Is Angel’s arrival truly a coincidence?
Faced with the Wise Sovereign’s suspicion, as Angel was still pondering his words, the Black Earl calmly interjected: "The Wise Sovereign has always been questioning whether his arrival is a coincidence, which puzzles me. In recent years, has there been any major incident in the underground aqueducts? In recent years, have any outsiders invaded the underground aqueducts, especially the Hanging Jail Stairway?"
"No, right?" Black Earl: "Since there hasn’t been, why do you think his arrival is a coincidence? He’s been exposed to the Extraordinary World for less than ten years. During these years, he has needed to hone his skills and learn related techniques, leaving his time unevenly distributed. Why would the Wise Sovereign delve into whether his arrival is a coincidence?"
"Also, the so-called coincidence is that it only seems coincidental if it’s fitted perfectly. Perhaps Angel’s appearance can be called a coincidence, but what corresponds to the ’fit’ here? I think only when the Wise Sovereign clearly explains this ’fit’ can we determine if Angel’s arrival is truly a coincidence."
The Black Earl’s unexpected support left Angel momentarily stunned. After listening to his series of questions, Angel couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up in his mind. As expected of the Black Earl, his expression was concise and directly hit the point.
Firstly, he mentioned that Angel’s age is hardly a factor coinciding with Naraku City. Secondly, he questioned the Wise Sovereign’s basis for determining it’s not a coincidence.
If it were Angel, he could only try to express his thoughts and feelings. If that didn’t work, he would write it indirectly in the True Words Tome, detailing everything from when he took on the task from Esos, then allow the Wise Sovereign to determine for himself if it was a coincidence.
In truth, the Black Earl’s words were genuinely helpful to Angel.
However, although the Black Earl was standing up for Angel at this moment, in reality, he had the same confusion as the Wise Sovereign. Because along the way, Angel seemed rather familiar with the area and displayed many inexplicable actions, making it all appear quite strange.
Furthermore, Angel’s claim from the outset that he had no other requests also aroused the Black Earl’s suspicions.
But despite having doubts, his approach differed from the Wise Sovereign’s. He chose to be accommodating and disregard them.
Of course, this does not imply that the Black Earl has a broad mind; it is simply because Angel himself makes him willing to overlook those unusual behaviors.
Angel’s background: an important figure in the Barbarian Cave, a person whom his close friend Rhein values, and a disciple of his rival and friend Sanders. Just with these reasons, the Black Earl wouldn’t do anything towards Angel.
Throughout, Angel proved with his abilities that he is rightfully a member of the Research and Development Institute. This again made the Black Earl see Angel in a higher light. After all, having a good relationship with a talent of such technical expertise is undoubtedly better than severing ties.
So, regardless of whether Angel indeed had ulterior motives this time, the Black Earl would still speak on his behalf. In this aspect, they belong to the same front.
On the other hand, at this moment, the Wise Sovereign was also somewhat hesitant.
The Black Earl’s words left Angel secretly admiring, and the Wise Sovereign could clearly grasp what the Black Earl was trying to convey.
Indeed, Angel’s age posed an issue. Regarding this, even the Wise Sovereign did not know how to explain.
However, when it comes to the "fit" of a coincidence, the Wise Sovereign actually had something to say. Just that, after Angel’s prior explanation, he too began harboring doubts about this "fit."
Perhaps he was indeed being overly suspicious?
After pondering for a moment, the Wise Sovereign eventually spoke. He addressed the Black Earl, saying: "The doubt you raised, I accept. But I also have reasons for determining that his arrival is not coincidental."
The Wise Sovereign paused, then turned to Angel: "If you agree, you simply need to do one thing, and this matter can be settled. I will apologize for my doubts. How about an Alchemist’s Manual from my collection?"
Angel: "What is it?"
The Wise Sovereign slowly said: "Write in the True Words Tome that you have never known the woman in the painting in the Hanging Jail Stairway and have never heard her name. Furthermore, you haven’t, in any manner, obtained information about the relic from any unknown persons."
Hearing the Wise Sovereign’s words, Angel and the Black Earl exchanged a glance and nearly immediately understood that the Wise Sovereign’s suspicion about Angel’s potentially non-coincidental arrival was related to that woman.
Although the Black Earl picked up on the Wise Sovereign’s implication, he wasn’t sure if Angel had any connection to that woman.
The Black Earl’s intuition was that Angel was unrelated to that woman. Yet, as time passed, Angel hadn’t written anything in the True Words Tome but instead remained silent with a frown.
The Black Earl’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Angel’s odd behavior throughout was indeed related to that woman?
Was the profound information Angel possessed given by that woman or some so-called unknown people?
Under everyone’s gaze, Angel’s hesitation seemed to subtly indicate a connection between him and that woman.
However, after about half a minute, Angel raised his head: "What do you mean by unknown persons?"
Wise Sovereign: "Anyone encouraging you to head to the relic, regardless of who it is."
Angel: "Does the Wise Sovereign suspect that my arrival was incited by someone? Could it be some unknown person or the woman in the painting?"
The Wise Sovereign did not reply, but his silence was an answer.
Angel: "I have been pondering the meaning of unknown persons because the scope is too broad. If you’re asking if anyone encouraged me to come here, I can clearly state that no one did."
Wise Sovereign: "Then you can write it in the True Words Tome."
Angel still didn’t write but posed another question: "I can write, but if I’ve guessed that woman’s identity, how should it be judged?"
The Wise Sovereign was startled: "Guessed... guessed?"
Angel shrugged: "Along the way, we didn’t come up empty-handed. We encountered many clues. Guessing that woman’s identity isn’t a difficult task."
"If you don’t believe me, you can ask anyone present."
The Wise Sovereign hesitated for a moment and then looked towards Dox... no, Kaier nearby.
Despite easily seeing through Dox, Dox’s responses were always unpredictable, so it was simpler to have the apprentice answer.
The apprentice’s every move couldn’t escape the Wise Sovereign’s notice.
Kaier glanced around and eventually pointed to himself, as if asking: Me?
The Wise Sovereign nodded: "Yes, tell me, do you know who the woman in the painting is?"
Kaier shook his head: "I don’t know, but we encountered some clues before, and given that the painting is a mirror, I speculate she might be related to the Mirror Demon God, possibly being the Mirror Demon God herself."
Kaier’s answer caused the Wise Sovereign to frown deeply.
"Where did you learn the name Mirror Demon God?" the Wise Sovereign asked.
Black Earl: "The entrance we used was an underground church, built by the worshippers of the Mirror Demon God. So we have known the name Mirror Demon God since then."
After Black Earl finished, Angel added: "Later on, we found the symbol of the Mirror Demon God in the ruins, look, here it is."