Chapter 2646 The Wise One Is Not Foolish <TOC> Chapter 2648 A Marvelous Encounter
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel took one step after another out of the dome formed by the black shadow.
As Angel left, the dome began to shrink continuously, turning into a black silhouette similar to a leopard. The leopard-like shadow flicked its tail, shrinking until it “melted,” and ultimately sank into Angel’s own shadow.
Yawning while rubbing his shoulders and neck, which felt a bit sore from sleeping cross-legged, Angel walked toward the center of the platform.
His unmasked footsteps immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Nearly all gazes lingered on Angel’s hands or hovered around his pockets. In their imagination, Angel must have crafted something for a trade with that Box of Cecia.
Only, it seemed as though he had nothing. Besides, if it were alchemy, that speed would be simply astounding.
Angel also noticed everyone’s eyes. With some confusion, he stretched out his hands, flipping them palm and back, as though checking whether anything looked abnormal. Was it just that his glove was slightly crooked?
“Were you just doing alchemy?” At that moment, Daus came over and set his elbow on Angel’s shoulder, voicing the same question on everyone’s minds.
Alchemy? A look of realization flashed across Angel’s eyes. Now he understood what they were thinking.
Speaking of which, alchemy was indeed a good excuse.
“So, do you also want to make some deal with that Cecia woman?” Angel paused, then suddenly thought of something: “By the way, I didn’t see your outcome earlier. That Holy Light Staff of yours, did Cecia accept it?”
Daus spread out his palm, revealing a symbol bathed in a faint red glow: “I’ve got my ticket. What do you think?”
Angel: “Cecia had more or less something to say about everyone else’s ‘treasure.’ What about yours? What did she say?”
Daus poked a finger in his ear: “She mumbled a long string of words, fast and dense, I couldn’t understand a thing. As for what this so-called ‘clearance ticket’ symbol is, or what it means, I have no idea either. I’ve never even seen anything like it.”
Angel carefully observed Daus. From the subtle details of his expression, it looked as though Daus wasn’t lying.
Still, it wasn’t something vitally important, so Angel had only asked in passing.
He was more interested in whether the Black Count had reaped any rewards.
At the moment, the Black Count had returned to Vai’s hand, appearing unchanged… or wait, there was indeed a change!
“My lord’s slab has changed?” Angel did not ask aloud but spoke within a private “chat room” shared with the Black Count.
The Black Count: “I traded the original slab to that woman for a ticket. Vai just finished crafting this new slab. Regardless, the old slab was also created by Vai, so for me, it makes no difference.”
Angel: “So you entered the Box of Cecia, my lord?”
In other words, did the Black Count and Cecia hold a fair question and answer session?
The Black Count: “Yes. I stayed for a few minutes.”
He stopped there, clearly not wanting to elaborate. Angel had been thinking of asking what the Black Count had wanted to know from Cecia, but given the circumstances, he wisely kept silent.
In any case, he could always consult Cecia directly.
The Black Count had indeed considered that Angel might question Cecia about his own inquiries. But from that brief interaction, the Black Count knew Cecia was not easily swayed.
With her temperament settled by the passage of thousands of years, she was like a calm and unmoving well. Angel, in the Black Count’s view, was merely another potential trading partner, so trying to get close to her or pry information from her would prove very difficult.
He was likely correct, and that might well have been the ultimate outcome. Unfortunately for him, Angel was not purely in a transactional relationship with Cecia; Angel possessed a Source Fire, and also commanded a Laudsourcian follower, both of which Cecia desired.
Under these conditions, her attitude toward Angel differed from the way she treated anyone else.
From what had happened so far, how she had answered any question Angel posed, one could see a hint of that difference.
Of course, if Angel did not show Cecia her fellow Laudsourcian later, this would be another matter entirely.
Angel: “I’m going to settle the final part of my trade with Cecia, and then we’ll leave.”
After a nod to everyone, Angel headed toward the Box of Cecia.
Unlike the others, the moment Angel approached it, a red light flared out at once. When Angel’s hand touched the Box of Cecia, his figure vanished without a trace.
“The lord is going back inside the box again… Oh, how I want to see what’s happening in there.” Vai gazed longingly at the Box of Cecia in the distance.
“That woman who hides herself, although her power level is unknown, she has existed for a millennium, so she’s hardly trivial. Besides, when I was in the box, I sensed something terrifying lurking in the darkness… It felt a bit like… a domain.” The Black Count gave a snort of indifference: “You going inside would be courting death.”
“It’s that dangerous?” Vai muttered quietly. Earlier, it hadn’t seemed all that bad to him, but evidently, there was a huge threat hidden in the shadows.
The Black Count said nothing more, only angling his “nostrils” toward the Box of Cecia, silently speculating about that woman’s identity.
…Could it be her?
When the Black Count had first sought to trade with Cecia, she showed no reaction whatsoever. So he had simply asked about what troubled him the most: something relating to a certain forebear of the Noah family.
On hearing the name of that Noah ancestor, Cecia finally reacted, asking what connection existed between the Black Count and that ancestor.
After learning the Black Count was indeed of the Noah lineage, Cecia softly whispered: “So you’re a descendant of an old friend.”
For that reason, and for the sake of this “old friend’s descendant”, Cecia had, to a limited degree, answered a few of his questions about the ancestor.
From her tone when speaking of that ancestor, the Black Count could tell Cecia and his forebear had not simply been ordinary acquaintances; they had been truly close friends.
This reminded the Black Count of something recorded in an ancient text in the Noah family: that prodigal son of the Noah lineage had, by some unimaginable stroke of luck, befriended the famed Saint Cia, who had once written a masterpiece known as the Cia’s Canon.
Beings from thousands of years ago might have perished in the dust of history, but there were always a few dazzling stars that continued shining through the endless darkness.
The Black Count knew of several legendary figures who had walked the Wizarding World millennia in the past. Some had already passed away, some were still active, and some had vanished without a trace. Yet they shared a common thread: they were pioneers, each in their own way, guiding wizard civilization to new brilliance.
Saint Cia was exactly such a pioneer, a luminous star thousands of years ago, lighting up the ages.
Her name had become renowned thanks to Cia’s Canon.
This was a legendary text of the prophecy discipline, passed down through the ages and never lost, though it remains obscure and profound, with only a handful of prophecy-oriented individuals able to interpret it. Still, the Crown Star Church of every generation regards Cia’s Canon as sacred scripture, encouraging all prophecy practitioners to study it. Consequently, they honored its author, Cia, with the prefix “Saint.”
Thus she came to be known as Saint Cia.
Though historical data on Saint Cia herself is sparse, so little that not even the Black Count could ascertain her background, there is no doubt that she spurred the development of prophecy. She stood at the forefront of wizard civilization, driving it forward.
But the question remained: could this legendary Saint Cia from centuries past be the same Cecia dwelling in the box?
…
While the Black Count was lost in thought, Angel had once again entered the space of swirling darkness and fog inside the box.
For him, it was different than for others: the moment he arrived, the darkness and fog receded, revealing a corner of a resplendent palace.
Cecia still sat atop a throne elevated by five levels of steps, resting her left elbow on the armrest and propping the back of her hand against her forehead as though lost in thought. Her long hair draped smoothly, shadows falling across her flawless profile, a sight both tranquil and pleasing.
“Looking good. Shall I use a Memory Stone to capture your image and find someone to do an oil portrait for you?”
Angel’s sudden words seemed to interrupt Cecia’s musings, prompting her to lift her head slowly.
However, Angel knew perfectly well that, judging from the eager red glow just now, Cecia had already sensed his entrance, so it was impossible to say he had intruded on any real contemplation. She had probably just struck this pose for atmosphere or some other reason, which was why Angel spoke with a serious air but let the sarcasm show in his remark.
Cecia said: “If someone sees me bow my head in thought, shouldn’t they ask what I’m pondering?”
Angel: “No. If that someone sees the red glow fairly bursting with impatience, and the darkness and fog automatically clearing away, they’d know perfectly well that the mistress of this place isn’t actually pondering anything.”
Cecia was rather annoyed: “With that kind of attitude, if we were back thousands of years ago, I would have beaten you half to death. I wouldn’t go by the name Cecia otherwise.”
Angel: “No need to go back thousands of years. If you wanted, Cecia, you could do that right now, no need to feign weakness.”
Cecia clenched her fist and said nothing. Indeed, she could easily beat Angel to a pulp here and now. But Angel held the Source Fire, and the Laudsourcian race’s future lay with him; even if she was furious, now was hardly the time to take action against him.
And Angel was also keenly aware of Cecia’s limitations at present, so he showed no fear.
At last, Cecia found a way to drop the matter: “I won’t argue with you any further. Let’s get to the main business: are you prepared?”
Angel: “Of course I am.”
Cecia: “Then bring it forth. I want to see if you’ve tricked me.”
Angel felt speechless: “If I planned on tricking you, why would I bother coming here in the first place?”
Did her intelligence slip again?
Cecia’s expression froze for a moment, and she said nothing for a while.
Angel didn’t care to continue. He retrieved an ornate Forehead Chain from his bracelet.
The chain was formed from mithril as its base and platinum-gold filaments as the connectors, all encased in a shell of sparkling amber-colored stone. It dazzled brilliantly; even the chain alone carried the effects of enhancing focus and amplifying energy.
Naturally, the most crucial feature lay in the forehead pendant itself.
Angel had also devoted a great deal of effort to that ornament: the main blossom was wrought from flowing crystal, with a layer of illusory spirit diamond forming the petals, exuding a misty rainbow aura. Its embedded structure, bold triangular design, and impressive size stretched from the brow all the way down near the tip of the nose.
Overall, it was the kind of adornment that could captivate the hearts of countless young women. It was breathtaking to the extreme, utterly lavish, utterly radiant, yet devoid of vulgarity.
Even Cecia, who had lived for millennia, found herself astonished by its singular design.
Over thousands of years, she had naturally amassed a collection of ornaments, but none, among her personal items or her hoard, could rival the splendor of this forehead piece.
Her most ostentatious snake-shaped earrings paled in comparison; side by side with this new adornment, they were dwarfed.
While Cecia was marveling at the pendant, Angel snapped his fingers, summoning two pairs of Magic Hands to pick up the chain by each end and float it over to Cecia on her throne.
When it came near Cecia’s eyes, its radiant effect became even more pronounced. Had Cecia still been the girl of bygone millennia, she might have been overwhelmed by its dazzling splendor.
“Is this… a bribe for me?” Cecia gazed at the forehead chain with a trace of infatuation.
“A bribe? What would I be bribing you for?” Angel said: “With all these rules of yours, there’s not much to gain from you, so what’s the point of bribery?”
While Cecia was still in a daze, Angel pressed on: “This is what you’ll use to meet Popoca, your Laudsourcian kinsman, a login device.”
“Popoca? A login device?” Hearing these unfamiliar words, Cecia snapped out of her reverie.
“Popoca, just from the name, you can guess. He’s apart of your Laudsourcian race. Same as me, he comes from the Savage Grottoes.” Angel paused before continuing: “As for the login device, yes, that’s what we call this forehead chain. After you put it on and activate the pendant at your brow, do not resist the pulling energy. At that point, you’ll meet Popoca.”
Angel outlined the essential process.
Cecia had not quite recovered from the shock: this forehead piece could let her see her own race? What sort of miraculous artifact was this?
She took the chain and sensed it carefully, finding no traps or mechanical devices.
After a moment of thought, she manipulated the surrounding mist, trying to perceive the emotional resonance in the chain.
Unfortunately, the chain itself was not some “treasure” susceptible to her. All she could sense was a trace of the maker’s lingering spirit, which felt familiar.
“This is your work?” Cecia asked curiously.
Angel: “You could say so. I didn’t design the blueprint, but I did the fabrication.”
“You’re an alchemist?”
Angel did not deny it: “Yes, I dabble in enchantment alchemy.”
“You really are… versatile,” Cecia said, not sure of Angel’s true skill, but she offered a superficial compliment.
After a brief pause, Cecia asked again: “Does it have a name?”
Angel kept his face expressionless: “I mentioned it before: it’s called a login device.”
“And besides, these topics have nothing to do with the serious matter at hand, right? Weren’t you in a hurry to meet your kinsman?” Angel went on: “Put it on, and don’t resist it.”
Holding the chain, Cecia’s expression shifted from fascination to hesitation. She seemed enthralled by its looks and yet torn… perhaps because this flamboyant forehead piece might not suit her?
She could not help asking Angel: “Would it look nice on me?”
Angel: “Don’t you already know the answer?”
Angel did not provide a direct reply, but Cecia felt as if an arrow had pierced her heart.
“Besides, who would see it once it’s on?” Angel went on: “A reminder: it’s only a medium for your meeting with Popoca; he won’t be able to see the chain.”
“Oh, so Popoca won’t see it! Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Cecia gave a look as if: “Well, that was pointless to ask.”
But Angel knew that whether or not someone else could see it wasn’t the real question. Cecia was just worried whether she herself could carry it off.
By Angel’s own aesthetic sense, Cecia probably wasn’t suited for it. In truth, few people would be.
One person came to mind who might pull it off: Gloria’s original body. That entity was a towering “meat mountain demon”, with fiery red lips, heavy makeup, and a fondness for grand robes.
Angel had in fact intended to give the piece to Gloria, but since she had not yet retrieved her true body, he decided to hand it over to Cecia for now.
Of course, Angel had other login devices on hand, like a monocle, a bronze ring, a plain silver ear stud, but those all seemed rather meager by comparison.
This forehead chain might not suit Cecia perfectly, but it was certainly impeccable enough that she could never complain he was shortchanging her.
It did not look cheap, nor was it so overly appropriate as to seem contrived.
Hence Angel’s decision to give this chain to Cecia.
…
Muttering “Since no one else can see it, I’ll just wear it casually,” Cecia slowly lifted it toward her forehead, but paused again, then put it down.
“What’s wrong? You think I’m fooling you? Or you suspect something about the forehead chain?” Angel asked, puzzled, as Cecia kept fiddling without putting it on.
Cecia shook her head, speaking hesitantly: “No. It’s just… just that I need a little break before I put it on.”
Angel looked baffled: “A break? ? ? Haven’t you been resting for a thousand years?”
Turning her face aside so he couldn’t see her expression, Cecia coughed into her fist: “I was perceiving some of your companion’s ‘treasures’ just now, and it’s left me slightly depleted… so I need a moment… a moment.”
Sensing Cecia’s emotions, Angel felt a mixture of anticipation and jittery unease.
After some thought, Angel looked toward Cecia: “Are you afraid to meet your own kin?”
Cecia snapped back almost instantly: “No!”
At the sight of her swift and bristling retort, Angel was convinced that she indeed felt some form of trepidation.
Why would she be afraid to meet members of her own Laudsourcian race?
Was it something similar to that anxiety one feels returning home? Yet Cecia was the elder… or rather, the ancestor. Shouldn’t Popoca be the one feeling uneasy?
While Angel pondered this, Cecia raised a fist to her lips and cleared her throat twice: “It’s true I’m a bit tired. Let’s just have a random chat for a while. Let me pull myself together… If there’s anything else you want to know, feel free to ask.”
Chapter 2646 The Wise One Is Not Foolish <TOC> Chapter 2648 A Marvelous Encounter