Chapter 24: The Natural Kingdom’s “People-Stealing Plan”

Lu Ming spoke calmly.

“Welcome.”

Sislia, on the other hand, didn’t show any reaction—she was even a little wary.

But with Lu Ming present, she didn’t mind much. As a devoted follower of Dawn, her sense for evil was keen.

Zorg didn’t care in the slightest.

He performed an elegant gentleman’s bow.

“It is my honor to meet two such beautiful ladies.”

“Hey, what about me?”

Garcia looked at Zorg unhappily, arms akimbo, her little face full of pride.

She was not pleased at being ignored.

“I, Garcia, the future legend…”

Mid-sentence, Garcia suddenly froze.

***

Wait, this mysterious man just said he was a Half-god…

Er, compared to that, Garcia suddenly lost her confidence.

But then she thought, I’m following Her Highness the Goddess, how can I back down?

She hurriedly corrected herself.

“I! Garcia, a future Half-god… please don’t ignore me!”

Zorg looked at Garcia with interest and shrugged.

“As you wish. Half-god Zorg greets you, future Half-god, Miss Garcia.”

The little girl finally gave a satisfied snort and resumed eating her pastries.

***

Zorg sat quietly in the empty seat, saying nothing.

He waited for Lu Ming and the others to talk first—he wanted to observe this so-called tea gathering.

What was its purpose?

After a brief silence.

Sislia saluted Lu Ming and was the first to speak.

“Your Highness, Newspapers and Reporters have already begun to spread gradually across the Continent.”

“I have already grasped half of the Divine Authority of Public Opinion.”

“As for the reward you require, when My Lord returns, you may speak with Her in person.”

Lu Ming nodded at her words.

To be honest, this progress was already quite impressive, even exceeding his expectations.

***

The Divine Authority of Public Opinion had not appeared once in the past three Eras.

How to master it and increase one’s grasp was a difficult problem.

But fortunately, Lu Ming’s guess had proven correct.

As long as Sislia continued steadily step by step, sooner or later she would completely master the Divine Authority of Public Opinion.

Become the Goddess of Public Opinion.

Although that divine seat didn’t sound particularly great, it was better than nothing.

As for the reward, he actually hadn’t made up his mind, but Sislia said—

Those who have done the Church of the Dawn a favor could ask the Dawn Goddess to do something for them; that was something She herself had said before.

He would have to make good use of this.

“Very good, Sislia. You must believe that Dawn is always with you.”

***

Receiving Lu Ming’s recognition and encouragement, Sislia felt an indescribable surge of emotion in her heart.

It felt as though she’d received guidance from the Dawn Goddess herself.

But that kind of excitement was somehow different.

Could this be what Annie called… the feeling of a heart moved?

Sislia’s eyes widened in shock, her face blushing furiously, and she hurriedly faked a cough to cover the redness.

How could I possibly have feelings for Her Highness the Goddess?

Both of us are women…

But that wasn’t the point—Her Highness is my Lord’s close friend, so what am I even thinking?

To defile Her Highness would be to defile the Dawn Goddess herself…

Sislia couldn’t accept it for a moment. She felt a sense of betrayal, as if she were betraying the Dawn Goddess.

Back then, she had sworn a lifelong vow to stay by the Dawn Goddess’s side.

“No, no, I need to think this through—it can’t possibly be a crush…”

***

Seeing Sislia unresponsive, Lu Ming started to ponder.

Not everyone possessed a Sequence; only when your actions and thoughts were recognized by a Sequence could you become its possessor.

You could substitute your own Sequence.

But it was difficult, requiring you to start from scratch—and your new Sequence might not even fit you as well as your original.

So Lu Ming hadn’t made Sislia do that.

Instead, he shared his divine power with her, letting her maintain the eighth-rank Acolyte of the Goddess Sequence, and do her utmost to master the Divine Authority.

To ascend as a god through Authority.

Garcia listened in silence, though she already knew about this.

And she was aware of even more secrets of this magnitude.

Yet it all still felt like a dream.

She snuck a glance at the Half-god called Zorg.

***

Garcia noticed he was completely still at the moment.

As if he had been stunned.

Garcia hummed in satisfaction at his reaction.

So it wasn’t just her—even a Half-god would be shocked by the conversation between Her Highness and Sislia.

To become a god.

Something countless people dreamed of but could never reach.

Though Garcia wanted to become a god too, she was well aware of her own limits.

***

“As long as you can pay the price, any request can be made…”

“This… this is truly fascinating. I really didn’t come here for nothing!”

Hearing Zorg’s voice trembling with suppressed excitement.

Garcia covered her mouth, watching him. Interesting?

To this strange uncle, this was merely an interesting thing?

Lu Ming was not at all surprised by Zorg’s reaction.

A Half-god surviving in the lands of evil—his mindset was indeed different from ordinary people.

Even among supernaturals, coming here would not excite most.

To ask a god for help—who knew what price you might have to pay?

***

Seeing the time was right, Lu Ming spoke in a soft voice.

“My Divine Incarnation is about to ascend as the Goddess of Fertility, but there’s still something missing.”

“I need you to gather the Elves from the Nation of Nature who have been persecuted or no longer believe in the Elf Goddess,”

“as well as the surrounding beastmen and Succubus, and bring them to the War-torn Areas of the two Empires, where the population is scarce.”

Lu Ming had named this plan “the Nation of Nature’s Abduction Plan.”

But that name was known only to himself.

***

Upon hearing this.

Sislia finally snapped back to her senses.

Her Highness wants that Incarnation to ascend as a god too!

With two divine identities—just who is Her Highness? Is she even a level higher than My Lord, a fourth-rank High God?!

But… this request, isn’t it a bit problematic?

Would the residents of the two Empires accept Elves, beastmen, and Succubus of different races?

Besides, this is a massive undertaking.

It’s practically a mass migration.

But it wasn’t impossible.

“Yes, the Church of the Dawn will do everything in its power.”

***

When Garcia heard this, although she didn’t quite understand Lu Ming’s meaning, she saw Sislia agree.

So she hurriedly nodded too.

“I’ll definitely tell my father!”

Clinging to Her Highness’s leg—there’s no way that can go wrong.

Dad, with a daughter like me, you should count yourself lucky!

***

Zorg suddenly burst out laughing, looking extremely excited.

He stood and knelt on one knee before Lu Ming, speaking elegantly.

“Beautiful Lady, your request is most intriguing. I will do my utmost.”

To help a god’s Incarnation ascend—just thinking about it thrilled him.

This was far more exciting than being chased by ancient evil beings or hunting church supernaturals.

Zorg reached out his hand toward Lu Ming, as if wanting to kiss it.

But Sislia instantly stood up and blocked his path, staring at him expressionlessly.

“Her Highness does not like such courtesies.”

Zorg shook his head helplessly. “Very well, Your Holiness.”

But he didn’t mind.

The reason he remained in the land of evil.