Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3296 -3297: Klos, the Man Himself

Nuo Nuo and Yatsin have stepped off the stage.

But the waves they stirred have not yet subsided.

For instance, the next tribe to take the stage, despite speaking eloquently, had no audience paying attention to their words. The excitement meter visibly plunged, eventually dropping to 20%.

From Angel’s perspective, what this tribe is recommending isn’t bad at all; 20% excitement is absolutely abnormal, and the source of this anomaly undoubtedly traces back to the previous wave caused by “Broken Mirror and Barriers.”

This commotion not only affects external tribes but also influences the Dog Deacon, who was languidly resting on a pillow, as the Void’s Consciousness Cloud continually transmitted intelligence sharing from the Ghost Steward.

After reading a few messages, the Dog Deacon gloomily said to Angel and the others, “I estimate that the Dog House isn’t going to be very peaceful soon.”

Everyone looked over in confusion, Luigi asked, “Did something happen?”

The Dog Deacon sighed, “It’s still the disturbance caused by the Changhuo Clan. Many tribes want to verify the authenticity of ‘Broken Mirror and Barriers,’ and they require my help.”

Although the Dog Deacon didn’t detail the specifics, everyone roughly understood the situation.

The Dog Deacon’s talent can easily probe the thoughts of Mirror Domain creatures; even beings as strong as Mirror Dragons can’t ward off such probing.

For this reason, all tribes eager to verify the Barrier Break method fixed their gaze on the Dog Deacon.

“Ghost Steward didn’t specify which tribes want verification, but from his urgent tone, I can guess some powerful tribes are coming forward.”

Otherwise, the Ghost Steward wouldn’t be so anxious to contact him. Even before the showcase concludes, arrangements are made for a meeting with the Changhuo Clan.

“In short, Changhuo Clan might come to the Dog House soon; hopefully, they won’t disturb you,” the Dog Deacon apologized.

Sipolov and Angel didn’t utter a word upon hearing this because they knew the apology wasn’t directed at them.

From the Dog Deacon’s line of sight when speaking, it was apparent he was looking at Laplace all along.

Clearly, Laplace was indeed the one he was apologizing to.

The “don’t disturb you,” this “you” is merely a courtesy.

Laplace replied indifferently, “It doesn’t bother me.”

Laplace doesn’t hold the same distaste for the Changhuo Clan as Gutalace does.

The Changhuo Clan’s tricks, in his eyes, are akin to a magician’s performance—obvious at a glance. To Laplace, the Changhuo Clan’s tactics resemble those of a joker, unworthy of attention.

The Dog Deacon breathed a sigh of relief, “As long as you’re not bothered.”

Finishing his words, the Dog Deacon rubbed his somewhat sore forehead with his dog paw, “Changhuo Clan truly causes unrest, drawing the stench to the Dog House even before the showcase concludes.”

Just thinking of handling the Changhuo Clan and possibly meeting with major tribal leaders makes the Dog Deacon feel dizzy.

Luigi, overhearing the Dog Deacon’s low mumbles, silently quipped from the side, “At least it’s just stench, not the blood rain. Being blown by the wind is no big deal and…”

“You don’t need to worry about meeting tribal leaders; they may not even dare to meet you. At most, they’ll have you add new pages to the showcase booklet and later chat with you in private rooms.”

Other tribes aren’t as familiar with the Dog Deacon as Laplace is.

Even though the Dog Deacon gives prior notice that he won’t use his talent in their presence, they won’t believe it. Under such circumstances, there’s almost no one willing to meet the Dog Deacon face to face.

Who dares to bet if meeting the Dog Deacon will expose their inner secrets?

Even those without major secrets still worry the Dog Deacon might read their tribal intelligence.

Hence, seeing the Dog Deacon personally is out of the question, but they certainly want a detailed discussion; this is where Pika Sage’s proposed private rooms come into play.

The Dog Deacon responded languidly, “Even if I don’t meet personally, it still feels annoying.”

No single thing would have allowed for easy rest, but more things bring no joy.

The Dog Deacon moped, and the content on the showcase stage failed to captivate, Angel opted to chat privately with Laplace and Luigi.

Angel originally intended to discuss the topic Luigi previously talked about with the Dog Deacon.

But before he could ask, Luigi initiated a different topic, “I actually think, compared to Pika Sage’s private rooms, the Crystal Origin of Dreams suits them better.”

“If they go to the Crystal Origin of Dreams, they wouldn’t need paperwork and could talk face-to-face directly.”

Angel: “… Are you so sure the Dog Deacon’s talent can’t be brought into the Crystal Origin of Dreams?”

Luigi paused: “Can the Dog Deacon’s talent of insight be brought into the Crystal Origin of Dreams?”

Laplace also looked over, none of her forms nor any regarding transcendent talents seemed introduced into the Crystal Origin of Dreams.

Can the Crystal Origin of Dreams accommodate special talents?

Angel: “I’m just giving an example… I don’t know if the talent can be brought in.”

In a sense, the Dog Deacon’s talent is a gift from the World Will. A talent closely tied to the will of the Daylight Mirror Domain might not function in the Wilderness of Dreams, yet it could be usable in the Crystal Origin of Dreams.

After all, the Crystal Origin is nestled between the Daylight Mirror Domain, Nightmare Realm, and Dream Realm. Since the Daylight Mirror Domain’s will can somewhat influence the Crystal Origin, bringing talent in wouldn’t be unheard of.

“Moreover, even if the Dog Deacon can’t bring his talent into the Crystal Origin, will tribal leaders believe it?”

The Dog Deacon’s renown is potent enough to foster immediate resistive reflexes among others.

Only when tribal leaders gain deeper insight into the Crystal Origin, realizing it involves using new forms, might they gradually become desensitized to the Dog Deacon.

For now, that’s still unlikely.

Luigi pondered, acknowledged Angel’s words, and refrained from further comments.

After that topic paused, without Angel needing to prompt, Laplace directly inquired about Luigi’s earlier conversation with the Dog Deacon at the Pumpkin House.

Luigi: “Hold on, let me check with Glaipnir again.”

Laplace: “…”

Luigi conversed with the Dog Deacon about Kross, but the Dog Deacon, bound by identity and contract constraints, couldn’t directly divulge intelligence. Hence, when chatting, Luigi received sporadic insights by delving into various details, complementing Kross’s persona gradually creating a complete Kross image.

How to supplement Kross’s persona through details? That certainly requires continuous inquiries.

Given Luigi’s intellect, he might brainstorm ways to ask but couldn’t rapidly formulate a series of questions.

Though he privately chatted with the Dog Deacon, Glaipnir stood behind him.

With Glaipnir advising and Luigi questioning, they ultimately integrated information to craft Kross’s persona.

From Luigi’s current behavior, it seems that he and Glaipnir have reached a conclusion. However, this conclusion might have some doubts and requires further confirmation.

About five minutes later, Luigi finally finished confirming and spoke in the Mind Ribbon: “Glaipnir and I both believe that Cross might not be a Mirror Domain life form; there is a high possibility that he is an agent of a Void Merchant Group.”

“Void Merchant Group?” Angel and Laplace both furrowed their brows.

They were not unfamiliar with this name; the parrot they encountered previously used to belong to a Void merchant team.

So-called Void merchant teams are actually merchants who travel through the Void and do business with life from different worlds.

As long as there’s a need for profit, merchants will appear.

This rule not only applies within worlds but also applies to the Void. In the Void, many merchant teams wander, and many of these are non-human groups; they possess many secret spatial passages, enabling them to travel to different worlds for trade.

The Void Merchant Group is an organization formed by gathering numerous Void merchant teams.

Angel had heard about the Void Merchant Group in many places. For example, he had learned from the Observer that stationed in the Southern Domain, to purchase Legendary Level materials, one would need to use the Void Merchant Group.

Additionally, the intelligence network of Void Travelers would mention that a Void Merchant Group was near some coordinates.

But despite hearing about them so much, Angel had never seen them in person.

So when Luigi mentioned that Cross is very likely from the Void Merchant Group, his first reaction was: “So, is Everything House considered a station for the Void Merchant Group?”

As far as Angel knew, even though the Void Merchant Group wanders the Void year-round, they also have permanent locations.

Being permanently stationed in the Void is definitely not a good choice; general permanent locations would be chosen in special worlds.

Because special worlds are interconnected in all directions, no matter how distant, entering a special world can shorten the infinite space-time distance.

And the Daylight Mirror Domain belongs to the special worlds.

However, Laplace, who stood beside, shook his head: “Everything House shouldn’t be considered a station, as there aren’t any functions that a station of the Void Merchant Group should have.”

The existence of the Void Merchant Group is for profit.

So how does the Void Merchant Group gain profit? By trading goods and exchanging information.

Even at the permanent stations of the Void Merchant Group, these two functions would have to exist.

But looking at Everything House, its main function is to accept commissions and complete commissions.

Even though commissions may involve trading goods and exchanging information, there’s no routine goods and information trading happening, which completely deviates from the functions of a Void Merchant Group’s station.

That’s why Laplace said this place is not a station, because it fundamentally lacks the corresponding station functions.

If it’s not a station, what use does Everything House have for Cross?

Just to collect information? Sell it to others in the Mirror Domain?

Angel feels like this doesn’t make much sense either… as the information from the Daylight Mirror Domain, at least currently, doesn’t seem to have anything special.

Angel finds it a bit perplexing and thus redirects his attention back to Luigi.

Luigi: “I am not as sure as Laplace about whether this is a permanent station of the Void Merchant Group, I don’t know. I’ve talked to the Dog Deacon more about Cross as an individual, rather than Everything House.”

Pausing, Luigi continues: “I’ll continue talking about Cross, so you don’t keep digressing.”

“The reason Glaipnir and I deduced that Cross is an agent of a Void Merchant Group is because of… his behavioral pattern.”

In his conversation with the Dog Deacon, Luigi subtly inquired a lot about Cross’ movements.

They found that Cross rarely stayed at Everything House. He roams different worlds all year round, and every time he returns, he brings a lot of intelligence from other worlds and some materials from the Outer Domain.

Furthermore, the speed at which Cross travels from one world to another is astonishingly fast.

There are only two ways to achieve this: first, he possibly possesses a certain ability to quickly cross space-time distances, second, he has mastered special spatial passages.

The former is akin to a “Mirror Domain Wanderer” or “Spirit Realm Walker,” darlings of special worlds.

There are extremely few people who possess such abilities.

Cross should not be of this type, because if he were, he would only possibly be a “Mirror Domain Wanderer.” After all, Everything House is set up in the Mirror Domain, and every time he goes to other worlds, he would start from Everything House.

And Laplace, as the Destiny’s Chosen of the “Daylight Mirror Domain,” can vaguely perceive the presence of the wanderers.

According to Laplace, in nearly a thousand years, among the lifeforms appearing in the Daylight Mirror Domain, the one closest to the Wanderer level is only one.

——Adanis.

The other life forms are still far from the wanderer level.

Since Cross is not a mirror domain wanderer, then for him to travel rapidly to various worlds, there is only one possibility left: he has mastered special spatial passages.

And such spatial passages are 99% occupied by the Void Merchant Group.

Therefore, both Luigi and Glaipnir believe that Cross is from the Void Merchant Group, and his status is not low, likely an agent.

Because only entities of high levels in the merchant group can utilize multiple special spatial passages.

Angel also agrees with Glaipnir’s analysis, yet he still cannot understand why, if Cross is an agent of a Void Merchant Group, Everything House holds value for him?

Perhaps seeing Angel’s thoughts starting to drift off again, Luigi remarked irritably: “Drifting off again, we are talking about Cross; other things can wait until we’ve finished discussing Cross.”

Angel: “…”

Luigi: “After speculating about Cross’ identity, I asked the Dog Deacon about some of the commission tasks Cross led, to judge Cross’ capabilities and level of power.”

“However, based on the Dog Deacon’s response, Cross has never executed any commissions in the Daylight Mirror Domain. However, the Dog Deacon did mention that while stationed in the Gloomy Mirror Domain, both the Vine Deacon and the Blood Steward had encountered some eerie phenomena and sought help from Everything House, coincidentally when Cross returned.”

“He went to the Gloomy Mirror Domain alone, and within a day, resolved the eerie phenomena there.”

Although it’s unknown what strange phenomena the Vine Deacon and Blood Steward encountered, according to the Dog Deacon, both the Vine Deacon and the Blood Steward have strong combat and adaptability abilities, with strengths not inferior to the Ghost Steward and Human Steward.

Simply put, they at least uphold the level of Second Level True Knowledge, or Third-Level Wizard.

Cross took care of issues they couldn’t handle alone, so his strength must be greater than theirs.

Whether it reaches a Legendary Level is hard to say.

But it certainly reaches the pinnacle of the third level.