Mystery Paradise: Wishing Power Demon
Chapter 351 - 350 Demon’s Temptation

Chapter 351: Chapter 350 Demon’s Temptation

Chaoyang nodded, "Yes, do you like it very much?"

"Yu—" her voice involuntarily heightened by an octave, "Yu thinks about how to pass the time quite often, so I’ve learned to please myself, and all kinds of games are one of those things. But they are mostly chess-like, with rules confined to a small board. This kind of game you have is something I’ve never seen before. So yes... I like it very much."

Contrary to Chaoyang’s expectations, the other party admitted it directly.

He couldn’t help becoming curious about the experiences of the Magic Goddess.

"Where do you live when you disappear from sight?"

"In the northern mountains, there are many caves, forming a huge labyrinth, each cave is a micro world."

"What about when believers pray to you?"

"They’re just seeking miracles, it doesn’t really matter if I don’t respond."

"But you said before... divinities should protect humans."

"Protecting them and supporting them in gaining something for nothing are two different things. Anyway, the people of the mountain regions have been living better, even after I disappeared." Kokomoqi obviously didn’t want to talk about this, "Besides, hobbies are hobbies, but I still need to remind you, the crisis of the God of All Machines is imminent, and it’s not a wise choice for the Paradise Sect to continue to put resources into these trivial entertainments. Do you really understand your situation?"

"Somewhat. But people always want happiness, even if the world is about to be destroyed, that desire won’t change. All I did was respond to their wishes," Chaoyang shrugged, "And the benefits are obvious, people who feel happy will speak well of the Paradise Sect, and I’ll gain even more wishing power."

"If you don’t plan to join Zhaixing City, what are your plans next?"

He vaguely realized that the other party really treated him as a junior... Whether the Magic Goddess wanted to use his strength to fight against the Longjiu Army, or didn’t want him to be devoured by the God of All Machines, there was a hint of concern in her question.

"Make the reputation of Paradise spread even further, so I plan to disperse the mist of the City of Defense and make it also part of the Paradise Sect’s territory."

"You said... what?" For the first time, Kokomoqi showed a surprised expression.

"Disperse the mist of the City of Defense." Chaoyang repeated himself. It was an open strategy, with nothing to conceal.

Surprisingly, the Magic Goddess didn’t ask how he would do it. Her expression became somewhat grave, "Perhaps... you may bring great trouble upon yourself."

"Why?"

"That’s right, you don’t know yet. The mist exists not because of the Evil God’s mischief, but because a Latter Divine like Yu has been protecting humans."

"The Mist God, right? I know all about what it does: to make people forget, right?" Chaoyang said decisively.

"Have you met her believers?" Kokomoqi reacted quickly.

"Yes. I originally thought about spreading this news, but the vast majority of people would immediately forget after hearing it."

"You know this and still plan to do it? Dispersing the barrier she has laid down may provoke her. She’s a divinity much older than myself, and she values the mist above all else," Kokomoqi frowned, "Based on my understanding of her, if you really destroy the mist barrier of the City of Defense, she may regard you as an enemy."

So the Mist God was still active in the world?

Leisk, however, said that it had been a long time since they heard a response from the divinities...

From the other party’s wording, Chaoyang keenly caught onto a detail, "Have you met the Mist God?"

"Mhm, she already existed when I was born," the other affirmed, "As a senior, she has also taught me a lot of common knowledge, such as how to communicate with believers."

To brush off the prayers? That was indeed the style of the Mist God... Chaoyang silently criticized.

"So you were acquaintances? Then it’s easier to handle. Don’t return to Zhaixing City, but work with me instead. Regardless, since we both have to contend with Duke Longjiu, where we fight makes no difference. Moreover, the mist serves to defend against the power of the Evil God, and if I disperse the mist and can ensure the Evil God’s power does not spread, she should have no reason to blame me. Of course, I’m not acquainted with her, so misunderstandings might arise at first, but if you’re there, it’s different. With you there to speak on my behalf, she’ll definitely understand my actions," he said in one breath.

"What?" Kokomoqi immediately became alert, "Are you trying to persuade me to defect?"

"It’s cooperation, not surrender," Chaoyang emphasized, "If Zhaixing City hadn’t actively attacked, I wouldn’t have needed to go to war with the various factions of the mountains. As far as I know, that’s not a major source of your wishing power. The main believers of the Winter Country are of the Goddess of Abundance, so who you partner with is all the same, so why not consider the Paradise Sect?"

"That’s right, continue," Shi Yin suddenly said.

"Yu was born there..."

"I wasn’t born here either. To me, it’s no different than job hopping—when one company’s prospects aren’t good, it’s better to switch to another, better company at the right time. I’ll also offer compensation for competition, like providing you with a monthly quota of wishing power," Chaoyang said forcefully.

"There’s no need for wishing power... She isn’t without her own source of wishing power," Shi Yin muttered softly.

Kokomoqi didn’t reject the proposal as resolutely this time.

She obviously fell into deep thought.

It looked like there was hope.

All that was missing was the final push.

—For a demon skilled in the art of seduction, this shouldn’t be a problem, right?

The words Shi Yin had spoken earlier suddenly surfaced in Chaoyang’s mind.

What did she need the most?

Putting aside the overarching goal of opposing the God of All Machines, her desire for material things didn’t seem that strong. Perhaps the earlier conversation that made her hesitant was because of the "better company," not the "salary" she would earn each month.

A recluse, fond of solitude, with plenty of time, a lover of games... These descriptions gradually coalesced into an image in Chaoyang’s mind.

He cleared his throat and spoke again, "By the way, if you collaborate with the Paradise Sect, you’ll be able to experience even more exquisite games—you just mentioned how much you liked those games, but they’re merely the product of my simplest concepts. Technically, they just scrape by as passable."

"Eh?" Kokomoqi turned her head in surprise, "If these games were sold in other cities, they’d definitely be a hit! Are you sure they’re just barely passable?"

Chaoyang reached out his hand to her.

"Want to see?"

She hesitated, but then took his hand.

’Connect.’

In an instant, a flood of gaming memories poured into the Magic Goddess’s mind—they were no longer constrained by technology to simple side-scrolling arcade and card games but fully developed electronic games... Although they lacked the visual realism of the real world, their gameplay design and content modes were indeed masterpieces of the ninth art. Such things might not enthrall Xue Quan and Anthony, but to someone with a natural affinity for games, it was a different matter entirely.

Kokomoqi retracter her hand in disbelief, "You can make these games now?"

"I can, and I can’t. I’ve actually produced the finished products, but they exist in another Paradise World. It would probably take years to replicate them here in Thistlefort."

"Years" was, of course, a fabrication off the top of his head; who knew if those research experts could ever find a substitute for electrical power.

"Another Paradise World?"

"That’s right. If you want to go there, you just need to sign a new contract with me," Chaoyang admitted candidly. The world he referred to was the "transfer station," where he could create a space indistinguishable from Earth in that gray-white hall. "Ordinary people need my guidance to get there, but as a divinity like yourself, you should be able to visit anytime. It’s private, quiet, with separate compartments, and comes with a hot bath... everything."

"Wait, this is one of your powers too?" she interrupted eagerly.

"You could say that. It appeared with my birth, and I consider it as a template for Paradise."

"What if you ultimately fail to defeat Duke Longjiu’s army and the Mechanical Sect?"

"If I can’t win, then the United Army of Zhaixing City won’t either," Chaoyang said without hesitation, "but I can guarantee one thing—at least the Paradise Sect won’t drag you down with them. You can leave on your own or live permanently in the Paradise World when the time comes. In a sense, that place is also my escape route."

"Heh..." Kokomoqi chuckled, sounding both amused by his hubris and self-deprecating, "Yu sees through it; you don’t have much regard for Duke Rosha and the Kingdom Army..."

Chaoyang nodded, there was no point in denying it.

Just a few flashes of Shandela’s memories were enough to reveal that the United Army lacked sufficient cohesion. Even if their intentions were aligned, they were not truly of one mind, especially with political aspirations that could very well lead them further apart as they progressed.

History had proved time and again that such an army couldn’t win against adversity.

"But Yu still hopes that you can maintain the most basic cooperation instead of acting independently and being destroyed by the God of All Machines one by one." Kokomoqi paused, "If you agree to this, Yu can consider working with the Paradise Sect. Especially regarding the matter of the City of Defense..."

"I don’t have a problem with that. The issue is after Thistlefort was lost and the punitive forces got pushed back, Duke Rosha and her friends probably can’t swallow their pride."

"That’s something Yu can mediate. Thistlefort doesn’t have much value to them; what’s important are the artifacts buried within the City of Defense," Kokomoqi explained. "Yu guesses Shandela has already relayed this information to the Paradise Sect, right? As long as Thistlefort agrees to provide logistical support for the search team, Yu believes Duke Rosha will accept this situation."

The heart of the Hunter God, ah... It seemed related to the divine remains discovered beneath the Huiqiu Mine. If the people of Snow Country actually found it, he wouldn’t mind getting his hands on it.

"Shall we agree on this, then?"

"Words are wind; let’s sign the contract," she said seriously.

...