"Sir, you finally appeared. We thought you..."
As soon as Angel opened his eyes, he heard Vay’s excited voice beside his ear.
Angel first sensed his body to confirm everything was normal, then said to Vay, "Did I disappear earlier?"
Vay nodded vigorously, "Yes, we originally thought that you would, like , snap back to reality with a blink. But unexpectedly, the red light directly sucked you into that box. We waited outside for a long ti before you finally ca out."
"Waited for a long ti?" Angel felt that although his ti in the box was a bit lengthy, it should have been only about half an hour. Is that considered long?
"Actually, you only disappeared for about three minutes." At this point, Dox’s voice ca through the reconnected Mind Ribbon: "As for why Vay said it felt long, maybe...[...] maybe his perception of ti is different from ours."
Angel furrowed his brows, not understanding what Dox ant. However, it didn’t matter; knowing he only disappeared for three minutes, Angel could roughly estimate the frequency of Cicia’s so-called perception amplification.
"Are you okay? Your Mind Ribbon also disconnected just now; it startled . If you hadn’t co out, I was about to use my Red Sword to cut through that damned box," Dox said, his expression extrely serious by the end.
"Sir, don’t listen to Dox. When I suggested attacking the box, Dox said sothing might go wrong; then I proposed sending in another person to see if we could find you by offering treasures, but Dox said we should wait a bit longer," Vay said indignantly. "He acts all bold now, but he was the most hesitant!"
Faced with Vay’s accusations, Dox wasn’t embarrassed at all and instead replied in an experienced tone, "This is typical Academy Faction versus Practical Faction — you don’t understand but still want to criticize."
Before Vay could retort, Dox continued, "Look at your master, does he look worried? Even the Black Earl isn’t worried, so what are you fussing over?"
Vay: "But..."
Dox: "No buts. If you don’t believe , I’ll let Kaier explain it to you."
After speaking, Dox nudged Kaier.
Kaier didn’t want to get involved in this water battle, but with Dox glaring at him from behind, he could only sigh, "I don’t know what Lord Dox wants to say, but in my personal understanding, there’s nothing abnormal in our current Moving Mirage, indicating that Lord Chaowei is fine. Therefore, we just need to patiently wait for his return."
Dox: "Exactly, that’s what I an!"
This back-and-forth left Vay a bit bewildered. But what Kaier said seed sowhat logical. Since he left the Moving Mirage, he hadn’t considered it.
"I trust Dox will cut through the box the mont anything happens to ; I also believe Vay genuinely worries about . So, you’re essentially on the sa side, no need for further disagreents," Angel sighed. He had just co out, with nothing explained yet, only to beco a peacemaker... quite unexpectedly.
"Let’s get back to the main topic. You must have spent quite a bit of ti in the box, right? Did you encounter any situations? Did you get a ’ticket’?" At this point, the Black Earl finally spoke, controlling the slate to fly over to Angel.
Angel casually caught the slate and replied, "Indeed, I spent about half an hour in the box, talking with a woman nad Cicia inside."
"A woman? Is she the owner of the female voice I heard before?" Vay asked curiously.
Angel nodded, "That’s right, the one who kicked you out earlier was Cicia. To be precise, she used to be a woman but has now beco a box. As for why she turned into a box, she didn’t tell ."
"I discussed quite a bit of information about the Wood Spirit with her and got an interesting clue. I’ll elaborate on this when we leave here later."
Pause: "Aside from that, we also talked about various topics, including intelligence about this place. However, Cicia is bound by an oath and couldn’t reveal much, but she hinted at a few things — though... many of her hints went over my head."
Angel’s expression dimd slightly as he spoke. He couldn’t show his ignorance in the box, but outside, he didn’t have to hold back.
The Black Earl noticed Angel’s expression and had so thoughts but chose not to interrupt.
"Regarding the ticket, I more or less figured it out. Miss Cicia doesn’t want treasures by worldly standards but rather things with ’significance.’ Even if it’s an ordinary item, it could still be considered a treasure."
Dox: "So, is your Gold Coin also a treasure? I don’t an the Demon Gold Coin."
Angel nodded, "Yes, whether it’s a Demon Gold Coin or another Gold Coin, both count. So now, what we need to do is find your own treasures and exchange them with Miss Cicia for tickets."
"Does everyone need a ticket?" Dox looked annoyed, "If you have one, can’t the rest of us just follow you?"
Angel: "You can try that. However, I don’t know what the consequences will be, good or bad. Of course, you can also attempt to enter my Exile Space if you trust ."
Dox’s expression beca conflicted. He had very few items with significance — each was highly symbolic, and he was really reluctant to exchange them for so-called tickets.
But if he didn’t exchange them, unpredictable risks would certainly be present. How high are these risks, and are they life-threatening? It’s hard to say.
As for entering Angel’s Exile Space, Dox trusted Angel wouldn’t harm them, but doing it once was enough — doing it again would be too shaful.
Others showed similar conflicted expressions. Letting go of items with significance required significant courage from them.
Suddenly, Vay asked, "I got kicked out the first ti. Can I go back in again?"
Angel: "You can, but you could also stay in my Exile Space, and I’ll release you when we reach the Hanging Jail Stairway."
Vay shook his head, a look of fiery determination in his eyes, "No need, I want to stand by your side and fight, sir!"
Angel: "..." Climbing stairs shouldn’t require combat, right?
Angel turned to Kaier, "What about you, do you want to go to the Exile Space?"
Kaier also shook his head, the emotions in his eyes complicated, "Thank you, sir, but I’ll pass. There’s sothing I’ve been considering discarding for a long ti, but can’t bear to part with... this ti, there’s external motivation for to let it go. I’ll try."
Since Kaier made his choice, Angel didn’t insist, only saying softly, "Letting go doesn’t an abandoning, nor does it an forgetting. Farewells are a form of growth."
Kaier hesitated, his eyes slightly red, and nodded lightly at Angel, "I understand, thank you, sir."
After the exchange with Kaier, Vay interjected, "I almost forgot, does my master also need a ticket?"
Everyone paused for a mont — right, the Black Earl is currently just a slate; although it has a nose, it doesn’t constitute a complete lifeform.
Shouldn’t that an no ticket is needed?
After all, the Black Earl could stay on Angel’s body, like an accessory. Does an accessory need a ticket?
Angel considered this for a mont and replied, "I didn’t ask, but I think it shouldn’t be needed."
However, as soon as Angel finished speaking, the Black Earl interjected, "You all don’t need to worry about my matters. I’ll naturally require a ticket."
The Black Earl’s words carried a tone of determination, and everyone could sense he was adamant about needing that ticket.
Angel glanced at the Black Earl and nodded without objection.
The Black Earl’s intentions were already clear. Since there was an intelligent being inside the box that could communicate, he would definitely go and et it, even if not for the ticket.
"The Cicia you ntioned is willing to answer your questions, and even hints at answers to things she can’t say. Did you do sothing?" the Black Earl asked.
The Black Earl’s purpose was obvious, and given his position, he didn’t need to hide anything.
Angel: "I made a deal with her, but I can’t discuss the details at the mont. However, I can assure you it has nothing to do with our exploration, or even this Underground Aqueduct."
"The deal isn’t over yet. Cicia answering my questions was just part of her transaction with . The item I’m trading with her hasn’t been prepared yet."
"I’ll set up a private barrier here and prepare the item for the trade inside. Once it’s ready, I’ll enter the box again to complete the transaction with her."
"Before that, you can go ahead and trade your tickets with her."
The answer the Black Earl wanted wasn’t this. But given that Angel was right there, he could easily sense the blood flow, heartbeat rate, and all physiological responses in Angel’s body.
The Black Earl could confirm Angel wasn’t lying. His deal with Cicia had no relation to the Underground Aqueduct or this exploration.
It must be a personal transaction.
Angel even planned to create a barrier specifically for this trade item, considering his status. Perhaps it’s so sort of alchemy tool? And possibly one that’s hard to describe or has a special effect?
The Black Earl thought about this and ultimately decided not to pry further.
Since Cicia was willing to "trade," if she could trade with Angel, why not with him?
...
Once Angel explained the situation regarding the treasure, he told the others they could trade their tickets anyti.
Angel himself began setting up the private barrier, calling upon Earl Mi and Speedy.
The others assud Angel was going to engage in alchemy and didn’t say anything, instead considering what treasures they might use for the trade.
As Angel set up the barrier, he also watched the progress of others... and their treasures.
Since he had already shown his gold coins to everyone, it wasn’t too inappropriate for him to glance at their treasures, right?
With this thought, Angel looked at each person.
The first to trade was Vay. Unlike others, he didn’t seem overly concerned about the treasures and didn’t appear conflicted. He casually took out a black crystal ball shimring with eerie light.
One could tell at a glance this was an alchemical item. However, Angel could sense that the crystal ball contained a dense death aura, which wasn’t refined through alchemy but accrued over ti.
"I rember, isn’t this the dium you use for your Death Sense, and you’ve used it for many years. Are you really trading it for a ticket that’s not particularly important?" Dox asked in surprise.
Vay: "This item indeed holds significance for and it’s very convenient to use. But, my Lord instructed long ago to dispose of this crystal ball due to its heavy death aura. While it enhances my Death Sense ability, if I rely on it too much, my abilities will stagnate."
Vay scratched his head, sowhat embarrassed: "But I can’t bear to discard sothing I’ve used for decades, so I’ve been keeping it around."
Dox: "You’re willing to part with it this ti?"
Vay: "I have to replace it eventually. Besides, after trading it away, I can find an alchemist to refine a new one, and the new one is sure to be better than the old."
When Vay ntioned "seek an alchemist to refine," he sneaked a glance at Angel.
Since Angel had been observing the treasures, he happened to et Vay’s gaze.
Angel understood what Vay intended without any words.
Vay was likely hoping Angel would help him refine a new crystal ball...
Angel wanted to be a good leader and maintain his deanor. Given Vay’s previous defense, he really couldn’t refuse.
Under Vay’s expectant gaze, Angel dryly smiled: "If you don’t mind waiting, I..."
"I don’t mind! Not at all!" Vay imdiately interjected.
Angel: "Then when you have ti, tell your specific requirents, and I’ll evaluate the situation."
Vay nodded enthusiastically.
Angel sighed lightly in his heart and then, with a slightly playful tone, spoke seriously: "But if you want to refine it, the price won’t be cheap."
Vay: "No problem, my Lord can set any price!"
He dared to make such assurances without specifying what he wanted. Truly befitting the wealthy Noah Clan...
Having committed to this, Angel could only smile and nod. Yet, inwardly, he felt quite bitter. Just when he escaped Lord Rhein’s crystal ball nightmare, Vay now wanted him to refine a crystal ball. Honestly, wizards and crystal balls aren’t even standard pairs.
...
Looking at Vay’s treasure and eting his gaze led Angel to reluctantly accept an alchemy request. But as an alchemist, Angel wouldn’t truly resist engaging in alchemy.
Thus, Angel didn’t plan to restrain himself and continued boldly observing the treasures of others.
Vay’s treasure had accompanied him for decades, during which Vay, while running his shop, had many people approach him for divinations about death. Consequently, the crystal ball was stained with countless death auras, making it a very "aningful" treasure.
Cicia shouldn’t reject Vay this ti.
After examining Vay’s, Angel turned his gaze to Kaier.
Kaier had previously ntioned he had sothing he wanted to discard but couldn’t bring himself to.
And when Angel consoled him, Kaier’s eyes had reddened.
At that ti, Angel speculated that what Kaier intended to discard might be linked to emotions, such as familial bonds separated by ti and space, lost friendships, or unattainable love.
But when Kaier took out the item he ant to discard, Angel’s expression froze montarily.
What Kaier produced was... a wrinkled piece of parchnt.
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