"You should head back now." After having quite the chat with Davacia, Angel patted the head of the Dalmatian, speaking softly.
Although the Dalmatian showed reluctance, it eventually jumped down from Angel’s embrace and slowly walked to Davacia’s side.
After bidding farewell to Davacia,
Davacia and the Dalmatian slowly returned to the passage entrance, a meatball and a dairy dog, slowly merging into the pool, eventually disappearing completely.
Angel calmly observed the place where they vanished, waiting until the ripples in the Star Pond settled completely before letting out a slight sigh in his heart, turning to walk in the direction of Lord Reine.
"They have no other matters at hand, so they won’t leave Xinnai Land in the short term." Angel said.
Rhein nodded. The conversation between Angel and Davacia was not shielded, so he heard Angel’s probing towards Davacia. Davacia clearly holds "Lady Shava" in high regard and didn’t hide anything from Angel. When the topic of leaving Xinnai Land was brought up, Davacia clearly showed reluctance. This indicates that the creatures of Xinnai Land actually do not want to go to a world devoid of Nightmare Realm breath.
"Nonetheless, the barrier here still needs repair, just in case." Angel finished speaking to himself before realizing that his words held no real meaning. He and the Nightmare Realm creatures have a certain tacit understanding, which Lord Reine does not possess. Therefore, Lord Reine is likely more concerned, considering deeper issues; repairing the barrier is something he doesn’t need to worry about.
The two returned to the Observation Pavilion together.
Ironclad Granny and Tree Spirit looked at them briefly, not asking about Angel and Davacia’s conversation, only saying, "Is it over?"
Angel nodded: "With the Dalmatian heading back, affairs here should temporarily conclude."
"That’s good." Tree Spirit stretched lazily: "I shouldn’t be needed here anymore, I’ll be heading back."
Before leaving, Tree Spirit looked at Angel: "By the way, those madness sickness patients are within my main body. You can come directly when you’re able to treat them."
After speaking, Tree Spirit quietly approached Angel’s ear: "Don’t worry, you won’t have to work for free. I’ll post a treatment task in the Task Hall, and the rewards will come out of the pockets of the patients."
Angel: ...Actually, there’s no need. In Angel’s view, those madness sickness patients did their part; they were just unlucky. Tree Spirit wanting to take more from them seems a bit too much.
Yet, Tree Spirit was adamant: "A matter is a matter, you’re saving their lives. Besides, they were careless with no vigilance, so it’s deserved."
Having said that, Tree Spirit wasted no more words with Angel, dissipating immediately.
"Though Tree Spirit’s words may seem harsh, he genuinely cares about those afflicted wizard patients because many of them grew under his watch. Look, he’s rushing back to tend to them now, isn’t he?" Lord Reine said with a chuckle.
Angel pondered a moment, hesitated repeatedly, but eventually said: "Um...I just perceived that Lord Tree Spirit went to the Wilderness of Dreams."
Rhein’s smile froze instantly.
"Haha, I actually meant his avatar is taking care of the patients." Reine awkwardly clarified.
This time, Angel did not add anything since he, too, was unsure of what Tree Spirit’s avatar was doing.
Ironclad Granny softly spoke from the side: "Isn’t Tree Spirit’s avatar guarding ’Mushroom Witch’ Regina at the ruins where Angel lives?"
Rhein stared silently at Ironclad Granny, squeezing out a sentence through clenched teeth: "I meant the other avatar."
Ironclad Granny gazed at Rhein with a sly smile, but didn’t expose him, turning to Angel: "That guy, Tree Spirit, was just talking to me here in the Observation Pavilion about the new features of the Tree Group, he seemed quite fixated. I bet he’s soaking in the Tree Group now."
"New features of the Tree Group?" Angel was taken aback; he hasn’t paid attention to the Tree Group’s updates lately.
"It’s not really a new feature, just a beta version... It’s supposed to be called that, I remember Jon mentioning it, meaning it’s only in closed testing among a small group." Ironclad Granny said: "Tree Spirit has testing rights, so he’s in the group discussing daily."
"I remember the new features he mentioned are something like a graphic system and editing personal information."
Ironclad Granny chuckled: "Though I haven’t seen specific details, from Tree Spirit’s description, it sounds quite interesting. I must say, your mentor is an extraordinary person."
Ironclad Granny sincerely felt that Jon was a unique individual, with distinct ideas, behaviors, and thinking methods. Such a person, even as a mortal, deeply impressed her.
It’s no wonder he could teach a wizard like Angel, who possesses extraordinary talent and whimsical ideas.
Angel nodded in understanding: "Ah, I see."
Just the graphic system might not attract Tree Spirit; there must be other compelling content. Angel planned to visit the Tree Group Development Team when he had time to see what they had concocted.
Angel and Ironclad Granny casually chatted for a while longer, then paused.
"Granny, I’ll leave things here in your hands for now. I’ve already notified Esos, he’ll come over later to repair the barrier." Rhein said: "I’ll head back to handle some follow-up matters."
Previously, upon Angel’s arrival, to prevent other wizards from learning about Angel’s connection with the creatures of Xinnai Land, Rhein temporarily asked the other wizards to leave. Additionally, at the start, Rhein arranged for wizards to evacuate the citizens of Black Demon Country, all these follow-up matters needed his attention.
Originally, Tree Spirit should’ve taken care of these matters, but with Tree Spirit gone to the Wilderness of Dreams, Rhein had to undertake them.
With the Wilderness of Dreams now, dissemination of notices and announcements are less of a hassle, straightforwardly mentioned in the Tree Group and everyone would know. The challenge lies in how to explain and ease emotions.
Thinking of all these made Rhein’s head ache. Concurrently, he felt an additional measure of jealousy toward Tree Spirit.
Rhein: "As for you, Angel..."
Angel: "I’ll head back to the ruins where I live, study the structure the Dalmatian gave me, and once I’ve researched it, I’ll head to Lord Tree Spirit."
Rhein: "Then we’ll just go together."
Angel nodded. The supposed ’going together’ doesn’t actually exist. If Rhein genuinely wanted to return, his spatial mastery would easily allow him to transfer outside the Mirror World. Therefore, this going together should imply something else, presumably, Rhein had some questions for a private talk.
Ironclad Granny, seeing through but saying nothing, smiled and nodded: "Alright then, I’ll manage here."
After bidding farewell to Ironclad Granny, Angel swiftly left from the vicinity of the Star Pond Ruins with Rhein.
Angel anticipated Rhein to inquire about something, such as the previously vaguely mentioned issue of the Mist Belt.
Yet, Rhein remained silent from beginning to end, speaking for the first time only when they were about to arrive at the residence within the ruins. His inquiry differed vastly from what Angel expected.
"Not long ago, I met the Sage Magu in the Region of Fire," Rhein said as he glanced at Angel’s shoulder, where a piece of jade-white severed hand was clutching a glass bead containing the Blood Night Shelter.
This severed hand was none other than Dangross.
"Magu inquired about Dangross’s situation. I hadn’t seen you before, so I didn’t know how to answer. Now it seems, you two are getting along quite well?"