The codex turned its pages slowly, radiating haughty disdain.
While Cheng Shi's words might have held so logic, Order — however far He'd fallen — would never entrust His last hope to a follower of Chaos. Letting Chaos's lackey preach order to the universe? The very notion was as laughable as a Deceit follower opening their heart to sobody.
Cheng Shi clearly sensed the withering gaze and knew exactly what the other was thinking. But he felt neither sha nor dismay. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the floor with perfect composure and began haggling with Pride of Order.
In Kataro's eyes, the scene looked remarkably like sothing from his student days at the Tower of Logic — certain data-falsifying scholars grinning ear to ear while pitching their advisors for research funding.
He had to admit: those teachers, in their pursuit of Truth's infinite possibilities, had been genuinely lenient. Well — other people's teachers had been lenient, anyway. They'd approved all sorts of funding.
But now...
No matter how well Kataro understood Cheng Shi, he couldn't fathom how a follower of Chaos — the nominal Envoy, no less — could con "research funding" out of actual Order.
Cheng Shi was indeed "pitching for investnt." He'd never imagined he'd have any dealings with the genuine Order. Before today, he'd assud Order in this world had self-destructed, leaving only the rigid Justice of Order within the Convention and the harsh Fear of Order — neither of which he liked.
But now, opportunity had knocked.
After all, gilding the lily could never compare to sending charcoal in a snowstorm. No matter how much those watching eyes appreciated him, his ager offerings were rely a slightly higher wave in the boundless ocean of faith.
But Order was different — because He had no choice.
Perhaps He didn't want the "charcoal" Cheng Shi was offering. But sotis, the fun in business lay precisely in the hard sell — especially when you held all the leverage.
"Great Order, with Your permission — actually, You don't really look like proper Order right now, so let's simplify things. Change the titles.
I'll call You 'Lord Codex.' And You needn't think of
as a follower of Chaos. I know You can see where my roots truly lie. So please, just call ...
Clown."
Cheng Shi was a master of building rapport. His rhetoric was packed with technique.
Even though the current dynamic was the strong pressuring the weak, the other party was still a true god, and Cheng Shi's leverage was borrowed from Deceit.
If Deceit Himself were here, He could strong-arm the deal without a care. But when the negotiator was rely Deceit's follower, that leverage was automatically discounted. Bulldozing relentlessly would only break the deal — especially when the other party was this "arrogant." Strategic concessions to widen the negotiation space were essential.
Take the current mont: "clown" was universally synonymous with ridicule and absurdity. By calling himself a Clown, Cheng Shi could, to so degree, satisfy Pride's need for superiority.
These were all tricks Cheng Shi used to handle players. He wasn't sure they'd work on a true god, but not trying guaranteed failure.
Fortunately, Pride of Order did respond to this approach. Though the codex's scrutiny of Cheng Shi grew even more contemptuous, the adversarial will within it noticeably softened.
Who would lower themselves to spar with a Clown?
Sensing the shift, Cheng Shi allowed himself a small smile and continued with sincerity.
"Lord Codex, before we speak candidly, I'd like to ask for Your forgiveness in advance. To earn Your approval, I must confront You with so harsh realities. These truths will undoubtedly feel like an affront to soone in Your position.
Of course, whether or not You agree is irrelevant.
That, too, is part of the current reality."
"..." The codex's pages flipped more rapidly — clearly angered. But He said nothing, only listening with imperious detachnt.
"You may still be trapped in Order's most glorious past, believing that it was Order who brought peace to the universe.
But in fact, You should know by now — Chaos replaced Your position long ago. Your other fragnts have beco nothing more than 'props' the gods use to manage relations among themselves.
Order has long since lost its true aning.
Tsk — please, don't rush, and don't get angry. Everything I'm saying is fact.
The Convention does restrict the gods' 'freedom' to a certain extent. But You should know Them. Even setting aside my Benefactor, Deceit — among the remaining gods, which one do You think would honestly obey the Convention?"
"..." The codex might have confidence in His own will of Order. But as for the other gods — clearly, He did not believe these beings would submit to His will.
"The answer is obvious. None of them. Not a single one.
This isn't solely the consequence of Your fracture. Divinity is inherently complex. To put it bluntly, the gods are simply another form of 'mortal life' with authority in hand.
A truly omniscient, omnipotent god exists elsewhere.
On this point... do You agree?"
"Insolent!
You dare speak recklessly of Origin! I shall sentence you to the highest cri — destruction of body and soul!"
The codex flipped in a frenzy. But Cheng Shi didn't flinch. He simply spread his hands and smiled. "Then by all ans, sentence . After You're done, we'll continue."
"..."
A single line sent the lofty Order crashing to earth. Pride of Order raged impotently for a mont before the mockery spikes drained another burst of Order's essence, leaving Him even more depleted.
Cheng Shi studied the spike — its jaw stretching ever wider — with keen interest, thinking: 'This thing is definitely a good item. Wonder if the Fun God has any spares.'
"Finished with the sentencing? Then let's move on.
Lord Codex, have You ever considered what brought You to this predicant?"
"Deceit!" The codex was drained, but when He spoke that divine na, His teeth still gnashed.
"No. Wrong. This has nothing to do with the Fun God. It was You — You yourself created everything that's happened."
"The cri of slander!"
"Want to sentence
again?"
"..."
"Then let's skip the sentencing and move on." Cheng Shi pressed down a smile and continued. "Gods harbor complex thoughts and shifting wills. Burdened by suspicion, calculation, and caution, They're reluctant to act directly — hence the Envoys who serve as proxies. Am I right so far, Lord Codex?"
Whether it was because He'd been rendered speechless or because He simply refused to engage with the Clown any further, the codex fell silent and said no more.
"Silence ans agreent.
Good. If I'm right, then here's the question.
Those who truly seek to change the present always have devoted followers to spread their faith and carry out their will. So let
ask — where have all Your followers gone?
The Grand Tribunal counts, I suppose. But they're equally trapped in history — mired in the past just like You, refusing to move forward.
What I an is — aside from the followers stuck in the past, where did Your other subordinates go?"
Cheng Shi didn't even give Order a chance to respond before answering his own question.
"Oh, right — You and War cleaned them all out.
That was excellent. It satisfied War's appetite and reduced the risk of corruption in Your subordinates' ranks. But...
Did it ever occur to You to wonder why the other gods' Envoys were allowed to survive, while Your followers were purged entirely?
Granted, You were fair and impartial — willing to start with Your own people. But was it also You who single-handedly pushed the situation to where it is today?
What if the others did it deliberately, precisely to weaken Your influence?
And while we're on the subject, let
verify sothing. Why does Order possess the power to purge the entire universe, while the gods of the first two Paths lack Your transcendent standing?
My humble mind tells
this seems related to Him. So might generous Order grant this confused Clown an answer?"
The codex went mute again. After a long silence, His pages finally turned with a feeble whisper of Order.
"Smooth-tongued scoundrels are invariably those who desecrate the law.
No matter how silver your tongue, I will never trust you."
Cheng Shi wasn't offended. He just nodded with a smile. "Very well. Then You must surely have soone else You can trust?"
"..."
After delivering another emotional gut-punch, Cheng Shi pivoted away from his previous "flattering" tone. His voice sharpened again.
"Face reality — You have no choice!
You should be grateful it's
standing here today. If it were any true believer loyal to Chaos, You would have absolutely no chance whatsoever—"
...
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