Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2319: Chapter 2320: Rehearsal

Tidal World, Lost Forest.

Previously in the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel had secretly observed the conversation between Nami Midori, Lord Reine, and others at the Rosewater Pavilion using God’s View. The specific content of their conversation was negligibly detailed, but from the atmosphere, it seemed relatively harmonious, as it was their first meeting. Both sides were concealing and restraining themselves, showing only their good sides.

However, the current discussion in the Lost Forest has torn off the harmonious facade due to the "Witch’s Confession."

Even someone as indifferent as Nami Midori occasionally exhibited a strong attitude.

The atmosphere hovered constantly on the brink of conflict.

This made Dangross, watching from the side, shiver in fear, constantly worrying whether it could successfully escape if a fight broke out. — At this time, Dangross didn’t realize that its position naturally aligned with Angel’s side.

Angel could also see the anxiety revealed in Dangross’s expression, but he was much more optimistic than Dangross.

Although there is confrontation and conflict now, Angel actually thinks this discussion feels more genuine than the one in the Wilderness of Dreams.

After all, the future of the Tidal World is at stake, and the key core issues concern interests. The redistribution of interests is hardly peaceful.

Having disputes means there is hope for continuing the discussion.

Moreover, this meeting is a small one. It can be assured that the real challenge will come in the future when negotiating with the monarchs of the Region of Fire and various Elemental Territories.

With numerous Element Lords and Sages generating numerous tides of thoughts, different tides have different stances. Balancing these stances, and making sure multiple parties accept the discussion’s outcome, will lead to more intense disputes, possibly resulting in real large-scale conflicts.

So compared to the future, this is actually just a relatively calm rehearsal, and Angel is very clear that there won’t be a fight this time.

Sure enough, although the voices of dispute were loud, peace ultimately prevailed.

The loud-spoken Parry Mountains listens to Nami Midori; Leaf Groot also stated earlier that everything would follow Nami Midori’s decision; and Nami Midori had received guidance from Feng, possessing a deep understanding of the Wizard World, standing with one foot on the side of the Wizards, so the words spoken in the meeting were mostly thunder without rain, aligning in many thought processes with Lord Reine and others. Therefore, a peaceful conclusion was inevitable.

The real battle lies with those future Element Lords who have yet to meet and may be aggressive, irritable, or conservative.

However, there is still time for Lord Reine to prepare.

With Nami Midori’s support now, Angel believes no matter the future obstacles, there will be ways to break through.

After the meeting ended, Angel found himself temporarily unoccupied and decided to follow Nami Midori back to the Vine Tower, where he could focus on practicing without disturbance.

Sanders also followed. This time, he came not to provide a resolution for the future development of the Tidal World, which Lord Reine could handle, but mainly to see the "Mad Hat’s Coronation" Angel had obtained.

As for Lord Reine, he went deeper into the Lost Forest, unaware of the "Mad Hat’s Coronation," going to the Vine Tower to see the traces left by Feng, and possibly through the oil painting, to see if there are any remaining clues at the Void site.

Due to Nami Midori’s aura permeating the depths of the Lost Forest, producing pressure unbearable for Dangross and other Elemental Sprites, Angel decided to leave them with the Parry Mountains.

The group, led by Nami Midori, gradually reached the depths of the Lost Forest.

During the journey, Nami Midori recalled the previous meeting. In its view, the discussion went rather smoothly, not just because of Lord Reine’s sincerity, but more importantly due to the "Witch’s Confession."

Nami Midori had heard of Mystical Objects and had seen some of Feng’s Mystical Objects.

But truly experiencing the effect of a Mystical Object was a first.

This unreasonable, rule-trampling, powerful effect genuinely astonished it, sparking a deep curiosity about Mystical Objects.

Unable to resist, it inquired about some matters related to Mystical Objects with Lord Reine.

Lord Reine: "If you ask me, I can’t answer much. You should ask Angel; he’s the authority on this."

Not only did Angel nearly step into the Domain of Mystical Objects, but he also received Culori’s Handbook, vastly deepening his understanding of Mystical Objects compared to before. So Lord Reine’s suggestion wasn’t incorrect.

With Lord Reine’s advice, Nami Midori naturally turned to Angel with questions. It showed no shame in ’asking below,’ recognizing Angel’s extraordinary qualities signaled by Feng’s strategic arrangements, even above the importance of Lord Reine and Sanders in its eyes.

Asking Angel posed no barrier.

Angel didn’t refuse, briefly explaining the general situation regarding Mystical Objects.

After listening, Nami Midori’s golden eyes lit up slightly: a Mystical Object seemed greatly promising in fulfilling its wish — not being insignificant anymore. If it could obtain a Mystical Object...

"What is Nami Midori considering?" Seeing they had reached the base of the Vine Tower, and Nami Midori was still looking dazed, Angel couldn’t help but ask.

Nami Midori snapped back, retracting its distant thoughts, casually responding: "Nothing, just thinking the Witch’s Confession is slightly regrettable if it didn’t have limitations."

The limitations Nami Midori referred to is Rule Three: You can maintain silence and don’t need to answer if you subjectively don’t want to or subconsciously reject it.

Lord Reine, hearing Nami Midori’s words, nodded and said: "Indeed, without this limitation, the Witch’s Confession would be incredibly more powerful."

If one couldn’t refuse to respond, the Witch’s Confession could be used beyond agreements and conferences, even for knowledge collection and punishment, extracting unwillingly spoken knowledge and deep-seated secrets.

Lord Reine: "However, truly without such limitations, this Mystical Object, I doubt my old friend could have kept it."

Angel did not comment on this but in his heart speculated—Feng once told him there’s a very small probability that controllable Mystical Objects could become uncontrollable, and even the Orderly Guild has specialized research teams attempting to find a universal way to make controllable Mystical Objects become semi-uncontrollable or even fully uncontrollable.

If the "Witch’s Confession" finally does become uncontrollable, even if only semi-uncontrollable, the third rule limiting its effects might disappear as well.

This involves the mysteries of Mystical Objects, and to avoid future uncontrolled studies in the Southern Domain, Angel doesn’t plan to disclose this.

Because mismanaged, any uncontrollable Mystical Object spells disaster, on a grand scale possibly equaling a Demon God calamity.

Just like the Seed type Mystical Object, even if you’re in any corner of the cosmos, once the mechanism is triggered, it can completely engulf you.

The terror of uncontrollable Objects can be imagined.

...

After everyone ascended the Vine Tower, they first arrived at the Vine House, where Rhein and Sanders finally saw the oil painting drawn by Feng.

The artistry and beauty of the painting need no further elaboration; what Rhein was truly concerned about was the passage behind the oil painting.

Through the passage, everyone took a brief tour of the Void, where Rhein attempted to find some lingering clues and even went to the former Treasureland. However, in the end, they found nothing.

In the Treasureland, they did see some broken stones and remnant light algae that had turned to ash, indirectly proving Angel’s words true, yet no other clues were discovered.

Ultimately, they returned empty-handed from the Void back to the Vine House.

"What plans does Lord Rhein have next?" Angel asked once they stood still.

"I had a conversation with Leaf Groot earlier; later, it will take me on a stroll through the Green Forest Domain to see the peculiarities of this place and interact with the elemental creatures here to understand their attitudes and thoughts." Rhein intended to use this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Tidal World for future negotiations.

"I see." Angel contemplated briefly, his lips subtly moving as a whisper flowed into the wind.

"I spoke with Lobal, once Lord Rhein departs, Lobal will accompany you to assist." Angel said.

Although Lobal’s primary and secondary heads are somewhat unreliable, the tail head is quite useful. With the tail head’s help, Rhein can grasp the essence of the Tidal World more quickly.

Rhein nodded, "What about you? From what you mentioned, are you planning to stay here temporarily?"

Angel nodded. Not only he, but Sanders also expressed a desire to stay here.

Rhein gave a profound look at the teacher-student pair, feeling that they were harboring some secret... However, since it concerned internal matters of the Illusion Demon Island, Rhein decided not to intrude further.

"Alright then," Rhein said, "I intend to leave now, but before I depart, I want to see the so-called... Magic Painter Wizard’s gift you mentioned."

The gift from the Magic Painter Wizard Rhein referred to was the painting Feng had left for Angel.

Because the oil painting contained energy fluctuations left by Feng, Angel wasn’t sure if it was good or bad and intended to seek Lord Rhein’s evaluation at an opportune time. Now that Lord Rhein brought it up, Angel naturally had no objection.

Angel unraveled the green patterns sealing the area near the oil painting, then took it out from the bracelet space.

Previously, neither Rhein nor Sanders had seen the painting, and Angel had never used illusion techniques to showcase it, because according to Angel, the painting itself wasn’t important; the crucial part was the energy contained within.

Precisely for this reason, Rhein and Sanders had no particular expectations regarding the painting’s content.

Yet when they finally beheld the painting, they were utterly stunned.

This painting may be called a painting, but at first glance, it completely lacked a sense of flatness. The night sky depicted had transcended time and space, and those sparse midnight clouds seemed to drift through the paper, swirling before their eyes.

But that was just the beginning; what surprised them the most was the content within the painting.

The vast, starry night served as a backdrop, the endless wilderness as the background, and up close, Angel and Feng were seated face to face. The gentle starlight outlined the light and shadow of their faces as they chatted and laughed amidst the sparse stars and bright moon.

The title "Night Talk of Close Friends" in the bottom right was also very prominent.

Rhein stared intently at the painting.

He was not looking at the painting itself but at the unspoken meaning conveyed within it.

Though Rhein wasn’t an avid art enthusiast, his long life had exposed him to many of Feng’s works, and he knew that Feng rarely painted himself.

Even when Feng did, it was typically a self-portrait, seldom involving other people.

This was the only painting Rhein had ever seen that featured both Feng and someone else. Angel might not be aware, but Rhein understood the painting’s value immensely.

While Feng’s paintings were often whimsical, this straightforward depiction of himself and Angel sitting as equals, enjoying each other’s company, with a "Night Talk of Close Friends" title, was Feng communicating through the painting to Angel and the world:

There exists a deep connection between Angel and him.

If admirers of Feng or his descendants saw this painting, there might be a chance they would directly regard Angel as a forebear.

And this was precisely the subtext Feng was eager, almost impatient, to convey.

For Feng, Angel’s significance was clear.

Should anyone in the future truly wish to stand against Angel, upon seeing this painting, they might think twice.

Rhein could perceive what Feng wanted to express, yet he couldn’t grasp why Feng valued Angel so profoundly. Was it a truly fateful encounter?

Rhein couldn’t understand and decided not to dwell on it. Now that the painting was presented, symbolizing the connection between Angel and Rhein, he realized this information might prove beneficial in the future.

Rhein gave a deep look at Angel, glanced at Sanders by his side, and once again felt gratified for Sanders insisting on bringing Angel into the Barbarian Cave back then.

"Did Lord Rhein perceive anything?" Angel inquired.

"Within indeed lies a profoundly complex energy. Though not abundant, its level is exceedingly high, making it challenging to decipher the information within." Rhein did not comment on the painting but spoke of the energy within it.

He could sense that the energy inside must at least be Legendary Level, making it hard to decipher. However, given its limited quantity, a forced decryption attempt might be plausible, but any inherent information would likely suffer irreparable damage.

Moreover, forcibly decrypting it might not succeed.

This left Rhein somewhat helpless.

Even though he had reached the Half-step Legend level, the techniques of a true Legendary Wizard remained inscrutable. Half a step away felt like a chasm.

Seeing that Rhein also drew no conclusions, Angel had no choice but to reseal the oil painting with the green pattern.

Angel wasn’t certain if the green pattern could truly seal the energy aura within, but he had no other options and had to try it first.

"From my understanding of the Magic Painter Wizard, if he named this painting ’Night Talk of Close Friends,’ he likely does see you as a close friend. Whatever energy is contained within, even if it holds information, I believe it wouldn’t harm you, so there’s no need to worry too much." Rhein advised.

Angel nodded; if things were indeed as Rhein said, that would be ideal. However, regarding the notion of a close friend, Angel cared little since he and Feng spent only those few short hours together, hardly enough to claim a close friendship. Moreover, even if they were close friends, it was merely with the fragment of Feng’s consciousness, not Feng himself.