Warlock Apprentice

Angel pondered for a moment. What Tree Spirit said indeed made sense. If there truly is a hidden room within the ruins, and this room is quite special, Tizarro wouldn’t neglect to mention it. Unless, there isn’t anything inside the hidden room worth Tizarro’s attention.

Of course, apart from this, there is another possibility.

Angel: ”Perhaps Tizarro hasn’t discovered this hidden room either?”

According to Tree Spirit, Lord Rhein has also searched the ruins and didn’t find the hidden room, indicating that its concealment is highly effective.

Is Tizarro stronger than Rhein? Certainly not.

His belief that there is a hidden room in the ruins is purely based on logical thinking, inferring the habitual behavior of the ruins’ creators.

He believed that an Alchemist, having all other experimental tools, couldn’t be without a storage analysis table. So Tizarro speculated that perhaps the storage analysis table might be placed in a hidden room.

Tizarro merely used inertia to analyze and reach a conclusion, without actually finding the hidden room. Therefore, it’s highly probable that later Tizarro, like Lord Rhein, searched for the hidden room but couldn’t find it.

”This possibility exists, and it’s quite significant.” Tree Spirit: ”Of course, the premise is that there truly is such a hidden room.”

Angel also understood this principle, but as a researcher, he personally advocated always ”believing in the existence” first, rather than ”doubting the absence.”

Assuming first that such a hidden room exists provides the motivation to devise countermeasures and solutions. If he deeply believed it didn’t exist from the start, then there would be no point in continuing the discussion.

Tree Spirit also agreed with Angel’s viewpoint. After thinking for a bit, he said: ”If you truly care about this hidden room, why not go search for it? Others failing to find it doesn’t mean you can’t.”

”Tree Spirit has such confidence in me?”

Tree Spirit laughed: ”It’s not confidence, just some simple speculation. If there truly is a hidden room, probably only you in the Barbarian Cave have the chance to find it.”

Amidst Angel’s confusion, Tree Spirit began to explain his reasons for such judgment.

”I previously said that there isn’t anything peculiar about this ruin, but actually it’s not entirely true.” Tree Spirit: ”Of course, there’s definitely no danger in the ruins now. What I’m referring to as peculiar is its origin.”

Angel’s eyes lit up. He knew that what Tree Spirit was about to say surely pertained to the ruins’ first owner, the creator of this ruin.

And this person was also the one Angel was most curious about.

”You should know that the ruins on the Pamiji Plateau are mostly left by the former inhabitants of the Barbarian Cave. But there are exceptions, like the ruin currently guarded by Lord Rhein, and... this ruin.”

Tree Spirit’s gaze looked into the distance, his thoughts immersed in the ancient past.

This ruin appeared very abruptly over a thousand years ago on the Pamiji Plateau. At least before the ruin appeared, even Tree Spirit didn’t know of its existence.

Because the ruin was itself located in the Void, back when it was discovered, Tree Spirit speculated it might be a ruin accidentally connected here due to some sort of spatial distortion in the Void.

Unlike other ruins, this one didn’t originate on the Pamiji Plateau.

Such suddenly landing ruins drifting in the Void are quite common.

When the ruin appeared, the Barbarian Cave immediately sent people to investigate it.

”At that time, the inside of the ruin was already desolate, seemingly abandoned for quite some time, suggesting that the owner had left long ago. However, some simple mechanisms still existed. Based on the mechanisms and usage traces, the original owner of the ruin was most likely an Alchemist.”

”Because the ruin presented no danger, we removed some mechanisms and sealed the ruin. It wasn’t until later when Tizarro chose this ruin for his experiments.”

Angel was still awaiting Tree Spirit to elaborate on the peculiarity of this ruin, yet Tree Spirit paused at this point.

Angel then realized that what Tree Spirit referred to as peculiar was solely the origin of the ruin.

And the reason Tree Spirit said that only Angel might find this hidden room was quite simple: the original owner of the ruin was an Alchemist.

If there truly is such a room, definitely Angel, being an Alchemist himself, has the best chance to find it.

”If you’re truly curious, you can attempt to search for it. However, if you do find any clues, it’s best to ask your Mentor to explore it with you, rather than venturing alone.” Tree Spirit shrugged: ”Of course, I personally lean towards the initial consensus that this ruin has no hidden room.”

Angel nodded. If any clues were discovered, he surely wouldn’t act rashly. Staying in the Barbarian Cave, he had access to nearby allies to reduce risks.

Tree Spirit: ”Is this the only thing you want to ask?”

Angel thought for a moment, then asked: ”Is there more detailed information about the first owner of this ruin?”

Tree Spirit: ”When the ruin was initially discovered, it was much like it is now. Except knowing that the owner was an Alchemist, there is no additional information.”

”If you truly wish to understand, why not examine those experimental tools. As an Alchemist, you might glean some information from traces of experimentation.”

Angel had in fact already gone through those experimental tools roughly beforehand. However, he hadn’t gleaned any information.

Tree Spirit: ”Any other questions?”

Angel shook his head: ”None.”

Tree Spirit didn’t say much more, nodded to Angel, and his form began to dissolve into light and shadows, ready to withdraw his consciousness from this place.

At this moment, Angel suddenly thought of something: ”By the way, do you know what’s going on with Tizarro’s research on Experiment 117, Tree Spirit?”

Tree Spirit’s form paused: ”What specifically do you want to know?”

”Is there a connection between the cultivation of Mycelium Bombs and the Parachute Fungus Insect bloodline?”

Tree Spirit nodded: ”There is. Tizarro is Dumatin’s Mentor, and the Parachute Fungus Insect bloodline was developed and perfected by them as Mentor and disciple.”

A glimmer of realization flashed in Angel’s eyes; his intuition was indeed correct.

Dumatin Bayer is known in the Barbarian Cave for extracting brains from living people, nicknamed ”Microcosm.”

Everyone who is to be cultivated into a Substitute Puppet would be sent to Dumatin, where the Parachute Fungus Insect bloodline is injected. It was in Dumatin’s laboratory that Angel rescued Baruba.

With Tizarro and Dumatin as Mentor and disciple, it’s no wonder that the effects of the Parachute Fungus Insect bloodline and the Mycelium Bombs are so similar.

Yet, the Parachute Fungus Insect bloodline is far more terrifying than the Mycelium Bombs.