Warlock Apprentice

”That’s quite interesting, to actually choose to perform magic in the Sky Mechanical City filled with transcendent beings.” Oupulia chuckled before shaking his head: ”The time for the performance is today... huh, it starts in two hours?”

Oupulia turned his head to look at Angel, noticing his gaze was also fixed on the flyer: ”Is the Transcendental Wizard interested in this magic performance? Are you planning to go and watch?”

Angel shook his head: ”No, I’m more eager to receive good news from Antonio than to watch this magic performance.”

Pausing for a moment, Angel asked back: ”What about you? Are you planning to watch?”

Oupulia instinctively wanted to shake his head; he wasn’t planning to watch any magic, and he wasn’t curious about magic at all. To be precise, any transcendent being who understands real tricks and spell techniques wouldn’t be interested in those childish comedic arts of magic.

Precisely because of this, Oupulia was quite surprised that Sharley would rent the Grand Theater for a magic performance that probably wouldn’t have much of an audience.

However, just as Oupulia was about to shake his head, a strange clarity suddenly flashed in his mind, as if... fate was guiding something.

As a Prophet Wizard, Oupulia’s sensitivity to omens in the spiritual world was much stronger than that of ordinary wizards.

Oupulia often sensed some omens. These omens, which he could perceive, allowed Oupulia to better integrate into the experience of being a Prophet Wizard, which in the eyes of outsiders, was an even more vivid and lifelike portrayal of a ”fanatic.” Of course, these omens often helped Oupulia gain some benefits or avoid potential dangers.

And now, Oupulia sensed an omen. It seemed that an invisible force was driving him to choose to watch this magic performance?

But why? Is there something special about this magic performance?

Oupulia lowered his head in puzzlement, carefully examining the promotional poster, trying to find some clues from it.

Angel found it strange; a simple question with the answer as ”go or not go,” why would Oupulia take so long to think?

A common ailment of Prophet Wizards? Thinking mystically about everything... fortunately, Dororo wasn’t like that.

Oupulia thought for a long time without answering, and Angel couldn’t just turn around and leave, since he was the one asking Oupulia the question, so he stood aside waiting. Three minutes passed before Oupulia finally lifted his head from observing the poster.

”I think, I might need to take a look.” Oupulia said solemnly.

Angel: ”Why? What attracts you about this magic performance?”

Oupulia shook his head: ”I don’t know, but the Goddess of Destiny seems to whisper in my ear, urging me to go inside and see.”

After a pause, Oupulia’s gaze returned to the promotional poster, finally focusing on the five playing cards fanned out in Sharley’s hand: ”These strange cards seem to contain some inherent logic, as if they’re the focal point fate wants me to notice.”

”Playing cards?” Angel raised an eyebrow.

”Are these cards called playing cards?” Oupulia asked Angel in confusion: ”Does the Transcendental Wizard know something?”

Angel shook his head with a peculiar expression: ”Nothing much, just know that it’s a card game.”

Card game? Oupulia still didn’t understand. He thought about it: ”I’d better go to the Grand Theater myself to see what secrets this card... playing cards really have.”

With that, Oupulia nodded to Angel before proceeding to walk towards the direction of the Grand Theater in the square.

Watching Oupulia’s back, Angel’s expression became more and more peculiar.

He recalled that when he was troubled as a child, Jon would always say: ”Stop thinking, let’s play a round of Gwent.”

Gwent and playing cards are certainly different card games, but Angel always had a strange feeling that in the future, playing cards might become popular in the Wizards’ Realm.

Angel looked down at the flyer in his hand, Sharley’s flaunting smile seemed to reach his heart through the portrait.

Sharley had mentioned previously that she had been touring major cities in Yirong Country, but those were all mortal cities, fooling ordinary people was no problem. Yet, she dared to perform in Sky Mechanical City, ordinary little magic tricks surely wouldn’t catch the eye, likely pushing the playing card magic this time.

Angel took a deep breath.

Well, let her play however she wants. After all, playing cards are her reward.

Angel shook his head and left the square, blending his figure into the darkness.

Upon returning to the manor, Angel informed Sanders about the Seed’s matter, to which Sanders didn’t comment. After all, the Seed’s traces had surfaced twice consecutively in Yirong Country; the first time it could be ignored, waiting then deciding; but with the Seed appearing a second time, it was crucial to inform the upper echelons of Sky Mechanical City.

After chatting a bit more with Sanders, Angel quietly awaited Rosen’s side.

During the wait, Angel noticed Greya and Asaz rarely went out, and when they left, they had a familiar flyer in hand... it was Sharley’s magic performance flyer.

Until dawn of the following day, Greya and Asaz returned, always discussing something.

Angel didn’t pay attention to their conversation, but continued waiting.

As the Morning Star pierced the deep darkness, with the dawn slowly rising on the horizon, the silent communicator finally showed some fluctuation.

Angel immediately opened the communicator, a soft blue light spirit appeared before Angel.

Antonio: ”Good morning, Mr. Pat.”

”Good morning.” Angel politely responded to Antonio’s greeting, then eagerly inquired about Rosen’s situation.

Antonio: ”Very smoothly, if sir wants to know the details, why not come over and have a look.”

...

By the time the morning light fully illuminated the Sky Fortress, Angel had already reached the top layer of the Infinite Battle Tower — the metal hall where Rosen was.

The petrification traces Toby left in the metal hall yesterday had already been cleaned up.

Rosen sat at the glossy experimental table, head down writing something. Antonio, in the form of a light spirit, stood quietly beside him.

Upon hearing Angel’s footsteps, Rosen lifted his head and materialized a metal chair, gesturing for Angel to sit.

”I heard that City Lord Rosen’s actions went very smoothly this time.”

Rosen nodded, a rare faint smile surfacing on his calm, cold face: ”Though there were some ups and downs in the middle, generally speaking, it went smoothly. After entering the Void, it didn’t take long to find them.”

Angel didn’t immediately inquire about the fate of those suspected to be Seed believers, but first asked about Si Man.

”Si Man is alive, I’ve already sent her back.”