The gods had long grown accustod to [Folly]'s contempt. No one responded.
Cheng Shi, however, wasn't one to let it slide. Even if he didn't dare openly rebuke a true god, he could at least grumble under his breath.
He stole a glance at those chaotic white-mist eyes, then lowered his head and muttered: "As if you're not part of this farce yourself. Who are you trying to fool?"
But before the words had even faded, the Fun God beside him rolled His eyes, and broadcast the Clown's remark to every deity in attendance.
He gazed at [Folly] with eyes crinkled in mirth:
"As if you're not part of this farce yourself. Who are you trying to fool?"
"..."
Nobody had responded to [Folly]'s jab, and nobody was going to respond to [Deceit]'s barb either. The hall fell instantly silent.
[Folly] was unfazed. He rely gave a disdainful scoff — likely filing [Deceit]'s behavior away as yet another foolish act.
Cheng Shi blinked, startled. He hadn't expected his Benefactor to play it like that.
So he seized the inspiration. Applying the principle of "use it or lose it" when it ca to his patron god as a mouthpiece, he fired off another sarcastic quip.
He'd been wanting to give [Folly] a piece of his mind for a while — now was the perfect chance.
Under his breath, he murmured:
"If you were really that smart, the one sitting above everyone would be you, not so 'Origin.'"
That remark gave the two [Void] deities closest to him a proper scare.
[Fate]'s eyes shifted color, His gaze toward His follower filled with sharp warning.
[Deceit]'s smile froze, and He turned to His own follower with a half-amused, half-incredulous look — 'This reckless Clown isn't trying to make
the clown, is he?'
But quitting halfway wasn't [Deceit]'s style. So His eyes rolled once more, and He relayed Cheng Shi's words verbatim...
...by broadcasting them to every god present!
That's right — He didn't relay. He live-stread it.
And when the gods heard a mortal casually disrespecting Origin at the Assembly of Gods Convention...
Never mind the gods' reactions — Herobos's eyes went wide with disbelief as He stared at Cheng Shi. The shock on His face clearly scread:
'You really think having [Void] behind you ans you can do whatever you want?!'
'I never thought that!!!'
Cheng Shi was dumbstruck.
He never imagined his Benefactor would use an occasion like this to hang him out to dry.
'Benefactor, are You sick of having too many followers or sothing?!'
'Or do You actually have the power to protect
from all these gods?'
'If You're really that strong, the one sitting on top should be You — not Origin or [Folly]!'
But it was too late for regrets.
Seeing every divine gaze converge on him, Cheng Shi closed his eyes and decided to take a page from Big Cat's book.
Indeed — that was exactly what Big Cat was doing at this very mont. As the holder of the restored [Prosperity] seat, Hong Lin had once again received an invitation from [Justice (Order)]. Even without voting rights, she was qualified to attend the Assembly.
Understanding the Convention's significance, she naturally wouldn't miss such an important intelligence-gathering opportunity. But since arriving, she'd kept her eyes firmly shut, relying solely on her ears to absorb everything happening in the chamber.
She'd heard [Oblivion]'s fury. Heard Herobos's rebellion. Heard [Deceit]'s instigation. And then — heard Cheng Shi's voice...
'Wait.'
'Whose voice did I just hear?'
'Cheng Shi???'
'What's he doing here?!'
Big Cat's eyes flew open. There, behind the massive fra of [Oblivion]'s Envoy Herobos, stood a familiar figure — resisting the weight of every god's gaze in an all-too-familiar fashion!
Big Cat felt a flash of delight, then a jolt of alarm. She quickly shut her eyes and sat back down, resuming her role as a seeing-impaired audience mber.
'If Cheng Shi's here, does that an I can slack off?'
She visibly relaxed, shifting to a more comfortable position. From start to finish, she never once worried that the gods could actually do anything to Cheng Shi.
After all, even if the sky fell, the tall one — [Void] — would be holding it up.
The other gods, at most, were displeased by Cheng Shi's blasphemy against Origin. But rembering that his Benefactor was actively distancing Himself from Him, most concluded that [Deceit] had simply used a mortal's mouth to voice His own true feelings.
But [Oblivion] saw it differently. From the mont He'd laid eyes on Cheng Shi, He was convinced that today's Assembly — or rather, Herobos's entire betrayal — was inseparable from this detestable [Void] sacrifice!
If he'd dared to blasphe [Oblivion] to His face using [Death]'s power, then it wasn't far-fetched that he'd dare to bewitch Herobos into rebellion!
A shadowed glint flashed through [Oblivion]'s eyes. Seizing on Cheng Shi's remark, He petitioned [Justice (Order)]:
"A mortal who dares disrespect Origin has committed the most unforgivable blasphemy in the universe and should be executed imdiately! [Order], don't tell
you've also joined [Deceit] in distancing yourself from Him — or show
where your precious order is!"
For Cheng Shi, this might have been terrifying. But in the gods' eyes, [Oblivion] looked more like He was raging impotently.
Everyone present knew that even if a single blasphemous remark justified executing a mortal, who could bypass the two [Void] sovereigns to kill the Clown?
[Justice (Order)]?
Please. The very petition that had transcended the gods' comprehension was one [Justice (Order)] had personally approved. How could this inflexible proxy of the Convention hope to out-argue the Clown?
Even more so when behind the Clown stood [Deceit] — the greatest loophole-exploiter in the universe, who wielded the very authority of sophistry!
If [Justice (Order)] didn't get Himself dragged in as collateral, that would already count as a win.
But [Justice (Order)] was indeed just. Regardless of who made a demand, He would respond — and respond strictly according to the Convention's rules.
He looked at [Oblivion] and spoke in His resonant hum:
"The Convention does not govern mortals. Therefore, no clause exists for sentencing a mortal to death for blasphemy. I cannot execute.
The current enforcer of universal order is [Order]. If He is willing to carry out this justice, I will not stand in His way."
"You!!!"
[Oblivion] seethed. He whipped around to face the Iron Law of [Order], only to find that the to shimring with [Order]'s radiance was already looking at Him. When their gazes t, the Iron Law replied with honest simplicity:
"If I fall, the universe will have no order at all. So I am powerless.
However, this petition clearly violates proper order. I will cast a vote against it — in your support."
'Do I look like I need your one vote?!!'
[Oblivion] completely lost it.
Despite His lingering defiance, He'd already realized that Herobos's usurpation was unstoppable. He was powerless to prevent it — and could only accept.
But the petition proceeding didn't an He had no chance at all. He surveyed the chamber, running the numbers, and concluded that [Void]'s side couldn't possibly reach nine votes.
Currently in attendance — minus [Corruption], who never attended, and [War], who had been absent for a long ti — all fourteen remaining gods were present.
[Prosperity]'s voting rights were still held by [Truth], making that the biggest wildcard. Setting those two votes aside, the rest were, in His view, all but certain.
He didn't need to count how many would vote yes. He only needed to confirm that abstentions and nay votes totaled eight seats.
[Birth] always abstained on principle — guaranteed. [Corruption] wasn't here, so that counted as an abstention. [War] as well. And [Folly] — He would never personally enact what He called a "foolish act," so He'd abstain too.
That made four abstentions.
Add the Iron Law of [Order]'s opposition out of maintaining order, His own opposition, the opposition of [Decay] — a fellow [Descent] mber with whom He'd recently cooperated — and the opposition of [mory], [Deceit]'s rival!
With those figures, the "usurpation" was simply laughable.
[Oblivion]'s confidence renewed. He gave a cold snort and declared outright:
"I object!"
The next instant, two voices rang out in unison:
"I agree."
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