Rhein: "There are only two possibilities for his objective."
"Things that can interest the Black Earl are either bizarre and mysterious, or matters he cannot fathom."
"The Black Earl is a very curious person, filled with interest in mystery and the unknown. Most importantly, the existence of ’He Consciousness’ allows the Black Earl to venture without his real body, so he doesn’t worry about danger. Even if he dies during exploration, ’He Consciousness’ can return to his original consciousness, satisfying his curiosity."
"Because of this, the Black Earl often lets his descendants take reckless actions."
"By the way, when you were in the Abyss, the Black Earl also sent someone to Sleepless City in the Eternal Night Country, covered by the dome. As for the outcome... you can probably guess."
"Earlier, when I met with his ’Right Hand,’ he heard about the Star Pond Ruins and wanted to send the descendant with the ’Right Hand’ to venture there. However, I didn’t agree."
"That guy gains a lot of secret information by relying on ’He Consciousness’ returning. Sometimes I have to ask him for information, but I can’t stand his secretive expression, as if he’s in control of everything. It always makes me want to punch him."
Perhaps because everyone present was not an outsider, Rhein didn’t hold back as much as usual and spoke more casually. Because of this casualness, Angel could tell from Rhein’s tone that his relationship with the Black Earl was indeed good; being able to joke and tease him proved this point.
However, Rhein was speaking from the perspective of a friend about the Black Earl, so the Black Earl seemed like a curious person who casts the net wide using ’He Consciousness.’
But beneath this filter, the Black Earl remained ruthless. He didn’t care about the lives of his descendants as long as he was curious and found the unknown and mysterious. Such a person, Angel at least didn’t care for.
Angel: "Since the Black Earl is so full of curiosity, he could completely send an Alchemy Golem instead of his own descendants, right?"
Rhein: "I’ve asked him this question before. He answered that every adventure is a training exercise, one that can temper his descendants and make them grow faster."
"Perhaps the Black Earl indeed means this, but the real answer is probably not so."
Rhein was silent for a moment: "I can tell you my guess, but don’t spread it around. Even if you do, don’t say it came from me."
Angel nodded: "Of course."
Rhein: "My personal guess is that the Black Earl’s ’He Consciousness’ might need the bloodline of the Noah Clan to fully exert its function. Although this is just a guess, you mentioned earlier that the Noah clansman named Vay inherited the Black Earl’s ’Death Sense’ talent, and talent inheritance is definitely something the Black Earl manipulates. So, this also proves my point."
"Only the Noah Clan’s bloodline can bear ’He Consciousness,’ converse with ’He Consciousness,’ and ’He Consciousness’ can see, hear, and perceive through the senses of the bloodline descendants. Otherwise, with just Vay’s nose, he wouldn’t be able to explore ruins."
After saying this, Rhein added: "Of course, the above is just my speculation. Determine the truth of it yourself."
Compared to letting descendants gain training, Angel believed Rhein’s speculations more. Alchemy Golems are not expensive; if they don’t choose an Alchemy Golem to carry his organs for exploration, there must be limitations, and bloodline limitations are the most likely.
"After hearing what you said, I seem to understand something." At this moment, Ironclad Granny, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.
"What?"
Ironclad Granny: "I haven’t been to many large Tea Parties, but at the Tea Parties I have attended, I absolutely haven’t seen the shadow of the Noah Clan. Previously, I just thought that the witches of the Noah Clan didn’t like attending Tea Parties. But now, if what Rhein said is true, the answer is quite clear."
Tea Parties might be just about drinking tea and chatting, but the intensity of information exchange at them is absolutely unparalleled in the Southern Domain.
Once the witches of the Noah Clan attend and hear some news that intrigues the Black Earl, they might be ordered to explore. By then, their fate would be uncertain.
So, Ironclad Granny didn’t see anyone from the Noah Clan at the Tea Parties.
Angel: "I think the Noah Clan’s reclusive nature is probably not innate but rather forced."
Ironclad Granny nodded in agreement: "Previously, I didn’t know much about the Black Earl, but since he rarely stirs up trouble and is a friend of Rhein, I had a good impression of him. But now, sigh..."
Ironclad Granny sighed and shook her head, a difficult expression on her face.
Rhein: "Actually, the Black Earl doesn’t necessarily want to kill his own descendants. If his organs die, even if ’He Consciousness’ returns, it still causes some harm to the Black Earl’s original body. So during explorations, the Black Earl’s organs will do their utmost to protect his descendants. This is certain."
"And exploring ruins itself is an adventurous matter. Having a True Knowledge Level power to protect oneself is not bad for his descendants. Safety is guaranteed, and the benefits gained, the Black Earl usually won’t demand."
After all, since the Black Earl is Rhein’s friend, seeing Ironclad Granny’s disdainful expression towards him, Rhein hurried to say a few good words for his friend.
He also assured Angel: "Therefore, during your exploration, don’t worry. If there’s danger, the Black Earl’s nose might even come out to protect you. All he requires is that his curiosity is satisfied."
Angel nodded in understanding. If it was truly as Rhein said, involving Vay, even if it wasn’t a good thing, it wasn’t necessarily a disaster.
"I’ve said all I wanted to say. Do you have any other questions? If you’re wondering about the abilities of the Black Earl’s nose, I don’t know, but I guess it’s something like controlling the earth."
Angel: "Is the Black Earl an Earth Wizard?"
Rhein nodded: "Not only the Black Earl, but the basic members of the Noah Clan are all Earth Wizards, just with some differences in departments."
After Rhein finished, he looked at Angel with an expression of "if you have nothing else, I’m about to leave."
Angel thought for two seconds and asked: "How did the Black Earl know that this exploration might have something enigmatic? Did he smell something mysterious?"
Rhein: "That I can guess. I reckon the Black Earl’s nose, like Vay’s, didn’t smell anything."
"It is precisely because he didn’t smell anything that piqued his curiosity."
If he did catch a scent, the Black Earl wouldn’t bother, no matter whether it was alive or dead. Only when the Black Earl smells nothing does he become intrigued.
It’s known that the Black Earl’s Death Sense and Vay’s Death Sense are different concepts. The Death Sense cast by his nose is essentially equivalent to the Black Earl casting himself.
Therefore, if even a top-level Third Level wizard can’t smell anything, there must be something anomalous.
With anomalies, the Black Earl’s curiosity is piqued.
"I see." Angel finally understood the ins and outs of the whole story. Initially, he thought the Black Earl knew the secret of the ’wall,’ but it turned out to be pure spell-casting failure, driven by curiosity.
Rhein: "But speaking of which, even the Black Earl found the ruins abnormal, do you really intend to explore?"
Angel nodded without hesitation. He still wanted to take a look, no matter the circumstances.
Rhein could see Angel’s determination and didn’t persuade him further. Angel had many life-saving devices on him, so he should be fine.
Moreover...
Ironclad Granny took a sip of tea: "I rarely go offline, so if you need anything, just come find me."