Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2528: Chapter 2529: Golos’s Story

Angel motioned for little Tom to step aside and join the other Talented Ones, getting to know each other in advance.

Little Tom suppressed the excitement in his heart and nodded somewhat tremulously.

His excitement was not really because of his talent, as he still had no concept of it, but because he finally understood Angel’s intention—preparing to guide him into the Witcher Organization!

For little Tom, this was a tremendous opportunity! Because the blood feud he carried was not only against the small leader he used to flatter every day.

The reason he only targeted that leader for revenge was because, with his capabilities back then, he could only reach the level of the leader, who was just a pawn. Hidden behind were the extraordinary Knight Guards, the vast Princess Castle, and the even more formidable King Gumman’s royal family.

Previously, he had never dreamed of avenging himself against such formidable powers, but now it’s different. As long as he joins the Witcher Organization, he has a ticket to the transcendent realm. By then, even if he can’t shake the entire Gumman Royal Family, he can still kill a few more enemies to quench his thirst for vengeance.

Therefore, even though Angel never sought little Tom’s opinion from beginning to end, little Tom felt no discomfort from being restricted; instead, he was filled with gratitude towards Angel.

Little Tom gave a deep bow to Angel. Not only did Angel save him from the Gargoyle, giving him a chance for revenge, but he also provided him the opportunity to further his growth—an gratitude that words could not express, only a long-lasting deep bow as a token of his sincerity.

After little Tom left, Dox exhaled deeply and remarked:

”I was initially thinking if I could snatch him from you, but seeing his expression towards you now, I guess it’s difficult.” Dox paused and looked at Angel: ”We obviously came to Princess Town together, so when did you pick up this talent?”

Angel: ”You’re not a Nature Witch, what do you want him for? As for his background...”

Angel did not hide anything and roughly explained how he encountered little Tom.

After listening, Dox couldn’t help but sigh: ”So it’s after we parted ways that you met him. He was lucky to run into you. If it were I accompanying him, he would never have been able to detect my presence.”

Angel: ”...” Although Dox didn’t say it explicitly, Angel felt somewhat offended.

Dox noticed Angel staring straight at him, seemed to understand something, and hurriedly explained: ”I didn’t mean to imply your concealment abilities were poor, I meant that my concealment is derived from the shadows and the earth. Unless special perceptive methods are used, as long as I’m standing on the ground and blend into the darkness, I’m completely merged with the surroundings. No matter how strong his inspiration, he wouldn’t sense my presence.”

So, even if he was the one who first met little Tom and made the same stalking choice as Angel did back then, nothing would likely have happened.

Angel understood Dox’s explanation, but still felt Dox said it intentionally, essentially to show off his concealment skills.

Looking at his smug face now, it’s clear that this assumption is pretty much spot on.

Although Angel wanted to say something to curb Dox’s arrogance, he ultimately refrained. The fact is, he was indeed detected by little Tom. Even if he explained that he only used simple Illusion Techniques at the time, saying such things now would sound like excuses; it’s better left unsaid.

Anyway, the benefits fell into his lap. Little Tom became a Talented One of the Barbarian Cave, rather than following Dox as a wandering Apprentice.

With that in mind, Angel looked at Dox: ”Weren’t you just commenting on each Talented One of the Barbarian Cave? Now that you’ve started, why not finish by not leaving out little Tom.”

Dox knew very well that Angel said this intentionally. Apparently, the evaluations Dox gave to the group of Talented Ones earlier had left a mark on Angel. While at that moment it might not have bothered Angel much, now that there was an outstanding talent like little Tom, Angel had the motivation to strike back.

This attitude isn’t too different from the rumored Sanders. No wonder they managed to become mentor and student.

Dox complained inwardly but nodded on the surface: ”Alright, let’s have a start and finish.”

With those words, Angel directly lifted the silencing barrier on their side, allowing their words to transmit once more to the ears of the nearby Talented Ones.

Dox gave Angel a displeased look before starting: ”Ahem, since I’ve already commented on the other Talented Ones, I shouldn’t leave out little Tom. So, let me say something about his situation.”

As soon as he spoke, all the Talented Ones perked up their ears.

Dox: ”If nothing unexpected happens, little Tom will probably be the most likely among your cohort of Talented Ones to advance to become an Official Wizard...”

Dox wasn’t intentionally saying negative things but genuinely expressing his thoughts. After all, he had previously mentioned wanting to ”snatch” little Tom. Criticizing Tom would indirectly mean belittling his own judgment, which would be unwise.

After a few more praises, Dox stopped talking, then signaled to Angel with his eyes: Is that enough now?

Angel, being straightforward as well, reset the silencing barrier as a response to Dox’s signal.

”You really dared to let them hear that.” Dox looked at Angel. ”Aren’t you worried they’ll target little Tom?”

Angel looked at the Talented Ones over there, who seemed a bit restless, and said unconcernedly, ”Still the same words, being targeted isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

Dox: ”Alright, I can understand that. But aren’t you worried that little Tom’s mind will become unsettled?”

As Dox spoke, Lady Melo also showed a bit of concern and whispered, ”Hearing too many good things isn’t always good.”

Seeing both Dox and Lady Melo staring at him, Angel wanted to say: If he starts floating, what does it have to do with me?

However, he held back. After all, with Lady Melo and Golos nearby, appearing too heartless wouldn’t be good.

After organizing his thoughts a bit, Angel replied rather officially, ”Recognizing and breaking through mental barriers can be considered a form of training.”

”Besides, little Tom might not necessarily develop mental barriers because of this.” As Angel said this, he glanced at little Tom from afar. Although perhaps a bit confused at the moment, little Tom didn’t seem to have too many burdens on his mind just yet.

Dox: ”Why does it always seem like your words are a bit irresponsible?”

Angel: ”Is it? I’m speaking from my perspective. I’ve heard a lot of good things in the past, yet here I am.”

With those words, Dox was momentarily at a loss for words.

Angel was the fastest advancing Wizard in recent years and was a favorite topic for major magazines some time ago. Because of this, Dox was well aware of the kinds of public opinions Angel had faced recently.

After becoming acquainted with mysterious levels as an apprentice and becoming a member of the Research and Development Institute, almost all the wizard magazines used this as a topic, showering him with praise, and barely any negative remarks could be heard.

Anyone with clear eyes could see that this was deliberately praising him to the point of destruction.

But Angel was not overwhelmed by this public opinion, quickly breaking through the great barrier to become a judge at the New Star Competition under the name of Chaowei, reappearing before the public.

It can be said that Angel used his personal experience to prove what he said: the mental barrier can also be considered a kind of training. The higher the praise, it doesn’t necessarily mean the harder the fall; it’s also possible to soar to great heights.

However, can Angel really be compared to young Tom?

Dox wanted to ask this question, but after thinking about it, he wondered why they couldn’t be compared? In terms of age, experience, and background, Angel wasn’t much more than young Tom.

Thinking about it this way, Dox had nothing to say. Angel had already brought out his own experiences; how could he refute?

Obviously, he couldn’t.

Moreover, Angel also made it clear that he was viewing young Tom from his own perspective. If he could do it, why couldn’t young Tom?

Therefore, Dox couldn’t refute it.

On the other hand, Lady Melo was also convinced by Angel. Using his own standards to view young Tom was a form of valuing him. As long as young Tom doesn’t lose himself, isn’t that enough?

”Let’s leave the matter of young Tom here for now; what he will become in the future depends on him. Speculating about his future now is purely overthinking,” Angel lazily remarked. ”Let’s bring the topic back. Didn’t Golos want to tell a story? Since Lady Melo is already here, let him speak.”

Golos, who had been ignored all this time, silently thought to himself: It’s not a story... it’s my experience...

”Golos’ story? What do you mean?” Lady Melo was still unaware of what had happened.

Angel: ”Listen to him yourself.”

Everyone turned their gaze to Golos, who took a deep breath and began to speak slowly.

However, he didn’t immediately begin narrating his experiences. Instead, he first apologized again, taking the blame upon himself.

Lady Melo’s reaction was almost the same as Angel’s, as were her thoughts. Golos bore a certain responsibility, but it was definitely not the primary one. Being able to face his inner guilt directly at this moment was already quite commendable.

Moreover, Lady Melo even felt that her responsibility was greater than Golos’s. After all, she represented the face of the Barbarian Cave. Being captured was a form of dereliction of duty. Furthermore, since she became Golos’s Guide, she neither had the ability to protect him and the other Talented Ones nor made the correct form judgment. This was her own mistake.

Once back at the Barbarian Cave, Lady Melo would report the situation and take the responsibility she owed.

”It’s still too early to talk about responsibility. Once we return to the Barbarian Cave, everything will be decided accordingly. For now, talk about your own experience,” said Lady Melo.

Golos nodded and then began recounting his experiences.

After listening, everyone understood why there was an entanglement between Golos and the princess.

In simple terms, Golos’s experiences were somewhat similar to the situation with the White Bear. It was also due to the monarchy’s despotism and the ruthlessness, resulting in one of many tragedies.

Golos’s father was once one of the deputies to the Minister of Culture in the kingdom.

The so-called Minister of Culture actually managed the kingdom’s ethos and discipline, and among these, the ethos included the spread of arts and literature.

Golos’s father was in charge of the arts and literature aspect.

Golos’s father was well aware of the kingdom’s affairs and understood that King Gumman was a despotic man who would never allow open and free artistic and cultural trends, so he managed the arts meticulously. As a result, he was well-favored by the Minister of Culture. Logically, someone who prioritized the ethos and managed it precisely wouldn’t become part of a royal tragedy.

But unfortunately, luck wasn’t on their side. A play that Golos’s father approved initially had no issues, but later, the play’s author was exposed to have had contact with dissenters in the kingdom. For this single action, King Gumman was enraged.

The play’s author along with all actors and staff associated with the play were implicated, resulting in many deaths. Golos’s father was also collateral damage for approving the play’s performance.

In summary, the fate of Golos’s father was a disaster as unpredictable as a natural calamity.

Fortunately, due to Golos’s father’s tact and the trust he garnered from the Minister of Culture, the minister spared him. Unlike other criminals, his whole family was not punished. Golos’s father solely bore the punishment, while the family merely had their assets seized and were exiled to a frontier province, forbidden to enter the capital for several years.

This is the current background of Golos’s family.

Returning to the main point, because Golos’s father was once a trusted deputy to the Minister of Culture, Golos had been indirectly or directly exposed to many offspring of the royal family or ministers from a young age.

During that time, Golos met Modia, the daughter of the eldest princess and now the mistress of the Princess Castle.

At that time, Modia was only about three or four years old, but she was already quite domineering, forcibly claiming anything she set her eyes on.

Nevertheless, because Modia was quite cute, most people laughed it off at that time.

Initially, Golos was also deceived by Modia’s appearance, thinking she was just a cute little sister, and often proactively gave her things.

Eventually, Modia suddenly said she didn’t want anything else; she just wanted Golos himself!

At that time, Golos thought it was a joke, but unexpectedly, Modia was serious.

However, blessings can come in disguise; it was around this time that Golos’s father encountered trouble, and Golos was banished to a frontier province, sparing him a direct confrontation with Modia.

But after so many years, while Golos had been living in a frontier city almost forgetting about Modia, she suddenly sought him out again.

By that time, Modia had already become the mistress of Princess Town.