Nancy’s slap packed quite a punch, a crisp smack clearly audible.
Gro was stunned on the spot, staring at Nancy as he stammered, "You... what do you mean?"
Nancy asked with utter seriousness, "Who am I?"
"Of course you’re Nancy," Gro shouted loudly, almost losing his patience. If he weren’t overpowered, he would have truly been upset.
Nancy continued calmly, "If you couldn’t see my face, would you still think it’s me?"
"How could I not!" Gro exclaimed. "Even if I can’t see your face, I can recognize your legs, your hands, especially the way you hit me, it hasn’t changed at all!" Gro got more and more aggrieved as he spoke, his feelings turning to sorrow and indignation as he wildly speculated that perhaps Nancy was preparing to torment him in the future without admitting to it.
This... this was bullying at its worst!
Nancy had no idea what Gro was thinking and simply lowered the hand covering her face, saying, "There, you see? As long as you are familiar enough with someone and have had enough contact with them, you can still recognize a person even when their face is covered. So, haven’t you felt that the ’person’ felt very similar to someone you know?"
"Ah?" Gro was puzzled, staring blankly for a while before a flicker passed through his eyes.
The flicker, then another, and another, repeatedly blinking as he arrived at a possible realization, his expression one of incredulity, "You don’t mean... gulp... Lord Richard?"
"But how is that possible?" Gro argued. "So far away, flying so high in the sky, how could you possibly recognize him accurately? Besides, I know Lord Richard is powerful, but he can’t possibly be that powerful, right? If it really were him, wouldn’t that mean he’s more powerful than all of us put together?"
"Nothing is impossible," Nancy said, narrowing her eyes. "You still don’t understand that guy; anything is possible with him. Honestly, I’ve never felt that I’ve completely seen through him. It was when we were traveling to the East Coast on the giant ship, at the last Deep Blue Castle exchange meeting, and it’s the same now. Maybe his strength isn’t that formidable, but with the help of some special methods, maybe he’s achieved it. Anyway, I’ve suspected it was him from the start, and the more I consider it, the more it seems likely."
Nancy also closed her lips, continuing to gaze northward. In fact, inside, she was even less willing to accept this possibility than Teddy. As a genius who had been continually frustrated since encountering Richard, she very much wanted to surpass him. If Richard truly was as powerful as the speculation suggested, it would be incredibly difficult for her to surpass him.
If the speculation was indeed true, she wasn’t willing to give up just like that. Perhaps Richard was very powerful, many times stronger than she was now. But as long as she was willing to work hard and ensure continuous progress, one day she would catch up to Richard.
She would, definitely!
Nancy turned her head to look at Gro and suddenly said, "Gro, come with me to the Main Continent, will you?"
"Ah?" Gro was taken aback, looking at Nancy as he took a long time to grasp the meaning of her words, his tongue feeling thick, "The... the Main Continent? What for?"
"Didn’t Wizard Macbeth say that the Main Continent could help us improve better?"
"That’s what he said to you, not to me." Gro remembered clearly, suspicious that she was trying to fool him, "If you want to go, just go by yourself. Why drag me along?"
"It’s simple," Nancy said. "The Main Continent might allow us to improve better, but it also has its dangers. With you there, at least we could help each other out."
"Really?" Gro didn’t quite believe her. After a moment, realization dawned on him, "No, that can’t be right. You think the Main Continent is dangerous, and you want to bring me along to scout ahead, don’t you?"
"I’m not going, absolutely not." Once he figured it out, Gro shook his head frantically, almost as if his head would fly off.
Nancy’s expression darkened as she walked up close to Gro, slapped his face twice with a "smack smack," grabbed Gro’s head, and stared into his eyes, "Are you really that useless? I’m helping you advance! I could become a First-level Wizard at any moment! And what about you, do you have the confidence to become a First-level Wizard within three years? Right now, this opportunity is in front of you, tell me, do you want to go with me or not?"
Gro: "..." He was on the verge of crying. How could this kind of thing be forced on someone?
When he had come to the East Coast, Richard hadn’t forced him and even advised him to stay. It was Gro himself who had a lapse of judgement, leaving behind the Prince position to come to the East Coast.
Life on the East Coast for the past two years hadn’t been easy. But no matter what, after two years, he had grown more familiar with the East Coast, having experienced all kinds of difficulties. Just as things were looking up, he was being dragged to the Main Continent?
Was there no justice in the world?
Gro was inwardly roaring with outrage when Macbeth suddenly came over, glanced at Nancy and Gro, and asked, "What’s going on with you two?"
"Teacher Macbeth..." Gro hurriedly tried to tattle, only to be interrupted by Nancy the next moment.
"Teacher Macbeth, we are discussing the matter of going to the Main Continent."
"The Main Continent, oh!" Upon hearing the words "Main Continent," a subtle gleam flashed across Macbeth’s eyes. He turned to Nancy and said, "Going to the Main Continent is indeed a good idea! Like I’ve told you before, there are many opportunities and resources on the Main Continent. Going there, your development would be better, I fully support it."
"Teacher Macbeth, are you familiar with the Main Continent?"
"Not too familiar," answered Macbeth. "But I once had a female student who came from there. From what she told me, I learned quite a few things."
"Then, Teacher Macbeth, will you go to the Main Continent?" Nancy inquired.
"Me?..." Macbeth smiled, shook his head, and said, "After this matter is resolved, I’ll leave just like you all, but I won’t be heading to the Main Continent. You know my condition, my life isn’t much longer, and I don’t wish to struggle anymore. I just want to find a small place, where I can enjoy my remaining time eating marmalade."
"By the way." Macbeth suddenly seemed to remember something, raising his voice, "If you really do go to the Main Continent, do me a favor."
"Take this." Macbeth pulled out a dusty stone pendant from inside his clothes, looking somewhat reluctant but still tossing it to Gro, who was closest.
"This pendant was left by my female student, it’s a family heirloom of hers. Though I’d like to keep it as a memento, it’s better to return it to its rightful owner. Later, I will write down an address for you. If possible, help me return it to her family, to settle a burden on my heart."
"By the way." Macbeth spoke again, looking in a certain direction of the city, and said out loud, "If you are really preparing to leave, you’d better hurry, leave today, no dawdling. Otherwise, if you’re late, there might be some very bad things happening."
"Bad things? What kind?" Nancy asked.
Macbeth just smiled, said nothing, and walked away.
Nancy frowned in thought.
Gro suddenly let out a scream, clutching the stone pendant in his hand as if it were a scalding hot taro, and as if awakening from a dream, exclaimed, "Hey, I didn’t agree to go to the Main Continent, why give this to me?"
Nancy’s train of thought was interrupted, giving Gro a displeased glare, but showing no intention of taking it back.
Gro’s face immediately twisted into the shape of a pumpkin.