Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2064: Chapter 2065: Secrets of the Garden

”Praise the moonlight, praise the Queen, praise Shava.” As the atmosphere of the banquet gradually thawed, the Minister of Agriculture, Nuka, sitting opposite Angel, was the first to speak: ”This evening’s banquet to welcome Lady Shava’s night patrol is also a test of the recent descent of the Xinnai Land.”

Nuka’s voice was sharp, with a lingering tone, and each wave of sound made all the candelabras in the hall dim slightly; fortunately, the candle holders constantly replenished the lamp oil and controlled the flames to burst, barely maintaining a certain brightness. But even so, the light in the hall flickered with Nuka’s voice.

This was also the result of Nuka not restraining his energy.

The other guests seemed to have been accustomed to it and did not express any surprise. Angel, naturally, did not point it out either, continuing to absentmindedly feed the Dalmatian food, appearing not to care about what Nuka was saying.

Of course, it was just an appearance of indifference.

In fact, Angel was paying close attention to each word Nuka said, quickly analyzing the possible meanings behind them.

He was particularly concerned about the so-called ”Xinnai’s descent.” He had a feeling that the reason these Nightmare Realm creatures were occupying this relic was precisely because of that.

”It’s rare to have Lady Shava join the banquet, so why don’t everyone share their progress to let Lady Shava see the results of your outpost construction this time?”

When Nuka finished speaking, Angel raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at the guests without saying anything. However, his heart was filled with anticipation.

He was eager to learn about the situation in the relic, and Nuka had just passed the opportunity to speak to him.

The Nightmare Realm creatures present all served as leaders of various territories within the relic. For example, Misty Goldlady, the master of Duling Garden, was undoubtedly the one most familiar with the situation at Duling Garden. The same applied to other territories; when a territory’s leader spoke, it almost served as an authoritative statement, which was extremely helpful for Angel to understand the relic’s situation.

Though Angel appeared indifferent, he was already beginning to look forward to what everyone had to say.

Nuka’s gaze first fell on the people beside him. Seated next to him were the White Maid and Misty Goldlady. Nuka thought for a moment and then looked towards Misty Goldlady, who was in the shadows: ”Since we’re here at Duling Garden, Misty Goldlady, why don’t you start first.”

There was no response for a long time after he spoke.

Just as Angel wondered if Misty Goldlady had fainted in the darkness, she finally hesitated and spoke: ”I... my progress, Lunatic Tome knows. It would be better for Lunatic Tome to speak for me.”

Misty Goldlady’s excuse did not surprise Nuka. He twirled his long beard on his cheek and said: ”I thought you might perform better in front of your most admired Lady Shava.”

Misty Goldlady: ”I...”

For a long time, Misty Goldlady could not finish her sentence, so Nuka waved his hand: ”Forget it, as you said, let Lunatic Tome boast for you.”

After the banquet began, Lunatic Tome had retreated to a display shelf at the back, pretending to be an inconspicuous book. Now, reluctantly, it floated up again, flapping its pages and settling on the table.

Lunatic Tome first flapped lightly in Angel’s direction: ”Honorable Lady Shava, please forgive Misty Goldlady. It’s not that she doesn’t want to speak in front of you, she’s just a bit shy.”

Angel continued to pet the Dalmatian while nodding: ”I understand.”

Angel merely indicated his understanding but did not show his stance, whether to forgive or not.

Lunatic Tome paused, noticing Angel had nothing further to say, and looked distantly at the darkness surrounding Misty Goldlady. It could clearly see the darkness ripple a bit.

Lunatic Tome sighed silently, realizing that Lady Shava genuinely disapproved of Misty Goldlady’s attitude.

Lunatic Tome refrained from further explanation, withdrew its gaze, and then, as requested by Lord Nuka, reported on the recent progress in Duling Garden.

”Currently, the area of Duling Garden has reached one-quarter of its origin. According to the progress, it only needs to meet the moonlight one hundred and fifty-three more times to smoothly connect with the origin.”

Before Lunatic Tome finished speaking, a sharp mocking laughter interrupted, coming from the Black Maid.

”The Bewildering Forest and Demon Flower Sea take up half of Duling Garden. I personally overlooked them this time, and neither Bewildering Forest nor Demon Flower Sea has begun construction. How can it connect with the origin after one hundred and fifty-three encounters with moonlight?”

Facing the ridicule, Lunatic Tome did not show any distress: ”Black Maid, you may not know, these two places cannot descend.”

Black Maid: ”Why can’t they descend?”

”Lunatic Tome is correct about this.” As Black Maid persistently pursued the question, Lunatic Tome did not continue to answer. Instead, the White Maid, sitting opposite Misty Goldlady, explained: ”Indeed, Bewildering Forest and Demon Flower Sea are not part of this descent.”

When other guests spoke, Black Maid probably would not believe them, but she could listen to the White Maid. However, she was still somewhat confused: ”Why can’t these two places descend?”

”Although Xinnai’s descent was approved by the Queen, as you know, this approval was merely verbal consent, so compulsory portent cannot proceed. The owners of Bewildering Forest and Demon Flower Sea do not wish to descend upon human territory, so this time Duling Garden does not include Bewildering Forest and Demon Flower Sea.”

Black Maid was unaware of this matter. After listening to the White Maid’s explanation, she realized she had wronged Lunatic Tome. But she did not intend to apologize; her status was much higher than Lunatic Tome, and there was no reason for her to apologize.

Lunatic Tome naturally did not know Black Maid wanted to apologize. Seeing her no longer aggressive, it sighed with relief and continued: ”Aside from this, Duling Garden’s...”

The following content Lunatic Tome mentioned was mostly about the Mushroom’s situation in Duling Garden. Since Angel had seen it personally, he did not glean much useful information. However, the previous conversation between Lunatic Tome and Black Maid allowed Angel to capture some crucial information.

First, Xinnai’s descent was approved by the Queen. Second, Duling Garden’s size seems not to have reached its maximum limit yet. According to Lunatic Tome’s words, Duling Garden has only completed one-quarter. Third, from Lunatic Tome’s tone, Angel vaguely inferred that Duling Garden’s main body is in the Nightmare Realm, and Duling Garden’s expansion is a process of connecting with the main body, which seems to imply ”descent”?

A strange thought suddenly occurred to Angel: could it be that ”descent” means projecting a section of the Nightmare Realm directly into reality?

Yet, how does this differ from the domed ceiling of the Sleepless City? In Angel’s view, there’s not much difference. If the descent really is as he understood it, perhaps it’s a bit redundant.

Or is there something about it that he doesn’t understand?