This should be some type of concealment illusion technique, Melo thought to herself.
Angel proceeded forward, Melo promptly followed.
Upon entering the corridor, the chattering of fellow inmates also finally reached her ears.
Most of these inmates were like her, captured here by the princess using various unscrupulous methods. Though Melo hadn’t conversed much with them in recent days, she felt they weren’t gravely guilty, with some being quite friendly towards her.
Lady Melo listened to the familiar chattering of her fellow prisoners and sighed softly in her heart.
She really wished Angel could rescue them together, but she knew that excessive demands would be rude.
Melo could only secretly say in her heart: I hope you can hold on for a few more days. Once I’m out, I will notify your organization to come rescue you.
As for those Wandering Wizards, Melo would also inform the Cross Alliance, but it seemed unlikely anyone would come to rescue them. After all, most Wandering Wizards are too busy taking care of themselves to have the energy to care for others.
"How have you been these days?" Angel asked casually.
"Except for the psychological pressure and worrying about the Talented Ones I’ve brought in, the rest is actually nothing." Melo paused: "The guards on this level are two Gargoyles, and they don’t usually come inside. So, staying here is not that torturous; it’s just that no one brings us food."
Melo was already a peak Apprentice, so not eating for a few months was no big deal.
"Looks like the fourth-level prison isn’t too bad." Angel compared it to the previous levels’ prisons and said.
Melo: "Is the master saying that the people in the first three levels of the prison are not doing well?"
Angel: "To be precise, only two levels of the prison. As for whether they’re doing well or not, you can take a look yourself."
Previously, he heard the chubby guard on the second floor say that those Talented Ones Lady Melo brought were mostly on the second floor. Compared to the third and fourth floors, the situation on the second floor was indeed grim.
Melo picked up on the undertone in Angel’s words and her expression became a bit somber.
They traveled down the mechanism corridor, and the playing card remained inserted in the energy pipeline, allowing them to pass without impediment.
Outside the corridor were the two Gargoyles.
Angel’s method of handling them remained the same as before; with Earl Mi covering them, they easily avoided detection.
Arriving at the third level.
The pace of their travel began to slow, as Melo needed to check each cell to confirm if any of the Talented Ones she brought were there.
Fortunately, the prison here had no forks, so they could keep searching while advancing.
Most of those imprisoned on the third level were Transcendents, but mostly First and Second Level Apprentices. Though they seemed pallid, they didn’t exhibit many signs of being punished.
This made Melo silently hope that the Talented Ones she brought were in a similar state.
However, after browsing the entire third level, she didn’t see a single Talented One.
This indicated that all the Talented Ones Melo recruited were on the second level.
Come to think of it, the second level imprisoned mostly ordinary people. Although Talented Ones have talents, they haven’t yet manifested, so they are still considered ordinary.
Circumventing the third-level guards, they finally arrived at the second level.
Upon reaching the second level, they hadn’t started seeking individuals when they heard commotion.
From the surrounding prison discussions, they learned that the chubby guard on the second level suddenly collapsed during a patrol, possibly dead.
Upon learning this news, Angel immediately used the Mind Ribbon to contact Dox.
Though Angel’s Nightmare Illusion affected the chubby guard previously, he hadn’t resorted to violence. It was unlikely that his illusion caused the guard to collapse; perhaps only Dox could do something like that.
Sure enough, a confirmed response came from Dox, who had left the castle and was now in the second-level prison: "It’s my doing. I gave that dead fat pig a good thumping."
As for the reason, Dox explained that he came to the prison to rescue Wandering Apprentices and coincidentally saw the chubby guard extorting a Wandering Apprentice.
And this extorted Wandering Apprentice had visited Dox’s Cross Tavern before, making Dox somewhat familiar with him.
Though not a friend, he was a guest at his tavern, and Dox wouldn’t allow the chubby guard to wield a Wolf Fang Club against his guest!
Hence, the surprise attack from behind.
"Ignore that dead fat pig. Without a guard, it’ll be easier to release people later."
Having exchanged location information with Dox, they ceased their conversation. Since Dox was also on the second level, they would inevitably encounter him by continuing down the path.
"Let’s cont..." Angel turned his head, ready to tell Lady Melo to continue, but realized Lady Melo was no longer beside him.
Looking closely, he found Lady Melo conversing with someone inside a prison cell.
"Judging by appearances, she found the first Talented One," Angel muttered, walking over.
Upon seeing this so-called first Talented One, Angel’s eyes flashed with surprise.
The person in the cell was the cold-faced black-haired girl Angel had noticed before.
When Angel passed her cell, a slight inspiration emerged. Unexpectedly, she turned out to be one of the Talented Ones recruited by Lady Melo.
Furthermore, from Lady Melo’s warm inquiries, Angel could tell their relationship went beyond just a Guide and Talented One.
Perhaps it was closer—they were acquaintances or family?
Considering it wasn’t quite the time for a chat, Lady Melo asked a few simple questions and then walked over to Angel: "Master, her name is Siber, one of the Talented Ones I recruited."
Perhaps sensing Angel’s puzzlement, Lady Melo further clarified: "Once I was her etiquette teacher for a while."
Angel nodded knowingly, indeed they were acquaintances.
Angel didn’t think much further, lightly waved his hand, and Siber’s cell door opened.
Siber had heard Lady Melo’s voice before but hadn’t seen where she was, until the cell door opened and a mist enveloped her, only then she saw Lady Melo.
Seeing Lady Melo, Siber’s expression visibly changed, the cold look faded, replaced by a radiant smile.
However, upon noticing a stranger beside Lady Melo, Siber’s radiant smile quickly retreated.
"My cold maid, your face-changing skills have improved again." Lady Melo teased lightly before introducing Angel’s identity.
Upon learning Angel was an Official Wizard, Siber, like Lady Melo before her, bowed deeply.
From an etiquette standpoint, indeed there was an inheritance.