Chapter 169: A Milestone Event for the Interconnected Bank

Chapter 169: A Milestone Event for the Interconnected Bank

"Veronica, the Grassland Barbarians have already breached the Hariman Mountains! If you refuse to send reinforcements, don’t blame me for abandoning the entire defense line!"

In the Greg Cathedral, the Dark Night God Conner slammed his fist on the table in fury.

Yet the gods of the Kaman Union remained indifferent.

"Conner, don’t forget our agreement! What, you only want the benefits but none of the responsibilities?" The Wisdom Goddess Veronica sneered mockingly.

The Grassland Barbarians mentioned by the Dark Night God Conner were none other than the Grassland Tribes of the North Ai Grassland, located in the northeastern region of the Azarea Continent.

Situated precisely between the Snow Region Tribes and the Kaman Union, they were ruled by the Grassland God.

The Kaman gods had permitted the Dark Night God to preach in the Kaman Union with the explicit purpose of using the Land of Eternal Night to contain the Grassland Tribes.

That is, if the Grassland Tribes ever launched an attack on the Kaman Union, the Hariman Preaching Zone under the Dark Night God’s control would bear the brunt of it.

To protect the Hariman Preaching Zone, the Land of Eternal Night, ruled by the Dark Night God, would inevitably exploit its geographical advantage to launch harassing attacks from the rear of the Grassland Tribes, thereby achieving a containment effect.

"Don’t play dumb with me! My Ron preaching zone is under attack—where am I supposed to find the strength to contain the Grassland God? I warn you, if Hariman collapses, none of you will escape unscathed!" The Dark Night God was visibly frantic.

"Conner, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but you know my preaching zone is also under threat. I simply can’t spare any forces!"

The Goddess of Luck spread her hands, feigning helplessness.

The other gods chimed in as well, each citing their own difficulties.

For a moment, the Dark Night God Conner’s expression grew increasingly grim.

When the God of Death attacked Keville, the Kaman gods had clapped their hands in delight, calling it a case of "dogs biting dogs."

No one had expected that the Four Pillar Gods would suddenly launch a fierce assault on the God of Death, not only lifting the siege on Keville but also triggering a chain reaction that plunged the multiverse into chaos.

It had to be understood that ever since the Five Great Righteous Gods formed their Binding, the five deities had maintained an expansionist momentum, encroaching upon the multiverse.

The other gods had no choice but to adopt a passive defensive stance.

Now that the five gods were embroiled in internal strife, the previously suppressed deities naturally seized the opportunity to expand their preaching zones, all vying for an advantage in the unfolding situation.

For a time, the multiverse descended into utter madness.

The Dark Night God’s preaching zone in the Ron domain had even come under attack because of this, forcing him to divert forces to defend it.

Clearly, this assault had been deliberate.

No sooner had he redeployed his troops than the Grassland God launched an offensive, catching him completely off guard.

It wasn’t that he lacked forces in the Land of Eternal Night, but he dared not withdraw them, uncertain whether this was a ploy to lure him into weakening his defenses.

The chaotic situation had even robbed him—a being who had lived for millennia—of his ability to judge clearly.

Because the gods were simply too deceitful.

Today’s ally could easily become tomorrow’s enemy—such was the norm.

"Fine! Since none of you are willing to lift a finger, I’ll have no choice but to abandon the Hariman defense line!" The Dark Night God resorted to threats.

"Oh? Then go ahead and abandon it!" The Wisdom Goddess remained as indifferent as ever.

If the defense line were abandoned, the Kaman Union would suffer, but the one to suffer the most would always be the Dark Night God.

After all, the Grassland Barbarians were utterly despicable.

Once they're allowed in, they'll sweep through like locusts, leaving not even a single nail behind.

After this battle, even if Hariman manages to hold onto its core cities, it will be crippled for the future.

Of course, the gods of the Kaman Union aren’t turning a blind eye—it’s just that, given the current situation, they truly can’t spare any forces.

After all, the Keville Empire, with its vast military strength, has remained completely inactive.

Who’s to say the Grassland God’s attack on Hariman wasn’t prearranged with the Internet God, preparing for a pincer attack to carve up the Kaman Union?

"Hmm?"

The Wisdom Goddess suddenly turned her head toward the conference room door.

Knock! Knock!

A knocking sound echoed from the door.

"Your Grace, an envoy from the Internet God seeks an audience!" A preacher’s voice reported from outside.

The gods of the Kaman Union couldn’t help but exchange glances.

"Grant him entry," the Wisdom Goddess said, narrowing her eyes.

Creak!

With the sound of the door opening, a middle-aged mage strode confidently into the room.

Upon seeing the assembled gods, his pupils contracted slightly, but he maintained a smile as he placed a hand over his chest and bowed.

"Detwe, envoy of the Internet God, greets Her Grace the Wisdom Goddess, Her Grace the Goddess of Luck, Her Grace the Goddess of Pleasure, His Grace the God of Dark Night, and His Grace the God of Fear!"

The previously noisy gods of the Kaman Union now stared at Detwe with expressionless faces.

The Wisdom Goddess spoke with icy calm. "Instead of seizing the opportunity to attack the God of Death, the Internet God sent you here. What for?"

"The great Internet God, in his boundless mercy and compassion, has dispatched me to alleviate your troubles!" Detwe replied with a smile.

"Alleviate our troubles? Hahaha..." The Wisdom Goddess widened her eyes before bursting into mocking laughter.

The other gods of the Kaman Union wore expressions of disgust and scorn.

How shameless can the Internet God be, daring to say such things?

Detwe remained unruffled, smiling as the gods laughed, his eyes even carrying a trace of disdain.

"Oh? I’d like to hear how the Internet God plans to 'alleviate our troubles,'" the God of Dark Night interjected, intrigued.

Whether this was genuine or a scheme, listening wouldn’t hurt.

"The great Internet God, deeply concerned by the Grassland Barbarians’ assault on your nation, has opened the Faction System. By paying a negligible amount of Source Essence, mana, or even just a little gold, you can hire the Fourth Calamity—or even mages from the Keville Empire—to fight for you."

"What?" The gods of the Kaman Union were stunned.

Frowning instinctively, they each manipulated their Ghost puppets to log in and verify.

What they saw left them shaken, their faces filled with disbelief.

The God of Dark Night fixed Detwe with a piercing stare. "Gold can be used too?"

"Of course! However, you must permit the Interconnected Bank to establish branches within your preaching zones."

"Ha! How is that any different from building a Church?" the Wisdom Goddess sneered.

"There’s a crucial difference—the great Internet God will never preach. Bank branches are merely for facilitating cash transactions!"

"Is the Internet God taking us for fools?" the God of Fear rasped, his voice hoarse.

"For the great Internet God, the internet itself is the Church. What need is there to establish physical churches?" Detwe stated with calm composure, revealing a terrifying truth.

As his words fell, the gods of the Kaman Union unexpectedly fell silent.

The atmosphere in the room grew unbearably oppressive.

The Kaman gods exchanged glances, as if engaged in silent communication.

Detwe pondered for a moment before lowering his voice. "Allow me to share some unfortunate news—the Grassland God has just decided to officially hire the Fourth Calamity."

"What did you say?" The Kaman gods were aghast.

"Is the Internet God toying with us?" The God of Dark Night roared in fury. The once bright and clear meeting room plunged into darkness, so thick that not even a hand could be seen.

Within the darkness, something dreadful seemed to fix its gaze upon Detwe.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Detwe could even feel a hot, foul breath against his face—the stench of death!

His smile stiffened. Reason forced him to suppress the magical fluctuations in his body.

He knew all too well that his magical prowess was insignificant before the gods.

Now, it was a matter of whether they dared risk offending the Internet God by killing him.

Detwe gambled that they wouldn’t.

"Fine! Fine! Very well! If it's about establishing bank branches, then can they also be outside the city?" The God of Dark Night sneered in frustration, his voice echoing from all directions in the darkness.

"Of course! However, they must not be more than thirty kilometers from the city."

"Excellent. It is permitted!"

The God of Dark Night’s voice was domineering, but in truth, he was swallowing his rage like broken teeth.

The darkness in the meeting room gradually receded.

The expressions of the gods remained unsettled.

"This is a wise decision." Detwe felt a flicker of satisfaction and once again placed a hand over his chest, bowing slightly.

After leaving the necessary contact details, he turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, the Wisdom Goddess suddenly called out to him.

"Wait!"

Detwe immediately halted, turning back with a respectful hand-over-chest bow, his expression attentive.

"I’m quite curious—what did the Internet God use to persuade the Four Pillar Gods to launch an attack against the God of Death?"