Angel turned off the light screen, and the noise in the study vanished instantly.
"Regina truly has an extraordinary obsession with mushrooms, just as the rumors say." Sanders’s deep voice came from across the room. He hadn’t left when Angel was using the mini signal tower to contact Regina, sitting silently by his side. It wasn’t until Angel put away the mini signal tower that he finally spoke.
"Once, when I went to the Magic Potion Cottage to look for Master Midora, I heard a rumor from Lady Yeliya. It is said that the Mushroom Witch has lived alone in a house made of mushrooms since birth, raised by the spirit residing in the Mushroom House. Her love for mushrooms is imprinted in her bones from a young age." Angel: "While I don’t know if this rumor is true, the facts just showed that Regina would stop at nothing for an unknown mushroom she had never seen before."
Sanders nodded, recalling the scenes he had seen earlier—
Upon learning that the live thread originated from a mushroom called Phantom Performance, Regina showed a high degree of interest, continuously mumbling and speculating which kind of mushroom could create the effect of Phantom Performance.
Later, when Angel took out the Phantom Performance seedling, Regina jumped up from the recliner, her entire face almost plastered against the light screen, turning into a big pancake.
Discovering that Phantom Performance was a type of mushroom she had never seen before, she was momentarily stunned but, upon regaining her senses, unhesitatingly expressed her desire to join Angel’s research, determined to thoroughly study the Phantom Performance. Moreover, this time, Regina didn’t even mention any "high reward." For someone obsessed with mushrooms, encountering a hunt, she’s willing even if there’s no reward or even if she has to pay.
Regina immediately urged Angel to quickly send the mushroom back to the Research and Development Institute, eagerly wanting to start her research.
However, Angel didn’t seek out Regina for the sake of Phantom Performance. Phantom Performance was just a bait to probe Regina’s attitude and open the real topic.
Seeing Regina’s genuine enthusiasm for Phantom Performance, Angel revealed his main intention and presented the lively dancing Mi Ying in the palm of his hand on the light screen.
Gazing at the Mi Ying on the light screen, Regina’s eyes instantly fixed, her gaze following the joyful Mi Ying seedling, her entire demeanor exhibiting a slightly tipsy, enchanted expression.
It wasn’t until Angel retrieved the Mi Ying seedling that Regina regained her composure.
An even greater excitement than before slowly rose within Regina, though before it could be expressed, her gaze suddenly caught sight of a corner on the opposite side of the light screen.
"It seemed like there was a pure white mushroom over there on your side? What mushroom is that?!"
This pure white mushroom was precisely the Sound Transmission Mushroom. It was actually placed on the other end of the desk, but Sanders gently pushed it into view within the light screen, which caught Regina’s attention.
Having consecutively seen Phantom Performance, Mi Ying, and Sound Transmission Mushroom—three unknown mushrooms with special effects—Regina’s mood couldn’t be contained any longer.
The genuine desire flowing from her eyes was entirely unmasked.
This time, Regina didn’t urge Angel to send the mushrooms to the Research and Development Institute, but decisively declared, "I’ll pack the necessary tools for research and head straight to the Barbarian Cave!"
Regina’s decision might seem abrupt, but she actually had given it thorough consideration. Angel casually showing three kinds of special mushrooms likely indicates he visited an unusual mushroom habitat, and there might be even more novel mushrooms with him. There’s only a chance to find out by meeting Angel in person. Moreover, the tea party hosted by Lianna at the Barbarian Cave will soon occur, and regardless of how much of a homebody she is, she must attend such a witches’ event, so going to the Barbarian Cave early and studying unknown mushrooms is certainly a delight.
Sanders ended his recollection and looked at Angel: "Regina will probably arrive at the Barbarian Cave soon. Have you decided how to arrange things?"
While putting away the gear button that housed the mini signal tower, Angel said, "Let’s settle it here; although the downstairs laboratory is somewhat cluttered, the area is large enough. With a bit of tidying up, it should suffice for her experiments. If she’s dissatisfied with the environment, we can create an illusionary realm."
Much like the previous golden sea amidst the clouds.
The arrangement was made because Regina’s research subject is Mi Ying. Although it seems innocent and playful now, Mi Ying’s essence is still a terrifying biological weapon born for conquest and invasion.
If the green mist sprayed by Mi Ying wafts outside, it might cause catastrophic consequences. Additionally, Regina seems to have quite an interest in Phantom Performance, which is also an extremely lethal weapon, and even though there are suppression methods, it’s best not to let it loose. So, studying in an absolutely confined space is better; an remains is actually the ideal choice.
Sanders had no objections to this arrangement, but he still reminded Angel about some details: Before Regina comes into contact with Mi Ying and Phantom Performance, ensure she signs a Tarot Secrecy Contract to prevent Regina from secretly removing fungal hyphae from the laboratory. After all, whether it’s Mi Ying or Phantom Performance, even if using them results in mutual destruction, they remain terrifying weapons of mass destruction. If Regina takes them away, they could be used as a means by those with ulterior motives, which would be troubling.
Angel was already aware of this and naturally nodded in agreement.
After finishing the discussion about Regina, Sanders brought up Portia: "Her earlier request—if you can, try to help her, but avoid getting involved in her affairs as much as possible."
Angel nodded, having a rough idea of what Portia wanted to do. This matter was indeed incredibly dangerous.
After completing the conversation with Regina, Angel had a brief exchange with Portia.
As Portia had mentioned before, she indeed had something she wanted to ask Angel. Angel initially guessed it might be related to Enchantment Studies.
Indeed, Portia wanted to know if there was a Magical Energy Array for converting life substances within Alchemy Enchantment Studies.
Angel didn’t immediately understand what Portia intended to do at the time and instinctively replied, "I’m not sure right now; I’ll need to look into it."
Portia nodded, saying she’d come to find him during the tea party, hoping Angel would help locate the relevant Magical Energy Array.
As the communication ended, Angel suddenly recalled Nail Granny previously speaking to him at the Nail Alchemy House. In order to help Angel integrate into the Research and Development Institute quicker, she shared her impressions of its members. When talking about Portia, Nail Granny gave a high appraisal.
Portia is a true Alchemist genius. Her thoughts are incredibly avant-garde, and while the creations she brings to life are bizarre, even failed works show an undeniable spark of ingenuity.
Nail Granny even said she saw the shadow of Ivor in Portia.
Before Angel joined the Research and Development Institute, Portia was undoubtedly the most proximate Alchemist in the entire institute to the realm of the mysterious.
Both in personality and Alchemy technique, Nail Granny gave her high praise; however, when she mentioned one point, she hesitated slightly.
"Like Ivor, Portia seems to be straying into a deviant path in order to glimpse the mysterious. I’ve recently heard she seems to have plans to delve into the domain of Life Alchemy."
Life Alchemy is not the same as Biological Alchemy.
Though Biological Alchemy may sound daunting, it is actually a rigorous discipline. But Life Alchemy is different; it involves matters of human ethics.
Biological Alchemy focuses on transformation, while Life Alchemy emphasizes... creation.
The creation of life belongs to a dangerous forbidden zone, and the creation of intelligent life is an absolute taboo. It is precisely because it is an absolute taboo that Toby’s birth remains an unreplicable miracle, which is why Toby receives endless affection from Greya.
Recalling Nail Granny’s words, if Portia genuinely dabbled in Life Alchemy, she evidently hoped to find a Magical Energy Array in Enchantment Studies that would aid in Life Alchemy.
No matter whether this matter is as speculated, Angel still decided not to touch it.
As Sanders said, one can help in searching but must never participate. Because if Portia truly ventured into the absolute taboo, if Angel got involved, he would undoubtedly be implicated.
The consequence of such entanglement would definitely not end well.
Seeing that Angel understood, Sanders didn’t elaborate further. He changed the topic and asked, "Back to the matter inside the ruins, from what you talked about with Lord Rhein earlier, there should be things you haven’t disclosed, right?"
Angel nodded; when facing the Wilderness of Dreams, certain things were not suitable to say, some times were inappropriate, so he temporarily concealed them.
But now, with only himself and Sanders, there was no need for concealment.