Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3123: Chapter 3124: Contingency Planning

After Angel explained the overview of the sheet music collection, Broye prepared to leave: ”I’ll go back now and continue collecting excellent sheet music.”

”Wait.” Angel called Broye to stop: ”I have one more thing that requires your help.”

Under Broye’s puzzled gaze, Angel snapped his fingers lightly, and immediately, waves of faint energy ripples spread around.

When the ripples collided with each other, they formed a large number of illusion nodes.

These illusion nodes brought a faint mist. Before long, the mist covered the entire room.

In the mist, everything in the room became blurred, with only vague outlines visible.

Amidst the fluctuating outlines, a silhouette began to stretch suddenly, and in constant transformations, it formed a figure. This figure was none of the three present, and they couldn’t clearly see the appearance of the silhouette, only that it stood in the depths of the mist.

”This is...” Broye looked at the outline behind the mist, not knowing who this suddenly appearing figure was.

Lianna also curiously scrutinized the silhouette; from its shape, it overlapped with the contours of many people, belonging to a normal adult male’s build.

The silhouette’s motion seemed like it was holding something... a harp?

This motion was rare among the people Lianna knew.

A harp? Could it be... Lianna suddenly thought of something and looked over at Angel.

”He’s my friend, and also the real seeker of the sheet music.” Angel said: ”Next, I’ll use an illusion to simulate a harp performance, you can listen.”

Saying this, Angel snapped his fingers again, and simultaneously, a chair constructed from illusion appeared behind them.

After gesturing for everyone to sit down, Angel activated the illusionary realm before them.

Accompanied by a sound akin to a celestial melody, everyone slowly immersed into a sanctuary of music...

About a quarter of an hour later, the harp performance reached its conclusion.

After another five minutes, when everyone came to their senses in the aftermath of the lingering melody, Angel spoke: ”Broye, based on your level of appreciation, how would you rate his performance?”

Seeing Angel use an illusion to simulate the harp performance, Broye understood that Angel would definitely test his level of appreciation. Thus, upon hearing Angel’s question, he wasn’t nervous and articulated the words he had prepared in his heart.

”An exceptionally excellent harp technique, the playing style is very spontaneous, clearly not from the Academy Faction; however, even so, it doesn’t appear chaotic, but rather elegant and relaxed, definitely master-level...”

The eloquent evaluation flowed forth, weaving a song full of praise in no time.

Angel could discern that Broye might have exaggerated for his sake, but the overall evaluation was certainly positive... After all, in front of two official wizards, the work played must indeed be excellent, otherwise, it would be futile flattery.

Angel: ”Based on your evaluation, did Luigi perform well?”

Luigi? Is that the name of the lord’s friend? Broye had never heard of this name, but he didn’t dwell on it, simply nodded: ”Yes, very well.”

Angel: ”Then I can tell you, this performance by Luigi could earn a position but is only rated as the twentieth seat by the music group. And his aim is for the top three seats.”

”Twentieth seat? Then the music group the lord’s friend is in must have fierce competition.” Broye frowned: ”However, I can confirm his performance technique is already top-notch; to only achieve the twentieth seat, I’m curious about the basis for the seating evaluation.”

Angel shook his head: ”I don’t know the specific evaluation criteria either. The only thing I can confirm is that this evaluation is impartial.”

Pausing, Angel continued to ask: ”How do you feel about Luigi’s performance of this sheet music compared to the ’Nocturnal Sparrow’s Flight Rhapsody’ you found?”

Broye thought for a moment and said: ”In terms of sheer shock value, ’Nocturnal Sparrow’s Flight Rhapsody’ is superior.”

Angel didn’t say anything, but gently waved his hand to manifest a piece of parchment, handing it to Broye.

Curious, Broye received the parchment; it was a sheet music titled ’Yi Yang.’

Angel: ”Take a look at this sheet music; it comes from a humanoid alien clan.”

Broye nodded and began to carefully study the sheet music on the parchment; while he was reading it, the sound of ’Yi Yang’ also resonated in his mind.

This wasn’t an illusion but Broye’s talent... highly sensitive to musical notes.

After Broye finished reading, he couldn’t help but praise: ”A fantastic sheet music, immensely valuable... Through the arrangement of notes, one can perceive the civilization form of the alien clan.”

Lianna: ”...Sounds so grand, but isn’t it merely a music style with exotic flavors?”

Broye wanted to say this was different, but seeing Lianna’s expression, he blinked his shiny eyes and decided not to argue.

Angel, however, didn’t concern himself with exotic flavors or civilization forms; he simply said: ”Luigi also performed ’Yi Yang’ in front of the judges. And this time the rating was fifteenth seat.”

”On the same day, two performances, one rated twentieth seat, one rated fifteenth seat.”

”What I want to ask you now, knowing these two ratings, do you think Luigi’s performance of ’Nocturnal Sparrow’s Flight Rhapsody’ could enter the top three seats?”

Broye thought for a moment and softly said: ”I can’t be certain either, as the evaluation standard is quite odd.”

Angel: ”Don’t doubt the evaluation result, it is definitely correct. What I can tell you is that the judge is a man who might have some subjective preference, but even if he doesn’t subjectively like the performance style, he will give a relatively objective evaluation.”

Broye: ”If there’s a subjective preference in the evaluation, then there are too many variables. But the only thing I’m certain of is that ’Nocturnal Sparrow’s Flight Rhapsody,’ if rated, shouldn’t be lower than ’Yi Yang.’

Angel: ”That’s sufficient.”

The reason Angel simulated Luigi’s performance with an illusion was to provide Broye a reference standard.

Regardless of whether ’Nocturnal Sparrow’s Flight Rhapsody’ can enter the top three seats, the sheet music he collects in the future must be considered against this standard.

Angel: ”In the following days, I’ll find time to continue using illusions to simulate Luigi’s performances, and I’ll inform you of his ratings, You can refer to these ratings to continue searching for sheet music.”

Broye nodded: ”I understand... Does the lord’s friend get rated every day?”

”Yes.” Angel did not hide this point: ”Every day he has only one opportunity for rating, and the final deadline is in five days. Therefore, he has only five chances.”

Pausing, Angel looked at Broye: ”Earlier I heard from Lianna that you wish to change the Magic Crystals reward for completing the task into something else?”

Broye nodded somewhat shyly: ”I have a sword I often use, but it’s now somewhat unsuitable for me... I’m reluctant to discard it; I want to ask the lord to help me reforge it.”

Angel: ”If within these five opportunities, Luigi uses the sheet music you found to enter the top three seats, I will consider your request.”

Broye’s eyes brightened, but before he could say anything, Angel threw out a caveat.

Angel: ”However, during these five rating opportunities, Luigi may not necessarily use your selected sheet music, as he will also search for some sheet music.”

”So, if you want Luigi to choose your sheet music, try to find the best sheet music.”

Broye nodded: ”I understand!”

After Broye received the new standard and confirmed his goal, he bid farewell and prepared to continue finding suitable sheet music.

Once Broye’s silhouette disappeared from the room, Lianna, who had been observing quietly all along, finally spoke: ”This guy, back when he hadn’t visited the City of Truth, he was quite polite. After returning from the City of Truth, why has he become so fond of showing off?”

Sure, here is the translated text:

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Angel: ”Do you know what it means to walk at night in fine clothes?”

Lianna was startled for a moment: ”Huh?”

Angel: ”You can understand it as, if you’ve refined a bottle of precious perfume, you definitely want to find a Tea Party to show it off. Otherwise, the joy of refining the perfume would be reduced by threefold.”

Lianna: ”...???”

Angel: ”If you still don’t understand, you can go ask Jon in the tree group, he taught me this saying.”

As Angel spoke, he retracted the Mist Illusion. Lianna didn’t continue to discuss the ”night walk in fine clothes” issue but instead looked at the gradually disappearing silhouette in the mist and asked: ”Honestly, I think it’s really troublesome for you to keep searching for scores like this.”

”Since you want to help your friend secure a high position in the music troupe, why not directly use an Illusion to manipulate the judgment? Wouldn’t that be more convenient?”

Angel: ”If things can be done within the rules, it’s naturally best to follow the rules.”

Lianna raised her eyebrows, just about to say something, but the next moment, Angel’s tone shifted: ”However, what you said is also one way. If true strength doesn’t work, taking an out-of-discussion approach is also fine.”

Lianna: ”...” I thought you were of the Order Faction, didn’t expect you were prepared to use any method.

Although Lianna inwardly ridiculed, it also showed that Angel valued his ”friend” greatly... It’s just unknown who this Luigi is.

Lianna shook her head, not thinking much more. This Luigi is obviously a man; if it were a woman, she might gossip about a Transcendental Wizard’s romance, but for a man, forget it.

On the other side, Angel was pondering Lianna’s words.

Using Illusion to manipulate judgment... Angel had not considered such an out-of-discussion means. Because in the Crystal Origin of Dreams, his foundation for using Illusion is the Heavenly Phenomenon Replacement Authority, which currently has very low efficiency in the Crystal Origin, far inferior to the Wilderness of Dreams.

At his current level, he couldn’t achieve that in the Crystal Origin.

However, Lianna’s words gave him some inspiration.

There are many ways of out-of-discussion means; it isn’t necessary to control the judgment. He can entirely start with Luigi or the scores.

For example, finding someone who knows Divination to divine where the score that allows Luigi to pass is isn’t also an out-of-discussion move?

But, whether this idea materializes or not, Angel isn’t certain.

However, if it truly comes to needing an out-of-discussion approach, it is indeed a way worth trying.

Angel isn’t stubborn; he believes Luigi is the same, as long as it doesn’t involve principle issues, everything else is negotiable.

The end result being positive is good.

...

After the mist in the room completely disappeared, Lianna walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside was the night view of New City.

Not far away, the aerial Rose Garden was scattering petals emitting pink light, and the twinkling Sky Dome train carried ”off-duty” earthmen from south to north, with the encircling Sky Street like a light band connecting every high-rise building with dazzling neon signs.

Every time she saw such a night view, Lianna felt a sense of accomplishment stemming from her heart.

However, this time, her focus was not on the bustling night view, but on a ”water cube” below the Crown Building.

This water cube is precisely the Ocean Pavilion filled with countless fantastic life forms.

”Since you’ve come, I also want to ask about the ecological issues you mentioned earlier,” Lianna said softly, ”I still haven’t figured out a solution.”

”I’ve also hired a team of Nature Witches, but they can’t find the corresponding ecological niche for these life forms they’ve never seen before either.”

Lianna turned to Angel: ”If things continue as they are, they will soon die.”

Angel naturally knew the problem with the Ocean Pavilion since he was the one who reminded Lianna.

Solving the Ocean Pavilion’s problem quickly is indeed not easy, because the life forms in the Ocean Pavilion were all created based on the Membrane of Rhythm.

It’s a ”masterpiece” of Sumishe and Greya.

The life forms created by Greya have traces to follow, but some life forms created by Sumishe... are basically ”one-offs” birthed from whim.

Finding corresponding ecology for these bizarre life forms is too difficult. After all, no one has seen these assorted strange creatures.

Angel thought for a moment and said, ”Greya should have returned to New City, right?”

Lianna nodded: ”She returned with a bunch of Dream Plant Fairies, and now they’re on Delicacies Island. I also asked her, but she seems to have no solution, just telling me to put them back where they came from.”

”Moreover, she seems busy these days, probably discussing with the upper echelons of the Dream Plant Fairies? I wanted to find her, but Ironclad Granny and the Tree Spirit stopped me, and her tree group didn’t respond, so I can’t do anything.”

Meeting with the high ranks of the Dream Plant Fairies? Listening to Lianna, Angel instinctively used God’s View to glance at Delicacies Island.

He found that while there were Fairy Guard Squad people on Delicacies Island, he didn’t see any so-called ”high ranks”... But he did see a familiar figure.

Camilleon.

It seems that as soon as Camilleon arrived in New City, he went to see Greya.

It was probably Camilleon’s own request, as he wanted to meet an expert in studying the life forms of the Wilderness of Dreams, and without a doubt, that person was Greya.

Camilleon and Greya were having an intense discussion, seemingly like an argument on rational grounds.

But upon closer listening, Angel found Camilleon was only talking to Greya about a little amphibious fish with wings and limbs she created.

The fervor in this conversation was even more intense than when Camilleon talked to Ironclad Granny on the airship.

It seemed like... there were many common topics.

Listening to Greya and Camilleon chat, Angel stroked his chin and thought of a way to solve the Ocean Pavilion’s ecology.

Greya can’t solve it... but Camilleon probably can?

Didn’t the Observer say Camilleon was a scholar of the cosmology faction at Nuke Academy, and in the world of life forms, he is an authority?

Plus, Camilleon himself is interested in the life forms of the Wilderness of Dreams, so he could entirely be guided to the Ocean Pavilion.

There are quite a few unique ”one-offs” created by Sumishe over there.

With this thought, Angel directly suggested Lianna go find Greya... Regarding the obstruction issue, no need to worry. Angel would give Ironclad Granny and the Tree Spirit a heads up beforehand.

Lianna only needed to directly meet Greya and state her request.

Given the current situation, if Camilleon heard there were many strange life forms in the Ocean Pavilion, he would definitely follow.