Chapter 1223: Section 1224 Move
Angel had no idea what he was thinking thus far. All of his actions did not seem to match any logic that Angel was familiar with.
Angel wasn’t someone who couldn’t recognize kindness. His feelings for him were mostly gratitude.
However, amidst this complex mix of emotions, there was a faint uneasiness deep inside Angel.
This unease stemmed from self-doubt, a tendency to think the worst of human nature, and worry over the possibility of uncompensated return.
It was as if the Thief of Time, while granting you benefits, was actually peering into your future.
Angel did not know what he wanted.
Angel also did not know if he could pay the price.
“What just happened with that shadow…” Popota had always been curious about the Phantom Shadow and, finding the opportunity, even in a state of weakness, spoke up.
Angel suppressed the thoughts in his furrowed brows, realizing he was too weak; many things were beyond his understanding for the moment.
Perhaps, he mused, one could only grasp some enlightenment when not bound by mere survival.
“It’s nothing, just testing a certain ability,” Angel replied briefly, brushing past the topic before turning the conversation back with, “You came looking for me, what do you want to ask?”
Testing a certain ability? A form of pressure? Doubts flickered through Popota’s mind, he wanted to question further, but seeing Angel’s expression, which clearly showed his reluctance to elaborate, Popota had to suppress his own curiosity.
“I just wanted to ask… I saw you leave with Wodell earlier, did he give you a hard time?” Popota followed Angel’s lead in the conversation.
“No,” Angel pondered, “Wodell just hopes I can do him a favor.”
“What is it, is it dangerous?” Popota quickly asked.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t seem dangerous, but it sounds troublesome,” Angel said, massaging his temples as he relayed Wodell’s request.
“He hopes that the Indigenous People who want to leave can be resettled in the Continent of Yuantan to thrive. However, Wodell can’t leave the Continent of Yuantan, so he hopes I can help with this task.”
According to Wodell, it was never considered before that the Continent of Yuantan would eventually collapse. But since the Continent of Yuantan survived this disaster, it might be worth considering a change.
Wodell certainly had more to say, but Angel had no intention to probe deeper and preferred to think simply about the request he made.
At first, Angel didn’t find the request particularly difficult. However, thinking about the vast wilderness of the Continent of Yuantan, he suddenly understood where the trouble lay.
Whether the brown-red land of the Lava Zone, or the areas of volcanoes and barren lands, Angel could find no place suitable for habitation, let alone the various resources needed for survival.
So, if Angel were to truly persuade others to come to the Continent of Yuantan, he would need to consider a series of questions about living conditions.
Moreover, though Wodell didn’t specify how many Indigenous People he wanted to bring to the Continent of Yuantan, it definitely couldn’t be a mere handful—it needed to be a large group.
But how could a large group possibly give up their homeland to settle in the harsh enviroment of the Continent of Yuantan?
Of course, Angel could just deceive them into coming, and leave the rest to Wodell to handle. But would this really satisfy Wodell? Angel thought the answer was likely no.
“If we’re really going to bring the Indigenous People to live on the Continent of Yuantan, there are too many things to consider…” Popota immediately grasped the crux of it, “Did you agree to Wodell’s request?”
Angel shook his head, “I said I’d think about it and then I came back.”
Popota let out a sigh of relief, “It’s good that he didn’t force you to agree.”
“What are your thoughts?” Angel looked at Popota.
“This matter, I think it will be very troublesome. Whether or not those Indigenous People can be persuaded is one thing; whether they can survive here is the key. If he didn’t force you to agree, then we might as well stall for time, wait for Garm to wake up, and then just leave,” Popota suggested.
Angel had thought the same, but they were currently on Wodell’s territory, and Wodell had intentionally called him here. Surely, he wouldn’t let him go without making any requests, right?
Seeing Angel’s hesitant expression, Popota naturally understood his thoughts.
Popota said, “If it really doesn’t work out, agreeing to him isn’t a bad option. Although the problem is troublesome, it’s not unsolvable, and the danger is not that great either.”
“At worst, teach those Indigenous People how to survive, or use some special Spell Technique to construct water cycles, import soil from elsewhere, rebuild the ecosystem… or even use Illusion Technique to bluff if it comes to that.”
Popota’s suggestion wasn’t very reliable, but it sparked a vague idea in Angel’s mind.
Even a difficult task, if unraveled thread by thread, might not be without a solution.
…
After a day’s rest, Angel returned to the outskirts of Stronghold City.
The chilly wind blew in gusts, yet it did not extinguish the lone lantern illuminating those bleached bones.
On the throne, Wodell, resting his forehead on his hand, looked through the Totem Mask at the layers of white bones as if seeing through them to another dimension.
Only when footsteps approached from afar did Wodell lift his head.
“Savior,” Wodell murmured the name of the newcomer softly.
“Yesterday, you made a request which I have carefully considered,” Angel began without engaging in small talk and went straight to the point. “There are some details I do not understand, and I need to ask a few questions. May I?”
“Please do.”
“The indigenous people you wish to come to the Continent of Yuantan, do they truly come willingly, or should I bring them by other means? How many of the indigenous people do you need? Is there a place in the Continent of Yuantan where they can live? I mean a place with resources necessary for survival.”
Wodell: “I don’t care how they come, though of course, it would be best if they come willingly. As for the number, it doesn’t matter whether it is many or few…”
When Wodell spoke about the living place and survival resources, his voice abruptly stopped. Although he did not explain anything, the answer seemed obvious.
The actual situation in the Continent of Yuantan was indeed worse than imagined.
Angel sighed inwardly, “Alright, I understand. I can agree to your request, but I hope to gain some conveniences.”
“What kind of conveniences?” Wodell asked curiously, looking at Angel.
Angel: “If I bring the indigenous people here, I hope to also be able to bring humans.”
“Humans?” Wodell’s brow creased slightly.
“Your Highness Wodell might not be aware, but currently, there are quite a few Stronghold Cities established by humans in the outer layer of the Abyss. And in these Stronghold Cities, humans are but a small part; the majority are indigenous people, including some half-blood demons with a more friendly disposition,” Angel explained.
“Your intention is to let humans build the so-called Stronghold Cities in the Continent of Yuantan?”
“That is just my idea. After all, the Continent of Yuantan is extremely scarce in survival resources, and only Wizards can gradually improve the environment here, making it a livable place for the indigenous people,” Angel paused. “Stronghold City is just the initial part. In the future, if the Continent of Yuantan becomes more habitable, the indigenous people will surely come willingly. Then, the possibility of re-establishing cities for the indigenous people and achieving a return to Frostmoon’s former glory might become plausible.”
The solution Angel thought of was to let humans come to the Continent of Yuantan.
In the Abyss, safe environments were too scarce, and the Frostmoon Alliance had considered expanding more Stronghold Cities more than once, but still could not achieve it. Many Stronghold Cities, once established and discovered by demons, were doomed to face destruction, just like the Ashenrock Giantstone.
But the Continent of Yuantan was Wodell’s domain after all, and he would not sit idly by as demons invaded, so this place was actually an excellent location for establishing Stronghold Cities.
This method might not be the best, but it was at least a relatively convenient way to resolve issues for Angel at present.
The transcendental abilities of Wizards could improve the living environment, and indeed, only Wizards would willingly go to such an inhospitable place to construct a stronghold.
Wodell pondered for a moment, neither agreeing nor refusing, “Besides these, what else do you seek in terms of convenience?”
“I hope to be able to use the Phase Gate,” Angel said.
“Is it you who wants to use it, or are you planning to allow all humans to use it?” Wodell watched Angel closely.
“I hope to travel through the Phase Gate to other places in the future, as for other humans, they are none of my concern.”
Wodell smiled, “If it’s you who wishes to use the Phase Gate, that’s naturally no problem. The Phase Gate is already intimately connected to this land, and since the land’s collective consciousness is close to you, I certainly won’t refuse. Whenever you want, the Phase Gate is yours to use, that is your right.”
Angel’s eyes lit up.
“However, if it’s about other humans… even if a Stronghold City is established in the Continent of Yuantan, I will not open the Darklands to humans,” Wodell stated calmly, after all, Wei City was within the Darklands, which was the glory belonging to Frostmoon.
“Are you agreeing to the construction of a Stronghold City then, Your Highness Wodell?”
Wodell nodded, “I understand the intentions of Your Excellency the Savior, and indeed it’s a good solution. How could I refuse?”
“Are there any restrictions on the selection of humans and Stronghold Cities?”
“Your Excellency the Savior may consider that on your own.”
“Is there a time limit?” Angel asked further.
Wodell shook his head, “As long as you do not forget, that is all that matters.”
With such broad conditions and the freedom to choose the establishment of Stronghold Cities, a faint look of pleasure crossed Angel’s eyes.
He was quite indifferent to the Frostmoon Alliance, so his idea was to have a group of Wizards from Barbarian Cave come here to construct the Stronghold City.
However, what Angel did not anticipate at that moment was the sheer magnitude of the waves this news would create within the Wizards’ Realm!
“I am linked to the fate of this land and cannot stray far from it, so I can only rely on Your Excellency the Savior,” Wodell stood up and gave a slight bow to Angel.
Angel returned the gesture, “Since we’ve agreed, then I’ll take my leave first.”
But as Angel turned to leave, Wodell suddenly said, “