Angel: "As far as I know, I’m the only one with the last name Pat in the Barbarian Cave."
Dox: "So you really are that... Music Box Alchemist?"
Music Box Alchemist, the next stop mysterious, Lionheart Thorns, and Illusion Master, were all titles various magazines had attributed to Angel.
Later, after Angel himself settled on "Transcendental" as his name, there were fewer of these casual nicknames.
For some reason, he used to find it annoying, but now Angel kind of misses those bygone titles.
"Although I think Music Box Alchemist sounds pretty nice, I still prefer people calling me Transcendental Wizard."
Dox: "Yes, yes, Transcendental Wizard. I just heard from a friend about your music box, and my subconscious slipped."
At that time, through the music box, Dox saw an unparalleled illusionary realm; it was the first time he witnessed such an immersive spectacle full of blanks and implications, especially the remnants on the floating island which resembled history.
That experience was very valuable for Dox. It even influenced some of his thoughts.
Of course, it wasn’t the music box’s power itself; it was that kind of blank space where everyone who looked at it had different thoughts. Just like interpreting a book, where different people have different insights. Some will grow clearer, while others become increasingly obsessed.
For Dox, some of his ideas changed, yet his thoughts became clearer.
That’s why his memory of the music box was too profound, so much so that he mixed up Angel’s official title.
"Did you like it?"
Dox was stunned, not understanding Angel’s meaning.
"I mean, after you listened to that music box, how did you feel?" Angel rarely wanted to hear customer feedback.
"Not bad, or rather, very good." Dox didn’t want to omit that the music box changed some of his ideas, but he didn’t want to go against his true feelings either. So, he emphasized the word "very" to express that he genuinely thought the music box was excellent.
"Music boxes, I haven’t refined one in a long time." Angel’s gaze became somewhat distant: "Those auctioned music boxes were refined when I was an apprentice."
"Since you think it’s good, I can find time to refine one for you again," Angel said.
Dox’s face lit up with surprise: "Really?"
Angel nodded: "Of course it’s true. Next time you bring Little Gold, I will give the music box to you."
Dox: "..." He really believed Angel was giving him one for free, but it turned out to be a veiled reminder not to forget Little Gold.
Still, even like this, Dox was quite lucky. After all, Little Gold was something Dox had promised to give Angel.
"My Little Gold has already entered the gestation period; once the energy is sufficient this time, it won’t be long before it gives birth. At that time, I’ll choose the best cub for you." Dox promised.
Since Dox said it like this, he definitely wouldn’t give him a subpar one. This was indeed a pleasant surprise.
Perhaps because Dox expressed his love for the music box, they chatted much more casually than before. However, Angel noticed that Dox occasionally looked at him with complex eyes.
Especially when talking about things King Gumman had done.
Angel said: "I haven’t studied King Gumman much."
Instantly making Dox speechless.
The reason for his speechlessness wasn’t Angel’s lack of knowledge, but his realization of this statement’s underlying reason... Angel was still an actual young man, no, a teenager.
A prodigious talent crucial to cultivation in the Southern Domain.
Previously, Dox had always assumed Angel was at least a thousand-year-old monster. Now, knowing the other’s cultivation time didn’t even compare to him, this was the reason for his complex thoughts and emotions.
Despite being a wizard in his youth, at eighty years old, facing Angel made him feel... weathered.
Angel had no idea Dox had been overthinking from Sandworm Market till now, so this complex gaze of Dox was also beyond Angel’s comprehension.
Yet, Angel noticed no malice in Dox, so he didn’t mind.
Moreover, Princess Castle had already arrived.
...
The location they found themselves in was the right fence of Princess Castle, a low fence but with magical patterns flickering, showing its formidable defense.
Through the fence carved with birds, they could clearly see the lush woods behind the fence and the castle vaguely visible deeper in the forest.
It seemed peculiar to see a forest at Princess Castle, but actually, it wasn’t. That forest wasn’t the focus. The focus was the phantasmal beasts and magical beasts raised inside.
Angel: "According to the map given by Old Porter, we are on the right side of Princess Castle; this side is the Phantasmal Beast Forest. Correspondingly, the left side is the amusement park."
Dox frowned slightly: "Are we really going to infiltrate from the Phantasmal Beast Forest side? Wouldn’t it be easier to remain unnoticed from the amusement park side?"
Angel: "It’s the same wherever we go, but if we choose the amusement park, we might run into the Grand Princess’s daughter. According to Old Porter, she goes to the amusement park sporadically, and the amusement park faces her room’s window."
Angel wasn’t afraid to meet this so-called Princess; he had made up his mind to rescue people without meddling in King Gumman’s royal affairs, so if he could avoid meeting the Princess, he would.
This was why he opted to enter through the Phantasmal Beast Forest.
Seeing Dox hesitating, Angel said: "Don’t worry, these phantasmal beasts won’t notice us. Don’t forget, I am a wizard from the Illusion Series."
Dox: "I’m not worried about the phantasmal beasts, as I have concealing capabilities, but rather about how to break through these magical patterns without being detected."
"Oh, magical patterns, don’t forget, I am an Alchemist from Enchantment Studies."
Angel repeated the same phrasing twice.
It was merely stating the key points, yet it inexplicably hit Dox’s sore spot. Indeed, not only was Angel’s cultivation time shorter than his, but his illusion techniques were astonishing, and he’s an Alchemy Master from the Research and Development Institute!
This comparison made Dox feel worthless... Even though he spent a lot of time, why was his efficiency several times lower than Angel’s?
Silently nursing his wounded soul, Dox momentarily didn’t want to speak with Angel or walk alongside him.
Dox did as he said.
Once Angel quietly lifted a corner of the magical patterns, they entered the Phantasmal Beast Forest, and Dox indicated to Angel that he wished to go separate ways.
Angel thought about it and didn’t mind.
Dox prepared to watch exciting scenes, like near the Princess’s area.
Meanwhile, he planned to head to the dungeon to rescue people; indeed, they were going separate ways.