— — — — — —
"Invite Ryo Yagami to join Ouroboros."
After saying that, Krishna swept her gaze across the room. The expressions on the executives' faces varied, but she knew exactly what ugly thoughts were running through their minds.
Her voice turned cold. "Whoever succeeds will receive one million Contribution Points from me personally. Figure out the details yourselves."
If you couldn't defeat him, then make him one of your own. That was option three.
And a reward of one million Contribution Points was enough to make every Three-Digit powerhouse present take action.
Even Poseidon would probably swallow his pride and go personally if the reward was that generous.
That was the power of money.
Having finished what she needed to do, Krishna immediately left without another word.
It wasn't that she wanted to leave. It was simply that staying would only invite more ridicule from Queen Halloween and Kurma.
At their level, power and pride mattered more than anything, especially in front of their peers.
She had lost face today. But next time, she would make sure to win it back.
'Kurma... Halloween... I'll remember this.'
"Huh?" Watching Krishna disappear so quickly, even Lakshmi blinked in surprise. "If that's the case... what about the auction?"
The auction of Vishnu, Indra, and the other special Spirit Ranks.
This wasn't some minor affair. It involved the strongest force within Ouroboros.
Which of Vishnu's Ten Avatars wouldn't covet those Spirit Ranks?
Lakshmi had assumed today's meeting would end with Krishna ordering Ouroboros to hunt Ryo down and seize what he possessed. But instead they were actually going to settle things peacefully?
Resting her chin on one hand, Kurma said casually, "Just let the auction happen. Do you really think we're short on Authorities?"
Were two-digit beings lacking Authorities? Not at all. But that didn't mean they were happy about getting swindled by someone.
The problem was that Krishna hadn't expected Ryo was this protected.
Besides, if things escalated, Algol would inevitably become personally involved.
'Not short on Authorities, huh?'
Lakshmi fell silent for a moment before letting out a helpless sigh, "Only someone like you could say something like that."
Even three-digit beings would fight to the death over a single Authority.
Only two-digit existences could dismiss them so casually.
It was the classic billionaire attitude, treating money as if it were worthless while the millionaires watched with envy.
So Kurma, of course, didn't care in the slightest. Instead, she enthusiastically shared what was really on her mind. "Compared to Authorities, wasn't Krishna's expression just now way more entertaining?"
Not a single three-digit powerhouse dared respond.
They all wore grim expressions, as though they had just been gravely insulted.
Only Queen Halloween smiled and nodded, "I agree."
Kurma's eyes lit up. "Oh? So Halloween-chan thinks the same! I knew plenty of the three-digit crowd had to secretly agree with me."
'Like hell we do!'
The assembled gods and buddhas cursed inwardly.
Sensing all that resentment only amused Kurma for a moment before she grew bored.
Then she leaned toward Queen Halloween with a mischievous grin. "Should we go tell Algol that Krishna wanted to kill her man?"
Queen Halloween smiled. "Why stop there? We should also tell her Shiroyasha is planning to steal him."
Kurma's voice shot up an octave. "Oh! Halloween-chan, you're positively evil!"
Then she broke into a delighted grin, "I like it!"
"..."
Watching the two laugh together, Lakshmi rubbed her forehead.
'These two troublemakers are going to destroy Little Garden someday.'
She sighed, glanced around the conference hall as everyone dispersed, and shook her head. Whatever. In any case, Ryo's crisis was over.
She'd been wondering why every divination told her that protecting Ryo would bring enormous rewards while consistently showing such an absurdly high chance of success. Turns out there had been an ironclad two-digit existence backing him all along.
No wonder the divinations had looked the way they did.
"I've heard a whole group of God-Kings from the Lower Layer are already on their way to Elm City. It looks like the Ori Merchant Guild won't be able to hold on. Poseidon will probably have to give up a hefty chunk this time." Lakshmi chuckled softly.
Without another glance, she turned and left, leaving behind only the two petty "supreme beings," whispering together as they plotted who knew what.
...
..
Outer Gate 7752, Elm City—
"Kurousagi!!"
Shiroyasha threw herself at Kurousagi, wrapping her arms around her waist as tears streamed down her face. She buried her head into the rabbit's chest and wailed, "Why would you do something so reckless?!"
Ryo grabbed Shiroyasha by the leg, his face dark. "What kind of thing is that to say? Let go of Kurousagi already. Are you taking advantage of her?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Shiroyasha rubbed her face against Kurousagi one more time before glaring at him. "You hopeless brat! Do you even realize what you've done? Kurousagi's only two hundred years old. She's still just a child!"
'A two-hundred-year-old child? You actually have the nerve to say that...'
Ryo's eye twitched.
Unfortunately, there was no prying the shameless pervert off Kurousagi.
The moment she'd walked through the door, Shiroyasha had declared she could smell that Kurousagi had lost her virginity and immediately started crying.
Just what kind of nose did she have?
Apparently, he'd learned something new today.
"L-Lady Shiroyasha..." Already mortified beyond belief, Kurousagi only grew more flustered after all the shouting. "C-Can you... let go of me first?"
Shiroyasha sniffled dramatically, "I can... but you have to promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
Even though she had a terrible feeling this wouldn't end well, Kurousagi couldn't ignore that pitiful expression.
Shiroyasha took both of Kurousagi's hands in hers.
Looking utterly unwilling to accept reality, she asked, "Could you have a daughter?"
Then, with complete sincerity, she added, "You'll be my mother-in-law."
"..."
Kurousagi's mind went completely blank.
Ryo, meanwhile, simply grabbed Shiroyasha by the leg and hurled her straight through the floor.
Bang!
Dust flew everywhere.
Clapping his hands, Ryo grumbled, "She's completely beyond saving."
Although Kurousagi was still dying of embarrassment over what Shiroyasha had said, she couldn't help worrying about her. "Was that really necessary? Lady Shiroyasha rushed here because she was worried about our safety."
Ryo's expression turned serious. "The auction's been moved up. It's happening tonight. Looks like Ouroboros' leadership has already reached a decision."
"Tonight?" Kurousagi immediately grew tense. "Will everything really be alright?"
Ryo pointed toward Shiroyasha, who had just climbed back upstairs, and shrugged. "Isn't she here?"
"You bastard! Keep pushing me and I'll just leave!" Shiroyasha snapped, clearly in a terrible mood.
Seeing her like that, Kurousagi couldn't hold back any longer. She burst into laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" Shiroyasha huffed.
That finally made Ryo laugh as well.
Only after a long moment did he calm down. "Are you ready?"
"Hmph." Shiroyasha flicked open her fan, narrowed her eyes, and smiled confidently. "Everything's under control."
"Good." Ryo narrowed his eyes, a plan slowly taking shape in his mind.
Now... all that remained was to wait for nightfall.
.
.
.