Chapter 258: The Essence of the Twin Goddesses' Sacrifice is Arrogance
Strictly speaking, the Twin Goddesses are descendants of the winged race in the world of Ys, a long-lived species that has mastered advanced powers and technology, and are not true gods in the traditional sense.
However, as the only two beings capable of communicating with and manipulating the Black Pearl, they fostered the prosperity and flourishing of the Kingdom of Ys and became objects of worship for humans. Naturally, they also gained some slightly special privileges.
For example, when someone calls their names directly, they can perceive it to a certain extent and know the content, which usually occurs in people's prayers.
But when they entered the Black Tower, created from the magical residue of the Black Pearl mixed with human negative emotions, the Twin Goddesses' perception range for true names inevitably decreased. All the prayers from everyone in the Kingdom of Ys, which had been ceaseless, abruptly stopped.
Instead, if someone within the Black Tower's range called their names directly, or even thought about them, they could perceive it to varying degrees. It was by virtue of this perception that they were able to frequently evade direct searches by the Clan of Darkness.
However, when Cheng Mouren unreservedly exposed their secrets, the two goddesses, who usually appeared as calm as still water no matter what they faced, panicked as never before.
Fina, who had already been separated from her sister and was originally in the Realm of Blazefire, had already used her purification of the Evil Idol and the purification of the Goddess Statue completed by the Goddess Exploration Team in the Weeping Realm on the first floor of the Black Tower to teleport, heading directly towards Cheng Tian, who was 'spreading rumors'.
And when Cheng Tian's revelations began to delve into extremely private topics like human-god romance, and even the Twin Goddesses' bust-waist-hip measurements, even Fina, the younger goddess who had never truly been angered even when facing rampant monsters on the land and being forced to flee with the temple and the populace, flushed crimson and directly flapped her wings, sending Cheng Tian, that damned little loudspeaker, flying on the spot.
Of course, while Leah didn't choose to rush over, it didn't mean she couldn't hear Cheng Tian's crazy talk. And so—
[The Twin Goddess 'Leah's' personal reputation value towards you has further decreased. It is currently Indifferent 200 / 1500.]
[The Twin Goddess 'Fina's' personal reputation value towards you has further decreased. It is currently Indifferent 1 / 1500.]
This was the information prompt that popped up as Cheng Mouren used Cyclone Slow Fall to land.
Although Cheng Tian didn't know how Fina had appeared, he at least guessed that the Twin Goddesses probably had some way of hearing his words.
However, his sister Leah still left him 200 reputation points... It seems being older still has its advantages.
"Oh~ Isn't this the Goddess who gives extra trouble to the Six High Priests and the Temple Knights?~"
Cheng Mouren, who had patted his bottom and stood up, preemptively greeted her.
Fina, who was just about to continue to criticize Cheng Tian, was instantly choked. Knowing she was in the wrong, she unconsciously glanced at Hugo, and was immediately struck by Hugo's disappointed gaze, full of "Goddess, are you really this kind of person?"
"You despicable and shameless member of the Clan of Darkness!"
At a loss for how to explain herself, Fina could only stomp her feet on the spot. If not for her remaining rationality and concern for her image, she might have already lunged at Cheng Tian.
Don't think a goddess wouldn't scratch people!
"Sigh, why? If your brother-in-law can be an undercover agent, why can't I?"
Cheng Tian responded with righteous indignation.
Hearing such a reply, Fina's eyes widened. She clutched her chest, which was slightly smaller than her sister's, and made a parrot-like backward arching motion. She wanted to retort but couldn't find an appropriate point.
If it weren't for issues of age, race, and blasphemy for the humans of the Kingdom of Ys, she would actually be quite supportive of her sister's emotional development with Thor... But why did such a beautiful and innocent bud of love sound so irritating when it came out of Cheng Tian's hateful mouth!?
"Lady Fina, Mr. Cheng... is what he said true?"
Hugo, who had become somewhat numb from excessive shock, was the first to return to normal, and his first words went straight to the point.
Hearing the 'brother-in-law's' question, Fina, who was like a flustered kitten hissing wildly at Cheng Tian, suddenly fell silent. Her choice of silence instead of a loud rebuttal indirectly proved the truthfulness of Cheng Tian's revelations.
In that instant, the series of character flaws that had appeared because Cheng Tian had recklessly only spoiled information were directly thrown to the back of Hugo's mind.
"Lady Fina! You must believe in us, believe in human creativity! As long as we put our heads together, we can surely find a way to curb the power of the artifact!"
Hugo expressed with some excitement.
However, Fina shook her head after a moment of silence.
"...It's not that we don't want to tell you, but that we can't."
"Alright~ Starting with the riddles again. Why don't you just say there's a traitor in the Kingdom of Ys and be done with it?~"
Just as Hugo was excitedly about to continue questioning, he was directly interrupted by Cheng Tian's interjection.
Hugo hadn't reacted yet, but Fina suddenly turned her head and looked at Cheng Tian with an incredibly sharp gaze, a look Hugo had never seen before.
"But even if there's a traitor, so what? Your choice to remain silent is nothing more than fear of some so-called social unrest... But you've already packed up and run away with the people, and monsters are ravaging the land. How much worse can it get?
Instead of fearing information leaks, why not just pool ideas in a societal sense? As goddesses who guide humanity, you should be even clearer about how brilliant a light this short-lived race, humanity, can create in its limited lifespan. Perhaps a red-haired demon, completely unrelated to the Six High Priests, might suddenly emerge from a farmer's household with the ability to solve everything.
Ultimately, your two biggest problems are—"
Cheng Tian's Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger pointed directly at Goddess Fina.
"Arrogance!"
The two-word assessment struck like a heavy hammer, pounding heavily on Fina in front of him, and on Leah's heart, who was listening in a certain layer with the artifact Black Pearl.
"You stubbornly believe that only you can solve everything, so you made what you considered a noble sacrifice, but the result will only bring more unnecessary trouble to everyone!
Your sister too... your brother too!"
Cheng Tian's finger turned directly to Hugo.
Silence, a long silence, a silence so profound it was suffocating.
Goddess Fina, who had been so imposing, visibly wilted. Cheng Tian's 'arrogance' assessment plunged her into deep confusion... Have my sister and I really made a mistake?
"Mr. Cheng."
Hugo, who had just been pointed at, had an unprecedentedly serious expression, and his voice was full of solemnity.
"Who exactly is that traitor?!"
Compared to visible enemies, a traitor hidden in the shadows is a far more detestable existence.
In response to Hugo's question, Cheng Tian once again placed the sunfire mask back on his face, then gave an answer that made Hugo's pupils quake again.
"Why do you think I said we needed to take down that old man Cain?"
Fina, in her confusion, trembled slightly, then looked at Cheng Mouren, who was speaking nonsense with gradually incredulous eyes... You can even make that fit!?