Angel: "I will try my best to study mirror space. It’s just that the speed may not be very fast since it involves the space series."
Sanders gave Angel a deep look and said with a smile, "I believe in your speed."
Angel was about to say, "But I don’t believe in myself," but before he could speak, he inadvertently met Sanders’ eyes. In this brief eye contact, Angel always felt that there was some unspoken subtext in Sanders’ gaze. However, upon careful examination, he found nothing.
"Mentor, you..." Angel wanted to ask something.
However, before he could open his mouth, Sanders interrupted, "I’m going offline first. Whether it’s organizing the Nightmare Substitute data for you or the location data of Greya’s physical body, it will take time. We’ll talk next time. If there’s anything, you can leave a message in the tree group."
After speaking, Sanders’ figure gradually blurred and, accompanied by the fluttering butterflies around, quickly disappeared.
Angel pondered for a moment and also went offline.
Time flew by, two days later.
Angel, taking Shanni with him, once again left the mirror space. Letting Shanni settle aside, Angel returned to Star Lake Castle.
At the castle’s entrance, Drue, with gray-white hair and wearing gold-chained bifocals, immediately approached.
"Sir, we’ve received a reply to the matter you asked us to investigate," Drue said respectfully.
Angel stopped, and to Drue beside him, he said, "Raise your head and speak."
"Yes." Drue raised his head: "This morning, I received a magic message. A low-level apprentice has already arrived in Roydes. According to the clues you provided, he indeed found traces of the Sands of Time, but didn’t see anyone. Could it be that the person has already left?"
"Since the marks are still there, he should be there. However, if you’re not his customer, he won’t meet you." Angel paused and nodded to Drue, "I understand now, leave the rest to me."
Angel casually handed a few Magic Crystals to Drue as compensation, then said, "I’m going to Roydes. When Frode returns, tell him about the situation here, he’ll understand."
With that, Angel didn’t return to Star Lake Castle. His figure flickered and vanished instantly.
In the next second, Angel appeared a thousand meters high in the sky.
Summoning the Gondola, Angel smoothed the feathers of Toby in his pocket, "Let’s go, I’ll repay you double the fish snacks I owe you later."
After speaking, Angel signaled Speedy to head southeast at full speed.
This time, Angel was leaving to go to the underwater paradise—Roydes, to look for the Ashen Time Trade Caravan to purchase some materials. Firstly, to buy materials for the boiling blood red water and test the modified formula; secondly, to refine some practice pieces and test the Mad Hat’s coronation.
After all, it had been some time since getting this mysterious object. After these days of settling, Angel’s excitement had calmed down a lot, and it was time to officially research it.
...
In the depths of the Devil’s Sea, on a mist-shrouded island.
A man with his face covered in gray whiskers, only his eyes, nose, and a small part of his cheekbone visible, looked at a sly and excited little man opposite him.
"The news came from Little Flea’s side, it’s absolutely true." The little man spit with excitement, but in this cramped and dingy cabin, no one cared about hygiene issues.
"They say it’s an outsider woman. Boss Man took her to the ’pig’ pen immediately. Little Flea only got a glance, but just that one glance, Little Flea was bewitched."
"She is a very, very, very beautiful woman, with a curvy body and skin so fair it seems to pinch out milk... The only regret is, she is covered in wounds, one of which is even the size of a bowl mouth. But, this is the captain’s fortune. Although Boss Man took her to the pig pen, he won’t touch her until her injury heals. Captain, we can take this opportunity to snatch that woman, maybe she is still a maiden."
The little man was merely talking, but his eyes glazed over, imagining a perfect goddess.
"Is she really that good?" The bearded man was somewhat skeptical.
"Absolutely, it’s for real!" The little man said, "The Captain knows, Little Flea and I were raised together in the same pair of pants, Little Flea has no reason to lie to me."
"Then... how did the woman come to the island?"
The little man: "They say she clung to a piece of wood and drifted with the current. Looking at her injuries, she was probably swept by the sea’s monsters or violent currents."
The bearded man exclaimed, "Drifting on a board, that’s not simple."
This sea area was very terrifying, not only with monsters but also dreadful sea storms. They were stranded here, not daring to venture two or three miles out to sea; a weak woman could cling to a board and drift to the island, and while severely wounded, it was somewhat unimaginable.
"Captain makes a fair point. Little Flea said the woman wore soft armor on her body, maybe she’s a decently powerful female warrior."
The little man shook his head: "But, even if she has some strength, so what? She’s stranded on this island full of filthy men; can she really resist? She can’t escape this island anyway, and she has no future other than being a pig."
"Captain, hurry and make a decision. Are we going or not?"
The bearded captain seemed to be contemplating, weighing pros and cons.
"Women, captain, this is a woman!"
"And a beautiful woman at that!"
"Hasn’t the Captain had enough of these days surrounded by men..."
The bearded captain gave the little man a meaningful glance, "You’re right, all men is no good. However, the situation is unclear now, and Boss Man’s strength is very strong. If we really want to snatch her, we need to put in full force... I’m afraid some people won’t be willing."
"Let’s do this, we’ll go over first for a look. If the woman is indeed as pretty as you say, at least the chances of convincing them will be greater."
The little man pointed to himself, then to the bearded man, "Captain... wait, just us two? Are we courting disaster?"
"Courting disaster, what? We go quietly to take a look and come back."
The little man was unwilling: "No... Captain, why not go alone? Last time I passed by Boss Man’s place far away, I felt pairs of green eyes on me, I’m scared."
"What are you afraid of, you dared to incite me but back out now? That’s settled, if you want a woman, come have a look with me!"
After speaking, regardless of the little man’s will, the bearded man lifted him by the neck and headed out of the cabin steps.