Chapter 796: Terms of Cooperation

At the summons of Meigaoer the Third, the archbishops who had briefly left the conference hall one by one returned. The atmosphere quickly reverted to the usual formal meeting setting—except for one glaring difference: the Outer Wanderer now sat openly at the round table.

This indescribable being smiled gently as it looked at each person present.

Magnan was the last to return. As his figure solidified beside the table, his first instinct was to glance toward Gawain. Then, clutching his forehead, he sighed heavily. “Damn it… I thought what I saw earlier was just a hallucination. So what’s going on now? Before the Upper Narrators could corrupt us, have we already been infiltrated by the Outer Wanderers?”

His tone carried a hint of resignation, as if throwing in the towel.

Gawain smiled softly and fixed his gaze on Magnan. “I don’t usually have the habit of corrupting others—but if you’re interested, I could give it a try.”

He trusted the power of mathematical concepts like the Riemann Hypothesis and Fermat’s Last Theorem. He was considering using his high-level access within the psychic network to fragment those ideas and inject them into the surface memories of his targets in a chaotic way. The effect should rival the mental corruption wrought by eldritch gods…

That gentle smile and casual remark nearly gave Magnan goosebumps.

Yuri, who was not feeling well, looked up at Magnan, then at the “Outer Wanderer” beside him. His face twitched slightly. He wanted to switch seats immediately, but no one seemed willing to trade places with him. As an archbishop, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and stay put, feeling even worse than before.

“You don’t need to be so tense,” Gawain said with a smile, having successfully lightened the mood. “I’m not a soul-devouring beast, nor will I drain your spirits like a demon. I did a little digging in your psychic network and found your opinions of me… quite interesting. There are many misunderstandings, which explains why you’re so on edge.”

“I have no interest in your souls or lives. I came to this world simply to…” He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over Selena Gerfen not far away. After a moment’s thought, he continued, “…to peacefully enjoy a journey and fulfill a promise.”

Originally, he had only intended to say “enjoy a journey,” but before the words left his mouth, memories of Gawain Cecil’s mysterious voyage and that “soul transaction” flashed through his mind. He also recalled that Selena Gerfen might know some of the inside story. To build initial trust and clear obstacles for future actions, he deliberately added the word “promise.”

Even though he himself didn’t fully understand what this “promise” was, as long as Selena knew, that was enough.

Just as Gawain predicted, after his last words, the archbishops looked somewhat bewildered. Selena’s eyes shifted subtly as she glanced in his direction.

As for Meigaoer the Third, who floated silently in midair… Gawain wasn’t sure how to read the ancient pope’s expression yet. Although he sensed some similarity to Kamail’s shifting complexion, their emotional spectrums seemed different. Kamail had never turned dark.

At the moment Gawain finished speaking, Daniel received a secret message. The “Sleeper Security Chief” stood up, eyes wide with disbelief and caution, voice trembling: “You… can see what we’ve placed in the psychic network…?”

Gawain looked at Daniel and inwardly thought: such acting skills wasted outside the Shadow Theater.

“Your psychic network is no secret to me,” he nodded thoughtfully. “Of course, I have no interest in invading your privacy. I only searched for things that caught my attention. You needn’t worry about me reading your memories.”

Throughout the conversation, Gawain deliberately reinforced the image of himself as a bizarrely powerful “Outer Wanderer” in the mental realm, emphasizing his control over the psychic network.

After a long setup, it was finally time to drop the pretense. He decided not to hide anymore; instead, he would make himself appear even more formidable. Only by doing so could he seize the initiative fully. Whether this would make the Sleepers wary was irrelevant.

He was an “Outer Wanderer” after all—why bother maintaining a “friendly” image before the Sleepers? Better to lean into that persona, especially since he had already thoroughly infiltrated their psychic network.

The archbishops’ faces darkened noticeably. The feeling of having their secrets and lifelines held by another was deeply unsettling, especially for those who had long held high positions in the cult. Yet after a brief silence, they regained their composure.

They had spent centuries, even generations, fighting against the imagined enemy of “God.”

More than personal feelings, they were capable of enduring pressures ordinary people would not.

“Since you’ve been ‘watching’ us all along…” A dignified female archbishop with half-elf features sighed and looked at Gawain. “We needn’t waste words. What is your stance on the Upper Narrators?”

Watching the archbishops quickly adjust their mindset and face him—the “Outer Wanderer”—Gawain sighed inwardly.

Such talented individuals, yet on the wrong path.

He knew he might not have the right to judge the course of civilization, but from the perspective of a ruler, every dark cult’s path was intolerable.

Fortunately, the Sleepers hadn’t let things spiral out of control like the End of All Things sect. There was still room for intervention.

“I’ve already said I agree with Selena Gerfen’s view,” Gawain said slowly. “Regarding the ‘monster’ brewing in Sandbox One: it must never break free from its confinement, nor be allowed to reign over the real world as a god.”

“This world already has enough gods, each one a source of trouble. We don’t need another.”

“On that premise, we can cooperate.”

“What kind of cooperation do you want?” Archbishop Yuri forced himself to stand. “Are you willing to take direct action in Sandbox One? Do you need our assistance?”

“Talking to smart people is easy,” Gawain smiled and nodded. Then, pondering for a moment, he said, “I don’t know more about Sandbox One than you do. I’ll have to enter it myself to assess the situation. My advantage is that the mental corruption inside should have no effect on me. As for your cooperation… I need more than just cooperation.”

He slowly raised his head and scanned everyone present.

“I need you to obey my orders strictly—during the operation and after. Once the crisis in Sandbox One is resolved, you must… be absorbed into my organization.”

He leaned back in his chair, adopting a relaxed, detached posture as the archbishops immediately fell into uneasy murmurs and debate.

He appeared confident about Sandbox One, bolstering his bargaining position. But his confidence wasn’t baseless—

As a “Satellite Spirit,” his mental structure was uniquely resistant to all mind-targeting attacks and corruption in this world. The psychic pollution in Sandbox One should be no exception. Moreover, due to the legacy of the Godslayer Fleet, he had a certain “natural enemy” effect against the world’s gods, including their relics and even their corpses. The Upper Narrator in Sandbox One, still incomplete, likely wouldn’t surpass that level.

Even if things were worse than he imagined—if the Upper Narrator escaped confinement earlier and became a god—he had contingency plans.

He had already asked Tyr to send a message to the Siren Queen, hinting at an upcoming “extra meal.”

Honestly, if the Upper Narrator stayed deep in the dreamscape without a “medium” to enter the real world, the situation was tricky. Invisible, intangible psychic pollution was the hardest to fight. But if that “god” rashly appeared in the real world and gained a foothold…

There’s a saying: once the health bar lights up, things get a lot simpler. Just toss it to the sirens and watch them tear it apart…

Of course, he didn’t rule out the possibility that all methods might fail, even the sirens couldn’t stop the Upper Narrator, and a malevolent true god might descend to destroy the world. For that, Gawain was prepared:

He would warn the dragons and even brace for another “Reverse Tide War,” so everyone could at least die with dignity…

He wasn’t pessimistic—just realistic. Facing gods required mental preparation. The old rebels had entered that terrifying endeavor with similar resolve.

The hall buzzed with discussion. The Sleepers’ leaders clearly struggled to accept Gawain’s terms.

Gawain simply smiled, sitting calmly, waiting for their debate to subside.

Some things had to be stated upfront. Otherwise, after the crisis was over, awkwardness and suspicion would remain.

On the other hand, taking over a dark cult through a crisis was something he had never dared to imagine before. Even now, he wasn’t sure it would succeed. Even if the situation favored him, it was hard to make one of the three great dark cults bow with just a deal, a crisis, and a few empty words—even if he was their “Outer Wanderer.”

In fact, it was precisely his identity as an “Outer Wanderer” that made the Sleepers resist.

After all, their years of struggle were to break free from one shackle—they wouldn’t welcome another falling on their heads.

Finally, the discussions quieted. Eyes first turned to Gawain, then to Meigaoer the Third hovering above.

After a long silence, the ancient pope spoke.

“This so-called ‘absorption’… what exactly do you intend to do?”

“I’ve said I have no interest in your lives or souls, but I won’t allow a dark cult to continue existing under the order I’m establishing,” Gawain replied calmly. “I know your main activities are in Typhon, but my order isn’t limited to Cecil.”

“I will reform you—from the entire cult down to each individual. Many will be judged, for you have committed many sins as heretics. But if you accept reform willingly, most will be allowed to live and atone.”

“I also promise that under the new order and laws, you can continue your work—you want to break the chains left by the gods, right? Go ahead. I’m interested in that too.”

He paused, smiling.

“In a way, this is a brighter future for you. As a dark cult, you’ll have a chance to return to the light. All you have to do is accept ‘reform.’”

“Finally, one more thing: I am not a god, nor will I become one. You can pledge loyalty to me as you would to a mortal king, without fearing a new shackle.”

After he finished, the hall fell into a brief silence.

The archbishops waited for Megor III to make a statement.

Selina Gervin’s gaze, however, remained fixed on Gavain.

“We cannot give you an answer right now,” the writhing mass of starlight finally spoke. “We wish to hold an undisturbed, unmonitored discussion. We will inform you of our decision at the next assembly.”

Gavain exhaled quietly in relief.

Just as expected.

Bringing these Sleepless into the fold clearly wouldn’t be easy or straightforward.

But as long as Megor III showed a willingness to discuss, things were already moving in the direction Gavain hoped for.

“A reasonable choice,” Gavain said calmly, rising slowly to his feet and sweeping his gaze across the hall. “But I must remind you—your time is limited. The High Narrator will not wait for you.”

“We are well aware of that,” Megor III said gravely. “But we must also emphasize this—no matter the terms you propose, none of it will take effect until the crisis is truly resolved. If the threat in Sandbox One cannot be eliminated, then cooperation itself will be meaningless.”

“Of course…” Gavain smiled, and as his words faded, his imposing figure gradually vanished from the hall.

Only after the majestic silhouette disappeared and the hall fell silent for several minutes did one archbishop finally break the quiet. “This time… he’s really gone, isn’t he?”

“I don’t know…” Yuri said, his face darkening as he shifted uncomfortably, clearly still unsettled. “I keep feeling… someone’s still here.”

Magnan thought for a moment. “Should I try another psychic storm?”

“Damn it! Enough! Your psychic storms only affect our own people here—they have no effect on the Outer Wanderers!”

Gavain, who had never truly left but merely concealed his form, sat beside Archbishop Yuri and nodded in agreement.

(End of chapter)