Hyperdimensional Warlock

Chapter 4298 Answering Separately
Should I answer separately?

As Liriel was still wondering how to answer separately, the faint mist around Normefens slowly dissipated, enveloping them.

In the blink of an eye, Lillie felt herself emerge from a cramped corridor into a bustling city street.

This was a city Liriel had never seen before, and the people coming and going were dressed strangely.

Some were dressed in many layers, while others were dressed in very few, but without exception, they all had a strong sense of design.

The surrounding area is filled with skyscrapers and neon lights, a style completely different from that of the Southern Region.

It looked incredibly prosperous, but the low, gloomy dark clouds overhead made her feel inexplicably uneasy.

The dark clouds slowly spread.

When the raindrops fell, all living beings panicked and lost control.

In an instant, time stood still.

She saw the astonished and terrified expressions on the faces of the people around her as they faced the raindrops, as if there were demons in the rain; she also saw people turn and run away, time standing still, revealing the unease and fear on their faces.

Why are you afraid of the rain? And where is this place?
Wasn't she in front of the Wall of Questions before? Why has she suddenly found herself in a strange world?

The freezing of time only affected the people and scenery around her, but it didn't affect Liriel; she could still move...

But she wasn't the only one who could move; a man in black with an umbrella was walking towards her from across the street.

As the man in black approached, he slowly lifted the umbrella, and Liriel was surprised to find that the man in black was wearing a lion-faced mask.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Are you... Nomefens?"

The man in black said, "I've already told you, I won't answer any of your questions, including those I already know the answer to."

"Keep your doubts to yourself for now. Wait until I've answered all your questions before you ask any more."

With this answer and this attitude, Liriel immediately knew that he was indeed Normefens.

Why did Normefens not use his original form but instead transform into human form?

Although she had many doubts, she knew that no matter what questions she asked now, the other party would not answer, so she just kept them to herself.

Normfins looked directly at Liriel:
"There are still three questions this time, but unlike my previous clone, I won't ask you any questions about you."

"I have absolutely no interest in prying into other people's privacy."

"I prefer to conduct experiments that combine observation and practice rather than exploring others."

Normeff paused, then spread her arms as if embracing the world.

"And this city will be our testing ground from now on."

"I'll give you one hour. You need to observe and search around this city, and ultimately answer three questions for me."

What is the name of this city?

"Does this city possess a supernatural system? If so, you need to provide a general description."

"Finally, I've placed an Easter egg in this city. You need to find it and tell me what it is."

"To add to that, since I asked the question, the answer can definitely be found here. It just depends on how carefully you observe."

"I will appear before you once you have found all the answers."

"From now on, this corner of the still city is in your hands."

After speaking, Normefens's figure transformed into scattered specks of light and slowly disappeared.

Liriel watched as Normefens vanished, her mouth agape. She had many questions she wanted to ask, but even if she could, he wouldn't give her the chance.

They just left?
Although Liriel felt helpless, she had no choice but to abide by the rules of the place.

She tried to analyze it.

This Normefens is indeed completely different from the previous ones. Rather than pursuing personal questions, it seems to enjoy this "immersive observation experiment" that it is leading.

This is a good thing for her, as she doesn't like to reveal herself, even things that are common knowledge.

Therefore, she personally does not resist seeking objective answers through practice.

Next, Liriel quickly gathered her mind and began to consider the priorities of her actions.

Of the three questions, the city name is definitely the easiest to solve.

Even in the most unfamiliar places, road signs, shop signs, and even notes in people's pockets may hold the answers.

As for the extraordinary system and Easter eggs, they will most likely need to be searched together, since Easter eggs are never ordinary objects and may be related to extraordinary powers.

She glanced again at the low-hanging dark clouds overhead and the fear on the faces of those people as they faced the rain. This might be a clue, but she decided to ignore it for now.

We only have one hour, and not a moment can be wasted.

Liriel stopped thinking about it and fixed her gaze on a building not far away with a lot of neon projections on its exterior wall.

Although the projection had stopped, she could still see the word "Platform" written on it.

The platform is inside the building? It feels a bit strange, but I can go and take a look.

Generally, there will be a map in the station, which may provide clues about the city's name. If not, check the map for the location of a library.

She strode over, her shoes disappearing quickly under the neon lights.

……

In the void.

Nomefens looked at Angell beside him, a hint of shock in his eyes.

It could see that the city in the mist was an illusion; however, the fact that it could create such a realistic illusion was completely beyond its imagination.

Most importantly, the authority granted to it by the Great Will was subtly suppressed even within the illusion.

This made Normefens even more curious about Angel's identity.

But it didn't dare to ask, only silently guessing in its heart.

“Liriel has already started searching the city. The clues to the man’s hiding place are scattered, which should keep her occupied for an hour. And as the man suggested, I’ve also planted some clues,” Nomifens said.

Angel nodded: "I saw it, well done."

The "immersive observation experiment" prepared for Lillie this time seems to be a big deal, but it actually has only two purposes: to buy time and to lay the groundwork.

The purpose of stalling for time was to give Angell an opportunity to meet the Decayer alone.

Based on his observations, he had determined that the cruel scholar had not left any contingency plans for the decaying one.

Therefore, he planned to go directly to the Decayers and ask them for all the information about them after they went offline.

This is why it is necessary to delay.

As for setting the stage, it's the line Normefens said to Liriel: "I am different from my previous clones. I will not ask you any questions; I have no interest in prying into other people's privacy."

This statement is perfectly valid in the present day.

But it actually implies a message: I'm not interested in your privacy, but other clones may not feel the same way.

This was also a precautionary measure taken by Angell to ensure safety.

If the perspective of the Decayers is missing, then we need to get information from Liriel.

Asking her directly might arouse her suspicion.

Therefore, it is reasonable to have a "Normefens who doesn't like to pry into privacy" as a foreshadowing, followed by a "Normefens who loves to gossip".

As for the three questions on the wall of questions, they are basically meaningless.

The only thing that has any significance is the "Easter egg".

“Leave the Decayers to me, you keep an eye on Liriel…remember to use the Easter eggs to control the time,” Angor said to Nomefens.

Normfins nodded: "Okay, if you finish your conversation early, I'll let the Easter egg appear sooner; if you finish late, I'll hide the Easter egg deeper to make sure I can keep her occupied."

—The significance of Easter eggs is to control time.

Angor said nothing more, closed his eyes, and created an illusionary clone in the interrogation labyrinth below.

They quickly merged into the illusory mist within the Wall of Inquiry.

……

After Normefens said, "You will answer the questions separately."

The decaying creature felt itself enveloped in mist, and when it came to its senses, it found itself in a neon-lit city.

Everything around was exactly the same as what Liriel had experienced.

The only difference is that the people standing still in the crowd here all have skin as deep as amethyst, and their faces... are so familiar.

It saw the teachers from the Star Academy, old friends, and familiar faces that had once echoed and wailed in its mind.

They were all Prussians!
why?
Why are there Prussians here?
Were they all sent here? Is this the Deep Dream World?

The decaying one tried to stop them and ask questions, but time stood still, and no one answered it; they were all like wax figures.

Just as the withered one was at a loss, footsteps came from behind.

"You withered one, it's been a long time."

"Oh no, it's not that long, it's only been a few hours."

The familiar voice made the withered creature turn around abruptly, and its pupils contracted slightly, because it saw... Elan.

Elan was walking towards him.

However, the withered one soon sensed something was wrong. As Elan walked, his face began to distort and change, eventually settling into a black-clad man wearing a lion-faced mask.

"Nomefens?" the withered one whispered.

The man in black nodded: "That's right, I am Normefens."

His tone was so calm and impeccable that it was impossible to find fault with it. But after staring at him for a moment, the withered man shook his head decisively: "No, your tone is not Normefens's tone. It's missing something... of looking down on someone."

The man in black chuckled softly and raised his hand to cover his mask.

With a gentle flick of his fingertips, the mask was slowly removed, revealing Angel's face.

The withered man looked at the face, his pupils first shrinking in surprise; then his brows relaxed, revealing a hint of realization... It was him all along.

Yes, it can only be him.

Only Angres knew the true face of the Prussians, and only Angres had any understanding of Elam.

Furthermore, when the Decayer left from the Heart Chapter, he saw Nomefens standing beside Angor... All these pieces of evidence point to Angor's connection to this place.

Therefore, it's perfectly normal for Angell to be here.

However, just to be on the safe side, the Decayer still asked Angor a few questions.

Angor gave a calm answer, and the Decaying One breathed a sigh of relief, nodded slightly to Angor, and looked around at the Prushi people...

Angell knew what it meant, and with a light snap of his fingers, all the figures around him vanished.

“These are all illusions. I have shown them here only so that you can recognize me.”

"The real them are already settled... If you have the chance to step into the world of deep dreams, you will see them."

The Decaying One: "Then how do we enter the Deep Dream World? Where are we now? Is Elan alright?"

Angel shook his head slightly: "No need to rush, we can talk about these issues later. Nomefens has already taken care of your 'companion,' we have plenty of time to talk."

Is Liriel being held back? The Decayer suddenly remembered that Normefens said the rule for this Wall of Questions was: answer the questions separately.

And then I found myself here.

Could it be that answering questions separately isn't a rule, but rather a way to separate himself from Lillie?

Angell: "Each wall of questions does have different rules, and the rule here is to answer the questions separately. I just went with the flow."

“After all, you and Liriel have been spending a lot of time together before.”

The Decaying One: "You've always been able to see me?"

Angor naturally wouldn't admit it: "It was Normefens who told me that there is a Normefens clone in every Wall of Inquiry, and its original self is with me."

The withered man nodded thoughtfully, wanting to ask more questions.

Angel interrupted it: "Before I answer your question, I need to know why you came in again."

As Angell spoke, he lightly snapped his fingers.

In the middle of the once empty road, a faint glow suddenly spread out, and two soft sofas appeared out of thin air, standing opposite each other.

Angell turned to the side and raised his hand, gesturing for the decaying one to take a seat.

“It’s not that I don’t want to answer you immediately, but you’ve trespassed into the labyrinth of interrogation, and I need to know your purpose.”

"Then I'll decide how to answer you."

Angell deliberately emphasized the word "trespassing".

A hint of embarrassment flashed across the withered man's face.

"I'm sorry, I... I couldn't stop it."

Angell: "Was it the cruel scholar who forced you to do this?"

The Decaying One nodded silently, not asking Angor how he knew... because it wasn't hard to guess.

"Yes, as a follower of the esteemed scholar, I cannot refuse."

Angel raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes: "So, you told me everything?"

Sensing the displeasure in Angor's tone, the withered creature quickly replied, "No, the divine being knows nothing of what's happening here... at least not yet."

Under his superhuman perception, Angor confirmed that the Decayer was not lying.

His worries eased slightly.

Angell shifted to a reclining posture: "Tell me everything that happened after you woke up, and the whole story of why your companion Liriel appeared here."

The withered man's gaze dimmed slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed gently.

It also knew that this "trespassing" was its fault. After all, Angel's kindness to it was as heavy as the stars, yet it had brought Liriel here.

It even felt like an ingrate.

It remained silent for a moment, first deeply admitting its mistake, and then began to recount its experience after logging off.