Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1713: Section 1714: Giving Gifts

”Yes.” Glenn nodded. ”Lord Pat has come out of seclusion.”

Shan, upon hearing Glenn’s response, abruptly turned her head to look at Allen, the questioning intent in her eyes almost piercing.

Allen quickly waved his hands. ”When I arrived at the manor, Lord Pat was indeed still in the laboratory and hadn’t come out yet.”

Unaware of the finer details, Glenn, hearing the exchange between Shan and Allen, casually added, ”Allen went to find Lord Pat? When did you go... What, two hours ago? At that time, Lord Pat indeed hadn’t come out yet. He only emerged half an hour ago.”

Half an hour earlier, Angel had come out of seclusion and headed straight to the Infinite Battle Tower to deliver the customized alchemy items for Onassis and Xiliu to Melisa. Upon hearing this news, Glenn proactively took responsibility for delivering Xiliu’s customized item, as he remembered Angel’s close ties with Xiliu and the others — perhaps he could use this opportunity to better his rapport with Angel’s friends.

As Glenn spoke to this point, Shan couldn’t fail to grasp the timing: Allen’s visit had been just a little too early.

Shan quickly checked the time. Based on Nausicaa’s earlier estimate, there were less than five minutes left before her transmission departure. Even if she went to find Angel now, it would likely be too late.

”If Allen stayed at the manor and waited, he might have met him there.” Shan’s expression was filled with frustration.

Xiliu sighed regretfully. ”Just narrowly missed him—nothing to be done about it.”

As Shan and Xiliu spoke, Glenn’s mind filled with question marks. Handing the one-time spatial capsule to Xiliu, he couldn’t resist asking, ”What are you talking about? Missed what?”

Xiliu didn’t reply, but Allen, standing nearby, explained the situation.

After hearing Allen’s explanation, Glenn finally understood. ”Ah, so that’s how it is. I don’t think you need to feel too regretful; Lord Pat may not have actually missed anything.”

”Not missed?” Shan looked at Glenn in confusion.

”Think about it—why was the timing so exact, like he came out of seclusion at the perfect moment? Plus, hadn’t he already known that Nausicaa was leaving? With his abilities, do you really think he’d miss it?”

Shan hesitated, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. ”That’s true, but... he really hasn’t shown up.”

Glenn replied, ”Earlier, Lord Pat came to the Infinite Battle Tower, delivered Xiliu’s customized item, and then left. I recall Lady Melisa mentioning that he seemed to head in the direction of the Transmission Hall.”

...

Sky Mechanical City, Transmission Hall.

”I didn’t expect you to actually come. How did you know I was leaving today?” Nausicaa stood at the Transmission Hall’s entrance, a floating cloud drifting by her. She seemed as though she stood amidst ethereal mists, her curious gaze fixed on the figure across from her.

A long black trench coat adorned with dark red patterns, hat brim pulled low, strands of golden hair peeked out and danced playfully in the cooling autumn breeze.

Angel tucked away a strand of hair blown up by the wind. ”A little trick.”

”Could it be that you placed a wizard’s eye near Fangling Hall?” Nausicaa asked.

Angel neither confirmed nor denied this. ”When you become an official wizard, you’ll understand the trick.”

”An official wizard... Seems like that’s still some ways off.” Nausicaa gave a seeming sigh, but her face betrayed no discouragement. Her eyes sparkled brightly, filled with eager anticipation for what lay ahead.

”The place you’re heading with Reynaud—is it dangerous?” Angel glanced into the distance, where Reynaud was peeking over with curiosity.

”Danger is inevitable.” Nausicaa raised her eyebrows. ”You’re not about to start worrying and trying to dissuade me like Shan, are you?”

”No, the reasoning is something we both understand. Besides, I trust you to have clearer insight than I do.” Angel offered a faint smile. If Nausicaa had already made her decision, it was undoubtedly after careful consideration.

She chose to undertake this task knowing full well the risks—good or bad outcomes alike—and yet she persisted. That resolve spoke to her reasons, and Angel had no intention of interfering with her choices.

”Indeed, speaking with you feels easier.” Leaning against the wall, Nausicaa’s long hair was tangled by the wind. Gazing in the direction of the breeze, she looked out at the clear skies in the distance and murmured, ”I must go, because the place I’m headed holds something I need.”

”Something important to you?”

”Very important. It’s the first step toward achieving my ultimate dream.”

”Then I wish you success in obtaining it.”

”Don’t you want to know what it is I’m after?”

Angel chuckled softly. ”Last time I asked, you didn’t want to answer. Are you prepared to tell me this time?”

Nausicaa brushed aside the wind-tossed strands of hair. Mischief glinted in her alluring eyes. ”Not yet. When I get back, that’s when you’ll find out.”

With that, Nausicaa rose to her feet. ”Time’s almost up. I need to leave.”

Angel nodded, opting against sentimental farewell words. Instead, he casually took a spatial capsule out of his pocket and handed it to Nausicaa. ”Take this.”

”What’s this?” Nausicaa accepted it with some uncertainty, probing it with her spiritual power. ”A monocle? Could it be some sort of secret weapon?”

Angel shook his head. ”Not a weapon. It’s not particularly useful in dangerous situations, but if you need to notify me about something, use it.”

”So, it’s a communication device?”

”You could consider it that, though it’s single-use only. Use it wisely.”

Nausicaa nodded. ”I don’t foresee needing to use it, but thank you.”

...

After sending Nausicaa off, Angel turned around, his gaze drifting toward the northwest. That direction coincided with Champagne Road.

Simultaneously, within a room at Mukihara Bar on Champagne Road, a refined middle-aged man raised his head.

The elegant noblewoman seated across from him asked curiously, ”Mukihara Wizard, what’s the matter?”

The man, referred to as Mukihara Wizard—the bar’s secretive proprietor—shook his head lightly. ”Nothing. Just a friend retrieving an item left here.”

As his words fell, an object in the depths of Mukihara Bar stirred. Outside the Fangling Hall, a small orb hidden in the crevice of a stone slowly unfurled its transparent wings and ascended into the sky.

If other alchemists were present, they’d immediately recognize the object as a scouting puppet.

This scouting puppet, placed outside Fangling Hall by Angel, was the key to how he accurately anticipated Nausicaa’s departure.

Actually, since Angel had advanced to wizard, he could use spiritual power from the manor itself to lock onto Fangling Hall. However, such attempts would be overly draining, especially given the abundance of mana eyes and enforcement squads in Sky Mechanical City. To avoid unnecessary confrontations, Angel opted for the scouting puppet instead.

The scouting puppet consumed minimal spiritual power while sustaining its observation radius. However, typical scouting puppets couldn’t stray too far from their controller. Angel’s ability to operate one from a remote distance owed to his status as an official wizard.

Thus, when he explained to Nausicaa that it was a technique exclusive to official wizards, he wasn’t lying.

Of course, such scouting puppets couldn’t escape the notice of Mukihara Bar’s proprietor. For this reason, Angel had spoken with Mukihara Wizard in advance.

Now that Nausicaa had departed, Angel prepared to retrieve the scouting puppet.

Guiding the puppet steadily upward, Angel prepared to have it return to him. From its elevated vantage point, however, the puppet caught a glimpse of the activity in Fangling Hall’s yard.