Angel: "According to the Wood Spirit, when the bard appeared, the concealed aura vanished."
Dox: "What does that imply? Was the bard the concealed creature?"
Angel shook his head: "With further probing on the spot where the concealed creature disappeared, I found an anomaly; signs of the Magical Energy Array being activated."
Dox: "Magical Energy Array? You mean..."
Angel: "Most likely influenced by the Wise Sovereign. Only the Wise Sovereign can activate the Magical Energy Array from the core, and once activated from the core, it can limit energy fluctuation transmission, explaining why we didn’t sense the activation."
If Angel hadn’t carefully examined it, this point would be hard to notice.
"Did the Wise Sovereign’s action have any connection with this Bard?" Vay curiously asked.
Angel: "Although the Wise Sovereign activated the Magical Energy Array, the place where the concealed creature disappeared is impossible for space traversal. This means the other party is likely still nearby."
"However, there is no aura of Wood Spirit derivatives around, so their location might be in the gap between the Magical Energy Array and reality."
"As for this Bard, because there is no aura of Wood Spirit derivatives, he is not the concealed creature from before, or to be more precise, not entirely." Angel: "But he couldn’t just appear out of thin air, so it’s highly likely the concealed creature devised this method."
"This method is to make me solve riddles?!" Dox’s startled emotions were almost palpable to everyone through the Mind Ribbon.
Angel was also somewhat puzzled, so he chose to remain silent this time.
It was Vay who spoke at this moment: "I noticed earlier that this Bard engaged in conversation solely with Dox and didn’t even glance at anyone else."
Dox: "So what?"
Vay: "So I think he came specifically for you."
Dox was still confused, and at this moment, Black Earl spoke, "If you want the truth, solve the mystery. If you’re not interested in the truth, we can continue ahead."
Black Earl’s words held some truth; they could completely ignore the Bard and move forward.
However, if this Bard is indeed the "surprise" mentioned by the Wise Sovereign, Dox doesn’t want to miss out in such an unclear manner.
For a Wandering Wizard, "missing out" is something they’ll remember for a lifetime.
To be blunt, Dox wants to benefit from the Bard. If he misses out, in the future, during sleepless nights, he might continually start with "If I hadn’t missed it..." in self-reflection and regret.
"So, should we try solving the riddle? But, the content of the riddle... I don’t understand it."
Dox directly skipped the "move forward" option, and everyone guessed his intentions. However, no one pointed it out, because they were curious about what this so-called surprise would be.
"The riddle format is a variant of the Tao Miheba puzzle; it’s not that difficult." The speaker was Kaier, who had remained silent until now.
Dox turned his head, his eyes alight as he stared at Kaier.
Although Dox didn’t speak, his eager gaze conveyed his intentions to Kaier.
Kaier hesitated for a moment: "Then I’ll give it a try?"
Dox: "Alright, you dictate, I’ll write."
The ensuing time was spent with Kaier calculating in his mind, while Dox transcribed, idly awaiting the next deduction process.
"Seems we’ve hit Kaier’s specialty," Angel sighed softly from the side.
The Tao Miheba puzzle is an ancient number theory problem, belonging to Arithmancy. However, when applied in a transcendent structure, it becomes a classic space theory puzzle.
Space Series is not as leisurely as outsiders imagine because this branch highly values arithmantic talent.
When Space Mages engage in combat, regardless of location, they must adapt by performing extensive mental calculations to construct complete and fitting space structures.
And should space structures go awry, the repercussions are scarier than other branches’ backlash, potentially leading to local space rebound.
This leads to all Space Mages being geniuses in calculations.
And those who aren’t are eliminated...
"Besides, even without Kaier, can’t you lend a hand?" Black Earl asked.
Black Earl’s inquiry wasn’t baseless; Angel’s analytical ability toward space is exceptionally strong, having previously ventured with Kaier into dangerous voids rife with cracks.
Furthermore, Angel’s usage of instant space teleportation techniques further hints at his familiarity with space theory.
Adding the fact that he specializes in the twin giants of Arithmancy, Metallography, and Runeology, Angel has a grasp on the latter two.
Angel didn’t respond directly to Black Earl but smiled and said, "The poetry is quite neat, though a bit forced."
Black Earl chuckled as well: "This... can be called poetry?"
Angel: "As long as it can be punctuated, any expression can become poetry."
Vay, who had been listening to the conversation, found himself in a daze. He could understand parts of the dialogue between Angel and Black Earl initially, but since Angel’s abrupt mention of "poetry," he couldn’t fathom it—almost as if they were worlds apart.
As Vay struggled to connect the dots, a joyous voice came through the Mind Ribbon:
"It’s solved, this is the final expression. Now we’re only left with interpretation!" After a pause, Vay suddenly exclaimed, "Hmm... this seems to be a line of poetry?"
"The wind stirs his silky long hair, lifting, lifting that captivating melody."
"Go listen, that is the wind singing."
"Cheer, that is the ballad written by the wind."
"For the everlasting vine green, together, sing... Luigi’s Song in the Wind."
While Vay interpreted, Dox transcribed.
At the same time, Dox griped: "Is this poetry too? It’s mere idle complaints, right? What is Luigi’s Song in the Wind anyway?"
Once the final stroke was laid, a glow wall in front of Dox displayed ripples. As the ripples spread, the glow wall vanished, followed by a serenade in the ears.
The singing was from the Bard who had appeared suddenly before, performing precisely the piece Vay had interpreted... poem?
Before long, the Bard sang beautifully, delivering the last line: "For the everlasting vine green, together, sing... Luigi’s Song in the Wind."
As those words echoed, the Bard lightly plucked his fife, concluding his performance.
Then, holding the fife horizontally, he rested one hand on his chest, bowing slightly to Dox: "I’ve accepted your price. Such a beautiful poem emerging from your pen should make you feel honored."
Dox: ... No, not honored at all.
"Lastly, I hope you’ll remember my name, I am... Luigi."
With those words, the Bard named Luigi broke into countless light points and dissipated.
Only a tattered mask was left on the ground.