Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2448: Chapter 2449: The Recorder

”Mr. Chairman, has something happened?” It was Rivetta speaking. Her position was directly opposite to Chairman Zhuguang, so she was the first to notice Zhuguang’s sidelong glance.

Rivetta’s words also drew everyone else’s attention to Chairman Zhuguang.

Chairman Zhuguang smiled: ”It’s nothing, I just had a vague feeling that someone might be watching me.”

”Black Duke” Adelaide followed Chairman Zhuguang’s line of sight: ”Is it over there?”

Chairman Zhuguang: ”My intuition tells me no one is over there.”

As for why he turned his head in that direction, he couldn’t say either, it was just an unconscious movement. Where exactly the ”gaze” was, he couldn’t pinpoint.

After a pause, Chairman Zhuguang waved it off: ”Never mind, it might have been an illusion, nothing to worry about; besides, I didn’t sense any malice.”

An illusion? Adelaide and Diescher squinted slightly, not questioning this statement, yet internally they didn’t believe it. With Chairman Zhuguang’s stature, the likelihood of it being an illusion was exceedingly low.

So, there is no need to pay attention to the first half of Chairman Zhuguang’s sentence. The key point is the second half: I didn’t feel any malice either.

This comment seemed to relieve the current tense atmosphere but was actually a warning from Chairman Zhuguang to the others.

— The focus isn’t whether the other party has hostile intent, but that they must not possess any.

For someone to watch Chairman Zhuguang without him sensing the direction and without any trace, the strength of such a person might not absolutely surpass Chairman Zhuguang, but it’s certainly not inferior.

Such a powerful entity is extremely rare in the Southern Domain, almost non-existent.

If the hidden entity indeed came from the Outer Domain, then it’s not limited to entities below legend, and it is highly likely that they have already taken that step. So, facing someone with at least his level of strength, potentially stronger, if they probe with malice, offending them would be utterly unwise.

Therefore, he used vague words to remind the others not to investigate.

”Our visit this time is to record the messages here, not to seize anything, so we should just do our duty. Leave everything else alone.” Chairman Zhuguang paused, looking at Diescher: ”Diescher, what do you think?”

Since Adelaide herself is a member of the Council of Truth, there is no need to say much, and she will comply. But Diescher is different, representing the ”Glowing City Night Talk” journal of Forest of Night Whisper. Although Diescher is with them this time, he is only here to take advantage of the Void projection and he has paid the corresponding price. There is no subordinate relationship between them.

Thus, Chairman Zhuguang specifically asked Diescher individually.

Diescher’s eyes flickered slightly, he was not stupid, and he understood the meaning of Chairman Zhuguang. It appeared to be telling them to do their part but was actually stating to ”the others” that: don’t mind us, we will not participate in the seizure of mysterious objects.

As for who this ”other” is, it is undoubtedly the person who previously observed Chairman Zhuguang.

The entity to whom even Chairman Zhuguang must make a statement is certainly not within Diescher’s capability to handle.

”Of course, following the agreement signed with the major Wizards’ Alliances, since we are participating as recorders in this incident, it is natural to put greed aside and give up on the contest for mysterious objects.”

After Diescher finished speaking, Rivetta also understood the hint and followed up: ”Our ’Glowing City Night Talk’ mainly records the intrigues and power struggles among the wizards competing for the mysterious objects, which are most loved by our magazine’s audience. As for analyzing the mysterious object and its contained significance or subsequent evaluation, we cannot handle such professional content, which will have to be left to you, Mr. Chairman.”

Upon receiving this response, Chairman Zhuguang smiled with satisfaction.

”In that case, let’s act according to the agreement. Also, you are not council members, there’s no need to address me as chairman; you can just call me by name.”

Despite what was said, neither Diescher nor Rivetta dared to call him by name.

”Lord Zhuguang, do you know the origin of this mysterious object?” Diescher asked respectfully.

Chairman Zhuguang gazed into the distance, observing for quite a while before speaking: ”That fruit should be the mysterious object, but strangely, although it has the aura of a mysterious object, it feels like it hasn’t ripened yet.”

”Its effects are currently unknown. But judging from others’ feedback, it seems to possess an attraction beyond the rules.”

”As for the origin, it’s unclear.”

After speaking, he looked at Diescher: ”By the way, Diescher, you are knowledgeable about the wizard affiliations in the Southern Domain. Do you recognize that tree-like woman standing on the wave crest?”

Diescher shook his head: ”I have never seen her. However, I have seen several people with similar numbered marks on their faces, seemingly belonging to a hidden organization, and they have performed sacrifices using living people.”

Chairman Zhuguang: ”Are they followers of Outer Gods?”

Diescher shook his head again: ”Probably not. Their style of doing things is completely different from those Evil God followers. They are more restrained and secretive. Moreover, there are no traces of Evil Gods involved in their sacrifices. They seem to be some sort of ceremonial rituals for prayer, akin to those of primitive tribes.”

For this reason, although Diescher obtained some information, he did not pass it on to the Extreme Sect.

However, the members of these hidden organizations intrigued him, and a few years ago, he arranged for an investigation and even prepared a simulated report, waiting to catch a clue to report it.

Unfortunately, the other party was too low-key and didn’t partake in events in the Southern Domain Wizards’ Realm, and no breakthrough has been found to this day.

”I see.” Chairman Zhuguang murmured: ”To deliberately hide and avoid contact with the Wizards’ Realm, there must be something fishy.”

Regrettably, there are no further details.

However, Chairman Zhuguang wasn’t overly concerned with the tree-like woman, leaving those issues for the contenders to worry about. His focus was more on the mysterious fruit.

The mysterious fruit currently reveals little, yet mysteriously it makes him feel somewhat uneasy.

It was an indescribable sensation, staring at that mysterious fruit. It was like he returned to two thousand years ago, standing before an Abyssal Depth in the Abyss World, peering into its depths.

The throbbing deep within, coupled with unparalleled danger, filled his heart at the same time.

Within the Abyssal Depth lurk The Unparalleled Great Demon God and some ancient entities whose names cannot even be mentioned. They are beings that could threaten the existence of the entire Wizards’ Realm.

Yet now, just by looking at that fruit, Zhuguang felt a similar unease.

Needless to say, the Zhuguang of two thousand years ago and the Zhuguang now were entirely different in strength; moreover, his True Body wasn’t present here, this was merely a Phantom Shadow, and even the Phantom Shadow felt such dread—his True Body would likely feel it even more acutely.

What exactly is this mysterious object?

While Zhuguang was frowning and pondering, he suddenly heard Rivetta’s voice calling out: ”Black Duke... Sir? Black Duke?”

”Chief Editor, Lord Black Duke isn’t affected by the fruit, is she?”

Rivetta anxiously looked at Diescher.

Diescher replied irritably: ”Shut up, we’re just projections, if you think even with your toenails, you’d realize we can’t be affected by the fruit. As for Lord Black Duke, can’t you see she’s contemplating? Stop calling out.”

Rivetta turned to look at Adelaide, the latter’s eyes were slightly lost: is this really contemplation?

In Rivetta’s confusion, Chairman Zhuguang approached Adelaide, gently tapping her.

Adelaide’s face bore a slight gloom as she turned to Chairman Zhuguang: ”Lord Chairman, it’s not polite to touch a lady’s body at will.”

”Also, there’s no need for you to ask if I’ve been affected by the fruit, Mr. Chairman. I am not deaf, I heard Rivetta’s voice. As Diescher mentioned, I was simply thinking about things.”

Even when facing her immediate superior, Adelaide still did not show any kindness.

Zhuguang Chairman was not bothered; Adelaide’s personality was just like that. Anyone who violated her taboos and disrupted her predetermined rules would face this attitude—it was the path she chose.

”I just wanted to ask, what do you think of this mysterious fruit?” Zhuguang Chairman looked at Adelaide.

”Nothing to say.”

”I thought you had discovered something after pondering for so long.”

Adelaide: ”I wasn’t thinking about that mysterious fruit.”

”Then what were you thinking about?” Zhuguang Chairman asked curiously. Was Adelaide considering other matters at this moment? Given her serious nature, this was quite rare.

Adelaide: ”Nothing much, just after arriving here... I suddenly thought of an old friend.”

”An old friend?” Rivetta’s eyes gleamed—was this gossip?

Adelaide ignored Rivetta; she didn’t want to gossip or become the subject of gossip.

Zhuguang Chairman looked deeply at Adelaide and said, ”Is it that old friend from Berth Island?”

Adelaide slightly raised her eyes but then deliberately lowered them: ”Mr. Chairman’s intuition is as sharp as ever.”

”This isn’t intuition but the chairman’s sincere care for the council members; don’t you feel it?”

Adelaide coldly replied, ”Bored.”

Zhuguang Chairman: ”However, although Berth Island is also at sea, it is extremely far from here. Why did you suddenly think of... an old friend? Or is that old friend so important that being at the sea immediately reminds you of them?”

After saying these words, Zhuguang Chairman prepared to be countered. According to Adelaide’s personality, any teasing about her personal affairs was absolutely forbidden.

However, surprisingly, Adelaide was not angry; instead, she contemplated seriously: ”I also find it odd. There’s no connection between here and him, yet his image inexplicably surfaced in my mind.”

”Him?” Rivetta’s eyes shone brighter, even nearby Diescher quietly perked up his ears.

”As a True Knowledge Wizard, there should be no random thoughts. There must be a reason. Perhaps he is nearby, making you think of him,” Zhuguang Chairman said.

”Nearby?” Adelaide glanced behind at the large mass of shadows: ”I don’t know, but I haven’t noticed his trace.”

”If he’s not nearby, that suggests another reason. Perhaps he’s thinking of you at this moment, creating a psychic connection?”

Adelaide: ”...”

...

Angel’s expression was slightly peculiar at this time.

For some reason, the conversation between Zhuguang Chairman and the others was not deliberately shielded, so Angel heard everything.

It was the first time he realized that Diescher had already discovered some laboratory traces before them and had even found evidence of their ritual.

No wonder he’s the editor of ”Glowing City Night Talk”; his information channels are indeed extensive.

Diescher’s information was surprising to Angel, but more so was the conversation between Adelaide and Zhuguang Chairman.

Angel heard a term: Berth Island.

Berth Island is a very ordinary island, but it harbors an extraordinary family—the Vansel family.

This is a transcendent family that once had a True Knowledge Wizard.

The fire element wizard Reeves whom Angel met in Duling Garden is from the Vansel family of Berth Island.

And Reeves’s soul is now residing inside a Rest Flower in Angel’s bracelet.

Angel remembers Tree Spirit once told him that Reeves seemed to know Black Baron. But how they knew each other, and to what extent, even Tree Spirit wasn’t clear.

Angel didn’t care much at the time, but unexpectedly, encountering Black Baron here—without revealing himself, and with Reeves still resting in the bracelet—Black Baron thought of the ”old friend” from Berth Island across so many barriers.

This surprised Angel greatly.

The bond between Reeves and ”Black Baron” Adelaide is deeper than he imagined.

What exactly is their relationship? Could they truly be partners?

Such a powerful being like Adelaide actually fancies a junior without background, whose strength also vastly inferior to hers?

Angel feels he might have found the truth.

Should he look for an opportunity to directly hand Reeves over to Adelaide?

Maybe not now; the timing is unclear, but soon it’s the Tea Party, perhaps at the Tea Party, he can quietly bring Reeves to Adelaide’s presence?

While Angel was absorbed in listening to the ”gossip” in the distance, dusk gradually turned into night.

A new nightfall began.

As the starry sky shone, Angel heard a roaring sound coming from afar, interrupting his gossip-filled thoughts.

Turning back, he saw distant shadows scattered retreating, revealing a massive and dark shadow as they moved away.

The sound of strong winds echoed.

The massive shadow drew closer, its true form gradually revealed.

”Cloud Whale!” Angel exclaimed softly in surprise; all the wizards were actually avoiding a Cloud Whale.

Angel was well acquainted with Cloud Whales; when he first entered the Wizards’ Realm, he had traveled aboard one from Devil’s Sea to Flourish Continent.

Angel was very aware of the Cloud Whale’s might.

Now, unexpectedly a Cloud Whale broke through the waves, heading towards the center of the Mist Belt!