Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2615: Chapter 2616: The Defiant Choice

”Whether it is or not, let’s go have a look first,” said Angel, as he added an extra layer of the Purifying Field in the Moving Mirage.

Although the Black Earl intentionally released his sense of smell, losing control due to the stench he encountered; he did so to save the team’s time. As the leader, Angel felt it was necessary to do something to soothe the team’s emotions, thus reinforcing the Purifying Field.

However, since the Moving Mirage already had a Purifying Field, the additional reinforcement didn’t make a significant difference.

But this action did calm the Black Earl’s emotions a bit. Sometimes, even if the result is the same whether you act or not, taking action shows that you care.

And this care was reciprocated; the Black Earl sent Angel a private mental message.

”I see Sanders’ shadow in you, but I also see your own self. It’s a good thing, but if you want to grow to stand on your own, you’d best abandon imitation.”

This ”private chat” was the Black Earl’s way of reciprocating.

After hearing this, Angel thought for a moment and understood the Black Earl’s meaning.

Leading for the first time, Angel didn’t quite know what standards to meet. Having once been Sanders’ follower, he unconsciously began to imitate Sanders, even pondering in decision-making: What would my mentor do in this situation?

It’s undeniable that the Black Earl’s insight is sharp.

Although Angel did not display any awkwardness of someone leading for the first time, the Black Earl still saw through him. The Black Earl, rather than making a mockery, gave sincere advice:

Imitation isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, if you truly want to be on your own and become a decision-maker, a leader, you should try to abandon imitation.

”I understand, thank you, my lord,” Angel replied.

The Black Earl let out a light hum, without further response.

Angel didn’t mind and instead began discussing the route with Dox.

There are just too many Ghosteye Witches here, and once you are spotted by one or if you kill any, you risk getting surrounded.

Though Ghosteye Witches are low-level monsters, they excel at physical Shadow Transformation. Killing one or two is simple, but facing thousands upon thousands is difficult to handle.

Therefore, planning the route ahead was crucial.

Soon, both Angel and Dox mapped out a route, but while they were similar initially, they diverged towards the end.

The early similarity was because, in the vast square, despite the number of Ghosteye Witches, there was still a path to avoid them. But beyond the square, with varied buildings and numerous alleyways, the paths differed.

Dox’s route skirted widely around the Gemini Towers Bell Tower, offering two branch options full of alleyways, each likely to encounter over ten Ghosteye Witches.

In contrast, Angel’s route brushed directly past the Gemini Towers Bell Tower, facing only a patrolling Ghosteye Witch.

Upon hearing Angel and Dox’s entirely different routes, people were quite surprised. Considering Dox’s usual tendencies, he would typically make more aggressive choices, like going straight through. But curiously, this time he picked a conservative route that, while roundabout and Ghosteye Witch-laden, didn’t stir the attention of the two Wizard Level Ghosteye Witches.

Conversely, Angel, usually very cautious, opted to go directly past the Gemini Towers Bell Tower.

”Master, is Dox’s route better, or is Chaowei’s route the better option?” It was Vay speaking, of course.

As soon as Vay finished speaking, Dox muttered nearby, ”He was promoted after me, yet you address him respectfully and me by name. Are you deliberately trying to provoke, kid?”

Vay completely ignored Dox, knowing that with the Black Earl present, Dox wouldn’t dare do anything to him.

The Black Earl said, ”It’s up to them to decide. It doesn’t matter which route they take.”

Originally, Angel wanted to hear the Black Earl’s opinion, but seeing he was unwilling to get involved, Angel felt a bit lost.

Listening to Dox’s choice usually wasn’t an issue, as it came with an inspiration bonus. But now, since Dox’s inspiration seemed to work contrarily and cause trouble, people were hesitant to fully trust him.

Though Vay and Kaier said nothing, they clearly trusted Angel more. After all, the path he chose had only one Ghosteye Witch, along which they could avoid during patrols. As for alerting the two Wizard Level Ghosteye Witches? Since Angel chose this path, presumably there was a contingency plan...

Angel looked at Dox, ”You chose this route for a specific reason?”

Dox languidly replied, ”You say it first; I’ll see if I want to listen.”

Angel slightly furrowed his brow but still began, ”My chosen route is the shortest, and the chance of encountering Ghosteye Witches is minimal. Even if we meet them, they can’t find us within the Mirage.”

Dox nodded as he listened, seeming to appreciate Angel’s choice, ”You have a point. Yet, since your Mirage is so impressive, wouldn’t taking my route be safer, avoiding the Gemini Towers, and further reducing discovery risk?”

Angel squinted his eyes, ”Do you think my Mirage can’t hide us from those two Wizard Level Ghosteye Witches?”

Dox replied, ”No, I just feel that taking a longer route isn’t a big deal.”

After Dox finished, he turned to look at the route he’d selected, his gaze flickering.

Dox spoke very little and showed little expression, but Angel noticed his emotions were highly volatile, perhaps the most since entering the ruins.

Why would such a simple path choice cause such emotional fluctuations? Angel found it hard to fathom.

Just then, Dox’s gaze shifted toward the Gemini Towers’ direction, and Angel noticed that facing the Gemini Towers, Dox’s mood actually seemed steadier than when looking at his chosen route.

Did this imply Dox agreed with his choice?

But why would Dox insist on the more roundabout path?

As thoughts conflicted within Angel, the Black Earl said, ”You made your choice yet? It’s just one bloody path; does it need this much thought?”

Angel closed his eyes and pondered for two seconds, then opened them with a more resolute look than before.

”Let’s take Dox’s route.” Angel made the decision without giving any reason.

Though puzzled by Angel’s choice, the team had no objection. If Angel decided, they’d proceed accordingly. After all, it’s just a slight detour.

Dox cast Angel a complicated look; he opened his mouth to ask Angel why he listened to him but remained silent, stepping upfront instead.

”So, are you ready to fight?” Angel’s voice came from behind.

Dox said, ”A Bloodline Wizard should lead from the front; that’s the dignity of the Bloodline side!”

”I’ve heard it, but it seems there’s a premise—to be in the middle of a melee,” Angel said, ”So, do you think your choice will inevitably lead to combat?”

Dox, frustrated, said, ”Caution, it’s called caution; don’t you get it?”

Angel chuckled, didn’t reply, but followed behind Dox, leisurely walking along.

As everyone followed the illusionary realm and moved, the private chat line from the Black Earl connected again with Angel.

”Did you notice?”

Angel: ”Is the Lord referring to Dox going against the inspiration given to him?”

The Black Earl laughed lightly: ”You truly noticed, the choice given by inspiration to Dox should have been your route. Discovering this, you must have some special talent in observation, right?”

”How did the Lord discover it then?” Angel retorted.

The Black Earl: ”I can sense many things, such as the sudden rise of breath, and the forcibly suppressed sigh.”

”Perhaps I’m just like you, discovering Dox’s anomaly through changes in breath?”

The Black Earl: ”The breath changes I mentioned before are all controlled by Dox within himself. I’m quite certain, your nose can’t do it.”

Angel also smiled: ”Indeed, I didn’t discover it through breath, but don’t forget my profession. Although my Heart Illusion Technique isn’t as strong as my mentor’s, detecting changes in people’s hearts isn’t difficult. Moreover, everyone is now within my illusionary realm.”

Angel lied but actually fooled the Black Earl. After all, it’s quite discourteous to use the True Word Technique during a conversation.

Moreover, what Angel described is entirely possible; the logic is self-consistent, and Angel has proven his level of illusion technique, why not believe it?

The Black Earl: ”Heart Illusion Technique is scarce these days. It used to be quite popular because controlling people’s hearts can be addictive... But later, after the Demon God descended and war erupted, those specializing in Heart Illusion of the Illusion Series became somewhat useless in battle. So, fewer people started learning Heart Illusion, as it’s more useful in support, and people now prefer aggressive fighting methods.”

”However, my mentor encourages me to learn Heart Illusion, always saying the heart is volatile, and Heart Illusion also has world-class techniques, promising a bright future.” Angel interjected.

The Black Earl, upon hearing world-class illusion technique, giggled: ”Indeed, promising future. But who knows how long this future lies ahead?”

At this point, Angel felt it was best to end the topic on Heart Illusion. If the talk continued, exposing his bluff would be unfavorable.

So, Angel deliberately shifted the topic: ”Dox going against inspiration this time, is it a good or bad omen? Can the Lord tell?”

The Black Earl: ”It’s uncertain now, but once we complete this route of his, there should be a conclusion.”

Angel: ”Let’s just wait and see, then.”

As the private chat ended, Dox’s complaints followed: ”What exactly were you discussing? Why didn’t you include me?”

Angel: ”You should ask the Lord Black Earl; it was he who connected with me proactively.”

Dox glanced at the Black Earl, intending to speak, yet the Black Earl interrupted his thoughts with a single sentence: ”Are you certain you want to know about the Noah Family and Barbarian Cave?”

The underlying meaning was, if you heard, you wouldn’t be free anymore. Either join the Noah Family or move to the Barbarian Cave.

For Dox, who cherished freedom immensely, this was undoubtedly his Achilles’ heel; he dared not continue asking, fearing that once he knew something secretive, he would be forcibly stripped of his freedom.

Observing Dox, a bit helpless and timidly silent, Angel couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

”Come to think of it, Dox cherishing freedom so much, could it be due to inspiration’s influence?” Angel initiated another private chat with the Black Earl.

The Black Earl: ”You haven’t been to the Cross Headquarters, have you?”

”Isn’t that the place for wandering wizards? I probably can’t enter, right?”

The Black Earl: ”Walking into the Cross Headquarters looking like you do now, who could recognize you as the renowned Transcendental Wizard? If you claim to be a wandering wizard, who would refute?”

Angel pondered deeply, realizing the truth in it. Whether someone is a wandering wizard is indeed difficult to judge.

”In the Cross Headquarters, those disguised as wandering wizards, I dare say there are at least ten to twenty percent, perhaps among the few elders in the Cross Headquarters, there are spies from the City of Truth.”

The ’elders in the Cross Headquarters’ mentioned by the Black Earl are actually the strongest figures there, serving as the face of the wandering wizards.

”Why surely from the City of Truth?”

”Humph, once you’ve been to the City of Truth, you’ll know there are many wizards you haven’t met but are incredibly powerful. These are all cultivated secretly by the City of Truth, so if anyone can nurture powerful yet unfamiliar wizards, only the City of Truth can do it.”

The Black Earl paused: ”Veering off topic, back to the main point. Once you’ve been to the Cross Headquarters, you’ll understand why Dox cherishes freedom so dearly.”

”Is this a good thing or a bad thing?” Angel queried with some doubt.

”Not a good thing, nor a bad thing. It’s simply a difference in values.” The Black Earl: ”You have mature values, visiting is harmless. More so, listening to the wandering wizards’ explanations of freedom will aid in disguising as one in the future.”

Angel wanted to retort why he’d disguise as a wandering wizard.

However, he hesitated, not speaking, for who can predict the future?

While chatting, everyone had already crossed the square.

With the cover of the Moving Mirage, the journey was peaceful without attracting any notice from the Ghosteye Witch.

Nonetheless, proceeding forward might require more caution.

They were now standing outside a bird nest-like building. Judging from the mottled text on the signboard, this was once a tribunal, possibly akin to a courtroom. Through the bird nest holes, one could see circular seats inside, and a central area similar to a podium.

If this indeed was a courtroom, it most probably allowed outsiders inside to witness the sentencing of criminals; otherwise, there’d be no need for so many seats.

Now, the tribunal, resembling a bird nest, bore no sign of living presence, covered instead in the black mist seeping from the ground, where countless Ghosteye Witches lay by the outlets, avidly inhaling.

These black mists serve as both impurity and energy. They are the foundation for magical creatures prevalent in the underground labyrinth.

Initially, it certainly wasn’t this way, presumably the Magical Energy Array underwent some Transmutation. As to what caused the transmutation, Angel didn’t know, but he suspected it might be the work of the Triclops Blue Demon.

”I initially thought of taking the alley next to this building, but, the outer layer of this tribunal bears no Ghosteye Witch, and has a door at the end of the outer layer. Perhaps, we can opt to pass through here?” Dox suggested.

Adapting routes based on circumstances is acceptable.

Indeed, the alley bears quite a few Ghosteye Witches, even with the illusionary realm’s protection, caution is required. If necessary, they could be included within the illusionary realm, albeit at a small risk of detection by other Ghosteye Witches.

Therefore, choosing to pass through the outer path of the tribunal is quite a viable option.