As the "Hidden Sage" and Amon disappeared one after another, the information they had sealed also became clear again and was easily "cognized" by Ebner.
This had been a long-planned surprise attack!
Back then, after the "King of Dragons," the ancient god Ankewelt, cooperated with the "Hidden Sage" and made use of Ebner to break Yaloran's "hidden" town—only for the attempt to be thwarted by the Goddess's power—the latter had noticed Ebner's special status in the Goddess's heart. Thus, He conceived the idea of using Ebner as leverage to exchange for the "Knowledge Emperor" characteristic in Yaloran's possession and complete the final piece needed for godhood.
This time, it had been Him manipulating "information" from behind the scenes, preventing Ebner and the many gods backing him from noticing anything. Amon acted as the intermediary, connecting the Rose School of Thought and the Demoness Sect—both of which had suffered losses at Ebner's hands—and then, using the truth He had glimpsed about the "artificial Death God" as payment, drew in an angel of the Numinous Episcopate…
Then, taking advantage of the great battle at Indho Port, where the God of Combat and the Lord of Storms restrained each other, the Earth Mother and the God of Knowledge and Wisdom confronted one another, and the Goddess was "digesting" Death's uniqueness and unable to spare attention, He used a trap that looked crude and not particularly high-level to lure Ebner over.
This setup had been formulated based on Amon's recent understanding of many of Ebner's habits through "decryption." It could not be said to have a one-hundred-percent success rate, but with six or seven tenths confidence, it was naturally worth a try—after all, He would lose nothing.
If not for the fact that the "Hidden Sage" did not wish to offend Ebner too deeply, nor to excessively provoke the gods behind him, and that in places like Backlund and Trier it was inconvenient for Suah and the angel of the Numinous Episcopate to make a move, there were actually several targets far more suitable than Tracy…
In the end, the "Hidden Sage's" plan was smoothly completed. The Goddess "had no choice" but to let Yaloran hand over the characteristic in exchange for Ebner's freedom.
And Amon did not lose out either. He had probably already realized that the strength backing His competitor for the "Lord of Mysteries" was far too great, so He wanted to use this to make the "Hidden Sage" owe Him a favor, to be repaid in the future?
As for the "Abyss"… He had likely blocked the "God of Steam and Machinery's" attempt to rescue me simply to avenge what had happened before in Trier.
It was just unclear what Suah and the Demoness Sect had gained from this incident… Could it be that they had been sold out by Amon and the "Hidden Sage"?
As his thoughts turned, Ebner had already sensed Suah's irritable emotions after Amon and the "Hidden Sage" withdrew one after another, as well as the brief moment of astonishment from the "Saintess of Gray" within the mirror world.
As for the angel of the Numinous Episcopate, since it had only descended through power, withdrawing was naturally much easier. By now, the huge vortex on the sea surface had already vanished, and "Rose" had also taken the opportunity to return to Ebner's side.
"So that's how it is… I more or less understand the whole chain of cause and effect now…" Ebner nodded slightly. Then, after closing the "Pure White Eye," and following some of the lines of thought from when he had previously summoned the projection of the Goddess's vessel, he pondered inwardly:
I guess that although this attack on me was, on the surface, driven by Amon and the "Hidden Sage," behind the scenes it was very likely the result of the Goddess guiding events according to the situation.
After all, others might not know that the Goddess was merely pretending to be unable to spare attention—but how could I not know?
Since even when I was in such danger, the Goddess remained calm, that means everything was actually within Her plan.
In the Kabas Nightmare Town, it would have been impossible for the Goddess not to know that His relationship with me would be discovered by the "Hidden Sage." Since She did not deliberately "conceal" it, that in itself indicates a major problem.
I might overlook things, but the Goddess absolutely would not!
Most likely, She already had a scheme in mind back then!
Tsk… That trip to Kabas Nightmare Town—where the Goddess not only conspired with Adam to take down the "King of Dragons," letting the latter be replaced, but also guided the "Hidden Sage" along the way… That level of calculation was truly impressive!
Moreover, as a partner, Adam very likely took part as well… The reason I personally came in my true body to rescue Tracy was, first, indeed due to my habitual temperament; second, because I had just gone through a major event and inevitably relaxed somewhat mentally; and third, because of my trust in the "Cognizer" ability, as well as my confidence in my backing and various hidden contingencies, which made me act a bit too recklessly;
And lastly, it was very likely that Adam made "reasonable" "arrangements" precisely targeting these habits of mine…
After reflecting on his own "bad habits," Ebner dismissed both Lilith's and Tamara's projections while continuing to think:
As for the Goddess's objectives, I can think of roughly five points.
First, the Goddess took the opportunity to demonstrate the fact that She truly could not make a move!
After all, even when I was in danger, She could not spare attention, which naturally meant She really was at a critical juncture in accommodating Death's uniqueness…
At the very least, regardless of whether the God of Combat believed it or not, He would have no choice but to accelerate preparations for the divine war.
Second, it was to distract Suah at the critical moment when he was digesting what the "Chained God" had left behind, causing him to "just happen" to overlook certain minor problems within the "Chained God's" body… such as the soul stone of "Daniel" contained within "1-025," as well as the "unknown" contamination.
This should have been part of the so-called "Silver Moon Plan"… Although with "my" arrangements, even if Suah carefully investigated, he might not have discovered them anyway… still, this divine stroke only made things even safer.
Third, by using Amon to draw out the angel of the Numinous Episcopate from the artificial Death God faction, it confirmed the exact location of His mausoleum…
The next step would likely be for the "Pale Empress," Sia Palenque Eggers, to come knocking and clean house!
Fourth, it was probably a scheme aimed at the "Primordial Demoness," Cheek…
Previously, before I went to explore the "Ghost Empire," Vera gave me a ring, saying it was to investigate where the endpoint of the "Ghost Empire" lay… But the final result showed that it was the divine kingdom of the "Night Emperor," a leakage point of the Sefirot "Nation of Disorder," and also the place where Cheek lay dormant!
And just now, when I pulled out Vera's former self, Leticia Tamara, she did not descend… In other words, she very likely took advantage of the moment when the "Saintess of Gray" borrowed Cheek's power to do something else…
Fifth—and most crucial of all…
I suspect that the "Knowledge Emperor" characteristic Yaloran obtained from Roselle through a trade very likely has a problem… That might have been something the Goddess deliberately wanted to give to the "Hidden Sage"…
In a way He would absolutely never suspect!
Heh, yes… Who would have thought that something one obtained through painstaking effort and countless schemes would turn out to be a "pit" someone else had dug long ago?
Still, this method actually feels more like the conspiracy of the "Seal of Catastrophe"… Perhaps the Goddess felt it was beneficial to me and simply took advantage of it.
(End of chapter)