Thinking this, Angel continued his performance, verbally advocating for respecting choice and freedom while signaling Kaier, "Let’s go."
Kaier understood that Angel had made his decision, realizing he couldn’t change Angel’s mind, and so followed him away.
However, Kaier didn’t notice that although Angel had turned to leave, his pace was much slower than before, each step heavy and resolute, devoid of hesitation; but in reality, every step was meticulously planned by Angel, balancing outward appearance while stirring emotional surges around with the rhythm of his pace and the landing of his cane.
It seemed that Angel had done nothing, but in fact, through the Nightmare Illusion, he was constantly spreading his emotions... helplessness, loss, resolve, and a bit of hope.
The surge of these emotions, even the Wise Sovereign couldn’t perceive through the Magical Energy Array. Because this was an idealistic concept. Coupled with the Illusionary Realm live broadcast also using the Nightmare Illusion, it completely concealed Angel’s little tricks.
The only one that could be influenced was the Wood Spirit secretly watching.
Angel had done everything he could. Now, it depended on whether the Wood Spirit was willing to take this step.
No matter how Angel purposely slowed down his pace, the second floor was not big, and he soon reached the end of the Void Road. Here, he could already see the shattered Hanging Jail Stairway in the distance.
Until Angel stepped onto the platform where the Hanging Jail Stairway was, the Wood Spirit did not appear.
By this time, everyone also accepted the Wise Sovereign’s words, that the Wood Spirit was scared and probably wouldn’t appear again.
Even Angel thought so. Although he felt a bit regretful, he wasn’t surprised. Whether he could deceive it out was uncertain to begin with.
Since the Wood Spirit was unwilling to leave, he could only accept it. After all, he had shown what he could do to the limit, and this time, the Wood Spirit did appear, preventing others from thinking he was lying.
"Sir, should we check the third floor?" Kaier couldn’t help but ask when they stepped onto the Hanging Jail Stairway.
Angel: "Do you think the Wood Spirit went to the third floor?"
Kaier nodded. Just now, the Wood Spirit definitely heard their conversation, and Angel clearly stated not going to the third floor. Thus, if the Wood Spirit was really scared and wanted to hide, the probability of it going to the third floor was very high.
"Even if it really went to the third floor, what can we do? Coerce or forcibly take it?"
Angel smiled faintly, starting to speak nonsense: "Finding it is easy, but making it leave with us is difficult."
In fact... finding the Wood Spirit wasn’t easy, it was very difficult. But now, no one knew this, and Angel pretended; no one could expose him.
"Since the Wood Spirit chose to stay, there must be a reason for it to choose so. I will not force it to leave either."
Angel said this, looking at the quiet Void around: "This Void is also a cage. It will eventually leave. I just don’t know what the outside world will look like by then."
Angel laughed at himself: "I have nothing better to do, worrying about it, but it is a Spirit, not a human."
"A hundred years can turn hair white, but ten thousand years is just a fleeting moment for a Spirit. Instead of worrying about it, I think I should care about myself. Who knows if I’ll still be alive then."
Angel sighed, shook his head, and walked down the Hanging Jail Stairway.
Kaier was silent for a moment, then followed suit.
This time, Angel did not linger on the first floor, but directly descended from the second floor to the ground level. Perhaps because of his earlier feelings, Kaier remained silent along the way.
It wasn’t until they were in the narrow room at ground level that Kaier spoke softly: "You will be fine, sir."
Angel: "No one knows when death will come. Just like I don’t know if I’ll be able to leave the Underground Aqueduct alive. Maybe, once I’m out, I’ll be hunted by the Ghosteye Witch and eventually die at its hands."
Kaier was stunned for a moment. Ghosteye Witch? What witch?
If a Transcendental Wizard were killed by a Ghosteye Witch, it would indeed be big news.
Angel blinked: "Just giving a random example, I can’t very well say the Wise Sovereign would attack me."
Pausing for a bit, Angel patted Kaier on the shoulder: "Let’s go, we’re leaving."
Kaier nodded and headed towards the exit first.
After Kaier left the Hanging Jail Stairway, Angel paused slightly and did not immediately leave.
After all, it was his first time doing a holographic live broadcast. As a Streamer, he should have a proper beginning and end. At least, there should be a closure ceremony: a live broadcast farewell.
Although there was no curtain to close... but for the sake of ceremony, Angel still bowed formally.
It looked like he was bowing to the air, but in fact, it was to the Wise Sovereign and others.
The people who hadn’t left the live broadcast were looking at Angel in confusion, not knowing what happened.
Dox: "What are you doing?"
"Live broadcast farewell." Angel replied through the Mind Ribbon.
"Is it necessary?" Dox looked puzzled.
After bowing, Angel said calmly: "Of course, in the principles of live broadcasting, everything a streamer does is to enhance the live experience. If an audience gives gifts, it can also be seen as pleasing the audience."
"Precisely because of that, not all actions made by the streamer during a live stream come from the heart."
"Just like a stage play actor, after the curtain call, they need to detach from the drama of the stage. A streamer is the same; I also need a farewell ceremony to detach from my identity as a streamer."
Angel said so to set the stage for his next sentence: "Thus, whatever I do as a streamer is unrelated to the real me. During the live broadcast, any coincidences or dialogues could just be part of the act, so don’t take them too seriously, nor should you overanalyze them."
"If you must analyze, look to the streamer version of me, not the real me."
Angel spoke so indirectly, with terms they had never heard, but they weren’t fools. They understood what Angel was expressing.
In short, all explanations during the live broadcast are the responsibility of the streamer; they have nothing to do with Angel himself.
"This is unexpectedly...a farewell performance." Dox’s mouth twitched, gaining a new understanding of Angel’s depth of irresponsibility.
Not only Dox, but everyone else also had complex expressions. Of course, this excluded Vay, the little fanboy who always automatically interpreted everything positively.
Angel: "Alright, the farewell ceremony is over. Everyone, see you outside."
With that, Angel snapped his fingers. The Illusionary Realm abruptly ended, and everyone was released from it.
Angel stretched and murmured to himself: "It went well, but live broadcasting takes a lot of computing power, need to improve... or refine a similar tool?"
"What am I thinking, this broadcast was a once-off; I’m not going to broadcast again." Angel shook his head, casting these tedious thoughts aside.
After finishing the farewell ceremony, everything concerning the Hanging Jail Stairway was concluded.
Angel then turned around, ready to leave the Hanging Jail Stairway.
However, just as Angel was about to step out the Door, his staff suddenly halted.