Everyone looked at Angel’s palm and saw something familiar.
A silver-white ring.
"This seems like the ring Speedy found on the Ghosteye Witch in that alley before?" Dox recalled.
"Very similar, but not the same. I remember the ring Speedy found was smaller, and this one looks larger," said Kaier, who had touched that silver ring before and remembered it clearly. "Moreover, this ring has a circle of dark patterns, which also makes it look more exquisite than the previous one."
Dox observed carefully for a moment and noticed the differences too: "Indeed, there are some variations, but the overall shape is quite similar, the material also looks about the same; both are Mortal Iron wrapped in Nobility Silver."
Looking at Angel, Dox asked, "Where did you find this thing? Does it have something to do with the Wood Spirit?"
Everyone was also curious about how such an ordinary ring could be related to the Wood Spirit.
Angel replied, "I got this from Cicia in an exchange; it’s a treasure used by the Wood Spirit at Cicia’s to exchange for passage qualification."
Upon hearing this, everyone understood. Angel’s implication was that this ring belonged to the Wood Spirit and was its treasure?
Dox frowned, "So, does this broken thing have any deeper meaning?"
Ordinary objects might have meaning, but those that embody the full emotion of their owner can usually be sensed through inspiration. This ring, however, seemed to have no deeper significance.
Angel shook his head, "It has no meaning. Cicia clearly stated that this thing has no meaning."
"Cicia accepts things without meaning? Then weren’t we at a loss before? My rapier... damn woman!" Dox was filled with righteous indignation, but he only dared to speak in the Mind Ribbon.
Not only Dox, but others were also puzzled as to why Cicia would accept an object without any meaning.
"There’s a reason for this," Angel said with a sigh, his expression slightly odd.
"According to the rules set by the Warden ten thousand years ago, to continue upward along the platform, there are two ways: offer certain specific items in exchange for passage, or possess a pass that allows access."
"However, after the Warden of Hanging Jail Stairway left, those specific items became useless to Cicia, so she modified the trading rights, exchanging specific items with what she now considers treasures, objects she likes that have meaning."
"When the Wood Spirit arrived, Cicia surely treated it according to this standard. But..."
The Black Earl suddenly interjected, "A newly born Wood Spirit simply has no meaningful treasures."
Angel nodded, "The Black Earl is right, the Wood Spirit has nothing; the only thing it possessed was this silver ring."
Dox: "Could it be that Cicia saw that the Wood Spirit had no treasure and just accepted the ring?"
Angel shook his head, "No... the ring may not have profound meaning, but the Wood Spirit loved it dearly, it would never trade it."
"With no treasure and Cicia unwilling to take the ring, the Wood Spirit was even less willing to give up the ring," Angel continued, "Given these three conditions, I think you can guess what happened next."
The Black Earl thought for a moment and understood but did not explain.
Among the others, Dox was the quickest to react.
"Could it be that the Wood Spirit resorted to staying put?"
Angel: "Correct."
"Just think about it, the Wood Spirit, freshly born, didn’t know about Hanging Jail Stairway, so why did it end up there? A simple deduction can explain it."
After the Wood Spirit gained its intelligence, it was startled by the surrounding number of terrifying Ghosteye Witches and played dead for decades.
Once it found an opportunity, the first thing it wanted to do was run. But the Wood Spirit was unfamiliar with the area, not even knowing where it was, nor the correct direction to escape.
At that moment, the Wood Spirit noticed the work area connected to two tunnels. However, the tunnel Angel and others used required passing through many alleys before it could be seen, while the other tunnel was right behind the Gemini Towers chapel, visible at a glance.
The Wood Spirit couldn’t determine which was the exit, but retrospectively its choice was the tunnel behind the Gemini Towers.
Entering the tunnel didn’t guarantee safety, and as it ventured deeper, it discovered a new path: the sewers.
How the Wood Spirit got from the sewers to this other-dimensional space, Angel couldn’t deduce precisely, but probably due to the sewer’s stench... after all, the Wood Spirit represents the purest Life Force, and the filth and dark murkiness of the sewers are the opposite of its liking.
Eventually, the Wood Spirit found the entrance to the other-dimensional space and made its way step by step to the platform where Cicia was.
"What did the Wood Spirit want?" Angel answered without waiting for others, "Perhaps it had higher goals, like leaving Naraku City for a flowery place... But as for a newly born and ignorant Wood Spirit, that’s practically impossible. So, its singular pursuit was simply a safe place."
"From the Wood Spirit’s perspective, Cicia wanted cherished possessions it didn’t have. The only thing it possessed was the silver ring, which it didn’t want to give away. Now, do you think the platform where Cicia is located is safe?"
Vay: "It does seem quite safe... as long as one stays on the platform and doesn’t fall into the void, it should be safe."
Angel: "Then the answer is clear, the Wood Spirit found the place safe, and since Cicia wouldn’t let it leave, it simply decided to stay there."
"No matter how Cicia tried to drive it away, the Wood Spirit wouldn’t leave, and even started its old trick... playing dead."
"Seeing this, Cicia had no choice. She didn’t want to harm the Wood Spirit either, so after some quarreling, Cicia forcibly took the ring from the Wood Spirit and kicked it off the platform."
"That’s the whole process," Angel concluded, then looked at Dox, "So, your belief that Cicia treated the Wood Spirit specially is true. Though not without reason, if you played dead on that platform for years, perhaps even Cicia would become annoyed and use any ordinary item to kick you off."
Vay chimed in, "No, I think it’s more likely Cicia wouldn’t be as lenient to Dox as with the Wood Spirit. After all, considering Dox’s mouth, he’d probably get himself into trouble within a day."
Upon hearing this, Dox immediately put on a scowling expression, "Don’t make reckless assumptions about things that haven’t happened. And next time, remember to address me properly, or I’ll show you no courtesy."
Vay, completely unfazed by Dox’s threat, made a face at Dox before darting over to the Black Earl, displaying a look of ’what can you do about it?’
Dox was so angry that smoke seemed to come out of his nose, but... in reality, he had no means to do anything to Vay. All he could do was glare at Vay fiercely and then turn his head, pretending nothing had happened.
The commotion between Dox and Vay did not affect the conversation of the others.
After listening to Angel’s story, Kaier remarked in the Mind Ribbon, "This Wood Spirit really seems quite easygoing."
Angel silently gave Kaier a thumbs up in his heart—
High emotional intelligence version: Easygoing and content.