Chapter 1096 - 891: Swapped Identities with the Bronze Guardian God (Part 2)

Chapter 1096: Chapter 891: Swapped Identities with the Bronze Guardian God (Part 2)

Gabriel exclaimed, "Mei isn’t going directly to Gem City to hunt down the president?"

Metatron sighed, "I’ll return to Bronze City first. It seems the Bronze Astrology Old Lady has also returned to the city. I’ll see her, and then follow advice for once to meet the Bronze City Guardian God. Then, I’ll find the City Lord to inquire about Tifa’s whereabouts."

Gabriel sighed, "You’re really busy. Suddenly, I feel like not being able to revive might be a good thing; otherwise, once revived, the Emperor might find a reason to capture me."

Sela snorted, "Also, capturing you and Chun to the Divine Realm Prison, shut you together for a good time!"

Michael said irritably, "You two... enough."

...

Outside the Bronze Astrology Shop, the crowd surged, colorful lights danced in a flurry.

Evidently, after accompanying the Mermaid to victory, the Astrology Old Lady’s fame had soared.

Metatron directly squeezed through the queue and entered the house.

The Astrology Old Lady rose to greet him, "Sage Lord, thank you for your support. I have returned from my studies! I’ve improved greatly."

Metatron was also gratified, "I know, you assisted the Mermaid Guardian God."

The Old Lady sighed, "Actually, it’s the matter of the Divine Throne Helen that worries me. If you have any unclear questions, Sage Lord, you must directly see the Bronze Divine Throne this time."

Metatron was surprised, "You’ve improved greatly, yet you can only give me this one piece of advice?"

The Old Lady solemnly said, "That’s right! Ordinary people simply aren’t qualified to see the Lord of the Divine Throne. Sage Lord, don’t overlook the near to seek the far."

Metatron still needed clarity, "I want to find that Azazel Vonima and also Miss Tifa."

The Old Lady sighed, "The whole world is looking! Also, if there are rumors, it’s crucial for you to dispel them timely and not stand aloof!"

"Understood."

Though still feeling that astrology was a trick and a con, there was truly nothing wrong with her advice.

Metatron exited and happened upon the queue he had pushed past earlier whispering among themselves.

Metatron remembered the advice, "These are slanderous rumors. You mustn’t listen or spread them!"

The crowd immediately declared, "Not at all!" "Those spreading rumors are too wicked!"

Even though it sounded like they were just having fun and not sincere, the absence or presence of rumors was indeed different, as the Old Lady had said.

Metatron headed straight to the Bronze Church and entered the Divine Throne Hall.

The red bronze light flame of the Bronze Guardian God, Poseval, filled the entire hall. Though unique compared to the brilliant platinum light of other Guardian Gods, in Metatron’s current adversity, it seemed all the more like the fading light of sunset.

"Lord of the Divine Throne, I need help—"

Such a normal phrase, and yet Metatron found himself unable to utter it.

The Guardian God had to speak first, "Sage, what is it?"

Metatron decided to approach it differently, "Can we chat casually, Lord of the Divine Throne?"

The Guardian God was surprised, "Are you, in your predicament, sure you have time for casual chat?"

Metatron lamented, "I want to know, if you were in a predicament, how would you cope?"

The Guardian God paused, then his light flame flickered, ushering all the attendant staff in the hall to close the windows and doors and leave.

Metatron’s heart skipped a beat, "Did I trigger some event?"

The next moment, the Guardian God dimmed his light, the hall became gloomy. He then floated down from the Divine Throne, directly sat on the lowest step, and patted the step indicating, "Sit!"

Metatron was dumbfounded, "Lord of the Divine Throne?"

The Guardian God even took out a pack of cigarettes sold by Silver City Mermaids, "Have one!"

At this moment, the chatting crowd was astir!

Sariel laughed, "Never thought the Bronze Guardian God was like this! Turns out he’s also a customer of my household’s darling!"

Metatron had no choice but to help the Guardian God light a cigarette, then sat beside him.

The Guardian God exhaled a smoke ring, "How’s this smoke?"

"It’s... it’s okay."

The Guardian God scoffed, "Too much medication taste, it’s hard to smoke. I don’t get why it’s so popular."

Sariel, "Fak?"

Metatron was even more bewildered!

The Guardian God glanced at the door, "Guess what they’ll think since I sent everyone out, they’ll assume we’re discussing something secret, right?"

Metatron’s heart skipped a beat, "Of course, they’ll think we’re discussing something major."

The Guardian God chuckled, "In truth, we’re just talking about tough-to-smoke cigarettes."

"Ah!"

The Guardian God sighed, "You asked me how to cope with being in a predicament. I don’t need to imagine, I’m in a predicament myself. In just over a month, the Black Iron Guardian God mysteriously fell, the Silver Guardian God voluntarily stepped down, then the Gem Guardian God went to the Arctic and died for no reason, and underground, there’s a strange evil god power stirring. What am I supposed to think? I can’t comprehend it, maybe I’m thinking everything wrong—just like those outside who think we’re discussing major matters. So, you’re asking me how to cope?"

Metatron suddenly realized, "It’s about creating information asymmetry, so others can’t guess it out!"

The Guardian God stated, "Not enough. When others think you’re preparing for something big, you’d better have indeed prepared something big!"

Metatron suddenly rejoiced, "So, Lord of the Divine Throne, you’re going to help me?"

The Guardian God smiled, "And who will help me?"

Metatron hesitated, "I will..."

The Guardian God instantly became serious, "Are you sure you want to help me?"

Metatron also threw caution to the wind, "I am sure!"

The Guardian God pointed at the high seat with the cigarette, "I step down, leave. You stay, sit up there."

Metatron thought he misheard, "I sit up there?"

The Guardian God sternly said, "Yes, we exchange identities. I go out as you, and your matters, I try to handle them. My affairs, you cover for me, actually, there’s nothing much, just sitting and receiving worship every day."

Metatron could hardly believe it!

The crowd was even more astir, "This is allowed?"

Metatron suddenly felt an indescribable novelty and excitement, "Can we really swap?"

The Guardian God patted Metatron’s shoulder, "It can be done! I’m a god, after all! As long as you wear my set of divine armor, you’ll have a seven-tenth resemblance and can use my full suite of lower-config skills! If anyone dares to question, you just block it with ’Top Secret’. When I go out in your identity, I’ll also notify... anyway, we’re both preparing something big and ensuring no one can guess it..."

With that pat, a burst of light flame divine power enveloped Metatron!

—System prompt: The Bronze Guardian God Poseval is initiating a replication ceremony with you, do you agree?

Replication!?

The crowd was shocked, "Never heard of this feature during game development!"

Michael was puzzled, "Could he have developed it on his own in a predicament?"

Metatron had to experience it no matter what—agreed!

—System prompt: Replication ceremony in progress... Current progress 1%, 2%...

The progress wasn’t slow.

"Lord of the Divine Throne, can I speak now?"

The Guardian God smiled, "Speak as you please, this way the voice can be perfectly replicated too."

Metatron asked, "What if the evil god underground emerges?"

The Guardian God replied, "I mentioned before, the divine armor has my lower-config skills, just divert it to the Alternate Space to avoid directly damaging the city, and I trust you can handle the rest. Besides, you now possess my added divine power."

Metatron asked again, "What if Lord of the Divine Throne fails to complete my task and gets captured by the Empire?"

The Guardian God scoffed, "Capture me? I’ll calmly present facts with logic."

emmmm...

Metatron asked again, "How long will the swap last?"

The Guardian God sighed, "Rest assured, as long as you sit in this position, you’ll feel the power of faith from believers every day, you’ll be reluctant to leave."

"I didn’t mean it like that..."

"No worries, as soon as you sit, you’ll get what I mean."

"Lord of the Divine Throne, I also want to find Miss Tifa."

"Don’t worry, that’s part of my responsibilities too. It’s just that as a Guardian God, I was restricted from leaving the city, but now I can go out..."

Finally, after half an hour of arrangements, the replication was complete!

At this moment, Metatron, now donned in divine armor, appeared identical to the Guardian God in appearance. The entire room once again shone with red bronze light. However, the light was much dimmer—which was exactly what’s needed, everyone would think it was the Guardian God imparting power to the Sage.

Meanwhile, the Guardian God had transformed into Metatron’s player status, clearly seeing the name "Metatron" above his head.

Sela was astonished, "There’s only ever been players impersonating NPCs, first time seeing an NPC impersonate a player!"