After the Lord of the Abyss Awakens - Chapter 24.2

It seemed the real mastermind wanting the Aust Empire’s downfall was none other than this mysterious nobleman.

The man was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “We can destroy it, but I need chaos.”

Destroying countries was his specialty. He had personally orchestrated the downfall of 6 countries, large and small, without directly acting himself. He especially loved using the Divine Kingdom of Light as his tool, finding them too easy to manipulate – angels barely a few hundred years old were like children to humans, agreeing to whatever you said without thinking.

— After all, being powerful, they didn’t fear schemes.

Those who commissioned him to destroy countries had various situations, but he didn’t care. He only wanted [resources], resources to become a god.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but click his tongue, remembering how he had accidentally let the God of Darkness escape earlier.

Such a rare, weak God of Darkness, far from mature both physically and mentally, would have been the perfect opportunity to seize their godhood. He couldn’t believe he had let them escape.

Undead Andre’s eyes darkened, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat ferocious.

The nobleman sensed his killing intent and asked. “What kind of chaos do you need?”

Andre: “Enough to make all the defensive magic in the Imperial City fail, to keep the Great Magician Eilinson too busy to intervene, and Hero Luo Jie unable to pay attention –that level of great chaos.”

The nobleman frowned, “This condition is a bit troublesome. Let me think about it.”

Andre glanced at the nobleman, not paying much attention. It was just a mission after all.

However, he did remember something.

“I heard that Matros has appeared in your Aust Empire.”

The nobleman paused, “That’s true. Matros took on a student in the Imperial City, but then disappeared.”

Andre asked, “Is that student in the Imperial City?”

The nobleman seemed to realize something and asked, “You mean…”

“Kill that student, frame the Aust Empire’s military. What do you think? Wouldn’t Matros fly into a rage and attack the military?”

Andre had always been someone who dared to think and act. His methods of framing and using others as tools had never failed. The higher the status of his target, the more excited he became.

Some said he was a thrill-seeking pervert, which wasn’t wrong. Living was all about excitement – defying authority, desecrating the sacred, how thrilling, how interesting?

But the nobleman seemed shocked by his idea, hesitantly considering, “Matros is too mysterious, and as a magic grandmaster with the Eye of Truth, you might not succeed in framing him.”

However, these words angered Andre.

Andre had high self-esteem and hated being doubted. “Heh, I could even scheme against the God of Darkness. Am I supposed to fear scheming against Matros?”

The nobleman was silent, almost wanting to say, “You were only able to successfully scheme against the God of Darkness thanks to encountering a few fallen black angels by chance.”

Fallen creations were no longer “creations” and would even backstab their gods.

If gods still trusted their creations as before, they would be betrayed.

The world had changed, completely bidding farewell to the Era of Gods vying for supremacy.

Humans who could rival gods could now be counted on one’s fingers, not including those who had disappeared.

Andre sneered, “Anyway, your goal is to destroy the Aust Empire and bring about the descent of subspace. No matter how I do it, as long as it’s done, it’s fine, right?”

The nobleman was silent for a few seconds, then replied with a monstrous grin, “You’re right.”

A few minutes later, the nobleman left.

Andre stayed behind, overlooking the Imperial City. The Continental Human Alliance identity was indeed useful, allowing unhindered access anywhere and the most efficient intelligence support.

To him, the Continental Human Alliance was just a convenient tool.

The wind blew, lifting his long hair and revealing a deep purple emblem on his neck. If there had been anyone here, they would have recognized it as the emblem of one of the most troublesome organizations on the continent.

Andre surveyed the Imperial City, initially uninterested, but suddenly his eyes lit up.

Because he smelled — the scent of the God of Darkness.

On the other hand.

Philip went to the palace to report the situation.

After listening, Anna’s expression remained calm, her thoughts unknown. She only said, “Strengthen the guard. They’re not sincere about establishing friendly relations, at least not this group that was sent first.”

Philip: “Understood.”

Anna looked up, “Also, investigate that person.”

At this time, in the antique shop.

Xiu Si was arranging the bed, picking up each of his cubs and placing them, then realizing the bed was too small.

“Hmm… now that there are more of you, there’s not enough room to sleep. You sleep on the bed, I’ll go lay out a mat in the shop.”

The cats immediately perked up. Who wants to sleep with annoying fellows? And Father can’t sleep on the floor!

But as Xiu Si took a step, he suddenly realized a big problem. His body stiffened, his pupils trembling slightly as he nervously turned to look at his children.

“I seem to have forgotten something very important.”

The cats also became nervous. What could it be? Hopefully not something that could reveal their identities.

Xiu Si’s expression was solemn as he berated himself. “How could I forget? I was only focused on my own leveling up, forgetting about your leveling up!”

The cats were all stunned. Leveling up? Our leveling up?

The gray cat nearly slipped off the bed. Sometimes their father’s thought process was quite peculiar.

This was indeed a problem. In their father’s eyes, they hadn’t gained many levels in thousands of years. Wasn’t that a big issue?

Back then, their father had tried every means to help them level up, going to great lengths. Though not normally one to push himself so hard, for their sake, he had searched for resources everywhere in an unfamiliar otherworld, even enduring harsh conditions in the Abyss.

They exchanged glances, as if asking each other how to respond.

Meanwhile, Xiu Si opened the game panel. If the system was working normally, he could open the creature guidebook and see the creatures’ levels and resources needed for upgrades, but now everything was grayed out.

He imagined that while he was gone, his children might have been struggling to survive in the Abyss, with no energy left to seek resources for upgrading. That’s why after thousands of years, they had only gained a few levels.

Xiu Si pictured his children trembling in the Abyss surrounded by giant beasts, being constantly bullied, living day to day without regular meals, too hungry to level up.

It wasn’t that they weren’t trying hard, but that conditions didn’t allow it.

Xiu Si’s paternal love ignited instantly. He thought, now that he was revived, how could he let his children continue living without resources and hungry? When they said they had been fine these thousands of years, it was most likely just to reassure him. They were such good children, surely they said they lived well in the Abyss and weren’t bullied just to keep him from worrying.

Paternal love can be blinding. Thinking this, Xiu Si looked at his children, patting each of their heads, promising. “Don’t worry, just tell Father whatever resources you need. Father will work hard to earn money and get resources to raise you.”

All four cats were stunned.

Earn money, get resources? They didn’t need their father to support them now; they wanted to support their father and make him the happiest person in the world!

At this moment, the silver cat stepped forward first, its beautiful patterned tail swaying, its dark green eyes looking at Xiu Si.

Xiu Si paused, “You say you’ll get resources yourselves? Your slow leveling is because you’re building a foundation?”

Building a foundation…for thousands of years?!

The black cat’s pupils contracted as it watched the silver cat step forward and say such explosive words.

But Beelzebub earnestly explained to Xiu Si, saying it was just a joke earlier. Actually, the Abyss environment limited their leveling. Staying in the Abyss all this time had prevented them from getting much stronger.

It was complete nonsense, and Aelioge wanted to expose the lie.

Xiu Si said, “But when I was alive, you leveled up very quickly.”

Beelzebub continued to claim that was because their father was alive. Without their father, their leveling speed would become infinitely slower.

Aelioge couldn’t help but lean back in tactical retreat. This fellow actually came up with such an idea, but it somehow made sense. The creator being alive allows the creations to level up properly – doesn’t that sound reasonable?

But the lie was getting bigger and bigger. When Father learned the truth… Aelioge couldn’t imagine.

Inpos and Morax exchanged glances, both seeing the uneasiness in each other’s eyes.

But Beelzebub had really convinced him, speaking without any loopholes, leaving Xiu Si no way to verify. He could only nod.

Xiu Si: “Is that so? Then tell Father when you need to go to the Abyss for resources. Come back immediately if you encounter danger, don’t push yourselves.”

The silver cat lay down, pressing its head against Xiu Si’s palm, appearing very obedient.

Aelioge’s pupils shook again. This guy said being a cat was childish, but he adapted the fastest! He learned to use the advantages so quickly.

Xiu Si: “In any case, you need to become strong, understand?”

The cats all nodded, wanting to show their father how strong they were, but now wasn’t the time. The three cats looked at Aelioge simultaneously.

Aelioge transmitted a thought: This can’t be rushed. The dark history is too hard to whitewash, especially Beelzebub’s. He’s a genuine threat to humanity, not something that can be easily explained away.

Beelzebub had nothing to say to this. He couldn’t quibble that it was because he was hungry, and no one could say in front of him that he had no father – those things deserved to die.

Xiu Si looked at the time. It was almost 9 PM, and while the weather was cold, there weren’t enough blankets.

Putting aside the leveling issue for now, he looked outside, then turned to his children saying, “Wait here, I’m going out to buy some things.”

The red cat, hearing this, immediately followed.

Xiu Si understood their concern, that one of them always needed to accompany him. He picked up the red cat and said to the others. “You all watch the shop well.”

The other three also wanted to follow, but couldn’t.

Inpos was about to say he could easily conjure a bed, but this magic required at least level 30, which was impossible given the level he had falsely reported.

Now the lie was snowballing, getting bigger and bigger. Was this really okay?

The instigator Aelioge covered his face with his paw, his fur shaking as he said, “It’s too late to back down now. Whatever happens next is not our doing, we don’t know anything about it.”

Somehow, this logic also made sense.

Aelioge was probably the most smooth-talking demon in the entire Abyss.

But suddenly, Inpos transformed into human form, looking towards the Imperial City, changing the subject. He said seriously, “Did you all feel that?”

Aelioge also transformed into human form, leaning against the antique shop’s counter. “Of course we felt it. There’s another human above level 90 in the Imperial City now.”

Beelzebub didn’t transform, seeming to familiarize himself with this body structure, and said, “Do you care so much about humans?”

It couldn’t be said that they didn’t care.

Inpos frankly said, “Because Father cares about humans.”

Aelioge and Inpos were both Abyss Lords who had relatively close relationships with humans.

Morax was the one who had almost nothing to do with humans. He had been rolling around in subspace for thousands of years, wrestling with gods big and small. His original form was immensely huge, able to flick satellites like marbles and kick planets like balls.

Their inherent settings seemed to influence their personalities, and Morax’s power was [Violence], so his personality was imaginable.

Once Morax lost control and went berserk, the entire Abyss would tremble. Only Baal could steadily control him.

Oh, wait!

Aelioge suddenly became a bit worried. Letting Morax accompany Father out, would anything go wrong?

At this moment, Xiu Si was surprised by the glow around his body. So “Never Walk in Darkness” was this kind of buff?

He carried light wherever he went, feeling warm, with the wind and snow unable to reach him. His children weren’t even grown up yet, and the buff was already this strong?

However, as Xiu Si walked out onto the street, he didn’t see many places still lit.

Due to the cold weather and heavy snow, few people were willing to move about. Only places like grocery stores were still open.

He entered one of them and asked if they had any beds. The shop owner regretfully said no, and reminded him not to wander around at night to avoid encountering monsters from subspace.

Originally, night was the domain of the God of Darkness’s power. In the Era of Gods, the God of Darkness’s power governed the entire continent, making humans fearful and afraid, but also driving away subspace monsters.

Now, with the God of Darkness’s power waning, the night was gradually losing its divine protection. Without that threat, subspace monsters roamed freely.

“The Imperial City’s defensive magic is strong, but there are too many people here. Inevitably, there are places not fully protected. Be extra careful when walking at night.”

The shop owner was kind, earnestly warning Xiu Si, having recognized him as an outsider – black hair and eyes were uncommon in the Aust Empire.

He emphasized “be more careful when walking” because buildings were protected by the Goddess of Harmony. Ordinary monsters couldn’t enter buildings, so you’d be safe at home if you closed the doors and windows tightly.

“I understand.”

Xiu Si thanked the shop owner, checked the time, and decided to stop searching and just return to hunker down for the night.

Looking down, he saw the red cat in his arms was almost asleep, making regular purring sounds, looking very cute.

Morax was a straightforward child, wearing his emotions on his sleeve, easily excited, and thus easily hurt. When he was young, he’d often come back from fights covered in blood.

Xiu Si had been worried, scolding him several times, but this child was born with that temperament and it was indeed difficult to correct.

If he had known, he wouldn’t have written the [Violence] setting. Xiu Si felt this was his responsibility, and couldn’t help but hug the red cat tighter, shielding it from the wind as he returned to the antique shop.

However, just as he turned the corner and was about to enter the alley leading to the antique shop, he suddenly smelled a strong scent of blood.

It wasn’t ordinary blood, as it contained extremely powerful magic fluctuations.

He realized that not three meters away from him, a bloody incident had likely occurred.

As he turned his head, he actually saw a blood-soaked black bird lying in the corner of the wall.

The bird was barely alive, staring at him intently, as if trying to say something.