Pallez glanced at Evah, his heart filled with suspicion, but he still opened the iron box Evah had handed over. When he did, he froze.
Inside the box was none other than a translucent Worm of Time. That wasn't the critical part—what mattered was that Pallez, as Amon's long-time rival, could tell this Worm of Time belonged to Amon. It might even have come from an Amon clone that died just days ago.
"Is Ancestor pleased with my greeting gift?" Rvah's voice rang out, sounding like a junior genuinely eager for his elder's approval.
Pallez gave Evah a deep look. "I'm very pleased," he said.
This was the honest truth. Though he wasn't sure who this "Evah Zoroast" was, Pallez was genuinely satisfied with the gift.
A Worm of Time whose characteristics had already returned to Amon wasn't particularly valuable—useful at most for crafting high-level charms. But it signified that one of Amon's clones, and likely a high-level one, had met its end.
For Pallez, who had suffered Amon's torment for ages, and chased by this rogue to the ends of the earth, this was the best news and the best gift possible.
After all, who didn't love seeing Amon take a hit?
So, despite his deep wariness of Evah, Pallez couldn't help but feel a sliver of goodwill toward him.
"As long as Ancestor is pleased," Evah said, grinning, clearly delighted by Pallez's approval.
"How did you find me?" Pallez asked, closing the box containing the Worm of Time and getting straight to the point.
"My Lord guided me, allowing me to trace your whereabouts," Evah said with a smile.
"Can you tell me about this entity you serve?" Pallez asked, not entirely surprised by the answer but pressing further.
"My Lord is ...
The Great Sovereign of Chaos;
Retrograde of Time ; Shadow of the World
Embodiment of Revelry."
Evah said with a devout expression. Naturally, the entity he described was himself.
It was a classic Lord of Mysteries move—worshipping oneself, being one's own follower, and embodying the trinity of believer, favored, and deity. It was a hallmark of the Lord of Mysteries world, and Evah wasn't about to miss out on the experience.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't a lie. The honorific name he'd crafted did indeed point to himself, likely due to the Nyarlathotep fragment within him. While he lacked a Sefirah Castle to hold meetings, Evah possessed some divine traits, that he able to form connections through his honorific name and respond to prayers.
Pallez frowned. He could tell Evah's words followed the standard three-part honorific structure, meaning the entity it pointed to was, if not a true god, at least a unique Angel King.
But Pallez had never heard of such an entity. Even considering the possibility of a disguised old acquaintance, he couldn't think of any deity matching this description.
Chaos… Pallez briefly thought of a certain being known as the Son of Chaos, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
As far as he knew, the Son of Chaos had been thoroughly screwed over by the old Lord of Mysteries, stripped down to nothing. It was unlikely they'd suddenly break free and start tracking him down.
After mulling it over fruitlessly, Pallez decided not to dwell on who Evah served and asked bluntly, "What does your Lord want?"
"My Lord has no desire for Amon to become the next Lord of Mysteries. While They don't have high hopes for you either, at least in preventing Amon from claiming that title, my Lord's goals align with yours," Evah said with a smile.
He was deliberately framing it this way. On one hand, it positioned him as an ally to lower Pallez's guard and foster a sense of camaraderie. On the other, invoking the Lord of Mysteries lent credibility to his fabricated persona.
After all, not just anyone would know about the Lord of Mysteries.
"Your Lord sure doesn't mince words…" Pallez said, not particularly surprised but giving a wry smile.
Though he was technically a contender for the Lord of Mysteries' position, even Pallez had to admit his chances were slim—practically nonexistent.
"So, is Ancestor willing to cooperate with my Lord?" Evah asked, his expression eager.
"I have a few questions. First, why me? If you could find me, you must know how bad my current state is," Pallez said, his expression finally turning serious.
"My Lord seeks to cooperate with you for simple reasons," Evah began, speaking unhurriedly. "First, you've clashed with Amon for ages, so you know them well. Information itself is a valuable resource. Second, the enmity between you and Amon is irreconcilable. Third, as you've noted, you're sufficiently weakened."
Evah looked up at the shadow Pallez, flashing a shy smile. "You've probably guessed it, Ancestor, but my Lord is also in a predicament. Your weakened state, in this case, is actually a boon for our cooperation."
For a deity in distress, a partner who's too powerful could pose a threat. A similarly weakened ally, on the other hand, ensures mutual safety.
"You're bold to say that out loud," Pallez said, giving Evah a long look.
"My Lord is merciful and won't punish me for speaking the truth. And you, Ancestor, are a good person," Eva said with a cheeky grin.
"Heh…" Pallez let out a short laugh, eyeing Luo Lin. "You think too highly of us high-ranking beings, kid. Ever heard the saying? Believe in the might of the deities, but do not trust their benevolence."
As he spoke, the usually jovial, kindly-old-man Pallez exuded, for the first time, the aura of a superior being—the commanding presence of the former head of the Zoroast family, an angel loyal to the Black Emperor.
Leonard, who'd been quietly watching the exchange, instinctively lowered his head, his mind blanking for a moment under the weight of that aura.
Evah however, just shook his head. He met Pallez's gaze, seemingly unaffected by the imposing presence, and said with a smile, "You're mistaken, Ancestor. I don't believe in my Lord's mercy. I only believe They won't waste anyone's value. Even if my Lord one day grants me death, it'll be because my death holds greater value than my life."
Pallez gave Evah a deep, meaningful look. "I'm curious—why do you serve your Lord?"
Those words didn't sound like something a devout follower would say.
"Is Ancestor concerned about me?" Evah asked, his tone serious.
"As your ancestor, I'd naturally want to know why my descendant has chosen to serve a particular deity," Pallez said, neither confirming nor denying.
"It's simple. My Lord saved me. I was destined to be Amon's snack, like my parents before me. Because of my Lord, I'm standing before you now," Evah said, speaking the truth. His gaze drifted to the iron box by Pallez's side, and he paused before adding, "and...that's the trophy from when my Lord saved me."
(End of Chapter)