"What if I refuse to say?"
As the words fell, the air suddenly became silent. Although the Black Earl did nothing, everyone felt an overwhelming pressure coming at them.
This wasn’t a suppression, nor was there any energy fluctuation. It was purely the sense of oppression created when a wizard’s power reaches a certain height, leveraging the momentum of the World Will.
And to be able to leverage the momentum of the World Will, one must have already advanced quite far on the path of laws. This is a path towards Legend.
The Black Earl’s sudden action was clearly a reminder to everyone that although he was very cooperative before, they shouldn’t take his cooperation for granted. Don’t forget, he is a wizard only a step away from Legend.
Angel, being closest to the Black Earl, felt it the most deeply. Moreover, the Black Earl was indeed targeting Angel.
However, the Black Earl had no intent to harm, so Angel wasn’t injured, though his face turned a bit pale.
The Black Earl, in a calm tone, repeated once more, "What if I don’t speak, then what?"
Before Angel could reply, the sound of footsteps reached his ears.
Turning his head, he saw Dox walking in with a solemn expression, his eyes cautiously fixated on the stone slab floating in midair.
Seeing Dox’s expression, Angel knew what he meant.
Though the Black Earl was terrifying, this was still just a nose. If Dox and Angel teamed up, they might not take him down, but they certainly wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
This plan had been discussed between Dox and Angel prior to this; if a confrontation really arose, they would face the Black Earl together.
Looking at the determined Dox, Angel sighed inwardly: Is this guy’s head filled only with thoughts of fighting?
The Black Earl hasn’t even done anything, and they haven’t even entered the Underground Labyrinth, yet he’s already eager to draw swords. This guy is just causing trouble, isn’t he?
Angel quickly signaled Dox with his eyes to stop advancing, and said, "If you want to suffer contract backlash again, then come in. Otherwise, leave."
Upon hearing that, Dox immediately stopped. He had some self-awareness and believed that Angel definitely had ways to trick him into lying under the contract’s barrier.
Moreover, Angel stopping him also meant that it wasn’t time to tear down the façade yet. Dox wasn’t stupid, so he chuckled: "You guys continue your discussion."
Dox then sheepishly left the contract barrier.
Even without a face, Angel could feel that the Black Earl was definitely sizing up Dox just now, probably speculating about the secret pact between them.
However, the Black Earl didn’t say anything, clearly accustomed to being guarded against by others.
"My lord, of course, you have the freedom not to speak. Just like I have secrets about this relic that I haven’t disclosed. However, I can confirm that the secrets I’m hiding won’t affect the exploration."
Black Earl: "So, do you still wish for me to reveal whether it affects the exploration?"
Angel shook his head: "Whether my lord wants to speak or not is up to you. However, I do wish for a promise from you."
Black Earl: "Are you making demands of me?"
Angel: "Not a demand, but a promise that must be made for the safety of team members as the leader."
After a moment of contemplation, the Black Earl said: "Go ahead."
In the Black Earl’s thoughts, Angel most likely wanted a promise that there would be no internal conflict. He had already made such a promise before coming, ensuring at least their safety, so he didn’t mind saying it again.
However, what Angel said next caught the Black Earl by surprise.
"I hope that regardless of what happens next, what you see, or what intelligence you acquire, you won’t communicate with other parts of your body in any way, nor summon them, nor arrive in your true body."
"Moreover, this relic can’t withstand your true body either."
Angel’s request even surprised Dox a bit... Is Angel anticipating something? Is this relic very important to the Noah Clan? So important that their true bodies might have to come.
The Black Earl didn’t answer immediately and said softly, "You seem to know more about this relic than I imagined? Is this relic related to our Noah Clan?"
"I don’t know." Angel replied, "But since Lord Black Earl brought it up, I have my suspicions."
Angel’s response didn’t trigger any contract backlash, indicating that he truly didn’t know if the relic was related to the Noah Clan.
The Black Earl pondered: Could it really be intuition?
Whether it was intuition could be set aside for now. Should he agree to Angel’s request?
If this truly was closely tied to the Noah Clan, then this part of him might indeed be at a disadvantage...
Angel: "Is your hesitation due to a lack of confidence in yourself?"
The Black Earl understood that Angel was using provocation. Normally, it wouldn’t be effective, but under the contract’s barrier, he was somewhat handicapped.
Because he couldn’t be sure if saying "I am confident" would invoke the contract’s backlash.
After weighing his options, the Black Earl sighed inwardly and finally nodded: "Alright, I promise you."
Angel had been ready to reveal his trump cards; truth be told, his backup resources were not inferior to the Black Earl’s. Under the contract’s barrier, Angel could prove his words, putting pressure on the Black Earl.
But now, it seemed Dox’s words were correct - the contract’s barrier inadvertently entrapped the Black Earl.
Of course, there was also the fact that it was the Black Earl’s nose that came. If it had been his brain or limbs, it might have been different. After all, a mind was always quicker than a nose.
Thinking of this, Angel beamed a bright smile: "Since my lord has agreed, whether you choose to speak or not is entirely your freedom."
The Black Earl felt that Angel’s smile was somewhat glaring, so he turned the stone slab away, not wanting to look at him.
Angel didn’t mind, instead continuing to ask: "My lord, have you really not considered revealing what information you’ve been hiding?"
The Black Earl snorted coldly but did not answer. He had already agreed to one promise, so why should he reveal the hidden information?
Angel: "It’s your freedom not to speak, sir, but perhaps I can make a guess?"