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Shock. Numbness.
The storm of emotions in their hearts refused to settle.
God.
A god.
For the first time, as mortals, they began to grasp the weight of that word.
This was no mere powerful creature. Not some individual with world-shattering strength. It was something far beyond comprehension, a being of a higher dimension, something ordinary humans couldn't even begin to understand.
"I'll need some time to recover. Don't disturb me unless it's absolutely necessary," Badel's voice broke through their daze.
By the time they blinked, he had vanished again, leaving no trace, as if he had never been there at all.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I swear no one will disturb you," Trump said, his tone far more serious—almost reverent—than before.
"Mm," came a faint acknowledgment.
Then, another voice cut in.
"One more thing. Although I've dealt with that guy, the divine revelations remain unchanged. He may have left other contingencies, so check again."
Trump's expression darkened immediately.
Ivanka's eyes widened as her awareness sharpened. She knew part of the reason this figure had descended—something about those divine revelations.
"Father…" she began.
Trump raised a finger to stop her, and she fell silent. Following his lead, the father and daughter left, one after the other.
Once they were far enough away, Trump spoke with unprecedented seriousness. "Ivanka, my finest daughter, there's no need to tell me the task that has been assigned to you. From now on, the entire Trump family, all our influence—you control it. Make everything perfect."
Ivanka met his solemn gaze and nodded gravely.
As she turned to leave, Trump added suddenly, "Ivanka… spend more time with that one from now on."
Her steps paused for half a second, then she continued walking.
Trump smiled in satisfaction. He knew his most precious gem had understood his intent.
He had once considered using her, the most beautiful and valued of the Trump family, to make contact with a god. But now he had changed his mind.
The revelations Badel had shared were terrifying.
Demigods already commanded countless worlds. How much greater must the gods be, ruling over entire universes?
For such a being, a mere mortal woman would be like dust.
Instead of chasing the impossible, it was far more practical—and the only option they could currently reach—to attach themselves to an apostle. A god's messenger, already a first-tier superhuman, with the potential to one day become a demigod. Now that was a prize worth holding.
Meanwhile, Badel watched the scene unfold on the glowing screen before him. Trump and Ivanka's conversation played out clearly.
A faint curve of a smile flickered across Badel's lips.
"Got them," he murmured.
The reason he had revealed so much, shared so many mysterious details, was partly to deepen their awe of the gods. Respect for a god naturally extended to him, their 'messenger of the divine.'
But that wasn't the main goal. The real purpose was to spread fragments of this mysterious knowledge through Trump, letting it ripple through the upper echelons of power.
Once desire was sparked, the next steps would unfold naturally.
"Humans fear power but not virtue. That battle… yes, it made some cautious, but it didn't make them truly afraid. After all, they didn't experience it firsthand."
Badel's gaze shifted, piercing the distance.
Nearby, not far from the battlefield between the god and the demon, three boys had gathered in a school.
Timid Andrew, cheerful Matt, and an unknown black teenager.
The black teenager spoke first, lowering his voice. "Guys… you've heard about the fight between the god and the demon, right?"
Matt's interest peaked immediately. "Of course! My God… I even saw some footage. It was terrifying! I never imagined such beings existed in our world!"
Andrew perked up, too, listening carefully even though he said nothing.
The black teenager's voice dropped lower. "Look, I'll be honest. I saw even more. After the battle, something flew off toward the mountains."
"So… guys, wanna come treasure-hunting with me?"
"This could be… something connected to a god!"
He intentionally avoided mentioning the demon.
The other two's eyes widened instantly.
Words on a page didn't matter; their attention was seized by god, treasure, and the extraordinary.
As typical curious, thrill-seeking teenagers, who could resist the lure of the extraordinary? Their breaths quickened.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Count me in!" Even the usually reserved Andrew chimed in.
The three could no longer contain their excitement and set off to hunt the treasure.
Back at the Lakeview Estate, Badel watched this unfold on the screen, smiling faintly.
"The show begins."
With a flick of his hand, a massive chunk of super-energy crystal appeared in his grasp.
"Time to start absorbing its power."
He was preparing for an even grander spectacle. With his current strength, he knew it still might not be enough.
"....."