Published at 17th of February 2026 7:10 am

Chapter 2565: Mother and Son

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

When Angel and Mia passed through the narrow passage and arrived at the cellar door, they immediately saw the woman and the little boy they had previously spotted using the Eye of Investigation.

Now, that woman still appeared as a "young boy," shielding the child behind her in a corner of the wall.

"Who are you, and what do you want to do?" The "young boy" spoke with a remarkably clear voice.

It seems that this woman is not only skilled at disguises, but she can also change her voice, perfecting her facade even further.

"Brother, I’m scared." The little boy dressed as a hero trembled behind the young boy until he leaned against the wall to find some support but continued to shake, especially the hand holding the small wooden sword.

"Don’t be afraid, I’m here, I won’t let them bully you." The young boy was fully into his role, his eyes showing both stubbornness and youthful vigor, mixed with some withdrawal after putting up a brave front.

As the "brothers" spoke back and forth, a lazy voice emerged.

"Young one, stop sliding down the wall, and don’t purposely tremble wanting to touch the mechanism behind the cupboard with your sword. If you’re naughty, you’ll get whipped, you know."

Without a doubt, this frivolous way of speaking must be Dox.

As Dox finished speaking, the young boy and child both changed their expressions quickly. The young boy unhesitatingly said, "Speed up, I will hold them off."

The little boy stopped pretending, squatting down directly, trying to stick the wooden sword into the gap behind the cupboard.

If the cupboard were moved at this moment, the tight line on the wall behind it would be revealed; once the wooden sword cuts it, the line would break. The other end of the connection is an intricate crossbow mechanism.

The line also connects to the gap in the wall, insinuating some secret behind it.

However, just as the little boy tried to insert the wooden sword into the gap to cut the line, he suddenly screamed in terror, sitting down fiercely, wanting to retreat, but being in a corner, he could only hit the wall.

Not quite over his fright, the little boy scrambled up, wanting to escape from there.

The young boy initially posed as if he was ready to sacrifice himself, but upon hearing the little boy’s shriek, immediately turned his head, "Kelo, what’s wrong?"

"There’s, there’s a... ghost, a ghost! Mom, there’s a ghost behind the cupboard. I saw it, hidden eyes in the dark crack, staring at me!"

The little boy Kelo, now unable to mind titles, screamed "Mom," revealing their relationship.

"Ghost?" The young boy had not grasped it at first, but his face changed suddenly, turning to the few relaxed men opposite him, "Was it you? Are you Wizards?"

No one answered her because, at that moment, Angel and Mia had already entered the cellar.

Angel didn’t immediately look at the mother and child opposite but turned to Dox: "Are you influenced by Modia? Always wanting to use a whip."

Dox replied with an unserious face, "It’s normal to whip naughty kids, isn’t it? Preferably with spikes, the kind that draws blood."

Angel:... He’s crazy to talk normally with Dox.

Angel didn’t care to talk more with Dox, looked at the pair of mother and son opposite: "One is a master of disguise, and the other can act at such a young age. No wonder, talents in disguise run in the family."

Angel’s words made their expressions even uglier.

The child, after all, is a child. His acting was indeed skilled before, but once scared by the "ghost," his courage broke, trembling and holding his mother’s leg.

Feeling her son’s trembles, the "young boy" forced herself to suppress the fear, speaking in a calm tone: "I saw Mia; are you backing the White Crocodile Adventure Group?"

Angel did not answer, but the young boy confirmed her assumption as correct.

"The White Crocodile Adventure Group indeed has a grudge with us, but initially, it was you who acted first and even robbed our spoils."

Mia couldn’t hold back anymore, speaking, "You really are from the Hero Squad! We didn’t initiate contact first; you crossed the line!"

"Again with the reservation talk? Let me ask you, the Black Dragon Adventure Group, Lynx Squad, Guardian of the Ruins Squad, they also often operate in the third district; would you dare provoke them?"

"They... they’re different from you!"

A cold laugh: "What difference is there? Only that they are stronger than you, so you dare not take action."

Mia: "Even so, so what? The survival of the fittest is the rule here."

"This is just a piece of ruins, without any rules, only hearts and limits. The so-called rules are just hidden excuses." The young boy continued with a cold smile, "And your White Crocodile Adventure Group, has no bottom line, using self-imposed rules to deceive and consume countless adventure groups, your comeuppance is deserved."

"Comeuppance?" Dox repeated the word with some amusement: "The White Crocodile Adventure Group’s comeuppance is your Hero Squad?"

"Heroes exist in minds, setting a bottom line for ourselves is our squad’s doctrine. We disdain revenge against them, it’s they who came to us, and in the end, they lost. We did not kill everyone because that’s the hero’s bottom line. In battle, swords and knives don’t see, but once the fight is over, we spare anyone with breath left. Otherwise, do you think Mia still lives?"

Dox: "However, the White Crocodile Adventure Group still ended up annihilated, did they not?"

"Here, those who follow survival of the fittest, once they lose power, are bound to suffer retaliation. It was other adventure groups that finished them off, unrelated to us."

Mia: "Clearly it’s your squad directing them and moreover, you brought Ghosteye Witch to harm me, killing my last two teammates as well!"

As soon as Mia’s words fell, Dox pinched the ridge of his nose helplessly, did this girl forget what she said earlier? She sold out her two teammates, meaning the direct cause of death was your doing!

"We disdain doing things like that, and the Ghosteye Witch you mentioned, well, I don’t even know about it. Believe it or not, up to you!" After speaking, the young boy fell silent, watching the crowd carefully.

Although this person is an adept in disguise and acting, these are only ordinary skills; Angel and other Transcendents need not use Verity, with just sensing emotional fluctuations, they can tell she spoke the truth.

The Hero Squad didn’t act against the White Crocodile Adventure Group; instead, it was the White Crocodile Adventure Group that sought them out, losing without the others executing prisoners, letting the remnants go.

Of course, while Mia lied, much of what she said was correct. Standing in White Crocodile Adventure Group’s position, she took "bullying the weak" and "reservation" for granted. From this position, the Hero Squad moved against their profits, and how could they tolerate it?

However, from an observer’s standpoint, the White Crocodile Adventure Group certainly deserved it.

As for the Hero Squad, it’s hard to say whether they are good or bad. They say everyone has a bottom line, but that line can change, and no one knows if yours has changed. Such idealistic talk is just rhetoric, best left unheard.

"Alright, we more or less understand your situation. We’re not the White Crocodile Adventure Group’s backer; we’re merely using Mia to find you," Angel spoke up at this moment.

Upon hearing that the opposite party, potentially Transcendent, was not the White Crocodile Adventure Group’s backer, the youth’s expression relaxed slightly. Their Hero Squad had some fame in both the second and third districts, with few enemies. The White Crocodile Adventure Group was one of the rare foes, and as long as the others weren’t associated with them, they might still have a chance to survive.

After Angel finished speaking, he looked at Mia: "Now that it’s confirmed she’s a member of the Hero Squad, you can leave. I won’t forget what I promised you: once you step out of the cellar door, the Defense Spell will activate, lasting for six hours. As long as you don’t linger in the ruins, there should be no issue with you leaving safely."

Even though Mia had done many things Angel disapproved of and held positions Angel disliked, these were minor issues unrelated to him. Given that Mia indeed had clues for entering the Underground Labyrinth and had led them to the Hero Squad, Angel would keep his promise and let her leave safely.

"You... you all aren’t here to kill the Hero Squad, right?" Mia said incredulously after hearing Angel’s words. She had always thought that her speech had moved them to cause trouble for the Hero Squad. But now, listening to Angel, did she misunderstand?

"Whether we kill them or not is none of your business; your role is over. Just leave when you’re told and don’t be an eyesore." Dox, the one speaking, glanced at Angel after speaking: "You even cast a Defense Spell for her, such a waste. She managed to escape the third district by selling out her teammates; I don’t believe she can’t leave without a Defense Spell."

Angel didn’t pay attention to Dox and continued watching Mia.

Even though Angel’s gaze had no murderous intent or malice, Mia still felt a shiver down her spine. Moreover, under Angel’s watchful eyes, she had a premonition that if she didn’t leave now, she might never leave.

Mia nodded stiffly: "I’ll go now, I’ll go now."

With those words, Mia slowly backed away. The moment she stepped out of the cellar door, a faintly glowing Defense Spell descended from the sky, directly enveloping her...

At that moment, inside the cellar.

"Using it on her is such a waste; better to cast a Defense Spell on Kaier so he doesn’t hold us back," muttered Dox.

"You had enough time to cast a Defense Spell on Kaier during your complaints," Angel replied, looking like he wondered why Dox hadn’t done it himself.

Kaier, who was unexpectedly involved in the conversation, quickly waved his hands: "No need, no need, I have a Magic Rune Scroll for Defense Spells."

No one paid attention to Kaier because he wasn’t the focus of the discussion; he was merely a non-emotional "example."

At this point, the Black Earl suddenly said, "I thought you were like that old man from the Academy Faction who was a Holy Light Walker — who knew you’d have such a dark heart."

Angel didn’t wish to engage in idle talk nor understood the Black Earl’s meaning, so he casually deflected: "Both black and white have value in existence."

However, Dox curiously asked, "Lord Black Earl, why do you say that?"

The Black Earl replied, with meaning: "Without the Defense Spell, as you said, the woman had a fair chance of surviving. But with the Defense Spell, her survival is no longer certain."

Dox understood the Black Earl’s meaning as soon as he pondered it slightly.

The human heart is fickle, and people naturally gravitate toward profit and greed.

Initially, Mia might truly have wanted to escape the ruins, but now with the Defense Spell, will she develop other thoughts? Those dangerous zones have treasures she considers valuable.

If her mindset changes, Mia may not be able to leave the ruins — greed is the original sin, which can swallow her chance to escape.

Dox patted Angel’s shoulder, impressed: "I suspected you were a bit cunning back in the Princess Castle, and I see I wasn’t wrong. You’re quite skilled at playing with minds. Your studies of Heart Illusion have paid off."

Angel offered no explanation. Good deeds turning bad and bad deeds becoming good are common in daily life. Like nobility and baseness, it often comes down to a single thought to make a choice.

Mia only needed to make a simple choice.

As for what she chooses, Angel didn’t care.

Compared to Mia, Angel was more interested in the true entrance to the deeper part of the Underground Labyrinth and what secrets lay behind that wall.

Thinking of this, Angel looked toward the mother and child opposite him.

Seeing Angel look over, the woman dressed as a boy was about to speak when she felt a moment of dizziness, as if a swirl of changing colors had formed a vortex, pulling her consciousness directly into it...

When dealing with Mia, since it could interfere with Divination, Angel refrained from using much Extraordinary Power on her; he only asked questions verbally.

Now that they had found a member of the Hero Squad, there was no worry about interfering with the Transcendent; direct inquiry sufficed.

As for other things, like the story of the mother and child, as long as it didn’t relate to their target, it was unnecessary to care.

In the Illusion Mist, the "youth" finally revealed her true form: a woman about thirty years old with fair skin but ordinary features. Her eyebrows were so faint they almost weren’t there, making her look like a blank slate. Perhaps this was why she was so adept at disguising herself; it’s clearer to paint on a blank slate than on a colored one.

"What’s your name?" Angel asked softly, also testing whether the Nightmare Illusion had successfully penetrated.

The woman answered listlessly: "Matilda, or Camilla."

"Two names?"

"Matilda was given to me by my parents, but Camilla is the name I’ve used the longest."

In brief, every time the woman changed disguises, she adopted a new name. Over time, the name given by her parents grew increasingly unfamiliar to her, while the alias she commonly used with her disguises gradually replaced her real name.

It’s either professional integrity or professional melancholy.

"I’ll call you Matilda, then. I’ll ask you a few questions shortly, but remember: you not only have to answer my questions, if there are extensions beyond some answers, don’t wait for me to ask; explain them all."

Angel gave a preliminary warning.

Matilda remained in a dazed state, nodding at Angel: "Alright."

"Then let’s begin. First question: does your Hero Squad have access to an underground passage, and if so, where is it and how do you enter it?"

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