The same logic applies to the Abyss. When wizards venture into the Abyss, their relations with Abyssal Natives are also relatively good.
The reasons are roughly similar: wizards’ enemies are demons, and Abyssal Natives’ enemies are also demons. Wizards can provide abundant survival resources, and the survival resources Abyssal Natives lack the most.
With aligned goals and accessible survival resources, the natives naturally don’t resist the wizards too much.
Of course, from a long-term perspective, wizards’ looting will undoubtedly harm the world.
But if you can’t even feel full, what does the world’s suffering matter to you?
Thus, the indigenous people won’t have intense conflicts of interest with wizards. The real conflict lies with the World Will.
Therefore, Caroline said that the attack on the wizard cities by the Liberators must have the layer of aligning with the World Will, and Angel agreed.
But the World Will is not an intelligent entity, and it couldn’t possibly order an attack on the wizard cities. Therefore, behind the World Will of the Panic Realm, there might also be a force similar to the Extreme Sect.
They raise the flag of counterattack, but it’s merely because the World Will provided them with wisdom.
After roughly understanding this answer, Angel thought of another confusion in his heart: "Since the Liberators, after undergoing a second awakening, can regain their conscience, and they can control the awakened Demon People. Then why don’t they control the awakened Demon People to stop them from harassing the ordinary Indigenous People of the Panic Realm? That would perfectly solve the harm the awakened Demon People cause."
Caroline chuckled lightly: "Regaining conscience doesn’t mean they are willing to help the Indigenous People. At the same time, regaining conscience cannot cover up the mistakes the Liberators have made in the past."
"You must know, in the eyes of the Indigenous People, Demon People, serving as Guardians, are seen as heretical existences. Everyone fears and abhors them."
"What about the Liberators?"
"Before the Demon People awaken, they are true Guardians. They are like Knights, adhering to one principle: never turn their weapons against the Indigenous People."
"But the Liberators have indeed aimed their guns at the Indigenous People, even at their own closest and dearest ones! How do you think the Indigenous People will perceive them? With tolerance and acceptance? That’s impossible."
"Human nature is inherently complex. I’m just analyzing the surface issues, but there are many deeper problems. Therefore, it’s hard for the Liberators to genuinely help the Indigenous People."
"However, the Indigenous People have not been completely devoured by demons, and the existence of the Liberators is actually a key factor. By viewing issues dialectically, one can sort out the underlying logic amidst the Mist."
After speaking, Caroline looked at Angel: "The question you asked, you could actually figure it out for yourself, so I won’t elaborate further. Aside from this, do you have any other questions?"
Angel shook his head. Although he still had some doubts in his heart, they were not critical to the bigger picture. They were more about his own curiosity, rather than urgent issues needing resolution.
Angel stopped his inquiries timely, but Caroline asked curiously: "Are you looking into matters of the Panic Realm to... perhaps facilitate Earl Mi’s second awakening?"
Angel didn’t deny: "Sort of."
Caroline: "Sort of? That sounds like a bit reluctantly?"
"Rather than reluctantly, it’s more of a helplessness," Angel sighed.
It’s no longer a question of whether Angel wants Earl Mi to awaken; Earl Mi seems to be showing signs of a second awakening.
Previously, Earl Mi had exhibited some emotional traits.
And such traits under the control of the Seed of Distortion shouldn’t manifest.
Laplace’s words also confirmed that Earl Mi was indeed moving towards a second awakening, and Laplace even pointed out the reflection within Earl Mi’s heart.
Earl Mi’s subconscious had already discovered the key to his second awakening.
— The chaotic ember flame.
And this chaotic ember flame, Angel’s current speculation points towards a boiling gentleman.
Upon clarifying this matter, Angel began to hesitate.
Should he help Earl Mi undergo a second awakening? After Earl Mi awakens and becomes a Liberator, will the Seed of Distortion be able to control him? Or, given Angel’s character, would he still want to control Earl Mi?
These are just superficial questions; there are many more choices that Angel needs to consider and decide carefully.
For instance, Earl Mi’s stance problem.
Earl Mi had rescued him many times before. If he truly has the opportunity, Angel would be willing to help Earl Mi advance. However, once Earl Mi becomes a Liberator, then his stance needs consideration.
And this is just a small fraction of the numerous issues.
There’s Earl Mi’s issue, the boiling gentleman’s issue, the Nightmare Realm issue... these various problems are interlinked, affecting the whole situation once triggered.
Thus, whenever Angel thinks about Earl Mi’s second awakening, he feels a bit of a headache and helplessness.
"I don’t know why you feel helpless. However, whether Earl Mi can become a Liberator was originally a hypothetical issue, and for a second awakening, there’s a big chance it requires a journey to the Panic Realm."
"With your current strength, it is still too early to go to the Panic Realm..."
"So, in the short term, you can actually temporarily set these troubles aside."
Caroline’s comfort belongs to common thought direction. However, what she doesn’t know is that Angel already has clues about Earl Mi’s second awakening. His trouble is whether to do it or not, and what aftermath may occur if he does.
However, these matters Angel couldn’t voice out and could only keep them in his heart.
Caroline suddenly thought of something and laughed: "That being said, I am curious to know, if you really find a way to make it to this step in the future and could facilitate Earl Mi becoming a Liberator, would you really do it?"
Angel: ... This is not a future consideration, he’s already pondering over this issue now.
Precisely because Angel has started thinking about it, he feels helplessness and entanglement now.
Seeing Angel silent for a long time, Caroline didn’t mind and whispered: "You don’t have to answer me. I asked just to make you think about it ahead of time."
Angel was silent for a moment before softly asking: "If it were you, Lady Caroline, what choice would you make?"
Caroline covered her mouth and chuckled: "You are quite cunning, taking the cue to climb up."
"However, considering I do find you somewhat likable, I can share my choice with you."
After a pause, Caroline said: "I had mentioned at the beginning, that the Panic Realm to me is a gray world. It is full of sorrow, and even the Liberators cannot escape this gray hue."
"Liberators may speak of liberation, but it remains more a hope."
"So, if it were me, I’d rather it stays in the phase of the awakened Demon People. Mad and cruel, cold and heartless, at least it’s a sort of extreme hue within the gray world."
"Since it’s heartless, might as well let it be heartless to the end."
Caroline’s initial statement about her choice was innocuous. But her subsequent comments leaned towards radical views.
Complete heartlessness leads to another extreme: a thoroughly dark world.
A gray world entails more sorrow, while a dark world implies a life lost.
However, Angel could understand why Caroline would hold such thoughts.
It’s similar to the Wise Sovereign’s actions this time, helping Angel not for personal gain from Angel, but hoping Angel, this "anomaly," can break the age-long stalemate in the Underground Aqueduct.
To some extent, Caroline’s words align with the Wise Sovereign’s thoughts.
Instead of allowing the gray to perpetually shroud this world, why not introduce a more complete darkness within the gray to see if it can become a variable that overturns the Panic Realm’s status quo.
If Angel were to make the same choice, even if opting to let Earl Mi remain at the awakened Demon People stage and not become a Liberator, his reason would never align with Caroline’s.