"I'll try to contact them, but I can't guarantee results." Klein said quickly, stating the truth.
Though the Tarot Club had Derrick, he was just an ordinary citizen of City of Silver. Whether he could connect with the city's higher-ups was uncertain.
"You're putting in quite the effort. Not thinking of asking for some reward? You're at least a middleman here." Alaric said, glancing at Klein, unsurprised by his response.
"Well, a reward would be nice... I'm pretty broke lately…" Klein gave an embarrassed smile, then added sincerely, "But even without a reward, if we can save City of Silver and help you out, Mr. Lucifer, that's a good outcome for me. I'm not really doing much, and if everyone's happy, what's wrong with that?"
"Has anyone ever told you your personality leans toward extreme selflessness?" Alaric studied Klein. He'd long noticed their differences... almost like two sides of a coin. Alaric acted on his whims, driven by personal enjoyment, uncaring if his actions caused disaster, though he usually avoided going that far. Klein, on the other hand, would never pursue something beneficial if it led to catastrophe.
"I don't think I'm that selfless." Klein said, shaking his head. "I have my own selfish desires. I only help others when it's within my ability."
Alaric didn't argue, just gave him a deep look and smiled. "You can tell them Lucifer is your angel."
Klein blinked, caught off guard.
"Faith isn't mutually exclusive. I'm just a humble Sequence 2, and I don't mind being a minor angel under the great Lord of the Spirit World." Alaric said with a grin, speaking slowly. "This is also to prepare you for the future. You haven't completely abandoned that path, so you'll need followers ready. Otherwise, when you ascend to Angel, you'll be in for a rough time."
Klein froze, then looked at Alaric with surprise, pursing his lips. "Thank you, Mr. Lucifer."
Alaric accepted the gratitude calmly, his thoughts turning to City of Silver. The colonial issues weren't resolved yet, so opening the seal to let City of Silver's people out now wasn't feasible... there'd be nowhere to settle them. Changing the environment around City of Silver seemed the better option. The Ancient Sun God could probably handle that, right?
Alaric decided to ask The Ancient Sun God later. As for why he'd set his sights on City of Silver, the answer was obvious: to turn "Lucifer" from fiction to reality. City of Silver's population wasn't large, but their devotion ran deep, making them prime candidates for "fervent devotees."
"The only issue is that opening the seal was supposed to be Klein's Miracle Invoker ritual. But then again, to ascend as a Miracle Invoker, you just need to bring a lost piece of history back to the present. A revolution should count, shouldn't it?" Alaric glanced at Klein, who shivered under the gaze, then smiled. "Put some effort into the revolution. Trust me, it'll do you good."
Klein gave him a puzzled look but nodded quickly. Though he didn't fully grasp why "Lucifer" Said this, as someone with a strong sense of justice, he was already invested in the cause... especially after earning a Marionettist characteristic by writing for Medici.
…
"Greetings again, Mr. Grisha."
Since he needed to discuss City of Silver, Alaric didn't delay. Two days later, he summoned the Ancient Sun God again.
"Greetings, Mr. Alaric." The Ancient Sun God replied with a smile, then noticed the stack of photos in Alaric's hand. "What are those?"
"You remember City of Silver?" Alaric got straight to the point, holding photos of City of Silver... courtesy of Derrick.
"City of Silver? I recall them…" The Ancient Sun God had some recollection, though, at this point, City of Silver was likely just one of many city-states loyal to him.
"This is City of Silver now." Alaric said, handing over the photos.
The Ancient Sun God took them, flipping through each one. The more he saw, the quieter he became. After the final photo, he closed his eyes. "This is my fault."
He wasn't ignorant of the Forsaken Land of the Gods's state. After exchanging information with the True Creator, he knew his fall had devastated the Eastern Continent. But knowing was one thing... seeing the photos hit harder.
Alaric wasn't surprised. He calmly briefed The Ancient Sun God on City of Silver's current state, then said, "I'm offering you a chance to make amends. In return, they'll be under my care."
The Ancient Sun God looked at him, as if weighing something, then nodded after a few seconds. "Agreed."
Alaric raised an eyebrow, smiling. "You do realize I'm guilt-tripping you, right?"
"I know you're using my power to ease City of Silver's suffering and gain their faith." The Ancient Sun God said bluntly, his golden eyes meeting Alaric's. "But this is also a wrong I must right. They've held faith in me for over a thousand years. That's enough. I've failed them."
The Ancient Sun God closed his eyes briefly, then smiled at Alaric. "Besides, in this era, following you might be better for them than following me."
"Flatterer." Alaric said with a grin, studying The Ancient Sun God. "Do you think they can be my anchor?"
Their golden eyes locked, reflecting different shades of warmth. The Ancient Sun God didn't deny it, saying gently, "I hope they can be your anchor."
The Ancient Sun God was both kind and pragmatic. His quick agreement to work for Alaric stemmed partly from a desire to atone for City of Silver, but more so because he, more than anyone, wanted Alaric to have anchors. Without anchors or ties, Alaric was too dangerous. Emotionally, The Ancient Sun God trusted him, but rationally, he had to prioritize the world's safety.
That's why Sasrir sent Medici to work for Alaric.
That's why the Ancient Sun God chose to let City of Silver follow Alaric.
In essence, he hoped these ties would bind Alaric, keeping him from casually destroying the world.
***
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