Goddess Kaleidoscope

What changes will occur to this deity at this point?

These assumptions and conjectures were soon verified in Hume's case.

Generally, Ludwig divides the gods into two categories: one is the world-class gods, such as the three great families and the Earth Mother, who are all high-ranking gods known to everyone in the world, while the other gods are generally minor regional gods, only famous within their own parishes.

Regardless of the type, these major and minor sects at least maintain a unified and fixed doctrine. But Hume is a very special, or rather, an anomaly, among all the gods.

On the one hand, because of her divine status as the "God of Thieves," she has a large and widely distributed group of believers. However, because of her divine status, the followers of the God of Thieves do not have a unified sect like the three great families, which can unify her doctrines and beliefs throughout the world.

As a result, the scattered believers and the inability to unify the doctrines led to the formation of independent "faith ecosystems." Hume himself, in desperation, resorted to establishing numerous underground cults around the world that worshipped the god of thievery, which further exacerbated the problem.

Everyone believes in the God of Thieves, but they are not all the same God of Thieves.

This is the main reason why counterfeit goods can be produced. Kumirard calls her the "alien" of the god of thieves, while Lud secretly calls her "Hume Lily" or "Black Hand Hume" or something like that. The Black Hand Brotherhood is the faith ecosystem that was born from this.

But like all believers in the god of thieves, the Black Hand Brotherhood, despite its immense power in Flamewood City, ultimately dared not openly expose itself to the light of day. Of the city's million inhabitants, only tens of thousands truly knew and believed in Black Hand Hume, and even then, they were not necessarily devout.

So what Lude is doing now is stuffing people into this closed ecosystem. These people have all seen "The Count of Monte Cristo" and have unconsciously accepted the character and settings of Hume, the god of thieves in the show. At that time, it will be hard to tell who is whose fanfiction.

Under Lude's manipulation, the new image of the God of Thieves began to spread widely throughout the entire city of Yanmu, frantically reaping faith through "The King of the Caves," all of which was carried out right under the noses of the Black Hand Brotherhood, who were completely unaware of the impending crisis.

At this time, within the Brotherhood of the Black Hand, the elders were still focusing all their energy on the struggle for the position of chairman. Even "Snake Lady" Shirley, who originally wanted to remain neutral, was forced to join the battle after meeting with the necromancer Dick.

However, among all the elders, the one with the best chance of winning is still Hu En, who leads the Navarro family. In a one-on-one fight, none of the other elders are his match.

As the richest family in the city and the owner of the largest business guild, the Navarro family's private estate is located in the western suburbs of Yanmu City. It is an independent small castle where the head of the family, Hu En, usually lives in seclusion and leaves his cousin Juan in charge of most affairs.

Many people outside the family only know that the Navarro family is rich and well-connected, but they don't know that this family was once a famous alchemical family that produced many big names in this field.

Hu En, who has been hailed as a "genius businessman" since childhood, is also a highly skilled alchemist. Now that he is older, he has handed over the business to his trustworthy cousin, while he himself lives a secluded life on the manor, spending a great deal of time studying alchemy.

Because of his naturally weak constitution, coupled with the fact that studying alchemy requires frequent contact with toxic and harmful substances, Hu En, now 55 years old, has always been in poor health. If you only look at his appearance, it is easy to mistake him for an old man in his seventies or eighties, already halfway to the grave.

In contrast, Juan, who was only a few years younger than him, was in excellent health and would go to the Silver House to relieve his lust every few days. He was also a good friend of Bishop August of the Holy Church of Light.

Many in the family thought that the old patriarch could probably only hold on for another three to five years at most, but his chosen successor, Terlin, was carried back from outside by the family guards, who had suffered more than half of their casualties, after only six months.

Everyone was worried that the frail old man might not be able to bear the bad news and would pass away on the spot. But the other party simply examined the young master Terlin's "body" with a blank expression, and then calmly instructed the servants to take the body to the castle's basement, where Huen's alchemy laboratory was located, and place it in a special cold storage.

End of this chapter

Those who know Hu En know that this seemingly sickly and frail man is actually a ruthless character who holds grudges and is known in the underworld for his integrity. He is the kind of person who will kill an entire family if he says he will, and he won't even spare a dog!

The one who got into trouble this time was his most beloved eldest son, the future heir of the Navarro family. So many people who knew his personality felt that unless the old man died on the spot from excessive grief, he was bound to unleash a terrible bloodbath.

To everyone's astonishment, old Hu En actually held back. Even when the necromancer Dick reappeared in Flamewood City, Hu En made no comment, simply staying in his alchemy laboratory, tinkering with something.

Seeing his cousin, whom he once both respected and feared, so dejected, Juan couldn't sit still any longer. He approached Hu En several times, hoping that the man could pull himself together again, but nothing he said made a difference. The old man even refused to bury Trin's body in the family cemetery, and inexplicably claimed that the boy wasn't dead and that he had a way to bring him back to life, making Juan realize that his cousin had truly grown old.

For many years, Juan has been a diligent pawn for his cousin. It's not that he lacks ambition, but that he knows his own limitations.

Back when his peers were vying for the right of succession, Juan knew he wasn't a direct descendant. His biological father had married into the family, so he had little influence in the clan. He himself lacked ruthlessness, but he was self-aware and had a good eye for people, so he quickly latched onto his cousin Hu En's coattails.

Because he could see that Hu En was a ruthless person, possessing the ruthless spirit that he lacked most. And later events proved that he made the right choice. Hu En not only became the head of the family, but also eliminated all his other brothers and sisters who were competing for the position, leaving only Hu An alive.

Therefore, Juan has remained loyal to Hu En for most of his life and always obeyed his cousin. If he ever opposed anything, it was probably the matter of making Litlin the eldest son.

In Juan's view, his cousin, who was usually shrewd and rarely made mistakes, had made an extremely rare and egregious blunder in this matter concerning the future of the entire family. Trin was not a qualified heir at all; there were so many sons who were more outstanding than him, but Juan favored Trin and insisted on making him the eldest son despite the objections of others.

Juan was helpless, but he couldn't argue with Hu En's insistence on his word, so he had no choice but to give up. When Trin was carried back this time, Juan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that since there was no one left, shouldn't you, sir, choose a more suitable successor? But Hu En seemed unwilling to accept the fact and even said something absurd like he could bring Trin back to life.

Even the great resurrection spells of those priests don't work, so where do you get the confidence to bring people back up?

Seeing his once highly respected cousin turn into such a stubborn and senile old man, Juan felt that he should also make preparations soon.

Despite Hu En's poor health, it didn't really affect his sex life much. He had many wives and children, and now he had more than ten adult males, most of whom were more skilled than the good-for-nothing Terlin.

Juan never considered taking the position of "representative brother" because he knew he wasn't cut out for it. He figured if he did, he'd probably be ousted by his subordinates very quickly. The "advisor" position was safer and more suitable for him.

So during this time, Juan privately contacted several of his nephews to find out their opinions and true thoughts, while also secretly assessing who would be most beneficial to him to support as the head of the family.

Another matter that also concerned Juan was the election of the Black Hand Brotherhood's leader. The former leader had announced his resignation some time ago, leaving a message indicating that several elders should compete for the position, which directly led to the current tense atmosphere within the Brotherhood.

Normally, Hu En would be the most promising candidate to take over, but his cousin's current state of decline makes Juan feel very uneasy.

The emperor wasn't worried, but the eunuch was. Juan never imagined that the entire Navarro family would need him to step up and take the lead. He felt that the mental pressure he had been under recently was off the charts, and he desperately needed to go out and find some fun to relax.

So Juan changed into casual clothes and went out to a courtyard near the Tianlai Opera House. This was the residence of Katie, the head of the Feixia Dance Troupe, where Juan often had secret rendezvous with her.

Juan preferred to visit Katie rather than the girls in the silver house. Although this woman was a promiscuous slut who could run into nine men she had slept with just by going out for a meal, she was still a well-known star in Yanmu City, with a higher status than prostitutes, and she knew how to please men.

Juan never truly loved Katie. He knew why she was trying to please him, and he only treated her as a plaything. They were both very relaxed.

As usual, Juan bought some cheap little gifts on his way here. As he went upstairs through the back door, he wondered if he should try to use the back door again, which was a rare occurrence. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Katie sitting by the coffee table with a sullen face, as if she was worried about something.

Juan then waved the gift box in his hand at Katie and said with a grin.

"Honey, I've come to see you! What's wrong? You look so worried. Did someone make you angry? Tell me, and I'll help you get revenge."

Seeing that it was Juan, Katie didn't say anything, only giving him a coquettish glare. Juan, unperturbed, came to her side, reached out and touched Katie's bare shoulder, feeling the delicate skin with his fingertips, while his eyes looked over her shoulder, gazing down at the mountains and valleys.

"Baby, I miss you."

"Hmph! You men are all liars. You say you miss me, but what you really want is my body, right?"

"Haha, they're all the same!"

Despite saying "they're all liars," Katie didn't resist the man behind her slipping his hand inside her collar. At that moment, Juan lowered his head and kissed Katie's slender neck, whispering a question in her ear.

Tell me, what's bothering you?

"Why are you so worried? Go out and ask what the hottest play is in the whole of Yanmu City right now, and you'll find out."

"That King of the Caves? I went out of town on business a while ago and only came back yesterday, so I really don't know much about him! A bunch of actors from out of town don't know the rules. If you don't like them, I'll have my men 'handle' them a bit. This little thing is not difficult for you, Brother Juan."

End of this chapter

After spending the night at Katie's place, Juan went out early the next morning feeling refreshed. As soon as he returned, he called over a trusted subordinate and asked him to investigate the Rainbow Dance Troupe, focusing on whether they had any special background.

Don't be fooled by Juan's quick agreement yesterday to stand up for Katie. He's been the "second-in-command" of the Navarro family for so many years, and the reason he's still alive and well and has become a prominent figure in Yanmu City is because of his ability and intelligence, not his background or luck.

The city of Yanmu is a treacherous place; many things can have far-reaching consequences. It's always best to be cautious.

As expected, the investigation uncovered numerous problems. Although the Rainbow Dance Troupe was an outsider, its backer was no nobody—the Medicine God Cult, which had risen to prominence in recent years. This cult was renowned for its various highly effective magical potions; Juan himself had used them, and the effects were indeed phenomenal!

In addition, they have become very popular locally because of their new play, "The Count of Monte Cristo". Many important people attended the premiere, including the city lord's family, Archbishop August, and even Jade, who is also a member of the Black Hand Brotherhood. The presence of so many big names speaks volumes.

After listening to his subordinate's report, Juan couldn't help but wonder, "That bitch really did give me a big problem."

If it were any unknown nobody, given Hu Erye's formidable reputation, he could easily send a message through his subordinates, and anyone who wasn't an idiot would immediately run away. But the situation with the Rainbow Dance Troupe was clearly different; if he actually did that, he might incur the wrath of the masses.

To curry favor with some nobody and get yourself into trouble for no reason seems a bit too much of a waste. Juan thought it over and over and decided it wasn't worth it, so he asked his subordinate again.

"Does this Rainbow Dance Troupe plan to stay permanently?"

"It seems not. I've inquired, and they're heading north next month to tour other cities."

Oh, I see!

Hearing his subordinates say that the Rainbow Dance Troupe wouldn't be staying in Flamewood City permanently and would be leaving in two months at most, Juan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself that this would make things easier. At worst, he wouldn't go to see Katie for the next two months. Once the Rainbow Dance Troupe left on its own, he could just buy some small gifts to appease them.

Juan then made up his mind. Without saying anything, he waved his hand to dismiss his men. But he didn't realize that his silence had caused his dismissed men to make some unnecessary assumptions.

The subordinate who was sent away was named Maru. Unlike ordinary henchmen, this guy had a beautiful older sister and wisely slept with Juan. As a result, Maru got a relatively easy and lucrative job. Juan called him to his side to serve. His main job was to be a messenger and a mouthpiece. As long as he had a good memory and kept his mouth shut, he was fine. So he didn't need to have any great skills.

Maru did indeed do a good job, dutifully running errands for Juan. Seeing that he was efficient, Juan felt relieved and reluctantly used him as a trusted confidant to handle miscellaneous tasks, while other (capable) confidants were at Juan's disposal for the truly important matters.

The problem was that Juan could tell the boy wasn't particularly capable, so he only gave him trivial tasks. Maru, however, gradually became complacent, believing that Juan had brought him to his side because he appreciated his "talent." Furthermore, he had been doing quite well for the past few months and had even received a few lukewarm compliments, so he unknowingly became arrogant, thinking he was capable enough and should be helping his brother-in-law.

So after sending Maru away, Juan quickly put the Rainbow Dance Troupe out of his mind and focused on more important business at hand. But Maru didn't think so; he believed that the opportunity to perform that he had always wanted had finally come.

In his view, his brother-in-law's inquiries about the Rainbow Dance Troupe were most likely because he had his eye on this currently popular troupe and wanted to forcibly acquire it and incorporate it into the Navarro family's business.

So, after leaving Juan's office, Maru ran straight to Wind Street in the West District. This area is the slum of Yanmu City. Because it is home to a large number of the lowest of the low, it is also called Rat Street. It is full of thugs who have nothing to lose and are therefore fearless.

After Maru arrived, he found his childhood friend and cousin, Mafen, who was the leader of a small gang in Rat Street. He had about ten underlings and mainly took on jobs such as fighting and thuggery. He was a nobody in Yanmu City and always wanted to find an opportunity to get close to a real big brother.

Maru found Marfin and told him that he had a good job for him. If he did it well, he might be appreciated by Lord Juan and work for the Navarro family like Maru. Being a watchdog for a wealthy family was better than being a starving stray dog.

Upon hearing this good news, Muffin immediately offered to take care of it.

The tragedy of the lower-class thugs is nothing more than this: they have a narrow vision and little knowledge, and they act blindly and without considering the consequences. But sometimes, it is precisely these simple-minded fools who drive things forward.

Meanwhile, Lud's plan was proceeding smoothly. The widespread promotion of "The Count of Monte Cristo" caused a dramatic surge in Hume's faith in a short period, rapidly diluting the original concentration of faith in the area. This strange change was surely already noticed by the counterfeiters.

But at this moment, Lud was not afraid of the opponent launching an attack at all, and even hoped that the opponent would take the initiative to show themselves.

Because Lud had already confirmed that, at least in Yanmu City, the fake had no other "god-level" allies. Lud was prepared to launch an immediate attack the moment the fake appeared, using his overwhelming advantage in "divine numbers" to capture the fake on the spot.

While gods cannot be killed by ordinary means, there are ways to subdue them, just like the "hand-chopping curse" that the God of War cast on Hume.

Once the other party is caught, things will be much easier. The counterfeiters will be left with no choice but to watch helplessly as the Italians, held down by the evil Americans, put the "pineapple" on their pizzas.

However, after waiting for several days, Lud discovered that the counterfeit goods were even more patient than he had expected. Whether it was excessive caution or simply cowardice, they remained completely unmoved. The Black Hand Brotherhood also did not react, allowing the drama to continue to spread and its influence to grow stronger.

This silence made Lud feel vaguely uneasy, as he felt that the other side was also taking actions that he was unaware of, but he couldn't guess what they were for the time being.

Just as Lud was analyzing the current situation and trying to see if there was anything he had overlooked, Servis suddenly approached Lud with a worried expression and brought him some bad news.

"Master, something terrible has happened! Baal has been captured!"

End of this chapter

Hearing Servis's clearly panicked shout, Lud was stunned for a moment, then thought for a moment before finally realizing that Baal was a male actor in the Rainbow Dance Company, who played both the young Edmund and Albert.

Thanks to the popularity of "The Count of Monte Cristo", Baal is now a minor celebrity in Yanmu City, and he is always recognized when he goes out shopping.

Lude initially had a good impression of the young man. He was a long-time member of the Rainbow Dance Troupe, whom he had met back in Pine Town. He was reliable, hardworking, and had solid acting skills.

But during their encounter in Flamewood City, Lud was using Hugo's name, and only Servis knew his true identity. He suddenly noticed that this Baal would look at him with strange eyes from time to time. When he asked Servis, he learned that the boy was not very straightforward in some ways.

After learning the truth, Ludwig deliberately distanced himself from the other party.

Servis told Lud that Baal had left in the morning, saying he was going to look for local specialties in Yanmu City so he could bring some back to his family as souvenirs when he passed through his hometown on his way back north.

With the first show about to begin today, Baal has been gone since he left home and hasn't returned. Meanwhile, the theater received a ransom letter, supposedly sent by a beggar on behalf of the kidnappers. The letter demanded a ransom of 500 gold coins and gave them three days to prepare it, while also forbidding them from telling anyone.