HP - Chapter 46

Kingdom of Gods 24

Standing in the center of the city, she looked up at the sky.

Her gaze pierced through the murky curtain of rain. In the dim, oppressive light, she could vaguely make out a massive object suspended in midair.

From the Pantheon’s territory alone, their objective was already becoming apparent.

According to Ji Zhou, at its most prosperous time, the Pantheon floating above the center of the city was undoubtedly the place everyone aspired to—it appeared noble, radiant, and unassailable.

And now, it still looked unassailable. It was just that the weather had turned foul, and its radiance had been swallowed by darkness.

“The Pantheon holds more resources. There’s a high probability that includes key clues about this world. Going directly to them is a shortcut,” Zhong Xu said, slowly withdrawing her gaze.

Ji Zhou’s face was solemn. “I don’t think they intend to harm you… because their goal has never been to clear the game, but to reach the summit—to control this world and all the players.”

“But they used that girl named Ran Ran to lure you here. That’s despicable.”

Ji Zhou had already learned from Zhong Xu that Ran Ran had used her “Star-Hope” ability to call out to her.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m despicable too,” Zhong Xu said calmly as she stepped forward. “You have to give something to gain something. This is a good opportunity to make contact with them.”

However, how were they supposed to get up there?

The Pantheon was completely suspended in the air, and there were no airships or similar vehicles nearby.

“Zhong Xu.”

Just as they were wondering, a voice sounded at just the right moment.

Walking toward them was a young man wearing a bee mask.

“I’m a member of the Pantheon. You can call me Feng Zi…” The man seemed to be attempting humor and smiled slightly. “Of course, not ‘feng’ as in crazy—‘feng’ as in bee.”

Feng Zi noticed Zhong Xu’s expression grow strange. Looking closely into her eyes, he could detect a trace of… disdain.

Just as he was reflecting on whether he hadn’t been witty enough, he heard Zhong Xu say to Ji Zhou, “That’s disgusting.”

“…”

Ji Zhou turned his head as well. “Members of the Pantheon rarely show themselves, but I remember they didn’t wear masks before.”

Feng Zi was just about to explain when he saw the disdain on Zhong Xu’s face deepen.

He had no choice but to swallow his words and plaster on a smile again. “I’ve been waiting for you for some time. This way, please.”

He beckoned, and a simple unmanned aircraft flew through the curtain of rain toward them.

Sitting on the aircraft, Zhong Xu suddenly asked, “Do you know someone named Xu Mu?”

Feng Zi shook his head. “Never heard of him.”

Ji Zhou couldn’t help lowering his voice. “Who exactly is Xu Mu?”

“Someone I want dead.”

“Then he’s still alive?”

“Indeed. Harder to kill than a cockroach.”

Zhong Xu fell into thought. The name Xu Mu was most likely something he had made up on the spot. She just didn’t know whether he consistently used this name in this level, or if he had already switched to another identity long ago.

But this Pantheon… why did it carry such a strong trace of Xu Mu? The bee mask on Feng Zi’s face inevitably reminded her of that exquisite butterfly mask.

Upon entering the Pantheon, Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou immediately felt a wave of affected pretentiousness wash over them.

The entire base was spacious and bright, with sculptures symbolizing justice visible everywhere, as though they had wandered into a Western temple by mistake.

Within this deliberately manufactured aura of righteousness, it felt as if they were only one step away from directly writing the words “We Are the Force of Justice.”

The only incongruous detail was that every member of the Pantheon wore a mask, and most of them were insect-themed.

Ji Zhou exclaimed, “What is this, a bug convention?”

Feng Zi: “…”

He forced a smile and led them into a nearby passageway to take the elevator.

The corridor appeared relatively secluded, with not a single person in sight.

Ji Zhou asked curiously, “What’s the matter? Are our movements something that need to be hidden?”

Feng Zi smiled. “All members of the Pantheon have been notified to treat you as honored guests. However, besides our own members, our partners—the upper ranks of the Judgment Eye—also frequently come here for discussions and reports.”

There was no need to elaborate further.

Everyone knew that the Judgment Eye were mission-driven players focused on completing objectives. Even if they were at odds with the Tarot Path, if they saw Zhong Xu now, they would still capture her and put her on trial.

The elevator stopped at the twenty-second floor high above.

When they stepped out, they entered a spacious reception hall.

The people seated on the sofas looked over at the sound. One figure immediately rushed toward Zhong Xu.

“Senior Zhong Xu! You really came…”

This person wore an ant mask and had a petite figure.

“Ran Ran?”

With tears streaming down her face, Ran Ran stopped in front of Zhong Xu. “I’m so sorry, but I truly had no other choice… Didn’t I mention before that my sister is a member of the Pantheon? Not long ago, she accidentally violated the rules, and according to those rules, she was to be executed. Later, the leader showed mercy and said that as long as I could invite Senior Zhong Xu here, he would spare my sister.”

“Alright, alright. Sit down and relax.” Zhong Xu patted her shoulder indifferently.

Given Ran Ran’s personality, if she hadn’t been driven into a corner, she probably wouldn’t have been able to bring out such resolve.

There were many suspicious points—for instance, how did they know Ran Ran and Zhong Xu were acquainted, and how could they be so certain that pressuring Ran Ran would succeed in bringing Zhong Xu here?

But none of that mattered.

Zhong Xu had already intended to approach the Pantheon to investigate. This opportunity simply saved her the trouble of finding an excuse.

Besides, she was very curious about what business the Pantheon had in summoning her.

Ji Zhou looked Ran Ran up and down. “Where’s your sister?”

“God Zhou…” Ran Ran remembered Ji Zhou as well. She wiped her tears and said, “My sister is in confinement. As long as she serves a full month, her punishment will be complete.”

“You’ve joined the Pantheon too?”

Ji Zhou stroked his chin, studying the ant mask on her face with interest.

Ran Ran nodded. “I thought my ability was so weak that there was no way I’d pass the Pantheon’s assessment. I didn’t expect my luck to be so good—I passed on the first try.”

Her face was filled with innocence.

Zhong Xu offered no comment. The Pantheon likely possessed abilities similar to Xiao Huan’s or Luo Shen’s—powers that could discern the strength of a player’s Tarot card ability.

Ran Ran had always been held back by her temperament. Otherwise, her ability was actually quite formidable.

Feng Zi stood quietly not far away, listening to them reminisce.

When the time seemed right, he stepped forward with a smile. “It’s about time for dinner. Our leader invites the two of you to dine together.”

They even get a meal?

“You are our guests. This is the proper courtesy extended to guests.”

Feng Zi made a polite gesture, inviting them to proceed.

Ran Ran’s eyes were still red as she said, “Our leader is actually quite kind…”

Ji Zhou let out a soft, humorless chuckle.

A truly good person would never use someone’s family member’s life as leverage, nor would they “invite” others in such a manner.

Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou followed Feng Zi to the restaurant on the same floor.

The atmosphere in the dining hall was excellent.

A long table draped in a white tablecloth was laden with an array of exquisite dishes. In these times of food scarcity, being able to eat even a piece of dry bread was considered tremendous luck—yet the Pantheon could prepare such a lavish spread for a single dinner.

Ji Zhou turned to Feng Zi. “Do you always eat this well?”

“These are merely home-style dishes,” Feng Zi replied with a smile. “I hope you won’t find them inadequate.”

At that, Ji Zhou found himself newly intrigued by the Pantheon.

Just after they took their seats, the dining room door was pushed open and two people walked in.

One of them was exceptionally tall and broad; even his suit could not conceal his powerful musculature. He wore a scorpion mask.

The other was tall and slender, dressed in a white dress. On her face was… a butterfly mask.

A butterfly.

Zhong Xu’s gaze settled on the woman.

The butterfly mask she wore was pure white, exquisitely crafted, even adorned with white gauze, lending her an air of elegance and ethereal grace.

Zhong Xu’s gaze moved downward.

Though tall, the woman possessed a graceful, shapely figure.

She bore not the slightest resemblance to the producer who wore the black butterfly mask.

“Ah Xu…”

Noticing that Zhong Xu was staring fixedly at the white butterfly mask, Ji Zhou gently nudged her.

Zhong Xu offered White Butterfly a faint smile.

Their masks mostly covered the upper halves of their faces; her lips were visible, curving slightly upward.

“So beautiful—I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” Zhong Xu said, blinking.

White Butterfly’s smile deepened. She turned to the Scorpion beside her. “If you spoke as sweetly as that, I’d have far less reason to be angry in my daily life.”

The Scorpion was a man of few words. He merely gave a slight nod before taking his seat beside White Butterfly.

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. Just call me White Butterfly.” White Butterfly opened her palm and gestured toward the scorpion mask across from her. “This is the Scorpion King.”

Ji Zhou studied them for a moment before asking, “Are you both the leaders of the Pantheon?”

The Scorpion King remained silent.

White Butterfly did not answer either; she simply confirmed it with a smile.

Unexpectedly, the Pantheon had two leaders—and they even seemed to be a couple… perhaps husband and wife?

Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou exchanged a glance.

“Let’s eat. See if the dishes suit your taste.”

After White Butterfly finished speaking, the Scorpion King was the first to pick up his fork and begin eating. His table manners could only be described as… wild—extremely wild.

No different from a tiger pouncing on its prey.

In stark contrast, White Butterfly was a pleasing sight to behold; her every movement while dining was exceptionally graceful.

“So it really is just a meal.”

Ji Zhou muttered this under his breath. Then he and Zhong Xu stopped standing on ceremony and began to eat as well.

In times of food scarcity, if there was food, you ate.

Zhong Xu had not eaten in a long while and was indeed starving; her level of wildness ranked second only to his.

After the meal, White Butterfly and the Scorpion King wiped the corners of their mouths and arranged for Feng Zi to escort them back to their rooms to rest.

Ji Zhou was the first to ask, “Did you two invite us here for a one-day, one-night tour?”

“Ah, of course not,” White Butterfly replied. “But doesn’t everything proceed step by step? You should eat your fill and sleep well tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll show you around the Pantheon and help you understand our culture… and then.”

She paused slightly and said in a tone of heartfelt sincerity, “We would like to invite you to join the Pantheon.”

Ji Zhou raised his eyebrows, about to speak, when Zhong Xu beat him to it.

“No need to wait until tomorrow. We’ll join.”

“…”

“Huh?”

White Butterfly and the Scorpion King both turned to look at Zhong Xu, seemingly at a loss.

Zhong Xu looked puzzled. “What?”

“Nothing…”

It was just that…

White Butterfly and the Scorpion King exchanged a glance.

What did she mean, “what”? They had prepared an entire sequence of steps—planning to persuade first and threaten later to ensure they stayed—yet she agreed just like that?

“Since there’s nothing wrong, let’s leave it at that.” Zhong Xu reached out and pulled Ji Zhou to his feet. “Take us to our rooms. I’m tired.”

What a masterful reversal—seizing the initiative and turning the situation completely around.

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy!