Upon hearing Angel’s decisive refusal, the Wise Sovereign felt a slight regret in his heart, but he also understood why Angel would reject.
Indeed, what Angel sought and what the Wise Sovereign aimed for were fundamentally imbalanced. Moreover, the Barbarian Cave was a colossal entity, not something Angel could decide upon alone. The Wise Sovereign initially planned to break through from Angel’s side first, then slowly persuade the forces behind him.
But since Angel directly refused, it could only be let go.
Although the Wise Sovereign felt a sense of disappointment, he didn’t mind too much... because his true target wasn’t Angel, but the Black Earl, who was currently engaged in conversation in another room with the Wise Sovereign.
...
"Cooperation?"
The Black Earl looked at the young man opposite him, his tone tinged with disdain: "With the current state of the broken Naraku City, what value does it have for me to agree to cooperate?"
The Wise Sovereign sat cross-legged on the ground, his head buried low, staring at the twisted patterns on the floor.
As the Black Earl wondered, the ground suddenly emitted a faint light.
Seeing the light flash from the ground, the Black Earl remained unresponsive because he sensed neither malice nor intent to kill.
Two seconds later, the light condensed, ultimately forming a picture on the ground.
If Angel were here, he’d realize this artwork was the same mural in their previous room. The mural’s subject was a panorama of Naraku City.
Though described as a panorama, it merely depicted a few iconic buildings.
The picture wasn’t particularly special because the original surface image of Naraku City could be found externally if one tried. What was hard to find were the diagrams within the Underground Aqueduct.
The Black Earl gazed at the map, somewhat unsure of its meaning.
Then, the Wise Sovereign pointed to a white, spired building, asking, "Do you know where this is?"
The Black Earl casually replied, "Is the Wise Sovereign implying that since the Noah Clan once belonged to Naraku City, the current Noah Clan must cooperate with Naraku City?"
This white spired building was certainly not unfamiliar to the Black Earl. Within the Noah Clan’s treasury existed more detailed records of this structure.
Because this building once belonged to the Noah Clan.
"If I were to say yes, what would your answer be?"
The Black Earl: "Not enough."
Upon hearing the Black Earl’s reply, the Wise Sovereign smiled slightly.
The Black Earl didn’t outright refuse but said "not enough," implying he wasn’t opposed to acknowledging the fact that the Noah Clan once belonged to Naraku City. Moreover, it counted as an alternate form of "bargaining."
Cooperation isn’t impossible, but relying on disputes from millennia ago is insufficient.
The Wise Sovereign glanced at the Black Earl, then moved his finger slowly to a modest yet significantly large domed hall adjacent to the white spired building.
The Black Earl anticipated further inquiry from the Wise Sovereign about the hall, yet no queries arose.
The Wise Sovereign: "I won’t ask you for information on this structure; even if you know it, it wouldn’t be complete."
The Black Earl snorted from his nose, saying nothing, waiting for the Wise Sovereign’s discourse.
"This building, in the external world, is referred to as the Pluru Library."
"Pluru Library?" muttered the Black Earl, somewhat puzzled by the name.
"A curious name, right?" continued the Wise Sovereign. "It was named by the City Lord, because before I became the Sovereign, the name I reported to him was Pluru."
The Black Earl was momentarily stunned: "Is this the Wise Sovereign’s real name?"
The Wise Sovereign shook his head: "When I first encountered Naraku, I was cautious and randomly provided a name. However, Naraku, knowing well it wasn’t my true name, still named the library Pluru."
The Black Earl: "Does the Wise Sovereign have a deeper meaning by saying this?"
The Wise Sovereign: "Not really, just wanted to tell you that the Pluru Library is actually my domain. Before I relocated to the Hanging Jail Stairway, my residence was the Pluru Library. The surrounding area was under my jurisdiction, including the Noah Clan’s territory."
"My connection to the Noah Clan isn’t solely through Augustine. I know many from your Noah Clan and have witnessed their journeys."
The Black Earl: "Is the Wise Sovereign aiming to play the emotional card again? If so, my answer remains ’not enough.’
As a descendant of the Noah Clan, the Black Earl holds respect for his predecessors. Yet, ten thousand years is a long stretch, long enough that his impressions of his ancestors are merely names on paper.
Strange and cold.
The Wise Sovereign: "Even Angel couldn’t sit still compared to you... Young man, why don’t you hear me out?"
The Black Earl was taken aback, silent for a moment before saying, "I was rude."
The Wise Sovereign chuckled, unconcerned: "The reason I mentioned what I did is that I am actually not indifferent towards your Noah Clan."
The Wise Sovereign paused: "I have a secret here, one which even Adanis doesn’t know, concerning your Noah Clan. Would you like to hear it?"
The Black Earl: "Is this part of a deal? Or a part of cooperation?"
The Wise Sovereign shook his head: "Neither, consider it a free secret I’m giving you."
Since it was offered freely, the Black Earl naturally wouldn’t refuse.
The Wise Sovereign: "This secret pertains to your Noah Clan ancestors. However, it’s not about Augustine nor those old friends from a thousand years ago."
"It concerns those clan members deemed missing by your Noah Clan."
The Black Earl immediately understood: "You mean those members Adanis cast into the Sea of Void Mirror, whose memories were wiped clean?"
The Wise Sovereign nodded: "Exactly, those who were exiled as Empty-hearted People."