Chapter 541 (2): I Promise You, Your Good Times Are Still Ahead

Wayne pulled his hand from Elian’s chin. “Don’t get angry yet. This is only the beginning. I promise you, your good times are still ahead!”

The five goddesses nodded in agreement. Wayne was always fair in dishing out rewards and punishments, and he always spoke with reason and never mixed up right and wrong. They all respected him as their leader.

Wayne was satisfied. As long as Elian suffered a little, the vermin would set aside their grudges and temporarily forget their bad blood. It was easy, simple, and convenient. Why wouldn’t he take advantage of it?

“Congratulations,” Wayne said. “You have value, so I won’t erase your thoughts or kill you.”

He gestured at the five vermin behind him. “See? From now on, not only will you call me Master, but you’ll address them the same way.”

Elian’s eyes widened with rage. “Kill me. I’ll never bow to any of you!”

“Don’t be like that,” Wayne scoffed. “If others see, they’ll think that you’re the good one, and we’re the villains.”

He had no sympathy for unyielding villains. He would only go harder.

“That’s right. You’re the wicked woman.”

“Stop pretending. You’re so proud and superior. Everyone loves you!”

“You’re so quick to kneel. Even if you call me master, I won’t want to acknowledge you!”

Lilting laughter followed. Wayne shuddered at the sound. He realized that he had misunderstood the goddesses all this time. Even the bright and cheerful Kaleb was capable of potent venom when She lashed out. The five of them together? The combined force would be unbearable.

Elian panted heavily, glaring at Wayne with bloodshot, frosty eyes, making her stunning face look hideously grotesque.

She wanted death!

“You wanna die? Not so easy. Do you think you don’t have to pay for your past mistakes?” Wayne raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice. “Besides, you should think about it. You’ve ended up like this because of your own mistakes... Bah, I mean, think about who your real enemy is.”

Elian’s true enemy was the ancient gods. Without their generous aid, the Randal Empire wouldn’t have collapsed overnight. Because She could neither defeat them nor argue against them, She ignored Them.

Then there was Wayne. Without his corruption, Elian’s pride wouldn’t have been trampled repeatedly. Because She couldn’t do anything to him with Her life in his hands, though, She would ignore that, too.

So, it was obvious who Her real enemy was.

“E-lo–him!” Elian spat out Her enemy’s name.

“That’s right. It’s Elohim.” Wayne patted Her on the shoulder, gently smoothing Her disheveled hair and whispering to her, “Elohim sent you to the Divine Realm to awaken the Horseman of War, promising that you would be safe. But what happened? You became a prisoner, a slave, and a plaything...”

“In the future, He’ll be a superior ancient god, while you’ll be nothing. You’ll be doomed to struggle in the mud...”

“Who does He think He is? You are the empire’s princess! He’s not only betrayed you, but also the empire!”

The devil’s whispers lingered in Elian’s head. With every word Wayne said, Her hatred for Elohim grew. By the end, She didn’t need his guidance to come to a conclusion on Her own.

She stared at Wayne’s eyes, gazing at his false kindness. After panting for a long time, She said stiffly, “Master, give me a chance for revenge.”

Already? He hasn’t even put in any effort! x5

Five sighs of disappointment came from behind Wayne. He groaned, feeling secondhand embarrassment. He helped Elian up and said brightly, “With such a loyal hound—no, a loyal goddess—I can achieve anything. Today, you’ve abandoned darkness for the dark side. Tomorrow, Elohim will die with no body to bury. That’s karma.”

Elian listened impassively, feeling nothing in Her calm heart.

No wonder She had been the leader of the pack of goddesses. She was the real deal. At least in terms of willpower, She was undoubtedly a strong one, worthy of Her divine position.

“How about me?” Kaleb chirped excitedly. “Call me Master!”

“And call me Your Majesty the Queen!”

The chattering behind him made Wayne’s head throb. He turned and glared at the vermin. “Shut up! Who told you to speak your minds? With me here, none of you are harming Her today.”

After a half-hearted scolding, he turned back to Elian with a grin. “Don’t worry. Without my permission, they won’t dare lay a finger on you.”

Elian looked at him coldly. To be blunt, She would consider Herself lucky if he didn’t escalate things.

“My goddess, if you’re determined to die, I won’t stop you. After all, I’d love nothing more than to kill you now. But you still have unfinished business. I won’t let you die with regrets. I promise you...” Wayne lowered his voice. “Once Elohim is dead, I’ll send you on your way, free from humiliation and torment.”

Elian nodded coldly. She didn’t believe a word out of Wayne’s mouth. It was clear that he was even more deceitful than Elohim.

A quick death? Impossible. Wayne would only use Her like a bouquet or a gift to please the five wenches. Dignity would have nothing to do with Her in the future.

Her fists clenched, and Her teeth ground so hard together that they threatened to break.

What gives the five wenches the right to step all over Her? Just because they flaunted their beauty and managed to cling to an ancient god’s vassal?

The thought was a dangerous slippery slope. Elian realized the risk only after the fact. She knew what it was—it was a vassal’s malady. She instinctively worshiped and craved Her faith.

She could still hate Wayne now, but in time, She would begin to rationalize Her master’s behavior for him.

Despair overtook Her. Nothing mattered anymore.

“Don’t despair yet,” Wayne said with a frown. “You still have revenge to take. Based on what you know of Elohim, where would he hide if he’s not the Horseman of Pestilence?”

First, it couldn’t be the Forbidden Zone of Remains. If Elohim had abandoned Elian, it meant He wasn’t worried about being exposed. They would find nothing in the Forbidden Zone now.

Not just Elohim, but also the Four Horsemen must have their own hiding places. Wayne wanted to find them and stop the battle from reaching the Chosen Land.

Elian shook Her head. “I don’t know where Elohim is. It seems that he’s truly left the box. Normally, it should be impossible before the divine system takes shape, but...”

She trailed off, but Wayne understood. He had already established the Divine System of Life, yet the box remained locked, preventing him from leaving. That would mean Elohim had tampered with the box so that He alone could enter and exit freely.

If Elohim wasn’t Pestilence, he must be outside the box.

“Of course, there’s another possibility: your divine system is incomplete, missing a crucial piece.” Elian’s smile bloomed. She didn’t even attempt to hide Her intention. “My master, you’re too lenient with them. You should turn them into your servants instead of letting them run free.”

To Elian’s surprise, Wayne was the one who frowned, while Ines and Kaleb, who hadn’t been corrupted, remained calm. Even Siluk showed little resistance.

They had witnessed the battle in the Chosen Land. Wayne couldn’t take out the Horseman of War. He needed the help of the Divine Realm, but while they were ready, Wayne hesitated.

Elian, new to the scene, had only seen Wayne’s hypocrisy. She hadn’t seen his principles, so She couldn’t decipher the three goddesses’ reactions.

What’s going on? Aren’t we all forced into this?

“Let’s not talk about the Divine Realm now,” Wayne said. “The point is Elohim. He is the crux of the Final Judgment. Assuming that he’s outside the box and can freely come and go, and the Horseman of Pestilence isn’t him, then... can you guess where the Four Horsemen may be hiding?”

“My master, the Divine Realm is the most important thing,” Elian said, insistent on dragging others with Her. “Even if I have my suspicions, what are you going to do once you find them? Can you defeat them?”

The five goddesses nodded in agreement. Aztimor said bluntly, “Master, if you can’t bring yourself to do it, start with me. I’ll set an example for them.”

No one responded. They all knew Aztimor’s condition, so even Kaleb, who wasn’t that bright, couldn’t help but roll Her eyes.

Exasperated, Wayne shot Aztimor a glare and told Her to stop messing around.

Ines messaged him then, “You can’t achieve anything if you’re hesitant. Do you need Anastasia to speak up for you to agree? If so, why not just give her the wedding band?”

Wayne sucked in a breath and responded, “You know how it is with being my vassals. If I go all out, all of them... We’ve only just gotten married. Can you really tolerate that?”

That surprised Ines. She asked, “Do you really think that way?”

“My goddess, I put that ring on you myself. Do you really think I’m just playing around?”

As if you haven’t been playing around!

Ines sighed. “You’ve corrupted Londan, too. You have no choice, nor do I. Stop looking for excuses. I’m not that kind of petty woman.”

I don’t believe you!

Wayne sighed as well. He extended his thoughts and removed the restrictions on the pale bracelets.

Almost instantly, Ines and Kaleb willingly accepted the corruption. Siluk prayed to the Goddess of Moonlight, Herself, and looked down at Her arm. It was gradually turning pale.

It felt... terrible!

Wayne didn’t stay and watch. He took Elian and left the Divine Realm, entering the Astral Plane to look for possible hiding places of the Four Horsemen.

“Any suggestions, Elian?”

“Aren’t you going to observe the changes of the Divine Realm first?” Elian asked, surprised.

“The trust is so heavy that I fear I’ll be crushed under it...” Wayne shook his head and explained. He urged Elian to use Her brain and lead the way once She thought of anything.

Elian looked at him in astonishment, marveling at the complexity of life. Someone as hypocritical as Her master actually had a sense of responsibility.

“I have thought about it. Now...” she said slowly. “We may try the Astral Worms. They often wander around the Astral Plane, so they may be able to dig up something.”

“Astral Worms...” Wayne stroked his chin. “What a coincidence. I do know one that has been lurking outside the Chosen Land all the time, with impressive patience. I don’t know what it’s waiting for.”

He decided to start with that Astral Worm. Finding out what the worm was after would be a bonus.