The younger brother next to him hesitated for a moment, feeling a pang of fear for some reason, and whispered to the boss, "Why don't we retreat?"
At Erica's screams, the leading Beta felt a chill run down his spine, but he refused to give in. He forced himself to glare and say, "So my brother deserves to be bullied?! He's just an Omega, and he dares to show off his knowledge in front of an Alpha... Everyone knows Erica never went to school, so where did she learn all that? Maybe the evil god taught her!"
I was embarrassed to say that his claim of an evil god and then his denial of its existence was completely contradictory, so I could only find another way to deal with it. "So, we can report this matter directly to the Church. If we catch the heretic and send him to the federal court for trial, we might even get a reward of several thousand star coins."
The bounty doesn't matter.
But the younger brother gave a perfect reason, allowing the boss to retreat strategically. He couldn't help but praise: "You are really a little genius." Then he decisively led a group of gangsters out of the alley.
They weren't worried about Catherine and Erica calling the police. Seventy or eighty years ago, Port Alplai was a desolate and impoverished city, its government established solely to accommodate the later influx of migrants from the capital and other major cities. With regard to these indigenous people, who lacked means of livelihood and spending power, and who were causing some degree of social unrest, the administrators always adopted a principle of "mind your own business" and would not intervene unless matters became serious.
After they left, Catherine ignored the pain in her arm and hugged Erica tightly. She stroked the child's back and said with a mixture of sorrow and relief, "Erica, Erica, don't be afraid. It's okay! You've scared them away!"
Erica trembled in her warm and strong arms, her lifeless eyes fixed on a point in the void, and gradually calmed down as Catherine comforted her.
But she still silently repeated the name: "——"
God.
God, it turns out the elders didn't deceive me. You are real, sublime. It's just that others cannot see, hear, or perceive your teachings, and in their blindness, they even doubt your existence. They are a group of pitiful people, blinded by foolish and ignorant fantasies. Only I, amidst this chaos, have seen your true face.
—Oh God, I will forever believe in you and devoutly offer you everything I have. I pray that you will protect us, help us, and let your glory spread to Port Alple and even the entire Federation!
The eight-year-old Omega girl, who had just gone through her first phase of gender differentiation, reached out and hugged Catherine, revealing a genuine smile. "I'm fine! Thank God, I'm so glad to be saved, Teacher Catherine!"
**
Igor had been planning to go out and buy a new mobile device. His mecha, unloaded from the spaceship, was still stored in a warehouse near the customs office. His left leg prosthesis also needed regular maintenance. In short, there were countless things to do, and the former federal marshal was, as always, a very busy man.
Even so, Azathoth was always placed in his most important position. Whenever the evil god lost his focus and became distracted for a moment, Igor would immediately ask, "Are you okay?"
"Hmm." Azathoth didn't know how to describe this feeling. It was like you had filled your stomach and didn't want to eat anything, but an experienced chef brought you a dish of overly delicious dessert that was just for your taste. It wasn't until he had finished the delicious food that Azathoth realized what he had just done.
Erica Bacon.
This little believer who had just reported to the evil god in person had a name that sounded delicious.
Azathoth thought for a moment and replied, "You may soon have a half-sister."
Igor: “……?”
Hugo, who was standing by, directed his spider robot to navigate the sea of people and unobtrusively enter the hotel to reunite with his terminal. He recounted the results of his earlier observations. He could have projected them directly onto the big screen, but neither Igor nor Azathoth were interested. The chatty android could only entertain himself in solitude.
"Do you know why they fought?"
"At first, it was just a verbal exchange, but the outsider refused to offer a sincere apology, and the elderly human wasn't the first to bow. Then, the male Omega threatened to report the evil gods and heretics to the church in Port Alple. Upon hearing this, the old woman turned and tried to run. The Alpha pulled her back, but the other turned around and bit him, ripping his arm..."
Hugo's verbal skills were practically nonexistent compared to his talent for science and engineering. After this rambling account concluded, Igor, putting on his shoes and preparing to leave, casually explained, "Those who believe in cults are subject to federal criminal penalties. The minimum is fifteen days in detention, and those who actively promote and spread cults, with serious consequences, have previously received sentences of up to ten years in prison."
"But that was a long time ago. The relationship between the Federation and the Church isn't as close as it once was, and the censorship and management in this area is much weaker than before. That's why the number of pagans in Port Alplai remains high."
Azathoth thought of Erica: "What would happen if I was reported now."
Igor thought for a moment: "Detained for two or three days for disturbing public order?"
That should be fine. Azathoth temporarily diverted his attention: "I'm going out too. Is there any natural sea area or swimming pool nearby?"
“…”
Port Alpre was a tourist town, naturally boasting highly developed beaches and resort islands. But Igor had never imagined he'd one day be so wealthy and so high-profile as to rent out an entire island for half a month. Fortunately, he'd saved enough money to transfer it to his bank account before fleeing to repair his mecha.
He did not show up when the order was placed, but made the appointment directly on Star Online, and also made a special note to give all staff a holiday.
Thus, this resort island, 700 kilometers from the human settlement, temporarily became the private property of Azathoth. While Igor was busy, Hugo blocked the orbiting satellites' gaze, and the god and the machine seemed to have returned to their life of recuperation on the desolate planet. However, the ocean on the planet where Alpre Harbor was located was not as vast as that of the desolate planet, and its depth was extremely limited. Therefore, if a human ship accidentally drifted onto the island at this time, it would likely leave a lasting psychological trauma on the crew.
——Azathoth's body sank to the bottom of the sea, but its tentacles were still faintly visible on the water surface. They swayed left and right with the waves like seaweed, stretching leisurely, and from time to time they crawled onto the beach on the island to bask in the sun.
Or if there is a drone shooting from the air at this time, you will find that the island covered with green plants looks like a matcha bread hugged by a tentacle monster hidden in the water, looking weak, pitiful and helpless.
A week later, Igor Sullivan, who had basically solved his identity problem and ensured his safety in the short term, used some means to disguise himself as a pot-bellied wealthy businessman. He personally flew a small helicopter over the ocean and saw the resort island tightly wrapped by octopus legs at a glance.
He sincerely said "thank you for your hard work" to the creatures on the island. After landing, he told Azathoth, who had transformed back into human form and come ashore, "I'm afraid we'll have to return to the city earlier than expected. The broadcaster sent by the Federation capital has arrived at Port Alple. The city will be under high security for the next few days. Most entertainment facilities will have dedicated management personnel to oversee them, and this island will also be under surveillance."
Azathoth took off his hood, a rare sight. His half-long black hair hung wetly by his ears, dampening the aura that made strangers shun him. Hearing this, he nodded casually, "Okay, let's go."
Igor has discovered during this period that Azathoth is actually much easier to talk to than he appears.
As long as it was not a matter of principle (such as rushing into a crowded supermarket to buy things during a sale), Azathoth never refused Igor's many requests that were a bit rude to the gods.
Even though he repeatedly reminded himself to maintain a certain degree of reverence for the evil god before him, his body had its own thoughts. Before his mind could react, Igor had already rubbed the towel on Azathoth's head and even handed him a genuine matcha cake. He asked respectfully but casually, "Would you like to try some? This is a pastry from a very famous shop in Port Alpre."
This was the first time Azathoth had tried human food.
He was not hungry and had no interest in the food. He looked at the palm-sized cake in his hand suspiciously for a long time before picking up a piece and putting it into his mouth.
"good."
After chewing and swallowing, Azathoth thought for a moment and commented, "I don't think it's as delicious as the ones you made on the spaceship."
Before they arrived in the Federation aboard the 7592E spacecraft, Igor and the twenty-two Omegas aboard needed daily food intake to provide energy. Igor opened the bags of compressed food on the mech and placed them at the cargo hold door, then took ingredients from the spacecraft's onboard kitchen and cooked his own meal.
Although Azathoth had never tasted the food, Igor at that time did not dare to boldly deliver the food to Azathoth, but he felt that based on the smell alone, the food made by his followers was more attractive.
Igor was slightly startled. Although he had a stern face, a hint of smile appeared in his eyes. "Actually, I'm not very good at cooking... Well, at least no one has ever said that they are better than the cakes in the dessert shop. But if you want to taste them, I'm always willing to try them."
He raised his hand to push the gray hair behind his ears, and took Azathoth and Hugo back to the helicopter.
**
At this time, the customs office of the capital planet is traveling to and from the port of Yarple.
Benson Peters, the male Alpha who had clashed with the locals when Azathoth and his companions first arrived at Port Alpre, kept looking down at his mobile device to check the time. He asked anxiously, "Why haven't they arrived yet? Wasn't the ship scheduled for 2 PM?"
"Don't worry," his Omega companion Noyce said idly, scrolling through his mobile device. "Maybe there was an accident, causing the ship to be delayed. It's peak tourist season in Port Alplai, so the port is crowded with ships, so delays are normal."
"I was thinking, if we'd known the ship would be late, we should have finished today's work before picking them up," Benson said anxiously, a hint of complaint in his tone. "You shouldn't have argued with that old lady before. What good would it do to give in to a country bumpkin who knows nothing? Now they've memorized our faces and are hiding whenever they see us. We can't get our investigation going at all. What are we going to say when the people from headquarters come and question us?"
"...Is this my fault?" Noyce raised his eyes and glared at him. "Didn't you complain on the way over about how uncomfortable it was to work in the countryside and how your boss promoted someone else over you? If I hadn't been a trash can for over thirty hours, I wouldn't have lost my temper."
"I just..."
The port announcement suddenly announced the arrival of the station, interrupting Benson's defense. He paused for a moment, then wiped his face. "Forget it, I won't argue with you, an Omega. Let's pick up the people from headquarters first."
Twenty minutes later, a man in a suit and tie, wearing a retro-style bowler hat and carrying a boxy suitcase, emerged from the customs checkpoint. His light gray eyes scanned the area, landing on Benson and Noyce. Then, striding over, he tipped his hat and saluted. "Hello, I'm Ford Hill, from the capital."
After standing up, he asked directly, "What have you discovered in Port Alple these past few days? Are there any signs related to the existence of the evil god?"
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