Chapter 368: Sneaking Out
Chapter 368: Sneaking Out
"This is Mr. Stianuo. You two chat; I’ll step out for a moment."
Seeing Stianuo repeatedly try to hold Luke’s hand with a look of joy and urgency, as if he were in love with him, Forsi gritted her teeth and left the room, closing the door behind her.
It wasn’t that she minded such a man who seemed to like the same gender being close to Luke; it was that she was too afraid.
Stianuo gave her a familiar feeling, the kind she experienced whenever she entered the Steampunk Church—a sense of the solemnity of mathematics, logic, and science.
Thinking about the Archbishop going to seek divine inspiration and then returning with this man, Forsi couldn’t bear to imagine what it might mean.
After all, she was a shallow believer in the God of Steam and Machinery.
...
After Forsi left, Stianuo, who had a personality akin to a tech geek, seemed to relax a bit and became more enthusiastic.
"I’ve been trying to find you for a long time but couldn’t visit. I hope you don’t mind that Miss Forsi brought me here today."
Luke glanced at Stianuo. The figure before him was clearly not the true form of the God of Steam and Machinery, who was currently in the Astral Plane mending a rift, but rather a mysterious mechanical construct created by combining the mystical and the real.
He pulled a chair over and sat down. "So, you just came here?"
"I erased the memories and mystical connections of all believers except Miss Forsi. I also had someone help me with some ‘secrecy’ before I left."
Stianuo also pulled a chair over and sat opposite Luke, half-complimenting and half-exclaiming:
"I didn’t think you could establish such a good relationship with the Great Night so quickly. He has always been a difficult entity to approach."
Luke didn’t respond to the flattery, skipping the formalities and getting straight to the point:
"Aren’t you worried I might pose a threat to Earth?"
At this, Stianuo’s smile slowly faded, and his expression grew serious. After a long sigh, he said:
"It’s impossible not to be worried. I know nothing about you, and when faced with an unknown threat, the best course of action during a vulnerable period is to eliminate it."
As he spoke, his eyes showed amazement. A single avatar had managed to open the Divine Gate and become a Demigod in less than a month. This rate of growth was truly terrifying. If this continued for a few more months, he would likely become a true god.
He sighed with a smile, "I must admit, I was initially part of the opposition that advocated for killing you to ensure the stability within the barrier."
Luke wasn’t surprised, his tone calm. "So, what changed your mind?"
Stianuo composed himself. "Doomsday is coming, sooner or later. You are an unpredictable variable, a potential disaster, but also a possible surprise."
"Moreover, I can’t trust you, but I trust Amannessis. He has always been the most insightful. Following his choices is a safe bet!"
Luke’s lips curved into a slight smile. "You’re more candid than I expected."
This seemed to stir some memories in Stianuo, and he took on a nostalgic look, as if lost in thought.
"I once lost someone very important to me due to a lack of communication. It still hurts to think about it..."
His expression turned extremely gloomy. "Do you have any alcohol here?"
Noble residences in Queens District naturally had a variety of wines, and Luke looked at Stianuo with some hesitation.
"Can your current body drink alcohol?"
"Absolutely!"
...
On the ornate long table, vivid red wines and distilled spirits flowed freely, filling the space with a refreshing aroma.
"Brother, I’m really hurting inside."
After a few rounds of drinks, Stianuo’s face turned red. He clung to Luke’s sleeve with one hand and held his head with the other, his tone becoming sad and melancholic, like a heartbroken puppy.
"Tell me, what’s the problem? Where did I go wrong with him?"
Luke took a slow sip of the strong liquor, savoring the rich and aromatic taste, and didn’t offer much comment on the God of Steam and Machinery’s and Roselle Gustav’s entangled history.
"You were good to him, but maybe you just used the wrong methods."
"Exactly where did I go wrong?"
Stianuo was visibly emotional, as if trying to purge years of pent-up grievances:
"He wanted power, so I secretly helped him become a central figure in politics. He wanted to advance to Sequence, so I prepared the Extraordinary Traits and rituals for him. He wanted reform, so I helped him push it through. I promoted all his inventions, whether useful or not, and I almost even sent the women he liked to his bed, but there were just too many... I couldn’t keep up!"
Emotional, he pounded the table with his rough hands, his voice breaking with sobs. "I even secured an angelic position for his son, an angel! How many demigods spend their entire lives trying to achieve that?"
"Do you know what it feels like to try so hard to please someone, only to be rejected?"
Luke shrugged, acknowledging that the position of an angel was indeed precious. However, becoming an angel too early and lacking an anchor to stabilize one’s humanity had left Benoa Gustav devoid of his human nature, which in turn led to the God of Steam and Machinery being misinterpreted by Roselle.
Of course, part of this was due to the subtle corruption Roselle experienced while exploring the primordial island tainted by the Fallen Mother Goddess, which altered his mindset.
"You gave him what he might not have wanted. To him, humanity is very important. You didn’t seek his consent before giving his son an angelic position, and even though your intentions were good, it was indeed the wrong thing to do."
Stianuo deflated, like a wilting eggplant, but he continued to mutter to himself.
"After he died, I preserved his relics, promoted his legacy, and prevented the laws he enacted from being overturned, ensuring he had a chance to be resurrected."
"As for Benoa, I won’t even mention him. If it weren’t for my support, Char’s descendants would have been hanged by the Sorens long ago."
"Even his beloved daughter, Bernadette, would not have had a peaceful life without my secret watch. Do you really think inheriting so much from her father wouldn’t attract the attention of those with ill intentions? ...Hey, brother, what’s wrong?"
The person with ill intentions coughed lightly and tapped the table. "Nothing, just that one shouldn’t be held back by past experiences. What matters most is the present."
"You’re absolutely right."
Stianuo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, he was back to his usual calm.
"There’s something I can reveal to you: all the orthodox gods are openly opposed."
"All of them?"
Luke picked up on the key point in the statement. The last time he communicated with the Goddess of the Great Night, she mentioned that most of them were opposed, but she had already counted the hidden ally, the Earth Mother Goddess Lilit, as part of her faction.
"All of them!"
Stianuo repeated firmly. "Of course, that’s just on the surface, but your enemies aren’t just the orthodox gods. You also need to consider the other evil gods."
"For example, the Primordial Witch, the True Creator, the Dark Side of the Universe... and some of the Kings of Angels with Singularity, who also have the ability to influence the battle."
Compared to Sequence One, Singularity holds a much higher priority.
According to Will Unsettin of the Mercury Serpent, the Singularity of the Monster Path, the Dice of Probability, when fully activated, can digitize the entire world, affecting only true gods. Whether the Kings of Angels with Singularity can achieve this is uncertain.
Stianuo’s tone was particularly serious. "My advice is that when you step into the open, when you reveal yourself, you should be prepared to ascend to the status of a true god."
Luke pondered for a moment and nodded. "I will take your words into consideration."
"Right, one more thing. When I arrived, I sensed the presence of the Hidden Sage."
Stianuo’s gaze shifted. "Can you leave that to me?"
Luke looked at Stianuo in surprise. "You want to compete for a seat?"
The Essences of the Wilderness of Knowledge correspond to the Paths of the Generalist and the Secret Seer. If the God of Steam and Machinery obtained the Singularity and Sequence One of the Hidden Sage, he would have the foundation to contain the Essence and the opportunity to become an Old One, a Knowledge Sprite.
Stianuo’s expression was one of resignation, his mood complex.
"To be honest, I don’t want to. The situation with the Essences in the Western Continent is unclear, and ascending to an Old One without a proper ritual is too dangerous."
He sighed, turned his head to look out the window, and his gaze passed through the glass to the stars in the night sky, as if seeing the great beings that lurked beyond Earth.
"But if I don’t compete, we’ll have no chance to resist when Doomsday comes."
The disparity in power is too great; at this point, there’s no chance without a desperate effort.
Stianuo smiled wistfully, withdrew his gaze, and his tone softened.
"I can only intervene at the most critical moments, so you must seize the right opportunity."
He stood up and walked out, his body gradually disappearing into the shadows.
A moment later, Foursi, holding her breath, entered the hall permeated with the rich aroma of wine. She saw Luke sitting quietly in his seat, seemingly deep in thought.
She whispered, "Mr. Stianuo is gone?"
"Once the conversation was done, he naturally left. What else would he stay for? To chat about the Riemann Hypothesis and quantum mechanics? Or to debate whether Chat Gpt or Deepseek is stronger?"
Luke snapped back to reality and looked at Foursi's nervous expression with amusement. "Why are you so afraid of him?"
"You don't know, he is—"
Foursi gestured wildly, but halfway through, she remembered that the item that drew out Stianuo was given to her by Luke. She froze, her face contorting in a way that looked like she had seen a ghost.
"You wouldn't know, would you?"
"What do you think?"
Foursi was momentarily speechless.
Just what kind of person is the man I'm dating...
At first, he seemed like just a good-looking con artist, but then he suddenly turned out to be a Sequence-level ability user. He even acted like a demigod at Mr. A's secret gathering.
Now, he's pulled out something that directly drew out a being favored by the gods, or even a deity, from the Steampunk Church...
Foursi's heart raced, a mix of indescribable excitement surging within her. A thought suddenly popped into her mind—choice is greater than effort!
It turned out her laziness wasn't a natural trait but a gift from fate, a partner who didn't require her to put in much effort.
Foursi felt a sense of relief. She gently licked her lips, took Luke's hand, and led him into the bedroom, guiding him to lie down on the luxurious bed.
Under the man's interested gaze, she blushed and hesitantly leaned down, her hand trembling.
Having just had a brief confrontation with the Hidden Sage, Luke was still somewhat excited. He leaned back against the headboard, half-closing his eyes, his fingers threading through Foursi's soft hair.
"Not trying hard enough, at least make it halfway before giving up."
Foursi, unable to respond, felt her breath catch. Just as she was about to pull back, the strong hand in her hair pressed down on the back of her head.
...
At Barkeland, the Earl of Hall's residence.
Aurelia, dressed in a pure white dress with gold lace, her golden hair casually tied up, and her emerald eyes sparkling, exuded a breathtaking beauty.
She was sitting at the dining table, enjoying breakfast with her mother, with her dog, Susie, lying at her feet, wagging her tail gently.
"Our little princess is getting more beautiful every day. Which banquet are you attending today?"
Noticing Aurelia's formal dress, Lady Hol smiled gently, seemingly asking casually.
"Viscount Grelint's banquet."
Aurelia spoke calmly, her smile as bright as the spring sunshine. "He has invited me several times, so it wouldn't be polite to refuse again."
Lady Hol nodded with a smile, understanding the underlying meaning. "You're doing well. Even if you don't like them, you should give those gentlemen a chance to show their manners, and you must be tactful. That's basic courtesy."
"I know", Aurelia nodded, her expression showing concern. "You didn't seem to rest well last night. Are you still planning to attend Lady Kailint's tea party today?"
"Yes."
Lady Hol sighed slightly. "Social relationships can't be easily severed; otherwise, it will take much more effort to rebuild them."
After finishing her meal, Aurelia saw her mother off and returned to her room with the maid, Annie, to wait for the carriage that would pick her up.
"Are you planning to sneak out today?"
The air rippled, and the golden retriever, Susie, suddenly opened her mouth and spoke.
Aurelia's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
Susie wagged her tail happily. "Viscount Grelint only invited you three days ago; he wouldn't send another invitation so soon. You deliberately sent Annie away during breakfast so she wouldn't hear your plans. You usually agonize over your dress for a ball, but this time you just threw something on, which means you're not really interested. And—"
"Stop! Stop!"
Aurelia raised her hands in surrender. "Fine, I am planning to meet a... a friend."
Susie's eyes brightened. "Can I come with you?"
"No, I have serious business to attend to!"
"But I haven't been outside in a long time."
Susie's tail drooped sadly. "If you don't let me come, I'll have to call the maid. I know it's not very ladylike, but—"
"..."
Aurelia fell silent, realizing she had been threatened by a dog.
(End of Chapter)
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