy’s approval. But at that time, Angel did not specify how to gain its consent.
It seemed that this was the plan.
As long as they cooperate with Woof Woof, the spotted puppy would likely let them leave, and this might be the result of Angel’s facilitation.
Moreover, since Woof Woof was under the spotted puppy, aiding Woof Woof could not only provide a chance to leave this place but might also earn the spotted puppy’s friendship. If that was the case, it would be extremely profitable.
The spotted puppy, being a demon lord of such stature, appeared not to be of the indiscriminate killing type. Befriending it would only bring benefits, no disadvantages.
“I understand now, I agree to become its collaborator.”
Once the Enforcer agreed, Angel immediately produced the prepared contract terms, witnessed by the “person” who was the spotted puppy.
The terms were lenient, much as Angel had described, and they did not imply that the Enforcer had to fight desperately; it was just imperative to formulate the most suitable and strictest plan.
Besides, there were some detailed clauses, such as not to attack Woof Woof and to respect the spotted puppy… these were all trivial matters.
The Enforcer quickly signed the contract, with the spotted puppy as witness, the Enforcer dared not slack off.
“Now, can we first discuss what plan Woof Woof has?” The Enforcer was quite decisive, assuming the role of a collaborator as soon as the contract was signed.
“Woof Woof’s plan…” Angel deeply sighed as he spoke: “It has no specific plan, just thinking about threatening those two in the pure white chamber, learning the whereabouts of its companion, and then going to rescue.”
“This plan is rather… straightforward.” the Enforcer almost blurted out his inner thoughts, “But, the plan is not bad, as long as the strength is sufficient, just go and overwhelm the City of Phantasm directly.”
The Enforcer meant that Woof Woof, along with the spotted puppy, would go and overpower the City of Phantasm, easily and simply, possibly even without needing to threaten those two in the pure white chamber.
Angel whispered softly to the spotted puppy, “It’s our ultimate last resort, and even summoning the spotted dog comes at a great cost. So, if it can be avoided, let’s not deploy it.”
Enforcer said, “I see. Now tell me, what are your current assets? I’ll combine it with my experience and see if we can devise a plan.”
“Not us, it’s you and Woof Woof,” Angel clarified, distancing himself from the rescue mission. “This has nothing to do with me; I’m merely the messenger, my interaction with the City of Phantasm is merely to deliver warmth from afar.”
“Alright, what assets does Woof Woof have?”
Angel pondered, “Magnificus De Pawel and an avatar of Gruz De Weld’s split consciousness, those are Woof Woof’s biggest assets.”
Enforcer asked, “What about Woof Woof’s own strengths?”
“Do you still have expectations from a Void Traveler in terms of strength?” Angel replied.
Enforcer: …You say this in front of Woof Woof, giving it no face at all?
“However, Woof Woof’s strength might be negligible, but its ability in the void is formidable.”
“I’m aware that a Void Traveler’s void traversal capabilities are strong, but the City of Phantasm is under a strict spatial blockade. To the laymen of primitive humanity, it’s similar to a divine realm. Gruz De Weld is the supreme god there, controlling everything in the City of Phantasm, including space. So, void traversal abilities are almost useless there, unless your void traversal abilities reach the legendary peak of a space wizard,” Enforcer explained.
“As you say, but Woof Woof’s void ability is indeed very strong,” Angel reiterated what seemed to make the Enforcer realize something.
“Can its void traversal go through the City of Phantasm?”
“I don’t know, but in terms of void traversal, it is indeed strong. Just speaking of its void abilities, it can be compared with legendary space wizards.”
Woof Woof’s void traversal was not just about spatial abilities but involved high-dimensional traversal. However, this was a secret kept between Angel and Woof Woof, never to be disclosed.
Enforcer: “So you mean, even if it goes to the City of Phantasm, as long as it isn’t caught, there’s a high chance it can traverse out?”
Angel nodded: “Yes.”
Enforcer’s eyes slightly brightened: “That could save us a lot of follow-up trouble.”
He was now acting as a “strategist,” needing to consider many details. If Woof Woof could traverse out of the City of Phantasm, it would simplify many things.
“I understand. So the assets now are Magnificus De Pawel, an avatar of Gruz De Weld’s split consciousness, and Woof Woof’s void traversal, right?”
Angel: “And you.”
Enforcer: “Yes, and me.”
Angel: “That’s about it, do you have any plan…”
Before Angel could finish, suddenly, the spotted puppy that had been curled up pretending to sleep, yawned and barked a few times.
Everyone immediately fell silent, after all, aside from Angel, the rest regarded the spotted puppy with the eyes reserved for a “demon lord”; its bark, even though it was puppy-like, demanded silence and respect.
After the spotted puppy had barked, it noticed everyone staring and bashfully shook its ears.
Then, the spotted puppy approached Angel along the edge of the table.
Stopping by Angel’s side, it affectionately nuzzled his hand.
The Enforcer silently observed this scene, then turned to Angel with a silent accusation… Is this the “not acquainted” you spoke of? ? ?
At that moment, Angel was at a loss for words; he had specifically arranged for the spotted puppy not to acknowledge him, to pretend it did not recognize him, and it had obediently sat in the main seat asleep, yet suddenly it had stirred.
Indeed, it was a handful!
As Angel pondered how to explain, he suddenly felt something appear in his hand.
Looking down, he saw the spotted puppy had spat a spherical object into his palm and then yawned, returning to the main seat to curl up and sleep.
“It came over to give me this,” Angel thought, displaying an “I really don’t know the spotted puppy” demeanor.
The Enforcer inwardly scoffed, no longer believing him——this cunning boy, probably in cahoots with Woof Woof, just like the spotted puppy. No wonder he dared approach the disorder object with such confidence.
However, the Enforcer knew how to play his part; since Angel did not want to reveal that he was a subordinate of the spotted puppy, he pretended ignorance.
Then, the Enforcer’s gaze fell on the spherical object in Angel’s hand, and he was stunned.
“Is this… Deep Space? And, a Ziz cub?”
Angel hadn’t yet seen what the sphere was, but upon hearing the Enforcer’s remark, he looked more closely.
He saw the sphere was transparent, divided into two halves; one side held a deep, misty starry sky, while the other contained a curled-up dark purple crystalline creature.
The dark purple crystalline creature, Angel recognized, it was indeed a Ziz cub. But the deep, misty starry sky, that looked familiar to Angel, and hearing the Enforcer call it “Deep Space,” he had a vague recollection.
“What is Deep Space?” Angel curiously asked.
“You’ve seen it before too, in that laboratory, the third-class citizen of the City of Phantasm, you called it the ‘misty shadow.’ I never told you its name. Actually, its species is known as Deep Space.” The reason he hadn’t told Angel before was out of concern that merely thinking the name “Deep Space” might alert the ancestor of its species, but now, inside the spotted puppy, this demon lord, there was no need to worry.
Angel replied: “So it’s that, no wonder it looked somewhat familiar.”
Angel looked towards Deep Space with curiosity, previously intrigued by the “misty shadow”. The opponent’s abilities were quite fascinating, although he had never acted against it for various reasons. Unexpectedly, it now reappeared before him, this time confined within an unknown sphere by the spotted puppy.
“The ziz cub, previously thought to be dead, still harbors a spark of life, truly worthy of its lineage. Moreover, the soul is still present, evidently it had been protected,” mused the Enforcer. “It’s unclear how this ziz cub and Deep Space were captured.”
It must be said… the spotted puppy is formidable.
Angel weighed the sphere: “Besides The Bargaining Chips we just mentioned, we now have them too.”
Angel placed the sphere on the table and gently pushed it towards the Enforcer.
Although he was interested in Deep Space, considering the seniority of the other party and the matter of research, he decided it was best left to the Enforcer.
Upon receiving the sphere, the Enforcer sensed the method to unlock and the effects of this purely energy-sealing tool. It could seal not only the Deep Space and the ziz cub, but its capacity even included the split consciousness of Gruz De Weld and Magnificus De Pawel.
It was certainly a powerful energy tool, its only pity being that it was a one-time use item.
From its construction, it was likely crafted on a whim by the spotted puppy using its energy.
The Enforcer silently praised the spotted puppy’s power once more.
“Lord Enforcer, do you have a plan now?” asked Angel.
The Enforcer replied, “I still need to think it over, but we have enough chips now.”
“That’s good. When you have a plan, you can directly speak to Woof Woof,” Angel prepared to wash his hands of the matter, not wanting to get involved in the hustle, as knowing more plans might entangle him further.
The Enforcer was momentarily stunned: “Woof Woof can talk?”
Angel replied, “No, but it understands what you say and can nod or shake its head. That should be enough.”
The Enforcer: … Is that considered enough?
However, as long as one can understand and express a ‘yes or no,’ communication is indeed possible, albeit more time-consuming, but ultimately feasible.
Angel: “There are rooms next door; you can go there anytime to communicate. Or perhaps, would you like to eat something first?”
The Enforcer looked at the porcelain plate in front of him, recalling the various protocols associated with it, and shook his head: “No thanks, I’m not hungry yet. I’ll go to the next room to think.”
After speaking, the Enforcer stood up and followed Angel’s directions to a small quiet room.
He sat alone in the quiet room, his mind still cluttered with complex thoughts.
This experience had been too tumultuous and abrupt; he had never imagined that he would end up collaborating with a Void Traveler.
He carefully revisited his conversation with Angel, and many doubts remained in his mind.
These doubts were all about the spotted puppy.
The spotted puppy seemed detached, yet appeared to be a witness to everything.
The relationship between Angel and the spotted puppy was also very strange.
Most importantly, what exactly was the spotted puppy? Where did it come from?
The Enforcer thought over and over but couldn’t figure it out, and finally sighed deeply, deciding not to think about it anymore. Since the contract was signed, he might as well play the role of a collaborator and help Woof Woof.
How should he rescue? How should he best utilize his current bargaining chips? The Enforcer couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.