Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2847: Chapter 2848: Refusal

After concluding the discussion with Angel, the Alchemy Golem turned its gaze towards Olao.

Then there was silence for several minutes.

The others exchanged glances. Although their interaction was only through their eyes, it didn’t prevent them from "communicating." From the current situation, it’s clear that Augustine was working separately on Angel and Olao.

Everyone deeply understood this, but in reality, Augustine and Angel were mostly chatting idly, while his conversation with Olao was about conveying Angel’s attitude to Olao.

Olao currently has only one choice: to follow Angel. Therefore, Augustine didn’t need to do any work but rather express his views on Angel, as well as Angel’s view on himself and Olao, to provide Olao with a deeper understanding of Angel.

Augustine’s approach was quite effective after all.

When Olao learned that Angel compared Augustine to a "jerk," his gaze towards Angel became complicated... but amidst the complexity, there was a trace of agreement.

Soon, Augustine and Olao finished their conversation.

After Olao contemplated for a moment, he raised his head to look at Angel.

"I have already promised Master Augustine that in the coming time, I will follow Mr. Angele, cooperate with all of Mr. Angele’s tasks, and his research."

Olao still referred to Augustine as Master, whereas he addressed Angel as Mister, indicating that Olao’s heart was still more inclined towards Augustine.

However, for Angel, this does not matter. As long as Olao cooperates in his research, everything else can be discussed later.

Olao: "However, I would also like to make a request to Mr. Angele."

Angel nodded: "Go ahead."

Olao turned his head to look at the nearby Adanis... After Olao said he would follow Angel, Adanis’s expression became indifferent, and she closed her eyes, as if she didn’t want people to see the thoughts within her through her gaze.

Thus, when Olao stared at her, Adanis did not notice.

However, when Olao made his request, Adanis suddenly opened her eyes wide.

"I hope to have Adanis accompany me." Olao said, "This is my only request."

Before Angel could respond, Adanis spoke up first: "You hope I will cooperate with this little brat’s research? Ha, naive. Don’t be easily swayed by Augustine and forget you have a free personality."

Olao shook his head: "No, I just hope you will accompany me."

After a pause, Olao looked at Angel: "I hope Adanis will stay with me, but her person remains free. You cannot constrain her, nor demand she do anything."

Adanis was taken aback and turned her head away: "What does this accomplish?"

Olao: "I simply want to give Adanis a home as before."

Olao said this solemnly, while Adanis’s eyes gradually became blank, her mouth trembling as she wanted to speak but didn’t know how.

Olao spoke again: "As long as I am here, as long as Adanis is here, home is here."

Such simple language, yet it inexplicably made Adanis’s nose sting, and a sudden moisture gathered in her eyes, making her vision slightly blurry for the first time in millennia.

Adanis understood the current expression on her face... Vulnerable, she closed her eyes, attempting to hide that expression, which had always been at odds with her.

Using all her strength, Adanis finally managed to calm her turbulent emotions.

Adanis avoided Olao’s serious and simple gaze, and said indifferently: "Do you mean to leave with this kid, and you want me to follow you?"

Olao nodded, looking at Adanis with eyes full of hope.

A millennium of companionship; this was no ordinary companionship but a bond. This made him unwilling to part from Adanis.

Besides, Olao knew Adanis’s character, coupled with her never having deep interactions with humans; if she were alone, she might not adapt to the current human world. And Adanis’s way of expressing discomfort was simple and crude: destruction, endless destruction.

To ensure Adanis does not cause trouble, Olao hopes she will stay with him.

Adanis: "I refuse."

Olao’s hopeful gaze froze: "Why, why? We were clearly the closest of family; don’t you want this family anymore?"

Olao’s gaze was like that of a disappointed dog, evoking pity from anyone who glanced at it.

Adanis was the same, yet she continued to restrain the softness in her heart.

She knew very well that the family Olao talked about was genuinely just a family, not what she wanted. She needed more than just family; she wanted to go further... but for now, Olao could not provide that.

"I have my own choices, I will not continue with you." Adanis said, turning her head aside, and with all her might, managed to say the words in her usual tone.

Olao hurriedly said: "Even if you don’t acknowledge this family, at least by staying with me, you have a chance in the future to meet Miss Margaret, who still possesses a part of you... that was lost."

Adanis: "Chance? How big is this chance?"

Adanis glanced at Angel: "With his current strength, what chance are you talking about?"

Olao: "I mean in the future."

Adanis: "Future? In order for me to believe in the future, his strength must at least reach the peak of the Southern Domain, only then will I believe he has a future. Otherwise, how do you expect me to believe?"

Olao: "Adanis..."

Adanis: "Enough. You don’t need to persuade me anymore; I have my own ideas. I will choose... to go to the Noah Clan."

As Adanis said this, she glanced at the nearby Black Earl: "Do you agree?"

The Black Earl didn’t expect Adanis to suddenly turn to him, considering Adanis had previously exiled many Noah ancestors, logically speaking, Adanis should be quite averse to the Noah Clan.

Though Black Earl was surprised, after a brief contemplation, he nodded: "Of course, you’re welcome."

Adanis: "You hesitated just now because I have exiled quite a few Noah Clan members in the past?"

The Black Earl responded with silence.

Adanis chuckled coldly: "I did exile many Noah Clan members in the past, but I did not kill them. Moreover, do you think I am unaware of the Cyclops Family’s actions? They secretly accommodated the exiled Noah Clan members; without my acquiescence, they couldn’t have accomplished this."

"So, I have been lenient. However, if this bothers you, I can offer appropriate compensation; I can provide limited assistance if needed."

The fact that Adanis could say such words surprised not only the Black Earl but also Olao.

He thought Adanis was unwilling to follow him and most likely wanted to be "completely free," yet she turned around and followed the descendants of Noah? What she had done before, even if not hating the Noah Clan, would at least not be close.

She could let go of her grudge and follow the Noah Clan, as if she had turned into a different person.

Olao’s lack of understanding was natural because he didn’t know that when he went to collect poetry collections, Augustine gave Adanis a verbal barrage, making her realize some things and understand others.

If she wants Olao to truly regard her seriously and not treat her as a "daughter" type of family member, she needs to change.

And this change must be a complete transmutation, with Olao not involved in the process.

Olao only needs to do one thing: witness the outcome of Adanis’ transformation.

Therefore, under no circumstances would Adanis follow Olao. At least, not like the past ten thousand years, never parting for a moment.

To completely change Olao’s inherent impression of her, Adanis knows she must undergo a "metamorphosis." And this metamorphosis is to... regain the part she has been missing.

According to Augustine, apart from Angel, only the Noah Clan can accomplish this.

Thus, Adanis actually has no choice. Since Olao is with Angel, she can only follow the current Noah Clan, which is to follow the Black Earl.

After listening to Adanis, the Black Earl was slightly moved in his heart.

If Adanis can help the Noah Clan, even if just limited assistance, it would be greatly beneficial to them.

You must know, Adanis is a real master of the Magical Energy Array!

Moreover, Adanis’ "Mirror Legion" is quite useful. By following the Noah Clan, those miraculous creatures inside the mirror naturally came with her, and the Black Earl was quite covetous of those mirror beings.

Most importantly, with Adanis joining the Noah Clan, their influence can enter a new world: the Mirror Domain!

This is indeed a significant signal.

It may be the key to whether the Noah Clan can become a super family in the Southern Domain.

Exploring a new world and gaining a strategic advantage in it is a top priority for all Witcher Organizations and Wizard Families.

An entrance to the Quest World is now held by several Wizard Families, making them a formidable alliance, hard to shake. If the Noah Clan can individually control the entrance to the Mirror Domain, they will definitely be stronger than those Wizard Families!

Of course, this is speaking from the perspective of Wizard Families. If talking about the only passage, it’s surely not the case. With Olao following Angel, it means the Barbarian Cave has also gained access, although Barbarian Cave belongs to a Witcher Organization, which is fundamentally different from Wizard Families, so it’s not comparable.

Moreover, even without Olao, Angel himself likely has ways to gain control of the Mirror Realm Passage.

No matter what, it’s certainly an important opportunity for the Noah Clan.

Exploring the Mirror Domain and arranging the Magical Energy Array, these are tangible benefits.

So, how could the Black Earl refuse Adanis?

"Yesterday’s matters are yesterday’s, I don’t mind nor do I care." Black Earl: "But if Adanis can join the Noah Clan, I naturally welcome her and feel extremely honored."

Although the Black Earl used the term "join" the Noah Clan, making Adanis slightly unhappy, after thinking for a moment, she did not refute.

Whether to join or not depends on her inner thoughts. If the Black Earl insists on forcing her to swear to join the Noah Clan, she would turn around and leave, continuing to follow Olao if need be; and if there’s no oath constraint, then it depends on her mood, not bothering with what outsiders say.

"I have requirements for following the Noah Clan." Adanis: "Your strength has been recognized by someone, and undoubtedly, your next step is to go to the Origin World. When you go to the Origin World, I want you to take me with you and actively reclaim the missing part for me."

This point Adanis hasn’t mentioned, but the Black Earl could actually guess.

Adanis is willing to follow the Noah Clan, definitely for this reason.

So, the Black Earl was not displeased, nodded: "Okay, but I cannot guarantee that I can help you reclaim the missing part."

Adanis: "Just try your best."

Black Earl: "Alright."

Adanis and the Black Earl reached an agreement on the table, while Olao watched Adanis quietly, his expression full of confusion and puzzlement.

Adanis could feel Olao’s gaze but forced herself not to look at him.

After reaching the agreement, Adanis exhaled gently in her heart, turning to look at Olao: "I said that I have a place to go, you don’t need to worry about me."

Olao lowered his head in slight disappointment: "You going to the Noah Clan... is also a good place. However, my words stand, wherever I am, that is your home, I will welcome you back anytime."

At least, the Black Earl and the Noah Clan are still in the Southern Domain, and Angel is likely to stay in the Southern Domain for a while too, so he and Adanis will definitely have chances to meet.

Even if they can’t see each other in reality, they can meet in the Mirror Domain.

Olao’s thought is kind, but since Adanis has already decided to completely change, unless needed, she certainly doesn’t want to meet Olao halfway.

So, the timing of their next meeting... indeed, who knows.

...

The sound of applause reached everyone’s ears.

Following the sound, everyone saw an alchemy golem sitting at the main seat clapping its hands. While clapping, the alchemy golem sighed: "Olao and Adanis both have their own paths now, so I can rest assured."

Adanis sneered: "Someone who left Olao here for ten thousand years can say this, all I can say is you have a thick skin."

The alchemy golem paused for a moment, pretended not to hear Adanis’ sarcasm, and continued: "Ah, my energy is running low, there are times when I might pause and not hear some words."

In other words, anything it doesn’t want to hear, it simply won’t hear.

Adanis took a deep breath and reminded herself: don’t get angry, don’t get angry...

Everyone remained silent in response to the alchemy golem’s shameless remark, but internally, they were a bit unclear: So Augustine is this kind of person...

Angel at this moment also looked toward Dox.

This shamelessness is quite similar to Dox’s, isn’t it?

While Angel glanced at Dox, the alchemy golem continued: "My energy is already nearly exhausted, it’s time to help Olao release the contract."

"Before releasing the contract, let’s say a final farewell."

"Hope we will be fortunate to see each other at the end of the truth."