Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2542: Chapter 2543: The Man Known as Kaier

The martial law in Princess Town was stricter than imagined; the large magical energy array covering the whole town had already been activated. Numerous magic power barriers stood around Princess Town, forming a rectangular dome that encased it like a giant transparent box.

Moreover, since Princess Town was situated in an other-dimensional space, it had essentially become an isolated island.

The sole exit from this island was strictly controlled by the guard force, allowing entry but preventing exit.

At this moment, Dox stood at the top of a small hill, looking at the distant exit, a fierce red light flickered in his eyes: "Should we fight our way out?"

Angel: "No need, we can just walk out."

As Angel finished speaking, he snapped his fingers lightly, and a shadow illusion technique enveloped both him and Dox.

"Let’s go." Angel spoke to Dox through the mind ribbon.

"Are we just going out like this? Won’t we be discovered?" Dox was still somewhat skeptical but followed anyway, thinking that if it didn’t work, they would force their way through.

Angel didn’t reply verbally but answered Dox’s query through his actions.

The distance to the exit wasn’t far, and the guard force was densely stationed there, yet as Angel and Dox approached, it was as if they were invisible; none of the guards noticed them.

Most importantly, even though the magical energy array encompassed Princess Town, it seemed to lose its effect on them.

As for the magic power barriers, they were trivial for both official wizards.

Without alerting anyone, they easily left the magical energy array and appeared at the hunter’s cabin outside.

However, even though they had left Princess Town, there were still guards stationed outside the other-dimensional space.

Near the hunter’s cabin, there were multiple noticeable presences.

But without the surveillance of the magical energy array, relying only on these transcendent people who hadn’t even reached the level of high-order apprentices, it was a fool’s dream to discover the whereabouts of two official wizards.

When the shadow illusion technique was lifted, Angel and Dox had already appeared several miles away on top of a high mountain.

As Dox looked down at the three hunter cabins in the valley below, he still felt puzzled: "We just came out like that? Was the magical energy array just a decoration? Or did you..."

Dox turned to look at Angel: "Did you tamper with Princess Town’s magical energy array last night?"

Angel responded irritably: "Does a wandering wizard even lack basic common sense? With such a large magical energy array, just figuring out its pattern overnight would be impressive, let alone tampering with it?"

"Then why was there no response from the magical energy array when we left?"

"Knowledge is priceless, however..." Angel scanned Dox up and down, then slowly said: "For the future Little Gold’s sake, I’ll answer your question for free."

While taking out the gondola that Dox envied, Angel signaled for the Speedy to steer.

After they set off, Angel answered: "Actually, the answer is simple; it’s all Modia’s own doing."

Back when Princess Town was still called Merlandi Market, the maintenance of the magical energy array was handled by the Falwenrock family, and entering and exiting the market did not require an energy input.

But after Modia took over, she modified the magical energy array; she didn’t want to expend her own energy on maintenance so she implemented a system where entering the market required an energy input from each person. Ostensibly, this meant energy came from everyone, and Princess Town flourished together.

This modification has both benefits and drawbacks. The benefit is, those who obediently input their energy have little privacy in Princess Town, as they are under the surveillance of the magical energy array the entire time.

The drawback is, those who use magic crystals instead of energy input can avoid being targeted by the magical energy array within Princess Town.

This setting is quite concealed, and unless Angel’s proficiency in magic patterns was top-notch, it would have been hard to detect what Princess Modia was playing at.

Previously, when Angel and the others arrived at Princess Town, none of them input energy but instead used magic crystals. Although the cost was higher, they escaped the magical energy array’s surveillance.

Since they weren’t under the magical energy array’s surveillance, they didn’t have to worry about being detected by it upon leaving. As long as the invisibility technique was good enough to avoid the guards’ attention, they could move freely.

After hearing Angel’s explanation, Dox’s eyes showed a trace of realization: "I see. But, I think you might be slightly mistaken; Modia’s modification of the magical energy array was likely to better select targets."

And those targets were the group of people imprisoned in the jails.

"Your explanation makes some sense; perhaps you are right." Angel nodded knowingly: "However, overall, she still shot herself in the foot."

"Oh, by the way. Under such tight martial law in Princess Town, how about the group of wandering apprentices you rescued?"

Dox shrugged: "No idea, I haven’t dealt with them since sending them out. But there’s no need to worry, wandering apprentices are unlike you self-proclaimed noble wizards, they’re not shy about using any low-down trickery, escaping pursuit is not much of a problem. Plus, Princess Town has the ’crossroad’."

Angel: "I feel like you’re roundabout insulting me."

Dox: "Of course not, I wouldn’t beat around the bush."

Angel was silent for a moment: "For Little Gold’s sake, I won’t pursue this matter."

Dox: "...you’re just eager to mention Little Gold, aren’t you? Rest assured, once Little Gold is born, I’ll definitely give you one."

Angel snorted softly, considering it as agreement.

The next step was leaving the Gumman Kingdom and heading to the Sandworm Market in Laksum Principality.

The journey was uneventful, allowing Angel and Dox to chat casually.

Dox expressed interest in Abulei’s crowned parrot; although he lost the verbal battle, he obtained a piece of information from it.

"Previously, that cowardly creature kept taunting me while I couldn’t speak. It even said that a thousand years ago, with a wave of its hand, it would have countless minions crush me."

Dox: "That’s what happens when you’re cocky; see, it exposed its weaknesses."

"The Crowned Parrot must have had a previous owner, and it should have been a Summoning Wizard from a thousand years ago. The so-called little underlings are probably also summoned creatures. From its tone, we can tell that the number of summoned creatures is quite substantial. As long as we investigate in this direction, I’ll eventually uncover its background."

With that, Dox showed a confident and knowing expression.

Angel, however, poured cold water on Dox: "Are you sure what it said is true?"

Angel also heard what the Crowned Parrot said at the time, and distinctly remembered it emphasizing its tone on purpose, fearing that everyone couldn’t hear it.

This unusual behavior, in Angel’s view, was very likely an attempt to fool Dox.

"That Crowned Parrot is smarter than you think. Its insight is also quite strong, and it must have already realized that we are questioning its origin. So, it conveniently offered a clue. But do you think, with its level of intelligence, that the clue it provided is genuine?"

Hearing Angel’s words, Dox also felt it made sense.

"However, my spiritual sense at the time didn’t react. Could it be that it guessed we would be suspicious, so it intentionally said that, but in reality, it’s telling the truth."

Angel replied, "You think it managed to predict our overthinking?"

Dox: "I don’t know, but I’m still planning to investigate. If it doesn’t have any significant background... hmm, the White Shell Sea Market, is it? I will personally go to the White Shell Sea Market to let it know that a bird’s beak should chirp, not talk!"

Angel: "..."

Dox: "What’s wrong, do you think I’m wrong?"

Angel: "I just wanted to say that if you really discover something, please contact me."

Although everyone has their own opportunities, the Crowned Parrot is considered to be Abulei’s opportunity, and Angel won’t seize it. However, he is a bit curious about the Crowned Parrot’s origin. If it had really followed a well-informed wizard before, perhaps it could provide guidance on certain future matters.

Compared to Dox’s obsession with the Crowned Parrot topic, Angel is more interested in Kaier’s topic.

For Kaier to be noticed by Esos, he must have remarkable qualities, and Angel is also curious about exactly what kind of Alchemy Blueprint Kaier obtained that even Esos dared not open directly?

Furthermore, is Kaier’s current stay in the Laksum Principality related to this matter?

With questions in mind, Angel inquired with Dox about Kaier’s character.

If it were a day ago, Dox definitely wouldn’t have said anything, but now, knowing that the so-called Lyon is actually Angel and not an enemy, sharing some information doesn’t hurt.

"How should I put it, although Kaier is a Wandering Apprentice, his nature doesn’t quite resemble that of a Wandering Apprentice. He seems more like an Academy Faction researcher."

The term "Academy Faction" specifically refers to those fervent researchers within the Witcher Organization. It’s rarely applied to Wandering Wizards, so Dox’s statement isn’t inaccurate.

"However, it’s worth mentioning that Kaier once told me about his dream, which isn’t to become a researcher but a traveler."

"In fact, he is indeed living out this dream, traveling all over the Southern Domain. I believe that one day, Kaier’s travel destination will not be limited to the Southern Domain."

"His travels aren’t random; he likes to wander through places with ruins. He came to the Sandworm Market because he became interested in the ruins here."

Angel: "The relic in the black market?"

Dox shrugged, indicating he didn’t know: "Maybe, after all, he’s currently living in that relic, so he should have some interest in it. However, that relic was explored by the Lawrence family long ago, so I don’t understand why Kaier would still remain there."

Angel: "Could it be that there are areas the Lawrence family hasn’t explored?"

Dox: "That’s impossible. The fact that the Lawrence family has controlled the Sandworm Market for so many years means their power cannot be underestimated. With their financial resources, hiring a Prophet Wizard wouldn’t be too difficult."

"But since this was long ago, I only heard vaguely that at that time, the Lawrence family invited an Observer through a City Lord of Mesomyia."

The eighteen Observers of the Crown Star Church are figures standing at the pinnacle of the prophecy world in the Southern Domain.

Since an Observer was invited, the comprehensive exploration of the relic should have been completed, and nothing would have been missed.

"So, I speculate that Kaier is simply interested in the relic. Whether it has been excavated or not is secondary. After all, he’s not an adventurer."

Angel did not agree with Dox’s assertion. Kaier’s travel destinations are all relics; he must either be an archaeologist or have an ulterior motive, searching for something.

Archaeologists are a rare profession even in the Southern Domain, but they mainly study the lore of the ancient lost age. Modern relics hold no interest for them.

Thus, Kaier must have another purpose.

"Could there be another undiscovered relic near the Sandworm Market?" Angel speculated.

Dox: "You mean Kaier stays in the Sandworm Market to investigate an undiscovered relic?"

Angel nodded in agreement.

Dox, in a huff, said: "Impossible. Kaier’s life is extremely regular. He’s either setting up a stall in the eighth alley of Sandworm Long Street, drinking at my bar, or conducting some research in the underground cavern beneath the black market."

"If there were truly an undiscovered relic, wouldn’t Kaier investigate it?"

"Moreover, you maybe don’t know Kaier. He is a very pure person, and apart from being overly particular about ’rules,’ everything is written on his face. If there was the relic you mentioned, he couldn’t hide it."

Afterward, Dox curiously asked: "By the way, you seem pretty interested in Kaier, why?"

"And there’s another puzzling question. Lord Esos could have sent someone else to deliver the message to Kaier. Why would he have a renowned Transcendental Wizard like you perform the delivery?"

Dox leaned in and whispered, "Do you have a special mission? Like that with the Twelve Zodiac Palaces, did Esos entrust you to test Kaier?"

"If that’s the case, please make sure to take me along."