Warlock Apprentice

The green mist arrived quickly and disappeared just as swiftly.

Because it dissipated so rapidly, most residents believed it was just a slightly unusual but still within the normal range of weather phenomena. Until someone discovered the wall outside the Marine Theater covered with climbing vines.

The entire wall was draped with lush green vines, some of which had even bloomed with small, pale purple flowers. From a distance, it looked like a waterfall of wisteria blossoms.

Most importantly, these vines were real!

A long time ago, Originheart City was promoting ”greening,” but at that time, it was actually about carved stone plants painted green and placed as street decorations. But now, after such a short mist, real plants have actually appeared in Originheart City?!

As everyone stared in surprise at the climbing vines, others noticed plants sprouting in various places around Originheart City. Even in the very center of Originheart City Square, there was suddenly a tree bearing fruit!

This really set the whole of Originheart City abuzz.

The sudden appearance of plants caught everyone by surprise. Some were puzzled, some fearful, but most were celebrating.

Although Originheart City grew more prosperous as its population increased, it ultimately lacked a certain vitality and liveliness.

With the weather beginning to change and the seasons becoming distinct, Originheart City barely managed to compensate for this lack of vitality. But liveliness remained somewhat scarce, until today, when the appearance of numerous green plants filled a missing piece that people cared about deeply yet never mentioned openly.

Amidst the applause and excitement of the crowd, Originheart City seemed to gain new life at that moment.

However, happiness aside, the sudden appearance of plants still raised questions that required an explanation.

Thus, after the commotion subsided, the residents of Originheart City turned their eyes to the city’s management center — Sky Tower.

They tried to obtain answers from the personnel within Sky Tower.

Yet, all those working for the City Lord’s Residence remained tight-lipped. Regarding the sudden appearance of the plants, they said nothing other than assuring that these plants posed no harm to Originheart City.

But the residents wished to know not just whether it was beneficial or harmful, but the truth behind the appearance of the plants. For a time, waves of curiosity swept through the city.

When the doubts reached their peak, finally, City Lord Monroe spoke up.

The announcement Monroe issued was simple, saying frankly that once the city planning department appeared in the afternoon, they would know the truth.

Although people were still somewhat puzzled, there was at least a response, and the speculations hanging over the city temporarily quieted down. Everyone waited, wanting to know what answer the city planning department would provide.

...

At this moment, in a study on the third floor of Originheart City’s circular library.

Jon, dressed in a scholar’s robe, stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly gazing in the direction of Sky Tower. It was crowded with people there, and although he couldn’t hear what was being said, their fervent demeanor gave away some clues.

”Someone is secretly manipulating public opinion, inciting these people to speak out.” A clear male voice sounded behind Jon.

The speaker was Angel. He had been sitting on the sofa and, seeing Jon looking out the window, he stood up and walked over to join him.

Angel looked at the distant bustling crowd. Even without God’s View to observe, he could discern a thing or two.

Jon nodded: ”City Lord Monroe, as a woman taking charge, overshadowed all other candidates and naturally became a thorn in their side. These dissenters, whose ideas match certain individuals’ sense of superiority, have managed to gather a large following.”

”Therefore, it’s easy to guess that those manipulating public opinion are none other than Elonia, Gel, and Dewald, one of the initial City Lord candidates.” Jon continued, ”Given Dewald’s character — straightforward in likes and dislikes, although a dissenter himself, he likely won’t engage in petty antics. So it must be either Elonia or Gel.”

Jon paused: ”I personally think both of them might be involved.”

Jon casually depicted the political ecosystem of Originheart City. Though not yet as brutally real, there were already signs of premeditated intrigue.

Angel, for his part, didn’t mind. He had no intention of participating in this political unrest. Moreover, Angel didn’t believe that City Lord Monroe would be disturbed by these matters.

”Once the planning team brings the Dream Plant Fairy for the city’s greening renovation this afternoon, these people will naturally disperse,” Angel said.

Jon replied: ”That may be so, but the fragmented information channels have led to the residents of Originheart City receiving information that is too scattered and slow in retrieval, which is what urgently needs to be improved.”

”Speaking of which, the other day City Lord Monroe mentioned wanting to establish an official newspaper. I think it’s time.”

Angel chuckled.

City Lord Monroe indeed is not someone who sits idly by. As a woman who once toyed with the nobility and royalty of several nations, she is too familiar with the art of power.

To control media is to control the direction of public opinion. A newspaper, without a better alternative, is certainly the best barometer.

”Then let’s do it. It can also be used to educate people about the Demonic Fiend, and the Dream Plant Fairy,” Angel responded.

Jon nodded: ”I’ll discuss it with City Lord Monroe later. She probably already has a preliminary plan; now it’s just a matter of deciding whether to establish a semi-weekly or a weekly.”

At this point, Jon suddenly sighed: ”Newspapers are fine, but the information still has some delay. It would be great if information could be obtained instantaneously...” Pausing, Jon switched from the Universal Language to Chinese, reflecting sentimentally: ”I really miss Earth’s Information Age. But alas, perhaps it will never be seen again.”

Jon looked at the sky with a gaze full of nostalgia.

In the end, a foreign land is a foreign land. Home is in another space.

While Jon was feeling sentimental, Angel remained silent, knowing Jon’s deep yearning for Earth, and planned to exert every effort to fulfill Jon’s dream. However, as nothing had been settled yet, it wasn’t necessary to mention it to Jon.

Jon didn’t stay melancholic for long and soon collected his emotions, turning back to Angel: ”I’ve been lost in my thoughts and nearly forgot to ask — did you come for something specific to discuss with me?”

Angel nodded: ”Indeed, there is something I want to discuss.”

”Just now, I heard Jon Mentor mentioning the Information Age. This matter actually relates to real-time information transmission.” Angel paused and softly revealed his intention: ”What I want to talk about with Jon Mentor is the master tree network.”