When the plot-skips players into the game world

As the flames of war spread, the influence of the Red Calamity on the Material Realm became increasingly intense.

For reasons unknown, the Red Gloves intentionally avoided the two city-states controlled by Aiwass.

However, their victory in attacking Heaven City greatly boosted the morale of the other city-state rebels.

Not all rebels are as crazed and extreme as the Red Gloves... More rebels themselves maintain decent relations with slaves, and even free people.

Because of this, they are more likely to be betrayed by those they trust. In fact, if they can be betrayed, it shows they've reached a level of trust where betrayal is possible.

If one side doesn't trust the other, betrayal is difficult. Now, the Red Gloves are akin to catfish, forcing civilians to pick a side — either choose the Benevolent Lords or the rebel army.

— Or else they'll die here when the Red Gloves arrive!

And as long as they conquer and control the Benevolent Lords... the Red Gloves can't fire upon city-states without Benevolent Lords, can they?

They claim to act against the Benevolent Lords, but what if there are no Benevolent Lords here? Would you still attack a group of free citizens who resist the Benevolent Lords and have taken control?

That clearly wouldn't happen.

Even if some among the Red Gloves wanted to act, they'd be stopped by their leaders and comrades before doing something irreversible. After all, if they want to recruit new members, they can't lose their righteousness.

In this way, the Red Gloves' irrational madness and violence ironically propel the rebellion across the Parthian Ancient Country!

Just as the Red Calamity hoped, continuing to spread war in the name of revenge and rebellion! Continue to utterly eradicate the remnants of "Authority"!

Similarly, fearing these unprincipled madmen, the Benevolent Lords truly began to follow Aiwass's example by greatly enhancing treatment for free people. They also painted sweet promises for slaves to encourage them to firmly stand on their side.

"A war without warriors..."

Hassan stood in the palace bedroom, muttering softly as he looked out the window: "It's ridiculous."

Behind him, silently lay the headless body of a Benevolent Lord.

Hassan had just grasped the other's neck with his left hand, spraying Divine Fire from his palm to burn him to charcoal. Now it still smoked black, while outside the window were people's terrified cries and the hideous laughter of the Red Gloves.

Here is Mirror Lake City, famous for its numerous monks.

Those monks from Horus came here to spread their Mithraism. The city's Benevolent Lord accepted their teachings, becoming a devout Worshipper of Mithra... and forcibly converting others.

He required free citizens to meditate and practice at the central Mirror Lake, to discuss philosophy and debate. Everyone had to take turns speaking, while he would personally attend, listening carefully and questioning their points with others. If one could cleverly convince the people of his views, he'd receive generous rewards from the Benevolent Lord; otherwise, he'd be stripped of free citizen status for a month, becoming a slave.

He even allowed other slaves to listen in — and they could at any time use their lives as the price to pose a question to the speaker. If the question stumped the speaker and the slave himself gave a brilliant response, gaining applause from those around, he could immediately become a free citizen, while the free citizen lacking thought would be permanently demoted to a slave.

If he failed in questioning, he'd be publicly hanged.

This is the price of "asking foolish questions" — this Benevolent Lord, titled the "Thinker," deeply detests those who feign understanding or treat ignorance as humor. But compared to other city-state Benevolent Lords, he is relatively peaceable.

He wouldn't even execute someone obstructing him directly, but patiently listens to their words!

A city-state valuing dialectics and philosophy, peaceful and calm... it was among the few city-states with hardly any rebels.

— Precisely because of this, the Red Hand Gang came here to prioritize its elimination. Otherwise, their extremist acts would continuously drive people towards neutrality... The Parthians themselves might be unaware, but Hassan, who studied abroad, understood.

"Ridiculous?"

An elegant and melodious voice came from the bedside: "But that's how you 'win,' isn't it."

Lady Morgan on the Benevolent Lord's bed smiled and patted the bed, gesturing for him to come and enjoy her gift.

Beside her were the Thinker's favored concubines — their minds dazzled by Lady Morgan's Magic Potion, turned into puppets stripped of Self, knowing only desire.

This was her gift to enchant Hassan, as well as bait to lure him.

"Come on, Hero. Victory in war means plundering, doesn't it?"

Lady Morgan's words were venomous yet tempting: "It's what you deserve. Or would you rather be with me?"

But Hassan merely turned back coldly, gazing at Morgan silently.

"What's wrong, my dear?"

Lady Morgan cupped her chin with both hands, smiling innocently like a child: "Haven't you already tasted me? Shouldn't that be an unforgettable memory? Or have you lost interest in these people."

"...Because I've already fallen for it once, I won't again."

Hassan slowly spoke: "I am afraid of my madness... that's not how I should behave. Rather than pleasure, I care more about maintaining my precious rationality and Wisdom."

"Boring."

Morgan sighed, but a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth: "Just like him..."

"Him?"

"Arthur."

"...Red Calamity?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

Morgan didn't directly answer Hassan's question but lightly shifted the topic: "You seem dissatisfied with my lord's plan?"

"How dare I have an opinion on the Pillar God."

Hassan laughed sarcastically.

Morgan's eyes twinkled: "But you don't seem... happy?"

"No one would be happy becoming a Sword, Lady Morgan."

"Why not?"

Morgan retorted: "Haven't you achieved your goal? Humans naturally learn to use tools, and you surpass them. Isn't this a manifestation of exceptional talent?"

"Achieved? No, not at all."

Hassan laughed, but there was no joy in his voice: "What I want is to liberate this land from the eternal rule of the Benevolent Lords.

"I unhesitatingly killed those civilians precisely to make sure those Benevolent Lords wouldn't realize I value them; I polluted those water sources to prevent the Benevolent Lords from using these precious resources to blackmail us. But now everything is different."

"You couldn't stop from the beginning, my dear."

Morgan smiled, for once serious, sitting upright and saying meaningfully: "When you gathered these hysterical, desperate madmen to fight against the Benevolent Lords, it was already destined to happen. You deceived them for your own goals; how different are you from the Benevolent Lords?"

"You and your master manipulated me and my comrades for your own goals. How different are you from the Benevolent Lords?"

Hassan asked unreservedly: "This rhetoric doesn't work on me, madam. I could control them originally; it was only after you came that they went out of control."

Even considering the face of the Pillar God, Hassan didn't want to give in.

At first, he was indeed bewitched by Morgan... whether it was the knowledge she provided, the Strength she granted, her beautiful form and voice. But when the new constellation rose, he was already half-aware; and when the situation completely spiraled out of control, he understood it all.

Hassan did think about... using the Pillar God's Strength to destroy the Parthian Ancient Country.

But he never imagined the price he needed to pay would be so great—

He was clearly praying to a God, not making a deal with a Demon!

"Really? Was it because of my arrival? Or because of your victory?"

Morgan's smile was ambiguous, but her voice grew even sweeter: "Forget those unpleasant things—have you ever thought about it? If you truly destroyed the Parthian Ancient Country and liberated all the slaves... what would you do afterward?

"Rebuild a country and crown yourself king? Or hand over power to that Parthia King who may or may not exist? Or share power with others, dividing the land equally with your brothers?"

"Such discussions are meaningless."

Hassan said without hesitation: "Like seriously thinking about how to handle a windfall, it's ridiculous."

"Is it meaningless? Or is it that you're afraid to think about it?"

Morgan said meaningfully: "Or perhaps... you crave more?"

"...What do you mean?"

Hassan suddenly tasted a trace of detail in Morgan's words.

He squinted his eyes, turned back, and inquired earnestly.

Morgan's enchanting smile faded, turning serious and solemn.

Yet in this stance, she seemed even more ethereal and enchanting.

"I ask you," Morgan began, "do you want to break free from the shackles on yourself?"