Looking at Dox’s face full of excitement, there was no doubt that this guy was addicted to watching drama.
"If Esos truly wanted to test Kaier, he wouldn’t send me. And besides, you know Kaier better than I do. Do you think he needs testing?"
Dox thought seriously for a while, then said, "Besides his love for research, Kaier doesn’t have any other bad habits...Oh wait, he often owes bar tabs at my bar. That’s worthy of testing, right?"
Angel couldn’t be bothered to respond, he just looked at Dox silently until Dox awkwardly laughed, "Haha, I’m just trying to lighten the mood."
"Esos sent me to see Kaier for another task. It’s explained in the letter. If you really want to know, you can ask Kaier about it yourself when we get back, see if he’s willing to tell you."
After Angel finished speaking, he remained silent.
The gondola moved swiftly, and before long they had passed through the lush forest, entering a landscape of yellow sand.
Although Dox could be annoying, one had to admit that in a sea of yellow sand, trying to find the right path without Dox’s help would probably cost twice as much time.
By the time they reached the black market outside the Sandworm Market again, the sun was directly overhead.
Seeing the vividly lush cactus, Angel instinctively took a step back, and Dox also stepped back a tad more than Angel.
Just as Angel was about to say something, Dox cut him off, "Don’t start with how you paid the entrance fee last time, and it’s my turn now. I’m here to accompany you; you’re the one looking for Kaier, so I won’t pay."
Angel was silent. He had indeed been about to suggest they take turns paying...
Since Dox refused to pay, Angel had no choice but to put on a smile and retrieve Dangross from his bracelet.
As soon as Dangross appeared, he said, "Is it safe now? I told you, I’m not afraid of danger, so don’t put me in the bracelet next time. It’s dark and boring in there, and Heideland ignores me..."
Yes, before heading to the Princess Castle’s dungeon, Angel had put Dangross in his bracelet to avoid dealing with his curiosity and endless questions, using the excuse of danger.
"It’s safe now, see? We’re back in the Principality of Rasukoum," Angel said with a smile, "Dangross, I have something to discuss with you. Do you still have that little sandworm I gave you last time?"
After a while, the cactus, having absorbed 10 drops of sandworm blood, contentedly opened the black market gate.
Angel walked in first, followed by Dox.
Looking at Dangross on Angel’s shoulder, with a pained expression while comforting the little sandworm, Dox was speechless.
Through the Mind Ribbon, Dox said, "Even the gifts for your elemental companions are recycled. The famous Transcendental Wizard is actually so stingy."
Angel: "Well, it won’t die from losing a little blood."
Dox continued through the Mind Ribbon, "True, it won’t die, but it has already given blood twice, its foundation is unstable. Even if it grows into an adult worm, its appearance will be affected. Also, aren’t you afraid your elemental companion might lose attachment to you because of this?"
Angel initially wanted to explain that Dangross wasn’t his elemental companion. But thinking about it, a Fire Elemental Sprite traveling alone without an owner might attract many would-be captors, so he decided to let it go.
"Lose attachment? Impossible, Dangross’s most admired idol happens to be another one of my companions. It’s not here now, but I can introduce you next time."
Dox: "Are you talking about that little bird that always follows you?"
The little gray bird that always accompanied Angel was no secret in the Wizards’ Realm. Some gossip magazines even conducted in-depth analyses of the bird.
Of course, they found nothing. They only concluded that it might be Angel’s secret weapon, as he would not carry an ordinary bird around.
The "secret weapon" conclusion, in some ways, was indeed true.
With the purification from the Life Pool, Toby could now freely shift into its snake bird form, and in gryphon form, Angel already struggled to fight it. When Toby turned into the snake bird form, Angel hadn’t battled it yet, but the chances of winning weren’t high.
Angel: "If you meet next time, don’t call it ’little bird’. Its name is Toby."
Dox: "So, Dangross worships Toby?"
Angel: "Uh-huh, is there a problem?"
Dox shook his head and said no more.
A strange severed hand worships a little gray bird. Dox just thought the world was very peculiar.
They walked through the bustling black market and soon reached the former Magic Blood Ore pit, now Kaier’s residence.
As usual, Angel touched the space node and waited for Kaier to open a Spacial Portal.
He expected a long wait, but to his surprise, Kaier appeared in just two minutes.
At this moment, Kaier looked more haggard than when they last met, his dark circles almost like smokey eye makeup, hair messy, and clothes wrinkled.
Seeing this, Dox sighed and threw a boosted Cleansing Spell at Kaier.
Kaier gladly accepted it, even slicking back his bangs with his hand, achieving a simple, comb-free hairstyle.
"Once this guy gets into research, he even saves the magic power for Cleansing Spells. Each time, it’s others who can’t stand it and cast Cleansing Spells for him. However, outside of research, he’s quite normal," Dox explained to Angel in a low voice.
After speaking, Dox looked at the now-tidy Kaier, "Have you solved the problem on the envelope?"
While opening the spacial portal and gesturing for everyone to enter, Kaier proudly replied, "Of course. You don’t know, this time the question was a trick within a trick, it even tested my psychological blind spot. Mentor is indeed a mentor."
Seeing Kaier about to launch into a lengthy explanation, Dox casually said, "The final answer was hidden in the trap, right?"
Kaier immediately paused, looking at Dox in shock, "Lord Dox, how... how did you know?"
"I’m an Official Wizard, after all."
Kaier realized, of course, Official Wizards have deeper insights and can effortlessly solve space problems.
However, Kaier’s admiration only lasted a second before hearing Dox say, "So if I can’t solve it, I can ask other Official Wizards for help, right?"
"Isn’t that right, Wizard Lyon?"
Angel: "..."