If a single Sublime One possessed such staggering power, what of the Deities above them? How immense must their strength be? A power capable of rewriting the very history of the world?

  Eros thought of the nine "Orthodox Deities" of the Nine Great Churches and couldn't help but offer a bitter smile. "To have such enemies is truly despair-inducing."

  Regarding Eros’s lament, Barbara’s tone remained remarkably confident. "There is no need to dwell on those betrayals. When the Master returns, all of it will come to an end."

  Eros blinked. From Barbara’s tone, it sounded as if the Ancestor could take on all nine at once—and win. Wait, was the Ancestor really that formidable? The nine gods of the Nine Great Churches were already the most powerful beings on the Croatian continent. If the Ancestor could solo all nine, what level had His power reached? And if He was that strong, why was He killed? Betrayal? Or a sneak attack?

  As if guessing Eros’s thoughts, Barbara spoke with a voice full of pride: "There exist beings even above Deities—Great Ones who are greater than the 'Great Ones.' The Master was one of them. It is for this reason that once the Master returns, the twisted fate of this world will be corrected, and those betrayers will fall from their heavenly kingdoms."

  Eros was stunned. This was the first time he had heard such a claim—that "Deity" was not the highest rank.

  "Then... what is above a Deity?" Seeing that Barbara hadn't been specific, Eros took the initiative to ask.

  "I don't know!" Barbara’s answer was blunt and dry.

  Eros: "..."

  Seeing his expression, Barbara quickly defended herself. "The Master never told me! I only know such existences exist, but I don't know the name of that specific station."

  "Fine then." Eros’s disappointment was fleeting. He quickly pivoted to another doubt: "I noticed you said 'one of them.' Does that mean there is more than one being above the Deities?"

  "Who are they? Why have I never heard of such existences?"

  At this question, the expression on Barbara’s little face became quite peculiar. Her eyes involuntarily drifted toward the nearby, idle tentacles that spent their days drifting around with eyeballs attached. Seeing her silence, Eros assumed she didn't know the answer either, and disappointment flickered across his face again.

  "They are all on you!"

  "What?" Barbara’s sudden outburst caught Eros off guard.

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  Seeing his confusion, Barbara repeated: "The existences above Deities you just asked about... they are all on your person right now."

  "Huh?" Eros was baffled. What do you mean 'on me'?

  "The one from the Elven race, the one from the Deep Sea, and the Master. All three of them have left a portion of their power within you, more or less. That is why I said they are all 'on you'." Barbara explained.

  Eros’s mouth hung open. Good grief. He knew he was special, but this was ridiculous. There were only three beings in the world above the level of a God, and all three had left their power in him? What is this, a private poker game inside my soul?

  Eros remained silent for a long while before asking another question: "If the Ancestor was so powerful, how did those betrayers manage to kill Him? Was it a sneak attack?"

  Barbara’s tone turned furious. "Those betrayers struck during the final step of the Master’s advancement ritual. It caused the ritual to backfire, leaving the Master weakened. Otherwise, how could those wretches ever hope to be His match?"

  So that’s how it was, Eros realized. Barbara’s explanation solved many of his previous puzzles. For instance, why the Nine Great Churches were so obsessed with targeting the Night Clan. He used to think: The Ancestor is a god, yes, but the Churches have nine of them! Even if He revives, it shouldn't affect them that much, right? Why stop His return at all costs?

  Now he understood. They were afraid. They feared the Ancestor’s return and the inevitable reckoning. That was why they conspired to rewrite the world's history.

  After processing these profound secrets, Eros felt a sense of awe. This was likely the highest level of "Hidden Knowledge" he had ever encountered. It would take some time to digest. After bathing under Irina’s care, he retired to his room for the night.

  The next morning, the "Indiles Local News," rushed into print, was already being sold throughout the city. On the most prominent page, a headline read:

  "Due to aging gas pipes, several gas explosions occurred in various districts of Indiles last night. Preliminary statistics report the death toll at 1,376. His Majesty the Emperor convened a meeting with ministers this morning. According to reliable sources, the Empire will conduct a nationwide inspection of gas pipelines in the coming period."

  After reading the news, Eros put down the paper with a click of his tongue. So that’s the explanation for the destroyed houses? Crude, but effective. He hadn't expected over a thousand commoners to have died last night. And this was just the beginning. As for the "inspection," it was likely Church investigators going door-to-door to check if anyone had picked up any contaminants.

  Pushing his thoughts aside, Eros turned to Estelle, who was sitting opposite him sipping tea with a tranquil expression. "Mama, didn't Viscount Sibei give me 200,000 pounds in cash?"

  Estelle nodded gently. "Yes."

  "I want to take 100,000 pounds from that to establish a charitable relief fund. Last night's incident is only the beginning; there will likely be more in the future. There will be children who lost their parents, elderly who lost their children, and commoners who lost their homes. I want to form a Relief Society to help them."

  "This is within my means, and I believe such an action would benefit my public image and the family’s reputation," Eros said softly, laying out his plan.

  Estelle’s soft lips curled into a warm, watery smile. "That is your own wealth; you have the right to dispose of it as you wish. My child, I am glad you possess a kind heart. Furthermore, you are right—this will indeed benefit the family’s image."

  "Tell you what, the family will handle the logistics for you. We will contribute an additional one million pounds to help you expand this Relief Society to the entire Empire."