A moment later.
Before the main gates of the Divine Palace, at the center enveloped by vast vortices of laws.
Natsume's consciousness received the message Sophon had sent back.
When he learned that Xushiki's projection had descended so swiftly not long after he began his advancement, Natsume could not help but feel a jolt of alarm, worrying about what scheme that old fox was plotting this time.
If he had even managed to foresee this, then there would be no way to play this game at all.
Fortunately, Xushiki had not come looking for trouble.
"You reached a cooperation agreement with Xushiki?"
"Yes."
"He's the leverage you mentioned?"
"More or less."
"..."
Natsume fell silent, accepting the situation.
He could not exactly call it disgusting, nor could he say it felt unpleasant.
After all, he had worked with Otsutsuki Genshi before, and he had also made use of the Council.
The positions of enemies and friends were always changing.
The only eternal truth was profit.
Besides, a collaborator did not even count as a friend.
As long as he could save Kuramitsuha, Natsume truly did not mind cooperating with anyone or borrowing the strength of the entire Council.
Of course, that was only if he could truly borrow it.
"Is he reliable?"
"Our goals align. He is most likely reliable."
So long as Xushiki did not want to watch helplessly as King Zhenruo ascended to the rank of True God, he would inevitably act to stop him.
It had nothing to do with trust—only with interests.
And for Xushiki and the Council, having Natsume, such a powerful vanguard, step in to block King Zhenruo at this time
was an undeniably profitable deal.
Just like Black Zetsu.
You could doubt every word he said, but you never needed to doubt his