Chapter 1377: Chapter 1377

"You have done what I asked. As per our agreement, I can answer some of your questions. So, what is it you wish to know?"

Viscount Franca turned his profile to the setting sun outside the window and waved a hand toward the man on the sofa. The dying man was swallowed by a white mist that rose from the floor and vanished in an instant. Though it happened right before Jenkins's eyes, he couldn't fathom where the man had gone.

"I'm actually more curious whether asking me to bring him here was a spur-of-the-moment decision or if you had some other purpose. Of course, it's fine if you can't tell me. I'm just curious."

He was genuinely very curious, but considering he was sitting across from a god, it was best to remain respectful.

"I can answer that. He once insulted me with a blasphemous ritual, so I wished to give him some punishment."

"Yes, just for that."

Viscount Franca nodded, signaling for Jenkins to ask his next question.

The [Lie] divinity gave no reaction. Jenkins wasn't sure if it was because the being before him was truly not lying, or if his own power was insufficient to react to the words of a god.

He thought to himself, organizing his thoughts before posing his first real question:

"Was the mad poet, Kavendish, a Savior candidate of the 15th Epoch? And was his Savior's Emblem the ability, 'Child of Disaster'?"

"Yes. I thought you would have known that already," the god behind the desk replied.

"Then I'm a bit confused. If he was one of the Saviors, why was his ability described as 'Child of Disaster'? And the way it acquires power... it runs completely contrary to saving the world."

This question had troubled Jenkins for a long time.

"That's an excellent question. I was troubled by it for a long time myself, only understanding it at the very end. So, how do you understand 'saving the world'? It's quite simple to explain, really. Tearing down an old building to erect a new one is a form of salvation, but so is mending and patching the old one. The only difference is the method; the result is the same. To touch on a more sensitive topic, the material world has once again reached the end of an epoch. I imagine many heretical cults that usually lie dormant have started to stir, haven't they? Give me an example of one."

Jenkins thought for a moment.

"The Club of Light Chasers."

It was the first heretical cult he had encountered after arriving in this world.

"If I recall correctly, that organization claims that all of humanity must become light to escape the cataclysm at the end of the epoch. Do you consider that a way of saving the world? In fact, it is. At least in principle, the disappearance of all humanity could genuinely postpone the arrival of the final day. It's just that this method is not very feasible and is tainted by other motives. By that same logic, the 'Child of Disaster,' which guides calamity, can also become a Savior."

Viscount Franca explained.

"If the 15th Epoch could allow the 'Child of Disaster' to be a Savior candidate, then in the current 18th Epoch, it could once again..."

"I know what you want to ask, but I cannot answer that question. It is something you must discover for yourself."

The middle-aged man behind the desk shook his head.

"I understand. I only asked to try my luck. As I thought... So, if I truly defeat the other competitors and become the final victor, what will I have to face? I know the final calamity is called the great cataclysm at the end of the epoch, but what is it, specifically? A powerful creature? A worldwide mutation? Or something even more terrifying?"

Jenkins tried to articulate his thoughts. By "a powerful thing," he was referring to the ancient machine beneath Nolan, and by "a worldwide mutation," he meant the fog surrounding the city.

"You will face the collective 'Sin' of all intelligent beings who have lived in this world throughout an entire epoch. This is the destiny of every epoch. When this Sin exceeds the world's capacity, it coalesces into something terrible, or it latches onto an existing entity. If the chosen one can deal with it—by any means necessary—then that mortal can directly ascend to godhood..."

After saying this, the god behind the desk chuckled.

"You have absolutely never heard what I just said from any other source. This is the deepest secret about the future that I can reveal. So don't try asking more specific questions. Some things, spoken from my lips and entering your ears, will cause unnecessary trouble for the future."

"I understand that as well. Speaking of which, doesn't eliminating the sin of an epoch work on the same principle as collecting Sin Coins and shouldering sin? Could it be that the sovereigns allow those strange things to enter the material world so they can collect the Sin Coins condensed from sin, thereby constantly postponing the arrival of the end of the epoch?"

Jenkins mused for a moment before speaking. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NovelHub(.)net

"You know about that as well?"

For the first time, the god of mist and spices showed surprise. "That someone dared to tell you this... truly... I will not express any opinion on your views. When you leave the material world and ascend, you will have your own answers."

Although the god before him still hadn't told Jenkins what he would ultimately face, at least he now had a vague answer, which was better than knowing nothing at all.

It seemed the topic of the end of the epoch was closed. Seeing that the other party had no intention of answering more in-depth questions, Jenkins shifted the conversation to the issue of the tobacco that had recently caused such an uproar across the world. The first question, naturally, was whether the god was connected to it. This was a critical question.

"I have nothing to do with this matter. Although a small number of my followers have participated in this farce, it was not by my will, and their actions contradict my teachings. You should be able to see this from the attitude of the Orthodox Churches. To this day, not a single one has ever declared me a heretical god."

The middle-aged man answered in a relaxed tone.

"Then what is the purpose of that tobacco? They've spread it across the entire world, surely not just to earn a few gold coins?"

Jenkins asked again. As the god of smoke and spices, he would definitely be able to answer this question.

"That tobacco, with its strange ingredients... its sleep-inducing effect is actually stronger than its addictive properties. You should be aware of this, shouldn't you?"

"I am. The tobacco makes people feel relaxed, which is why everyone who tries it wants a second time, even though it isn't highly addictive."

Jenkins said, nodding.