Old Porter, equally intrigued by the Rabbit Hole, tagged along with Lady Melo to explore, even though he couldn’t reside in a luxurious cave.
As for Dox, the green hat atop his head was now gone. However, he refrained from challenging the Crowned Parrot again, perhaps recognizing their disparity after ten minutes of one-sided defeat.
"The day is breaking, and once you finish settling them, we should leave as well." Dox’s voice carried a hint of weakness, and he deliberately avoided mentioning the Crowned Parrot, indicating a genuine scar left on his heart.
Angel: "Wait a moment, I have a few more words for Cha Cha."
With that, Angel approached Cha Cha.
Though Angel and Cha Cha were talking openly, a wreath of crackling electric Mana circled them, and together with the barrier from Speedy, shielded the conversation from being overheard.
After a moment, Angel walked over to Dox: "Let’s go."
Dox glanced at the distance, where the rabbit Cha Cha was quietly watching Angel, with complex emotions flickering in its eyes.
"Is this Cha Cha really a creation? To what extent has its intelligent computation reached?" Dox couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
"Why are you suddenly interested in this?"
Dox: "If you can truly create a spirit-like intelligent being, it would be an unprecedented feat."
Angel chuckled softly: "Probably because... it’s incomplete. Cha Cha’s underlying computation has flaws, which prevent it from having creativity. Everything is based on existing behavior patterns, and emotions are a passive simulation. So, it’s not truly intelligent, more like an alchemy golem with a sophisticated algorithm."
"What’s incomplete?"
Angel: "You misheard."
Dox looked at Angel skeptically, not believing he misheard, sure that Angel was hiding something.
"By the way, since it can’t have creativity, what’s the deal with the Twelve Zodiac Palaces?" Dox squinted at Angel.
Angel remained silent.
"I knew it was your doing, you just want to watch those Talented Ones struggle painfully, right? You even concocted a whole country; I bet those answers are all manipulated by you!" Dox looked as if he saw through him, "Admit it, you just enjoy building your happiness on others’ misery..."
Angel: "I didn’t invent a country, that country exists, and it’s also the homeland of the rabbit Cha Cha. It’s called... Teapot Country."
"So, this is Cha Cha’s own existing knowledge, unrelated to me."
"Incidentally, you mentioned earlier that creating a spirit-like intelligent being would be a groundbreaking achievement. I can clearly tell you, someone has already created such beings, and they are high-intelligence and combat-capable, and this person is currently in the Southern Domain."
The person Angel referred to is Greya.
However, as he shifted topics, touching on various aspects, it was actually just a diversion.
Dox could sense this, but did not delve further, because... he was the same kind of person.
After discussing some topics that could never reveal the truth, purely for diversion, they had reached the mouth of the Rabbit Hole.
"How do we leave? Do we still need to venture into the Twelve Zodiac Palaces?" Dox asked.
Angel didn’t reply; instead, he fixed a location nearby, found a weak point in space, and opened The Gate of Void directly.
"Let’s go."
Dox squinted: "A space sorcery cast instantly? In the Witchcraft Slot?"
Angel was too lazy to answer, stepping directly out of The Gate of Void. The place behind the gate was the corridor outside the secret chamber.
After Dox followed him out, he found Angel was opening the door to the chamber.
When the chamber was opened, it was no longer the vast Twelve Zodiac Palaces from before, but had returned to the narrow small space it was initially.
"What’s happening here?" Dox asked curiously.
"If you want to remain hidden, you must go to the extreme. Entering Cha Cha’s space requires a special method."
Dox: "What method?"
Angel did not answer but directly tossed Dox a piece of parchment, which was a contract ready to be signed.
The contract content was simple, stating that from today, Dox voluntarily joins the Barbarian Cave, with betrayal resulting in various punishments...
Dox expressionlessly tore up the contract.
Angel did not mind: "If you want to know the method, besides joining us, there’s no other way."
Dox gritted his teeth: "Even as a friend, you can’t tell me?"
Angel: "When you bring Little Gold before me, I will acknowledge you as my friend. But even then, I can’t casually disclose information to you."
Dox: "So, my friendship as the Red Sword Dox isn’t as important as Little Gold?"
Angel gave Dox a peculiar look, showing an expression of ’of course.’
Dox took a deep breath, finally coming to terms with reality. Fine, Little Gold it is, at least it also links him with the genius Angel.
After leaving the secret chamber, they directly left the tavern.
"You’re just leaving like that, without notifying them?"
Angel: "Oh, so you understand bonds too. I thought those fanatically pursuing freedom were the type to leave without a word, like scoundrels."
Dox held back his anger: "That’s not a bond; it’s etiquette."
Angel: "Oh, no need to inform them. We can meet anytime, and besides, I already told Cha Cha about leaving, and it will tell them."
Dox: "Was that what you talked about with Cha Cha just now?"
Angel: "Not just that."
Dox looked curious: "Then..."
Before Dox could finish asking, Angel had already pulled out another draft of a contract and handed it to Dox.
"You’re really good at... taking advantage of every moment. How many contracts have you drafted?"
"Guess."
Dox: "..." Not in the mood for your games.
Dox was also too lazy to bother with Angel, directly walking into the long street, ready to leave Princess Town.
Angel smiled and followed him.
Earlier, when he had a private conversation with Cha Cha, it was not just about asking Cha Cha to pass on a message. The main content was teaching Cha Cha how to... self-destruct.
Yes, self-destruct.
Though Cha Cha appeared invincible in its own space, it could still face defeat if it encountered powerful enemies.