Chapter 2666 Necessary Condition <TOC> Chapter 2668 Order of Entry
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel: “About the matter concerning the Sovereign of Wisdom, I asked Miss Cecia in quite some detail. The Sovereign of Wisdom should be able to understand, right?”
The Wise One did not speak; he merely nodded slightly.
“If the Sovereign of Wisdom understands, that’s wonderful. Miss Cecia said a whole lot, and I was worried that something might offend you.” Angel’s face showed relief and interest, but his mind was wholly occupied with something else.
That single nod from the Wise One made Angel begin to doubt one of the fallback plans he had previously considered.
The Wise One should be very aware that Angel went into so much detail asking Miss Cecia about him precisely because their destination was Augustine’s remains.
And to go to that destination, of course, they would have to pass through his great hall. Therefore, learning about his situation in advance was only natural.
However, before that, Angel actually still had another fallback plan:
Finding a different route through the underground sewers, so as not to pass through the Wise One’s Hall.
But the Wise One’s nod made Angel suspect whether this “fallback plan” even existed.
In the Nightmare Plane’s Nightfall City underground sewers, Angel could be sure there were definitely other paths that didn’t require going through the Wise One’s Hall.
Yet, the reality is different. In reality, everything is in ruins; most entrances have basically vanished or are under the control of the Traveling Merchants, so it’s no longer certain whether there even is such an entrance. On top of that, the magic formation of the underground sewers is maintained by the Wise One. If he wants to alter the roads or permanently seal off some of them, he is fully capable of doing so.
In other words, that nod from the Wise One was also a kind of unspoken declaration: if you want to reach your destination, there is no other way; you must pass through the Wise One’s Hall.
Or, to put it another way, there is one and only one path, and it goes through the Wise One’s Hall.
Angel kept his surging thoughts under control and spoke to the Wise One: “Then I’ll begin.”
The Wise One again only nodded, gazing steadily at Angel.
Angel proceeded to explain everything that he had asked Cecia regarding the Wise One.
Roughly, there were three parts: trading for the Wood Spirit’s treasure, discovering the Wise One’s pen name and his published works, and the most crucial topic, upon which Angel expounded at greatest length, how to persuade the Wise One to let them pass.
“…That’s pretty much the gist of it.”
The Wise One pondered momentarily. He believed Angel had not lied, because this was indeed all that Cecia knew and was able to share.
What left the Wise One feeling a bit awkward, however, was that Cecia had even told Angel all about his research project.
Originally, the only reason he shared his published subject with Cecia was out of consideration for her endless boredom over thousands of years, hoping to help ease her loneliness. Besides, she could not stray too far from her box, and no one had visited that alternate dimension for centuries, so it was unlikely to spread. Unexpectedly, in the end, an outsider still found out.
Actually, the Wise One didn’t mind other people seeing his research on —Record of Different Postures in Wizard Eye Ghost Fusion—. He had presented and published it on the outside precisely to show it to the public.
It was his pen name that made him feel a little embarrassed.
Blue Fatty.
That truly didn’t match his high standing.
Even more important was that the name “Blue Fatty” wasn’t even chosen by him. If it were of his own choosing, he could just accept it, but it wasn’t his idea at all; it was chosen by “Younus the Third Child,” also called “One-Eyed Little Treasure.”
Younus had split itself into three offspring: One-Eyed Big Treasure, One-Eyed Second Treasure, and One-Eyed Little Treasure.
One-Eyed Little Treasure was the youngest of Younus’ three offspring, the very same one that ran off to the “dog hole” near the sludge monster not too long ago.
At the time, the Wise One handed his finished manuscript to the lively, restless One-Eyed Little Treasure, who happened to be visiting its mother, asking it to bring the manuscript to the contact outside. The Wise One had not yet chosen a pen name. One-Eyed Little Treasure asked him what name to use; the Wise One said “anything is fine,” so One-Eyed Little Treasure really did pick something completely at random, resulting in this rather mortifying pen name: “Blue Fatty.”
When the Wise One first learned of the pen name, though he felt it sounded somewhat unpleasant, he didn’t pay it much heed. He assumed that no one would discover who was hidden behind “Blue Fatty,” someone who had lived for millennia as a Three-Eyed Blue Demon.
Unexpectedly, for all his calculations, he hadn’t counted on everything being revealed in Cecia’s presence.
The Wise One felt a strong urge to explain the story behind that pen name to Angel, but that would be too deliberate, making it obvious how much he cared about it.
Though he did actually care about it somewhat now, he did not want an outsider to read that in him.
There was nothing he could do but smile as though he hadn’t heard anything.
The Wise One: “Let’s set aside other matters for the time being. You appeared outside the Hanging Prison Stairs for the Wood Spirit?”
Angel nodded: “Exactly. Miss Cecia suggested starting with the Wood Spirit. If we take the Wood Spirit out of the Hanging Prison Stairs, we might be able to win the Sovereign of Wisdom’s favor.”
At this point, Angel asked curiously: “So, is the suggestion Miss Cecia gave feasible?”
The Wise One never expected Cecia would offer them that suggestion.
Thinking carefully, if that person had not appeared, and they followed the script Cecia proposed, and if they managed to bring out the Wood Spirit successfully, he truly wouldn’t mind letting them pass through.
The Wise One did not hide the truth, replying: “If nothing unexpected happened, that suggestion would indeed be workable. However, even with the Wood Spirit’s treasure left in Miss Cecia’s place guiding you to find the Wood Spirit, there is almost zero chance you’ll be able to bring the Wood Spirit out.”
Angel: “How would we know if we don’t try?”
Seeing Angel brimming with confidence, the Wise One smiled and shook his head: “What I said just now was predicated on ‘if nothing unexpected happened.’ It’s unfortunate that something unexpected did happen. So even if you did manage to bring out the Wood Spirit, I can only treat it as a Bonus Point Condition, not a necessary condition.”
Something unexpected happened? Everyone picked up on the key point in the Wise One’s words, what was this so-called “unexpected event”?
While everyone else was pondering, Angel spoke: “May I ask my question now?”
The Wise One shrugged nonchalantly: “Go ahead. But I’m guessing you want to know what ‘unexpected event’ I’m referring to, right? Sorry, that’s something I can’t answer.”
Angel: “I’d expect nothing less from the Sovereign of Wisdom, you see right through me…”
Angel paid him a quick compliment, then shifted directly: “Then I’d like to ask a yes-no question. Is that all right?”
The Wise One gave Angel a long look: “Yes, but if I can’t answer, I’ll choose silence.”
Angel: “All right. This is my question, ”
He’d gotten halfway through when Daus suddenly spoke: “Hey, did you forget about me? You said I’d be the judge, yet you haven’t asked me anything.”
Even the Wise One was amused by Daus’ abrupt interruption: “How would you know what he experienced inside the Box of Cecia? Even if he told you, are you sure he’s telling the truth? And is it the whole story?”
Because what Angel said had all happened inside the Box of Cecia, the Wise One knew perfectly well that Daus could not possibly know everything, so there was no point asking him.
Daus said: “That’s true, I don’t know, but I can still judge in my own way.”
Before anyone could respond, Daus kept going: “Earlier, the Sovereign of Wisdom said answering questions was a bonus point condition. Now finding and bringing out the Wood Spirit is also a bonus point condition. If we keep stacking up these bonus points, it should be enough to make the Sovereign of Wisdom lend us a hand when we’re in danger, right?”
Hearing Daus’ question, Angel secretly laughed to himself, having assumed Daus would pull his usual trick of stirring the waters so that the Wise One would have more tangled problems to consider.
Unexpectedly, this time Daus didn’t muddy the waters but simply stepped up and asked a question. Moreover, it actually helped fill in some details Angel also wanted to clarify.
Narrowing his eyes at Daus, the Wise One heard him hurriedly add: “I was just asking casually. You can do a question and answer with him, but at least I gave you some commentary a few times as well, so give me a chance too, all right?”
Beneath all the surface words, Daus was basically hinting to the Wise One: You’re trading questions with him, and I gave you free evaluations a few times, so let me ask something as well.
In fairness, Daus’ timing was quite perfect. Every time he offered his judgment before, he’d done so sincerely and truthfully, without any tricks.
If Daus had lied, he’d have no standing now. But he had remained honest, so the Wise One also found it difficult to take advantage of him without giving anything back.
After a brief silence, the Wise One finally answered Daus’ question: “I cannot intervene on your behalf. I can only offer limited assistance.”
This was basically consistent with what he had said before, but this time the Wise One was explicit that he couldn’t make a move.
That was a significant clue for Angel. The Wise One was not incapable, but rather “could not” take action for this purpose.
Considering the details Angel had noticed, it aligned well with a theory forming in his mind.
Quietly, Angel gave Daus a thumbs-up in his mind; contrary to his usual nonchalance, Daus was proving quite reliable in a crunch.
After answering Daus, the Wise One turned to Angel, indicating that Angel could proceed with his question.
Angel took a moment to arrange his words: “I keep wondering why there are necessary conditions and bonus point conditions. Is it because the necessary conditions come from some being of intelligent life in Augustine’s remains who conveyed them to the Sovereign of Wisdom?”
The Wise One said nothing, which meant silence.
Angel continued without concern: “If the Sovereign of Wisdom truly intended to block us, there wouldn’t be any need to concoct things like necessary conditions or bonus point conditions. Hence, the necessary conditions likely come from that individual, while the bonus point conditions are the Sovereign of Wisdom’s own idea?”
The Wise One just smiled, remaining quiet.
Angel: “For the Sovereign of Wisdom to comply with that individual’s will and actively ‘test’ us, that doesn’t really align with the Sovereign of Wisdom’s persona. From what I learned from Miss Cecia, the Sovereign of Wisdom would not willingly submit to another’s authority.”
“So I suspect the Sovereign of Wisdom must have some subtle connection to that being, one that makes you willing to take the initiative in ‘testing’ us. Maybe it’s…a contract? Or perhaps the Sovereign of Wisdom requires something from them?”
Still silent, but the Wise One’s gaze at Angel grew brighter than before.
Angel went on: “Now let me talk about these bonus points you’ve mentioned. In essence, they conflict with the necessary conditions.”
It’s like a hired assassin receives an order to kill someone, yet that assassin tells them, ‘I’m going to kill you, but if you fulfill these extra conditions, maybe I’ll consider letting you slip away.’
Necessary conditions and bonus point conditions are, without doubt, at odds with each other.
“So, the Sovereign of Wisdom isn’t really of one mind with that being, or even that you yourself intend to glean some information from them through us?”
At last, the Sovereign of Wisdom opened his mouth, but not to answer Angel’s question. He chuckled: “I underestimated how well you two coordinate. Even without discussing, you’re in remarkable sync.”
By “you two,” he was obviously referring to Angel and Daus.
Before Angel could speak, Daus responded with a flourish: “Naturally. He and I are going to be bosom friends someday.”
“In the future? So you haven’t latched onto him yet?” With that, the Wise One gave Angel a meaningful glance.
Daus muttered under his breath: “What do you mean, ‘latched on’? I’m trying to make a friend here!”
But the Wise One’s vision was sharp. Daus claimed it was just friendship, yet it was clearly more about holding onto Angel’s thigh. From the Wise One’s perspective, the odds of Angel being part of the Noah family rose again.
After all, according to the information the Wise One had, the Noah family had become one of the top wizard families in the Southern Region. Other wizards gravitating toward a Noah descendant was perfectly normal.
The Wise One’s attention returned to Angel: “Whether I answer your question or not, it’s all the same to you, isn’t it? You already have your own conclusion. Am I right?”
“You inferred the ‘unexpected event’ for yourself, which does lead me to look upon you rather favorably.”
Angel: “Favorably? In what sense?”
The Wise One: “Literally what it implies, your ability to adapt when dealing with an ‘unexpected event.’”
Angel wanted to press on, but the Wise One shook his hand in refusal: “I can’t say any more. If you have the ability, you might as well go see it for yourself.”
Angel gave no clear response: “Since the Sovereign of Wisdom is telling us to check it out ourselves, can you at least tell me now what the ‘necessary condition’ is?”
The Wise One: “Are you sure you want to hear it now?”
Angel: “Is there a reason I shouldn’t? Unless, of course, there’s more than one possible answer?”
The Wise One: “I mentioned earlier the difference between necessary conditions and bonus points. If you fulfill my bonus point conditions, maybe I can give you a more detailed answer.”
Observing the Wise One’s smiling expression, Angel silently cursed him as a cunning fox in his mind, though outwardly he maintained a polite smile: “Our exchange isn’t over yet, is it? Once our exchange ends, that would count as meeting a bonus point condition, right?”
The Wise One: “An exchange can end at any time, so sure, I’ll give you that as a bonus point. But are you certain you don’t want a more in-depth answer?”
Angel: “So there’s an even deeper explanation? Meaning we have to do other bonus point tasks?”
The Wise One simply smiled without a word.
Angel: “Then, for this mission of bringing out the Wood Spirit, is the Sovereign of Wisdom still inclined to let us try? But you previously said the chance of us bringing out the Wood Spirit is extremely, extremely low.”
The Wise One chuckled: “Yes, I did say that. But you confidently replied, ‘we won’t know if we don’t try.’”
After a brief pause, the Wise One continued: “Before, I didn’t think you were up to it. But now…who knows, maybe you really will find a way to bring out that odd-tempered disciple of mine.”
Though the Wise One’s words sounded like praise, Angel had a nagging feeling that there was something else at play.
The Wise One had been genuine when he’d said bringing out the Wood Spirit would be exceedingly difficult.
Now he had abruptly changed his tune. Perhaps he had noticed something and wanted to gather more information from them?
Chapter 2666 Necessary Condition <TOC> Chapter 2668 Order of Entry