Warlock Apprentice

The rumbling steam train traveled along the shimmering Schneow River, heading straight to the end of the Snow Mountain.

In a VIP carriage on the steam train, a window was cracked open, allowing the thick white steam to waft outside. If someone happened to be beside the steam tracks, they might catch the rich aroma of meat.

At this moment, there were only four people inside this meat-scented VIP carriage.

It was Angel and his companions, who had departed from Sky Mechanical City.

The only table inside the carriage had a small, exquisite boiler placed at its center. Greya was sitting by the table, instructing Asaz on the details of handling the fire after placing the lamb in the boiler.

Angel and Sanders were also seated at the table, but Angel was not focused on the boiler; instead, he quietly watched the scenery passing rapidly outside the window, while Sanders feigned sleeping with his eyes closed.

Greya had just finished instructing Asaz and her gaze shifted onto Angel.

”You seem burdened with thoughts, still pondering over the matter of the Seed followers?” Greya asked.

Angel turned his head, his voice gentle: ”No, it’s just rare to have such a leisurely time, clearing my thoughts a little.”

”I feel like you’re fobbing me off,” Greya said as she lightly flicked her fingers, causing a piece of lamb from the boiler to fly up. She took a bite and looked at Asaz: ”The taste is okay, you brought out the best of the ingredients.”

With that, Greya flicked her fingers again, and another piece of lamb floated in mid-air. However, this time Greya didn’t eat it herself but instead threw it to Angel.

Angel: ”I’m not hungry.”

”I wasn’t giving it to you to eat,” Greya raised her eyebrows and pointed at Angel’s shoulder.

Angel glanced sideways and saw that Toby, who had been crouching on his shoulder before, was now standing up, drooling profusely, his crimson eyes fixated on the tender piece of lamb floating in mid-air.

Angel sighed and said to Toby, ”Go ahead and eat.”

Hearing this, Toby wasted no time grabbing the lamb, landing on the table, dipping it into the mushroom sauce mixed on the plate, and eating it hungrily. Greya’s attention also shifted to Toby, for every time Toby finished a piece, Greya promptly offered up a new one, perfectly timed.

Angel shook his head with a chuckle, his gaze turning to the window, where the Schneow River had already circled around a snow mountain. Angel knew that behind this snow mountain lay the Fragrant Lake.

Beyond the Fragrant Lake, was the Pamiji Plateau.

However, this time, they were not heading towards the Pamiji Plateau.

Their current destination was a small border town in the Duke of Ephesus — ”Shepherd City,” also known as Shepherd City by outsiders.

The reason for heading to Shepherd City actually stemmed from a small unexpected change.

Originally, Angel thought Horus would fix the Plane Corridor’s exit near the Barbarian Cave. Who knew, they ended up at the Pamiji Plateau next to the Duke of Ephesus.

It is said that recently, relics around the Pamiji Plateau have been endlessly surfacing. Each hidden relic appearing in the world represents a broken space somewhere. To avoid problems, Horus chose to set the exit in the Duke of Ephesus.

The Duke of Ephesus was no problem, a Gondola ride to the Barbarian Cave wouldn’t take long. As it turned out, Greya suddenly mentioned she wanted to visit Shepherd City, intending to purchase some local specialty: the Icefield Rock Sheep.

Angel initially suggested that they could have Butler Good send someone to buy it later, but Sanders nodded in agreement with Greya’s idea at this point.

Because Sanders also intended to visit Shepherd City to find the ”Kind Demon” Zithraide and inquire about some matters.

Since the mentor had already said they’d go, Angel naturally agreed.

As for why they were taking the steam train, that was also Greya’s suggestion. In her own words, through the leisurely train journey, they could ease their tense nerves.

Sanders tacitly agreed, and after some thought, Angel indifferently nodded as well, leading to the current situation before them.

Angel was thoroughly enjoying the rare comfortable train journey, and indeed his mood had relaxed slightly from the high tension at Sky Mechanical City. However, perhaps due to the rapid shift, he still felt slightly uncomfortable.

”Knock knock knock—”

Just then, there were knocks on the door of the VIP compartment. A female voice from outside said, ”I’m the train attendant from the border line of the Duke of Ephesus, kindly reminding you that it’s half an hour to Shepherd City.”

Since they had bought VIP tickets, they had such a special reminder service.

After the attendant left, Angel was ready to continue clearing his thoughts, but before he could calm down, the ”knock knock knock” sound started again.

Angel frowned and looked towards the door, only to find the others were gazing at him.

Angel paused for a moment before realizing that this time the ”knock knock knock” was not someone knocking at the door, but coming from his own pocket.

Angel hesitated as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver gear-shaped button.

The silver gear was glowing, and the knocking sound was coming from within the gear.

Greya: ”What’s going on?”

The continuous sound also caused Sanders, who had been feigning sleep on the other side, to open his eyes and look over.

Angel sensed the situation inside the button: ”It seems someone is trying to contact me?”

This silver gear button contained the mini signal tower that Muse had given him.

”Let me take a look.”

The mini signal tower was termed mini, but in fact, it was quite large. To take out the signal tower, Greya temporarily moved the seats inside the VIP compartment to make space for placing the signal tower.

The signal tower was emitting a red light. Although Angel was handling such a tower for the first time, he quickly got the hang of it.

In less than a minute, an unfamiliar face appeared on the screen of light.

It was a seductive woman partially concealing her face with a folding fan, showing only her deep, charming eyes.

Before Angel could speak, the woman on the other side winked flirtatiously: ”Angel, it’s been a while.”

Greya looked at Angel with a suspicious gaze; though she didn’t speak, she occasionally glanced between the woman on the screen and Angel, creating a gossipy atmosphere that intensified abruptly.

Angel replied expressionlessly: ”Dean Muse, is there something you need from me?”

”How did you know it’s me?” The woman was surprised, apparently not expecting Angel to see through her so easily.

Angel didn’t answer, but in his heart, he provided an answer: He knew that Dean Muse had a tendency for split personalities and dramatics. Muse had deceived him multiple times before, for instance, by impersonating Midora, or various statues. Thus, once bitten, twice shy; Angel was already mentally prepared for this.

What’s more, the mini signal tower itself was a gift from Muse, and being able to name him instantly and use such a familiar and coquettish gesture, Muse was the first person to pop into Angel’s mind.

Of course, he wasn’t certain, so he tried a casual guess. The fact proved his assumption correct.

This woman was indeed Muse in disguise.

Seeing Angel remain silent, Muse sighed in frustration and said: ”Since when did you start learning from Rosen, gifting an expression of surprise to performers is an audience’s self-cultivation.”

Angel: ”...”

”So, Dean, what do you want with me?”

Faced with Angel’s lack of cooperation, Muse sighed deeply, and after sighing, he immediately restrained his frivolous expression, turning serious as he addressed Angel: ”Our earlier conjecture was correct; there indeed was a Seed follower who descended on Sky Mechanical City today. She should be the mastermind behind the inside and outside collusion.”

”We captured her near Hong Kui Square.”

”Unfortunately, she is already dead now.”