Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Angel walked up to the Alchemy Golem.
Angel’s intention was already clear: he was going to test the Cicia’s Box, but the crowd was still puzzled about what method Angel would use to test it?
More Magic Crystals? Or other Demonic Materials, or perhaps Alchemy Tools?
However, Angel’s choice left them somewhat speechless.
Angel took out two Gold Coins from his bracelet.
Yes, it was the familiar currency used under the gold standard system.
In the Mortal Kingdom, as long as it is a Gold Coin, no matter its form, it is very valuable. But in the Extraordinary World, Gold Coins basically have no use, not even for decoration due to their softness; they are far less comparable to Vay’s Magic Crystals.
Why did Angel take out two Gold Coins? Was he trying to test the acceptance limit of Cicia’s Box?
But earlier Vay was rejected despite using Magic Crystals, and would Cicia’s Box accept Gold Coins?
While everyone was secretly doubting, the Black Earl suddenly chuckled softly: "Interesting."
Dox: "What’s interesting? If you can succeed with just two Gold Coins, I have plenty of them and can use mine. But is it possible? Angel might be crashing this time."
Dox did not think highly of Angel’s behavior, or rather, he did not understand at all what Angel was trying to do.
Black Earl: "Those two Gold Coins, used as Testing Stones, are much more valuable than Vay’s Magic Crystals. Take a closer look at the style of those two Gold Coins."
Two Gold Coins more suitable as Testing Stones than Magic Crystals? With suspicion, the crowd began observing the two Gold Coins in Angel’s hand.
Due to a blind spot in their perspective, and it being inappropriate to use spiritual power for probing, they could only see part of the pattern on the Gold Coins.
However, Vay was outside the Moving Mirage at this moment, and since he revealed himself, he could use his spiritual power freely to observe those two Gold Coins.
While observing, Vay also described the images he saw to others in the Mind Ribbon.
One Gold Coin, looking at its specifications, was a very standard format, though Vay had never seen the patterns on it before, it could be determined that as long as the gold content was right, it could be used in countries under the gold standard system.
"What exactly is the pattern?" Dox asked.
Vay thought for a moment and said, "One side depicts a bird sparrow soaring with wings spread, while the other side... isn’t quite clear, a lot of scratches, rather severely worn."
"But it’s certain that it’s just a regular Gold Coin."
After a pause, Vay continued describing the other Gold Coin: "As for the other Gold Coin..."
Vay suddenly stopped, staying silent for a long time and, under Dox’s urging, hesitated to speak: "This Gold Coin is also a standard format, but the patterns on both sides of this Gold Coin are somewhat peculiar."
"One side shows the pattern of a Crown, but this Crown seems a bit odd, its angles are crooked, and at the top of each corner of the Crown, there is a rounded ball, engraved with numerous bends, if not colored, it very much resembles a Joker ball... Even, this Crown somewhat feels like a Joker hat."
Dox: "Feeling like a Joker? Then it might be Circus Coin, also serving as circus admission, with some commemorative value."
In the Mortal Kingdom, using "privately made coins" as circus admission is usually not against the law, since these coins, besides looking like real ones, aren’t genuinely coins. Holding it to feel, it’s known to be a fake coin.
The essence of circus, other than entertaining the public, requires expertise in creating surprises. Thus, Circus Coins were born.
After hearing Dox’s explanation, Vay shook his head: "It shouldn’t be the Circus Coin you mentioned, as the other side of its pattern is, is..."
Vay suddenly didn’t know how to describe it, or whether he should describe it.
Vay couldn’t help directing his gaze towards the Black Earl.
The Black Earl sighed: "Just say it straight, talking in the Mind Ribbon carries no consequence."
With the Black Earl’s approval, Vay finally said in the Mind Ribbon: "The other side’s pattern is...the true name mark of the Crown Joker."
Those present were not ignorant, even if they usually dared not discuss much about the "Crown Joker," they kept his identity firmly in mind.
After all, he was one of the few in the Abyss who stood at the pinnacle of the Pyramid as The Unparalleled Great Demon God!
After surprise, came silence.
After a moment of contemplation, Dox was the first to break the quietness.
"I’ve heard some Alchemists engrave the true name mark of the Crown Joker on their creations, thereby making their works more outstanding. Could Angel also..." Dox’s words were interrupted halfway with a casual glance from Angel from afar.
After all, they had been speaking in the Mind Ribbon, and Angel could hear it too. Previously, Angel hadn’t responded, so Dox thought he had blocked the Mind Ribbon, but from Angel’s gaze just now, it was evident he was listening all along.
Dox pretended to cough twice and stubbornly changed the topic: "Actually, I quite admire the philosophy of the Crown Joker, and I know several Wizards who also appreciate the Crown Joker greatly..."
Angel coldly replied: "I hope you can also express such opinions openly before the Extreme Sect."
Dox’s expression instantly froze.
His words weren’t wrong. Among all Demon Gods in the Abyss, the one whose concepts most closely align with Wizards is the Crown Joker. He pursues "absolute balance," where one must pay an equivalent price to obtain something. Compared to the Wizard’s equivalent exchange, this "absolute" nature is stricter yet fairer.
Even confronting humans, he would pursue balance. This point is admired by many Wizards, so there indeed exists a faction within the Wizards’ Realm that doesn’t resent, and even appreciates, the Crown Joker.
However, unless they are genuine Demon God believers, they wouldn’t openly express their admiration, as the Abyss and Wizards’ Realm are opposed, and this opposition isn’t determined by humans but by the World’s Will. Otherwise, the Extreme Sect wouldn’t relentlessly hunt Demon God believers without listening to their explanations.
Bear the banner of the World Will and absolutely cannot do anything that goes against the banner. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.
"Just pretend I haven’t said anything, haven’t said anything..." Dox became meek, even the Wandering Wizard, who fears nothing, dares to criticize strong Witcher Organizations. But against the Extreme Sect, even a Wandering Wizard must be meek; they are a group of lunatics, even crazier than some Demon God believers.
Angel ignored Dox and continued to feel the two Gold Coins in his hand.
Honestly, if it weren’t for testing Cicia’s Box, he really wouldn’t want to put these two Gold Coins inside. Because, to him, they both hold different commemorative values.
Angel had been rubbing these two Gold Coins for a long time, as if conducting a final ceremony before a farewell.
On the other side, after Dox shut up, the Black Earl slowly spoke: "Just a little inquiry should reveal: members of the Research and Development Institute absolutely wouldn’t use the true name mark of a Demon God to enhance their creations. On the contrary, some Demon God believers continually entice Alchemists to use true name marks."