"Without a doubt, there definitely is one." Angel gave a definitive answer in the Mind Ribbon: "However, this also indicates one thing, there’s indeed a way out hidden above the chimney."
The sewage systems and the labyrinth are actually one and the same, now being discussed separately merely for later classification purposes.
Before Naraku City fell into ruin, the underground and the surface were quite alike, both containing large living areas. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an underground city. Otherwise, Naraku City wouldn’t have established various official institutions in the Underground Labyrinth.
Wherever people live, there naturally needs to be sewage channels, hence the later "sewage system."
The appearance of mutated Carrion Squirrels on this path suggests that there must be a sewage system, and where there’s a sewage system, a living area is not far. A living area implies a way out.
Of course, the distinction between a way out and a dead end is a classification made by later generations. Even the concept of a labyrinth might have been a casual jibe by the people who once lived here, rather than an accurate depiction.
This place is the Underground Aqueduct, an underground jungle of steel. The people who lived here once considered all paths their way out. They merely lived underground, and the so-called search for an exit to the maze—paths leading to the surface—was just a part of their daily life.
Time has passed, and now most of the exits in the Underground Aqueduct have collapsed. It has become very rare for a path to lead to the surface, which has transformed the Underground Aqueduct into the so-called "labyrinth."
"It’s not like ten thousand years ago; a way out could also become a dead end now." The Black Earl said faintly.
Angel: "But this doesn’t affect us, as the place we are looking for has always been considered a dead end, whether ten thousand years ago or now."
"Since it’s originally a dead end, why are we looking for a way out?" Kaier asked curiously.
"Positioning. I need to find a landmark to position it for me." Angel: "Typically, such landmark buildings are on the way out."
After saying this, Angel didn’t continue speaking, and the others did not inquire further. They all understood that further questioning would likely result in an awkward silence.
It was better to end the conversation early.
Ending the conversation just meant not delving into Angel’s words; they continued talking in the Mind Ribbon, discussing only what they discovered in the hall.
Angel listened for a moment; none of the discoveries were significant.
The only certainty was that this place was once a laboratory capable of accommodating hundreds of people working together. The experimental logs and samples were gone. Most of the experimental tools left behind were broken or carried away by predecessors, resulting in almost all clues here being lost.
However, the fact that it was a laboratory capable of accommodating hundreds of people working simultaneously is itself a clue.
"Since the Noah Clan was once part of the Garden Labyrinth, Lord Black Earl, did your Noah Family ever record any major experimental outcomes from the Garden Labyrinth?" Dox asked, clearly sharing the same thoughts as Angel.
Unlike Earth civilization, where experiments, big or small, are almost always a team effort, in the Wizards’ Realm, a wizard alone can match a large team. The Hand of Magic allows them to manipulate multiple tools at once, their developed spiritual power enables them to multitask without confusion, and wizards themselves have a broad knowledge base. Especially the Academy Faction and technical wizards exhibit astonishing breadth and depth of knowledge. Their memory never fades, and as for inspiration, wizards won’t start an experiment without it, meaning they have it from the outset and don’t need brainstorming.
Due to this mechanism, wizards usually work alone on experiments, perhaps with one or two assistants and a few apprentices merely as spectators.
Such large, collaborative experiments involving hundreds of people are extremely rare.
But when such experiments occur, they yield astonishing outcomes.
"No records." The Black Earl: "Regarding the Garden Labyrinth... let’s just call it Naraku City. Almost all records of Naraku City were destroyed after its decline."
"Was there external intervention?" Angel immediately considered a conspiracy theory.
The Black Earl: "Probably, but I don’t know what kind of external force. Maybe it was people from the Origin World; after all, ten thousand years ago, the Origin World and the Southern Domain interacted frequently."
Dox squinted his eyes: "Perhaps Naraku City was secretly conducting some large-scale research that provoked certain people’s nerves, leading to Naraku City’s decline? And this laboratory was one of the research sites?"
"Who knows? Whether it’s true or not no longer matters; these things are buried in the river of history... and they have nothing to do with our goal." The Black Earl didn’t want to discuss conspiracy theories, even acknowledging the likelihood of such theories was high. Investigating further wouldn’t be a good idea. After all, ten thousand years is neither too short nor too long for a wizard or a powerful Wizard Family or Organization. If delving too deeply into Naraku City would involve the Noah Clan, it wouldn’t be worthwhile.
Seeing Dox’s intention to continue questioning, the Black Earl cut him off, saying, "If you’re really curious, you can follow Angel to the Barbarian Cave and find Book Elder; Book Elder surely knows the truth of this history."
These words were practically meaningless, as Book Elder rarely appears in front of people, even the Barbarian Cave members can’t see him, let alone outsiders.
Dox sighed and patted Kaier on the shoulder: "Seems like my attempt to help you explore some historical truth is doomed."
Kaier silently took a step away from Dox.
He’s not foolish; he may pursue history, but he also knows that delving into certain hidden truths will only bring trouble. Clearly, the downfall of Naraku City is probably such a case.
Kaier is curious about history, but sincerely exploring the history here could lead to an untimely end.
After another five minutes, Dox said in the Mind Ribbon, "We’ve searched all over here, finding nothing, how about you?"
Dox was naturally asking Angel, who had walked off to the side, yet received no response from Angel for a long time.
Everyone became curious and looked up toward where Angel was.
There they saw Angel holding something unknown, looking at it intently.
Could there be a discovery? Without a second thought, Dox strode directly to Angel’s side, disregarding personal space, and craned his neck toward Angel’s chest to see what was in Angel’s hand.
"Is this... a fragment of an experimental instrument? Is there something special about it?" Dox asked, puzzled after observing for a while.
Angel: "Now, move three meters away from me immediately."
Dox lifted his head, realizing he was almost leaning on Angel’s chest, and locked eyes with Angel, who was looking down at him.
"Ahem." Dox also felt embarrassed, quickly backing away, then added, "I must say, good-looking people still look good from below."
Angel: "Thanks for the compliment, but next time I’ll be more mindful, using a Shapeshifting Technique to take on an uglier form to avoid any more men falling into my arms."
Dox scratched his head, not knowing what to say, feeling quite embarrassed.
However, there was no need for Dox to say anything further to break the ice, as the Black Earl took over the topic: "Are you focusing on the Coiled Serpent Emblem on it?"
The Black Earl hit the mark.
Angel was holding a fragment of an experimental instrument. In terms of value, it was no different from other fragments. But what made this fragment stand out was a very conspicuous emblem.
A silver snake coiled around a bone staff.
"Hmm, I’ve seen a similar emblem before."