Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2443: Chapter 2444: In Waiting

”Why have you returned?”

As Angel stealthily flew forward step by step, a familiar, aged voice reached his ears.

Looking back, he saw the Observer had appeared around him without him knowing.

With the Observer’s arrival, the familiar sense of distortion surrounded Angel, and combined with the effect of the Domain Field, the allure of the fruit instantly dropped to its lowest.

”Sir.” Angel bowed his head, respectfully saluting.

”Answer me, why did you return?” The Observer frowned deeply, clearly showing displeasure.

Angel was silent for two seconds before speaking: ”I have my reasons that I must return.”

”Reasons? Do you desire the Mysterious Object as well? Your ambition is too great.”

”I am merely curious about the Mysterious Object, I never intended to seize it.” Angel replied, ”I returned this time because...”

Angel suddenly paused, unsure how to answer. He definitely couldn’t tell the truth. But lying was also out of the question; it wouldn’t be easy to fool an existence above Legend about the truth of one’s words.

While Angel pondered how to reply, the Observer’s frown grew tighter, and the words ”You’re courting death” nearly escaped his throat.

”It’s a fate choice.” Angel suddenly lifted his head and used the classic line of the White Bear, ”Fate guided me to make the decision to return.”

This mystical response wouldn’t work on normal people, but for someone like the Observer, who could vaguely gaze at the realm of Miracles, it held certain weight.

”It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe...” Seeing the Observer did not refute immediately, Angel hurriedly recited the words he previously said to Sanders.

After listening, the Observer responded immediately: ”Thief of Time? You’ve met the Thief of Time?”

Angel nodded: ”Yes, I once met the Thief of Time during an illusion while refining a work, he called himself... Cassini...”

Angel briefly recounted the first encounter with the Thief of Time.

When Angel mentioned the true name of the Thief of Time containing the middle name ”Cassini,” the Observer was already certain Angel wasn’t lying. This was not surprising; many were marked by the Thief of Time, and Angel, as a talented wizard, being marked was normal. Had the Thief of Time not taken notice of him, it would have been surprising to the Observer.

Since he hadn’t lied, the ”sense of destiny” he described might indeed be true.

With this in mind, the Observer’s eyes glimmered with a faint light, the twisted realm spread out.

Angel himself didn’t feel it, but the Observer vaguely saw a clock illusion shimmering with faint golden light behind Angel.

The clock illusion indicated that Angel indeed had been marked by the Thief of Time.

And the clock emitting golden light meant that not long ago, Angel was observed by the Thief of Time.

Both factors together, the Observer was convinced Angel was telling the truth.

Furthermore, if the Thief of Time had taken notice, it demonstrated that Angel’s choice might not be trivial, it could truly be a ”fate choice.”

To leave or to return.

Angel chose to return.

As for whether Angel’s choice to return was right or wrong, which path fate would take, the Observer couldn’t determine, nor could the Thief of Time; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so determined to steal others’ choices.

”I understand the ’fate choice’ you encountered. However, I am curious, what were your thoughts on making the choice to return?” The Observer looked at Angel.

”I wanted to see the process of the birth of the Disorderly Things. I feel this process will be significant for me.” After some groundwork, Angel finally stated the subsequent reason.

The Observer believed the ”fate choice” story, considering Angel’s previous contact with the Mystic Tier identity, and his original regret at Angel’s choice to leave. Combining different dimensions and thoughts, the Observer firmly believed Angel’s response.

Angel was devoted to stepping into the Mystic Tier, possessing great courage and determination, unwilling to abandon any potential for progress even facing daunting situations.

This is what the Observer thought.

But Angel’s true thoughts were evidently not the same.

The Observer’s musings considered Angel himself but didn’t realize external factors forced Angel’s return.

—Some existence in the void hoped Angel would return to help with positioning.

As for this void existence, there was undoubtedly Wang Wang, the leader of the Void Travelers.

Of course, just Wang Wang wouldn’t be enough for Angel to risk returning. It required another ”existence” speaking up, which was the primary reason for Angel’s return.

These matters certainly couldn’t be told to the Observer, so Angel began to play his persona—an Alchemist unafraid of peril, chasing dreams wholeheartedly.

There were traces of performance for sure, and the Observer noticed some clues, but with preconceived notions, the Observer only believed Angel wanted to curry favor through his act.

Low-level wizards desirous of gaining the favor of High Order wizards to earn benefits is perfectly normal.

No big deal.

Hence, the Observer was temporarily fooled by Angel, no longer chasing him away.

Interestingly, because of Angel’s ”performance,” the Observer actually offered a bit of concession.

The Observer casually stated: ”Out of respect for Frost, I can grant you a convenience. As long as you don’t do anything unnecessary, you’re permitted to stay by my side.”

Bound by promises, the Observer wouldn’t directly protect Angel, but if Angel could remain by the Observer’s side, it would help him avoid many dangers.

At least, the fruit allure problem he wouldn’t have to worry about for now.

This is indeed a form of protection, albeit unspoken.

”Thank you, Lord Observer.” Angel expressed gratitude immediately. He was previously contemplating how to survive in this perilous realm, whether to seek protection from the Observer. Now, with the Observer offering willingly, of course, he wouldn’t refuse.

Sticking with the Observer meant he wouldn’t get the fruit, but Angel himself didn’t desire the fruit.

All he needed was to assist Wang Wang with the positioning and observe the disorder process. Both tasks can be completed safely beside the Observer.

Angel couldn’t help but silently praise ”Frost” in his heart. Luckily, he had encountered this Mystic Hunter before; otherwise, things wouldn’t have turned out so smoothly.

Indeed, Mentor Jon was right, connections are important.

Following by the Observer’s side, Angel felt much more at ease, no longer crawling like before, but confidently moving with the Observer to a higher vantage point.

From here, not only could he see number 03 on the wave below but also Polo Ye standing under the starry sky...and number 01.

No. 01 didn’t die, which didn’t surprise Angel. No. 01 was seeking death himself, trying to escape with a Death Soul body during the alignment of the Quest World and the Southern Domain. Poro Leaf saw through No. 01’s plan and certainly wouldn’t let him die so easily.

Either capture No. 01 or directly tear his Soul apart. Clearly, Poro Leaf chose the former.

Perhaps sensing Angel’s gaze, Poro Leaf looked over.

Poro Leaf’s eyes carried no majesty but were as purely clean as its soft exterior, even giving Angel a slight smile.

Angel instinctively returned a smile.

”Don’t be deceived by Poro Leaf’s appearance, it’s quite famous in the Origin World.” At this moment, the Observer’s voice came to his ear.

Angel withdrew his distant gaze.

”It is also known as the Exquisite Poro Leaf. The reason for the ’Exquisite’ prefix is because Gluz Deward dotes on it excessively, saving all good things for it. Its treasure trove is magnificent and grand. Having grown up pampered like this, Poro Leaf never knows suffering, arrogant with its favor, beyond judgment of good and evil.”

Its appearance is that of a child, and its heart is also that of a child. The former exhibits a child’s naive purity, while the latter shows a child’s unrestrained mischief and lack of moral discernment.

As the Observer spoke, he noticed that Poro Leaf’s sapphire-like eyes were fixed on Angel, with a hint of interest in them.

”You shouldn’t have stared at it earlier; it seems to have taken an interest in you. Being noticed by it is not a good thing. In its eyes, aside from companions in Phantom Spirit City, others are... just toys.”

A child’s attitude toward toys could go from love one moment to abandoning or even destroying and disassembling the next. This is also Poro Leaf’s attitude toward toys.

So, being noticed by it carries great risk.

”Does the Master mean it will act against me?” Angel also noticed that Poro Leaf had been watching him.

Observer: ”In the Southern Domain, it shouldn’t make a move against you. Moreover, it now has a new target; regardless of whether it obtains the fruit, it will leave in the end...”

Poro Leaf also has a characteristic of children—forgetfulness. As long as Angel doesn’t actively wander in front of Poro Leaf in the future, it probably won’t specifically come to the Southern Domain to deal with Angel.

Of course, this is the Observer’s judgment; whether it’s true or not depends on what Poro Leaf thinks.

However, the Observer can assure that Angel is safe for the short term.

While the Observer was speaking, Angel was thinking about something else: since Poro Leaf might make a move against him, should he ask Wang Wang if there’s a chance, should they just get rid of it?

Though Wang Wang hadn’t said why it was tracking Poro Leaf, the anger in Wang Wang’s words was palpable.

Since there’s anger, it implies malice. So, perhaps stir things up a bit and let Wang Wang and that person together take it down?

”Are you worried Poro Leaf will act against you?” The Observer, seeing Angel remain silent, thought he was anxious.

Angel coughed: ”A little bit.”

”No need to worry; as long as you don’t move around recklessly, you’re safe by my side.”

”I understand, thank you, sir.”

The subject paused, and Angel’s attention shifted back to the fruit, although it was still in a burgeoning stage, with a large number of sea beasts serving as sacrifices to nurture its maturity. For the moment, nothing could be discerned.

As they waited, the Observer suddenly broke the silence.

”Earlier, you asked me about Reynaud. At the time, due to some reasons, I didn’t have the chance to tell you. Do you still want to know the answer now?”

Angel was taken aback, then nodded without hesitation.

He remembered that Sanders’ sudden arrival had interrupted the Observer’s thoughts, making Angel assume he wouldn’t find out the truth anytime soon. He didn’t expect the Observer to bring it up again now.

However, the Observer’s thoughts differed from Angel’s. It was indeed Sanders’ arrival that interrupted his speech then. But even if Sanders hadn’t come, he might not have answered Angel back then.

Mainly because, in his perspective, this is a form of knowledge. Even within the Orderly Guild, the conditions for exchanging such knowledge aren’t high, but they aren’t without conditions, and he hadn’t wanted to offer such information freely to Angel at that time.

The reason for his change of mind now was that he owed Angel a favor, equivalent to a compensatory exchange.

Login to the Wilderness of Dreams with the monocle he’d received; he hadn’t used it yet and couldn’t determine its value. But accepting it meant he agreed to the compensatory exchange.

So he planned to use this knowledge to repay part of the favor.

Of course, whether the value is equivalent or not will only become clear in the future after he uses the monocle.

If the monocle’s added value exceeds this knowledge, he will surely provide further compensation in the future, as ’compensatory exchange’ is not only a mental realization but also a kind of constrained obligation.

”Since you want to hear it, and there’s nothing going on now, let me tell you.” The Observer began slowly, ”Is there such a thing as a Luck Talent? I don’t know; maybe there is, maybe there’s not. But at least in my experience, I’ve never heard of a Luck Talent.”

”So, I wouldn’t describe Reynaud’s situation as a Luck Talent.”

”I can’t provide a precise answer for why Reynaud’s fortune is peculiar, but I can tell you my guess.”

The Observer didn’t directly present his hypothesis but narrated a real story.

Years ago, in a mortal kingdom within the West Continent Wizard World, there appeared a famous individual.

His name was Child.

Born into a poor family, there was nothing remarkable about this family before Child was born. But after Child was born, this impoverished family gradually became a household legend.

Child’s parents and siblings inexplicably began to experience good luck after his birth.

At first, it was minor fortunes, like: encountering a rabbit that hit a tree when hungry, birds dropping fruits when thirsty, sunshine when harvesting crops, and better yields than previous years.

Initially, they didn’t think much of it, but as Child grew, their luck improved significantly.

It wasn’t just limited to trivial fortunes anymore but progressed further:

They could find money just walking on flat ground.

A random trinket from a street stall turned out to be an ancient royal relic from thousands of years ago.

When faced with robbers, the criminals tripped over themselves, allowing them to capture the robbers and receive hefty rewards.

This good fortune enveloped Child’s family, transforming them from impoverished farmers into renowned merchants within a few short years.

Moreover, becoming merchants wasn’t due to bootstrapping... none of their family understood business at all; it was purely from ”empty” achievements.

Despite lacking any background, various coincidences and good fortunes elevated the family into powerful tycoons.