Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2981: Chapter 2982: Routine Gathering

”I’ve noticed that ever since you arrived at the City of Hot Gold, you’ve started to act mysteriously.” Laplace looked Angel up and down: ”Are you trying to compete with Glaipnir over whose words are more like hidden puzzles?”

Glaipnir pulled at his wrinkled, sagging skin with a slight smile but said nothing.

Angel, on the other hand, replied indifferently, ”I don’t think I have the potential of a riddler. When I said ’later,’ I meant it literally. Once we leave the City of Hot Gold, then you’ll see.”

Laplace gave Angel a deep look and nodded slightly: ”So... should I be a little expectant?”

Angel looked at Laplace with some surprise: ”Is that a joke? Or are you trying to show... humor?”

Laplace remained silent, her gaze lightly sweeping over Angel.

”I was just kidding.” Angel gave a wry smile, took back his words, and then put on a serious expression: ”There’s no need for anticipation because I only have some inspiration. Whether this inspiration can take shape needs to be experimented on. If it turns out in the end that this inspiration is actually meaningless, then the anticipation would be in vain.”

Laplace softly refuted, ”To look forward to something doesn’t necessarily mean it has to succeed. Although failure might diminish the anticipation, it is still a form of expectation.”

After a pause, Laplace looked directly into Angel’s eyes: ”Moreover, what I’m looking forward to is not a thing, but you as a person.”

In Laplace’s mind, Angel as a person has already become synonymous with the unknown, depth, wonder, and... miracles.

Looking at all Angel has done along the way.

Whether it was Angel successfully changing the pattern of the Qingkong Poetry Room, creating the Crystal Origin of Dreams, or the spontaneous refinement of a Half-step Mystic object... All these feats, in Laplace’s view, are miracles.

Miracles that cannot be replicated, nor can anyone obscure their brilliance.

Therefore, Laplace holds great expectations for Angel as a person.

Of course, Laplace doesn’t think Angel will continuously create miracles, but as long as there’s even the slightest possibility of a miracle, it is enough for Laplace to hold onto those expectations.

Angel raised an eyebrow, looking at Laplace: ”Then I’ll just pray a little, hoping that my deeds won’t disappoint Lady Laplace’s expectations.”

Laplace gave a light smile: ”Then I’ll be waiting to see.”

Although she doesn’t mind if expectations fall short, there was no need to say it out loud.

Any miracle born from Angel, for her, is unwise to block, only needing to witness it.

...

Because they were waiting for Reeves, Angel and the others didn’t choose to leave immediately; they remained in the VIP room.

During the wait, Angel became engrossed in his own thoughts.

Laplace had no idea what Angel was thinking, but perhaps he was designing the next moment’s miracle.

To not let the miracle die before it appeared, Laplace didn’t disturb Angel but rather engaged in a mental conversation with Glaipnir.

What they were discussing was Glaipnir’s previous presumptuous actions.

Angel acted indifferent, but as the main body of the Temporal Body, Laplace couldn’t not care.

Previously, for various reasons, it was postponed with only a slight warning given, but now was the perfect idle moment to clarify the matter. Especially regarding their attitude towards Angel, it needed to be clear.

Laplace and Glaipnir talked in secret while outwardly everything seemed calm, as if they were quietly resting their eyes. Paired with Angel on the other side deep in thought, the brightly lit VIP room fell into a rare tranquility.

The peaceful time passed quickly, and a quarter of an hour quietly slipped by, and Angel gradually came back to his senses.

After several more minutes, Reeves hadn’t arrived yet, but Lungya Qin, along with Xiaoyinjie and his old father, re-entered the VIP room.

Upon entering the VIP room, Lungya Qin immediately saluted Laplace, while Xiaoyinjie hurried to follow his example.

Their salutations suggested what they were probably discussing earlier.

Initially, when Lungya Qin first met Laplace, he appeared quite indifferent, instead showing great respect to Glaipnir.

Clearly, at first, Lungya Qin did not know Laplace’s true identity. Coming deliberately now and bringing Shaya Yinjie along to pay respects implies he had learned of Laplace’s background from his old father.

—Glaipnir’s true body, a powerful being living in the Sea of Void Mirror.

Exactly how powerful Laplace is, Lungya Qin didn’t know, but living in the Sea of Void Mirror was enough to earn his respect.

Those who dare to meddle in the Sea of Void Mirror are all great beings standing at the pyramid’s apex in the Daylight Mirror Domain.

It seems as if the Mirror Sea Scholar frequently interacts with the Sea of Void Mirror too, but ultimately they are only sighing helplessly, able to explore the Sea of Void Mirror from a great distance. As for truly making contact? Currently, no Mirror Sea Scholar has been able to fully retreat after contacting the Sea of Void Mirror.

His old father, Wolftooth Di-Bone, had once briefly contacted the Sea of Void Mirror, and even with just a touch-and-go, he still forgot many past events, which was the cost.

For this reason, upon learning of Laplace’s ”big shot” status, Lungya Qin hurriedly came to apologize for previous negligence.

However, Laplace wasn’t bothered by any of this.

After exchanging a few words of courtesy, she dismissed Lungya Qin’s family as well as Xiaoyinjie.

But before Lungya Qin left, he extended an invitation to Angel.

”Xiaoyinjie just informed me of a message. A week from now, a routine gathering will be held in Crystal City, organized by the Mirror Sea Scholars and supported by the Pi Luoxiu Clan. If Sir has some free time, perhaps you could come and have a look.”

Though Lungya Qin was inviting Angel, his respectful gaze was directed toward Laplace, clearly indicating that while he appeared to be inviting Angel, he was truly aiming to invite Laplace.

It was likely that Shaya Yinjie had informed Lungya Qin of Angel’s close relationship with Laplace throughout their journey, leading Lungya Qin to use this rather roundabout method to extend this invitation.

Of course, Angel also understood Lungya Qin’s implication, though he didn’t care much. After all, the Mirror Domain was not a place for humans to lead.

”What is this routine gathering?” After Lungya Qin’s group left, Angel curiously asked.

Laplace: ”Glaipnir mentioned it to me before, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.”

The high EQ explanation is that she didn’t keep it in mind.

The low EQ explanation is that she forgot.

So, this matter still needs to be entrusted to Glaipnir to explain.

Glaipnir: ”The routine gathering mentioned by Wolftooth. Flute Bone is essentially a meeting that combines trade, intelligence exchange, and research exchange.”

Angel: ”This sounds like a Transcendent gathering... it does have a preliminary concept of a Wizard Market.”

The routine gathering in the Mirror Domain is somewhat similar to past Transcendent gatherings in the Wizards’ Realm.

In a Transcendent gathering, you can exchange items, exchange information, and also present your own research projects.

However, Transcendent gatherings are generally held periodically, every two weeks, monthly... yearly. There is an interval between them, which is beneficial as it allows each member time to accumulate resources for exchange; but it also has deficiencies, lacking immediacy, having time with no gathering, and a gathering with no time.

As a result, under such circumstances, Transcendent gatherings gradually turned into the concept of a market.

With the Wizard Market, there is no worry about the issue of immediacy.

Of course, the Wizard Market’s predecessor is not necessarily the Transcendent gathering. But it can be confirmed that the extension of Transcendent gatherings basically turned into the Wizard Market.

Glaipnir: ”Something similar. The ecological civilization, environmental background, and the unified human society of the Wizards’ Realm provided opportunities to form a Wizard Market, but it is very difficult to form such a highly centralized market in the Mirror Domain.”

Angel understands this too, after all, the Mirror Domain is too vast, full of dangers everywhere, and with too many different races and forms.

Honestly, even unifying a part of the trade market in such circumstances by the Ancient Tooth Fairy surprised Angel. That’s exactly why when considering the development of the Crystal Origin of Dreams, the Ancient Tooth Fairy was the first to come to Angel’s mind. Through the Ancient Tooth Fairy’s trade market and clients from various clans, it can spread throughout the Daylight Mirror Domain.

Glaipnir: ”However, a society that does not communicate is very hard to progress. There are some scholars in the Ancient Tooth Fairy who, in order to allow beings within the mirror to exchange what they need and understand each other, proposed the concept of routine gatherings.”

Angel: ”I can understand the exchange in a routine gathering. But as for the trade, actually the Ancient Ruins of Tooth Fairy can also do that, don’t they have their own auction?”

Glaipnir: ”Most of what the Ancient Ruins of Tooth Fairy trades are their own items. But the trade at routine gatherings involves each race bringing out their heritage, so it is of higher value.”

Angel showed a look of understanding: ”I see.”

Glaipnir: ”However, trade in routine gatherings only makes up a small portion of the exchanges. The larger portion still lies in the exchange of information and research.”

”What everyone cares most about is still the research exchange...”

The so-called research exchange refers to the exchange of research topics. Of course, this is Angel’s understanding, as in the Mirror Domain there is no concept of ”research topics”.

Mirror Domain creatures talk more often about the research of Aggregation Energy, or the development of Aggregation Energy.

After all, the development of Aggregation Energy differs among races, and if they can combine and complement each other, it might strengthen their own race.

This is also why each race values research exchanges greatly.

”Generally, each routine gathering is supported by a Mirror Domain race. And this race will proactively share their research on Aggregation Energy.”

”From Wolftooth. Flute Bone’s words earlier, it’s known that this routine gathering is supported by the Pi Luoxiu Clan.”

Glaipnir chuckled lightly at this point: ”Mirror Domain creatures actually pick and choose based on perceived value. If they feel the hosting race of a routine gathering isn’t impressive enough, they might opt not to attend.”

”This time, the routine gathering is backed by the Pi Luoxiu Clan... I estimate many races won’t participate.”

The main reason is that the Pi Luoxiu Clan doesn’t have a good reputation. Also, its research direction leans towards external inventions, while mirror creatures prefer power sourced from within rather than external augmentation.

”The stronger the race, the less they regard the inventions of the Pi Luoxiu. So, strong races likely won’t come.” Glaipnir: ”This is actually quite good, at least it won’t be too dangerous.”

At this point, Glaipnir glanced at Angel: ”Speaking of which, you mentioned the Pi Luoxiu not long ago, and now there’s a routine gathering supported by them, that’s rather coincidental.”

Though Glaipnir said ”coincidental,” it was completely sarcastic.

Likely, it’s because Wolftooth. Flute Bone learned of Angel’s previous interest in the Pi Luoxiu that led to this invitation.

Of course... Pi Luoxiu supporting this routine gathering wasn’t specially arranged for this, it was probably determined long ago, but Wolftooth. Flute Bone knowing Angel’s interest in Pi Luoxiu then took the opportunity to inform him about it.

Glaipnir looked at Angel: ”Will you go?”

Angel thought for a moment: ”I’m somewhat interested.”

If he had to purposely go to Pipi City to have an exchange with the Pi Luoxiu, Angel’s interest wasn’t particularly high. But this time, it’s not just about Pi Luoxiu’s inventions, it’s also about the exchange among major races in the Mirror Domain, which piqued Angel’s interest a bit.

It’s rare to have so many races gathering for exchange... perhaps it could even open up the situation for the Crystal Origin of Dreams.

Angel naturally wants to take a look.

Laplace: ”If you’re interested, then you might as well take the invitation to see. Speaking of which, I’m also a bit curious about what level Mirror Domain beings have reached in Aggregation Energy development.”

Glaipnir gave Laplace a somewhat surprised look. Laplace had never shown interest in routine gatherings before but specifically brought it up this time, clearly intending to go.

And Laplace’s statement of ”curious about Aggregation Energy development” is likely just an excuse, probably... it’s still because of Angel.

Glaipnir sighed lightly; perhaps she underestimated Angel’s standing with Laplace.

After a moment of silence, Glaipnir said: ”The next routine gathering will take place in Crystal City, which is within the Crystal Kingdom of the Immortal Mirror Sea, in the area of the Crystal Eye Clan, not far from here. Moreover, Crystal Kingdom is an open area, not prohibiting outsiders from entering.”

Glaipnir looked at Angel: ”If you want to attend the routine gathering, we can head over to take a look after we leave.”

Angel: ”Forget it, if I’m going, I’ll decide once the routine gathering starts.”

For Angel, going beforehand would spoil the surprise.

Additionally, rather than scouting the routine gathering in advance, he’s more concerned with the previous inspiration.

Once leaving the City of Hot Gold, he plans to verify the feasibility of this inspiration.

As Angel was contemplating this, the door to the adjacent VIP room finally opened.