Warlock Apprentice

Angel stepped forward, just as he was about to speak, Rosen turned around.

With his movement, a huge oppressive force instantly swept over.

Angel didn’t understand Rosen’s intentions and instinctively wanted to conjure a mental defense wall. But the next moment he noticed, Rosen’s oppressive force was not aimed at him.

It was... toward Toby in his chest pocket.

Toby was originally lounging comfortably in the warm chest pocket, burping contentedly. When the oppressive force came, it first blinked in surprise, then seemed to realize something, with a hint of anger flashing in its bright red eyes.

This oppressive force was at most at a Wizard Level, causing Toby no burden, yet it made him very angry.

Toby flew into the air, swiftly transforming into a massive Snake Bird.

Once in Snake Bird form, it immediately filled the expansive metal hall completely.

The slimy, chilling snake body enveloped Angel layer by layer, seemingly intending to protect him. Yet, the snake head with crimson tumors hissed its tongue, coldly staring at Rosen.

From this action, it seemed Toby thought Rosen was trying to pressure Angel, so it protected Angel thoroughly, not realizing the pressure was solely upon itself.

Rosen looked at the giant Snake Bird, his eyes showed no change, even when Toby stretched the snake head to within two meters of him, Rosen remained unmoved.

”As expected, Sanders wasn’t wrong. This Snake Bird is indeed transformed from that sea bird.” The metallic, cold voice came from Rosen’s mouth.

As he finished speaking, Rosen withdrew the oppressive force, but Toby still kept a vigilant, sinister gaze fixed on him.

”City Lord Rosen’s hospitality is truly eye-opening.” Angel’s voice was calm, but his tone carried a hint of displeasure.

Rosen quietly looked at Angel without speaking, seemingly contemplating a response.

After a long while, Rosen said, ”As the Transcendental Wizard is a member of the Research and Development Institute, I will naturally entertain you seriously. Yet, there are some unstable factors I must investigate.”

The so-called unstable factor referred to Toby.

Angel also understood how much of a panic and trouble Toby’s Legendary aura during his upgrade in the Void had brought to the Sky Mechanical City. To this day, the Magic Energy Eyes outside were still busily flying around, so from Rosen’s perspective, his actions seemed justified.

Moreover, Rosen only used pressure to force Toby into his Snake Bird form without taking further action, which was already giving Angel plenty of respect. Angel indeed lacked the standing to criticize his actions.

Yet, there was still some internal dissatisfaction.

Angel reached out to stroke Toby’s snake body, ”It’s okay now.”

Angel soothed Toby, urging him to transform back. Yet, Toby seemed to hold a grudge, staring darkly at Rosen for a long while, before finally obeying Angel’s intention and reverting back to the small sea bird form.

Just before shrinking, Toby spat out a wisp of black mist toward the ground.

In almost no time, the black mist spread across half the hall. The mist came fast, and faded fast too, as it dissipated completely, half of the entire hall was covered in a layer of stony shell.

”Petrification Toxin,” Rosen said softly, looking at the stony texture in half of the hall.

Toby stood proudly on Toby’s shoulder, chest puffed out, seeming very smug about his handiwork.

Angel hadn’t anticipated Toby’s last move. Fortunately, Toby only coated the hall with a layer of stone shell, which could be cleaned with some effort, not truly affecting the metal walls’ Magic Pattern.

Thanks to Toby’s restrained action, Rosen merely glanced at the stony area without commenting, tacitly allowing it.

As the atmosphere shifted from tense to relaxed, Angel glanced at the floating light screens behind Rosen, which continued changing images.

Angel chuckled softly, ”I didn’t expect City Lord Rosen to have an interest in peering into others’ affairs.”

The pictures on the light screens were clearly real-time images of Sky Mechanical City, taken from the perspective of the Magic Energy Eye.

”In a city full of Extraordinary Creatures, without control measures, what do you think it would become?” Rosen said calmly, ”I’m merely managing unstable factors.”

After a pause, Rosen suddenly added, ”Speaking of which, I have some footage here I want to share with you.”

While speaking, Rosen gently tapped one of the light screens.

The light screen inflated, covering all the other screens. Simultaneously, the content switched from real-time surveillance of Sky Mechanical City to another scene—

A pitch-black deep sea, terrifying beasts, and people struggling to survive.

The footage played quickly, and before long, Rosen finished, looking at Angel, ”What do you think?”

Angel: ”I thought it was Sky Mechanical City’s greatest stain in recent centuries, but judging from City Lord Rosen’s attitude, he doesn’t seem to care about their lives or deaths.”

The footage Rosen showed was precisely of the situation within the Purification Garden, where countless apprentices perished in this woven dream.

Rosen showed no emotion, continuing to speak like a cold machine, ”The Purification Garden was merely a decision of interest, not solely led by the Sky Mechanical City.”

Rosen’s meaning was clear: behind this matter were the intertwined interests of various Witcher Organizations, otherwise, so many Wizard Apprentices wouldn’t have been allowed entry into the Purification Garden.

”Moreover, some did indeed benefit, such as you.” Rosen played the footage again, highlighting Angel’s scene.

Especially one segment: with only five minutes left before the collapse of the Sea of Purification, Angel was still trapped inside the huge clam Erdes, seemingly unable to escape until a gigantic Gryphon suddenly burst out, carrying Angel to the endpoint.

Rosen paused the footage, looking at Angel, ”This Gryphon should also be your little friend, Toby, right?”

Toby’s ability to transform into a Gryphon wasn’t a secret to those observant, but having Rosen state it so clearly was the first time.

”Able to transform into a Gryphon, and during an upgrade, turn into a Snake Bird while emitting a Legendary aura. Your little friend seems very extraordinary.” A ghostly light flashed in Rosen’s eyes as he quietly observed Angel.

Rosen’s gaze made Angel feel as if he were being seen through.

However, Angel understood this was just an illusion. Rosen likely used a spell technique resembling validation, trying to coax some truths from him.

In such a situation, the best approach was to remain silent.

Faced with Angel’s non-cooperation, Rosen showed no irritation. To him, although curious about the secrets here, if Angel was unwilling to speak, it was irrelevant. As long as this didn’t harm his interests or those of Sky Mechanical City, it was no matter.

Rosen: ”I thought you came to discuss Toby with me, but now it seems, that’s not the case?”