Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2769: Chapter 2770: The Poet

Since the opponent is still within the hunt, it’s simple. Just keep narrowing the hunting area, which equates to suppressing the opponent’s activity space, and eventually, it will be forced to reveal itself due to the limited range.

To let the concealed creature lower its guard, Angel instructed Speedy not to move, while they continued at the previous pace.

Initially, the opponent hadn’t realized Angel had left a defense net behind them, so it continued to move slowly.

But as Angel and his team increased their pace, the opponent noticed something was wrong and started to move quickly.

At the same time, the Wood Spirit wrote a line in Angel’s palm using fine vines: It’s running.

As the Wood Spirit leisurely wrote out this line, Angel vaguely felt that something seemed to have bumped into the defense net behind him. He turned to look but saw nothing.

Then, after writing that line, the Wood Spirit began writing new words: It collided and then ran back.

Seeing this line, Angel was sure the defense net had indeed hit the concealed creature earlier. But the reaction at that time was completely delayed; waiting for the Wood Spirit’s judgment? Even worse. By the time it finished writing, several seconds had passed since Angel felt the defense net was hit.

So, the Wood Spirit’s words can only serve as a reference for past occurrences rather than real-time commentary.

Since the opponent had already noticed something was wrong, Angel no longer had Speedy remain stationary, but let it carry a defense net woven by the wind forward.

This way, Angel and Speedy moved towards each other, compressing the concealed creature’s activity space more quickly.

In over ten seconds, Angel and Speedy were less than twenty meters apart.

And these twenty meters were the ”final circle” of the hunt.

Angel stopped his footsteps, simultaneously signaling Speedy to stop moving.

Angel was not chickening out; twenty meters is a fairly appropriate distance. Further compression would increase the sense of oppression on the opponent.

If the opponent is truly the ”surprise” given by the Wise Sovereign, leaving a bit of leeway is a form of respect.

Whether the opponent wants this leeway will be revealed in its subsequent reaction.

After stopping, Angel prepared to wait for the opponent to react. However, before getting a response, Dox’s countdown started.

”Ten, nine, eight...”

Angel glanced at Dox, who threw a wink at him and gave a discreet ”no problem” hand gesture, continuing the countdown.

Angel understood that Dox meant this as a final ultimatum to the concealed creature.

Clearly, Dox knew Angel’s intention to stop but felt leaving unlimited leeway was not ideal. So he initiated this ten-count, using the countdown rhythm to impose psychological urgency.

Angel didn’t stop it... couldn’t stop it, so he let Dox count down.

During the first five counts, Dox’s rhythm was slow and steady, but he abruptly sped up for the last five counts.

This method of altering rhythm is a commonly used psychological tactic... well, ”commonly used” here pertains to social interactions.

Angel was quite curious about where Dox learned this tactic from.

Was he taught a lesson and then learned out of shame? Or did he proactively learn this tactic to use on others?

No matter the answer, Angel thought that if Dox continued to follow him, it might be best to keep women away from him.

While Angel’s thoughts ran wild, Dox’s countdown reached the final three numbers.

But before he could count these last three numbers, everyone heard an unfamiliar voice beside them.

”Hunter seeking treasures, your countdown confuses me. Do you wish to witness my arrival firsthand?”

This voice had a distinct tone, hmm... very poetic. It seemed to deliberately adopt a reciting manner of speaking. Judging by the voice, it belonged to a clear young man.

The mention of ”hunter seeking treasures” and the keyword ”countdown” made it evident the voice was addressing Dox.

Yet Dox looked perplexed: ”Huh?”

”Hunter seeking treasures, I will fulfill your wish, but can you pay the price for this wish?”

As the voice ended, Dox was about to say, ”My wish is not to witness your arrival,” but before he could speak, a shadow appeared before everyone.

It was a young man in a green robe, holding a harp, wearing an elegant hat.

Judging by the attire, he was clearly a bard.

As for his appearance, couldn’t see it clearly because of a mask. Not a full mask, it only covered his right eye and a third of his face. The parts not covered seemed fine, likely a handsome youth.

The bard, holding the harp, fixated his gaze on Dox: ”I have arrived, now it’s my turn to demand a price.”

Dox looked disdainfully: ”Who wanted to witness your arrival anyway, that’s not my wish.”

Ignoring Dox’s protest, the bard continued: ”The price you need to pay is...”

After a pause, the bard casually played a note on the harp, and everyone saw a complex formula derivation appear before Dox.

The formula had been derived at least sixty times, densely filling entire wall of light.

At the end of this formula was an equals sign, followed by a huge question mark.

”Solve this formula and provide an interpretation. That’s the price you have to pay,” the bard said, then leaned against the wall, closing his eyes in silence.

Leaving Dox dumbfounded, staring at the wall of light.

”What is this all about? Was this bard the concealed creature?” Dox asked via the Mind Ribbon.

Angel: ”Yes, but also not entirely.”

Angel’s response was contradictory, leaving Dox confused, and others puzzled by Angel’s words.

Angel: ”According to the Wood Spirit, when the bard appeared, the concealed aura vanished.”

Dox: ”What does that imply? Was the bard the concealed creature?”

Angel shook his head: ”With further probing on the spot where the concealed creature disappeared, I found an anomaly; signs of the Magical Energy Array being activated.”

Dox: ”Magical Energy Array? You mean...”

Angel: ”Most likely influenced by the Wise Sovereign. Only the Wise Sovereign can activate the Magical Energy Array from the core, and once activated from the core, it can limit energy fluctuation transmission, explaining why we didn’t sense the activation.”

If Angel hadn’t carefully examined it, this point would be hard to notice.

”Did the Wise Sovereign’s action have any connection with this Bard?” Vay curiously asked.

Angel: ”Although the Wise Sovereign activated the Magical Energy Array, the place where the concealed creature disappeared is impossible for space traversal. This means the other party is likely still nearby.”

”However, there is no aura of Wood Spirit derivatives around, so their location might be in the gap between the Magical Energy Array and reality.”

”As for this Bard, because there is no aura of Wood Spirit derivatives, he is not the concealed creature from before, or to be more precise, not entirely.” Angel: ”But he couldn’t just appear out of thin air, so it’s highly likely the concealed creature devised this method.”

”This method is to make me solve riddles?!” Dox’s startled emotions were almost palpable to everyone through the Mind Ribbon.

Angel was also somewhat puzzled, so he chose to remain silent this time.

It was Vay who spoke at this moment: ”I noticed earlier that this Bard engaged in conversation solely with Dox and didn’t even glance at anyone else.”

Dox: ”So what?”

Vay: ”So I think he came specifically for you.”

Dox was still confused, and at this moment, Black Earl spoke, ”If you want the truth, solve the mystery. If you’re not interested in the truth, we can continue ahead.”

Black Earl’s words held some truth; they could completely ignore the Bard and move forward.

However, if this Bard is indeed the ”surprise” mentioned by the Wise Sovereign, Dox doesn’t want to miss out in such an unclear manner.

For a Wandering Wizard, ”missing out” is something they’ll remember for a lifetime.

To be blunt, Dox wants to benefit from the Bard. If he misses out, in the future, during sleepless nights, he might continually start with ”If I hadn’t missed it...” in self-reflection and regret.

”So, should we try solving the riddle? But, the content of the riddle... I don’t understand it.”

Dox directly skipped the ”move forward” option, and everyone guessed his intentions. However, no one pointed it out, because they were curious about what this so-called surprise would be.

”The riddle format is a variant of the Tao Miheba puzzle; it’s not that difficult.” The speaker was Kaier, who had remained silent until now.

Dox turned his head, his eyes alight as he stared at Kaier.

Although Dox didn’t speak, his eager gaze conveyed his intentions to Kaier.

Kaier hesitated for a moment: ”Then I’ll give it a try?”

Dox: ”Alright, you dictate, I’ll write.”

The ensuing time was spent with Kaier calculating in his mind, while Dox transcribed, idly awaiting the next deduction process.

”Seems we’ve hit Kaier’s specialty,” Angel sighed softly from the side.

The Tao Miheba puzzle is an ancient number theory problem, belonging to Arithmancy. However, when applied in a transcendent structure, it becomes a classic space theory puzzle.

Space Series is not as leisurely as outsiders imagine because this branch highly values arithmantic talent.

When Space Mages engage in combat, regardless of location, they must adapt by performing extensive mental calculations to construct complete and fitting space structures.

And should space structures go awry, the repercussions are scarier than other branches’ backlash, potentially leading to local space rebound.

This leads to all Space Mages being geniuses in calculations.

And those who aren’t are eliminated...

”Besides, even without Kaier, can’t you lend a hand?” Black Earl asked.

Black Earl’s inquiry wasn’t baseless; Angel’s analytical ability toward space is exceptionally strong, having previously ventured with Kaier into dangerous voids rife with cracks.

Furthermore, Angel’s usage of instant space teleportation techniques further hints at his familiarity with space theory.

Adding the fact that he specializes in the twin giants of Arithmancy, Metallography, and Runeology, Angel has a grasp on the latter two.

Angel didn’t respond directly to Black Earl but smiled and said, ”The poetry is quite neat, though a bit forced.”

Black Earl chuckled as well: ”This... can be called poetry?”

Angel: ”As long as it can be punctuated, any expression can become poetry.”

Vay, who had been listening to the conversation, found himself in a daze. He could understand parts of the dialogue between Angel and Black Earl initially, but since Angel’s abrupt mention of ”poetry,” he couldn’t fathom it—almost as if they were worlds apart.

As Vay struggled to connect the dots, a joyous voice came through the Mind Ribbon:

”It’s solved, this is the final expression. Now we’re only left with interpretation!” After a pause, Vay suddenly exclaimed, ”Hmm... this seems to be a line of poetry?”

”The wind stirs his silky long hair, lifting, lifting that captivating melody.”

”Go listen, that is the wind singing.”

”Cheer, that is the ballad written by the wind.”

”For the everlasting vine green, together, sing... Luigi’s Song in the Wind.”

While Vay interpreted, Dox transcribed.

At the same time, Dox griped: ”Is this poetry too? It’s mere idle complaints, right? What is Luigi’s Song in the Wind anyway?”

Once the final stroke was laid, a glow wall in front of Dox displayed ripples. As the ripples spread, the glow wall vanished, followed by a serenade in the ears.

The singing was from the Bard who had appeared suddenly before, performing precisely the piece Vay had interpreted... poem?

Before long, the Bard sang beautifully, delivering the last line: ”For the everlasting vine green, together, sing... Luigi’s Song in the Wind.”

As those words echoed, the Bard lightly plucked his fife, concluding his performance.

Then, holding the fife horizontally, he rested one hand on his chest, bowing slightly to Dox: ”I’ve accepted your price. Such a beautiful poem emerging from your pen should make you feel honored.”

Dox: ... No, not honored at all.

”Lastly, I hope you’ll remember my name, I am... Luigi.”

With those words, the Bard named Luigi broke into countless light points and dissipated.

Only a tattered mask was left on the ground.