Now All These Evil Tomes Are Mine! (5500, Second Update)

What happened?

Inside the pocket dimension, Adalbert had only just reached out, intending to help the Gloomvale Knight up after he suddenly fell to his knees.

But the cyan light faded from the black-haired knight's eyes. He rose to his feet and gave a somewhat weak smile. "Nothing."

"I merely... experienced helpless despair."

His gaze hardened. "But it's fine. I already know many things now... This time, I'll definitely do better."

...Sigh.

Adalbert's eyes dimmed as he sighed as well. He thought Ian was blaming himself for the people of Avak Laboratory and the entire Awak Domain, and he felt somewhat saddened too.

He had slightly overestimated Ian's morality.

Ian would indeed grow angry over the miserable fates of ordinary people, and might even fight for them. But now that things had come to this, even if he truly felt sad, he would not put on such an exaggerated display.

But Ian would not deliberately explain this misunderstanding either. Adalbert truly was a good researcher, and earning some favorability was not a bad thing.

Just then, the Dead River Armament, which had been lying silently on the ground, suddenly emitted a deep mechanical hum.

With a bang, the grotesque armor abruptly contracted, then swelled, transforming into a mass of pitch-black mist. Within it, crimson and silver light became lines of patterns, intertwining to form one inscription after another before flowing toward Ian.

Ian saw no danger—indeed, the moment he touched the Dead River Armament, he had already foreseen this through the Silver Chip.

So he merely stood there, waiting for all the mist and patterns to contract, to shrink around his waist.

They formed an inconspicuous black belt.

The Dead River Armament?! Had it been miniaturized for portability?

Adalbert's eyes widened, and he looked utterly astonished. This form... the people