"All attendees have cast their votes. The result speaks for itself.
Allowing a mortal to observe the Assembly of Gods Convention was already an exception. You... have no right to question my impartiality."
Though [Justice (Order)]'s tone still carried that sa stiff, unyielding cadence of pure order, everyone could hear that He was displeased by Cheng Shi's challenge.
Throughout the universe's history, even the gods seldom questioned His impartiality. At most, soone like [Folly] would argue that His fairness was being exploited by the ill-intentioned, applied to the "wrong" situation.
So Cheng Shi's words carried serious consequences — but then again, not that serious. After all, the Convention didn't govern mortals. No matter how angry [Justice (Order)] was, He couldn't punish him.
But He could expel the mortal.
The Flowing Light Scales cast down a shimr of [Order]'s radiance, preparing to remove Cheng Shi from the chamber. But just then — just as [Fate] narrowed His eyes and was about to intervene — the Clown laughed again.
He lifted his head and stared directly at [Justice (Order)]:
"Fairness that cannot withstand questioning — what kind of fairness is that?!
You're so eager to dismiss my challenge — is it because the [Order] of this universe has long since strayed from justice?!"
"..."
One sentence, and the gleaming Scales fell silent.
[Oblivion] watched the expulsion light dissipate and sneered:
"Worthy of being [Deceit]'s follower! At least in the art of self-deception, you've truly inherited your Benefactor's mastery! I admit your scheming was impressive and caught
off guard. But the vote is done — you've lost! Refusing to accept defeat while endlessly questioning [Justice (Order)]... what, will [Deceit]'s sophistry sohow argue this loss into a win? Pathetic!"
Cheng Shi kept his eyes fixed forward, but his lips curled into a scoff:
"If I recall correctly, the first one at this assembly to challenge [Justice (Order)] was you.
So why is it that now, suddenly, you believe [Justice (Order)] is without fault?
Quick to defend Him when the verdict suits you, quick to attack when it doesn't — heh, it seems these lofty gods are nothing more than fair-weather opportunists like ."
"You!!!"
One more sentence, and the "victorious" [Oblivion] nearly lost it.
The kicker was that Cheng Shi had included himself in the insult. He freely admitted he was a petty opportunist who played the winds, which left [Oblivion] unable to find a good angle for a coback. His eyes shifted several tis, the cold in His gaze growing sharper.
The assembled gods watched a mortal stand here sniping sarcasm at deities — without naming nas, as if every single one of them had been roasted — and their reactions ran the gamut.
[Justice (Order)] fell silent for a mont, then withdrew His radiance. He spoke once more in solemn vibration:
"You are correct.
Any fairness must withstand questioning.
I grant you the right to challenge. But a challenge is not the sa as slander. If you cannot produce evidence, I will still eject you from this chamber and revoke your right to attend future assemblies."
Hearing this, Cheng Shi's laughter grew even wilder. He stepped forward and pointed brazenly at every divine seat in the chamber:
"How absurd!
What evidence is needed?
Even my mortal brain can count perfectly well — surely you esteed true gods can manage simple arithtic?
From ti immorial, Origin appointed sixteen to bear His na. Yet only fourteen are present. Two have not voted! So how can this matter be concluded?"
"Another foolish act."
After hearing Cheng Shi's words, [Folly] gave a derisive scoff. He glanced at [Deceit], then at [Oblivion], left one contemptuous remark, and departed on His own.
The gods paid no mind to His exit — but after Cheng Shi's challenge, their gazes turned toward the empty seats of [War] and [Corruption].
Most had heard at least so rumors: [War] had vanished after contact with [Deceit]. So was Cheng Shi's brazen posturing now a sign that [War]'s vote was [Void]'s hidden trump card?
Herobos saw a glimr of hope. His eyes lit up, and when He looked at Cheng Shi, He wasn't seeing a mortal, or even an equal-ranking servant god. He was looking at... [Deceit] in person!
From start to finish, He'd never believed a mortal could wield any real voice at the Assembly of Gods Convention. As for why Cheng Shi had beco the star of this show — presumably there were things that couldn't co directly from [Deceit]'s mouth as a true god.
[Deceit]'s eyes were tilted at their usual gleeful angle, pupils darting about, making His thoughts unreadable. But everyone present knew He had to be enjoying this imnsely.
Of course, those from the Fear Faction who retained their mories knew [War] couldn't possibly cast this vote. So, following the implications, they stared with astonishnt at the other empty seat: [Corruption].
[Justice (Order)] had essentially already guessed what Cheng Shi was about to say. But in deference to the principle of "responding to challenges," He explained with ticulous precision:
"Those who have not attended the Assembly of Gods Convention will, once all attending gods have finished voting, be automatically tallied as abstentions.
Therefore, your challenge is invalid. The result of this petition is—"
"Wait!"
Cheng Shi took another step forward, standing at the very edge of the [Void] section. His eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at [Corruption]'s empty throne and laughed with manic abandon:
"As you yourself said — only after the attending gods have finished voting will absentees be counted as abstentions. So before the final tally, as long as an absent god responds, their vote should be included in the result as well, should it not?!"
Before [Justice (Order)] could answer, [Oblivion] cut in with a sneer:
"What a nimble brain! What a vicious tongue! [Corruption] never refuses — you're planning to exploit His will to secure your final vote, aren't you? But you've forgotten why [Corruption] never refuses! He accepts every desire that cos His way — but He never responds to any of them! Go ahead, show us what a true clown looks like! I'll give you this chance — right here, right now, display your desire before my sibling god! Let's see how He takes it in... and says nothing!"
With that, [Oblivion] stepped aside, giving Cheng Shi a clear line of sight to [Corruption]'s seat.
Cheng Shi had indeed been banking on "[Corruption] never refuses" and wanted to take a shot. As he saw it, dignity was irrelevant — if there was any chance of winning, he was willing to gamble.
Besides, the Fun God still hadn't made a move. Normally, the deity who loved nothing more than making him look like a clown would have turned around to mock him by now. The fact that He hadn't... ant there was still a turn in the cards.
But where that turn was, Cheng Shi couldn't figure out — until he rembered [Corruption]'s nature of never refusing, and then rembered the [Corruption] container he carried, the one from Tria!
The Secret Peeping Ear had once said sothing:
"Why did She give you that thing? Trying to plant you as a mole in the Sea of Desire?"
That remark had made Cheng Shi believe that his acquisition of [Corruption]'s container must have been connected to the Fun God. At the ti, he'd assud the Fun God was using it to probe the Sea of Desire — after all, his Trial assignnt back then had been to investigate the relationships between [War], [Order], and the Sea of Desire.
But now, looking back — while the events involving [War] and [Order] in the Sea of Desire had beco clear, what about the Fun God's probe of [Corruption]?
He didn't seem to have ever ntioned the result.
Cheng Shi refused to believe his Benefactor was that straightforward. While every other god kept their distance from [Corruption], if [Deceit] had done the sa, He wouldn't deserve the na [Deceit].
So, weighing every consideration, he staked everything on this single gamble.
He wasn't betting that [Corruption] would respond and cast a supporting vote. He was betting that the Fun God had already made a move on [Corruption] — and left a contingency — which was why He could remain so... calm in the face of impending defeat!
This was the true gamble!
Every god's eyes turned to the Clown. [Justice (Order)] made no move to stop him. Clearly, if Cheng Shi could truly awaken [Corruption] and secure a vote for this petition, the Convention's rules would require Him to recognize it.
Every gaze in the chamber converged on the Clown. This was no re spotlight — it was the weight of divine scrutiny pressing down like collapsing stars, crushing the air from Cheng Shi's lungs.
But he still stood tall, spine straight, teeth clenched, and roared toward [Corruption]'s empty seat:
"All beings have desires, and I've never hidden mine!
Though my greatest desire doesn't lie here, I still want to say: I want to win!
This is not a mortal's defiance of the divine, nor an ordinary man's act of erasing the extraordinary. This is nothing more than the death cry of this world's most impossible desire — the Sea of Desire's most powerful pull toward an inexpressible selfish wish.
All praise to the great [Corruption]! If You truly resonate with every desire above and below the universe, then You will answer my plea — just as You yearn to behold the Creator! At this very mont, with the naked desire in my heart, I beg an audience with You!
I want... Your vote!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)