Chapter 12: Variables
Entrust me with something?
Linley looked at Hisset with confusion. "Lord Hisset, please speak!"
After all, Hisset was a senior figure of the 'Saber,' one of the four major assassin organizations. For mundane matters, he could simply have the Saber handle them. If he was asking Linley for help, it definitely wasn't a trivial matter.
"Linley, not long ago, didn't those two greedy bastards, O'Brien and Catherine, tell you they wanted to unify the continent and divide the world?" Hisset said.
"There was such a thing," Linley nodded.
Hisset nodded as well. "Whether the world is divided or not has nothing to do with me. But you know, there's a special relationship between Rosalie and me." Hisset smiled. "I know Rosalie's temper very well. She's stayed in the Temple of the Ice Goddess all this time because she truly values it."
Linley nodded.
Rosalie had cultivated for thousands of years and still remained in the temple. This showed how much she valued the Temple of the Ice Goddess.
Look at the Radiant Church and the Dark Church. How many experts who had cultivated for thousands of years still stayed within those churches? After all, for those who had cultivated for thousands of years, their goal was to become a god! To walk the path of godhood, why would they still need to believe in another god?
Gods were meant to be worshipped by others.
Rosalie continued to stay in the Temple of the Ice Goddess, not because she believed in the Ice Goddess, but because she had feelings for the temple.
"O'Brien also said that day that the eighteen northern duchies should belong to the O'Brien Empire," Hisset shook his head helplessly. "Actually, it wouldn't matter if they did, but you know, the O'Brien Empire has long had a rule: only the War God 'O'Brien' can be worshipped. All other religions are forbidden."
Linley nodded.
Even the Radiant Church and the Dark Church could only station intelligence personnel in the O'Brien Empire and dared not preach openly.
"Once the eighteen northern duchies are conquered, with the War God 'O'Brien's' iron-fisted policies, he definitely won't allow the Temple of the Ice Goddess to continue existing," Hisset frowned. "I'm worried that Rosalie might act impulsively and oppose the O'Brien Empire."
Linley understood Hisset's concern.
"Lord Hisset, why worry about that? As long as you're alive, I believe the War God won't go too far," Linley said with a smile.
Hisset nodded. "Yes, that's true while I'm alive. But what if... I die in the Necropolis of the Gods this time? Will the War God still treat the Temple of the Ice Goddess so politely?" A trace of worry appeared on Hisset's brow.
"This..."
Linley pondered for a moment. "Lord Hisset, why are you so lacking in confidence?"
"It's not that," Hisset shook his head. "Linley, you don't know. Although the four of us are all Lower Gods, there's a huge gap between Lower Gods. It's like how, even at the Saint level, the difference between you and someone who just entered the Saint realm is enormous, isn't it?"
Just entered the Saint realm?
Even millions of Abyssal Blade Demons were helpless before Linley. The gap was like heaven and earth.
"All Lower Gods, but I'm the weakest of the four. Take Dylin, for example—he's at the peak of the Lower God level and is said to be close to breaking through to the Middle God level," Hisset shook his head.
Hisset had only recently entered the God level.
The others, like the War God, had become gods over five thousand years ago, while the High Priest had become a god ten thousand years ago. As for Dylin, he had also become a god over ten thousand years ago.
"In the Necropolis of the Gods, if anyone is most likely to die, it's me," Hisset said.
"Then Lord Hisset, why are you still going to the Necropolis of the Gods?" Linley asked in return.
"First, I have no choice. Second..." Hisset's eyes lit up. "Living too leisurely and comfortably for too long gets boring. I want to experience the thrill of life and death again. Back when I was with Amand, walking on the edge of life and death, and those assassination missions—they were truly thrilling and unforgettable."
Hisset still had the heart of a warrior.
Linley understood this in his heart.
Warriors like them could never stay immersed in comfort forever. What they needed was battle, passion, breakthroughs, and climbing one peak after another!
"Linley, about Rosalie's matter—are you willing to help?" Hisset immediately asked.
"Of course I am. Lord Hisset, do you think I'd dare not to?" Linley said with a teasing smile.
"You little rascal," Hisset laughed as well.
Linley would become a god within ten years, and more importantly... Linley's relationship with Bebe and Beirut. That was the real reason Hisset had come to ask for Linley's help. As long as Linley was involved, even if the War God returned from the Necropolis of the Gods, he wouldn't dare to harm Rosalie.
"Linley, O'Brien, Catherine!"
An aged voice suddenly rang out in Linley's mind. Not just Linley, but the War God on Mount War God and the High Priest in the imperial capital of the Yulan Empire also heard this voice.
Linley's expression changed.
Lord Beirut!
"I know you want to start a continental war. I don't care how the rest of the Yulan Continent turns out, but you must remember two things. First, you must not disturb the peace of the Dark Forest. Second, your armies are absolutely forbidden from entering the eighteen northern duchies, and you must not engage in indiscriminate slaughter there. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord Beirut."
The War God, the High Priest, and Linley all answered simultaneously in their minds.
Who would dare defy Beirut's orders?
After sending his divine sense command, Beirut withdrew it.
"How terrifying. His divine sense covered nearly half the Yulan Continent in an instant," Linley marveled. "Lord Beirut's strength is truly overwhelming, far surpassing the War God and the others."
"What's wrong, Linley?" Hisset asked, puzzled, seeing Linley lost in thought.
Linley looked at Hisset and realized that Beirut had only sent his divine sense to the three of them—Linley, the War God, and the High Priest. The other experts hadn't known.
"Lord Hisset, weren't you worried about Rosalie?" Linley said with a smile.
Hisset nodded, looking at Linley in confusion.
"You don't need to worry anymore," Linley said.
Hisset was stunned. "What do you mean?"
"Lord Beirut just issued a command to me, the War God, and the High Priest. The eighteen northern duchies are not to be invaded by any army, and no indiscriminate killing is allowed there," Linley said, smiling at Hisset. "Lord Hisset, you should be relieved now."
Hisset let out a long sigh of relief and smiled as well.
"But I don't understand. Why did Lord Beirut do this? Was it for my sake? I don't think I have that much face," Hisset said, puzzled.
"If you can't figure it out, don't bother. It's a good thing, isn't it?" Linley said with a laugh.
Hisset laughed too. "Haha, yes, a good thing. Well, Linley, I won't disturb you any longer." With that, Hisset's figure vanished from the study. Even with Linley's strength, he could only barely sense a faint blur disappearing.
"His Shadow Evasion Technique, trained to the point where the shadow is almost invisible—that's truly terrifying," Linley marveled.
...
That night was destined to be an extraordinary one.
Not long after Hisset left, another person appeared in Linley's study. Linley didn't even notice his arrival and continued reading his book. It was only when he turned a page and caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye that he realized someone was there.
Linley's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
"Lord Beirut," Linley immediately stood up.
The newcomer was still wearing a black robe, with black hair and a black beard, a faint smile on his face. It was the ruler of the Yulan Continent—Beirut. Beirut said calmly, "Linley, wait a moment. Let's talk after Bebe arrives."
"Bebe?" Linley was puzzled.
"Swoosh!" In just a few seconds, a black shadow darted in from outside. Bebe leaped directly onto Beirut. "Grandpa Beirut, why are you here?"
When Beirut saw Bebe, his eyes narrowed with joy. Having lived for countless years, among all his descendants, only Bebe was a 'God-Eating Rat.' It could be said that Bebe was Beirut's most precious treasure.
"I came today to take Bebe back to the Dark Forest," Beirut said, looking at Bebe with affection.
"Back to the Dark Forest? Why? I think it's great here," Bebe said reluctantly.
Linley's heart stirred.
Lord Beirut wouldn't do something like this without reason. There must be a special cause.
"Lord Beirut, may I ask why you're doing this?" Linley looked at Beirut.
Beirut fondly stroked Bebe. "Bebe, as a divine-level magical beast, the 'God-Eating Rat,' is in the final stage of his growth period. He'll soon enter adulthood. Once he reaches adulthood, Bebe will naturally reach the God level. This stage is very important."
"I'm going to become a god?" Bebe asked in surprise.
"It should take about ten more years. These ten years are the most important for you, Bebe," Beirut said solemnly.
Linley understood. Beirut's true form was the 'God-Eating Rat.' Among all the planes, no one knew more about the God-Eating Rat than Lord Beirut. Linley also cared about Bebe and wanted him to grow better and become stronger. "Bebe, go to the Dark Forest. I'll be going into seclusion to cultivate soon anyway, and it'll probably take about ten years."
Bebe thought for a moment, then looked at Linley and nodded. "Alright, but big brother, if you have time, chat with me through our soul link."
"Sure," Linley said with a smile.
Beirut smiled as well, satisfied with Linley's response.
"Linley, I have something to remind you of," Beirut said.
Linley tensed up and immediately said respectfully, "Lord Beirut, please speak." Beirut nodded and then said, "I know you're planning to attack the other empires and unify the Yulan Continent. If you had done this decades or centuries ago, it would have been fine. But now..."
Beirut shook his head.
Linley was startled. Beirut wouldn't speak without reason. According to the plan discussed by the War God and the others, it seemed foolproof. Eliminate the enemy's Saints, then send in the army, with Saints acting as a deterrent, and if necessary, use destructive magic to intimidate.
It seemed like a sure thing.
"Lord Beirut, what do you mean?" Linley looked at Beirut.
Beirut glanced at Linley with a faint smile. "This war isn't as simple as you imagine. It's best not to have too much ambition. Alright, I've said enough. I'll be going now."
"Big brother," Bebe said, saying goodbye to Linley.
Holding Bebe, Beirut's figure vanished directly from the study. His speed was so fast that Linley couldn't even perceive how Beirut moved. This technique was clearly far superior to Hisset's.
"Lord Beirut suddenly warned me about this?" Sitting in the study, Linley frowned in thought. "The war isn't as simple as I imagined? Could something unexpected happen? And he told me not to have too much ambition?" Linley suddenly had a thought.
"Lord Beirut also just ordered that the eighteen northern duchies must not be attacked."
Putting these clues together, Linley felt a sense of impending pressure.
"This war... I need to be careful and take it slow," Linley decided. He would go find Sini first thing in the morning and give him detailed instructions.
...
That same night.
Deep within the Misty Valley cave in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts.
This was the former lair of the Thorny-backed Iron-armored Dragon. Years ago, Linley had been here and, by chance, swallowed the dragon's blood and dragon crystal, which awakened his bloodline as a Dragonblood Warrior and allowed him to undergo the Dragonblood Warrior transformation. It was also here...
That Dylin, after Linley pulled out the Violet Blood Soft Sword, had escaped with the Three-headed Six-eyed Golden Lion.
In the same place.
"Zzzz..." The space rippled like water, trembling, and the tremors grew stronger until a large rift appeared.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"...
Eight figures rushed out from within. Some looked human, some had horns on their heads, and some were covered in tattered robes. These eight figures had escaped from there, looking disheveled, but they were all overjoyed.
"Ah, the elemental aura—how comfortable it is," a burly figure with bull-like horns trembled with excitement.
"We're back, we're finally back!" A human knelt on the ground, crying loudly in excitement. "I finally escaped alive from that damned place. The smell of this soil—how enchanting."
All eight figures were overcome with emotion.
"Everyone, we've escaped from the Gebados Planar Prison. Now, let's part ways," a handsome man with pointed ears and emerald-green hair said with a loud laugh.
"Haha, after thousands of years of fear and trembling, it's time to enjoy ourselves." The eight figures shot out of the ground, each choosing a direction and flying away.