Chapter 600

Chapter 600: The Establishment of the Core Administration under Barbatos’s Direct Intelligence Department

“The efficiency of intelligence had slightly improved.”

“After raising the stakes, more Outer Predators came to my side.”

“This was a good start.”

In the “domain of the First Demon God,” Barbatos looked at the deities standing in a row with their heads held high and chests out, nodding in satisfaction.

These “human projections” were the actual Outer Predators.

Although these fellows varied in height and weight, they shared one common feature—the membranous wings on their backs.

Perhaps due to the regret of not being able to flap their wings and soar in the void, these Outer Predators’ wings were quite agile and could move.

“Alright!”

“Everyone!”

“Thank you for coming to pledge allegiance to me, the First Demon God of Chaos, the formidable Barbatos!”

“You know, I had gathered all the Powers into my hands!”

“From now on, the Fantasy Tree of Subspace will be your playground!”

Although the Outer Predators in Barbatos’s hands were constantly perishing, a steady stream of various deities from this clan continued to come to him.

The reason was simple…

Barbatos offered a high price.

Moreover, aside from Barbatos, no one else accepted them.

These fellows had an awkward position.

They could not truly “soar through the void” but could only stay in the void for a short time, so the void did not recognize them.

The “false wings” on the sides of their bodies, though foldable, hindered their movement; thus, they did not live well on the vast Primordial Earth.

Their slender “dragon-like” Divine Bodies might have seemed able to “swat” a couple of times in the ether, but that was merely on the level of “swatting a couple of times”; most deities could accomplish that.

Hence, their only refuge was the Fantasy Tree of Subspace.

Gimmerly, who controlled the authority of the void, had true Outer Gods from the Void who could “soar through the void,” and were more agile and willing to lower their status, so she looked down on these deities who were “not good enough” in either aspect.

Thus, their only option for allegiance was the First Demon God, Barbatos.

Conversely, the First Demon God, Barbatos, had already enacted the “Emergency State Bill for Wartime,” consolidating all rights and resources in chaos into his hands, but he could not control the Outer Gods that belonged to the void.

Therefore, to command the Outer Gods, he had to find Gimmerly first and have her deliver the orders.

However…

Gimmerly was a deity with the authority of the void!

She was also a powerful core councilor of chaos.

Barbatos might have been able to reap benefits from her in chaos; but if he pushed Gimmerly too hard, and she decided to abandon chaos and its matters, the First Demon God would have had no way to handle her.

After all, beyond being a “core councilor of chaos,” she had another identity—“the master of the authority of the void” and “the Lord of the Void”!

Even if she were expelled from the Chaos Council, Gimmerly could still reign as her own master of the void.

At that time, in Barbatos’s view, the only thing he could use to restrain Gimmerly was the "Chaos Mark."

But perhaps the Lord of the Void had considerable resistance to the Chaos Mark…

So then, the only force Barbatos could fully rely on was the "Outer Predators."

Compared to the scattered and ineffective intelligence gathering he had done before, the First Demon God now had a grander plan!

"Everyone, feel free to soar!"

"Go to every corner of the Chaos Swamp!"

"Go to the edges of the Endless Ether!"

"Venture deep into the Primal Wilderness!"

"Bring back all information about the Giant God’s spawn, the Fantasy Trees he planted, and everything tied to them!"

"From today on, you will be my ‘Statistical Officials’!"

Indeed!

The First Demon God’s grander plan was to set up a team of "Statistical Officials!"

Their job wasn’t just to keep a close watch on the Giant God; that was only a small part of the deities’ work.

The rest of the "Outer Predators" would go into the Primal Wilderness, acting as "envoys" to win over the Vast Dragon God and the Giant Spirit God.

More importantly, they needed to do a "statistical survey" to lay out the Giant God’s forces clearly, so they could then make targeted plans!

To make this happen, Barbatos didn’t hesitate to gather resources widely, hiring many mixed-quality "Outer Predators," and even created an office separate from the Chaos Council, answering only to the First Demon God himself—the "Core Statistical Bureau."

The First Demon God’s counterattack had finally taken its first step!

“Whoosh—!”

“Phew—!”

Watching the agile figures rising from the Fantasy Tree and the false wings spreading out everywhere, Barbatos smiled with satisfaction.

Good news was on the way.

But that day, the first to bring good news weren’t the "Core Statistical Bureau," but his two "Attendants."

“Elioerg has fallen?”

“Was he killed by the Giant God?”

“Wonderful!”

What made this news even better was the scene the two subordinate officials brought back using "magic."

The first scene showed Elioerg hugging the Giant God’s front leg, looking flattering; the second showed him falling to the ground, shaking, and finally lying still; the third scene showed the blood and broken bones…

About why there were only separate scenes and they seemed jumpy…

“Too dangerous!”

“Yes! If we hadn’t run off a few times, the Giant God would have found and eaten us!”

“We’re not cowards, but if we died, who’d do the great tasks the First Demon God gave us?”

“We put up with shame to live, but it was all for you, First Demon God!”

Barbatos certainly wasn’t fooled…

At least not completely.

He knew exactly what these secondary demon gods were like.

Though their flattery gave him goosebumps and even disgusted him, he did not pursue it.

After all, despite minor "imperfections," they’d completed the task "perfectly."

Besides, with the "Emergency State Bill for Wartime" enacted, the First Demon God’s authority was theoretically boundless.

Faced with such a mighty and formidable First Demon God…

"Surely these cowards wouldn’t dare fabricate everything?"

This thought instantly lifted Barbatos’s spirits.

His lips curved into a grin.

"Hahaha! Such irony! What poetic justice!"

"Exquisite irony!"

"Seeking refuge with the Giant God, eh!?"

"That savage creature would never treat defectors kindly!"

"All it craves is to devour and replace!"

"Hahahaha…"

"Well done! You’ve served me admirably!"

Barbatos waved his hand, and two golden lights entered the "Attendants."

"A boon!?"

"Our gratitude, magnanimous First Demon God!"

"You are our sole guiding light!"

Though the praise pleased him, Barbatos dismissed them with a disgusted wave.

"Enough. Leave now."

"Enjoy your rewards."

"Wait—"

Barbatos suddenly halted the two attendants at the threshold.

They trembled, relief replaced by renewed dread.

"Could he have… seen through us…?"

Fortunately, he hadn’t.

"Go!"

"Find Lady Xidi and Gimmerly."

"Wasn’t Elioerg their ally? I heard they planned to rescue him."

"Now that rescue is unnecessary!"

"Haha!"

"Deliver this news to Lady Xidi and Gimmerly!"

"Weren’t those two content to watch from the sidelines?"

"Let’s see them remain idle now!"

"Hmph…"

After the subordinate officials departed, Barbatos hummed a triumphant tune.

Yet his "good fortune" persisted.

Within two days, his newly formed "Core Statistical Bureau" proved its worth!

"Great King Barbatos!"

An "Outer Predator" knelt before him.

"We’ve detected the Giant God’s movements at the Primal Wilderness border!"

"He’s engaged in combat with numerous Vast Dragon Gods and Pan-Spirit Deities!"

Barbatos nearly leapt for joy.

"Excellent—!"

"Quickly!"

"Dispatch Lady Xidi! Gimmerly! And… Barbatos!"

"Elioerg’s demise made Gimmerly and Lady Xidi the Giant God’s enemies!"

"Barbatos remains loyal to me!"

"I have no doubt they will exert their utmost!"