Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3114: Chapter 3115: Letter of Recommendation

After Luigi finished speaking, the air fell silent.

After a long moment, Uriel’s voice finally emerged: "Who... who are you?"

Uriel, no longer covering his eyes, lifted his head and looked at Luigi with puzzled eyes.

This was the first time Uriel looked up at Luigi after he entered the attic.

At the moment when Uriel and Luigi’s eyes met, familiar streams of information surfaced.

"Note, every word you say could affect the subsequent development of the plot."

It’s undeniable that what Luigi says next will also influence the outcome.

Originally indifferent, Luigi sat up properly again, contemplating how he should respond.

Should he directly say he is a challenger of the instance? Or fabricate an identity?

After pondering for a moment, Luigi spoke: "Look at this, and you’ll understand."

With that, Luigi approached Uriel and pulled out a letter from his coat. It was a white envelope with gold edges, sealed with wax and stamped with a circus-themed Joker seal.

This was an Enchanted Land Tool, as well as a recommendation letter.

"The Recommendation Letter from the Joker"

"Your performance has mesmerized everyone present. As the host with the keenest eye in the Sunshine Circus, I’m charmed by your talent and decided to write you a recommendation letter to my mentor, allowing you to step onto the most dazzling stage."

This letter was also what guided Luigi to the Uriel Dungeon.

Luigi originally thought it was simply a key to open the Fairyland Duplication, but upon hearing Uriel’s question, he thought of this letter.

In Wonderland of Dreams, "identity" is crucial information.

Just like the "Fan Family’s Glory" obtained by Laplace, it implied identity information, allowing Laplace to be highly regarded by the Gifted People within the instance.

Realizing this, Luigi understood that casually fabricating an identity would definitely not fool Uriel.

Therefore, he took out this letter.

Although the letter was not an identity credential, its content did imply two pieces of identity-related information: first, you are a talented artist; second, due to your talent, you are valued by the host of the Sunshine Circus.

And the host of the Sunshine Circus was Uriel’s student, thus connecting the relationship.

Uriel opened the letter and began to read. In no time, he finished reading, displaying a thoughtful expression.

"So he really went to portray a Joker..." Uriel murmured softly: "Is this your choice, to heal scars with a Joker?"

Upon hearing Uriel’s murmur, Luigi immediately perked up his ears. Truth be told, he was also curious about the gossip story behind the circus host... Healing scars with the identity of a Joker? What kind of healing is this, and what happened that led him to make such a bizarre choice?

However, Uriel clearly had no intention of explaining further, merely mumbled a few words before focusing his gaze back on Luigi.

Despite Uriel’s overall demeanor still seeming somewhat despondent, his gaze appeared brighter than before.

"You... since you’ve earned his admiration, I suppose you are also an excellent artist. Yet, even so, I don’t believe you have what it takes to step onto that Stage of Dreams."

Luigi: "Why not?"

Uriel raised his fingers in a "two" gesture: "Two reasons. First, my stage will only have me, and it can only be me."

This meant that Luigi’s previous idea of performing together and going to the Stage of Dreams was impossible.

"Why only one person?"

Uriel: "There’s no why about it. No matter the stage, I will never partner with anyone. My partner is unique, and that person has gone to the Sacred Hall of Radiance."

What? Sacred Hall of Radiance?

Uriel was just about to pursue further what the Sacred Hall of Radiance was. However, before he could speak, he heard Angel’s whisper.

"The Sacred Hall of Radiance is just a euphemism. You can understand it as—his partner has died."

Angel had previously had a long conversation with the host of the Sunshine Circus, learning about various intel from the West Continent Wizard World, including information about the Church of Radiance.

The Church of Radiance is spread throughout the Western Lands and is the faith of countless people. In the Church’s doctrines, after innocent people die, they ascend to the Sacred Hall of Radiance, which is a place full of truth, kindness, and beauty, also the soul’s final home.

Thus, when Uriel mentioned that his partner went to the Sacred Hall of Radiance, he meant his partner had passed away.

Luigi now somewhat understood Uriel’s sentiments. For some artists, spiritual connection is crucial; the collision of summit and stream creates a soulmate—an essential uniqueness transcending all worldly emotion. And since this unique soulmate has died, choosing to perform alone without a partner becomes quite reasonable.

In fact, Luigi already imagined a possibility: perhaps Uriel thought that his venture onto the Stage of Dreams, destined to dim, was also due to his partner’s passing, making the performance less perfect?

Nevertheless, in Luigi’s perspective, the partner’s passing isn’t a big deal; if needed, spirits can be summoned from the Quest World... If no spirits, one might use Uriel’s partner’s memories to sculpt a Temporal Body, easily solved.

At that time, he could totally take on the form of Uriel’s partner’s Temporal Body and step onto the Stage of Dreams together with him.

Humans, always entangled with such trivial matters.

Luigi thought this but didn’t express it, because Uriel had moved on to the "second reason" by now.

Luckily, Luigi didn’t speak out; had he done so, Uriel might have expelled him directly...

"Second, you might be very talented, but mere talent isn’t enough. To step onto that stage, you must possess the calibre of the Dusman Empire’s chief performer and even rank among the top three in the entire Xu Continent. You think you can achieve that?"

Luigi had seen the Dusman Empire in the Enchanted Land Tool’s description, but Xu Continent? What’s that?

Another unfamiliar term, he wisely refrained from asking, awaiting the "feeding" from the streaming viewers.

Sure enough, it didn’t take long before Angel conveyed the relevant information to him.

Xu Continent is the core continent of the Western Lands Wizards’ Realm, similar to the Flourish Continent of the Southern Domain.

The Dusman Empire is a nation within the Western Lands Wizards’ Realm. Being called an empire indicates its significant size. In the world of mortals of the Western Lands, the Dusman Empire is a giant; and even in the eyes of the transcendent, the Dusman Empire is not to be underestimated, as it houses a City of Wizards — Victor Warmwind City. This is a transcendent city similar to the Sky Mechanical City, and its energy is among the most formidable in the Western Lands Wizards’ Realm.

According to records in "Port Chronicles," Legendary Wizards occasionally descend upon Victor Warmwind City, indicating its profound heritage.

According to Uriel, if Luigi wants to step onto that Stage of Dreams, he must at least become the chief performing artist of the Dusman Empire and rank among the top in Xu Continent.

In Angel’s view... this is very difficult.

Previously, when Jon assigned Luigi the Sea of Questions Tactic, he would appraise Luigi’s assignments daily.

Jon highly praised Luigi’s performances, but in a classification of artistic levels, Luigi barely reached the master level... And masters, even looking across the entire Southern Domain, or even the Goldfinch Empire, there are more than a dozen such figures.

When Angel was still a mortal, he also once followed "stars," and that celebrity was Master Meijie, a great musician from Waterford. Master Meijie also played the harp. Based on Angel’s level of appreciation, in the realm of the harp, Master Meijie and Luigi were almost on the same level.

But bear in mind, Master Meijie’s specialty is not the harp, but the piano.

This is just a corner of the Southern Domain, and it’s already so competitive. One glimpse gives insight into the whole; imagine how many geniuses and masters there are across the entire Southern Domain.

And with its name comparable to, or even more prosperous than the Southern Domain, would the Western Lands Wizards’ Realm be weaker in this aspect? Angel does not believe so.

Therefore, in Angel’s view, Luigi has a long way to go to reach the pinnacle of the Western Lands.

Luigi himself is also quite self-aware. While he is confident about his performance, to stand out from billions of lives and become part of the top few, he still feels a bit daunted.

But doubt aside, when faced with Uriel’s inquiry, Luigi would definitely not easily concede.

"Why can’t I achieve it?" Luigi: "I have a lot of confidence in my performance."

Uriel examined Luigi up and down, finally fixing his gaze on the harp Luigi held: "Since you are so confident in your performance, perform once in front of me. If your performance can meet the average level of the Imperial Orchestra, I can recommend you to Birmingham Eden College for further study, and perhaps you might one day grace the stages of all nations."

Luigi: "Stages of all nations? Is that the Stage of Dreams you mentioned?"

Uriel shook his head: "No, the stages of all nations are held once every twenty years, whereas the Stage of Dreams I mentioned... is approaching soon."

Luigi frowned: "So you still don’t think I qualify for the Stage of Dreams."

Uriel didn’t respond, but silence can also be an answer.

Luigi thought for a while, then took out a second item from his pocket and placed it on the cluttered table: "I don’t need you to recommend me to Birmingham Eden College for further study, I already have the qualification."

Uriel’s gaze landed on the table, where there lay a badge. The background of the badge was a rectangle with a deep and shallow set of keys, resembling the black and white keys of a piano. Set against these keys were several instruments of different designs.

This is... the emblem of Birmingham Eden College.

Uriel picked up the badge from the table, turned it over, and unsurprisingly saw a familiar mark.

"So it was his badge." Uriel rubbed the badge, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This badge was what Luigi specifically chose after he cleared the Sunshine Circus, giving up the Radiant Harp in the process.

The badge’s owner was the host of the Sunshine Circus, also known as the Joker. He initially brought out this badge as a prize just to balance the weights of the three prize items. Only when one prize item’s weight was relatively low could the high-weight Radiant Harp be offered as a reward.

The Joker valued Luigi greatly, which is why he sought to make the Radiant Harp a prize in any way possible.

But in the end, Luigi chose the extra offer from the Joker — the emblem of Birmingham Eden College.

At the time, everyone was baffled as to why Luigi made such a choice; later, Luigi provided a very vague explanation: inspiration.

If it truly was inspiration, perhaps it was meant for this moment to come true?

After a moment of silence, Uriel finally spoke: "He even gave you his badge, has he placed his hope on you?"

Everyone: ...Hope placed on Luigi?

Clearly, Uriel had misunderstood something. This was indeed the prize that the Joker specifically brought out to lower the weight, so how did it become a spiritual token of hope?

Uriel pondered for a moment and said, "Since he placed his hope and dreams on you, I can give you a chance. As long as your performance can reach the level of the top three in the Imperial Orchestra, I will recommend you to the chief."

Before, the recommendation was to Birmingham Eden College for further study, and now it’s to the chief. Is there a difference?

Facing Luigi’s confusion, Uriel softly said, "The chief of the Imperial Orchestra has no intention of going to the Stage of Dreams, so if you can gain his favor, you might obtain a spot on the Stage of Dreams."

In short, no matter if Uriel ultimately chooses to go to the Stage of Dreams or not, he will not grant Luigi the qualification.

Luigi has only one path to obtain the qualification: to get Uriel’s recommendation letter, then seek out the chief of the empire.

...

Meanwhile, outside the Fairyland Duplication.

Glaipnir softly said, "This way, the envelope Uriel took out when he first played the piano probably contained the so-called recommendation letter."

Angel also agreed: "Just like the envelope the Joker took out initially."

Back then, the Joker’s envelope had two choices, one was the "Sunshine Circus Invitation," and the other was the "Joker’s Recommendation Letter." Only by choosing a specific option would the envelope reveal its associated contents.

Previously, when Angel observed the envelope in Uriel’s hands, the feedback he got was: "Reward information generation in progress..."

Presumably, it was waiting for Luigi’s final choice to generate the corresponding recommendation letter.

If Luigi hadn’t taken out the badge, that letter might have been the "Birmingham Eden College Study Recommendation." Taking out the badge changed Uriel’s mind, leading to the generation of "The Recommendation Letter from the Chief of the Imperial Orchestra."

Although Luigi had seen "The Recommendation Letter from the Chief of the Imperial Orchestra," whether he could finally obtain it depends on his performance before Uriel.