Chapter 497 (1): Coordinates of the Underworld

“The book is too long, long enough to be an epic, yet the character building of the Anointed One is lacking. Overall, the description is concise and too shallow. While the scale of the story is big...”

“Putting aside all the shortcomings, the Sacred Tome only has good traits.”

Wayne finished his criticism, concluding that the first draft was insufficient. He ordered Mikhael and Reza to rewrite it.

The portrayal of the characters was the key. The female characters were all mischaracterized. They were flat characters that lacked variety. Cutting any of them out wouldn’t affect the story. They were dispensable with no highlight.

You’re so picky. You must be good at picking bones out of a fish. Mikhael grumbled to himself. If not for the fact that the new Sacred Tome concerned Heaven’s glory and would be the followers’ code of conduct for a long time, making its drafting crucial, he would’ve given up the responsibility.

Sensing Mikhael’s annoyance, Reza bowed and asked, “Forgive this subordinate’s folly, Great Anointed One. I cannot understand your incredible wisdom. Would you explain things in layman’s terms?”

“I can’t say no to that.” Wayne adjusted Mona’s glasses, speaking cryptically. “The Sacred Tome you drafted is too deeply rooted in reality, which isn’t in itself a problem. Basing a story off of reality is how you create resonance and inspire the followers. However, the Anointed One has a spotty track record. The ladies around him alone make it difficult to tell a story. Forcing it will inevitably lead to inconsistencies and ultimately criticism.”

“You’re right!” Mikhael nodded in agreement. He had racked his brain for days trying to paint the Anointed One in a positive light, speaking highly of the Anointed One against his conscience. He almost gave himself schizophrenia.

That alone was fine, but it wasn’t fine when Wayne was the Anointed One. Every time Mikhael helped cover up Wayne’s misdeeds, he felt ill. He would rather watch the Seven Deadly Sins bare their teeth at each other in hell!

In Hell, he would find entertainment in suffering, while drafting the Sacred Tome was just suffering.

“Why? Is it difficult to compliment me?” Wayne looked at Mikhael, irritated. “Be honest then. Include the part where the Viceroy of Heaven rebelled to show the followers the kind of angel Śār Mikhael is.”

Mikhael closed his eyes and pretended not to hear him.

“Hmph!”

Wayne glanced at him, silently calling him prideful. With a softer expression, Wayne said to Reza, “I have a suggestion. The Anointed One was born human. The first part of his life isn’t a noble one, or let’s say his justice is expressed in a roundabout way. Before shouldering the sins of the world and redeeming everyone, he must first redeem himself.”

Reza nodded as he listened to the divine voice, writing away with an impassioned look on his face.

“Resurrected, humanlike but not human, a god in the human world...” Wayne smiled, incorporating the prophecy about the Anointed One. “After redeeming himself, the Anointed One came back to life. His humanity slowly became divinity. Empathizing with the suffering of all life, he started down the path of saving all.”

“Trials and tribulations followed, but the Anointed One, known as the god of the mortal realm, overcame everything, creating miracle after miracle...”

“The villains would be the Seven Deadly Sins in Hell. They are the sins that all of humanity bear together. Everyone possesses those sins, the Anointed One included.”

“After resurrection, the Anointed One banished the Seven Deadly Sins to Hell. The sins turned into demons and surrounded the Anointed One, repeatedly tempting him into making a mistake and falling off his pedestal, becoming human...”

“On his way to redeem all living beings, the Anointed One fought the Seven Deadly Sins. Every victory against the demons strengthened him. In the end, he comprehended the Seven Sacred Virtues and earned entrance to Heaven.”

“He could be unbeatable, but not always. People have to believe that whatever the Anointed One can do, they can, too.”

“As for the other churches...” Wayne stroked his chin. “Faith isn’t about fighting, but connections. Talking someone down just to lift another up would be too controversial, so avoid inviting trouble like that.”

“As expected of you, Great Anointed One. Your wisdom is far beyond this subordinate. With a few choice words, you showed me a new way that leads to a bright future—”

“Enough already,” Wayne interrupted. “Do you have any other question, Reza? If not, I’m going to pay for the crimes you’ve committed with your nonsense.”

He let out a sigh. Mikhael was the arrogant one, yet Little Wayne was the one paying the price? How did that make sense?

It was difficult to be a man of integrity!

“Great Anointed One, would you offer other advice on the manifestations of miracles?”

“Do you need me to teach you something that simple? Just make up tragedies, both natural disasters and crises caused by humans. The key message is that with the arrival of the Anointed One comes peace to the human world, and with the arrival of the Anointed One, the world can be saved...”

“Do you understand what fairness is? Why do the followers believe us? It’s because there is too much injustice and suffering in the human world, and they don’t have a way to vent their suppressed emotions.”

“I’ll give you a tip. In the book, make promises that... blah, blah, blah... Blind people... blah, blah, blah... Wanton women...”

Half an hour later, Wayne left with his secretary, starting his own path to redemption.

Watching him leave, Reza sighed with admiration. “I learned something else today. Everything the Anointed One says is concise but insightful, containing a great teaching. I will have lived to my fullest if I gain even a fraction of his wisdom.”

“Hypocrite!” Mikhael huffed. “Reza, study the Anointed One’s diaries again. As I said, play it down a little when you quote him.”

***

On July fifteenth, Wayne completed his path to redemption and headed to the manor of the Holy Maiden of Darkness with renewed spirit. He had first comforted the trio of magical girls, then took care of the bookish girl, and finally placated the High Reverend easily. He had been busy.

As he had expected, his harem members were aggravated by Mikhael. Master Silvia alone praised him for being polite and well-learned, as He Who Is Like God should be.

Wayne hadn’t argued. Just like Auston, he was happy as long as Master was happy.

In the living room, Wayne ignored the slacker on the sofa and saw a card table. The knights in black and white had been dueling. Darienne was covered by piles of chips, while Vichy... only had black laced undergarments on. She had lost her clothes and then her socks. If she lost again, she would lose even her undergarments.

“Hahahaha—”

From behind her chips, Darienne let out an arrogant laugh like she was at the top of the world, while Vichy clutched her cards in fright. Judging by her trembling hands, she was likely going to lose this game, too.

Seeing Wayne walk in with his secretary, Vichy blushed and covered up her chest with her hands, apologizing for her improper presentation.

He patted her on the shoulder, having her move aside. Villains should be left to villains to deal with, and someone like Darienne should be his responsibility.

“Vichy, leaving the table is defeat. You can pull out of the game, but you must take off another piece of clothing!” Darienne stood up, her upper body rising above the chips. She said in a satisfied tone, “Also, you must honor the bet. In the next twenty-four hours, you cannot put your clothes back on.”

Vichy’s face darkened. She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Wayne. Clenching her teeth, she agonized over whether she should admit defeat and, if she did, whether she should take off the upper or lower garment.

“Ha, why are you bullying a pushover? I’m taking over. I’ll be undressing.” Wayne took off his jacket and draped it on the chair, rolling up his sleeves. “Darienne, do you dare play a few rounds with me?”

“Get out of the way. This is my game with Vichy. It has nothing to do with—”

“Fine. You know you can’t beat me because of your mediocre skill,” Wayne interrupted, expressing his understanding of the reason the weak stepped back. “There’s no talking around skill issues. Just admit you’re intimidated and be done with it.”

“Me? Intimidated?!” Darienne’s eyes widened. She toppled the chips in front of her and told Vichy to divide them in half. She would duel Wayne today to the bitter end. No one would be allowed to run away.

Recently, Darienne had only been playing Vichy, a terrible card player, so she felt like the god of gambling. Regaining her confidence, she forgot the dark clouds of defeat that had been haunting her. As long as Wayne didn’t cheat, she would surely win.

“Let’s bet on chips until we run out. Any problem?”

“Yes.” Wayne pointed at Vichy’s plain undergarments. When she blushed, he stared at her a little more with a bright expression. He didn’t look away until Vichy was ready to dig a hole in the ground. When his gaze shifted to Darienne’s face, it immediately turned disdainful.

What an icy beauty. She looked like an ice queen.

“What’s that look for? You did that on purpose!” Darienne slammed the table angrily. It would be fine for her to be considered lesser than anyone but Vichy.

“Cut the crap. Why aren’t clothes on the table after the chips run out now, when they were earlier?”

“Bah, you pervert!” Darienne spat.

“Ah, so you’re intimidated,” Wayne said. “You know you can’t win.”

“Impossible!”

Darienne wasn’t going to take that sitting down. She swore that after the chips ran out, they would be betting with their clothes. The game would not end until one of them was stripped naked.

Then she put on White Night Creed’s armor and conjured so many clothes and items with her thoughts that she looked like a sphere. There were dozens of shirts, pants, hats, socks, hair decorations, jewelry...

She had more than three hundred chances. He would not strip her naked! It was impossible! If it happened, she would retire from gambling altogether!

Darienne seemed proud of herself and showed no sign of shame. She was the dictionary definition of thick skin.