Ghost Old A Qi retreated, taking the little dwarf with him.
Anthony said, "Ghost Old A Qi, aren't you too timid? Then again, it makes sense. They have more people, and they clearly look down on you people from South Asia. Ah, South Asia hardly counts for anything. You do not even have a single god worth naming. Do not glare at me like that. Tell me, then—do you? No, right? They are all insignificant nobodies."
Though Ghost Old A Qi was deeply indignant, he did not say a word.
He merely glanced at the pope behind Anthony. The pope wore a poker face, with not the slightest emotional change visible on it.
The atmosphere returned to calm, but Hera and Hades's sides still stood opposed atop the altar.
"Hera, the Divine Lord already knows about what you did. He hopes you can turn back before it is too late. He said he will not pursue your wrongdoing, but you must show him your attitude," Hades said as he looked at Hera.
Hera smiled, though there was something strange about it. "Hades, have you not always hoped he would die too? You are not the only one who wants him dead. As far as I know, some among the Twelve Main Gods want him dead as well."
Hades sighed. "Do you truly believe that?"
The smile vanished from Hera's face.
She looked at Hades with a hint of terror. "What do you mean?"
Hades said blandly, "You just said I had always hoped for his death. In truth, I was the first to learn that he had entered the period of the Nine Declines. The moment he entered that period, he came to find me and told me about it. You should know what the Nine Declines of a Heavenly