Chapter 2783: Chapter 2784: Comprehensive Intelligence

Kaier voiced his conclusions, while also raising two questions.

Can awakened Demon People coexist harmoniously with ordinary Indigenous People? Is the intelligence in the Panic Realm based on an overly generalized perspective?

The answer to the former is unknown.

As for the latter, Angel thought it likely to be true. Because the vast majority of wizards, when looking at other intelligent races, find it hard to be objective. It’s precisely because they can’t be objective that they just take things at face value, drawing conclusions based solely on what they see, deliberately magnifying certain prejudices, and ignoring the customs and strengths of non-human races.

Moreover, most of these wizards are Conquest Wizards. The "conquest" of Conquest Wizards isn’t just about discovering unknown planes, it’s about waging war and pioneering.

The purpose of conquest isn’t because they feel threatened. It’s to threaten the Indigenous People of other worlds, to make them accept the values held by the Wizards’ Realm.

Only by assimilating values, and gaining the upper hand in the ideological war, can the Indigenous People truly bow their heads in submission.

Therefore, it’s common for the intelligence sent back by Conquest Wizards to be overly generalized.

But there’s no way around it, the Frostmoon Alliance basically monopolizes the Conquest business in the Southern Domain, so the control of public opinion naturally lies in the hands of the Frostmoon Alliance.

Of course, you could go to the Otherworld alone, but doing so alone or in small teams is hard to define as a conquest, it’s more like... a journey of observation.

"What do you think, is it true or false?" After hearing Kaier’s words, Dox turned his head to look at Angel and the Black Earl.

Angel shook his head, indicating he didn’t know. Analysis is one thing, but determining truth or falsehood depends on solid evidence. The information he knew about had already been shared, and what Kaier mentioned was beyond his knowledge.

The Black Earl pondered for a moment, then said softly, "I can’t judge the truth either. But I can tell you an anecdote related to the Ashiliye Comprehensive College."

When the Black Earl mentioned the Ashiliye Comprehensive College, everyone couldn’t help but glance at Angel.

The Ashiliye Comprehensive College is located in the Sky Mechanical City, backed by the Research and Development Institute, and Angel once served as a mentor there for a period of time. The popular Shadow Box at various wizard markets in the Southern Domain today is based on the theories and refinement techniques Angel taught at the Ashiliye Academy.

So, when the Ashiliye Comprehensive College is mentioned, people naturally think of Angel.

Angel didn’t have much thought on the matter; he felt no sense of belonging to the Ashiliye Comprehensive College, and if it weren’t for the Magic Potion Master, he wouldn’t feel any sense of belonging to the Research and Development Institute either. Without a sense of belonging, he naturally didn’t care about the hidden details within.

"You should have heard of the Manluo Plane, right?" The Black Earl spoke as if inquiring, but he was pretty sure they knew the Manluo Plane, so he continued without waiting for a response, "The Manluo Plane was discovered during the Age of Falling Gold, initially by a traveling Alchemist. Unlike Conquest Wizards, who have a strong desire for conquest, this Alchemist traveled with the purpose of exploration and didn’t have such a strong urge to conquer the Otherworld. However, this Alchemist happened to discover a special Scent Spirit in the Manluo Plane."

"Being a spirit of scent, it is an extremely special existence. Because of the presence of Scent Spirits in the Manluo Plane, the fragrance market here is thriving."

"Although that Alchemist wasn’t skilled in Potionology, he recognized the fragrance value of the Manluo Plane. He quickly returned to the Sky Mechanical City and, as a teacher of the Ashiliye Comprehensive College, met with the City Lord of the Sky Mechanical City at that time."

"Then, the Sky Mechanical City began dispatching a large number of wizards to settle in the Manluo Plane, to develop the Manluo Plane extensively as pioneers."

"Today, the largest wizard department in the Manluo Plane——Fragrance Moon Alliance, is actually backed by the Sky Mechanical City. The Fragrance Appreciation Conference held periodically in the Manluo Plane is sponsored by the Ashiliye Comprehensive College."

"Now it seems, the Manluo Plane is a bright and peaceful place, a ’scenic spot’ beloved by all witches. But, at the beginning of its development, the methods of the Sky Mechanical City were quite disgraceful."

"They declared that an Alchemist was killed in the Manluo Plane, using this as a reason to make a large-scale entry into the Manluo Plane, then continued to release information to smear the Manluo Plane’s intelligence. Numerous Indigenous People were affected by this undeserved disaster, the vast majority becoming prisoners, accepting a transformation of values. At that time, the Manluo Plane sent only rumors back to the Southern Domain."

"Later, when the Sky Mechanical City saw that the development was more or less complete, and the assimilation of values was nearly accomplished, they began to release positive news and held the first Fragrance Appreciation Conference, spreading the real news of the Manluo Plane through the participating witches."

"The Witches’ Tea Party is a good way to spread public opinion. In just over a decade, the Manluo Plane went from being a world shrouded in darkness and violence to a world filled with peace and beauty."

"Is the story over here? Not at all."

"After all these years, what you know about the Manluo Plane now, isn’t it only the Fragrance Moon Alliance and the beautiful side? Those undercurrents, those bloody times caused by Scent Spirits, seem never to have existed."

"This is the story written by the victors, and this story will continue to be written for many years until that dark moment is completely erased."

When the Black Earl finished recounting, this little story was over.

Angel and Dox both showed expressions of contemplation, while only Vay looked indignant: "I always thought Sky Mechanical City was a sacred temple of knowledge, I never expected they had such a black history!"

Vay cursed, and after finishing, seemed to remember something, turning to Angel to say, "I didn’t mean anything against you... I was just talking about the Sky Mechanical City of that time."

Angel smiled: "You can talk about Sky Mechanical City now, I don’t mind. I don’t know where you got the idea Sky Mechanical City is a sacred temple of knowledge, just think about the Purification Garden years ago, and you’ll understand Sky Mechanical City hasn’t changed."

"Purification Garden incident?" Vay looked puzzled: "Did something happen to the Purification Garden? I only heard it seemed that the Purification Garden advanced?"

"You don’t know?" Angel was taken aback, it hadn’t been that long since the Purification Garden incident, and Vay couldn’t remember?

Vay shook his head.

Angel also looked at the others, Kaier also showed a puzzled look, but Dox had a clear understanding.

It seems only the Apprentices don’t know? What’s going on? Despite being so recent, and countless Apprentices dying then, the magazines from Sky Mechanical City were almost boiling over.

Angel had thought that the whole world was condemning Sky Mechanical City’s actions, but now it seems like not many people know?

Perhaps seeing Angel’s confusion, the Black Earl said, "Apart from the Alchemy industry, Sky Mechanical City’s most developed sector is the communications and dissemination industry, you could think of it as the magazine industry."

"There are many magazines with Official backing, they publish so many magazines externally, isn’t it normal for them to say black is white?"

"Do you think the Frostmoon bothers to laboriously publish the ’Plane Conquest Record’? Apart from Conquest Wizards, isn’t it still about controlling the narrative."

Once you have control of the narrative, is it spring or autumn, black or white, doesn’t that all depend on what you say.

"Don’t you also have an Official magazine, I remember Rhein showing it to me, it’s called ’Mirror’." When the Black Earl mentioned this, he gently shook his head: "After reading it, I only had one thought."

Angel: "Ah?"

Black Earl: "No combat effectiveness at all."

Angel: "...’Mirror’ is mainly oriented towards our own people, and it only contains some research-oriented viewpoints."

Black Earl: "So what? When exporting knowledge, many magazines slyly carry a bit of personal value perspective. Your ’Mirror’ is just purely research viewpoints... Most importantly, there are only a few viewpoints worth noting."

Angel couldn’t refute this.

He’s seen firsthand how meager the content of ’Mirror’ is. When he served as a judge at the New Star Tournament, ’Mirror’ reported it substantially, taking up more than half the space, leaving Angel feeling embarrassed.

And to improve ’Mirror’s’ influence, Rhein also put in a lot of effort. Regarding the ’Undead and Soul Transmutation Subject’ Angel planned to compile, Rhein strongly suggested he publish it in ’Mirror’.

At that time, Angel, who knew a bit about politics through magazines, naturally agreed without any objections...

However, if it were now, Angel would still agree.

There are authoritative magazines in the Southern Domain, but Angel doesn’t think he can appear in such authoritative publications. Instead of adding luster to other magazines, why not provide crucial support to "Mirror"?

Returning to the main topic, after a moment of pondering, Dox said: "The Lord’s intention isn’t to condemn the Sky Mechanical City, but rather to suggest that the narrative we know might not be the truth?"

"Including what Angel just spoke about regarding the Panic Realm; it might not be true. Could it possibly be the Frost Moon Alliance’s fabrication?"

The Black Earl: "Not entirely. Most of it should be true, with a small part being false. But which part specifically is false, that, we do not know."

Dox hesitated for a moment, nodded, and refrained from asking further. Because he realized that if the Black Earl knew which part was false, he would have surely stated it directly. Since he didn’t say anything, it indicated that the Black Earl was also unaware of this.

Dox’s gaze returned to the mural that Kaier had displayed.

Looking at the harmonious scene in the mural, Dox turned to Angel: "You and Earl Mi seem harmonious, just like the mural."

Angel: "Not quite."

Earl Mi was influenced by the Seed of Distortion, hence he obeyed him.

Thinking of this, Angel suddenly had a flash of inspiration in his mind. Previously, Laplace said that Earl Mi might only see a hint of rebirth in the chaotic ashes.

The term "chaotic ashes" reminded him of... the Origin of Chaos and the Power Furnace.

Could it be related to these? Does this mean he has to visit the boiling gentleman again for answers?

While Angel was contemplating, Dox continued: "How about you let Earl Mi come out and take a look; perhaps he recognizes this lion with the spikes on its head."

Upon hearing Dox’s words, Vay couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

Dox’s remarks were like having a foreign friend and, while in your own country, you happen to see someone from that foreign country, you immediately go ask if they know your foreign friend.

The likelihood of this is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

So, it’s understandable why Vay rolled his eyes, and Angel found himself a bit speechless. He didn’t think Earl Mi would recognize the awakened Demon People in the mural.

But seeing Dox’s eager manner, Angel was reminded of his inspiration.

If it’s inspiration at work, it may not be entirely impossible... the probability is small, even if it’s 0.001%, there is still a chance.

Thinking of this, Angel still called Earl Mi out from the shadows.

Then he pointed at the painting in the frame for Earl Mi to recognize.

As expected, Earl Mi looked puzzled, he clearly didn’t recognize the awakened Demon People in the painting.

Angel signaled Earl Mi to return to the shadows, then said to Dox: "See, it’s impossible they would know each other."

Dox sighed dejectedly, muttering: "I thought awakened Demon People should have some sort of connection..."

"Who do you think you are, always ’you thought’.", Vay retorted bluntly.

Let’s set aside the dispute between Vay and Dox for now, Angel appeared indifferent externally but was internally puzzled.

It’s confirmed that Earl Mi doesn’t know the awakened Demon People in the mural.

However, Earl Mi actually showed a look of "puzzlement".

How can Earl Mi be puzzled?

Puzzlement is a characteristic expression.

Earl Mi is merely a controlled "puppet", how can such emotional characteristics appear on a puppet?

And it’s not the first time.

Angel remembered that after leaving the Tidal World, Earl Mi began showing signs of change. It wasn’t obvious back then, but later in Princess Town and now in the underground aqueduct, Earl Mi started showing "emotional" traits.

This is definitely abnormal!

Could this be the demon people attempting to awaken again mentioned in Laplace’s words?

The answer to this might only come from Laplace.

Suppressing the growing perplexity within himself, Angel nonchalantly turned to Vay: "What about you? Do you have any information regarding the Panic Realm?"

Angel originally hadn’t planned to ask Vay, but since Kaier brought such impactful information, perhaps Vay has his own sources?

However, Angel was overthinking.

Kaier spent years visiting ruins, painstakingly decrypting the information. Vay, a perennial homebody, knows only what is written in magazines.

And the Black Earl had recently warned them that magazines might manipulate public opinion, advising against gullibility.

So, Vay was immediately dismissed.

Now, after synthesizing the information from Kaier, Dox, and the Black Earl, Angel once again looked towards Laplace behind the prism.

"You must have heard our conversation. What are your thoughts?"

Angel’s words halted everyone’s discussions, leaving all eyes on Laplace, waiting for her response.

She specifically requested Angel to ask everyone about their information regarding the Panic Realm. What was her intention? Now, should an explanation be provided?

Laplace replied lightly: "You humans understand your own shortcomings quite thoroughly."

"I’ve seen the memories of many life forms from the Panic Realm in the Sea of Void Mirror. Since you wish to understand the awakened Demon People in your shadow, I can indeed share some of these memories with you."

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