Angel: "You’re putting the cart before the horse. You should first ask why the Noah Clan originally chose to use such a special system as Uisu Language?"
The Black Earl glanced at Angel, saying blandly: "Because at that time, Uisu Language was considered an extraordinary language."
The so-called extraordinary language, similar to magic patterns or inscriptions, could invoke extraordinary power.
There are quite a few extraordinary languages left today, but those that humans can directly use are nearly nonexistent. Most are used indirectly. So when everyone first heard that Uisu Language was an extraordinary language that humans could use, they were astounded.
"Don’t be so surprised. I just mentioned it was then considered an extraordinary language, and the power it could invoke wasn’t great. Later, Uisu Language, for unknown reasons, could no longer invoke extraordinary power and became just an ordinary language... Well, not ordinary, as the learning threshold for Uisu Language was very high. Its difficulty required overturning all your existing knowledge of language systems. Precisely because it’s so hard, even if non-Noah Clan people knew it, they basically couldn’t pass it down."
"Now, probably besides the Noah Clan, everyone else who knew Uisu Language has vanished in the river of time."
The Black Earl’s sentimental tone affected most people, but Dox was an exception.
After listening to the Black Earl, Dox only had one question: "So, you’re saying that the characters on this table are a puzzle that only you, the Black Earl, or the Noah Clan, can solve?"
"You could say that."
Dox shook his head: "Something’s not right, something’s not right. Why is it that during this relic exploration, we just happen to encounter a puzzle that only the Noah Clan can solve? And our team actually has a member of the Noah Clan."
"This can’t be a coincidence."
After Dox finished speaking, he looked at Angel and then at the Black Earl, feeling as if a great force was winding around him, as if he had fallen into a trap. And the one holding that trap was either Angel or the Black Earl.
Angel actually guessed a bit; perhaps this was Augustine’s arrangement? But since this involved the Nightmare Realm, he couldn’t voice his speculation. Therefore, after Dox expressed doubt, Angel too showed a contemplative expression: "You’re right, indeed, this doesn’t seem like a coincidence."
Angel didn’t defend himself either, because the more he defended, the more suspicious it would appear. It was better to let Dox imagine on his own.
And Angel wasn’t wrong either; Dox was indeed imagining things by that point.
On the day Angel first arrived at the Sandworm Market, they had been together; Dox knew why Angel came to the Sandworm Market, as well as his trajectory of actions.
Even the Alchemy Blueprint was first seen by Angel; before that, not even Lord Esos had truly seen it.
Because Angel recognized the location corresponding to the Alchemy Blueprint, it led to this exploration of the relic.
Dox could confirm that Angel’s decision to explore the relic was definitely a spontaneous one.
When sorting it out this way, Angel’s trajectory of actions was entirely coherent.
So, was this all arranged by the Black Earl?
Dox turned to the Black Earl: "Earlier, you said you wanted Vay to come out and gain some experience; that shouldn’t be the true reason, right? You must have known about this relic beforehand, correct?"
The Black Earl shook his head: "This time, your psychic intuition was mistaken. I had no knowledge of this relic."
Dox: "Then are you saying that all of this is just a coincidence?"
The Black Earl remained silent this time.
Dox: "I can’t believe this to be a coincidence. I hope you can explain the inner workings, otherwise, I cannot face the unknown future with fear. Rather than exploring alongside someone with secrets, I would rather bid farewell here."
Angel at this time gently added a sentence: "There is more than one entrance."
Though just a short sentence, it clearly stated his position—he stood on Dox’s side.
The tabletop might record a lot of information, perhaps even the entrance’s information, but if things aren’t clarified, he and Dox could independently search for other entrances.
If it were only Dox’s suspicions, the Black Earl wouldn’t want to answer; but since Angel, the team leader, had expressed his position, the Black Earl thought for a moment and decided to clarify the situation.
The Black Earl took a gentle breath, and everyone immediately entered a light barrier.
Various characters continued to float around on the light shield.
These characters were not unfamiliar; they were words of a contract. Even the power within the light shield stemmed from contract power.
"With the contract as a cloak, speaking lies here will result in backlash from the contract."
The Black Earl first provided assurance of truth in his words, then slowly began to speak:
"As I said before, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe; this is a promise, so you don’t need to worry that I have any sinister intentions towards you."
Opening by directly pointing out his promise, then the Black Earl continued: "As for why characters only recognizable by me appeared here, I really don’t know. Just think about it: if I knew about this underground structure, or this lectern, why wouldn’t I have come and taken it earlier?"
"The encounter with the characters on the tabletop was indeed a coincidence."
At this point, the Black Earl paused deliberately, signaling everyone to observe the surrounding contract.
The contract force hadn’t manifested, meaning that everything the Black Earl said before was truthful. This encounter with the characters was indeed coincidental.
The Black Earl realized that merely claiming a coincidence under the contract wouldn’t resolve all doubts, so he continued:
"However, having Vay accompany you in exploring the relic was not coincidental."
"At the time, when you asked Vay to use Death Sense on you, after smelling, Vay didn’t respond but instead said to let me use Death Sense; you should remember, right?"
Dox nodded; he was puzzled then—why did Vay, after sensing, say nothing but suggested the Black Earl to sense instead.
"Because, my intuition stirred when Vay sensed it."
"At that moment, I had a strong premonition that I should check out your exploration."
"As for why I should check, what to see, what would be encountered, I had no idea."
At this juncture, with no backlash from the contract, it indicated he still hadn’t lied. However, Dox still felt puzzled: "Just a premonition to check it out? Did you really have no idea you’d encounter characters related to the Noah Clan?"
The Black Earl: "Yes. If I had known, the people coming wouldn’t be just Vay, nor would it be only this nose of mine coming."
With the contract light barrier as testimony, Dox had no choice but to believe it.
Although he still harbored doubts in his heart... and Angel should know something about this relic as well.
Angel also noticed Dox’s look in his eyes and quickly said: "Don’t take advantage of the contract light barrier to dig out my secrets. There are things I won’t share, so cut off those sinister thoughts of yours."
Angel preemptively issued a warning, making Dox feel too embarrassed to ask further.
Moreover, Angel had sided with Dox earlier to get the Black Earl to disclose the information, so turning around to stab him in the back definitely teetered on disloyalty.
What’s more, Dox still intended to cling onto Angel, who appeared highly influential.
With this in mind, Dox replied: "Don’t slander me—I’m not as sinister as you think. I’m thinking nothing at all. We’re friends. Why would friends trick each other?"
The moment Dox finished speaking, the contract light shield that had remained still suddenly burst into a brilliant radiance.
Upon seeing this, Dox seemed to realize something and quickly covered his mouth.
But it was already too late; the words had been spoken, and the truth or lie was bound by the contract.
Within what Dox said earlier to Angel, there was definitely an element of falsehood.
And it was quite clear where the falsehood lay... Dox had really played himself here.
The repercussions from the contract were not something to be taken lightly.
With numerous gleams of light encasing him, it was as if Dox turned into a humanoid lamp, and then the lights began to burrow out of his body...
In the air, only a heart-wrenching scream resounded.