Chapter 2795 Intercept and Kill <TOC>
Translator: SumTLMan
Because of Daus’ remarks, Gengar and Second Treasure also seemed to accept Angel’s explanation, and no longer dug deeper into this question.
However, they had come here not merely to ask this one question.
There was yet another matter they cared about even more.
Second Treasure: 「Have you crossed paths with Childlike Heart?」
「You mean Childlike Heart Younus?」 Seeing Second Treasure nod, Angel immediately shook his head: 「I have not met it.」
Daus also chimed in at the side: 「If the time point you are talking about is after we came into the underground sewers, then he should not have met the so-called Childlike Heart Younus, I have said that he has basically been with us.」
「However, if you are talking about the past, then I do not know.」
Although Second Treasure was somewhat impatient with Daus’ chiming in, he still said nothing, only stared at Angel and said in a gloomy tone: 「Childlike Heart says that you broke its finger……」
Broke its finger? Angel was stunned for a moment, and seemed to think of something.
「Although we have signed a contract, if you really broke Childlike Heart’s finger, the contract would be no different from a scrap of paper.」 Second Treasure said coldly.
Second Treasure’s words carried a strong meaning of threat, and this time, Gengar also did not open his mouth to stop him, which showed that they truly were filled with anger over Childlike Heart’s finger being broken.
At first everyone had also not believed that Angel would do such a thing, but seeing Angel sink into thought, they could not help but feel their hearts give a jolt.
Although Daus had kept saying that ever since coming into the underground sewers they had been together with Angel, Angel had also had times when he acted alone. For example, outside at the work area of the Hanging Prison Stairs, that is, the place filled with Wizard Eye Ghosts, Angel had once left alone.
It was not impossible that during that period Angel had broken Childlike Heart’s finger. Even though Angel had later「livestreamed」it, the livestream was not real; it was only simulated by Angel with illusions, who knew what the real truth had been?
When everyone was also somewhat hesitant, Angel finally lifted his head.
「I seem to know who you are talking about……」
As Angel spoke, he raised his hand and tapped at the empty air.
The air seemed to have turned into a water’s surface, sending out circle after circle of ripples. As the ripples spread and vanished, an illusion appeared out of thin air before Angel.
Or rather…… an illusion light screen.
Because the main body of the illusion was a flat mirror, and at the center of the mirror surface there was a line of glowing words written in blood：
「Leave this place, or I will give you a permanent residence permit.」
After Angel created this illusion, he exchanged a glance with the Black Count, and only then looked toward Second Treasure: 「Was this left behind by Childlike Heart Younus?」
When One-Eyed Second Treasure saw that glowing blood writing on the illusion, his eyes suddenly widened, and he glared angrily at Angel: 「So it is as expected, you really did it!」
At this time Gengar also floated to Second Treasure’s side, his whole body radiating a ghostly chill, and the look in his eyes toward Angel carried a few more shades of cold severity.
Seeing the atmosphere moving in a stiff direction, Angel let out a long sigh: 「Was it Childlike Heart Younus who told you that I broke its finger?」
Second Treasure: 「What, are you still going to argue?」
Angel shrugged: 「Why would I need to argue, the facts are right here. Do you think that Childlike Heart Younus, who wrote this line in blood, was lamenting in grief that I broke its finger, or was it showing off its power and threatening me?」
「……Although this sentence can be considered grammatically faulty, as beings who know Younus the best, you should understand the meaning in this sentence, right? You should also be able to see what its mood was when it left this sentence, right?」
Angel felt he did not need to explain; this line of blood writing was right here. If he really had broken Childlike Heart Younus’ finger, why would it leave this sentence here? To show that in fact it was strong outwardly but weak within?
Of course, if Second Treasure and Gengar ignored the truth entirely and, as long as it was something Mother Younus said, believed even lies deeply, then arguing further would be meaningless.
On the other side, Second Treasure and Gengar had fallen into thought.
In fact, one of Second Treasure and Gengar was deep, the other steady; in how they looked at things, they were far more rational than Little Treasure.
Therefore, when Childlike Heart had spoken of this matter, although they were angry, they had not immediately believed Childlike Heart’s words.
Because Childlike Heart had on the one hand said complacently that it had driven Angel away, and on the other hand aggrievedly said that its own finger had been broken. The emotional contrast before and after was too great, making it truly hard to believe its words right away.
If it had been Maiden Heart or Motherly Heart saying such words, they would have believed without hesitation. But when it came to Childlike Heart’s words, whose character traits were mischievous——in other words: both bratty and naive.
So it was quite possible for it to lie, and it also had a prior record of lying.
Precisely because of this, although they had come bearing the thought of taking revenge for Childlike Heart, they also needed to listen to Angel’s explanation.
And what Angel said, even though he did not spell it out, and only set out this line of blood writing, nevertheless happened to highlight the core of this matter. And that core was also what they had felt was off when facing Childlike Heart earlier.
How could these two entirely unrelated emotions of pride and grievance appear at the same time? They truly could not figure it out.
Without question, this line of blood writing was definitely written by Childlike Heart. Because such a desire to flaunt its own sensibleness and even show off its literary cultivation could only have been done by Childlike Heart.
Nor was there any doubt that, in their understanding, Childlike Heart was definitely threatening Angel. Moreover, from the blood writing reflected on the mirror surface, one could know that before Childlike Heart wrote the characters, its little finger had definitely already been broken, otherwise where would the blood have come from?
To first have its finger broken by Angel and then still use the blood to leave this line of threat to Angel on the mirror surface——did that sound like something Childlike Heart would do?
It did not. If Childlike Heart really had had its finger cut off, its first reaction would definitely have been to attack, and if the attack failed then to run away and report it.
Within the Mirror Domain, Childlike Heart could move as it pleased, and could completely find helpers in an extremely short time, just as this time, in order to convey Her Highness’ decree, it had found them so quickly.
But Childlike Heart had not done this; it had neither attacked, nor promptly reported it.
So it could basically be confirmed that at that time Childlike Heart had not felt that it had been wronged.
From the tone of that blood writing, it looked even more like Childlike Heart, in order to threaten Angel, had broken its own finger and written on the mirror surface……
Although self-harm sounded somewhat unbelievable, this kind of thing was not happening for the first time.
Back when Motherly Heart had told Childlike Heart to teach Little Treasure to recognize characters, the hand that Childlike Heart had finally managed to construct had two fingers directly broken off by her, and she used the blood seeping out to write on the ground to teach Little Treasure.
According to Childlike Heart’s explanation, this would make Little Treasure remember forever and not forget.
And Little Treasure really was just as Childlike Heart had said, forever engraving that「lesson」in his heart…… only, every time he recalled it, his face would turn pale, and he would tremble in fright.
With this association, Second Treasure and Gengar looked at each other, and in their hearts vaguely had a guess.
However, whether this guess was correct still needed Angel to confirm.
「Since you do not admit that you did it, then how did Childlike Heart’s finger break?」 Gengar’s voice was slightly gentler as he asked Angel.
「It snapped it off itself.」 Angel said lightly: 「Also, do not forget that it was in the mirror, while I was outside the mirror, do you think I would have been able to crawl into the Mirror Domain to deal with it?」
At this point Second Treasure and Gengar had basically believed Angel’s words, because this also matched their guess.
Angel also sensed from his emotional perception that Second Treasure and Gengar had probably already guessed the general situation.
However, even if they had guessed part of the situation, Childlike Heart’s finger was still broken, and the reason indeed had some relation to Angel. Angel rather wanted to know, after Gengar and Second Treasure learned all of the truth, what choice they would make.
Would they still pin the blame on him? Or become angry out of shame? Or let the matter drop here?
Angel could sense that both of their moods were very complicated, and they were probably pondering how to wrap this up.
While Second Treasure and Gengar were pondering, Angel was also issuing a warning to everyone through the mental connection.
If the talks truly collapsed, they might still have to go through a fight with these two children of Younus.
And previously, the Sovereign of Wisdom had clearly said that if they really had to fight, facing Younus might be more fortunate than facing these two brothers. And the Sovereign of Wisdom had admitted that he himself did not wish to face the two of them.
From this one could see that Second Treasure and Gengar definitely had some special abilities.
These abilities might be similar to Younus’ devouring; unless there was a way to counter them, they would be unsolvable.
Therefore, if they truly had to fight, they would have to be cautious, and cautious again.
At the slightest sign that something was wrong, Daus would have to open a planar passage and be ready to take everyone and run.
「Why is it me who has to open the planar passage again?」 Daus frowned tightly.
「If we truly are forced to leave because of this matter, I will pay you for the casting materials.」 Angel said.
Hearing that Angel would reimburse him, Daus finally relaxed his brow. However, regarding Angel’s words, he was also somewhat curious: 「So that means you really have met Childlike Heart, when did that happen? How is it that I do not know?」
「I know about this matter.」 The Black Count’s voice sounded in the mental connection.
Daus looked in surprise at the Black Count; if the Black Count knew, then he should know as well, should he not? When Angel had had times of acting alone, the Black Count had not acted alone from beginning to end.
Angel: 「At the end of the second floor, the dressing mirror.」
After Angel pointed it out, everyone suddenly understood. If it was there, then it was indeed possible…… they remembered that at that time, Angel and the Black Count had been the last to walk out.
So that meant that the dressing mirror in that room was actually the same mirror surface that Angel was presenting now in the illusion?
The Black Count: 「This matter is indeed not Angel’s fault; it was that Childlike Heart Younus that took the initiative to provoke, and what Angel has said is also true.」
Even if the Black Count had not confirmed it, everyone actually already believed Angel, because they remembered very clearly that although Angel and the Black Count were the last to come out, the time difference between them was not long.
No fluctuations of battle had come from that room either.
If Angel had truly done anything, they would definitely have felt it.
「So that means it was Childlike Heart slandering Angel?」 Daus rubbed his chin, turned his head to look at Vai: 「Vai, if your mother slandered some innocent person, as her son, who would you help?」
Vai glanced at the Black Count and said quietly: 「My mother would not slander an innocent person, she only slanders me……」
Daus: 「Oh right, I seem to remember you saying that you have been taught a lesson many times by your ancestor because of this?」
Vai glanced at the Black Count again and did not dare to speak further.
Daus looked again toward Kael: 「What about you?」
Kael gave a stiff smile and hemmed and hawed for a long time, not knowing what to say. However, very soon Kael no longer needed to answer, because Second Treasure and Gengar opposite, after pondering for a long time, finally spoke up.
Second Treasure was the first to speak, but his attitude was not very good; he only left behind one sentence: 「The information has already been told to you, and my doubts have also been resolved, I will leave first.」
After speaking, Second Treasure gave Gengar an unhappy glare, seemingly wanting Gengar to leave together with him, but Gengar acted as if he had not seen it.
Second Treasure could only leave helplessly by himself, drill into the ground, and in the blink of an eye disappear without a trace.
Even without using emotional perception, just from the energy sensing of the surrounding formation discs, Angel could be sure that Second Treasure had really gone.
After Second Treasure left, the remaining Gengar had a feeling like a lone ghost shadow.
Gengar coughed lightly to somewhat ease the awkwardness in his heart, then looked toward Angel with an apologetic expression: 「We already know the specific situation, in this matter Childlike Heart was in the wrong, I hereby apologize to you on its behalf.」
That Gengar chose to apologize after Second Treasure left was actually…… not beyond Angel’s expectations.
It could basically be confirmed that Gengar should have been the one proposing to apologize, while Second Treasure probably had wanted to let the matter pass. They had never reached an agreement, so Second Treasure simply left on his own, and only Gengar remained to apologize to Angel.
No matter whether this apology was sincere or not, the choices of Second Treasure and Gengar were in fact both not to confront Angel head-on. This point was instead somewhat beyond his expectations.
Previously the Sovereign of Wisdom had kept emphasizing how the three children of Younus were closer to their mother, which had made him once slap the label of「mama’s boys」upon them; but now it seemed…… not quite the same as he had imagined.
「Is it because of Childlike Heart?」 Angel suddenly asked.
Gengar was taken aback for a moment, not reacting to what he meant.
Angel: 「What I mean is, if it were Motherly Heart or Maiden Heart instead, you would make a different choice, right?」
Gengar remained silent.
However, his silence also counted as a kind of response.
It seemed that it really was because of Childlike Heart Younus. Even though, in a certain sense, it was also their mother, Gengar and Second Treasure had always called it Childlike Heart directly, and never called it Mother. From this one could see that Childlike Heart perhaps had a very high status in their hearts as well, but was definitely not as high as Motherly Heart and Maiden Heart.
「I understand.」 Angel shrugged: 「Actually you do not have to apologize either, our positions are simply not the same. But since you have apologized, I will also accept it.」
Gengar took a deep look at Angel: 「No matter what, it was we who misunderstood you. I hope you can return smoothly from the ruin site……」
After Gengar finished speaking, he nodded to Angel once more, and then sank into the ground.