The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1431 414: I'm Here to Say Goodbye to Him (Part 2)

"No, no! Please don't misunderstand, Your Highness. I was just... a bit surprised. It seems the Lord Sage really favors you. Haha, I hope he hasn't taken his anger out on you because of Professor Arist's downfall. We all know you are innocent. It is precisely because of your noble actions that we avoided heavier losses…"

On the surface, these words were polite and flattering, but in reality, they were subtly probing the content and atmosphere of the Prince's meeting with the Great Sage to gauge the Great Sage's true attitude towards the Prince.

However, while Uriel was covertly probing, he did not expect the Prince to see through his little trick at a glance and respond in an unexpected way.

"Professor Uriel, there's no need for beating around the bush. I had a pleasant chat with the Great Sage, and… we didn't discuss Professor Arist."

Looking at Professor Uriel, whose face suddenly turned red, Luo Yan's poised smile remained unchanged.

Without waiting for the professor to open his mouth and make excuses, he answered the lurking question in the man's heart with a gentle tone, as well as the question of the elderly man watching everything silently from the spiral staircase above.

"I came to bid him farewell."

"Farewell?! Wait, do you mean…?"

Uriel was stunned, only coming back to his senses after a long time from this shocking news, yet not knowing what expression to make.

Luo Yan gently nodded, patting his shoulder as he walked past him.

"I'm leaving, good luck to you."

...

Above the spiral staircase, a pair of eyes watched silently as Colin's figure vanished in front of the elevator door below.

Only when Prince Colin's figure had long walked away, Uriel seemed to wake from a dream, turning to walk toward the garden above the spiral staircase.

Wish me… good luck?

What does that mean?

A chill ran up Uriel's spine for no reason.

As he racked his brains trying to understand where this feeling came from, he suddenly discovered the Great Sage, clad in a gray robe, standing at the garden's entrance watching him.

Uriel composed himself and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Lord Sage…"

"You've come."

With a smile akin to that of a gardener, Dousuke gestured to the tense Uriel to come in.

"Come in, have a seat anywhere."

Uriel nodded in humility, quickly catching up with the Sage to walk into the garden perched atop the High Tower.

The surrounding scenery dazzled him.

He saw Moonlight Grass, which was said to only grow in the homeland of the Elves, and Wind Chime Flowers which sang melodious tunes with the sound of the wind… The air was filled with a refreshing fragrance, just sitting there quietly seemed to nourish one's spiritual power.

The sensation was truly marvelous.

Especially for a Mage.

Uriel once dreamed of coming here to witness such legendary miracles.

Yet, for some reason, when the moment finally arrived, he did not feel the excitement he had anticipated; rather, the brief conversation with Prince Colin left him somewhat empty inside.

"Good luck."

That casually spoken phrase stuck like a thorn in his heart.

Following the Great Sage into a pavilion carved from Moonlight Stone, Uriel took a seat opposite the elder.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally couldn't contain his immense confusion and asked.

"Respected Lord Sage…"

"What is it?"

"Forgive my boldness, why… is Prince Colin leaving?"

The Great Sage Dousuke sipped his tea, a gentle smile emerging in his wise eyes that seemed to discern everything.

"Oh? Did he tell you?"

Uriel nodded, speaking nervously.

"Yes."

"Seems he has made up his mind."

Dousuke chuckled amiably, as if just hearing about this, responding in a soft voice to the confusion in Uriel's heart.

"He has many reasons for leaving, but I think… the most significant one is likely acclimatization issues."

"Acclimatization issues?"

Uriel was even more perplexed.

"But Lord Sage, forgive my directness, it seems Prince Colin has adapted well here. His research results are remarkable and are well-received among Magic Apprentices and numerous scholars."

Dousuke smiled warmly but did not directly answer the question; instead, he cast his gaze toward a purplish-red vine clinging to the stone wall outside the pavilion.

A tender flower bud hung there, surrounded by sparkling light akin to fireflies that might extinguish at any moment.

"Uriel, do you see that 'Sun Flame Flower'?"

Uriel was momentarily stunned, following the Sage's gaze, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.

"This is a Sun Flame Flower? Incredible… I always thought it only grew in the south."

"To be precise, it only grows at the mouth of volcanoes in scorching lands."

Dousuke smiled and patiently continued.

"I have expended immense effort to simulate the most suitable environment for it, yet here, it can only barely survive and never bloom as exuberantly as it does back home."

His gaze returned to the contemplative Uriel, his eyes turning meaningful.

"Our Prince Colin is like that Sun Flame Flower. He is outstanding, but his roots are ultimately planted in the soil illuminated by the Holy Light. The cold winds and rules of the High Tower are not suitable for him, forcing him to stay will only cause him to wither slowly. Leaving here is the best choice for him."

He never ordered anyone to ostracize Colin and those around him, yet almost everyone in the High Tower had unconsciously been doing just that recently.

The loyal yet rigid Porphyry would scrutinize Prince Colin's every "improper" action using his stringent rules. The editor-in-chief of the "Sage Report" would instinctively reject groundbreaking "scientific" papers under the guise of protecting "tradition."

Even seemingly neutral professors and Masters would spontaneously distance themselves from the "outsider" from the Imperial to maintain their positions and their school's interests.

The Council of Sages had indeed once debated over Colin's papers, but that was because I hadn't expressed any opinion, and the mascots sitting on the twelve chairs couldn't make up their minds on what they wanted to do, so they could only voice their opinions to test me.

I deliberately did not express any opinion.

Making them argue over insignificant issues, guessing at my elevated intentions before revealing the outcome, watching them gather around like dogs scrambling for food, either wagging their tails happily or dejectedly tucking their tails… that in itself is a dog-training technique.

Of course, my actions aren't merely for the sake of taming; I never deny that I find pleasure in doing so.

Being able to make Purple Crystal-level Strong Persons obedient to this extent, probably only I, Dousuke, have achieved this on the entire Aus Continent.

Even the respectable His Majesty the Emperor has never accomplished making the Upper Extraordinaries, who stand above millions, behave like obedient dogs before me.

The Great Sage's analogy made Uriel deep in thought.

He seemed to understand something and yet appeared still shrouded in fog, ultimately nodding respectfully.

"I… have been enlightened."

"Although I'm not your Master, it's an honor to inspire you."

Dousuke's face still bore a warm smile, his attitude perfectly humble and amicable, without a trace of condescension.

In fact, aside from the obvious reasons anyone could discern, there's one more direct reason: the tacit understanding he reached with Colin during their meeting—

Before ending the "real" Crown, the Divine Chosen of the Crown of Pride and the Divine Chosen of the Deceitful Fog will not invade each other's territories.

However, there's no need to tell Uriel this reason.

He's not yet qualified to be a guest in this garden but is merely a plant awaiting trimming.

Dousuke gently placed down the teacup, as though he had concluded a trivial interlude. Then his wise eyes refocused on Uriel, and his tone turned serious.

"Alright, enough about the Prince."

"Let's talk about the real business."