Chapter 639: Alhaitham’s Final Ripple

The screen went black, then a string of text appeared: "Decree: Regarding public art performances conducted within Sumeru City…"

Then this text quickly changed to: "Decree: Lesser Lord Kusanali has escaped from the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Immediately proceed to the city for capture."

That's right—this was the trap card "Decree Tampering" that Alhaitham had prepared in advance!

The little Dendro Archon has escaped! The two guards immediately realized this was a major issue and rushed forward with their weapons.

Of course, not to arrest Nilou—after Nilou's curtain call pose, many guards ran past her.

Nilou breathed a sigh of relief—not because she wouldn't be caught, but because the plan succeeded.

Now the audience understood too. Nilou dancing wasn't to distract a few guards—it was to provoke the Grand Sage into quickly issuing the decree.

Though this decree might have been issued sooner or later, what Alhaitham wanted was for the Grand Sage to issue it immediately, without "verification."

This required a trigger—and Nilou was that trigger.

Dancing right in front of the art-hating Grand Sage—the taunt level was indeed high.

Facts proved Alhaitham really understood the Grand Sage well. The plan went very smoothly.

The Grand Sage did issue the decree, but what puzzled the audience was—why was the decree's content wrong?

Wasn't it supposed to ban art? How did it become information about the little Dendro Archon escaping? When was it changed?

Could that lackey always beside the Grand Sage be an undercover agent? Hiding so deep?

To be honest, even Uday himself didn't know he was an undercover agent—but given the situation, without later explanation, he really seemed like one.

Of course, that wasn't the case. He was just a lackey. The one who accomplished this swap feat was actually Alhaitham.

Only in the "reveal" segment did the audience learn the meaning of Alhaitham's pathetic lunge—it turned out he deliberately missed.

At that time, Alhaitham lunging onto the table seemed pathetic, but in that instant, he secretly swapped one of the Knowledge Capsules.

That one was the "art ban"—Alhaitham knew it, because as scribe, his job was to draft decrees.

But this set of smooth combos could only mean his little hands weren't very clean—doing such small actions without anyone noticing. Being a scholar was wasting his talent.

Back at Port Ormos, it was the same—even the Matra didn't notice. These guards and scholars certainly couldn't see it.

Looking at it this way, he shouldn't be Sumeru's B King—he's practically Sumeru's Thief Saint. No—Sumeru's Shadow Emperor!

Alhaitham's actions were very familiar to Lynette—this was exactly "misdirection," right?

Using big actions to cover small actions—where the "magician" looks, the audience looks; what the "magician" thinks is important, the audience thinks is important too.

So in the animation, Alhaitham used his mad big action to cover his small action. After falling onto the table, he didn't look at the Knowledge Capsules—instead, he immediately turned back to look at the Grand Sage.

Alhaitham's actions at that time made everyone think his target was truly the Grand Sage—they all stared at him and the Grand Sage. No one paid attention to the Knowledge Capsules.

Alright—with this, he could be nominated for Sumeru Magician too. Alhaitham was just too versatile.

Now everyone finally understood why Alhaitham suddenly pretended to go mad and lunge—this made sense, this made sense.

Kaveh and the others had guessed from the start that Alhaitham definitely had a plan—they just didn't expect his plan to be this bold: swapping right in front of him.

No wonder Cyno and the others all said Alhaitham's plan was too bold—they weren't wrong at all. Truly worthy of the "Thief Saint"—great skill breeds great courage!

This plan was risky, but how to put it—the bigger the waves, the pricier the fish!

Once successful, this plan could be said to stab straight into the Grand Sage's heart!

As for whether it would succeed? The executor's name was—Alhaitham.

Paimon's evaluation of this person was:

["He's just a guy who's a little smart, but extremely, extremely annoying."]

Kaveh: Fellow sufferer!

Kaveh found your statement very useful and liked it.

Even though he's very annoying, one has to admit he's smart. Teaming up with him is very reassuring.

By this point, Alhaitham's plan had been mostly clarified, but to prevent anyone from still not understanding, it was specially "recalled" through Paimon's mouth about Nilou's task.

Just as everyone guessed, Nilou was the "trigger"—to make the Grand Sage issue that art ban decree.

There was foreshadowing for this art ban too. During the Sabzeruz Festival, the Grand Sage had said he would have the scribe draft such a decree upon returning.

Alhaitham was the scribe, so he drafted this decree—he naturally could identify which Knowledge Capsule was the "decree."

Now the Grand Sage's underwear had been completely figured out by Alhaitham—100% certain the Grand Sage couldn't tolerate this taunt and would definitely issue the decree.

And the other guards were accustomed to relying on the Akasha. Once the message about the little Dendro Archon escaping was issued, they wouldn't question it—they'd just execute. Security instantly cleared out a lot.

These scattered people would be handled by Dehya, Rahman, and the others.

They couldn't win when grouped, but scattered—it was just a "hunt."

Activate "field card · Lion's Hunting Ground."

One could only say that in terms of card playing, Alhaitham also had a slight edge.

Clearly having fewer cards than the Grand Sage, but every play was fatally effective.

The plan went very smoothly. The reveal process excited the audience—this was the feeling of a battle of wits, right?

Following the Traveler for so long, they rarely saw this— so refreshing!

But this refreshing feeling came to an abrupt halt. The audience widened their eyes, somewhat unable to believe the scene before them.

The screen shifted to Isak's perspective. At this moment, he had changed into a new outfit—three-star Dendro Archon debuts!

This outfit was exactly the "budget version Dendro Archon" cosplay clothes. The audience found it amusing yet painful to watch—this was a bit eye-searing…

But how to say it… um… no criticizing appearance in cosplay—tolerated.

But the more they stepped back, the angrier they got. Though no criticizing appearance, at least be serious about it.

Speaking of which, this dark one— isn't this Lesser Lord Scarlet King?

"Pfft… hahahahahaha." Furina laughed very happily. She didn't know that in a certain sense, she was also a "stand-in"—a perfect stand-in.

And the Focalors she replaced would eventually die in her place.

Ei fell into thought. Similar—really similar. Finding a stand-in—she was too familiar with that.

You found a stand-in too? Dendro Archon. But this stand-in of yours…

Nahida also saw this scene and couldn't hold back a light laugh.

She wasn't angry—in fact, she even found Isak quite cute.

However, those who saw her smiling face would only think she was the truly cute one.