After viewing the entire light screen, the White Merchant was momentarily stunned. Initially suspecting provocation, he hadn’t expected actual guidance. The screen contained significant intel, most importantly revealing a new passage leading deep into the underground labyrinth.
And this unknown Transcendent not only disclosed everything but even repaired the array and provided the activation method.
What does this mean?
Is it a deliberate ruse, a gesture of goodwill, or some other purpose?
In an instant, the White Merchant’s mind spun with numerous possibilities, yet he couldn’t determine which was most likely.
Meanwhile, the Black Merchant had already activated the main control magic pattern according to the light screen’s instructions.
The magical energy array, brilliant like the starry sky, immediately appeared above, and the location of the passage was revealed.
"There truly is a passage. Should I venture inside and take a look?" The Black Merchant flew up and whispered to the White Merchant’s ear.
White Merchant shook his head: "We don’t know who the other party is yet, and their purpose for doing this is quite strange. Inform Gray Merchant, and we’ll make decisions after discussing once they arrive."
Black Merchant frowned: "Why make it so complicated?"
White Merchant was about to continue speaking when his ear twitched slightly. He glanced at Black Merchant, and they both nodded, putting their masks back on.
Black Merchant silently vanished into the darkness, while White Merchant descended to the ground, shutting down the Magic Pattern, with the Magical Energy Array above slowly disappearing.
As the Magical Energy Array faded away, the hooded man reappeared in the Underground Church.
"Sir, the investigation team has already located the members of the Hero Squad. After questioning, it turns out the troublemakers are a group of three, but no one knows who exactly. However, there’s someone who once went out with them, and I’ve brought her here."
After speaking, the hooded man stepped back, and behind him was a woman confined by energy, holding a trembling child in her arms.
The two were Mathilda and her son, Koro.
"Spare my son, he knows nothing," Mathilda quickly pleaded, looking at White Merchant.
White Merchant didn’t speak, but observed Mathilda closely. He noticed a familiar Illusion Technique aura on her.
Mathilda continued: "I know you’re looking for information, but I don’t know anything. Though I went out with them, they blocked my memory... I initially wanted them to erase my memory, but for some reason, they merely blocked it."
"So, I only know I went out with them, but I have no idea what happened."
"Please believe me."
White Merchant didn’t need to judge Mathilda’s words to know they were true. However, what interested him more was the familiar Illusion Technique aura, likely from the unknown Transcendent who blocked Mathilda’s memories.
Though, their method seemed quite crude.
White Merchant slowly walked in front of Mathilda. Mathilda held Koro tightly, trembling all over.
"Don’t be afraid, I’m just taking a small token from you," White Merchant said, reaching out his finger to tap Mathilda’s forehead.
The Illusion Technique aura manifested externally was instantly pulled out by White Merchant.
Once the Illusion Technique aura was extracted, a faint human silhouette appeared before White Merchant.
"Are you from the Merchant Organization?" A clear voice spoke from the indistinct silhouette.
"While politeness might make me want to introduce myself first, this is an Illusion, after all. It’s a loss to introduce myself without knowing who you are, isn’t it?"
"So, let’s save the introductions for when we meet."
"I believe you’ll come looking for us, so we’ll probably meet, right?"
"Time is short, one last thing: the Hero Squad is just ordinary people, and Mathilda before you is merely a normal mother. Matters of the Transcendent should be resolved by the Transcendent, don’t you think?"
Once the sound of words faded, the Illusion gradually disappeared. The rough, crude Illusion Node suddenly scattered like mist and vanished.
White Merchant intended to retain a trace of the aura for Tracking, but he obviously underestimated the opponent’s skill.
That Illusion wasn’t crude; its existence was merely to convey some matters.
"I’ve remembered." Mathilda suddenly raised her head: "I remembered they asked me to lead the way to meet a local Traveling Merchant!"
Without the constraint of Illusion Technique, Mathilda’s memory surfaced instantly.
White Merchant, however, had no further interest in hearing because the opponent didn’t erase Mathilda’s memory, indicating they didn’t care whether the Merchant Organization tracked their whereabouts.
The only thing the opponent did care about was the lives of these mortals.
White Merchant remained silent for a moment, then turned to the hooded man: "Take the two of them down, record everything and release them. Including the Hero Squad members, there’s no need to detain them, let them go."
"As for the record, inform Gray Merchant when he arrives later."
The hooded man raised his head in surprise: "Gray Merchant is coming too?"
White Merchant replied calmly: "Yes, he’ll come. Do you now think your judgment was right or wrong?"
The hooded man looked embarrassed: "I, I’ve always trusted your judgment."
White Merchant closed his eyes, tired of speaking further: "Go on down."
The hooded man nodded and left the Underground Church with Mathilda.
Once they departed, the playful voice of an evil aura lingered in White Merchant’s ear again: "This Illusion Technique user, so interesting, very interesting!"
"Even introductions seek equality." Black Merchant: "Besides, he seems more concerned about ordinary people than about us. Is it overconfidence or underestimating the Birlos Family’s energy?"
White Merchant: "I know you have many questions, but as he said, as long as we track them down, we’ll definitely meet. Then you can pose those questions to him."
"When we meet, I won’t ask questions first; I’ll hit him first." Black Merchant laughed mischievously: "You know, I hate those self-righteous Academy Faction types. Of course, except for a certain little cutie."
Dubbed "little cutie," White Merchant paid no heed to the nickname, considering it one of the few normal ones compared to others.
"An Academy Faction Wizard? That’s not certain; double-dealing is a common human trait."
Black Merchant: "Don’t go on philosophizing, it gives me a headache. To know if he’s an Academy Faction Wizard, just meet him, I trust my intuition."
Black Merchant’s words sparked a sense of alertness in White Merchant: "What are you planning?"
Black Merchant smiled cheekily: "Haven’t you guessed? I’ll go in first to scout the way and, moreover, punch that Illusion Technique fellow for a bit. Goodbye, dear handsome bro."
White Merchant was about to intervene but realized the Magical Energy Array had unknowingly been activated again, and Black Merchant was standing at the entrance.
Before White Merchant could speak, Black Merchant sneaked in, sending a flying kiss to White Merchant right before disappearing inside.
"What an idiot!" White Merchant clenched his fists, exhaling deeply to release the pent-up frustration in his chest.
He wished he could immediately chase after him, but the Illusion Technique aura above had vanished, and this dealt with a key passageway to the Underground Labyrinth. Handling matters regarding the Underground Labyrinth was Gray Merchant’s jurisdiction.
Now with Black Merchant gone, White Merchant was left to report to Gray Merchant alone.
Despite his anger, White Merchant couldn’t help but feel somewhat relieved that the Illusion Technique’s Transcendent might truly be an Academy Faction Wizard, because as twins, White Merchant could keenly sense that Black Merchant was in no danger and perhaps even in a good mood now.
This indicated that the opponent’s guide was genuine.
Black Merchant’s impulsive action saved them time from testing whether the Magical Energy Array had any traps.
Yet, it couldn’t quell White Merchant’s irritation.
The only thought occupying White Merchant’s mind was waiting for Gray Merchant to arrive, and then entering the Underground Labyrinth to catch that fool and give him a thrashing!