At the ntion of Drasilco, Aph Ros's brows rose ever so slightly.
If His eyes had been filled with tender sympathy when recalling Tria, then upon speaking of Drasilco, only one thing remained in them... admiration.
A strange sort of admiration.
Aph Ros's feelings toward this "colleague" seed complex — so complex that He didn't even bother asking why Cheng Shi was interested in Drasilco.
"Sin of Desirelessness — that is His Divine Na."
Aph Ros sank into mory once more, though this ti He seed more like a spectator — an observer of desire.
"He was likely the world's first malefactor, and the most wicked of them all.
His will was the polar opposite of Tria's. Just as His Divine Na suggests — any ascetic who refused desire was, in His eyes, a sinner guilty of the Sin of Desirelessness.
He tirelessly traveled the land for one purpose alone: to punish these 'sinners.' Every ascetic He found was either forcibly implanted with irresistible desire, or they rejected desire and embraced death.
He was like a dagger, slitting the throats of blasphers, diligently painting over the blank spaces of desire in our Benefactor's na with their blood.
Granted, His thods were perhaps a touch extre. But His devotion was beyond question."
Hearing this, Cheng Shi imdiately understood why Aph Ros admired Him — because... the Sin Brood Mother!
This Drasilco was essentially the [Corruption] version of Go Lis!
Punishing all who blasphed against the faith — an existence like Go Lis: a divine whip of belief.
'Well, well — turns out you two are not just colleagues, but kindred spirits.'
Aph Ros seed to read Cheng Shi's thoughts. He nodded and continued:
"If I hadn't seen clearly that you've genuinely lost your mories of Them, I'd truly think you were steering my judgnt — trying to make
suspect Drasilco killed Tria."
"?"
Cheng Shi blinked. "The two of Them didn't get along?"
"Correct. Very much didn't get along.
One only spread pleasure, never inflicting suffering. The other ran rampant, taking joy in planting desire through the suffering of others.
Their wills were diatrically opposed — completely unrelated — so naturally they couldn't stand each other.
Hmm, that's a bit one-sided. It would be more accurate to say Drasilco couldn't stand Tria. Tria never judged. But Drasilco viewed Her non-action as a blasphemy against ultimate desire.
He certainly could have killed Tria. But I don't believe He would have done it near the Sea of Desire.
Because He was the most devout of us three — the one most in resonance with the Sea of Desire. He might unleash His own desire, but He would also respect our Benefactor and never slaughter His own kin near the Sea.
My brother — having heard all this, you must have gotten what you ca for.
So, as the price you owe for this intelligence exchange, may I make a request? Could you investigate the truth behind Tria's death?"
Cheng Shi's brow tightened:
"You want to avenge Her?
Have you lost your mind?
Setting aside whether you can even leave this [Ti] prison — whoever killed Tria was at least a Servant God, possibly a true god!
You want revenge against a true god?
I think you genuinely want more shackles on your ankles!
Aph Ros — think clearly. As you yourself said, if you truly believe the next era will co, then Tria... will return."
Aph Ros watched Cheng Shi with a lingering smile. Only after he finished did He shake His head, trace an "×" on the table with one finger, and say playfully:
"I never said I wanted revenge."
"Then what's the point of the investi—" Cheng Shi froze mid-sentence. Then his expression shifted to one of alarm: "Wait — Aph Ros, you're not planning to have
do the avenging for you, are you?"
Clap, clap, clap—
Aph Ros broke into applause: "I knew it, my brother. Yu Xi — you'll definitely help ."
"I will not!"
Cheng Shi refused in one second flat, without a heartbeat of thought.
But Aph Ros seed entirely unsurprised. He shook His head and laughed again:
"You will. Otherwise, you won't hear another word of what you're looking for today.
My brother — don't forget I'm His follower. Beyond sensing the desire in your lies, I can detect many other desires too.
You put off coming for so long, and now you show up using two mortals' desires as a pretext — clearly because you want to mine lost mories from
again.
Add to that your exposé of [Ti]'s true face and your plans against [Ti] — I'd wager what you want to learn is related to our warden [Ti]. Am I right?"
"..."
'Talking with smart people is genuinely exhausting.'
Cheng Shi was starting to wonder whether Aph Ros had even believed any of his excuses.
But whether He truly believed didn't matter. What mattered was Aph Ros's attitude.
As long as He was willing to let Cheng Shi enter Dolgod again, and willing to have Go Lis continue lending her aid, what difference did belief make?
But on the topic of [Ti], Cheng Shi genuinely couldn't understand why Aph Ros was using this mont to raise the price.
He clearly hated [Ti]. Why bundle the joint cause against [Ti] with investigating Tria's death?
Wasn't that just tripping over His own feet?
Was Tria really that important?
Could Aph Ros be hiding sothing — so deeper connection between Himself and Tria?
Cheng Shi's brow furrowed. After a mont of silence, he fixed his gaze on Aph Ros and said:
"I'd say there's a traitor in our anti-[Ti] coalition. Only it's not
— and as for who... I won't say."
Aph Ros smiled, utterly unbothered:
"Of course I want to resist.
But my brother, you've forgotten sothing.
You have your Benefactors watching over you. [Void] stands against [Existence], so under divine protection you can act as you please.
I'm different. I'm rely a Prisoner of [Ti]. The risk of rebellion is too great. Without sufficient leverage, I can hardly stand up against Him even after learning He's a World Destroyer.
The era's tide will carry
back eventually, yes. But this era is fascinating — and I'd rather not die young in it."
"..."
Cheng Shi was out of options. He could tell Aph Ros genuinely cared about Tria's death. If he didn't budge today, he'd truly learn nothing else — turning this into a visit-the-prisoner day trip.
So, with reluctance, he offered:
"I can look into Tria's death. But Aph Ros, I can't give you a firm promise. All I can commit to is this:
If the killer is a Servant God, I'll try to avenge Her for you.
But if the killer is a true god...
I'll find soone to pick out a nice graveyard plot for Tria, have a fine tombstone carved, and buy two quality wreaths out of my own pocket!
Risking my Benefactors' wrath by getting entangled with [Corruption] to do you this favor — that is the absolute maximum sincerity I can offer!"
Sincerity was one word for it — but even in this half-promise, Cheng Shi had buried a loophole.
He'd said "if the investigation reveals the killer is a Servant God, he'd try to help Aph Ros get revenge." But the premise was actually finding the killer!
'If I just... never find out... well, you can't bla , can you?'
'I'm not [Folly] — I can't just look and know the answer. And it's not like I didn't investigate. I'm just a bit dim, is all.'
The wordplay's effect was undeniable, given Aph Ros's reaction.
The instant Cheng Shi finished, the moon on the table's edge rose into the sky.
Aph Ros was overjoyed.
He tiptoed up, stepped onto the tabletop, and looked as though He wanted to collapse across it just to close the distance between them.
He gazed at Cheng Shi, eyes alight:
"I have never doubted our friendship, my brother. Whatever you wish to ask — I'll tell you everything."
"..."
Across the table, eyes were glowing. Cheng Shi, however, was trembling. He stiffened and shrank backward.
'What — you can talk just fine from over there! Why are you squirming all over the table?!'
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