Working for a God

Hao Ren sat on the chair, unmoving as a bell, eyes focused on his nose, nose on his mouth, mouth on his heart. His hands rested on his knees, his expression exceptionally solemn. He realized he was facing a situation beyond human comprehension. If he wanted to continue enjoying his life smoothly, the wisest choice was to curb his usual lazy and flippant demeanor and listen carefully to the woman who called herself a god.

"How does it feel to personally experience the Genesis?" Raven 12345 glanced at Hao Ren with a smile in the corner of her eye.

Hao Ren observed Raven 12345's expression, confirming that this woman was indeed easy to talk to. Only then did he sheepishly grin, "Am I to believe this is a hallucination... and will you kill me if I ask?"

"No, because many people have asked you this question, and I'm not surprised at all," Raven 12345 shrugged. "I'll take you to see more things until you fully understand and believe what I've told you, but not right now. For now, you just need to take my words as truth, and then we can talk about work."

Hao Ren raised his hand, signaling her to stop, as he needed time to sort out what had happened.

He thought the bizarre events he'd experienced were just things on Earth, but this woman before him claimed she was from... another world? Not Earth, not an alien planet, not an alien galaxy, but another universe! She claimed to be from an empire that ruled the multiverse and worked in a unit called the Time-Space Administration Bureau, specifically responsible for managing the order of this universe. Now, this woman who called herself a god said she needed an agent to handle the trivial matters on her small corner of Earth, and she had found Hao Ren...

That was the whole story from beginning to end. The language wasn't hard to understand, it was just challenging to one's worldview.

Hao Ren stole a glance at Raven 12345. She clearly noticed but didn't react. Seizing the opportunity, Hao Ren began comparing the silver-haired woman before him to his impressions of gods and immortals, like adding wings behind her or a halo behind her head... But he gave up after a while, knowing it was a waste of time. The moment he met that cat-fearing Werewolf, he should have thrown all the legends of Earth into the sewer.

"There really are other universes?" Hao Ren asked Raven 12345 timidly, "I've read about them in books, parallel universes and such, is that the theory?"

"It's much more complicated than that. The structure of the true macro-world is far more complex than humans imagine," Raven 12345 pouted, seemingly too lazy to explain. "You won't be able to access things from other worlds for now. That's for after you're officially hired or have a special mission. What's most important for you now is to handle your own small corner..."

"Why me?" Hao Ren couldn't help but interrupt, feeling he needed to gain some initiative. Even if he couldn't defeat her, he had to try to speak firmly. "You didn't ask for my consent, did you?"

"Oh, right, I forgot about that," Raven 12345 smacked her forehead, making Hao Ren break out in a cold sweat. "The principle of voluntary employment, there really is such a voluntary principle... I just assumed you agreed. So, you're unwilling?"

Hao Ren was stunned. He hadn't expected her conditions to be so lenient. She was so easy to talk to, unlike the mysterious forces he had imagined. He thought refusing cooperation would lead to him being silenced. However, after Raven 12345 presented these lenient conditions, he hesitated. What should he do? Refuse? It felt like a waste... It was as if his new, novel life was stillborn before it even began.

"What happens if I don't agree?"

"Your memory of the past two days will be wiped. I'll also take that Werewolf away. Don't worry, you or the Werewolf won't be harmed. It's just that you'll have no further connection with these things you shouldn't have encountered. Ordinary people have ordinary lives. Throughout history, those who encountered extraordinary matters as ordinary people have all died miserably," Raven 12345 explained nonchalantly. "I'll find other agents. There are many humans, and if that doesn't work, I can even apply to have an intern sent as an assistant."

Hao Ren felt a tightness in his chest, an indescribable feeling spreading through him. He then shook his head, "Then what if I agree? What exactly do you want me to do? Let me be clear, I won't do anything against my morals. I'm a good person."

Raven 12345's lips curved slightly. "Don't be so nervous. You'll be working for the gods. In other divine systems, this position is even called 'Holy Son' or 'Proxy,' but our system is special, so we don't call it that. What are you worried about? I won't ask you to do bad things. You have two main tasks: First, to receive some tenants, just like you did before, except these tenants will be special. They need help, a place to stay, someone to guide them—you need to receive and take care of them so they don't wreak havoc on the human world. Second, to help me with other work."

Hao Ren: "..." He instinctively felt the second task was the main point!

"The tenants you're talking about are like Lily, right?" Hao Ren tried to understand more. Although this wouldn't give him the upper hand, it would at least prevent him from being tricked. "'Otherworldly Beings'? Can I ask why you're doing this? Is it just because you don't want them to disrupt the human world?"

"The reasons are actually very complex," Raven 12345 was very patient. "Any civilization, unless it encounters a cataclysmic disaster or other serious circumstances that require divine intervention, has the right to evolve naturally without interference. I know your human myths and legends, but true gods are not quite like your legends—we create worlds, manage worlds, and also destroy worlds, but all of these are done under strict regulations. No one can interfere with or disrupt the activities of mortals at will. We made many mistakes in this regard before we changed careers to become gods, so this is now a very serious issue. Your world is the same: human civilization should evolve naturally without external interference. It's okay for you to encounter some setbacks during your own development, but if a third party attempts to distort the evolutionary process of humanity through artificial means, I am obligated to block it for you. As for your task... it's to clean up the 'aftermath'."

Hao Ren struggled to understand Raven 12345's words, as if he vaguely grasped something. "You said there was some... 'third party' trying to interfere with human progress?! Lily... and the tenants I'll be receiving in the future are related to this interference?"

"Don't overthink it. That was a long time ago. The biggest wave of impact has already been dealt with by me, and your humanity is very safe now. As long as you don't court death, you'll live to see your end," Raven 12345 looked into Hao Ren's eyes. "As for the tenants you'll be receiving... they are indeed related to a major event, but that's still confidential for you, so don't ask too many questions. So, are you willing to do this? Although it's just helping the Time-Space Administration Bureau with some clean-up work, honestly, it's a job many people in many worlds envy. It's sort of like being an external temporary worker for a public institution..."

Hao Ren: "...The way you put it makes me even more hesitant to agree!"

Raven 12345 threw her head back and laughed heartily, completely unconcerned.

Hao Ren lowered his head, trying to ponder this issue that could change the fate of his entire life.

He still didn't fully trust the woman before him, nor could he understand what "multiverse," "gods," or "macro-world" meant. Just as Raven 12345 said, at this stage, he could only assume everything was true and then consider what he should do.

If he nodded now, he would embark on a path completely different from his past. In Raven 12345's words, he would be "working for the gods." Regardless of whether the silver-haired woman's words were true or false, whether there was a trap involved, or whether the future was smooth sailing or a dead end, Hao Ren would face a new, unimaginable life. His destiny would change, for better or worse.

If he shook his head now, he would only lose the memories of the past two days, forget things that ordinary people shouldn't have encountered, and then go back to being a quiet landlord, or find a proper job and muddle through life like everyone else, find a wife he didn't love so much but could settle for a lifetime. His life would end like that.

There was no need to choose.