Additional Chapter! Thank Tidraus, AlexperBDM, and Daos_Nine_Heavens for this additional chapter.
Enjoy!
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Evah wasn't surprised at all. As he walked deeper inside, he surveyed the structure that had entombed three Hunter pathway angels and birthed a Blood Emperor.
As described in the original story, the architecture screamed Fourth Epoch style—chaotic, irregular, and asymmetrical beauty, dominated by black tones, with walls etched with patterns resembling sword slashes.
"Gotta say, anyone with OCD would probably be driven mad by the Black Emperor pathway's aesthetic. Hmm, I bet Trensost jumped ship to the Arbiter pathway because he couldn't stand it, teaming up with Tudor to betray Solomon. Why else would he switch?" Evah quipped, riffing on a classic Fourth Epoch joke, before continuing deeper.
Soon, he reached the chamber with the six god statues. His gaze swept over them, memorizing their features for future dealings with the deities, then moved on toward the innermost depths.
Before long, Luo Lin stood before the final room. As a temporary Ferryman, he could clearly sense the presence behind the door—a powerful evil spirit.
"But in terms of raw strength, it probably can't beat me right now…" Evah made a quick assessment and stepped into the room without hesitation.
"Are you lost, Kid?"
A voice rang out in the empty room, brash yet faintly provocative, casual but laced with guardedness. Evah looked toward the source and saw a figure lounging on a high-backed chair.
The figure wore blood-stained black armor, with fiery red hair blazing like flames. His youthful, handsome face bore two rotting scars on either side, and his blood-red eyes gazed at Evah with a seemingly carefree air.
Admittedly, if Evah didn't know how tragic Medici's fate was, the Red Angel's current appearance would've been quite intimidating.
"I sense a familiar aura… a bit like Salinger?" The rotting scar on the left side of Medici's face split open, speaking.
"Idiot, Salinger's long dead. This has to be one of Salinger's descendants," the right-side scar mirrored, splitting open to retort.
"Who're you calling an idiot? That's exactly what I meant!"
"Whoever chimes in is the idiot!"
The two voices started bickering, instantly shattering the imposing aura Medici had crafted. The scene went from a high-drama showdown to a comedy skit in seconds.
Medici's face darkened, and he growled under his breath, "Shut up!"
But how could Sauron and Einhorn obey? They hurled mocking jabs at Medici, who couldn't take it and fired back with snarky retorts. The three quickly descended into a full-blown argument.
Evah watched the comedy routine unfold with amusement. When they finally paused, he offered earnestly, "Mr. Sauron Einhorn Medici, have you ever considered being comedian?"
"Huh?" Even Medici was caught off guard by Evah's comment.
Evah, with genuine sincerity, continued, "You've got real talent for crosstalk. Trust me, with your looks and that flair, you'd be a smash hit as a comedian."
Though unfamiliar with "crosstalk," Medici caught Evah's drift and saw the remark was made without a hint of mockery—purely heartfelt. The Red Angel fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "You've got a real knack for taunting. Ever thought about becoming a Hunter?"
"And end up like you, cooked in a hotpot?" Evah asked with innocent sincerity, pausing before adding, as if it just occurred to him, "Oh, right, a hotpot's a dish, usually red, often with three flavors in a triple-compartment pot."
Sauron Einhorn Medici: …
"I'm starting to like you, kid. You've definitely got Hunter potential," Medici said, practically grinding his teeth. Then he saw the young man flash an embarrassed smile.
"Thanks," Evah said, giving a slightly sheepish grin. He slowly pulled a crystal monocle from his pocket and placed it over his left eye. "I like myself too."
Medici's expression froze, his gaze sharpening instantly. If his earlier demeanor had been a mix of wariness and nonchalance—seemingly rattled but inwardly steady—the sight of the monocle made the War Angel take Evah seriously.
But then Medici seemed to notice something, exhaling in relief. His tensed body relaxed, and he leaned back, blood-red eyes locking onto Evah's with a slight smirk. "Looks like you've crossed paths with the little raven."
"Strictly speaking, I just gave Amon a taste of long-lost paternal love," Evah corrected, pulling an iron box from his pocket. He opened it, showing Medici the Worms of Time inside.
Smiling, he added, "As thanks, He gifted me these Worms of Time."
Medici, who'd practically raised Amon, wasn't buying Evah's story but could tell the Worms of Time were genuinely Amon's. And in this world, someone who could claim to be Amon's "father" and handle him…
Medici narrowed his eyes, studying Evah. "Did the Lord send you?"
The "Lord" clearly referred to the True Creator.
"The True Creator probably doesn't know you're here," Evah said, shaking his head with a smile. "Mr. Medici, I'm here to see you to fulfill a deal with the True Creator. Telling Him about you is just a bonus."
"A bonus?" Medici's blood-red eyes glinted with a dangerous edge, the malice of an evil spirit seeping out, chilling the air around them.
"Yep, a bonus," Evah said, unfazed, flashing a smile. "I'm an honest merchant, so I like throwing in a little extra when sealing a deal."
Evah was deliberately provocative, just as his entire interaction with Medici had been calculated.
Unlike with Klein or Azik, showing weakness to Medici would get him nowhere. A top-tier Hunter like the Red Angel wouldn't spare a glance for the meek. To earn Medici's genuine regard as a friend, the first step wasn't flattery—it was proving he was no docile lamb.
Only then would he truly catch Medici's attention.
(End of Chapter)