Chapter 2600 Moving Illusion Realm <TOC> Chapter 2602 Exit
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel did not speak but fell into silence.
The Black Count thought Angel was weighing the pros and cons and didn’t mind, giving him time to consider.
After a while, Angel softly said: “There’s no need to test me, lord. What information about the Noah family could I possibly know? It’s just some trivial gossip that won’t have any impact on this exploration.”
What Angel said was probably the truth, because if it really had any impact, he wouldn’t have agreed to let someone from the Noah family come along. As for setting a trap? Impossible. Their arrival was purely coincidental. Besides, with Angel’s current strength, even if someone set up a trap with malice, his intuition would easily detect it.
However, even if Angel only knew some unimportant information, the Black Count was still very interested.
After all, the Demon God cultists had clearly recorded that mysterious predecessor of the Noah family on that podium top. Perhaps what Angel knew was related to this person?
“Are you sure you don’t want to know how Sanders managed to cast the moving illusion realm? If what you’ve heard is just trivial gossip, then exchanging it for this secret wouldn’t be a loss for you.”
Angel still shook his head: “No need. Even if you don’t tell me, lord, I roughly understand the truth behind this secret.”
Previously, Angel had fallen into a period of silence. At that time, the Black Count thought he was just considering whether to make this deal. But in reality, Angel was pondering the so-called “secret” mentioned by the Black Count.
Although the Black Count hadn’t revealed any details about this secret, unfortunately for him, Angel knew Sanders very well.
Sanders didn’t teach him about the moving illusion realm, nor did he even proactively mention it, so there must be a reason.
Moreover, Sanders had no reason to keep this to himself.
So what could be the reason?
Was it because his strength wasn’t sufficient? Probably not. He was now already a formal wizard, only one step away from true knowledge. And even if it was a matter of strength, couldn’t he at least inform him in advance?
Now that the Black Count dared to tell him, it indicated that it wasn’t primarily due to strength.
Excluding factors related to strength, another reason Angel could think of was that Sanders didn’t want him to learn his method of the moving illusion realm.
In other words, Sanders’ method had drawbacks. And the benefits were minimal, while the drawbacks were unimaginably great.
Otherwise, Sanders wouldn’t avoid mentioning it altogether.
Sanders had once told Angel that in order to connect to the Nightmare Plane, he had completely severed his Nightmare Soul Body talent. Although he gained access to the Nightmare Plane, he lost the potential for further advancement.
Sanders could even talk about such matters, but not about the moving illusion realm. The answer was already quite obvious.
Sanders feared that even knowing the drawbacks, Angel might still imitate him for various reasons.
And Angel happened to have heard something…
“Oh? You know this secret?” The Black Count asked suspiciously: “Did Sanders tell you?”
Angel replied: “No. But earlier, you mentioned that my mentor had also cooperated with elemental companions, but due to various reasons, they were not compatible. As for me, I succeeded in casting this moving illusion realm because I happened to be compatible with the attributes of my Demon companion.”
“Combining these two factors, it’s basically possible to deduce that for my mentor to perfectly cast the moving illusion realm, he just needs to find a companion compatible with himself.”
The Black Count’s voice suddenly turned distant and ethereal: “So, do you know who this person is?”
Angel contemplated and said: “My lord just mentioned a saying: ‘The person who knows you best is your enemy.’ I think this saying has a slight flaw. The one who knows oneself best is first oneself, then one’s enemy; otherwise, if you don’t even know yourself, wouldn’t that be living in vain?”
After Angel finished speaking, he held his tongue. Yet, within his words, he had already revealed who that person was.
The Black Count gazed deeply at Angel, and after a long silence, chuckled softly: “It seems I’ve been too talkative this time. I shouldn’t have divulged so much information about the moving illusion realm earlier.”
“However, I didn’t anticipate that you have actually met the other Sanders.”
The Black Count’s words were an admission that Angel’s speculation was correct. The reason Sanders could flawlessly wield the moving illusion realm was because of another self within him.
That person who was the spitting image of Sanders, yet exuded an even more sinister allure.
The Black Count continued: “Unless it was absolutely necessary, Sanders wouldn’t unleash him. And since you’ve met him, it suggests you once found yourself in dire straits, with death looming at every turn, and Sanders couldn’t come himself, so he could only send him to find you?”
Angel: “…”
As expected of an old monster; with just a casual mention, he had pieced together most of the events from back then.
Seeing Angel’s silence, the Black Count knew he had hit the nail on the head: “Since you know this secret, we can’t exchange information anymore. Let’s call it quits on this matter.”
The Black Count hadn’t expected that Angel’s wits were even sharper than he had imagined.
If it were Sanders’ other disciple——Sumesh, answering this question, even if Sumesh had met the other Sanders, with his temperament, he wouldn’t have thought along these lines.
He now acknowledged that Angel’s meteoric rise to become the brightest new star in the Southern Region was no fluke.
Although Angel’s achievements might have been aided by serendipity, it did not prevent this from being an inevitable outcome.
While the Black Count was lost in thought, Angel’s voice resonated through the mental connection: “The lord previously told me about the moving illusion realm, which counts as an exchange of information. I can tell you one thing: I actually don’t know what connection this place has with the Noah family; I just happened, by a twist of fate, to learn that there was once someone here with the surname Noah.”
The Black Count was momentarily taken aback; he had assumed that Angel would guard this secret jealously, but unexpectedly, he chose to share it?
“That person with the surname Noah, who is he?”
Angel replied: “My lord should already have his name in mind. I won’t mention it; after all, I’m an outsider. If this Noah clansman hasn’t perished, uttering his name directly would surely be a grave disrespect.”
Although Angel didn’t state who it was, it didn’t prevent the Black Count from confirming it in his heart.
It must be him, the venerable ancestor who sits atop the Noah family tree, the most mysterious and legendary predecessor——Augustine Noah.
The Black Count said: “The ‘twist of fate’ you mentioned, I suppose you’re not inclined to share it with me?”
Angel responded: “I can share it, but not at this moment.”
Angel could divulge some matters about Augustine to the Black Count, but not those related to the Nightmare Plane; rather, about when he encountered Augustine during the crafting of that key. Of course, all of this hinged on the premise that what lay behind the wall was connected to Augustine.
If the destination corresponding to that key has nothing to do with the Noah family, then there is no need for him to mention it. However, this possibility is small; after all, Augustine personally oversaw the Alchemy Omen. If it has nothing to do with him, then it can only mean… Angel has once again unluckily encountered the most difficult Alchemy Omen.
“Then I look forward to that time,” the Black Count did not seek an immediate answer. He greatly enjoyed the process of “anticipation”; it had been a very, very long time since he had looked forward to something like this.
He believed that when the conclusion came, sharing this insight with his true body, his true body would, like him, enjoy the process of this adventure?
……
Angel and the Black Count had been chatting in the “encrypted connection,” which made the others feel somewhat down; they also wanted to hear the gossip.
Moreover, surrounded by mutated carrion squirrels, if they didn’t say something to divert their attention, they really couldn’t stand it——not out of fear, but mainly because the mutated carrion squirrels were just too particularly ugly.
All beautiful creatures are similar, but each ugly creature has its own ugliness.
Ugly to the point of eye-burning, ugly to the point where people cannot look directly, ugly to the point of becoming mental pollution…
This is the visual assault of the mutated carrion squirrels.
“By the way, how do so many mutated carrion squirrels survive?” Kael asked curiously: “Earlier, they probably smelled Lord Red Sword’s living aura, so they chased us frantically. It seems they feed on living creatures, but there don’t seem to be many living beings here to meet their needs?”
“Perhaps they’ve retreated back to the stinking sewers; there must be many monsters in the sewers,” Daus said casually.
“They do have a stench, but I don’t seem to smell the odor of the sewers,” Vai said, and deliberately sniffed. Of course, he didn’t smell anything; Angel had thoughtfully set up a purification field in the Light and Shadow Illusion Realm.
“With such a large population, it must be the result of years of breeding. I’m really curious, how do they usually survive?”
As soon as Kael finished speaking, the voice of the Black Count sounded: “Carrion squirrels are omnivorous monsters by nature. They can eat meat and plants, and even gnaw on stones to satisfy hunger. Moreover, when food is scarce, they can reduce energy consumption by prolonged hibernation. The underground labyrinth’s magic formation has been operating endlessly to this day; even the energy that leaks out is enough to sustain these monsters.”
Not only the mutated carrion squirrels, other surviving monsters are the same; either they kill each other, or they become parasites of the magic formation.
Of course, this kind of parasitism is not unilateral; after they die, their bodies and flesh naturally belong to the magic formation, serving as new energy sources. Although not much, mosquito legs accumulate into meat.
The magic formation can last ten thousand years; naturally, it has its methods of adaptation.
“This kind of question isn’t any secret; just casually find an intelligence point and you’ll know, for example, the Bliss Pavilion or the Tea Party.”
“Isn’t the Tea Party only accessible to witches?” Vai and Kael simultaneously ignored the Bliss Pavilion, after all, lords were present; they were embarrassed to mention the Bliss Pavilion.
“Use transformation spells, or pay a female apprentice to go in and ask for you. Do I need to teach you such things?”
After mocking them, the Black Count said indifferently: “It seems that your preparations before exploration are lacking.”
It seemed like just a concluding remark, but the Black Count glanced meaningfully at Daus.
Apprentices can be excused, but Daus is a formal wizard, yet he didn’t know this and didn’t make any preparations. This is obviously unqualified.
Daus was also embarrassed to say anything… Who made it his own fault?
“There is no absolute freedom in this world. To pursue so-called freedom for a bit of pathetic self-esteem, then ignorance is the price you have to pay. You should know what ignorance means in the Wizarding World.”
“Ignorance means that even in death, you won’t know why you died.”
This remark was clearly directed at Daus. Whether Daus would take it to heart was another matter; at least this time, he didn’t talk back.
After speaking, the Black Count leisurely floated back to Angel’s side.
“Everyone has the right to choose their own path; the road Daus is walking may not necessarily be wrong,” Angel resumed his private conversation with the Black Count.
“That doesn’t conflict with what I said,” the Black Count replied: “I’m only saying this for the sake of his talent of inspiration. He can pursue freedom, but he must not pursue ignorance.”
Angel couldn’t refute these words.
Daus was indeed a bit too carefree. Saying he was ignorant might be a bit harsh, but he seldom paid attention to matters that didn’t bring him benefit. Yet sometimes, interests and dangers are intertwined; focusing only on gains without considering the risks is somewhat one-sided, and encountering danger is only a matter of time.
Therefore, although the Black Count’s words were harsh, at least he was thinking about Daus’ future.
Angel thought for a moment and decided not to say anything more, only hoping that Daus wouldn’t let the Black Count’s words go in one ear and out the other.
While they were each lost in thought, a fork in the road appeared ahead.
It was a very peculiar fork: one side was a tall, broad labyrinth avenue; the other was a small square window resembling a dog hole.
The window wasn’t at ground level but was situated dozens of meters high. Using mental power to probe inside, they could vaguely see a path, but to proceed, they might have to crawl through it.
It was worth mentioning that perhaps because it was too high, there were no mutated carrion squirrels entering or exiting through the small window, whereas the main road was still teeming with mutated carrion squirrels.
They had encountered a fork in the road——if it could be called a fork. Angel hardly hesitated and directly turned to look at Daus.
But Daus still had a dazed expression.
Angel walked over, coughed twice to draw Daus’ attention back, and said: “Don’t tell me you’re still pondering the Black Count’s words?”
Daus immediately showed a disdainful look: “I wasn’t thinking about those trivial things; I was contemplating a question.”
First deliberately provoking him and receiving Daus’ hot and cold rebuttal, Angel smoothly continued: “Contemplating a question? What question? Could it be that you’re also considering whether to crawl through the dog hole or continue admiring the beauty of the mutated carrion squirrels?”
“Dog hole?” Daus hadn’t yet grasped the meaning when Angel pointed to the small window high above.
“We’re all contemplating which path to take. You’re pondering this question too, right?” Angel asked.
Daus paused for half a second, then suddenly clapped his hands, slung his arm around Angel’s shoulder, and said: “Of course! I was just thinking about whether to take the dog hole or keep moving forward!”
Without needing Angel’s instruction, Dangros had already conscientiously leaped onto Angel’s shoulder, moving Daus’ hand away.
Angel smiled and said: “So, what conclusion have you reached? By the way, we’ve already taken a vote. It’s currently tied at two to two. Your vote will be the tiebreaker, so you must make a careful decision.”