Although Olao was reprimanded by Augustine, the determination in his eyes remained unwavering.
Compared to meeting Angel for the first time, Olao was more concerned about his master Augustine.
Moreover, the insistence of waiting for millennia would only deepen the obsession and not erase this longing over time.
Seeing Olao’s unwavering gaze, Augustine sighed softly in his heart... he felt both touched and guilty about Olao. The guilt stemmed from not choosing to take Olao with him back then, leaving him to wait alone for millennia; and their limited compatibility, preventing him from personally guiding Olao to the peak.
To make up for this guilt, Augustine chose Angel, a more suitable new master for Olao after many years.
However, it’s difficult to change a millennium of perseverance easily.
It’s even harder for Olao to immediately accept Angel.
The only consolation is that although Olao is unwilling to proactively accept Angel, he’s willing to listen to Augustine’s orders and try to follow and cooperate with Angel.
However, this might seem unfair to Angel... After all, no one wants the clothes they painstakingly tailored to become someone else’s wedding dress in the end.
Augustine turned to look at Angel, only to find that Angel seemed indifferent to Olao’s remarks.
As Angel watched the "deep bond between master and servant" play out before him, Augustine’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "What do you think?"
"Olao’s choice is correct." Angel’s thoughts flowed naturally: "Instead, you’re a bit too cruel to Olao, sir."
Olao was like a loyal dog guarding its old home for millennia, waiting for its master’s arrival, longing for the master’s praise, hoping that the master would take it away.
Yet this master turned out to be a complete jerk, never having thought of Olao all these years. When he finally did come, it was under the pretense of Angel. Most importantly, upon arrival, instead of offering praise, he tells the loyal dog, I’ve found you a new master, you need to sincerely follow the new master~
No matter how you think about it, it’s too cruel to Olao.
Augustine chuckled softly: "You are indeed very interesting. At this moment, instead of thinking about how to maximize your benefits, you empathize. I’m suddenly curious about your upbringing."
What kind of upbringing could give rise to such a uniquely minded individual?
Angel: "Perhaps it’s because I had a very excellent mentor."
Augustine: "A mentor, huh? I believe that."
Pausing for a moment, Augustine continued his mind communication with Angel: "If Olao follows you with his current mindset, would you agree?"
Angel’s thoughts continued: "Why wouldn’t I agree?"
Augustine pondered and realized it made sense, Olao was a unique potential embryo in the entire Wizards’ Realm apart from Adigu, and no alchemist would probably refuse.
Augustine: "As long as you agree. I hope you can use time to win him over, even better if you can make him forget about me."
Angel: ...Look at these words, they just epitomize the role of being a jerk. Miss Margaret, come see what kind of love ’em and leave ’em ethos your beloved man possesses!
Angel internally grumbled, yet outwardly remained calm and unperturbed.
But suddenly, Augustine said, "Did you forget that I’m speaking to you in your mind? I can hear whatever you’re thinking."
Angel’s previously smiling expression suddenly froze.
Well, uh... seems like that’s exactly the case. Wasn’t he just ranting in his mind?
What a blunder! Angel really wished there was a hole he could crawl into right now and never come out.
Even outsiders could see Angel’s awkward expression, let alone Augustine who was in mind communication with him.
Augustine: "So, in your eyes, I’m a jerk abandoning Olao. I didn’t expect that."
He only thought Angel had strong empathy, unexpectedly Angel not only empathized but also took Olao’s perspective and felt outraged on behalf of Olao.
Augustine was somewhat at a loss whether to cry or to laugh.
Being called a jerk, Augustine couldn’t possibly be happy about it; yet the thought of Angel siding with Olao comforted him. At least it showed that the new master he found for Olao isn’t heartless and wouldn’t treat Olao unfairly.
Augustine: "Saying this in front of me is fine, but if you dare say it in front of Margaret when you meet her, that would be courting death."
Angel awkwardly replied: "I won’t say it."
Angel: I won’t even meet Margaret! Oops, why am I thinking in my mind again!
Augustine looked at Angel with a subtle smile: "Whether you meet Margaret or not isn’t up to you to decide, even without the arrangement of the Book of Kael, eventually, you and Margaret will meet. After all, your alchemy originates from Margaret, doesn’t it?"
Angel: "What does sir know?"
Augustine: "You have an inseparable connection with the Nightmare Realm, I wasn’t wrong about that, right?"
Angel answered with silence.
Augustine: "A lot of your items have traces of alchemy on them, even though I haven’t seen the exact refining process, the techniques are very similar to Margaret’s, with slight differences. But Margaret definitely doesn’t have a student like you, so how did you learn Margaret’s alchemy?"
"A little conjecture reveals the answer. You found Margaret’s alchemy through a projection in Nightmare Abyss City, right? The projection from the Nightmare Realm isn’t an exact replica, but rather one imbued with unique Yan connotations, which makes your alchemy look derived from Margaret’s, yet indistinctly different, prompted by Yan’s revision."
"This is actually a good thing, Margaret has always sought to improve alchemy, perhaps she could find her answers in you, and Margaret surely wouldn’t shortchange you."
"Finally, if you genuinely don’t want to meet Margaret, I have a suggestion for you, avoid using Margaret’s alchemy in the future; otherwise, you’re bound to meet her."
Augustine’s certainty naturally had a basis. Angel’s future destination was unknown to Augustine, but he knew Angel would undoubtedly go to the Origin World.
Once there and using Margaret’s alchemy to refine tools which then leaked, eventually, they’d circle back to Margaret’s attention.
Margaret would also notice the distinct differences in Angel’s alchemy, thus proactively seeking out Angel.
This is something he cannot escape.
Unless Angel doesn’t use Margaret’s alchemy, or when he stays in the Origin World, he completely refrains from revealing any alchemy tools.