Chapter 307

Chapter 307: Using Coupons to Pay Salaries Shouldn’t Be a Problem, Right?

"Hah…"

"Every last one of them kept their mouths shut tight, and they certainly knew how to put on a show."

The First Demon God Barbatos returned to his domain, reshaping himself into a "middle-aged gentleman."

He pressed his fingers against his forehead, brows twisted into knots.

Undoubtedly, he was thoroughly irritated.

Earlier, the First Demon God had "interrogated" every trusted aide privy to his plans.

Despite their cries about hard-earned merits and shouts of injustice, he showed no mercy. None escaped punishment.

Each was hauled off to the interrogation room.

Naturally, interrogations by the First Seat of the Chaos Council wouldn’t involve crude mortal tools like the tiger bench or chili water. Instead, he forcibly ripped out his aides’ Souls, subjecting them to brutal dissection and analysis.

This process inflicted excruciating physical and mental agony on the victims.

Since it involved reading every scrap of information within the Souls, useful details had to be sifted from mountains of garbage.

It was tedious work, but yielded flawless intelligence.

Through this, Barbatos uncovered countless "little secrets" of his so-called trusted aides…

Such as embezzling eighty percent of resources meant for recruiting the demon legion, creating phantom legions to collect phantom wages, pocketing ninety percent of funds allocated for hiring Outer Gods, and using the leftover scraps to find "outsourcing."

With each revelation, Barbatos felt his blood pressure spike.

"These wretches!"

"Rotten to the core!"

"And they dared claim ‘we wouldn’t burden our master with complaints’ while insisting all resources went toward recruiting legions for this offensive!"

"Those were my resources!"

"They took the lion’s share, tossed me scraps, and expected my gratitude!?"

The First Demon God raged.

Only after considerable time did he regain composure.

Disappointment settled over him.

True, these creatures were parasites!

Yet none appeared to be the traitor. Not one subordinate official had leaked intelligence to Gimmerly or Xidi.

"How peculiar…"

Barbatos’s frown deepened.

If intelligence hadn’t been leaked, only one possibility remained—his entire scheme had been anticipated!

"Could the Giant God truly be as shrewd as a demon?"

"Did he see through my entire chessboard?"

"Has every move I plotted been foreseen by him!?"

Although this body resembling a mortal was merely a projection and theoretically lacked sweat glands, the uncontrollable fear made his projection imitate those lowly mortals, and cold sweat dripped down.

The First Demon God felt as though that "Giant God" was glaring at him with "gems forged" in calm, unblinking eyes, overlooking the entire "Chaos Swamp" from a higher realm.

All his schemes and calculations couldn’t escape those relentless, sharp eyes that pierced through everything.

Nor could they evade the Giant God’s ever-present tactics!

"Ah…"

"What a terrifying enemy!"

"Flawless strategy!"

In Barbatos’s imagination, if the Giant God’s soul had a projection, it would be a "refined gentleman" – tall and lean with cold features and "Double Eyes" gleaming with wisdom.

He might even wear spectacles.

He’d occasionally push them up and utter something smug like, "Hmph, divine wisdom is rather underwhelming."

"No doubt you’re wholly immersed in this game, savoring every move."

"Against such an opponent…"

"Only one approach remains—open confrontation!"

"Overwhelm through sheer might!"

"Muster every resource of the Chaos Council to crush him with absolute strength!"

This essentially meant smashing the chessboard and flipping the table.

Like abandoning light infantry tactics for overwhelming firepower.

But chaos possessed such power—why not wield it?

"Hmm… I must rally several core councilors to handle Bubble World Themis and Valaharl!"

"Diplomacy must ensure the Ether Dragon doesn’t join their side!"

"Emerald Shadow’s movements signal danger."

"Indeed, allies from the Endless Ether—even the ‘Primal Wilderness’—are welcome in our Chaos Council!"

"All for the Giant God’s defeat!"

"Let our ‘recruitment’ commence with… the deities of the Endless Ether!"

—-

While the First Demon God Barbatos schemed against the Giant God, his so-called adversary paid no heed to any "First Demon God."

Trilobite remained utterly unaware of the Chaos Council’s existence!

For this postosuchus, far more pressing matters demanded attention.

He stood firmly on the Spiny Shark’s split-open skull, warily eyeing the encircling "Phantom Dragons."

"My meat!"

"Rawr!"

As Trilobite roared, he pulled the Spiny Shark closer to him.

"I hate those who take without working!"

"Leftovers are one thing, but they want fresh meat."

"If you’ve got the skills, go catch one yourselves!"

"Freeloaders, get lost…"

"Uh… wait."

Trilobite couldn’t bring himself to say "get lost."

"They did put in some effort."

"Even if it was through the sacrifice of a companion."

Originally, Trilobite dug a pit and wrapped himself in a sac just to observe the small animals.

He also aimed to identify any passing ancient creatures.

But unexpectedly, the Spiny Shark, which had been swimming happily, suddenly charged ashore!

It made no sense not to eat this meat delivered right to him.

The Phantom Dragons lured the Spiny Shark ashore, bringing it to Trilobite; they even lost a companion for this.

"That counts as effort, right?"

"And the price paid is high."

He glanced to the side.

There, a Phantom Dragon lay twisted and lifeless, its neck bitten off by the Spiny Shark, sprawled tragically by the sandbank.

"Um…"

"I can’t share the meat with you."

"Among you…"

Trilobite’s eyes scanned the group of Phantom Dragons.

"No ladies here!"

He wasn’t sure if it was a newly awakened skill or his sharp nose, but now Trilobite could tell a creature’s diet, habitat, gender, and if it was a lady just by smell.

With this ability, he figured these Phantom Dragons were all single males.

Since there were no ladies, why feed them meat?

"Let me find another way to reward you."

"Hmm!"

Trilobite’s eyes lit up as he quickly thought of a "both win" solution.

"Here’s the deal: swim straight to that place called ‘Themis.’"

"There, you’ll find my microorganisms spawn."

"You can collect some probiotics, and I’ll give you a discount!"

Trilobite’s two strikes terrified the deities watching him!

The Shallow Ether Wanderers only now dared to observe this majestic Divine Body.

"So… magnificent!"

"And so powerful!"

They could find no words beyond "magnificent" and "powerful" to describe the great being before them.

His frame was massive; though perhaps smaller than the mightiest Tyrants, those Tyrants could only drift in the Endless Ether, their Divine Bodies buoyed by etheric liquid.

Yet this being could truly stand and walk.

With startling agility!

His attacks held devastating force—he’d crushed the Border Dragon’s head in one blow! That Ether Sea terror hadn’t stood a chance!

Muscles pulsing with boundless strength rippled across his form like mountain ranges, giving the dragon-like deity a ruggedly beautiful appearance.

But what stunned the Shallow Ether Wanderers most were his eyes.

Tens of thousands of gems formed those eyes, glittering so brilliantly they dazzled even deities.

Beneath that radiance lay only emptiness—an endless, depthless void.

He didn’t speak. Didn’t emote. Didn’t acknowledge.

Only coldly observed, killed, and consumed his prey.

"Hsss…"

The Shallow Ether Wanderers drew fearful breaths. When they regained awareness, they’d drifted perilously close to the massive god.

"Disaster!"

"The deadliest things are the fairest!"

"Does this massive god lure weak deities like us with his grandeur before devouring us?"

The thought seemed confirmed instantly.

"Hoo… grrr…"

Menace saturated the void and ether. Savage growls reverberated through the Wanderers’ Souls.

Fear paralyzed their Divine Bodies and Souls.

Like birds frozen under a serpent’s gaze, they couldn’t twitch.

Their Souls shrieked.

"We’ll die!"

"We’ll die!"

"Save us!"

"Aaah—!"

Just as they braced for death, the crushing pressure vanished.

Rage and wariness ebbed like tides.

"Haa… haa… haa…"

Gasping, the Wanderers rejoiced at their reprieve.

They knew their helplessness against the massive god.

In the Ether Sea, escape might be possible. Here in this "new world," they’d be slaughtered at will—not one could flee!

"We survived?"

one Wanderer whispered in relief.

"No…"

Their leader shook his head grimly.

"He merely spared us."

"Let’s leave."

"He wants no company…"

"Buzz——!"

Their Souls trembled violently.

The massive god parted his jaws, muttering some incantation!

"Ugh…"

"Aaagh!"

Under the colossal Information Flow’s assault, their Souls wailed in torment.

Yet simultaneously sang in joy.

For within that flood gleamed unmistakable coordinates—to a newborn world: "First New Themis"!