After the Lord of the Abyss Awakens - Chapter 24.1

When pushing open that door, Beelzebub felt nervous for the first time in thousands of years. He hesitated for a moment, not daring to step forward, but Aelioge pushed the door open first.

The scene was revealed, and that person was right before his eyes.

Beelzebub unexpectedly saw his creator, feeling a shock from his very soul. His body moved before his will, walking dazedly towards that person.

Father, his long-lost father, the father who had disappeared for thousands of years due to his negligence.

The structure of the body correlates with the structure of thought. The simple brain structure of animals determines simple thinking, so after becoming a low-level feline, Beelzebub could personally feel his thoughts degrading, from complex to simple, from mature to childish, as if returning to when he was still young.

A few minutes ago, after taking just a few steps, Beelzebub still felt uncomfortable. He angrily rebuked Aelioge for deceiving their father and not daring to reveal their true form. However, one sentence from Aelioge made him choke.

[Aren’t you afraid of Father knowing that you ate an entire race alive?]

Beelzebub’s expression changed, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He had no choice but to open up and accept this cat transformation. Although it was still somewhat uncomfortable, what was lowering oneself a bit for Father’s sake?

Beelzebub had entered with this mindset, but in an instant his mind went blank. He offered no resistance as the young man who walked over picked him up and held him in his arms. Everything was filled with Father’s scent.

Happiness was in this moment!

“Beelzebub, you’ve come too? Long time no see. Have you been well these thousands of years?”

Xiu Si placed the newly arrived silver-haired cub on the front desk, not noticing the horrified looks of the red and gray cats.

Morax was about to lose his temper on the spot. He glared at Aelioge and cursed through thought transmission: Have you gone mad, kid? You actually brought the wolf into the house and even brought Beelzebub in! Didn’t we agree not to let him know?

Inpos bristled at the same time: Aelioge, you didn’t sell out Father because you lost, did you? You’re so useless!

Aelioge’s mouth twitched slightly. He also had complicated feelings about this. Who wanted to expand the competition for Father’s affection? But…

Aelioge didn’t immediately refute. Instead, he looked at Xiu Si, who was happily stroking the silver cat.

He didn’t want more siblings, but he also knew that Father wanted to see more of them, to confirm if they were safe and sound. Ideally, all his children would be together, complete and whole.

He…wanted Father to be happy.

Aelioge didn’t speak, but his complex gaze somehow conveyed this meaning.

Morax and Inpos saw it and were simultaneously stunned. Their hearts became conflicted, but they had to admit that Aelioge’s consideration made sense.

They all wanted Father to be happy. It’s just…

The silver cat, unaware of how many intense gazes were upon him, finally came to his senses. His brain still trembling, his paws repeatedly touched his father, as if confirming whether this was a dream.

His father had really returned. It was the real father, not some illusion, nor some divine calculation, but truly his living, breathing father!

The silver cat’s eyes welled up with tears. His head pressed against his father’s arm, as if truly returning to when he had just been born – small, pitiful, only wanting to cling to his creator.

If someone were present to see the human threat, feared by all, being so intimate and ingratiating towards a young man, they would probably doubt their sanity, their cognition collapsing.

But in front of Father, children of any age are still children. What does being thousands of years old matter?

Before coming, the silver cat had various objections and rejections, but after actually experiencing it, he discovered that this feline body was truly wonderful.

“By the way, I don’t quite understand why you all came back in this form. Did you agree on this among yourselves?”

Xiu Si counted his cats and suddenly realized that the desk was full of cats. Looking from afar, it was like a color-changing fur blanket.

Of course, Aelioge had an explanation ready for this. It was because this form was most convenient. Many people in the Aust Empire kept cats, and some cafes even had cat services.

Their true forms would inevitably be shocking, so this form was the most convenient. However, if Father wanted to open a cafe, they could also help.

Well, if customers dared to come.

Aelioge suddenly revealed a sinister smile.

“Is that so.”

Xiu Si turned to look at the black cat, suddenly remembering, wasn’t the black cat just sleeping in the room? How did it appear from the front door?

He paused for a moment, clearly suspicious.

At the same time, Inpos immediately reacted, undoing the magic and informing Aelioge.

Aelioge stiffened on the spot.

When Xiu Si turned to look at the bedroom, the fake black cat had already disappeared.

What was going on?

He turned back to see the black cat approaching, waving its paw in confession, saying it had sensed a sibling nearby, so it jumped out the window to find Beelzebub.

What a perfect excuse. Morax marveled at Aelioge’s quick thinking.

Xiu Si paused, turned his head, and indeed saw that the window was open. It seemed it had jumped directly out the window.

Beelzebub watched the other cats exchanging glances, inwardly grumbling: Hmph, is this how you deceive Father?

Aelioge chuckled: Now you’re our accomplice too.

Beelzebub: I can confess right now.

Aelioge: Do you dare?

Beelzebub raised his cat eyes, anxiously glancing at his father’s gentle expression, then lowered his head. He didn’t quite dare.

The deeply sleeping Vassago had no idea the situation outside had changed dramatically, his comrades had already betrayed the revolution.

However, while the black cat was competing with the silver cat, Xiu Si picked him up, staring at him with a serious expression.

The black cat was startled, looking pitifully at his father.

Xiu Si said earnestly, “It’s very dangerous outside now, don’t go out casually, understand?”

The black cat paused, then quickly nodded, his tail wagging furiously.

“Some evil magicians love to capture magic beasts and turn them into various magic tools. Although the Imperial City has good public security, you must be careful. Let me know when you go out, understand?”

Xiu Si emphasized strictly, not just to Aelioge, but to all his children. He wasn’t worried about Vassago because Vassago didn’t move at all.

The four cats on the table nodded with extremely high synchronization. The silver cat was a beat slower, being unaccustomed, and glancing sideways, he found that these siblings were actually acting like real cats, their performance becoming genuine.

The black cat seemed to know what he was thinking and patted him with a paw, transmitting a thought: Although we didn’t want you to come, since you’re here, you have to help me with something.

The silver cat tilted his head: What thing?

Black cat: They are mainly responsible for protecting Father. We will work together to investigate the truth of that year, find the god who wanted to kill Father, and kill him.

This matter couldn’t be handled by Morax, because Morax was easily agitated and not calm enough.

Inpos had another task to do, which was to teach Father magic.

Vassago had gone to find Agares, so there was no need to mention him.

Aelioge needed an accomplice who wasn’t too honest, someone who could at least keep up with his thinking, and Beelzebub had just arrived.

Halfway through the fight, Aelioge’s thoughts changed. He felt that since Beelzebub couldn’t possibly retreat now, rather than continuing to struggle and cause more trouble, it was better to let Beelzebub join.

After all, Beelzebub was cunning enough and strong enough.

Their exchanged glances appeared to Xiu Si as a display of affection. It’s worth noting that in Xiu Si’s memory, Aelioge and Beelzebub had never exchanged eye contact before. Now, thousands of years later, the children’s relationships seemed to have improved.

This was a good thing.

Xiu Si was very pleased with their obedience. After talking with the silver cat for a while, he turned his head and saw that it had grown dark, with the setting sun casting a warm orange-red light through the window.

After all the commotion, night was finally falling. He hoped nothing major would happen.

As Xiu Si was pondering, he suddenly felt movement. Looking down, he found the gray cat pawing at his hand, its claws moving back and forth as if trying to put something on him.

Looking closely, he saw it was a very thin, pure black chain with no special decorations, but strangely warm, as if it generated heat on its own.

He was a bit surprised, looking at the gray cat as it raised its head, its eyes seeming to speak.

“To protect me?”

Xiu Si paused, then exclaimed happily. “You can even make magic items now.”

The gray cat nodded proudly.

Xiu Si’s system was broken, so he could no longer determine item levels. He could only sense it with his magic power, feeling it was a magic item around level 20-25, containing defensive magic. It was a token of affection from his child – how could a parent not be happy?

However, in reality, it was nearly a level 100 magic item, filled with transcendent magic, crafted from top-tier continental materials like dragon blood and dragon bones. Its value was simply immeasurable.

Inpos had spent many years crafting this item; it wasn’t something made on the spot. Two thousand years ago, missing his father terribly, he spent several hundred years creating it. Later, still unable to find his father, he had almost forgotten about this chain.

Morax grinded his teeth nearby, thinking how clever Inpos was, while he couldn’t do anything to help Father.

As he was feeling resentful, Xiu Si suddenly picked him up and placed him on his lap, apparently because of his large size, good for keeping warm.

Morax immediately cheered up, seeming satisfied.

Meanwhile, Xiu Si was quietly sensing the magic power in the chain on his hand.

At the same time, at the palace banquet.

Several representatives from the Continental Human Alliance had arrived.

They were the three brothers Hite, Hill, and Hica, all high-level human powerhouses above level 60.

Receiving them were the Aust Empire’s diplomat and Commander Philip, who was there to support the diplomat.

The three brothers Hite, Hill, and Hica were somewhat famous on the continent, having once jointly killed an evil dragon and saved several human villages. However, they weren’t righteous human guardians with heroic hearts, but rather the business-like type.

Humans on the continent were generally divided into three types: those who lived only for themselves, those who lived for the collective and lofty ideals, and those who tried to balance both, aligning their personal interests with ideals and collective honor.

Just by looking at their faces, one could tell these three brothers belonged to the first type. Moreover, judging by stereotypes, individualists tend to dress casually, while collectivists choose attire to fit the occasion. The three’s outfits didn’t seem to take this diplomatic event seriously.

Philip’s mind raced, unable to fully grasp what Her Majesty had told him.

Before coming, Her Majesty hadn’t said to strive for friendly relations, nor had she said not to. She had only said, “Go and see, I leave it to you.” This was the most troublesome kind of instruction.

After several rounds of purges, the Aust Empire didn’t have many people it could use, so it had to focus on cultivating trustworthy young people.

Philip knew this was a test from Her Majesty, just like when Her Majesty agreed to let the eldest princess go to war. Those in high positions must have the vision and considerations befitting their status, otherwise it would be difficult to survive in a world full of gods and demons.

His appearance seemed to startle the three brothers, causing varied expressions on their faces.

It was well known that Philip was the contractor of the Abyss Lord Aelioge.

In any country, anywhere, a contractor of an Abyss Lord was not to be underestimated. And Abyss Lord Aelioge was a powerful lord who rarely contracted with humans.

The power of “War” was terrifying just by its name. In history, only the God of War, now petrified in the sky, and Aelioge possessed this power.

It was said that thousands of years ago, Aelioge had fought with the God of War. The outcome was unknown, but many speculated that the God of War might have lost, which was why he had “isolated” himself in the sky.

The three brothers didn’t spare a glance for the diplomat, but all looked at Philip with superficial friendliness.

A contractor of an Abyss Lord would have at least city-destroying power, meaning above level 70.

The weak must show reverence to the strong.

But Philip didn’t focus on them. His gaze went to a tall man behind them, wearing a coat and wrapped in black cloth.

This man had his eyes closed, his brows naturally furrowed. The visible parts of his face were covered in scars, clearly a battle-hardened warrior of unfathomable strength. He couldn’t possibly be a mere guard for these three.

In just an instant, Philip sensed danger, his whole body tingling. His instinct told him this man was at least level 85 or above, and definitely not benevolent.

What did the Continental Human Alliance mean by sending this person?

In just seconds, countless thoughts flashed through Philip’s mind. Eventually, he still shook hands with them cordially.

“May I ask who this excellency is?”

Only then did the man barely open his eyes a slit, revealing an extremely cold aura. In a deep voice, he said, “A nobody, please pay me no mind.”

“Is that so.”

Philip felt a chill to his core, forced to raise his assessment of the man’s strength by another level.

Several dozen minutes later, the banquet ended with hardly any conversation, as if they had just come for a meal.

In fact, both sides were waiting for the other to break first and bring up the topic of re-establishing diplomatic relations.

Whoever was anxious first would lose.

Meanwhile, both sides were also trying to gauge each other’s intelligence.

After the banquet, the Aust Empire’s diplomat was drenched in cold sweat, almost unable to hold on. This wasn’t because of poor composure, but because all the visitors were higher level than him.

The strong naturally exert pressure on the weak.

Watching the other party finally leave, the diplomat sighed in relief, wiping his sweat. “Your Excellency Philip, they…”

The diplomat hesitated, but Philip knew what he wanted to say.

Philip: “The Continental Human Alliance was jointly established by Hero Wang Chang’er, Hero Ye Qingyi, and Hero Chen Lingxi. It’s divided into three factions. Those who came to our Aust Empire this time are mainly from the Continental Council.”

The Continental Council was the faction that idealized conquering the entire continent, originally established by Hero Wang Chang’er. In the first three thousand years after its establishment, Chang’er led human powerhouses to expand territory, purify and improve land for human habitation, expanding the territory tenfold. Half of the Aust Empire’s territory was conquered by Chang’er at that time.

Unfortunately, three thousand years later, Chang’er mysteriously disappeared. The Continental Council was then led by his two students, sowing seeds of instability. Although most people in it were good people who sacrificed for humanity and ideals, trouble often came from those with ill intentions.

Philip vaguely felt that man was one of the bad seeds.

“I’ll report the situation to Her Majesty first.”

Meanwhile, on a balcony of a tall building.

A middle-aged man dressed as a nobleman suddenly spoke. “How was it?”

He faced the palace, leaning on the railing, his words meant for the person behind him.

The person behind him was the tall man who had made Philip nervous.

The man replied. “Nothing special. The Aust Empire’s strength is average, officially ranked 45th, but actually around 30th in power. Apart from the known anomaly powerhouses, they secretly rely on the retired hero Luo Jie. But Luo Jie’s power has declined – he didn’t even intervene when mere archangels invaded, showing he’s basically lost his fighting ability now.”

The nobleman’s lips curled upward, asking directly. “So can we destroy the Aust Empire?”