Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2333: Chapter 2334: Organs

In addition to the figure with their back turned, there is another clue in this image.

From some of the blank phantom shadows, you can vaguely see that there are quite a few silhouettes around the altar, not living sacrifices bound in the small cavern, but people dressed in cloaks like the figure with their back turned.

This indicates that the cavern’s ritual is not the work of just one person, but a group is involved.

However, it’s still impossible to determine their identities.

After viewing the second image, Dororo once again used spiritual power to touch the parchment, arranging the third image.

Dororo: ”After seeing the symbols on the stone slab, several broken images flashed before my eyes. After reconstruction, two relatively complete images could be presented. This is the first one.”

When the image appeared on the parchment, Angel and Nis understood why Dororo would describe the image as ”relatively complete” because this new image was indeed much more complete than the previous two.

Only about a quarter of the space was blank, with the rest filled with color.

The scene in the image was still inside the cavern, though different from before, this time focusing on the rectangular stone platforms around the altar.

In reality, Angel did not pay much attention to those rectangular stone platforms, as they displayed only individual and broken body bones, such as arm bones, leg bones, rib bones, and some peculiar bones from non-human creatures.

Compared to the three hundred sixty complete skeletons in the cavern, they were quite unremarkable. The only notable aspect was that these body bones seemed to have traces of energy saturation during their lifetime, perhaps part of some Extraordinary Life.

Unlike the real-world bones that were already white and even calcified into powder, in the image presented by Dororo on the parchment, those limbs were even attached to flesh and blood.

The image showed that almost every rectangular stone platform had a special transparent container on it.

Each transparent container was filled with murky yellow liquid, in which different limbs were soaked.

Because the limbs varied in size, the containers were also of different sizes. For example, a pair of gigantic demon wings soaked in a massive container as large as a hill; whereas a thumb emitting a golden glow was held in a cup-sized container.

”These limbs include those of Abyss Demons, Void Magical Creatures, and even some... that appear to be limbs of Transcendent humans.” Nis frowned as he looked at the different containers in the image: ”Could it be someone is smuggling body parts from Otherworlds to sell?”

To pursue greater power, transplanting Extraordinary creature limbs is not particularly rare among Wizards, as long as one can overcome the problem of bloodline collapse, a full body transplant is possible.

Some Bloodline Wizards start transplants even when they are apprentices because Bloodline Wizards have more means to overcome organ incompatibility than Wizards of other sects. This is one reason why Bloodline Wizards’ combat strength at the same level is relatively stronger.

Since Wizards need to transplant extraordinary organs, a corresponding industry chain naturally forms.

However, many extraordinary organs belong to creatures from Otherworlds, and any industry involving Otherworlds faces extreme sect persecution. Thus, trafficking and trading extraordinary organs is a grey area industry in the Southern Domain.

”If these people are a grey market trade group, there’s no need to continue investigating this matter.” Nis remarked straightforwardly, as such trade caravans aren’t rare in the Wizards’ Realm.

Even the secluded wing station that Lord Reine took Angel to last time actually belongs to the grey area. The hidden wing caravan behind it is said to serve the highest-end grey market, otherwise, they wouldn’t have managed to obtain an awakened Demon Person like Earl Mi.

Angel: ”There’s no issue if it’s just a trade group, but why does it involve the Quest World? And why use such a large-scale living sacrifice to smuggle and sell Otherworld organs?”

Three hundred sixty lives—this number wouldn’t be significant in worlds controlled by Evil Gods. But here, where Otherworld creatures find it extremely difficult to invade the Southern Domain, holding a sacrifice ceremony with three hundred sixty lives is significant.

Moreover, judging from the cavern’s situation, the target for the living sacrifice wasn’t an offering to an Evil God, but to some entity or faction in the Quest World. To consume sacrifices on such a scale, in the souls of the Quest World, is no small matter.

Is going to such lengths necessary just for organ smuggling?

Nis pondered and nodded: ”Indeed, something’s off. According to the nature of ordinary trade caravans, such a ceremony shouldn’t occur.”

Angel: ”There’s another point I find strange. If this is truly about organ smuggling, why would they leave the organs directly in the cavern?”

There were indeed many ossified organs on the rectangular stone platforms in reality. If they were intended for sale, how could they be left in the cavern to rot?

Nis nodded, recalling the cavern scene Angel presented last time through illusion: ”I remember many of those rectangular stone platforms were empty, without any organ remnants. But in the image Dororo saw, every rectangular stone platform had a container holding organs; it seems those behind it still took many extraordinary organs.”

”But you’re right—if it was for trading or selling, they should have taken everything, not left some behind.”

Nis thought hard for a long time but couldn’t understand these people’s intentions and could only look at Dororo: ”You mentioned earlier, there’s another image?”

Dororo turned to Angel, and seeing Angel’s nod, he waved his hand to clear the parchment image, starting to construct the last image he saw.

This last image is the most complete of all the images, with only minimal edges left blank, and the main section entirely clear.

You can clearly see that the center of the image is still the rectangular stone platform.

But unlike the previous panoramic view, this time the focus is on one rectangular stone platform.

On the platform, there is still the same type of container, in which is soaked a right arm engraved with black and red patterns.

The arm looks very slender, with nails painted with the same black and red pattern as the arm. It can be basically confirmed that this arm should belong to a female human or a female Humanoid Race.

The black and red pattern is a clue that can be probed, but Angel and Nis have never seen a similar pattern and can only overlook it for now.

This image has another very important detail: next to the rectangular stone platform stand three people.

All three are wearing cloaks, and with their faces turned to the side, shadows obscure most of their appearances, but you can see black tattoos on their faces.

The person on the rear right has a slightly clear tattoo on the side of their face, displaying the number 6.

While the tattoos on the left rear and directly in front are not very clear, if they too are numbers, it can be deduced with detail that one is 3 and the other is 0.

Among them, 3 and 6 are at the back, and 0 is at the front.

The cloaked figure with the tattoo of 0 extends a hand, palm touching the container’s wall. A faint glow emanates from the contact point, while a glowing symbol appears on the back of the cloaked figure’s hand.

The symbol is shaped like concentric circles, with a hexagon inside.

”This is a symbol of the Quest World!” Nis looks at the stone slab on the table, apart from the absence of the two worm-like symbols in the center, it’s exactly the same.

Nis couldn’t help but look at Dororo: ”Are there symbols inside the hexagon?”

Dororo nodded: ”There are symbols, but I can’t remember them.”

Being unable to memorize them fully aligns with the symbolic traits of the Quest World!

”Is it the symbol on this slate?” Nis pushed the slate toward Dororo.

Dororo shook his head: ”I don’t know.”

Although he didn’t get a definitive answer, Nis had a premonition that the glowing symbol appearing on the back of the hand of the cloaked figure Number 0 was likely from the same soul force as the symbol on the slate.

”It seems there’s some link between this symbol and the organ in the container. Perhaps this symbol can bring some transmutation to the organ?” Nis speculated based on the actions of the cloaked figure Number 0 in the scene: ”If this speculation is true, then this is indeed not just a simple smuggling.”

Angel nodded as well: ”It’s a pity that from the current clues, it’s hard to deduce what the symbol’s effect is.”

Once the effect of the symbol is known, perhaps it would explain why these people are conducting such a large-scale human sacrifice in the earth cavern.

Nis didn’t understand this either. After pondering for a moment, he said: ”I’ll go to the ruins later and ask Ironclad Granny. Granny knows a lot about these fringe news.”

Back then, it was also Ironclad Granny who determined that the symbols on the slate were highly likely from the Steven Safety Zone in the Quest World. Therefore, Nis thought of Ironclad Granny immediately.

”Alright, then I’ll trouble you.”

Temporarily setting aside the effect of the symbol, Nis and Angel turned their focus to other clues in the scene.

Nis stared intently at the faces of the three cloaked figures, a contemplative look in his eyes.

”Tattooing numbers on the face, that’s very rare. From the details of the characters, the numbers are large enough to cover half of the face. Such large black numbers seem somewhat familiar to me.”

”Do you mean you’ve seen these types of people before, Wizard Nis?” Angel looked at Nis.

Nis shook his head: ”I’m certain I haven’t seen them. However, I feel like I’ve heard of people with similar tattoos.”

”Let me think.” Nis lightly tapped his index finger on his brow, trying to awaken the memory hidden in the corners by rhythmically tapping.

After a while, Nis lowered his hand and shook his head at Angel: ”I can’t recall.”

”Although my memory isn’t as remarkable as your mentor’s, it’s not far off. I can easily recall events from hundreds of years ago. But this time, I can’t remember. It’s likely due to some minor details I overlooked.”

”Perhaps places I’ve visited, some murals I’ve seen unintentionally, or some rumors I’ve heard inadvertently.”

These are extremely fragmented memories. Nis inadvertently etched the details into his mind back then. Touring through countless memories to search for an unintended snippet is quite challenging.

”I’ll think about it later, or I might ask others to see if they have any impressions.”

Angel: ”That’s the only way.”

Dororo, seeing Angel sigh, a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes: ”It’s my lack of ability...”

Angel was stunned for a moment, not understanding why Dororo suddenly began to blame himself.

”You’ve already done well enough.” Angel: ”You didn’t personally go to the earth cavern; just seeing so much through an illusion is already commendable.”

Listening to the conversation between Angel and Dororo, Nis was full of confusion.

This isn’t good? This is called lacking ability? And still self-accusation?

Nis had previously wondered if Dororo’s reputation outside was perhaps exaggerated, but after seeing these scenes, he no longer doubted Dororo’s prophetic ability.

To find so many scenes from within the ethereal timeline without going on-site even after so many years - even Maya the witch would scarcely be capable of this.

One might even surmise that the observers of the Crown Star Church, if they were here, might be at about the same level as Dororo.

For Dororo to achieve this level as just an apprentice is incredibly impressive, and yet still complains about lacking skill?

Nis: ”Your prophetic ability is actually quite decent. If you could help me pinpoint a more useful point on the slate, I could call you the number one Prophet Wizard in Barbarian Cave.”

Dororo glanced at Nis, completely ignoring him.

Nis could only turn to Angel for help with his gaze.

Angel thought, if Nis could find a useful point sooner, it would save him from bringing the slate every now and then. With this in mind, Angel decided to help Nis by saying a few words.

With Angel’s support, Dororo naturally wouldn’t refuse. He turned to Nis, gesturing for him to introduce what he wanted to be prophesied.

Looking at the double standard Dororo, although Nis wanted to vent some complaints, he still cheerfully introduced the situation of the slate.

While Dororo and Nis were exchanging, Angel returned to reality.

Using illusion techniques, he displayed the images Dororo showed to Frode and asked Frode to help search for some clues.

The main task was to investigate the emblem on the boots, the black and red pattern on the woman’s arm, and the people with numeric tattoos on their faces.

Once the instructions were largely given, Angel returned to the Wilderness of Dreams.

By then, Dororo was already gone, leaving only Nis alone in the loft.

Angel sensed a moment and discovered Dororo had gone offline, so he didn’t bother with him. He walked over to Nis and sat down across from him.

”Well, did Dororo help you find it?” Angel asked curiously as he saw Nis staring blankly at the slate.

Nis let out a light sigh and shook his head: ”No.”

”Oh? Dororo didn’t find it either?”

Nis nodded: ”It’s not his fault.”

Indeed, Dororo did not find a useful point, but this had nothing to do with Dororo’s prophetic ability. Identifying the point itself requires a mastery of the magic energy formula of the Soul Sect, and since Dororo hadn’t encountered the complex formulas of the Soul Sect, he couldn’t accurately find the point.

However, even though Dororo didn’t find the point, he provided a numerical range. Dororo had been in a daze earlier, studying this numerical range.

”If the point is truly within this numerical range, it would save me a great deal of effort.”