"I’ve already said everything I can about that Wood Spirit. It’s a coward and usually pretends to be the prison bars within the Hanging Jail Stairway... Oh, just a reminder, if you can’t find it, it’s best not to pry open the prison bars one by one. Such an action will not only expose your intentions but also make it even more afraid of you, making it impossible for you to persuade it."
"Most importantly, prying the bars might lead to unforeseen dangers."
Angel: "What kind of danger?"
Day shrugged: "I can’t say. Besides, I haven’t entered the Hanging Jail Stairway for a long, long time. I’ve only heard rumors about its current state."
After listening to Day’s words, Dox pondered briefly and said: "He can’t say, due to a contract. Although I don’t know what kind of contract, in general, if the place being guarded has completely disappeared, then the contract will become invalid. Since Day’s contract is still in effect, does that mean the Hanging Jail Stairway still retains its past functionality?"
Dox squinted his eyes: "The so-called unpredictable danger, maybe there are some ancient monsters that have been alive for ten thousand years still imprisoned inside?"
It was rare for Dox to seriously analyze, and after listening carefully, everyone found it somewhat possible.
Angel hesitated for a moment and asked, "Did inspiration strike?"
Dox replied irritably, "Can’t I make a reasoned judgment even without inspiration? You’re underestimating me."
After a pause, Dox suddenly changed his expression and jokingly said, "How about guessing whether I’m inspired now?"
Angel gave Dox a long look but didn’t play his guessing game and instead turned to Day: "Is what he said possible?"
Day: "I don’t know, but he was wrong about the contract theory."
Angel: "You mean your contract involves not only guarding the Hanging Jail Stairway but also other places?"
This time, Day remained silent, his expression clearly resistant.
Angel pondered for a moment and felt that Day had already said a lot, with many answers clearly skirting the edge of the contract, or else Day wouldn’t always simulate the contract’s compatibility before answering.
Day’s current silence implied that this question directly touched the contract itself, not even skirting it.
Continuing to ask would probably yield no further intelligence.
Thus, Angel placed a hand over his chest and bowed: "Thank you for your answers, I think we’ve asked about everything we need to, and it’s time to move on."
Day glanced at Angel and coldly snorted, "No need to thank me, it’s just a trade."
Though Day said so, Angel felt his emotions weren’t calm, but slightly awkward. He must have deliberated hard over whether to say those words, and regretted it a little after saying them. Wanting to take it back but unwilling to lose face, his emotions became awkward.
Angel deduced Day’s thoughts from the emotional shift, but the others didn’t know—Vay even commented through the Mind Ribbon, "What a cold guy."
"You’re right, quite cold. However, it was rare to meet someone we could communicate with, that was our luck." Angel also replied to Vay through the Mind Ribbon.
Vay, without thinking, immediately shifted his stance, "You’re right, my lord!"
While Vay mindlessly praised, Angel said to Day, "Even though it’s a trade, I am still very satisfied. If I happen to meet your descendant in the future, I will tell him about you."
Day was stunned for a while, then sneered and turned his head away, murmuring in a barely audible voice, "Busybody."
This time, not needing Angel to read emotions, everyone could see Day’s awkwardness.
"Quite the tsundere, thinks he’s still young at heart?" Dox silently mocked in his mind.
Angel: "Sometimes, you’re no different."
Dox, unfazed by Angel’s comment, instead followed up with nonsense: "Compared to Day’s age, I’m not only young but also a little kid who can make unreasonable demands."
Seeing the twinkle in Dox’s eyes, Angel knew that he was waiting for the chance to respond so he could make "unreasonable demands."
Angel could sense Dox’s eagerness, so he turned away and told the group, "It’s time to go. If the Wood Spirit path doesn’t work, we’ll have to come up with a new plan."
Angel spoke and took the lead, striding forward.
But Dox was a bit anxious, why wouldn’t he respond? No matter, if you won’t respond, I’ll just speak directly.
Dox turned to Day: "By the way, Angel mentioned something through the Mind Ribbon, but he’s too shy to tell you. So I’m relaying it."
Angel stopped dead in his tracks, turned around, and squinted at Dox.
Dox was utterly unafraid, addressing Day: "It seems someone from the Merchant Organization has come after us. If they do arrive, please don’t reveal our whereabouts. Better yet, bring out that little piggy to show them and let them weigh their own strengths."
Dox added, "Oh, you might not know the Merchant Organization. Let me educate you: they’re quite the evil organization..."
Before Dox could finish, Day interrupted him: "I’m familiar with the organization. Their people have been deeply excavating these ruins for profit. However, they also maintain order in the City of the Lost. Without their maintenance, the underground magical creatures and the corrosive gas from the sewers would have leaked out long ago. So, while we hold no affection for the Merchant Organization, we feel no animosity either."
"By the way, the same goes for that one. As long as you don’t provoke that one, that one won’t act against the Merchant Organization."
When Dox heard Day’s words, his expression changed immediately, "Actually, we also maintain a friendly and harmonious relationship with the Merchant Organization... If we disguise ourselves as part of the Merchant Organization, would that one also spare us?"
Dox’s abrupt change in tone left Day dumbfounded.
The others were even more exasperated, with Vay particularly exasperated, fearing Angel might mistakenly think he was as shameless as Dox.
After Dox asked that question, Angel stepped forward, conjured a Hand of Magic, and grabbed Dox by the collar, tossing him back.
He then apologized to Day, "Don’t listen to him; he’s just spouting nonsense. In our team, he’s just a mascot. A decoration."
After Angel spoke, he bowed again, "We’ll be going now. If anyone comes afterward, handle them as you see fit and don’t consider Dox’s opinion."
Dox was unhappy and shouted from behind. Fortunately, they were still within the realm of the illusion, so Angel muted the area where Dox was, nodded to Day, and prepared to leave.
But Day suddenly spoke, "Actually, I think his way of living is quite genuine."
Angel smiled, "That’s why I said he’s the mascot of our team. Not an insult, but a compliment."
Upon hearing Angel, Day laughed for a rare moment, "In recognition of having a mascot and you telling me these things, I can give you one last tip."
All the commotion stopped instantly, and everyone turned their gaze to Day.