Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2655: Chapter 2656: Four-in-One

Everyone looked at Angel’s palm and saw something familiar.

A silver-white ring.

"This seems like the ring Speedy found on the Ghosteye Witch in that alley before?" Dox recalled.

"Very similar, but not the same. I remember the ring Speedy found was smaller, and this one looks larger," said Kaier, who had touched that silver ring before and remembered it clearly. "Moreover, this ring has a circle of dark patterns, which also makes it look more exquisite than the previous one."

Dox observed carefully for a moment and noticed the differences too: "Indeed, there are some variations, but the overall shape is quite similar, the material also looks about the same; both are Mortal Iron wrapped in Nobility Silver."

Looking at Angel, Dox asked, "Where did you find this thing? Does it have something to do with the Wood Spirit?"

Everyone was also curious about how such an ordinary ring could be related to the Wood Spirit.

Angel replied, "I got this from Cicia in an exchange; it’s a treasure used by the Wood Spirit at Cicia’s to exchange for passage qualification."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood. Angel’s implication was that this ring belonged to the Wood Spirit and was its treasure?

Dox frowned, "So, does this broken thing have any deeper meaning?"

Ordinary objects might have meaning, but those that embody the full emotion of their owner can usually be sensed through inspiration. This ring, however, seemed to have no deeper significance.

Angel shook his head, "It has no meaning. Cicia clearly stated that this thing has no meaning."

"Cicia accepts things without meaning? Then weren’t we at a loss before? My rapier... damn woman!" Dox was filled with righteous indignation, but he only dared to speak in the Mind Ribbon.

Not only Dox, but others were also puzzled as to why Cicia would accept an object without any meaning.

"There’s a reason for this," Angel said with a sigh, his expression slightly odd.

"According to the rules set by the Warden ten thousand years ago, to continue upward along the platform, there are two ways: offer certain specific items in exchange for passage, or possess a pass that allows access."

"However, after the Warden of Hanging Jail Stairway left, those specific items became useless to Cicia, so she modified the trading rights, exchanging specific items with what she now considers treasures, objects she likes that have meaning."

"When the Wood Spirit arrived, Cicia surely treated it according to this standard. But..."

The Black Earl suddenly interjected, "A newly born Wood Spirit simply has no meaningful treasures."

Angel nodded, "The Black Earl is right, the Wood Spirit has nothing; the only thing it possessed was this silver ring."

Dox: "Could it be that Cicia saw that the Wood Spirit had no treasure and just accepted the ring?"

Angel shook his head, "No... the ring may not have profound meaning, but the Wood Spirit loved it dearly, it would never trade it."

"With no treasure and Cicia unwilling to take the ring, the Wood Spirit was even less willing to give up the ring," Angel continued, "Given these three conditions, I think you can guess what happened next."

The Black Earl thought for a moment and understood but did not explain.

Among the others, Dox was the quickest to react.

"Could it be that the Wood Spirit resorted to staying put?"

Angel: "Correct."

"Just think about it, the Wood Spirit, freshly born, didn’t know about Hanging Jail Stairway, so why did it end up there? A simple deduction can explain it."

After the Wood Spirit gained its intelligence, it was startled by the surrounding number of terrifying Ghosteye Witches and played dead for decades.

Once it found an opportunity, the first thing it wanted to do was run. But the Wood Spirit was unfamiliar with the area, not even knowing where it was, nor the correct direction to escape.

At that moment, the Wood Spirit noticed the work area connected to two tunnels. However, the tunnel Angel and others used required passing through many alleys before it could be seen, while the other tunnel was right behind the Gemini Towers chapel, visible at a glance.

The Wood Spirit couldn’t determine which was the exit, but retrospectively its choice was the tunnel behind the Gemini Towers.

Entering the tunnel didn’t guarantee safety, and as it ventured deeper, it discovered a new path: the sewers.

How the Wood Spirit got from the sewers to this other-dimensional space, Angel couldn’t deduce precisely, but probably due to the sewer’s stench... after all, the Wood Spirit represents the purest Life Force, and the filth and dark murkiness of the sewers are the opposite of its liking.

Eventually, the Wood Spirit found the entrance to the other-dimensional space and made its way step by step to the platform where Cicia was.

"What did the Wood Spirit want?" Angel answered without waiting for others, "Perhaps it had higher goals, like leaving Naraku City for a flowery place... But as for a newly born and ignorant Wood Spirit, that’s practically impossible. So, its singular pursuit was simply a safe place."

"From the Wood Spirit’s perspective, Cicia wanted cherished possessions it didn’t have. The only thing it possessed was the silver ring, which it didn’t want to give away. Now, do you think the platform where Cicia is located is safe?"

Vay: "It does seem quite safe... as long as one stays on the platform and doesn’t fall into the void, it should be safe."

Angel: "Then the answer is clear, the Wood Spirit found the place safe, and since Cicia wouldn’t let it leave, it simply decided to stay there."

"No matter how Cicia tried to drive it away, the Wood Spirit wouldn’t leave, and even started its old trick... playing dead."

"Seeing this, Cicia had no choice. She didn’t want to harm the Wood Spirit either, so after some quarreling, Cicia forcibly took the ring from the Wood Spirit and kicked it off the platform."

"That’s the whole process," Angel concluded, then looked at Dox, "So, your belief that Cicia treated the Wood Spirit specially is true. Though not without reason, if you played dead on that platform for years, perhaps even Cicia would become annoyed and use any ordinary item to kick you off."

Vay chimed in, "No, I think it’s more likely Cicia wouldn’t be as lenient to Dox as with the Wood Spirit. After all, considering Dox’s mouth, he’d probably get himself into trouble within a day."

Upon hearing this, Dox immediately put on a scowling expression, "Don’t make reckless assumptions about things that haven’t happened. And next time, remember to address me properly, or I’ll show you no courtesy."

Vay, completely unfazed by Dox’s threat, made a face at Dox before darting over to the Black Earl, displaying a look of ’what can you do about it?’

Dox was so angry that smoke seemed to come out of his nose, but... in reality, he had no means to do anything to Vay. All he could do was glare at Vay fiercely and then turn his head, pretending nothing had happened.

The commotion between Dox and Vay did not affect the conversation of the others.

After listening to Angel’s story, Kaier remarked in the Mind Ribbon, "This Wood Spirit really seems quite easygoing."

Angel silently gave Kaier a thumbs up in his heart—

High emotional intelligence version: Easygoing and content.

Low emotional intelligence version: Lazy, unambitious, and playing tricks.

You can only say that Kaier is truly from the Academy Faction, and his words on this topic sound much better than Cicia’s.

Of course, Cicia is a firsthand witness, knowing how tricky Wood Spirit is, so just hearing about Wood Spirit makes her want to roll her eyes. As for Kaier, he isn’t even an observer, hence speaking such inconsequential words.

"Back to the main topic." Angel: "Do you remember I brought out two Gold Coins at that time, right? One Gold Coin was my ticket, and the other Gold Coin was used to exchange for Wood Spirit’s ring."

At this point, Angel paused and said something off-topic: "Only Wood Spirit’s ring, Cicia was willing to exchange with me voluntarily. Because, for her, it’s the only flaw among all the treasures in her collection."

"Continuing. I traded with Cicia for Wood Spirit’s ring, thinking that if any of you know tracking-related Divination, you might use this ring to locate Wood Spirit. After all, this item belongs to Wood Spirit." When Angel mentioned ’tracking,’ he silently glanced at Black Earl, who turned the stone slab and directly ignored Angel’s gaze.

Seeing Black Earl not respond, Angel could only sigh: "How to use this ring for tracking, we’ll discuss later. I’ll first talk about an interesting point I found when I saw that Wood Spirit’s treasure was this ring."

Dox: "Interesting?"

Angel didn’t answer but summoned four pale blue Hands of Magic, placing the silver ring with dark patterns onto the first Hand of Magic.

Then he took out a second item from his bracelet, a small silver crown, precisely the crown he found during his live ’blind box’ opening. Angel placed this three-pronged crown onto the second Hand of Magic.

As for the third Hand of Magic, Angel placed the oval silver pendant he took from that special Ghosteye Witch.

On the last Hand of Magic, Angel directly placed Dangross.

Dangross looked around confused, not knowing what was happening. Angel pointed to the silver ring on its thumb, signaling it to remove it and place it on the Hand of Magic.

Dangross quite liked this silver ring that Speedy found, but since Angel asked for it, it still voluntarily removed it and, with a reluctant expression, placed the silver ring onto the Hand of Magic.

"Don’t make such a reluctant face; when we have time, I’ll refine a ring for each of your fingers, and they’ll be colorful and luminous, ensuring you’re the most noticeable little fellow when you go out." Angel casually promised while lifting Dangross from the Hand of Magic and re-hanging it on the Blood Night Shelter.

After settling Dangross, Angel signaled everyone to focus on the four Hands of Magic.

"The interesting point I mentioned is here. Now carefully observe, and see if you notice anything."

As soon as Angel finished speaking, Vay stood up first to respond: "The colors are very consistent; apart from the crown and the oval pendant having faint gold powder, they are mostly silver-white."

"The materials are almost similar, all using Nobility Silver."

"Lastly, they’re all mortal items." Vay paused: "Well, that’s all I discovered, I’m finished."

After Vay’s remark, Black Earl’s voice came out: "Your words are meaningless, didn’t touch the main point at all, truly foolish."

Vay froze in expression, having responded quickly to support the idol and prevent an awkward silence. Therefore, he hadn’t carefully observed, merely speaking what came to mind.

Unexpectedly, he was reprimanded by Black Earl immediately after speaking.

Vay, a bit aggrieved, returned his gaze to the four Hands of Magic, now scrutinizing them with an observant eye.

After careful observation, Vay truly noticed some details previously overlooked.

"The four placed together seem very harmonious." Vay: "Like... like..."

Kaier: "Like a complete object split into several smaller parts."

"Yes!" Vay nodded vigorously: "Kaier spoke to my heart; that’s precisely the feeling. Previously seen separately, there was no sensation, but placing them together evokes a sense of harmony, like they can assemble into one complete object."

After Vay spoke, he looked at Angel with anticipation.

Angel signaled Vay with his eyes to look to the side.

Vay instinctively turned his gaze aside, only to see Black Earl staring at him.

Vay: "Sir, did I say something wrong?"

Black Earl: "You didn’t say anything wrong; it just seems you wish more for Angel’s approval."

Vay chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

At this moment, Angel suddenly spoke, aiding Vay’s predicament: "Vay wasn’t wrong. Once I received the silver ring of Wood Spirit from Cicia, I noticed these items seemed connected. Of course, the inspiration was from Kaier’s reminder during the previous live broadcast."

Previously, during the live broadcast, Kaier speculated that the crown and the oval pendant appeared to have a connection as if they could merge into one. Due to Kaier’s reminder, when Angel saw the same colored silver ring brought out by Cicia, combined with the ring used as Dangross’s finger ring, he instantly had a connection in his mind.

Angel spoke while swiftly assembling the items using the four Hands of Magic.

Soon, a harmonious object, yet indistinguishable for what it was, appeared on the remaining Hand of Magic.

Though its use was temporarily unknown, its overall appearance was quite exquisite and harmonious, clearly unified.

The topmost part was a silver three-pronged crown, seemingly ordinary at a glance, yet upon closer inspection revealing carved dark patterns and occasional flashes of gold, possessing both subtlety and luxury.

Below the crown was the initially discovered silver ring by Speedy. Previously ignored due to its plainness and lack of pattern, now its existence seemed justified, revealing only a small segment while most of it was concealed by the crown, making it appear as a transitional layer beneath the crown.

Below the small ring was the oval pendant. Angel initially thought the crown could connect directly with the pendant, but it wasn’t quite the case. Inside the crown was a little mechanism not meant for the oval pendant but to fit the small ring.

The small ring happened to fit the oval pendant, covering its rounded upper part.

Beneath the silver pendant was the larger ring exchanged from Cicia, engraved with Bitroot leaf encircling patterns, perfectly fitting the lower rounded part of the oval pendant.

With both rounded parts of the pendant covered, at first glance, the oval pendant transformed into a square body.

Overall, aside from its unknown function, it was quite exquisite and beautiful, seamlessly integrated and cohesive.