"My current state... I plan to make a deal with the Earth Mother, and I might need your help to contact her," Solomon said. He didn't show any awkwardness about asking for help. For Solomon, cooperation and mutual assistance with Lin Ruo had long been the norm; they had gotten through the fourth epoch that way.
"The Earth Mother, huh... I can do that, but I can't guarantee she'll agree," Lin Ruo recalled the attitude the Earth Mother had displayed, nodded, and then asked with a smile, "So, is this why you specifically came to see me this time?"
"I only need your help with the contact," Solomon clearly didn't expect to achieve anything just by relying on Lin Ruo's reputation. After all, having both been a Sequence 0, how could Solomon not understand the nature of friendship among gods?
Gods certainly have emotions, and in a few cases, they might compromise their interests for the sake of emotion, but these are only rare occurrences.
For gods whose humanity is already very thin, interests are ultimately the primary consideration in most situations.
And Lin Ruo's ability to navigate among many gods and angels with ease is precisely because he understands this better than anyone else, and he has genuinely ensured that none of his friends ever lose out.
He might take advantage of you without giving anything in return, but he will definitely return the benefits obtained from that advantage in other ways later.
Regarding Lin Ruo's latter question, Solomon didn't deny it, replying, "It's only one of the reasons. More importantly, I wanted to see an old friend. After all, in this strange era... you also have a few old friends."
Waking up to a world where everything has changed, even the Earth Mother would feel a sense of melancholy.
"Hmm~ Actually, the True Creator, Ouroboros and the rest are all here. Do you want to see them? I can help you contact them."
The Earth Mother's melancholic expression immediately stiffened, and then she said, "No need, I'm not in a suitable state to see them right now. But... Klein, has he revived?"
Solomon was aware of the existence of the True Creator and Ouroboros because Nast had introduced them to him. Solomon also learned from this that the True Creator had completely degenerated into an evil god. While sighing, he also felt quite emotional.
But Klein's existence was clearly beyond the scope.
"He's sort of revived..." Byrd nodded with a smile, thinking of a certain number one tool person who was becoming increasingly useful, and his mood instantly improved a lot.
"...That's a good thing." Solomon naturally noticed Byrd's change, and not knowing what he thought of, he said with a slightly emotional tone.
Then, Solomon changed the subject and said, "I won't ask you about your current state; you always have your own ideas. Just tell me if there's anything you need my help with. After all, I owe you a life, and now I need your help to contact the Earth Mother. I don't want to drag these Blesseds until the end of the world to repay them; by then, I might owe even more." The latter part of the sentence carried a playful tone.
Given their friendship, there was no need to constantly mention the debt of gratitude, but that didn't mean Solomon could simply not repay it.
Repaying kindness and avenging wrongs has always been Solomon's principle of action. He would unhesitatingly seek Byrd's help when needed, and he would also go all out to help the other party.
"Do you know the Justiciar pathway's potion formula?" Tian Sheng didn't stand on ceremony and asked directly.
If possible, Tian Sheng still didn't want to steal the cards from the God of War.
Solomon was silent for a second, looking at Byrd with a subtle gaze, and said, "I remember you should have the formula for that pathway. After all, back then, for Alista... Have you even forgotten that?"
"...So, do you have it?" Tian Sheng continued to ask, his expression unchanged, only pausing for a suspicious two seconds before speaking.
"Unfortunately, I really don't have that one. I never thought of switching to the Justiciar pathway, so I never paid attention to the formula for that pathway. However, I do know the Justiciar's ritual for becoming a god."
Solomon shook his head. He was speaking the truth. As a Black Emperor who had never thought of changing pathways, he indeed had not paid attention to the potion formulas of neighboring Sequences. At most, out of a sense of vigilance towards adjacent pathways, he had learned about the Justiciar's ritual for becoming a god.
This wasn't carelessness; it was simply unnecessary.
"I also know the Justiciar's ritual for becoming a god." Byrd was a little disappointed, but not surprised. Realizing that the matter of stealing cards might really need to be put on the agenda, he immediately continued, "Then are you interested in investing in the Future Lord of the Mysteries?"
Solomon was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something and said, "The child next to you on the deck earlier?"
As a former Sequence 0, now a Sequence 2, and currently in a special spiritual state, similar to Klein in some ways, both maintaining certain special connections with the Spirit World, Solomon could naturally see Medici's uniqueness.
After all, Medici at this stage, to put it bluntly, was truly as bright as a light bulb in the eyes of the experts.
However, although Solomon had noticed Medici's uniqueness, he hadn't thought of the Lord of the Mysteries direction before. After all, just as Orange Light explained in the original work, Tian Sheng Lan's uniqueness, while dazzling, could have many explanations. It wasn't necessarily the owner of Sefirah Castle; it could also be a Blessed of Sefirah Castle or something.
But now, hearing Byrd say that, how could Solomon not guess the correct answer?
"That's my student, a very good child." Byrd also nodded without concealing, because this was indeed something that didn't need to be hidden from Solomon.
And for attracting investment, if the chips aren't enough, then naturally, there needs to be a bit more sincerity.
Hearing Byrd's words, Solomon, not knowing what he thought of, gave Byrd a deep look, and finally nodded slightly, saying, "I am indeed interested, but this cannot be considered help."
"It's fine if you're willing to invest. As for other things... there are some matters that might truly require your help," Byrd said after pondering for a few seconds.
...
On the deck of the Future, the atmosphere had become strange at some point.
This wasn't because Cattleya and the others had clashed with Mustang and his group; it was purely because Solomon, that genius at conversation, frequently stepped on landmines during his casual chats with Cattleya, truly achieving the feat of making awkward conversations even more awkward, causing the originally harmonious atmosphere to become strange and subtle in the end.
Just as both sides were slightly awkward, and Mustang was contemplating whether to proactively start another conversation to break the ice and liven up the atmosphere, movement finally came from inside the cabin.
Byrd and Nast Solomon reappeared one after another in the hallway, which made everyone on the deck breathe a sigh of relief.
"What's going on? Is something wrong?" Byrd could naturally feel the stiff atmosphere and immediately asked with a smile.