I Am Ranidal!

"I originally thought you would choose rather casually." "I thought so too at first, but I never expected there would be so much room for choice. To think there are actually so many coffin styles here." "Conditions have improved now. Back at the beginning, there was no such treatment." "I noticed. Take that first coffin, for instance." Bern pointed at Old Saman's coffin. That coffin was visibly crude and plain—even a bit shabby. Alfred shook his head and said, "It isn't quite like that. It's simply because his was crafted with his own hands, giving it greater commemorative significance. Besides, amidst a cluster of exquisite, luxurious coffins, an oddity like his actually appears all the more tasteful." "Yes, that's true. In that case, I'll take this one." Bern chose a black coffin in standard Church of Order style. It was remarkably close to the coffin template used in the First Knight Order, though the detailed grain and the carvings on it clearly exceeded regulation. The church was strictly hierarchical. From the vestments worn by clerics down to the scale of wall murals, an established system of canon governed everything. Here, however, one could disregard those rigid rules. After all, if canon was truly to be discussed, this place was the ultimate seat of Order's orthodoxy. "Do you have any specific requests regarding the interior lining?" "Nothing in particular. At most, I'll just lie inside for an afternoon nap; the rest of the time, I'll still have to climb out of the coffin to work." "I truly admire this awareness of yours. They aren't like that." "Are they unwilling to work?" "They are willing enough when assigned. When the Young Master gives an order, they know to spare no effort in carrying it out. But when there's nothing going on, they become utterly indolent, lacking any sort of initiative." "Their way is what's normal. People like us are the abnormal ones." "Perhaps. All right, we can head over. The Young Master is going to restore Kevin's strength today." "Isn't that somewhat risky?" "In matters like this, there is never absolute certainty to begin with." "True. Still, in those new tenets you showed me, I noticed the Minister's rejection of 'gods' is exceedingly firm. On this point, his stance aligns with the impression given by the High Priest. "Yet now, the Minister intends to restore power to a god—even if only partially. This seems contrary to what the teachings expound." "Power itself is neither right nor wrong." "That kind of muddled, evasive answer isn't what I'm looking for right now." "Broadly speaking, in the process of pursuing our own power, every one of us clerics is actually drawing closer to 'godhood,' are we not?" "Yet that is a true god. Wanting to create a godless world while simultaneously providing a true god the opportunity to restore its power remains a contradiction. "Of course, if you tell me that doctrine must change with the times and that one must know how to adapt, I can accept that, and we can conclude this discussion." "The God of Order was a god, yet did He not also forge this godless era?" "Then what about the lords of our church's branches..." "That is also a point that puzzles both the Young Master and me. From some of the related feedback we've encountered, a certain problem appears to exist there—for example, the child of God's Child Mavaglio. "That unborn infant carries an exceedingly deep intent. When it sensed the Young Master, the cry it let out was not entirely positive." Bern pointed to his own face, then gestured toward the many coffins resting in the performance hall. "This is the true purpose of what I wanted to explore. Many people follow the Minister with the goal of attaining godhood. If in the end everything comes true, our very existence will run contrary to the world the Minister desires." "You are the first pure believer of Order whom the Young Master has awakened. Do you feel this problem will exist with you?" Bern shook his head. "No. I am willing to sacrifice everything merely to uphold this wonderful, godless world." Alfred pointed toward the two temporary coffins, which held Arch-Necromancer Morindi and Former Whip-Wielder Buken respectively. "Those two shouldn't pose much of a problem either." Bern agreed. "Pure believers of Order shouldn't be an issue." "Don't speak with such absolute certainty. Those lords who once followed the God of Order seem to hold different opinions from yours." "That is also something beyond my understanding. I can only assume they may have been born before the Church of Order existed, and were not raised under the ideological edification of Order." "Actually, you don't need to worry too much about such problems. The very foundation of existence for those of you who died and were awakened rests in the Young Master's grasp. He can determine your life or death with a single thought. "To put it callously, when the Young Master feels the world would be better off without you, you will simply cease to be. "As for someone like me who is still alive... personally, I feel an out-of-print mural possesses an even greater beauty." Bern smiled. "How fascinating. When others form a team, it's always to divide profits for the collective benefit in the end. Yet our team seems destined for a certain outcome from the very beginning. This runs entirely contrary to profit-driven motives and human instinct." Alfred countered, "If everything were done strictly according to profit and human nature, why would we need faith in the first place?" "I like that remark very much. I recognize your competence in this position." For a newcomer to evaluate the most senior veteran so directly was clearly a bit overstepping. However, since these words came from Bern's mouth, Alfred not only did not feel offended or challenged, but felt a sense of pleasure at being acknowledged. The two walked out of the performance hall together. Standing by the entrance, Bern suddenly asked again: "Those of us in coffins can be like this, and those of you outside coffins can be like this, but... what about that deity about to be revived? That Ranidal—would she be willing? "To restore her divine power, only to surrender her divine seat on some future day? "It would be one thing if she didn't know the Minister well, but that clearly isn't the case. If she is unwilling, the very moment she gains power, she will rebel." "Bern, let's put it this way. You asked me whether this is completely safe, and I can only tell you that nothing in this world is entirely safe. "But if you ask me whether all the gods in this world would be unwilling in this scenario? "I can only say: virtually none of them would be willing. "Except for it. It might just be the sole exception." *** The ritual was held in the Patriarch's office. Karen remained seated behind the desk, flanked by Alfred, Bern, Old Saman, Earl Recal, Madame Gandiluo, Daliwenluo, and the others. Bern had come to Allen Manor today to study the 'Journey of Order'; otherwise, neither he nor Alfred would have been present, as both were exceedingly busy. Excluding those two, the rest were those lacking 'initiative,' who would never miss a chance to watch the excitement unfold. Kevin was curled up in a corner, resembling a timid new bride afraid of seeing strangers. Purr crouched beside him, stroking his bald head with her cat paw from time to time. Perhaps because their relationship was too familiar, Purr felt no particular change in Karen, but Kevin was different. This was not just the distinction between having seen the God of Order of the previous era and not having seen Him; it was also the difference between sleeping in a bed and sleeping in a dog kennel. "All right, all right, this is something to be happy about, isn't it? Why are you shivering so hard? If I didn't know your acting skills were too good to ever perform this absurdly, I'd suspect you were faking it meow—laying the groundwork to strike back once you get your power." Kevin, already trembling, suddenly shook even more violently. "Aiya, just kidding, just kidding, meow! Come here, kitty hugs, don't be scared, don't be scared." Purr extended her paws and hugged Kevin's dog head. Kevin whined, expressing his distress. "All right, all right! If it weren't to comfort you, I'd be checking Kanna's homework right now, meow!" Alfred and Old Saman inspected the prepared array together. Confirming there were no issues, they bowed to Karen and stepped back. Without leaving his seat, Karen gently traced his right hand before him. In the center of the office, a soft, yellow ring of light rose. Old Saman then took out a crystal orb to manipulate the defensive array of Allen Manor. In an instant, a colossal screen of light surged up, completely enveloping the entire estate and a vast swath of the surrounding area. From this point on, there was no need to worry about any leakage of aura. Karen spoke: "Kevin, come in." "Go on, go on, meow!" Purr urged Kevin forward. Kevin finally rose to his feet and stepped cautiously into the circle of light. Perhaps due to extreme nervousness and apprehension, the golden retriever paced forward stiffly, swinging the limbs on the same side together in an awkward gait. Karen's left hand turned through the notebook left behind by Mr. Hoffen. He was already thoroughly familiar with its contents, so there was no need to consult it step by step, but this was a seal placed upon a deity after all; undoing it warranted prudence. Prudence not toward Kevin, but toward Mr. Hoffen. The ritual began. A yellow halo surfaced over Karen as well, echoing Kevin's before him. Both man and dog closed their eyes at that moment. *** *Whoosh... whoosh...* It was the sound of rolling waves, the air heavy with brine and moisture. Karen opened his eyes. This was not the first time he had seen the scene before him. This barren little sea island held an extraordinarily special place in Ranidal's heart. It was not only the starting point where his dream had begun, but also the dawn of his journey from mortal to god. Looking down, Karen saw the youth seated on the sandy beach below. The boy was gazing with total concentration at the beautiful figure foraging along the shore ahead. Did he love Mills? He likely did, but such love was overly extreme and obsessive. Yet unlike mundane counterparts of the same nature, where the obsession would be inflicted upon the beloved—disregarding her refusal to satisfy one's own fixation and ignoring her pain to manufacture self-gratification—Ranidal was not like that. He kept all the suffering to himself, solely to protect that radiant moonlight in his heart. Examined closely, he loved Mills, but even more, he loved that unforgettable beauty brought to him by Mills during his youth. The young woman wore a dress and walked barefoot, stepping through the sea water and dancing merrily. The youth stared entranced. Karen walked up beside him. The youth raised his head and looked at Karen. In an instant, a swirl of complex emotions emerged in his eyes. Clearly, the physical self and memory had intersected; dream and reality had overlapped. "This scenery is indeed very beautiful. I had no intention of disturbing your appreciation, but this time there is no other choice; we have work to do." The youth turned around and knelt prostrate before Karen. He pressed both hands and knees into the sand, like a dog. Karen frowned slightly. If a dog took the posture of a dog, he could accept it, but this was the image of a human... Suppressing the discomfort in his thoughts, Karen slashed a hand forward. *Riiip—* A harsh tearing sound rang out. The idyllic sunset beach shattered, revealing a massive door radiating the aura of Principles. Numerous nails studded the door; though several had already been pulled out, far more remained. This was the true form of Mr. Hoffen's seal. Previously, Karen's soul strength had not been high enough to perceive it. Heaven only knew how Mr. Hoffen, at the realm of a mere Order servant, had managed to pull this off. He was practically more of a genius than Purr. At the same time, Karen could not help but sigh inwardly: so when he had unsealed Kevin in the past, it had been akin to drawing out nails. Next, under Karen's control, every nail except three purple ones began to loosen. Those three nails were not something Karen could help undo; they contained the deepest restraints of Mr. Hoffen's seal. According to the original plan, Karen would undo whatever could be unsealed, and the rest would depend on Kevin slowly grinding them down. However, with the addition of the 'dog brain' and 'dog skull' this time, breaking those three nails should present little difficulty. Yet, just as Karen prepared to draw all the loosened nails out, a figure appeared before him. It was Mr. Hoffen. He stared sternly at Karen and said, "Child, stop. You have been bewitched by it." Karen felt a touch of warmth. This was a lingering intent left here intentionally by Mr. Hoffen, though it lacked conscious thought and was merely a projection. Mr. Hoffen said, "Do not break its seal. You cannot control it. The might of a god is beyond your imagination." "I know, Grandpa Hoffen." "Hold your hand. Keep it sealed. Do not attempt such a gamble. Be good." Although the figure before him had no self-awareness and could not truly interact with him, Karen still bowed to him with complete earnestness. After bowing, Karen raised his head. "Grandpa Hoffen, there are things I must do, for I now have responsibilities I must bear." With that, Karen reached out, his hand passing straight through Mr. Hoffen's phantom. The projection distorted and ultimately dissolved away. This was also part of the seal—an admonition left for Karen. Back then, Mr. Hoffen had known why Dis had sealed the evil god, but at the time, he certainly could never have imagined that Karen's future would develop to this stage. *Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!* All the loosened nails dropped away. The tightly shut door shifted, revealing a crack, leaving only the three purple nails continuing their bitter resistance. The situation was far better than Karen had anticipated. Of course, if Kevin chose to betray him, it would be far worse. Kevin's own preparations had clearly exceeded expectations. Over these past few years, he had not been idling either. Even without the prepared 'supplements,' grinding away the final three nails on his own was not a matter of probability, but one that would simply take very little time. Furthermore, the ease with which Karen had drawn so many nails in one stroke was inextricably linked to Kevin's painstaking efforts to undermine the seal over time. Those nails had already been loosened. Even more amusing was that Kevin had merely loosened each nail without pulling a single one completely out, afraid of drawing Karen's notice. A god, after all... Mr. Hoffen was already exceedingly remarkable to have sealed a deity so thoroughly that it could only 'jailbreak' in such a furtive manner. Still retaining the form of a youth, Ranidal dared not look up at Karen. That explained why Kevin had been so flustered just before the unsealing—he had feared Karen would be furious upon seeing this. Karen, however, was not angry. He understood quite well; it would be unrealistic if Kevin had behaved with complete obedience. "Done." Leaving behind that single word, Karen closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was back behind the desk. In the circle of light before him, Kevin lay prone on the floor, panting heavily. His coat had changed, becoming luminous and translucent. If before he had been merely a pampered, well-groomed golden retriever, now he could practically compete with Sandy at a sacrificial gathering. The golden-yellow fur blended flawlessly with the white beneath, draping down like tasseled fringes trailing to the floor. A dog, looking noble and sacred. However, the bald patch atop his head remained entirely unchanged. To the side, Purr cocked her head and said, "Dumb dog, tonight I'm shearing your coat to make myself a hat and a cloak." Hearing Purr's voice, Kevin turned his head and nodded at her with fond indulgence. "Continue," Karen said. "Yes, Young Master." Madame Gandiluo stepped out of the office. A moment later, she returned carrying a crystal half the height of a person. In the original plan, Karen had intended to investigate the temporal research project first, then seize it under the guise of eliminating 'Light remnants.' However, Ukonga had assigned supervision of the project directly to him. This had inadvertently complicated matters. Stealing from others was simple; explaining 'theft by the guardian' was troublesome. Fortunately, once Kevin consumed this 'brain,' he could still 'shift' it back out. Although it was merely going through the motions, to Kevin, the difference was monumental. At this moment, the dog's eyes were fixed on the crystal, swallowing saliva continuously in ravenous craving for his own brain. Karen knew very well that as a deity, Kevin's greatest asset had always been his wisdom—which was precisely how he had maneuvered among the principal gods in the previous era to serve as their white glove. "Young Master." Madame Gandiluo awaited Karen's final command. "Give it to him." Karen did not keep him in suspense, uttering not a single superfluous word. It was so decisive that even Kevin, the dog in question, felt a touch of surprise, yet it also felt entirely natural. Back then, after fulfilling the God of Order's command, he had harbored immense dread when trying to remind the God of Order of their agreement. The God of Order had merely risen from the steps: "Let's go." Let's go—to bring about the fall of the Sea God. Prior to that, Kevin had prepared himself mentally for all manner of discounts, delays, bargaining, and even being cursed at to get lost. Kevin shook his dog head. In the past, when even Purr suspected Karen might be the reincarnation of the God of Order stripped of His memories, Kevin had been the single dog who knew best that Karen was not the God of Order. Now, when everyone believed Karen was Karen and the God of Order was merely his predecessor, Kevin increasingly felt that the two were truly like the same person. Perhaps the hunger addiction had chosen him not because he resembled Him, but because those who could reach such heights in Order could only ever be the same kind of person. Madame Gandiluo unsealed the crystal. In an instant, the radiance of wisdom spilled forth. It not only filled the entire office, but also enveloped the entirety of Allen Manor. Had it not been for the defensive array painstakingly laid down by Karen's maternal grandfather and his large team, the commotion would have attracted outside attention long ago. Though... even if it drew attention now, Karen wouldn't care much. By the lakeshore, an elder, a young woman, and a child were having a picnic. Little Kanna scratched her hair and murmured, "Mm, growing brains again?" Eunice was curious about what Karen was doing. She only felt that being bathed in this strange light was exceptionally comfortable, and she keenly sensed the bloodline power within her beginning to awaken once more. If even she experienced such a strong reaction, wouldn't the clan members in the manor—especially the youth and children—receive even greater benefits? Naturally; this was the radiant wisdom of a god. Madame Tangli's mouth fell open in sheer disbelief. She knew a few of Karen's secrets, but only a fraction; she had never probed deeply because she simply regarded Karen as her own grandson. Yet now, she was thoroughly shaken. She could understand something like divinity, but to use it so lavishly was truly... Was this child paying homage to his grandfather? Madame Tangli glanced at Eunice, then around the manor grounds. "Just what kind of dumb luck did this Allen family stumble into!" First, a bookmark gifted by Dis had been consumed purely to slay a Patriarch of the Raphael family; Now, the grandson was allowing this divine radiance of wisdom to overflow. From this day forth, the ordinary disciples within Allen Manor would become outstanding, and the outstanding would become geniuses. Such was the power of a god—even a mere wisp of its overflow was enough to transform an entire environment. Why did families that had produced temple elders remain prosperous for generations, consistently producing new talents as long as no catastrophe struck? Because the Temple of Order bestowed blessings upon the families of new elders. Originally, Karen would have enjoyed this privilege as well, had Dis been willing to enter the temple. Now, Allen Manor was enjoying it instead. This was a high-tier luxury that even their Progenitor Allen would never have dared imagine. However, everything carried side effects. Had the overflowing concentration been any higher, everyone in Allen Manor would have been corrupted; And if Kevin, the 'master' of this power, harbored the slightest ill intent, all who were touched by this light of wisdom would become his marionettes. Fortunately, if not for Karen's sake, then for Purr's, such a thing would never happen. Inside the office, the spark of intellect began to merge into Kevin. If Karen's unsealing earlier had brought a physical transformation, the integration of intellect was a sublimation of temperament. Even before the process concluded, divine might was already spilling outward. Everyone present sensed the oppressive weight of a god. Though slight, in the eyes of ordinary mortals, it felt like an immense mountain pressing down. Thankfully, this pressure was confined to the office and did not spread outward. Otherwise, countless people in the manor would have been frightened to death on the spot—first enjoying the dew of a god, only to be struck by divine thunder. The others in the room engaged in a game of resistance. Kneeling in worship was out of the question; before 'Karen,' the moment to test the piety of their faith had arrived. Karen remained the calmest. Ranidal's divine might had no effect on him; at most, it only prompted the hunger addiction sculpture in the depths of his soul to roar a couple more times. Purr had no intention of resisting at all. She sprawled across a chair, simply watching Kevin grow a brain. The rest wore strained expressions. Among them, Alfred and Bern bore the least pressure. Daliwenluo's expression was extraordinarily rich—twisted, terrified, and exhilarated all at once, for he saw a glorious future for the Bald Faction. Finally, the fusion concluded, and Kevin reclaimed his mind. In a flash, What stood in the center of the office was a dog—noble, sacred, inviolable, radiating divine radiance. "Woof!" Kevin let out a bark. His aura drew inward and the divine pressure dissipated, instantly lifting the weight bearing down on everyone present. Except for Karen, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Purr hopped off the chair, eager to try out the new-edition cushion; Yet a single remark from Karen made her step back. Karen raised a hand and said: "Continue." Old Saman left the office, returning with a sealed case in his arms. He broke the seal himself and opened it to reveal a skull. The skull seemed alive, a gleam in its eye sockets. It spotted Kevin, then looked toward Karen seated behind the desk. After all, 'one knows oneself best.' From Kevin's posture and expression, the skull instantly 'recognized' Karen's true identity. It sighed with emotion: "Ukonga always loved boasting about his roommates, claiming every one of them was an extraordinary figure, while he alone squandered his life out of willful indulgence. I'm truly curious what expression Ukonga will make when he learns your true identity. "Will he still dare call you 'roommate'?" Karen replied calmly, "I will call him that." The skull ground its teeth with a *clack-clack*, as if nodding, then pivoted to look at Kevin: "My true self truly knows how to find the most fitting position to kneel, as always. But I really never expected that this time, you would actually become a dog, my true self." Being mocked like this by his own skull, Kevin was clearly displeased; his eyelids drooped. The skull *clacked*, as if laughing: "Ah, I'm about to cease existing anyway. What's wrong with being a little disrespectful to you? Did you think I'd still fear you?" A faint smile touched the corner of Karen's lips. It seemed every avatar of Kevin was quite amusing, possessing a distinct personality and self-awareness. Old Saman looked at Karen, awaiting the final order. Just as before, Karen simply said, "Give it to him." "Yes, Young Master." Old Saman handed the skull to Kevin, who gathered it into his embrace. The skull began to melt, gradually sinking into Kevin's body. Everyone present, save for Karen, adopted a solemn expression. All that had preceded could be regarded as camouflage, meant solely to retrieve this final skull. What followed would reveal whether a god who regained power would turn traitor. Even Purr grew tense. Daliwenluo wasn't particularly nervous, but to fit in with the group, he made himself tense as well. The fusion went smoothly. After all, it had originally belonged to him, and Ranidal's 'sense of self' was remarkably preserved; his avatars addressed him as the true self, the hierarchy clear. Yet during this process, certain things that could previously be suppressed could no longer be kept down. For instance, Kevin's form. He was a dog, yet the superimposed phantom of a man repeatedly flickered over him—a defiant, bald figure, flashing continuously and growing clearer by the second. It was Ranidal's true form. Ever since Dis and Hoffen had joined forces to capture and seal him, Kevin's attitude toward Karen had been obsequiously flattering. He knew Karen harbored deep vigilance toward him. To erase that wariness, even though he had long been able to speak like Purr, he had insisted on barking like a dog. The only time he had actually spoken was when Purr had been abducted. He understood all too well that speaking would serve as a constant reminder for Karen to stay on guard; only by continuously barking could he accustom Karen to treating him as an obedient dog. Now, things were different. The lifting of the seal, The return of wisdom, The integration of a portion of his divine body— The leap in power was simply too swift. Even ordinary mortals could not maintain their original hearts upon striking sudden wealth, let alone leaping from a dog back into a god. Finally, the skull was fully assimilated, and the flickering phantom solidified. Kevin was gone. He did not turn back into a dog, but... became Ranidal. He stood in the center of the study, an endless depth within his eyes. Though he did his utmost to contain his aura from leaking, his mere presence was enough to instill surrender and dread in every living being in the vicinity. Most importantly, he did not kneel! Madame Gandiluo raised her crystal, Old Saman gripped his crystal orb, and everyone instinctively went on guard; even Daliwenluo tightened his grip on his wooden club. He wanted to form a faction within the church, but he had no desire to commit apostasy. At this moment, though no one spoke, it felt as though tens of thousands of words were clashing silently. Ranidal stood there, gazing at Karen behind the desk. Seeing this, Purr shouted, "Dumb dog!" With that, Purr dashed toward Ranidal. Yet despite a distance of barely a meter, no matter how hard Purr ran, she could not close the gap. This was merely the lowest manifestation of divine power, yet it was already astonishing and subversive. Ranidal took a step, walking toward Karen. The others on either side moved to intercept him, but their treatment was far worse than Purr's; invisible forces bound them instantly, rendering them unable to move. The situation was sliding toward the most terrifying outcome. Ranidal did not even need to strike at Karen; merely maintaining this 'disrespect' toward Karen would be an immense defeat for Karen's side. Karen remained seated with absolute calm, watching Ranidal approach. He recalled back on Mink Street, when Ranidal had tried to seize the chance while Grandfather was held back by the temple elders to reclaim his body, only to step right into the trap Grandfather had laid and be yanked out from the wound on Karen's chest. Now, he was walking toward him once more, yet Grandfather was asleep. Fear, however, was out of the question. Right at that moment, Ranidal suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked out the window. A car had driven into Allen Manor, whose defensive array was fully active—meaning the person held a crystal orb controlling the array. Moments later, the office door was pushed open. Vic walked in carrying a large crate. Seeing the scene inside, he was startled, then glared furiously at Ranidal. Yet he too was quickly immobilized. Ranidal reached out, and the crate, wrapped in seals, drifted before him. The crate's style was identical to the one that had delivered the Guardian's Shield. Immediately after, the seal on the crate was broken—no, not broken, but dissolved like ice beneath hot water. A harp stood quietly inside. It was... the Harp of Goddess Mills. Vic spoke up: "It can only be leased temporarily. But because so many people were purged recently, the containment space conceded to me, and out of respect for my teacher, they agreed to open a back door to let me continuously renew the lease on this divine artifact. "Negotiating the lease agreement delayed me, or I would have arrived earlier." Ranidal stared blankly at the harp. Karen spoke, repeating the same words as before: "Give it to him." A contract scroll flew from Vic's pocket and landed before Ranidal. With this scroll, one could handle the renewal procedures in the containment space. Ranidal turned back around, facing Karen once more. No one could discern any emotion from his gaze. Granted, this was not yet his peak—he had merely reclaimed lingering intellect and a damaged skull—yet... a god was still a god. Ranidal came before Karen, gazing at him from close range. Karen said: "There is something I must make clear to you. I do not like this world having gods. My dream is the same as His. Therefore, when the time comes, you may be required to yield your divine seat or godhood. "I do not know the precise terms to describe it, as I haven't reached that stage yet, but that is the general idea. If you do not die in battle for me, I will personally strip you of your status as a god." Ranidal spoke: "I am well aware of this." Karen nodded. Ranidal continued, "I like making transactions, yet you seem unwilling to do so." Karen corrected him, "No, I am making a transaction with you. It is just that in the past, you performed the work before collecting the reward; this time, I give you the items first, and you work for me afterward." Ranidal asked, "Aren't you afraid I won't agree?" Karen drew a cigarette from the case—still the brand of the Church of Thunder—lit it, and took a drag. In truth, Karen no longer needed it to combat the hunger addiction, and he had built up a resistance to it long ago, rendering it ineffective. Yet today, he had smoked it several times in front of Kevin. Kevin knew what that pack of cigarettes had once been used for. It touched upon the hunger addiction, And it touched upon the words the God of Order had once said to him: *"I am hungry..."* Ranidal's gaze remained fixed on Karen's motion as he smoked. Exhaling a smoke ring slowly, Karen said in a casual tone: "Believe it or not, I don't really care whether you agree or not." "I believe it. The great God of Order ought to possess such confidence and grandeur." Ranidal extended one hand forward and one hand back, bending his knees, preparing to kneel in homage: "Once, what I trusted most were the promises of Order; "Today, I am incomparably honored, for Order is willing to trust my promise. "I shall submit to You, "Offer my loyalty to You, "Return to Your fold, "Bathe in Your radiance, "Follow Your will, "And forge a new world of Order!" Just as Ranidal was about to drop to his knees, Karen waved a hand, and a chair beside the desk slid automatically behind Ranidal. "Sit, Ranidal." Ranidal froze. He reached backward with both hands, feeling the chair behind him—touching the armrest, touching the cushion, touching them for a long while before slowly leaning back, easing himself onto the edge of the seat bit by bit. He looked at Alfred; he looked at everyone present. His emotions remained inscrutable, yet in his mind, the scene from the previous era surfaced: he, prostrate on the ground, while the others stood beside Order. Along with the memory of the other branch deities of Order, who had clearly viewed him as a trifling foreign god and paid him no heed at all. He harbored no resentment, just as he had never resented Goddess Mills for never sparing him a second glance. He understood all too well how proud the deities of the Order faction had been in the previous era. Following the God of Order, they had achieved supremacy across the divine realms; small deities like him had been slaughtered by them in untold numbers. Yet now, He finally possessed the qualification to sit before Order. No one could resonate with Ranidal's state of mind at this moment, nor did anyone know just how deeply this minor god—who had shuttled among multiple principal gods, seemingly without principles—truly revered the God of Order in his heart! "My name... is not Ranidal..." Ranidal's body gradually blurred. Upon the chair, he slowly transformed back into a large golden retriever. The retriever lowered his head toward Karen, And continued: "Please call me... Kevin."