Chapter 535 (1): New Gods, Ancient Gods, the Essence of Godhood

The three luxury cars were all top quality. Because Wayne had caught feelings after the many nights they shared, he refused to replace them even after scoring the goddesses. He spent a night carefully polishing them and completed the feat he'd been looking forward to.

He had gotten a little reckless because of the impending Final Judgment. On one hand, he was under a lot of stress; on the other hand, he wanted to avoid regrets.

Speaking of regrets, Wayne had one serious one: Ottilia, the bookish girl.

The next afternoon, he drove to the library and invited her on a date. He let her choose between shopping, a movie, and a candlelight dinner. It would be best if she wanted all three. He would give her everything.

Ottilia, not knowing what was happening, chose all options without hesitation. Before that, though, she wanted Wayne to read books with her at the library.

The library was quiet today, mainly because Regina wasn’t around. Wayne took good care of his own people. When the headquarters of the Church of Nature relocated, he had told Nilsson to bring her parents to Londan with her. Prussia, ravaged by war, wasn’t a good place to stay because of the price hikes. Windsor was an island nation that had not been caught in the fire of war, so it would be safer for them to move here.

Wayne also provided them with a manor. The rebellion had brought the Lando family such wealth that he could hand out a manor with no worries.

That night, Wayne took Ottilia back to his residence. Rather than a candlelight meal, they ate simply, with a butler providing them service. It was their first time getting this intimate. When Ottilia realized that something was happening, she returned from heaven to the mortal realm. She wasn’t stupid enough not to notice. She asked him what was happening.

Wayne gave a simple response and didn’t say much. He spent the morning snuggling with her. Then in the afternoon, they read books in the library.

During his trip to the Papal State, Wayne had taken many ancient texts regarding the true history with him, which were right up Ottilia’s alley. She spent hours reading them every day. As Wayne’s vengeful spirit, she possessed incredible power, but she didn’t crave that, and she had few material needs. It was nice to have things, but she would be fine doing without anything—books were the only exception. They were indispensable to her.

“I finally found you, Boss.”

Their reading session was suddenly interrupted by Regina, who came out of nowhere and looked at Wayne with teary eyes.

“What is it? Didn’t you take a day off to help your parents move? Why are you seeking me out now? To ask for your salary in advance for expensive furnishings?” Wayne waved at Regina. She could name her price. His secretary never had to worry about money.

“I don’t need money. I need a boyfriend.” Regina pouted with resignation written all over her face.

“If you need a boyfriend, why are you turning to me? This library only gives out salary and does not resolve its employees’ romantic issues for them.” Wayne shook his head, discreetly pointing at Ottilia, who was still reading.

They were in their honeymoon phase. Jealousy could drive her to violence, so Regina should keep her mouth shut.

Regina rolled her eyes and scoffed, “I know that boyfriends aren’t included in the benefits, but the last time we were in Prussia, my boss pretended to be my boyfriend, and my family believed him. They were also very satisfied with their son-in-law.”

Wayne sucked in a breath. Right. Now he remembered. Back then, he never thought that Regina’s family would move to Londan. To reassure her parents that their daughter would be fine working in a different country, he had called them father and mother-in-law over some wine.

He had also detailed his family background, financial status, and social standing. With his wealth in Londan and his status in the Church of Nature, he was a once-in-a-lifetime son-in-law for Regina’s parents.

Now, they approved of him even more.

It wasn’t until they arrived in Londan that they realized what Wayne meant when he said ‘he had some wealth.’ The Lando family had succeeded in rebelling against the Windsor royal family and turned them into puppets. If Wayne wanted, he could stay the night at Buckingham Palace on short notice.

How humble of you!

Thus, as soon as they finished moving, Regina’s parents urged her to bring her boyfriend home for a meal and a conversation to deepen their bond. After all, they would be getting married in the near future.

Regina stared at Wayne, unable to even produce real tears. “You must take full responsibility, Boss... Don’t take this the wrong way. I mean that you should convince my parents that we aren’t an item.”

“Then what? Let them know that you’re working for a capitalist who should be hanged from a lamppost. The capitalist also has a group of girlfriends. Yet we’re not an item?”

“...” x3

Ottilia stopped reading. She could prove that Wayne and Regina weren’t involved. They just touched hands and put their arms around each other, and they were a master and his charge, whom he was providing for.

(╥﹏╥)

“Alright, alright. Stop pouting. I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you. We’re just going to eat together. I’m shameless enough to call them father and mother-in-law.” Wayne touched her chin. “If memory serves, our father is a district priest waiting for reassignment after transferring out of Prussia. What do you say? What job should I assign him? Being an Oracle High Reverend at the headquarters isn’t beneath him, is it?”

The Church of Nature was the biggest den of vermin among the churches. Aside from the Church of Death, which had already been destroyed, it was far inferior to Sun and Moonlight, and it didn’t deserve to be Darkness’s sidekick. Even the Church of Heavenly Father, with their old pedophilic ways, was better than the Church of Nature.

Times had changed. Under His Horniness Reza’s iron rule, with the Sacred Tome in one hand and a butcher’s cleaver in the other, the Church of Heavenly Father had long cured their ailment. Clergywomen became the mainstream preference, while the demonic priests going after boys were put on stakes to be burned to a crisp.

There were four Oracle High Reverends at the Church of Nature. Aside from Wayne, the God of Nature, the three others were all prime vermin. Wayne had considered them an eyesore for a long time.

He didn’t know what kind of man Regina’s father was since they had only met once. Disregarding his stereotypes about conscientious Prussians, the man was most likely vermin, too.

If the Oracle High Reverends would be vermin anyway, why wouldn’t he have a more likable one take the post?

Regina slapped his hand away. It was good to have a friend in high places. But then she said in exasperation, “Boss, things are messy enough as it is. If you keep fanning the flames, it really will be impossible to clear the misunderstanding.”

She smiled stiffly.

“It’s already impossible,” Wayne mumbled, patting her on the shoulders. “I’ll arrange to buy father and mother-in-law dinner at the best Francan restaurant in Londan. Bring your sister, Nilsson. The family should all be present.”

(╥﹏╥)

Regina winced. She did the kind of work that required her to stand up, not lie on her back.

Oh? She owed Wayne her life? That didn’t make it right!

“That’s decided. I’ll have my secretary—right, you are my secretary. Then arrange my schedule for me. Remember to reserve the whole restaurant. Don’t try to save money for me.” He grabbed Regina’s shoulder and turned her around. “Jog on. Go make the arrangements in the office. I’m going on a date with Ottilia, so I won’t be eating at your place today.”

Regina walked away in a daze, swaying every two steps like a drunk.

Wayne sat back down with a racing heart. He thought Regina had come to demand an explanation for her older sister.

My sister was fine. How did she mutate all of a sudden after she was entrusted to you?

The fact that Regina hadn’t even brought that up led him to conclude that Nilsson was the reason. Before turning into an Astral life, nine out of ten people would scorn it, and the one with strong desire would hesitate. After becoming an Astral life, nine out of ten would be satisfied, and the one with strong desire would rejoice.

Nilsson, after being corrupted by Senna, saw the beauty of great power. Satisfied by the progress she had always wanted to make, the victim said nothing, so naturally, Regina had nothing to say.

On the bright side, it was a good thing that neither of them were humans, and both would live for an eternity.

Ottilia snorted. “Is it really okay to set Regina up like that? Her parents already believed you were in a relationship. If you don’t clear that up now, Regina would really become that kind of secretary.”

“What kind of secretary?”

Wayne put his arm around Ottilia’s shoulder, making eyes at her and telling her to explain in detail.

Ottilia blushed. Transforming into a succubus, she teased him back and breathed pink air at his ear, describing everything in great detail.

His eyes widened. As expected of the bookish girl, she even talked about smut in such artsy language. It was a shame that she wasn’t a novelist!

“Speak. Aren’t you intentionally pushing Regina into the pit because you covet her body?” Ottilia smothered a smirk. If that was the case, she wouldn’t mind giving Wayne a push.

Pope Senna was such a great threat that only a capable team could rival her. Regina would be a perfect teammate. Then there was Nilsson, her twin sister. If they could all band together...

Ottilia raised an eyebrow and whispered, “Regina and I are your vengeful spirits, so we will become stronger as you become stronger. Nilsson, on the other hand, is your vassal’s vassal. That’s not good. The gap between her and Regina will increase, and over time, even the closest sisters will grow distant. In my opinion, to make sure the sisters can remain close, you should take Nilsson for yourself and turn her into your vassal.”

I can see through your plan!

Wayne looked at her speechlessly. When he saw how she shamelessly pretended that she was doing everything for the benefit of her good friend, he commented, “You’re so wicked. I love it.”

Ottilia pointed at her succubus horns. She was a demon now, so it only made sense that she was wicked.

She nudged Wayne and said, “Am I not right? You favor Regina so much, so you aren’t going to watch and do nothing as the sisters turn against each other, are you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Wayne knocked Ottilia on the head with a knife hand, then he put his arm around her and kept reading.

The reason he teased Regina was simple. Aside from it being fun to tease her, it was also because there was no telling how things would unfold. Rather than putting in all the effort to explain things, it would be better to just go along and let Regina's parents believe that their daughter had landed a good boyfriend.

Whether the misunderstanding would lead to negative consequences could wait until after the Final Judgment. As long as everyone could survive the judgment safely, any problem would be trivial in the grand scheme of things.