Chapter 2526 Mutual Incitement <TOC> Chapter 2528 The Terrifying Mental Power Value
Translator: SumTLMan
“Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to just let them stay here?” Ms. Melo inquired softly after returning to the tavern.
After arriving at the tavern, the talents clearly hadn’t fully recovered yet, still displaying signs of shock, mostly just sitting blankly at the tables in a daze.
Although the tavern wasn’t open for business today, the door could not block the curious gazes from outside. Ms. Melo was worried that once the patrol guards noticed them, it might cause trouble.
Angel reassured her: “There’s nothing inappropriate, don’t worry, nothing will happen.”
In Angel’s view, even if the patrol guards did discover them, it wasn’t a big deal. Surely, they wouldn’t dare to start a conflict here, and even if a confrontation did occur, there was nothing to fear.
However, this place was indeed Old Porter’s territory, a covert piece placed by the Savage Grottoes, even if it wasn’t a crucial one. But to avoid detection, Angel would still try to keep a low profile.
Thus, while his heart was wildly fearless, the reins of his mind were firmly in his grasp.
And these reins were an illusion.
Angel had set up a layer of illusion outside the tavern, subtly affecting everyone who entered its range.
This was also a precaution taken by Angel.
After setting up the illusion, Angel sent Ms. Melo to find Old Porter, while he stayed in the lobby, casually chatting with Daus.
The conversation was casual and the topic was unrestricted, but Angel subtly brought up the changes in the Guman Kingdom, trying to gauge Daus’ intentions.
Daus hadn’t explicitly expressed a desire to get involved in the affairs of the Guman Kingdom, but his previous actions had somewhat indicated a willingness to intervene.
Getting involved wasn’t an issue; wandering wizards, also known as free wizards, were unbound and free to do as they pleased. However, Angel was curious about how deeply Daus planned to get involved and what he hoped to gain.
Confronted with Angel’s probing, Daus seemed somewhat distracted, occasionally responding but mostly looking around.
Angel asked: “What are you looking for? The Crowned Parrot?”
Daus immediately nodded: “I’ve been recalling all the insults I’ve ever heard along the way; I’ve compiled many brilliant phrases that must be used to teach that damn parrot a lesson, otherwise, I won’t be satisfied.”
Moreover, Daus had already laid down a challenge to Angel on the road, promising to perform as he said he would.
However, they were all there, but that Crowned Parrot was nowhere to be found.
This was why Daus was distracted during their conversation.
Seeing that the Crowned Parrot was absent and particularly eager to express those exquisite phrases pent up inside him, Daus could only say to Angel: “How about you appreciate these insults I’ve compiled?”
Angel smiled and refused: “Talking big is one thing, but being on the spot is another, and all the preparation might not even be useful.”
Daus muttered half of his sentence to himself but meant it for Angel as well: “That said… Ah, you think I want to talk big, I’d rather just snap its neck.” Had Angel not, perhaps unintentionally, impeded him, Daus would have preferred a more direct approach to deal with that parrot.
Angel said: “I personally think that if you’re beaten in one arena, you should reclaim your place in that same arena, it feels more like an accomplishment.”
What use is the feeling of accomplishment? Daus cursed in his mind, if that damned parrot had taunted Angel instead of him, Angel would probably have taken swift action too.
“Besides, didn’t you say that the Crowned Parrot might once have been with a knowledgeable wizard, perhaps a significant figure’s summon? Aren’t you afraid of attracting that big figure’s attention?”
Daus took a swig of his stale drink without much enthusiasm.
If it were truly a significant figure, he probably would have died, or grown so annoyed that he’d have broken the contract himself. Otherwise, how could someone named Aubrey have signed the contract?
Though this was what he thought, Daus did not voice it out. Since the parrot was not present, he didn’t want to continue the topic and grow even more irritated.
“Let’s change the subject,” Daus cut in: “I get what you mean, but I don’t think you need to test how I would handle things.”
Angel asked: “What do you mean?”
Daus explained: “Wandering wizards like me just go with the flow, unlike you organized folks who always have to consider the bigger picture or the collective benefit, don’t you find that bothersome…”
Angel responded noncommittally.
Daus continued: “Of course, your kind ends up gaining the most in the end, but I’m a wandering wizard. I only see the immediate benefits, and I don’t necessarily need to pursue them; my thoughts now could change in the next second. Just yesterday, I was at the Sandworm Market, and today, who could have guessed that I would come to Princess Town to watch a play with the recently famous Super Dimensional Wizard?”
Daus winked at Angel: “So, no need to probe, and don’t worry about me. Whatever I can do is limited, and after I return to the Sandworm Market with you, I might not even come to the Guman Kingdom again. Everything is possible, guided by the freedom of choice.”
Angel smiled. Daus’ words were circuitous, but to put it simply: I am just a small player, don’t mind me, I can’t affect the big picture. I might just grab some benefits and leave without getting deeply involved.
Angel naturally knew that Daus couldn’t affect the big picture, but he was curious why Daus suddenly seemed interested in getting involved in this mess; had he discovered some visible benefits inside Princess Castle?
However, since Daus had put it this way, it was clear he didn’t plan on discussing it further with Angel.
Angel thought about it and decided to let it be.
Angel currently shares similar short-sighted views with Daus, focusing only on immediate benefits without considering the long-term consequences. However, unlike Daus, Angel’s “immediate benefits” are now so plentiful that he can barely keep up with them, including the green rune knowledge, mysterious alchemy, the powers of the Wilderness of Dreams, and elemental companions from the Tidal Realm. Upon reflection, even if Daus discovers any visible benefits at Princess Castle, they seem trivial by comparison.
Therefore, there’s no need to delve deeper. As for long-term benefits… that’s what Old Porter was sent to the Wilderness of Dreams to discuss with Lord Rhine, naturally letting their group handle it.
After ceasing their probing, Angel and Daus truly began to chat casually.
However, this casualness still had its limits. They couldn’t possibly discuss the knowledge of the Wizarding World or other wizards’ gossip right in the lobby; not only was the presence of others in the hall a concern, but the timing and setting for such “exchanges” were also crucial. This place, this night, was not suitable for such intellectual exchanges.
So, their conversation remained confined to the small scope of Princess Town.
Eventually, Daus chose a topic and began to assess the talents from the Savage Grottoes, one by one, not bothering to lower his voice. The group of talents, still recovering their spirits, were quickly drawn in.
They didn’t say it aloud, but they were curious to know what a formal wizard like Angel thought of them.
Angel wasn’t really interested in this topic, because this group of talents wasn’t particularly outstanding. At least, compared to his own batch, they were considerably weaker.
But since Daus had started the conversation, Angel didn’t plan to interrupt.
As Daus assessed them one by one, the results were unsurprising. Angel heard descriptions like “weak,” “stupid,” “impulsive”… the usual.
The only person Daus didn’t give a negative review was Amesa. However, even for Amesa, Daus remarked: “She looks a bit like a potential witch, but too rigid of a personality is more likely to break. And, if she doesn’t fight for it, she deserves to suffer.”
The so-called “not fighting for it” was clearly a personal bias, hinting at Amesa’s refusal to join him in encouraging Angel to fight.
While there was a touch of personal bias, the other assessments were not problematic.
Even though Angel saw a bit of Nausica in Amesa, which made him more optimistic about her future; like Nausica, Amesa also had a too rigid character. Although being overly rigid isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if she doesn’t learn to adapt, it would be hard for her to reach the end of this path.
After assessing those present, Daus also gave his opinions on those who were absent.
Sybil’s review wasn’t high, a prideful young lady still naive about the world, likely needing to face some harsh realities to grow.
After Sybil, Daus gave very brief reviews of the next two people.
For Gloshi, the review was: somewhat interesting.
For Blazer, the review was: an interesting little fellow.
As for what was interesting or amusing, Daus did not elaborate. However, the rare couple of seemingly positive remarks stirred a sense of discontent among the other talents sitting nearby.
Angel did not stop Daus from engaging in this behavior that provoked hostility toward the two individuals; being targeted was not always a bad thing.
However, his assessment was rather peculiar. Angel knew what Blazer meant by “interesting,” but Daus’ comment about Gloshi left Angel puzzled.
Perhaps, during his infiltration into Princess Castle, Daus saw something that made him find Gloshi interesting?
Although curious, Angel did not question Daus, especially since at that moment, Ms. Melo emerged from the back hall.
However, following Ms. Melo was not Old Porter but Aubrey and… Little Tom.
Angel was about to speak to Ms. Melo, but Daus was quicker.
His eyes shining, Daus stood up, looking down on Aubrey from a higher position: “Speak up, where is that ugly parrot? It’s quite talkative, isn’t it? I want to have a word with it this time!”
Aubrey shrank back, retreating repeatedly.
Ms. Melo, seeing this, gently stood next to Aubrey: “Lord Red Sword, Aubrey is timid; if there’s a problem, perhaps we could sit down and discuss it.”
“She’s timid? Ha, if she’s so timid, why let that damned parrot provoke me?”
Aubrey weakly said: “I can’t control it…”
Daus understood Aubrey’s situation and snorted coldly: “Tell me, where is it? Have you sent it back to its original world?”
Aubrey shook her head, hesitating for a moment before saying: “I don’t know where it went.”
As Daus pressed further, he learned that the Crowned Parrot had also flown out of the tavern after they left. It told Aubrey that it was looking for a quiet place to sleep and would return during the day.
Aubrey couldn’t control the Crowned Parrot and could only let it fly away.
“Running off alone?” Daus was genuinely surprised; even though the Crowned Parrot was not a very powerful summoned creature, it was still a transcendent being. And this was a wizard market, opportunistic people wouldn’t pass up a lone Crowned Parrot.
Daus narrowed his eyes: “It’s quite bold.”
That said, Daus felt that there was more to the Crowned Parrot’s solitary departure than just bravery.
As a summon that might possess the knowledge of a former summoner, it was well aware of the Wizarding World; and from its previous behavior, it was evident that this was a highly intelligent creature with considerable insight. Such a summon would surely know the dangers of a wizard market.
Yet, even so, it dared to go out alone, which definitely indicated a problem.
Daus suddenly calmed down, slowly sitting back. With several hours left until daylight, since the Crowned Parrot said it would return by day, it seemed worth the wait to see what would happen.
When Daus suddenly fell silent, both Aubrey and Ms. Melo breathed a sigh of relief, yet Angel felt a tinge of disappointment.
He was actually quite keen to witness a verbal duel between Daus and the Crowned Parrot.
Moreover, with so many talents present, Daus, a formal wizard, losing to the Crowned Parrot in front of ordinary people would have been quite an amusing spectacle.
Unfortunately, the Crowned Parrot was not there… Angel shook his head, guessing that the Crowned Parrot had secrets, but this did not concern him much. Let Aubrey worry about it. If Aubrey couldn’t handle it, then let the Crowned Parrot influence her instead, which might not be a bad thing for someone as introverted as Aubrey.
The conversation with Daus paused, and Angel turned to Ms. Melo: “Is Old Porter not here?”
Ms. Melo shook her head: “He is here, but… I’ll let this fellow tell you.”
She pointed to Little Tom.
Tom, previously mixed into Princess Castle seeking revenge and discovered in the dungeon by Angel, had been directed by him to seek out Old Porter, the small guard.
Unfazed by the occasion, Tom stepped forward and said: “Lord, I came here looking for Old Porter, and I did see him. However, when I met him, he just hurriedly came out to meet me, asked about your situation, and we hardly spoke a few words before he said it was too late, he needed to catch up on some sleep, and anything else would have to wait until he woke up, then he didn’t come out again.”
Chapter 2526 Mutual Incitement <TOC> Chapter 2528 The Terrifying Mental Power Value