For the next month, Adam spent most of his time studying the research on gravity magic left behind by the Magus called Mathias the Free.
The more he studied it, the more he came to learn about his body enhancement technique, the Astral Tyrant Manual.
If earlier he was rowing the figurative boat with his bare hands, after studying Mathias' research on gravity magic, he was now rowing with a solid, wooden oar. It was surprising to him just how much he had benefited from the Magus' research.
Other than that, the book also contained some of Mathias' journal entries. If anyone else had read it, they would be shocked out of their minds. However, Adam had already gone through that phase a few years ago.
He learned that Mathias, at one point, had left this planet and gone to explore other planets in this universe!
Still, Adam was greatly surprised when he read this. He didn't think that the people of this planet knew about the existence of life on other planets, but it seemed like he was wrong.
He realized that he hadn't even explored the entirety of the Southern Federation yet, much less the rest of the world. So how could he foolishly assume that powerful Magi out there didn't know about the existence of life on other planets?
Although Adam knew so much about the universe—from the memories he had absorbed—in the end, he was still a frog in the well.
This realization truly humbled him.
On this day, the youth went toward the area where the Joker usually spent much of his time. It was a hall somewhere in the library where the latter liked to see the performance of all those participating in the testing grounds within the House.
The man called it the 'Viewing Room', a place where dozens of translucent magical screens hovered in the air and displayed all that was happening with the Magi.
Adam had visited this place to hang out with him from time to time in the past month. After all, he didn't want to spend all his time studying. That would just make it monotonous.
As he entered the Viewing Room, he saw the Joker floating in the air and watching the magical screens with great interest. He also seemed to be eating some kind of corn seeds out of a paper bag.
Seeing that he was really engrossed, the youth loudly cleared his throat. "Ahem!"
"Hmm?" The Joker turned his attention to Adam. "What is it, lad? Are you done studying for the day?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"More or less." Adam nodded.
"Okay, come let's watch this guy together. Looks like he's about to die at the hands of one of the steel golems Master created. Fafafa!" The Joker pointed at one Magus on the screen.
Hearing him say such things so casually, Adam's lips twitched and he thought to himself, Is this what you find entertaining? People dying? What a sadist!
The next moment, he shook his head and stated solemnly, "No, I wanna talk to you about what your Master has written in the book."
"Shoo! Go away!" The Joker waved his hands impatiently. "I don't wish to talk about all those boring analytical stuff. Thought I told you about that already."
"It's not about his research." Adam shook his head. "It's about his journal entries."
The Joker stopped in his movements and turned his head to look at Adam, the grin on his face widening by the second. "So you read about the existence of other magical civilizations, eh, lad?"
He jumped to the ground and laughed with his arms placed on his hips. "Fafafafafa!"
"How does it feel to know that we're not alone in the universe?"
Adam stared at him with a bored look. He had stopped listening to him even and begun digging his nose. "Let me know when you're done."
"Fafa—huh?" The Joker's expression froze. He looked at the youth and spoke incredulously, "You… are not surprised by this information?"
"Mehh." Adam shrugged and chucked the booger at the tip of his finger away.
BAM!
"Stop dirtying my home, you unhygienic little shit!" The Joker smashed Adam's head with his rubber hammer.
"Accckkk!" Adam's eyes threatened to pop out of his sockets. "S-Sorry."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"So…" the Joker put away the hammer and asked with narrowed eyes. "You seem to know about the existence of magical civilizations in this universe? You really are one peculiar young lad."
"What's so great about that? You seem to know this information too," Adam spoke with a grievance, gently rubbing his swollen head.
"Heh, foolish lad." The Joker scoffed. "Naturally, I know everything that my late Master knew."
"Is that so?" Adam asked in understanding.
"Of course!" The next moment, the Joker's eyes narrowed. "But the question is, how in the world did you come across such heavily guarded information?"
"Isn't it obvious? It's because of my—"
"Because of your teacher?" The Joker sneered. "You know how I know you're lying?"
"H-How?" Adam's heart was suddenly gripped by nervousness.
"Because such information is unknown to any Magus below Rank 4. This was the agreement made by all the powerful Magi of Tron to prevent mass panic and chaos."
Adam loudly gulped after listening to the Joker's explanation.
The Joker, on the other hand, smirked in amusement. "I remember you said your mentor was a Rank 3. So, young lad, do you wish to come clean now?"
Adam lowered his head and clenched his fists. Hesitation flashed across his eyes. There was no way he was going to disclose that he knew all this information by absorbing memories from the white lotus.
But at the same time, he also didn't wish to lie to the Joker any further. The man had been nothing but nice and hospitable to him. The youth didn't wish to betray his trust.
Thus, in the end, he raised his head and gazed into the Joker's eyes. "I'm sorry I lied to you."
The Joker simply smiled as he always did, waiting for the youth's explanation.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Adam continued, "The truth is, I know about all this information because of an inheritance I came across when I was young."
"Fafafa, I see. Now, that makes more sense."
"You… you're not mad at me?" Adam asked meekly.
"Why should I be mad?" The Joker chuckled. "I can understand why you would lie about it, though. An inheritance left behind by a powerful Magus is very desirable by others after all."
The next moment, he spread his arms wide, pointing at the area all around him. "But worry not, it's not like your inheritance can be more valuable than this place left behind by my Master.
"Even considering all the inheritances left behind by the Magi on Tron, this secret plane can still be considered top-tier!"
Oh, you have no idea! Adam thought to himself, trying to resist the urge to roll his eyes.
He then asked, "What's Tron? You keep mentioning it."
The Joker's lips twitched. "…That's the name of our planet. You didn't know that?"
Adam looked away, choosing to remain silent.
"You're one strange lad, fafa! You know so much, but at the same time, you know so little. Something tells me you don't even know the names of all the continents on Tron." The Joker laughed loudly.
Adam crossed his arms and harrumphed. "Of course, I know. The continent we're currently on is called Uriel!"
"Fafafa, and what about the rest?"
Adam: "…"
The youth stared at the Joker for a long time, a drop of sweat trickling down the side of his forehead. In the end, he turned around and walked away.
"Hmph! Why should I tell you?"
