No More Pretending, I'll Come Clean!

After adjusting his mindset like that,

Carl suddenly felt that his current situation did not seem so passive after all.

He even vaguely held a bit of the initiative when it came to the whereabouts of the [Mind Stone]!

After all, no matter how formidable The Ancient One was, she could not just barge into his [Subspace Dimension] and snatch the [Mind Stone] away, could she?!

Since that was the case, what the hell was there to be afraid of?

Today, he would have a proper meeting with that bald Great Devil King!!!

Carl's face immediately regained the composure and confidence he usually displayed when negotiating with clients.

His body slowly descended from midair.

But for the sake of caution, he did not completely dismiss the energy cloak around his body, nor did he rush to speak.

Instead, he chose to meet The Ancient One's gaze without the slightest avoidance.

When enemies met on a narrow path, the braver one won!

At the negotiating table, in a contest where both sides already knew the answer, whoever lost their nerve and spoke first was most likely the loser!

And so...

The atmosphere within the [Mirror Dimension] suddenly became somewhat strange.

Carl and The Ancient One simply stood there, neither saying a word, staring unblinkingly at each other.

It was as though both wanted to dig the answer they sought from the other's eyes.

"Hm?!"

A rare flicker of surprise passed through The Ancient One's placid eyes.

She clearly had not expected the young man before her to remain so calm in her presence.

Just as Carl had guessed.

The Ancient One had not originally intended to bother with him.

Even though she knew he was an "invader" who had crossed over from another realm.

So long as he did not pose a threat to Earth's safety, she would generally turn a blind eye and choose to ignore him.

There was no helping it.

Over a long period of time, numerous anomalous phenomena had occurred one after another, with small worlds from different dimensions forcibly merging into this world.

Even now, The Ancient One had not discovered the cause of these anomalies.

Fortunately, the integration of those small worlds had all been seamless, even perfect...

To the point that no one except her noticed these anomalies at all.

It was as though every person and object from those small worlds had always existed in this world.

Naturally, no unnecessary unrest had arisen.

Gradually, even The Ancient One had grown accustomed to it.

However, at the instant Carl snapped his fingers.

The Ancient One, far away in [Kamar-Taj], sharply sensed something unusual.

An utterly unfamiliar and mysterious power was violating the rules established by generations of [Sorcerer Supreme], forcibly collecting human souls from Earth through slaughter!

Did it think [Kamar-Taj] did not exist?

Did it think she, the [Sorcerer Supreme], did not exist?

Thus, The Ancient One rushed over at once.

She had initially thought the one breaking the rules would be some demon god from a newly born dimension.

After all, those inexperienced newcomers loved causing trouble on Earth to make their presence known.

But who would have thought that, upon arriving, she would discover that the culprit was actually a human—and seemingly a "transmigrator" at that!

So, in order to uncover the reason behind it all, The Ancient One did not immediately reveal herself.

Instead, she hid within the [Mirror Dimension] and witnessed Carl's entire slaughter of the Hydra base.

Yet even by the end, she could not figure it out.

How had he bypassed the magical defenses of the three Sanctums and forcibly collected those souls directly?!

"Could he be a follower of some dimensional demon god?"

"But why can't I sense even the slightest trace of magic or dark energy from him..."

The Ancient One frowned slightly.

Although on Earth's little patch of land,

as long as one had not reached the level of Dormammu, ruler of the [Dark Dimension], they would likely be unable to stir up much trouble before her.

Carl's identity, however, was highly unusual, and he possessed great power.

Therefore, The Ancient One had no choice but to take him seriously.

After thinking it over.

She ultimately decided to reveal herself and ask Carl face-to-face.

"Don't worry. I mean no harm..."

The Ancient One was the first to break the deadlock, smiling as she probed:

"You may call me Sorcerer Ancient One. I come from [Kamar-Taj], and I am the [Sorcerer Supreme] who protects Earth from magical creatures' invasions!!"

"The reason I sought you out this time is because I have a question that you need to answer."

The Ancient One spoke very slowly, deliberately leaving Carl ample time to react as she attempted to observe more details from him.

This tactic had always worked without fail in the years past.

But this time, she had encountered a top salesperson who loved refusing to play by the rules.

"I, Carl Mala, am a transmigrator. I arrived yesterday!!!"

In order to keep The Ancient One from taking control of the conversation, Carl opened with his strongest card and directly revealed his true identity.

As a qualified salesperson.

He understood far better than ordinary people how to earn a client's trust in the shortest possible time.

In his view, in any kind of relationship, "sincerity" was always the ultimate trump card.

It was also the fastest and best way to close the distance between people!

So... had you been "sincere" today?!!

"???"

The Ancient One was indeed caught completely off guard.

Even after living for more than five hundred years, weathering the vicissitudes of life and seeing every facet of the world.

Carl's sudden display of "sincerity" still left her speechless for a moment.

Fine, fine, this kid really refused to play by the rules, huh?!

"You're... very sincere, and very unusual."

Only after a long silence did The Ancient One nod solemnly.

"It seems you have already realized that this world is different, but that is not why I came to see you."

Carl pretended not to understand and knowingly asked, "Please, Sorcerer Ancient One, speak plainly!"

The Ancient One gave him a deep look.

After a brief pause, she said bluntly:

"I sensed earlier that you seemed to have used some method to forcibly seize the souls of those you killed?"

"Such conduct clearly violates the rules of [Kamar-Taj]... Is there anything you would like to say to me about that?"

Σ(⊙▽⊙"a???

Huh?

That was it?!

She... had not come for the [Mind Stone]?!!

So he had been worried for nothing just now and had nearly caused a false alarm.

Carl was completely relieved this time.

Since The Ancient One had not come to seize the [Mind Stone].

Then the only point of conflict between them had vanished as well.

Their tense standoff naturally eased.

However, the [Subspace] absorbing souls had clearly touched upon the taboo of The Ancient One and [Kamar-Taj].

If he mishandled this, he likely still would not be able to leave this [Mirror Dimension].

"I didn't expect you to discover it..."

As his thoughts turned, Carl had already devised a response.

First, he cleared his throat, then smoothly and naturally shifted his demeanor.

He deliberately put on an imposing expression and said:

"I had originally planned to get along with you as an ordinary person, but all I got in return was suspicion and doubt..."

"No more pretending. I'm a dimensional demon god... I'll come clean!!!"