Although Angel was somewhat curious about Siber, he didn’t plan to explore it at this moment.
He nodded lightly at Siber and then motioned for Lady Melo to continue forward.
In the next two corridors, Melo discovered three more Talented Ones in succession. Among them, a fat one appeared to be the leader, showing signs of loosely banding together. This was somewhat reminiscent of when Angel was a Talented One, and everyone surrounded Hook Dick.
And that fat Talented One clearly had feelings for Siber, always subtly approaching her and saying a few unremarkable words of concern.
Siber maintained her "aloof lady" persona, responding to the fat Talented One with nothing more than a "hmm." But the fat Talented One didn’t mind Siber’s indifferent attitude and seemed somewhat pleased with the situation.
While the fat Talented One was pestering Siber, one of his lackeys, who looked a bit sly, sidled over to Angel.
He mouthed words of thanks, his attitude exceedingly flattering, but his eyes were evasive, seemingly pondering something.
Angel understood his intentions perfectly.
Just like when Fusa clung to Hook Dick’s leg, but as soon as Hook Dick was absent, he would start cozying up to Butler Good, all pleasantries and small talk, almost identical to what this sly one was doing today.
Basically, it’s just about wanting to attach themselves to someone powerful.
Angel wasn’t opposed to this mindset, but targeting him wasn’t acceptable.
Angel didn’t do anything to this sly youngster, just gave him a faint glance and released a hint of oppressive aura. The youngster stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, not daring to move.
This trace of oppressive aura wasn’t specifically aimed at the sly youngster; the others, including Siber and Lady Melo, also felt it.
Lady Melo was able to remain composed, as Angel clearly controlled the level of pressure to a bearable degree for her. But for the other Talented Ones, it felt like the sky was falling, with an overwhelming force pressing down on them.
The sly youngster suffered the most, as he bore the brunt of it and felt it most acutely. At this moment, he seemed like an ant crouching beneath a towering mountain.
He trembled, his lips quivering as if trying to say something, but no words came out.
The others felt the same, like being in a leaf boat facing the raging sea whipped by fierce winds.
Everyone was quite uncomfortable.
Luckily, Angel’s oppressive aura didn’t last long and was soon withdrawn.
At this point, the sly youngster no longer dared to approach Angel.
Lady Melo took one look at him and understood what had happened, softly sighing, "Lord Pat is already considered gentle. If it were someone else, like Lord Pat’s Mentor, you’d already be dead before you even got close enough to speak. Because, in the Wizards’ Realm, approaching an Official Wizard without permission is a grave discourtesy."
Lady Melo seemed to be speaking to the sly youngster, but in fact, she was also warning the others.
When facing an Official Wizard, one must show the utmost respect. This is the way to survive in the Wizards’ Realm.
Perhaps because of Angel’s oppressive aura, everyone remained silent, and the fat Talented One stopped following Siber, quietly walking behind Lady Melo instead.
Though Lady Melo called Angel gentle, those unfamiliar with the Wizards’ Realm distrusted her words, believing Lady Melo’s own gentleness to be true gentleness, so they only dared to follow her.
Lady Melo looked at the followers behind her and gave Angel an apologetic look.
To Lady Melo, strict with etiquette, this act of forming a group around her and isolating Angel was also a form of disrespect.
To prevent this disrespect from continuing, Lady Melo subtly moved closer to Angel.
Now, the Talented Ones behind her were puzzled. Should they follow or not?
Only Siber said nothing, continuing to stay by Lady Melo’s side.
Since the range of the Mist Illusion Technique was limited, after a few seconds of confusion, they still followed, but kept a distance of two to three meters.
"My lord, please forgive their ignorance," Lady Melo said respectfully.
"I’m not angry and there’s nothing to forgive," Angel said truthfully. So far, none of these Talented Ones had done anything to disturb his emotions. Including that sly youngster, as Angel thought earlier, he wasn’t opposed to the idea of the sly youngster wanting to seek protection, just as long as it wasn’t from him.
While they were conversing, they passed through another corridor. According to Angel’s memory, only three corridors remained on the second floor. And the people in these corridors... had almost all been punished.
Some even met truly horrific fates.
Angel pondered for a moment and asked, "How many Talented Ones are left?"
Without hesitation, Lady Melo replied, "Three people. Golos, Bruiser, and Amisha."
"Barring any surprises, they should be ahead in these corridors. Hopefully, they survive. The brute watchman doesn’t dare kill Transcendents, but he can torment Talented Ones at will, since they belong to the mortal rank."
Lady Melo initially didn’t understand Angel’s meaning until she saw firsthand the appalling scenes in the new corridor and finally understood why Angel said: let’s hope they survive.
The other Talented Ones also saw the prisoners, some emaciated to the bone, some missing limbs, some lying in a pool of blood, already dead. As naïve individuals with little worldly experience, their faces turned pale instantly.
They were somewhat relieved at this moment, having not met with much punishment themselves.
Maybe because they were farther back in the corridor, the brute watchman didn’t bother to come over, sparing them?
But the truth was the opposite; the brute watchman knew they were Talented Ones from the Barbarian Cave, so he didn’t dare to punish them too harshly.
The brute watchman, though fierce, was also discerning, knowing whom to offend and whom not to.
The Transcendents he extorted were all Wandering Wizards. Those with real backing, even if they were mortals, he wouldn’t dare to touch.
Though he didn’t dare, others would, like... the Princess.
As they walked through the new corridor, Lady Melo soon found a target.
"It’s Amisha!" Lady Melo quickly stepped to the cell door, her face turning grim upon seeing Amisha’s tragic state.
Angel also saw the situation inside the cell and immediately set up an illusionary realm at the cell door to block the other Talented Ones’ view.
Lady Melo looked grateful toward Angel. After all, Amisha’s current condition was not suitable for men to see.