Feeling the nearly overflowing aura of hatred from the girl beside him, Aslan was startled.
What was wrong with Aishelia?
"Aishelia, are you alright?"
Aishelia glared at him with pure hatred and replied softly.
"I'm fine."
Yet her voice sounded strangely weak to Aslan's ears.
Sensing the reality-warping aura of hatred and her venomous gaze, Aslan stiffly changed the subject.
"By the way, it seems Leticia's auction will start soon."
But mentioning Leticia only made Aishelia hate him even more.
"I know. I'm the one sent by Lord Shiroyasha to help purchase Teacher Leticia."
Aishelia said indifferently.
Leticia had once taught her spear techniques for a period of time. So there was no issue calling Leticia "teacher".
Even if Shiroyasha hadn't sent her, she would still act out of gratitude.
But if that were the case, she could only say she'd try her best, unlike now where she was fighting with all her strength.
However, due to someone's mistake, she couldn't even fight with all her strength.
Even now, she was still struggling to find a way to cover the price difference—the gap in Divinity cost.
Originally, she planned to exchange the intact Leticia for Aslan's Authority, but now she couldn't afford her Divinity.
Time was too tight—no chance to borrow money or raise funds.
Alright, the truth was revealed.
No wonder Aishelia was so hateful—there was a financial problem.
"By the way, do you want the Demon Star?"
After exhausting all options, Aishelia finally decided to give up.
After all, she couldn't cover the price difference. The value of a Four-Digit Divinity was simply too excessive.
The starting price was one hundred million Thousand Eyes gold coins, but at an actual auction, it could rise one hundred to a thousand times higher.
There might even be transactions involving rare Gifts, Authorities, sacred weapons, or even Three-Digit God King Authorities.
A Divinity, as the highest Gift after historical modification, Another Cosmology, and Star Authority, was not something to be taken lightly.
"Demon Star? Algol?"
(No, is she serious? To cover the price difference, she's even willing to hand over Algol?)
Aslan stared at her in shock.
"Hmm."
Aishelia gave a slight nod.
After all, Algol's current state—aside from her Star Spirit immortality—had her Spirit Status and Divinity severely degraded.
Unlike the White Night Demon Lord who self-sealed into Four-Digit Shiroyasha, placing the Geocentric Theory-Primordial Star Divinity within Buddha.
Algol had suffered targeted degradation and damage by Athena, compounded by various seals and restrictions.
Thus, Algol was now reduced to a familiar that could be commanded at will. Even in the anime, when summoned by Laius, she truly transformed into an ugly monster.
Although Algol herself had done all this, even Aslan had to admit that Algol was truly pitiful.
Among the three problematic children, Algol was the most pitiful.
First, she challenged three thousand Asuras and Buddhas, then was severely weakened, demoted from Star Spirit to god. When accepted by the Greek Pantheon.
She called Athena an ugly woman, and ultimately had her head severed by Perseus, fully integrated into the Greek Pantheon worldview as Medusa.
Finally, after persistent degradation by Athena, she had poets rewrite the Algol legacy.
And with various seals, she eventually became a familiar who couldn't even maintain her intelligence.
How could she be so pitiful?
"It seems the value of this Authority is slightly beyond my expectations."
Aslan stroked his chin in thought. Should he accept Algol?
After all, Aslan also knew Algol's extremely arrogant and problematic personality.
If he took her, he'd gain an existence that was once among the top Three-Digits.
Even if used only as a familiar, when he reached Four-Digit, wouldn't he have a powerful Four-Digit familiar?
Yet in the original work, Algol seemed quite reasonable to talk to, even regaining her Three-Digit power.
It seemed she released some seals to face Aži Dahāka.
Aishelia wasn't lying—Algol could indeed cover the value of a Four-Digit Divinity.
"Alright, I have no problem. But, won't you or Lady Athena ask for her back?"
Aslan raised his head, looked directly at Aishelia, and asked.
This was his main concern. If after obtaining Algol, he'd still be restricted by Athena, better not to take this Demon Star.
"No, Lady Athena has already agreed that we can do whatever we want with Demon Star Algol."
As Aishelia said, currently Athena was casually drinking tea. Her attitude toward Algol was one of complete indifference.
After all, years had passed, and Algol was now reduced to a familiar and monster.
Why should she care about Algol? Why care about someone who could never rise again in this lifetime?
If not for Algol being a Star Spirit, she'd have died countless times.
As for Algol's chance of revival... it could be said to be extremely slim, almost impossible.
At minimum, she'd have to confront three major forces: herself, the Greek Pantheon, the Christian Pantheon, and the Buddhists, before she could return and rise again.
This difficulty was easier than becoming the Greek God King and reaching Two-Digit.
So Athena didn't care about Algol—she even highly valued Aishelia's actions.
"In that case, I have no problem."
Aslan nodded. If Athena didn't care, then he could be at ease.
"Then, best of luck in our cooperation."
"Best of luck in our cooperation."
Finally, with a handshake between Aslan and Aishelia, this dirty human-trade transaction ended.
Both parties were highly satisfied with this deal, with no objections.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Finally, Aslan and Aishelia happily walked together toward the auction booth, ready to participate in the final bidding for Leticia.
"By the way, Aishelia, how much money have you prepared?"
"I took a temporary loan and only managed to get around one billion plus Thousand Eyes gold coins. Though not much, it's more than enough to buy Teacher Leticia who has lost her Divinity."
Aishelia brushed the hair near her ear, sat down, and spoke confidently.
Although she'd already informed Shiroyasha, and many other buyers wouldn't risk offending Shiroyasha, a true Floor Master, to compete for Leticia.
But better safe than sorry.
This was Athena's teaching to her.
Additionally, regarding why a Four-Digit Divinity could be sold for a Three-Digit Authority.
A Divinity was created by cutting a portion from someone's Divinity or Spirit Status. It was recognition from high-level gods or buddhas, and the highest Gift that wouldn't affect growth potential.
Even when Shiroyasha gave Divinities to Shirayukihime and Aslan, she gave Five-Digit Divinities. If she gave a Four-Digit Divinity, she'd also feel pain.
Whereas Authorities and Gifts were simply things made from insight and knowledge. They could even be mass-produced. It was just costly and somewhat troublesome.
A Divinity could be used immediately, while Authorities and Gifts needed absorption.
Like the Kasukabe Yo Genome Tree—it was a sacred weapon carved by Kasukabe Koumei, containing complete Authorities.
Koumei, as an exceptional Four-Digit, had integrated Gifts into his Divinity, perfected them into Gifts, and Gifts into Authorities.