Upon hearing the Black Earl’s words, Angel raised a corner of his mouth: "Is it just this sentence? Sir, aren’t you going to initiate the truth-telling spell? Aren’t you afraid I’m lying?"
Before the Black Earl could respond, a faint red light emanated from the side, indicating the truth-telling spell was activated—the one who initiated it was... Dox.
If the Black Earl had a physical body at the moment, he likely would’ve clenched his fist. He had by no means intended to activate any truth-telling spell because it was unnecessary; he had complete confidence in directly judging whether Angel’s words were true or false. Earlier outside, the activation of the contract light shield was purely to dispel these suspicious young folk’s doubts, not because the contract light shield was needed to verify the truth of their speech.
At this moment, Dox activated the Truth Spell, and the Black Earl felt a bit stifled but couldn’t say anything.
Angel also saw that the Truth Spell was activated. He didn’t care whether it was done by the Black Earl or Dox, and directly said, "I’m sorry to inform you, sir, I can’t say this sentence. Because, I can’t be sure if the destination of the ruins is related to the Noah Clan."
The Truth Spell had no reaction, indicating that Angel was telling the truth.
The Black Earl, seeing this result, roughly understood that Angel might have some sideways knowledge about the ruins but didn’t really know the true situation.
He thought for a moment and said, "Then do you think it is likely related to the Noah Clan?"
Angel nodded this time, "Yes. It is likely related to the Noah Clan, but it’s just likely, not certain."
The Truth Spell still had no reaction.
The Black Earl nodded, "I understand."
Angel: "Then can you tell us about the doubts in mine and Dox’s hearts?"
The Black Earl: "Your doubt is about why I behaved somewhat unusually after entering the Underground Labyrinth? I can tell you, you actually guessed half of it right. There is indeed a summoning, but this summoning was actively sent by me."
"Or rather, it is a fantasy summoning resulting from the convergence of omens and inspirations."
Summoning is when an entity calls you in some form; and a so-called fantasy summoning is when you actively seek out an entity yourself, with great enthusiasm. But actually, whether there is such an entity is questionable, purely a fantasy.
It’s a bit like someone who knows nothing, after getting a few pages of entirely incomplete information, sets up a ceremony to send a signal to some unknown entity, hoping to get a response.
This sounds a bit magical, and a normal person would only think it’s a madman’s idea. But coming from the mouth of the Black Earl, it’s different.
Angel: "Sir, is it because of the promise I asked for earlier that you’re certain it’s related to the Noah Clan? So, as soon as you entered the Underground Labyrinth, you began to actively summon?"
The Black Earl: "I would do so regardless of the promise. But your promise accelerated this process."
Angel pondered for a moment, "Has your active summoning received any response?"
The Black Earl was silent for a long time this time, "There is no obvious feedback of information, but I vaguely sense that my bloodline seems to resonate with some place."
"However, whether this is real or a response conjured up in my imagination, I can’t tell. This is a side effect of my use of the fantasy summoning."
It’s unclear whether Dox was intentional or not, but his Truth Spell was never dismissed. The Black Earl didn’t care at all, ignoring the Truth Spell and spoke these words.
The Truth Spell showed no changes, nor did it have the fluctuations that come with deliberate precautions, meaning that what the Black Earl said was true.
"Whether the resonance your lordship mentioned with your bloodline is real or imagined, for now, we can assume it’s real."
After all, the Underground Labyrinth is vast, and Angel finds it not too easy to find familiar places. Since the Black Earl has bloodline summoning, let’s follow the direction pointed by the Earl’s summoning. Whether right or wrong, wandering around in the Underground Labyrinth, Angel believes he is bound to encounter familiar places sooner or later.
Moreover, Angel speculates that the official institution the Mirror Demon God’s cultists might have planned to attack back then was really the Hanging Jail Stairway.
If it really is the Hanging Jail Stairway, he should soon find familiar territory.
"In any case, thank you, sir, for clearing our doubts." Angel bowed to the Black Earl.
The Black Earl snorted lightly, "You little ones are so suspicious. I said I wouldn’t kill you and would even protect you, but you are still so on guard."
Angel smiled without speaking, while Dox whispered quietly, "Life and profit are different."
Dox’s meaning was simple: Suppose treasures of the Noah Clan are really discovered at the target location. In that case, the Black Earl might keep his promise not to kill them, but surely won’t share the treasure with them.
So, what’s to be guarded against must be steadfastly defended. If he turns on them halfway, even if they don’t die, if the benefits are lost, then this exploration of the ruins would also be fruitless.
"Now should we return to the main topic, sir? Could there really be concealed Demon Gods in the Abyss, hidden from detection?"
The Black Earl: "Demon Gods propagate belief, generally speaking, there won’t be a disguised and undetected Demon God. But you never know, in the depths of the Abyss, there might be some ancient monsters that are even more powerful than Demon Gods. They have their own designations, but calling them Demon Gods is also possible... After all, they are all monsters of the Abyss."
"Are you speaking of the Ancient Ones?"
The Black Earl’s slate suddenly stopped, then slowly turned around, facing Angel with his nostrils, "You know quite a bit, not even your Mentor might know the term Ancient Ones."
The Black Earl’s words made everyone present prick up their ears.
Without a doubt, this is definitely a secret!
"I just know some friends from the Abyss, they told me."
The Black Earl said faintly, "The Abyss is unlike the Wizards’ Realm; in the Wizards’ Realm, I can talk to you about the Ancient Ones. But in the Abyss, few dare to speak of the Ancient Ones. Your friends don’t seem simple at all."
Everyone turned their gaze to Angel, obviously wanting to inquire about which high-level figure Angel knows.
Angel had many candidates in his mind at this time: Odeclass, Baltica, Fafnir, Master Ye... but he couldn’t say any of them.
Because... Dox’s Truth Spell still damn hasn’t been dismissed!
The one who truly told Angel about the Ancient Ones was Greerwu, a descendant of the Lord of the Flameless. If he mentioned Greerwu, the trouble it would bring would be even greater.
Angel cursed Dox in his heart, but on the surface, he remained calm, "It’s nothing, I just met a subordinate of an Ancient One."
This statement was true; he had met Garm and Kulangduo, both of whom were under the command of an Ancient One who mastered the rules of death.
Hearing Angel’s words, the Black Earl was even more surprised.
Generally, the subordinates of Ancient Ones are few and have been following them since ancient times. Even if not comparable to a Great Demon God, they possess at least Legendary Level strength.
Angel actually met the other side, even chatted, and the other didn’t kill Angel?
This is simply unbelievable.
It’s known that most Ancient Ones are more unreasonable than Demon Gods.
Angel saw that the Black Earl seemed to have many questions to ask, and he quickly said, "My past is not today’s topic, let’s leave it at that."
Angel switched the topic, "Sir, do you mean to say that the Mirror Demon God might be disguised as an Ancient One?"
The Black Earl: "If the Mirror Demon God is confirmed to come from the Abyss, rather than being an Ancient One in disguise, I am more inclined to think... the Mirror Demon God’s follower might be disguised as such."