"I’ve heard it, but it seems there’s a premise—to be in the middle of a melee," Angel said, "So, do you think your choice will inevitably lead to combat?"
Dox, frustrated, said, "Caution, it’s called caution; don’t you get it?"
Angel chuckled, didn’t reply, but followed behind Dox, leisurely walking along.
As everyone followed the illusionary realm and moved, the private chat line from the Black Earl connected again with Angel.
"Did you notice?"
Angel: "Is the Lord referring to Dox going against the inspiration given to him?"
The Black Earl laughed lightly: "You truly noticed, the choice given by inspiration to Dox should have been your route. Discovering this, you must have some special talent in observation, right?"
"How did the Lord discover it then?" Angel retorted.
The Black Earl: "I can sense many things, such as the sudden rise of breath, and the forcibly suppressed sigh."
"Perhaps I’m just like you, discovering Dox’s anomaly through changes in breath?"
The Black Earl: "The breath changes I mentioned before are all controlled by Dox within himself. I’m quite certain, your nose can’t do it."
Angel also smiled: "Indeed, I didn’t discover it through breath, but don’t forget my profession. Although my Heart Illusion Technique isn’t as strong as my mentor’s, detecting changes in people’s hearts isn’t difficult. Moreover, everyone is now within my illusionary realm."
Angel lied but actually fooled the Black Earl. After all, it’s quite discourteous to use the True Word Technique during a conversation.
Moreover, what Angel described is entirely possible; the logic is self-consistent, and Angel has proven his level of illusion technique, why not believe it?
The Black Earl: "Heart Illusion Technique is scarce these days. It used to be quite popular because controlling people’s hearts can be addictive... But later, after the Demon God descended and war erupted, those specializing in Heart Illusion of the Illusion Series became somewhat useless in battle. So, fewer people started learning Heart Illusion, as it’s more useful in support, and people now prefer aggressive fighting methods."
"However, my mentor encourages me to learn Heart Illusion, always saying the heart is volatile, and Heart Illusion also has world-class techniques, promising a bright future." Angel interjected.
The Black Earl, upon hearing world-class illusion technique, giggled: "Indeed, promising future. But who knows how long this future lies ahead?"
At this point, Angel felt it was best to end the topic on Heart Illusion. If the talk continued, exposing his bluff would be unfavorable.
So, Angel deliberately shifted the topic: "Dox going against inspiration this time, is it a good or bad omen? Can the Lord tell?"
The Black Earl: "It’s uncertain now, but once we complete this route of his, there should be a conclusion."
Angel: "Let’s just wait and see, then."
As the private chat ended, Dox’s complaints followed: "What exactly were you discussing? Why didn’t you include me?"
Angel: "You should ask the Lord Black Earl; it was he who connected with me proactively."
Dox glanced at the Black Earl, intending to speak, yet the Black Earl interrupted his thoughts with a single sentence: "Are you certain you want to know about the Noah Family and Barbarian Cave?"
The underlying meaning was, if you heard, you wouldn’t be free anymore. Either join the Noah Family or move to the Barbarian Cave.
For Dox, who cherished freedom immensely, this was undoubtedly his Achilles’ heel; he dared not continue asking, fearing that once he knew something secretive, he would be forcibly stripped of his freedom.
Observing Dox, a bit helpless and timidly silent, Angel couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.
"Come to think of it, Dox cherishing freedom so much, could it be due to inspiration’s influence?" Angel initiated another private chat with the Black Earl.
The Black Earl: "You haven’t been to the Cross Headquarters, have you?"
"Isn’t that the place for wandering wizards? I probably can’t enter, right?"
The Black Earl: "Walking into the Cross Headquarters looking like you do now, who could recognize you as the renowned Transcendental Wizard? If you claim to be a wandering wizard, who would refute?"
Angel pondered deeply, realizing the truth in it. Whether someone is a wandering wizard is indeed difficult to judge.
"In the Cross Headquarters, those disguised as wandering wizards, I dare say there are at least ten to twenty percent, perhaps among the few elders in the Cross Headquarters, there are spies from the City of Truth."
The ’elders in the Cross Headquarters’ mentioned by the Black Earl are actually the strongest figures there, serving as the face of the wandering wizards.
"Why surely from the City of Truth?"
"Humph, once you’ve been to the City of Truth, you’ll know there are many wizards you haven’t met but are incredibly powerful. These are all cultivated secretly by the City of Truth, so if anyone can nurture powerful yet unfamiliar wizards, only the City of Truth can do it."
The Black Earl paused: "Veering off topic, back to the main point. Once you’ve been to the Cross Headquarters, you’ll understand why Dox cherishes freedom so dearly."
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Angel queried with some doubt.
"Not a good thing, nor a bad thing. It’s simply a difference in values." The Black Earl: "You have mature values, visiting is harmless. More so, listening to the wandering wizards’ explanations of freedom will aid in disguising as one in the future."
Angel wanted to retort why he’d disguise as a wandering wizard.
However, he hesitated, not speaking, for who can predict the future?
While chatting, everyone had already crossed the square.
With the cover of the Moving Mirage, the journey was peaceful without attracting any notice from the Ghosteye Witch.
Nonetheless, proceeding forward might require more caution.
They were now standing outside a bird nest-like building. Judging from the mottled text on the signboard, this was once a tribunal, possibly akin to a courtroom. Through the bird nest holes, one could see circular seats inside, and a central area similar to a podium.
If this indeed was a courtroom, it most probably allowed outsiders inside to witness the sentencing of criminals; otherwise, there’d be no need for so many seats.
Now, the tribunal, resembling a bird nest, bore no sign of living presence, covered instead in the black mist seeping from the ground, where countless Ghosteye Witches lay by the outlets, avidly inhaling.
These black mists serve as both impurity and energy. They are the foundation for magical creatures prevalent in the underground labyrinth.
Initially, it certainly wasn’t this way, presumably the Magical Energy Array underwent some Transmutation. As to what caused the transmutation, Angel didn’t know, but he suspected it might be the work of the Triclops Blue Demon.
"I initially thought of taking the alley next to this building, but, the outer layer of this tribunal bears no Ghosteye Witch, and has a door at the end of the outer layer. Perhaps, we can opt to pass through here?" Dox suggested.
Adapting routes based on circumstances is acceptable.
Indeed, the alley bears quite a few Ghosteye Witches, even with the illusionary realm’s protection, caution is required. If necessary, they could be included within the illusionary realm, albeit at a small risk of detection by other Ghosteye Witches.
Therefore, choosing to pass through the outer path of the tribunal is quite a viable option.