Thus, the Hall of Stars became a transit point between the Outer Deities and Earth.
And what kind of business is always the best? Of course, a platform.
---------------------------------------
"Hah, it's been a long time since I've encountered an existence that keeps a neutral stance." The Son of Chaos also joined the discussion.
"Excessive greed is often the source of chaos that brings calamity."
Hastur still maintained his unfathomable demeanor. When faced with a difficult question, he would simply throw out a few phrases that sounded lofty and profound but were actually useless.
The Mother Tree of Desire spoke: "Which other existences are attending this gathering?"
Hastur chuckled: "Do you wish to meet the Mother Goddess of Depravity?"
"That joke isn't funny."
Though the tone of the Mother Tree of Desire was calm, both Hastur and the Son of Chaos could hear the wariness and hostility in Her response.
The Mother Goddess of Depravity and the Mother Tree of Desire were aligned only in breaking through the barrier, but in all other aspects, their relationship was far from good.
The Son of Chaos laughed: "Look at God Almighty and the Mysteries, excessive greed led to Their fall. The Mother Goddess of Depravity, before She retrieves Her Sefirot and paths, even if She defeats you, she would not dare to devour you."
The Mother Tree of Desire remained silent. The Son of Chaos pressed further: "Forcing you into submission, or turning you into a puppet, is more Her style."
"She is no longer what She once was." The Mother Tree of Desire's tone carried a trace of mockery.
"Indeed, among us, She is the one most severely damaged."
The Mother Tree of Desire glanced at the Son of Chaos and sneered: "Are you sure the one most damaged isn't yourself?"
"..." The Son of Chaos wanted to curse, but realized the states of the two before Him were far better than His own.
One wielded the power of the stars, capable of drawing beings across vast time and space into a gathering beyond the barrier. Another lurked in the starry sky, scheming grand designs for the apocalypse.
Even the Mother Goddess of Depravity, though Her essence was damaged and Her two paths torn apart, was still the most terrifying existence in the cosmos, standing atop all Outer Deities.
Only He, the Child of Chaos, now had most of His true spirit imprisoned by the Mysteries within the Magic Wishing Lamp, denied freedom.
In terms of current circumstances, He was truly the most miserable of the Outer Deities!
He should never have joined this topic!
The Son of Chaos gave a cold snort: "I am indeed heavily damaged, but I successfully broke through the barrier. I have already taken a step ahead of you. In the contest of the apocalypse, I may not necessarily lose to you."
Sitting at the head seat, seemingly indifferent, Hastur was actually carefully observing, waiting for the Mother Tree of Desire and the Son of Chaos to reveal more insider secrets about the Outer Deities.
Hearing Son of Chaos's severely lacking confidence, he truly wanted to laugh.
The Son of Chaos was sealed within the Magic Wishing Lamp, and now held in Bernadette's hands.
As long as no wishes were made to Him, He could hardly interfere with reality.
"Were you sealed by the Mysteries on purpose back then?" The gaze of the Mother Tree of Desire toward the Son of Chaos grew more serious.
"Heh." The Son of Chaos only let out a cold laugh, without answering.
He could hardly admit He had been tricked into the Magic Wishing Lamp, right? That would be far too humiliating.
Better to claim He had willingly stepped into the Mysteries' trap, awaiting the Mysteries' fall to then seize the greatest fortune.
That was an image more befitting of Himself.
As for being seen through, He was not too concerned.
Back then, many Outer Deities only knew that part of His true spirit was sealed into the Magic Wishing Lamp by the Mysteries; the exact details were known only to Him and the Mysteries.
He was certain the Mother Tree of Desire could not confirm His true current situation.
Thinking of this, He felt even more that attending this gathering was the right decision.
As long as He used the information gap well, together with the advantage of already being within the barrier, perhaps Outer Deities like the Mother Tree of Desire would actively seek Him for deals!
In this way, He would surely be able to return to the starry sky and regain completeness before the apocalypse arrived.
Once complete again, even if exposed, He would have no fear, at worst, He could flee deep into the cosmos.
The only one who could see through Him in advance was this inscrutable Lord of the Stars.
Hastur looked at Son of Chaos with a smile, saying nothing, implying He would not expose His true circumstances.
Son of Chaos understood, gaining a bit more confidence.
"I battled with the Mysteries for a long time, and came to know His ambition was too great. He sought to devour other Sefirots in hopes of surpassing to a higher level, and this would inevitably bring His destruction.
When the battle turned unfavorable, I allowed Myself to be sealed into the Magic Wishing Lamp by the Mysteries, using the chance to hide, break through the barrier, and survive until today. Now that the Mysteries has fallen, though I am sealed, My rank remains. Even if a true god descends, He cannot do anything to Me!"
This statement, aside from the falsehood of being "sealed willingly," was otherwise true, and could withstand scrutiny.
Nine parts truth and one part lie, such words were the easiest to deceive.
The Son of Chaos had learned cunning.
Hastur silently raised His estimation of Son of Chaos's intelligence.
Naturally, the Mother Tree of Desire, who had lived for countless ages, would not easily believe Him.
"With the wisdom and capability of the Mysteries, your little scheme could never have escaped His notice."
"Heh, how do you know I am not the resurrection backup left by the Mysteries?"
Son of Chaos knew He had to throw out a heavy bombshell to attract the Mother Tree of Desire's interest.
This time, the Mother Tree of Desire uncharacteristically fell into thought, considering the feasibility of this claim.
She did not trust Son of Chaos's words, but She did trust the wisdom of the Mysteries.
With the wisdom of the Mysteries, it was impossible that He left no contingency. Judging from how He later sealed the Child of Chaos into the Magic Wishing Lamp, there was indeed a possibility He intended Son of Chaos to serve as a resurrection backup.
Perhaps, Son of Chaos had indeed made some pact with the Mysteries back then.
"Your words cannot convince me."
"Oh, do you think I need to prove it to you?"
"Transactions only exist between equals, and as you are now, you are not enough."
"Tsk, tsk, I don't mind letting your believers suffer a bit."
Facing the Mother Tree of Desire, Son of Chaos felt no fear.
In His prime, He had been one of the strongest Outer Deities in the universe.
Though not on par with the three great pillars, the Mother Goddess of Depravity, God Almighty, and the Lord of Mysteries, He had never placed the other Outer Deities in His eyes, roaming the cosmos unhindered. The Mother Tree of Desire was not worth His concern.
"Soon, I will descend a miracle. If you can prevent the ritual's completion, I will acknowledge your power."
The lofty, condescending tone of the Mother Tree of Desire greatly displeased Son of Chaos. He said coldly: "Aren't you afraid I will wipe out all your followers there?"
"Those who cannot withstand divine grace have no value in living."
"Good, I accept this challenge!" Son of Chaos's tone was resolute.
He knew He had to display His strength to gain respect.
This challenge was the chance to bare His fangs, to showcase His worth.
He must make Them understand He had enough power to stir great upheaval within the barrier!
"A transaction requires equivalence. If I succeed in this challenge, what will you pay in return?"
"A Devil tarot card."
"Heh, you want to use this chance to corrupt Bernadette?"
"You may refuse."
Son of Chaos snapped: "She is my favored one. Stop scheming about her."
Tsk, favored one.
Son of Chaos, you're truly shameless. Bernadette is clearly your jailer, yet you brazenly call her your favored one.
You're just taking advantage of her inability to know of these matters to boast and gild yourself.
Hastur silently grumbled in His heart, but did not expose Son of Chaos, rather taking pleasure in it.
"What do you want?"
"Heh, of the tarot cards created by Roselle, only the Black Emperor and Judgment are still useful to me. But can you find them and bring them for trade?"
"This is just a trial, not a gift for you."
"Then fine, I want Temperance." Son of Chaos's tone was light, even with a hint of laughter.
He had stayed with Bernadette, and thus knew some of the inner workings of the Rose School.
By His deduction, the Mother Tree of Desire likely had not fully mastered the Temperance path yet; otherwise, the inner chaos of the Rose School would not exist.
The Mother Tree of Desire wanted to test Him, but He also wanted to test Her.
Although one Temperance card was nothing to Her, to Her followers it was a divine relic.
"Fine." The Mother Tree of Desire agreed to the transaction.
"The stars shall witness this."
Hastur gladly acted as notary, bearing witness to the first wager between the Son of Chaos and the Mother Tree of Desire.
He also wanted to see what means Son of Chaos would use to complete the challenge.
Son of Chaos egged on: "Do you want to place a bet as well?"
"I have no objection." The Mother Tree of Desire also wished to see this Mysteries being's true depth.
Hastur said calmly: "I am only a witness, not a participant."
Neither Son of Chaos nor the Mother Tree said more, for this was but a simple probing.
"Today's gathering ends here. I hope that in fifteen days, the wager between you two will have a result."
Hastur announced the end of the meeting, driving two chains of Order to return both the Son of Chaos and the Mother Tree of Desire to their respective stars.
Leaning back in His chair, Hastur took a few deep breaths before easing up.
Just now, the Mother Tree of Desire had been staring at Him intently, trying to pry out His secrets.
The pressure was immense. Thankfully, the power of the Hall of Stars had shielded Him, preventing Her from seeing through His true situation.
Son of Chaos's performance tonight was eye-catching; it seemed He was growing impatient.
This was the benefit of competition.
If it had only been Him and Son of Chaos all along, Son of Chaos would never have compromised easily, but would have continued to bide His time.
Yet with the arrival of the Mother Tree of Desire, He was forced to show His worth proactively.
If the Temperance tarot card fell into His hands, it would be a great treasure, enough to fuel several trades with Miss Sharon.
What a pity.
Wait, though Son of Chaos had rejected the Devil card, refusing to let the Mother Tree of Desire corrupt Bernadette, why did He dare accept the Temperance card?
With the rank and means of the Mother Tree of Desire, She could also easily leave hidden traps upon the Temperance card.
Perhaps there was some mysticism knowledge He didn't yet understand, or perhaps Son of Chaos had his own deeper calculations.
Hastur silently pondered the many possibilities.