Benson returned home and let out a sigh. It was already afternoon, and he calculated in his mind that Klein's interview should have ended by now. With a joyful expression, he opened the door and saw a scholarly face before him.
"Ah, Klein, you're back. How was your interview at noon?" Benson asked, a smile curling his lips as he looked at his younger brother.
"Terrible," Klein said expressionlessly, startling Benson. But moments later, Klein broke into a smile. "Actually, I didn't even attend the interview. I found a job in advance, with a weekly salary of 3 pounds…"
Benson listened quietly, a smile gradually spreading across his face, as if marveling at how his younger brother had grown. His lips curved, and he said to Klein, "Guess why I didn't come back until this afternoon?"
Klein blinked, looking at Benson with confusion. Benson tapped his slightly balding head, smiling. "Actually, this morning I secured a big order for the company, and by chance, I met a generous gentleman…"
"…"
"…And now, my weekly salary is 2 pounds. With your salary, our family's situation won't be so tough anymore."
Adrian stood in the distant shadows, observing the Moretti family. He quietly watched Melissa return to their home, a slight smile on his lips. His existence was now known to Klein and Melissa through Benson. Next, he needed to cooperate with them as a wealthy merchant, earning enough favor from the future Lord of the Mysteries to continue overseeing all beings without concern, reaching the peak of divine laziness by watching life's drama unfold like a movie…
Bang! A formless spiritual force radiated outward from the Moretti home. Adrian glanced at the crimson moonlight in the sky and leaped backward without hesitation. Landing, he brushed the dust off his clothes.
—Annoying Evernight Goddess.
In the distant starry sky, the High-Dimensional Overseer wriggled its body, venting by nudging one of the Supernova Dominator's planets, then hid behind its curtain to savor the chaos. The complex, ever-changing system brought it pleasure, slightly easing its irritation at being suppressed by a mere true god.
But the irritation didn't vanish; it merely shifted to the Supernova Dominator, who was now cursing him.
Adrian tapped his cane on the ground, seizing the moment of the Evernight Goddess's lapse after her scan to head slowly toward the Aurora Order. It was time to join them under his current identity, letting them take the fall for him as an Outer God. The True Creator was a key part of his plan; compared to the Lord of the Mysteries, he was even less willing to see God Almighty emerge. The High-Dimensional Overseer's pathway was adjacent to the White Tower and Spectator pathways, sharing similar authorities.
Walking the quiet streets, Adrian maintained a steady posture, his face expressionless. The night carried the era's chaotic air, pleasing the High-Dimensional Overseer. Everyone acted on their desires, unbound by status. In some lively, decadent areas, he saw minor nobles mingling with commoner women, shedding their titles.
This alone was a fantastical movie script.
But after a brief glance, Adrian grew bored. Tapping his cane, he used his main body's cosmic perspective to head toward a tightly sealed basement. He knocked, and an irritable voice snapped from inside:
"Stop knocking, get lost!"
"Praise the Lord. (Hermes language)"
"…A new comrade?"
"The omniscient and omnipotent God, creator of all. (Hermes language)" Adrian concealed his Outer God characteristic, cloaking it with the Secret Supplicant's characteristic to mimic its traits. The True Creator responded with ravings, causing the flesh of his mortal body to writhe slightly, appearing terrifying.
The voice inside fell silent. "Wait, I'll check."
Moments later, the door creaked open. A delicate but handsome face appeared. The man eyed Adrian, then pulled him inside.
In the pitch-black basement, faint candlelight flickered. Shadowed faces prayed silently before the flames, their flesh writhing and rolling on the hard floor. The sight could drive even the steadiest mind to madness, but Adrian, intrigued, listened to the True Creator's ravings, discerning His words, while watching weaker believers spit blood and wail.
"This is Mr. Z, the divine emissary wants to see you," the man who brought Adrian whispered, then hurried to an empty spot to pray. Adrian studied Mr. Z, kneeling at the forefront, his gaze calm and admiring.
To remain half-mad under a mad god's ravings marked a truly devout believer. Even the Inextinguishable Ravings would struggle to corrupt the True Creator's emissary. Adrian nodded silently, marveling at humanity's resilience. Such fragile spirits, yet they endured, revealing why the True Creator favored them.
As Adrian observed Mr. Z, Z watched him. The new "Secret Supplicant" puzzled Z. Even seasoned Secret Supplicants were startled by their sacred rituals, unable to fully praise the god or receive His grace. But this seemingly powerless new merchant was different—his expression shifted from cold to surprised, then to admiration, making Z wonder if he was unhinged.
"What are you thinking?" Z asked, unable to restrain his curiosity.
"I didn't expect the Lord to have such devout believers," Adrian praised. "Mr. Z, you are the Lord's loyal lamb."
Believers beside Z glanced up, shocked by Adrian's boldness. Though Z agreed, he felt offended by the tone and said coldly, "Everyone in the Aurora Order is the Lord's most loyal believer."
"My mistake," Adrian said, tracing an inverted cross on his chest.
"The Lord that Created Everything,
The Lord who Reigns Behind the Curtain of Shadows,
The Degenerate Nature of all Living Things"
(Hermes language)
As Adrian's flesh writhed, muscles wriggling like worms, Z's words caught in his throat. Seeing Adrian's sincere eyes, Z was speechless—what could he say to such a devoted believer? After a pause, Z said, "Go find a place to pray."
"Alright." Adrian sat before a candle, communing with the True Creator. The sensation was novel. The High-Dimensional Overseer subtly extended a thread of power toward the True Creator and the Forsaken Land of the Gods, initiating a dialogue—
...
Klein awoke abruptly, finding gray fog swirling around him. To avoid waking Benson and Melissa, he fled to the bathroom, took four steps backward to reach above the Gray Fog, and saw it surging in one direction. Looking closely, he glimpsed a massive, indifferent eye!
Klein snapped back from the Gray Fog, his head splitting with pain. Then he heard Dunn Smith's voice: "Someone's infiltrated your room. Grab your revolver, force him into the corridor, and leave him to us."
Overlapping ravings echoed in the basement. Mr. Z emerged from prayer, shocked to see shadows in turmoil. Many Secret Supplicants and Listeners collapsed, spitting blood, their bodies sprouting inhuman traits. As the ravings intensified, Z's body reacted too, but he spread his arms excitedly, praising the True Creator's "blessing."
"Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! You've finally responded, finally bestowed Your divine revelation!"
Z pressed his right ear to the ground. After enduring endless ravings, he pieced together the True Creator's oracle: "Take away… the painter… my favored one. Assist his actions… I will awaken."
Z scanned the room and saw Adrian, calmly painting with others' blood, depicting a hanged figure with endless light behind it. Though the blood lines made the image sinister, Z recognized it as their Lord.
"I'll take you with me, come." Z turned into a shadow, flashing behind Adrian with a fierce glint in his eyes. He grabbed Adrian, triggered a hidden switch, and ran out. As they escaped the basement, Z lit a match and tossed it inside.
Boom!
"I'll draw away the heretics, Lord Favored One, you run!"
Z opened his flesh, drawing the attention of the approaching Punishers.
(End of Chapter)