Angel didn’t reply and said directly: "This isn’t the aqueduct yet. The underground aqueduct has very distinct canal markers. This should just be a passage to an underground structure built by someone who lived in the house above."
"Then doesn’t that mean we can’t reach the underground aqueduct from here?" Kaier asked.
Angel: "I don’t know. If the person who built this underground structure had hidden motives, linking it secretly to the aqueduct isn’t impossible."
The underground aqueduct in Naraku City might sound like it was meant for drainage, but in fact, drainage is just its surface function. Even in those days, the labyrinthine space was full of all kinds of adventures and legends.
Moreover, there are official institutions inside the underground aqueduct.
Therefore, it’s not impossible for someone to secretly link it to the aqueduct.
"Then let’s hope he had hidden motives," Dox said.
Angel suddenly stopped, looking at Dox: "Speaking of which, before it became ruins, there were actually many entrances to the aqueduct, and most of them weren’t restricted. Under such circumstances, if someone still had hidden motives to secretly connect to the aqueduct, what do you think their purpose was?"
Dox shrugged: "How would I know? If it’s really as you say, it’s surely not something good. Maybe just like Kaier said earlier, they’re the villains of The Garden Labyrinth."
Kaier: "Earlier... you clearly opposed me."
Dox: "I opposed the notion that underground structures are common; which ear of yours heard me opposing the identity of the owner here."
Kaier: ... Isn’t your implicit meaning an overall objection.
Kaier fell silent, but he started to see through Dox; this guy seems to have a natural tendency for arguing for argument’s sake. However, this only applies to apprentices like them. At least when Angel and the others speak, Dox rarely opposes.
"The villains of The Garden Labyrinth are too vague. What do you think the villains would do?" Angel continued to look at Dox.
Dox: "What a villain would do is only a few things; either overthrow the rulers, or rob, or simply slaughter. As long as the rulers are unhappy, they’re happy."
"Right, you mentioned earlier that there are official institutions in the underground aqueduct, including prisons. If someone really had hidden motives, they might be targeting such places. Either attacking official institutions or attempting to break out prisoners."
Angel thought for two seconds and nodded: "I understand."
Dox was taken aback: "What do you mean you understand? Are you using me as a Prophet Wizard again? I’m telling you, I haven’t activated spiritual perception, and I’m not a Prophet Wizard!"
Angel looked at Dox puzzledly: "You think so much. I just casually flattered you, and you managed to come up with all this. Do you usually enjoy imagining things this much?"
Dox: "... You were the one asking me."
Angel: "I was just gathering everyone’s opinion. Before this, I also asked Lord Black Earl."
Black Earl snorted quietly, not refuting, which was implicit consent.
Angel and Black Earl’s psychic branch hadn’t been severed, but they hadn’t talked about anything, because they hadn’t seen the underground structure yet, and there was nothing to discuss.
Dox, however, because of spiritual perception, could have a deeper conversation. Maybe his subconscious answer would be the correct one.
Since Angel said so, Dox also felt he might have overreacted... Only, he clearly had the feeling Angel was using him as a Prophet Wizard.
Though he didn’t dislike Prophet Wizards, being considered a Prophet Wizard was an insult to him as a formidable Bloodline Wizard.
"Nothing problematic, we should proceed," Angel said: "There’s light ahead, we must be close to our destination."
Everyone naturally had no objections and followed.
As the passage deepened, more traces of human presence could be seen, though mostly left by later visitors, such as the candles on both sides of the passage, which must have been lit by Hero Squad.
The ground was free of dust and had no cleansing magical energy array, which was likely cleaned by the Hero Squad’s logistics.
From these details, Hero Squad seemed like a well-organized adventure group that knows how to prepare and live.
Shortly after, the downward passage reached the bottom.
"It should be about a hundred meters deep from the surface here," Dox said.
"More or less, but for the maze of underground aqueducts, this depth is still on the surface layer, not yet into deeper places," Angel replied.
During their conversation, a short figure ran from the front.
As she ran, she spoke, with a child-like voice that implied she was quite young.
"Kolo, Kolo! Are you back? My dad made a cake, hurry..."
Her words stopped abruptly because she had already seen Angel and his companions in the passage.
These were not the Kolo she was waiting for, but a group of unfamiliar men.