Face-to-Face Negotiations

Although it was late, the old town's tavern was no longer as lively as usual.

The tavern, which should have been packed with people, was unusually quiet. Apart from the owner wiping glasses and cutlery behind the counter, only one man sat in the center seat. In fact, it wasn't that no one came to the tavern. On weekdays, farmers finishing their work, soldiers, drunkards, and dancers would come here to celebrate their day's harvest, exchanging their hard-earned money for large glasses of fine wine and food as their reward. The dancers would sway their hips among these intoxicated men, waiting to be noticed and taken to a room upstairs for some fun... of course, only customers who could afford to pay.

But today, they didn't go into the tavern. Many regulars occasionally hesitated to open the door and peek inside, but even the rudest and most obtuse didn't dare to make a sound, because the man merely raised his head and glanced at them. That was enough to make them stop in their tracks and leave without looking back.

"The wine wasn't very good today, but the desserts were alright."

Li Lin carefully examined the wine glass in his hand. He wasn't wearing his usual clothes, but a strange mage's robe. Under the lamplight, the slightly flowing gold threads on the robe undulated like waves, and the heavy black shadows swayed on the ground. It was unclear whether this was due to the wind blowing across the fire or something else.

"It would be even better if there were steaks made from veal."

Turning his knife and fork, Li Lin finished the last piece of meat pie in his mouth, then looked up at the uninvited guest standing at the door.

"Welcome! Would you like something to eat? It's still early."

"... Water, and another serving of fruit, please."

Gabriel closed the door and went into the tavern. She quietly walked up to Li Lin and then sat down.

"I remember that angels don't abstain from meat."

Li Lin shrugged, then lowered his head and continued to finish the remaining food on his plate.

"If you're worried about the accounts, then rest assured... I don't have the habit of letting women treat me to meals."

"You are overthinking it, Arcane Mage."

Gabriel shook his head slightly.

"As an angel, I still have to uphold my principles... Besides, don't worry, I just like eating it this way."

That's good.

Having said that, Li Lin said nothing more. Gabriel, on the other hand, sat in the chair, waiting for the owner to bring him water and fruit. Then he closed his eyes and began to pray softly. Afterward, Gabriel reached out and picked up the fruit, which looked very crisp and delicious, but he didn't eat it immediately.

"Arcane Mage, what brings you to this country?"

"I'm just here to watch the show."

Li Lin lied to Catherine.

He had no intention of avoiding Gabriel. In the past, Li Lin might have chosen a more cautious approach, but now, possessing more than half of the Power of Manipulation, he no longer needed to be as cautious. He understood that if he entered Dideyasi, a place filled with churches and Temple, the God of Justice would certainly not ignore him. Moreover, Li Lin hadn't deliberately concealed his presence; even Catherine could detect him, so Gabriel, being an archangel himself, would naturally be able to as well.

"Because your boss seems to be planning a very interesting show. It would be a real waste if I didn't come and see for myself."

"Show?"

Gabriel's expression remained calm, but her speaking speed subtly increased.

"This is not a performance, Arcane Mage. As a mage, you cannot possibly understand the power of the people."

"I told you, I'm just here to enjoy the show."

Li Lin took the handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and then put it down.

"Instead of discussing ideological differences with you, don't you think that's a foolish thing to do?"

"I agree with you, Arcane Mage."

Gabriel slightly, then put the slice of fruit in her hand into her mouth. However, her next words carried a hint of coldness.

"But since they are audience members, they shouldn't interfere with the performance, right? It's a matter of manners."

I don't know what you're talking about.

Li Lin picked up the wine glass and admired the deep red sediment inside under the lamplight.

"I'm just a spectator, that's all... But I think you won't object to the fact that this is actually a good thing."

As he spoke, Li Lin's gaze passed over Gabriel and fell upon the tightly closed door behind the girl—ever since Gabriel entered the tavern, no one had dared to come and disturb them.

"Furthermore, don't you think threatening a viewer is extremely rude?"

"I was only doing this to protect myself, Arcane Mage."

Gabriel's expression remained unchanged, but she paused for a moment while holding her knife and fork.

"When facing a mage who can blast my divine avatar directly out of the Prime Material Plane, isn't it necessary to remain relatively cautious?"

That's your problem, it has nothing to do with me.

Li Lin cleverly threw the question back at them, and Gabriel equally cleverly didn't respond. Silence fell between them once more. Outside, the lively sounds of the street had gradually faded, the bright moon had risen high in the night sky, and not a single footstep could be heard, as if everything had fallen into a deep sleep.

Inside the tavern, it remained unusually quiet. Bright, white moonlight streamed in through the windows, dimming even the lamplight on the table. Gabriel simply ate his dinner with his head down, while Li Lin admired the reflection in his glass, seemingly engrossed in this little game of manipulating light by changing direction, not intending to come back to his senses.

"So, what do you want with me? Are you planning to eliminate me here in the name of justice?"

Only after Gabriel put down his cutlery did Li Lin speak up and ask the question.

"Of course not, Arcane Mage."

Gabriel denied it again, then straightened up and looked directly at the man before her.

"I am here on behalf of the great God of Justice to make a deal with you."

"Trade?"

Li Lin's gaze did not return to Gabriel; he was busy transforming the light in his wine glass into the shape of the Lyra.

What transaction?

"Peace."

Facing Li Lin, Gabriel did not show anger. This girl possessed a maturity and composure far beyond her years. She put down her cutlery, straightened her clothes with impeccable manners, then placed her hands on the table, looked intently at Li Lin, and spoke.

"If you can stop the attack, then... the God of Justice will guarantee that we will do our best to eliminate those malign effects. Mages will no longer be discriminated against and hated, and the Magic Empire will no longer be the target of everyone's hostility. Moreover, we can also give all the land in Lalia and Kudel to the Magic Empire. And, Arcane Mage, please don't do this anymore. A thousand years have passed, and whatever these people did back then, their sins do not deserve this. If you continue like this, I think you should know what will happen."

Hearing this, Li Lin finally frowned. He put down his wine glass, and the constellation map that had been roughly outlined inside disappeared.

"How many years have you been created by the God of Justice?"

"Why?"

Gabriel was somewhat surprised by this unexpected question, but she quickly answered Li Lin's question.

"It has been 523 years."

"As expected, I knew you weren't an angel from a thousand years ago."

Li Lin revealed a slight smile.

"So, I'm going to help you correct a few mistakes."

As he spoke, Li Lin held up one finger.

"First, remember this: the Prime Material Plane is always managed by us Arcane Mage. No one, no god, may overstep their authority to handle affairs here on our behalf. Unless all of us Arcane Mage are wiped out, this is the rule of the world, and even the God of Justice cannot violate or change it."

As he spoke, Li Lin extended another finger.

"Secondly, I think you and the God of Justice have both misunderstood one thing. Whether it's Lalia, Kudel, the Federation, Xialuo, or Dideyasi, everything they currently occupy belongs to our Magic Empire. Therefore, I don't need you to 'give' me my own land. What was taken from me by others, I will take back exactly as they took it."

Hearing this, Gabriel remained silent, but the shadow in her eyes grew heavier and heavier.

"Third."

Li Lin extended another finger.

"I don't care about being feared or hated by people. As for those mages... humans only hate those weaker than themselves, not the strong. I'd rather be feared than hated. Those weak mages can't change people's opinions, so that's their own business. How many people hate me or fear me is none of my concern. I've never been interested in those things. I only care about one thing: the return of the Magic Empire. Everything else is irrelevant to me."

"..."

"At last."

Li Lin extended his fourth finger.

"Tell the God of Justice for me that only those who break the rules need to be punished. Therefore, I advise him to think more about his own future."

"Bang!!!"

Just then, the tavern door was suddenly kicked open.

"An evil Arcane Mage..."

Henderson stood in the doorway, and in the moonlight, he resembled a dark, shadowy beast.

"Henderson!"

Gabriel stood up, his eyes showing a hint of unease for the first time.

What do you want to do?

"Those who blaspheme against the great god must die, those who disrespect the god must die, those who despise the god will surely die. What are Arcane Mage? Your filthy mouth is not allowed to defile our great god. Roll back into darkness like a rat, disappear once more into the dust of history. Evil monster, the wrath of the god is enough to cast you into eternal destruction. Now, here, repent of your sins!! Lord Gabriel, give the order! We will act in place of the great god, carrying out his will!! The destruction of the Magic Empire was its own fault. Their women were raped and murdered, their men hanged, their mages burned—all because of the ignorance and reckless stupidity of these mages! This is the price they deserved! We will act in their place..." Gods, once again rape all the women of the Magic Empire, let them die in fear! Let them know the consequences of following mages, let them personally experience the pain of following the Magic Empire! We will once again hang all the men, let them tremble before the majesty of my God! Let them regain their lost awe and fear! We will once again burn all the mages! How delightful it will be to watch them dance on the fire!! This is justice, this is justice!! Arcane Mage, one day, your women will suffer the same fate, your subordinates will suffer the same death!! This is the great, irreversible will of the Gods! Your despicable and evil plot will ultimately fail!!

"Hehehe... hehehe... hehehehe..."

Li Lin didn't speak, nor did Gabriel, but a cold laugh echoed in the dark tavern, mingling with the dampness and coldness of the tomb.

"Finally out, finally out, you incompetent castrated dog, you lowly, inferior creature..."

Li Lin's shadow began to sway, and then Angela, with long silver hair, emerged from it. Her bright red eyes shone even more vividly in the darkness, flickering like the flames of God of Death.

"Gods? Such things only deserve to be trampled underfoot by their master, to taste pain and defeat. Believers will ultimately perish, their wives and daughters will forever scream and tremble beneath the demons of Hell, their children will forever weep and wail in endless flames, their families will forever wander the plains of despair, children will devour their grandfathers, mothers and sons will commit incest, and the pleasure of sin will accompany you for eternity... You lowly, single-celled organisms who only think with their lower bodies, what are you here? If the master so desires, this woman is nothing more than a panting sow beneath him. Her untouched sanctuary will be filled with warm white fluid, and her tongue, once used to praise the gods, will only be fit to clean up the filth left behind by the master. This sinful, holy, and lewd body will become a toy for thousands... Embrace your gods and masturbate, you lowly trash!"

Angela snapped open the folding fan in her hand, her eyes flashing with even more murderous intent.

"Remember this: the reason you can stand here safely, and that horde of lowly people outside can sleep peacefully, is not because of the protection of your worthless gods, but because of the benevolent and magnanimous heart of your master. Otherwise, what would you become? Corpses? Slices of flesh? Or excrement? Henderson... a mad dog that bites doesn't taste good. And what about your wife and daughter? Were they happy? Excited? Did they scream? Were they screaming your name? A hundred dogs aren't enough? Then how about I find a thousand dogs next time to satisfy your filthy holes? This time, a thousand will be more satisfying, won't they? Ahahahahaha... Hahahahahaha...!!"

"You wicked bitch...!!"

"Come if you want, you eunuchs of the church, you incompetent boars! I will slaughter everyone here, I will crush children's heads, rip open women's bellies, and create a mountain of corpses. Fear! Only kneeling at my and my master's feet, trembling with fear, is your truest, most fitting posture! Kneel down, praise my master's kindness and mercy, and humbly beg for his forgiveness and pardon! You lowly people! Your deaths are deserved! Your deaths are right!! You have no power; you are only fit to be my master's slaves and corpses! You deserve only this!!! I will slaughter all creatures who dare to disrespect my master and me, so that they will forever remember! Humility! Respect! Trembling and fear!! This is the hopeless future they deserve!!!"

"Qi---blasphemer---!!"

"Henderson!"

"Angela."

Li Lin and Gabriel spoke at the same time, calling out to their companion who was on the verge of madness.

"We're here to watch the show, let's not cause trouble."

"Now is not the time."

Both spoke at the same time, looking at their companions.

An overwhelming killing intent filled the air. Angela and Henderson stared at each other without moving. The killing intent in their eyes was enough to kill any ordinary person. Even just looking into their eyes could cause one to lose their heartbeat and their life due to the infinitely terrifying cold.

"... Never forget, you are utterly incapable of disobeying my great god; you are corpses that should have rotted long ago!"

"You all need to remember this clearly: as domesticated pets, it's never harmful for you to learn to wag your tails early on."

Henderson turned and left, while Angela gave Gabriel a cold glance before giggling and disappearing back into the shadows.

"I await the day when I will tear your luminous wings from that small, lovely body. Your screams, you hen with luminous wings, will surely be my supreme pleasure."

Inside the tavern, calm returned, but this time, an undercurrent of tension was slowly changing everything.

"It seems we have nothing more to say. Gabriel, although I don't entirely agree with Angela's words, I have to admit... the deaths of these people are inevitable. I will not hesitate, nor will I show any mercy. Their ancestors sowed the seeds, and now it is time for them to reap the consequences. This is their sin, and they must pay the price."

Li Lin shrugged and picked up the wine glass again.

"That certainly seems to be the case, Arcane Mage. Although I disagree with your point of view, it's unfortunate to say that we have nothing in common."

Gabriel sighed almost imperceptibly, then stood up.

"Well then... we'll meet again on the battlefield."