The Guardian gods Chapter 866

Ikenga confronted Tide with a stern, purposeful look. "This is precisely where you come into play. Although these ten key components are entirely absent from the world, we, the Origin Gods, possess the capability to create them. As the God of the Treasury, Tide, you grasp the intricate dynamics of supply, demand, and ultimate control. You comprehend my objective entirely."

Tide's breath faltered as the full magnitude of the impending monopoly dawned upon him. As the God of the Treasury, he didn't merely understand wealth; he commanded influence.

"We shall provide you with an unwavering, exclusive supply of these ten crucial components," Ikenga declared, his voice resonating against the newly gleaming golden walls. "As the sole purveyor of the elements necessary to complete a Mage Tower, you command the allegiance of every Paragon on this planet. If they wish to endure the approaching era, they will have no choice but to petition your treasury."

"Engage in trade with them. Procure their most coveted assets, unearth their profoundest secrets, and most critically, secure their unwavering devotion. Employ this monopoly to foster and amplify your divine influence across all realms. By the conclusion of this grand undertaking, the name Tide will be emancipated from its association with a forlorn recluse; you will ascend as one of the most formidable and influential deities in existence."

The sheer allure of this plan sent a powerful surge of ambition coursing through Tide's veins, an electrifying sensation he hadn't felt since Siren's departure. Yet, Ikenga's strategy was not yet complete.

"Furthermore, I require your direct involvement not only in managing our supply," Ikenga continued, gesturing towards the luminous world map where the Earth's natural bedrock deposits pulsed faintly. "But also in the extraction of the minor components situated right here within our world. Mobilize your followers, your network of merchants, your clandestine syndicates. Establish your dominion over these often-overlooked bedrock veins before the rest of the world recognizes their true value."

Ikenga's gaze sharpened, narrowing into a pair of cold, strategically calculating eyes. "I am acutely aware of the brutal turmoil this scarcity will precipitate. Utter chaos is an inescapable outcome, but by embedding your followers within the resource supply chains from the outset, you can exert a temporary influence over that chaos. We can guide the unfolding storm, dictating precisely which kingdoms ascend, which Paragons falter, and who is granted the boon of survival."

He gazed intently into Tide’s newly invigorated eyes. "The grand chessboard is prepared, nephew. Are you ready to claim your position?"

Tide dissolved into a fervent, murmuring trance, his fingers swiftly tracing phantom supply routes across the radiant map. The protracted period of lethargic indifference was violently obliterated, supplanted by the sharp, calculating intellect of a commerce god operating at his absolute peak.

"The auctions..." Tide mused aloud, his eyes rapidly scanning the tactical possibilities. "No, a direct release into the general market would incite immediate pandemonium and accelerate the advent of wars prematurely. I must orchestrate a phased introduction. I shall select three... nay, four of the most preeminent trans-continental merchant guilds. I will discreetly furnish the initial caches of Prismatic Regulators to their elite divisions, presenting them as enigmatic ancient artifacts recovered from the abyssal depths."

He commenced pacing the perimeter of the table, his voice descending into a swift, metronomic whisper as the intricate logistical computations unfolded. "For the Paragons, the menagerie could serve as an ideal venue for their engagement. I can arrange exclusive auctions through my trusted affiliates, where they will be permitted to bid not only with gold but also with territorial concessions, solemn blood pacts, and rare indigenous resources."

Abruptly, Tide halted his movement, a gasping laugh escaping his lips as a more profound, astonishing realization struck him. The sheer magnitude of consistent, purifiable faith energy that could be harvested from this intricate arrangement was simply staggering.

His divine function, executed with such flawless precision and efficiency, would yield unparalleled metaphysical rewards. Faith would not merely trickle in from superstitious commoners offering prayers for prosperity or his blessing; it would cascade in from two distinct, colossal strata of existence within their world.

The first stratum encompassing the mortals—the magnates of commerce, the guild leaders, the diligent miners, and the everyday populace swept up in the unprecedented economic surge—would venerate the very concept of the Treasury that bestowed upon them such sudden, world-altering affluence.

The Paragons, the supreme arbiters of the world, desperately striving to solidify their martial supremacy, would practically prostrate themselves before his altars, invoking his name solely to ensure a consistent allocation of the ten vital components.

"The devotion of a Paragon equates to manifold more than that of ordinary mortals," Tide whispered, his hands trembling subtly, not from apprehension, but from the intoxicating influx of burgeoning divinity.

Ikenga observed Tide's frenzied pacing in quiet contemplation as a profound voice resonated directly within his mind. The sheer pressure emanating from this voice would have overwhelmed a lesser being, but it merely elicited a serene smile from Ikenga.

"Thank you, brother," Jaus said, a rare, pure joy bleeding through his usually strict tone.

"I had my own selfish reasons for doing this, brother," Ikenga replied smoothly, his smile remaining fixed. "If he had failed to see the path I laid out for him today, I would have done no more. I would have abandoned him to the destined fate of death that was actively waiting for him at the bottom of his pit."

"You still have my absolute thanks for it," Jaus countered, the pride in his voice returning. "I have forced myself to watch as the boy entirely forgot his own status, completely ignoring the immense power he wields. To be frank, his impending downfall was a tragedy I was already actively preparing myself for. But with your actions today, a saving grace has been carved out for him."

Ikenga chose not to respond. Instead, he simply kept his eyes anchored on Tide’s hyper-focused figure.

As he watched his nephew, a specific face crossed his mind, Ikenga gave a slow shake of his head. He was acutely aware of what he had just done. To secure this glorious future for his nephew, Ikenga had just traded away a different life. He had essentially signed someone else’s death warrant to ignite Tide’s ambition.

Yet, to himself, it was the only logical path forward. In the objective view of the situation, the spiritual and physical value of that doomed life held absolutely nothing compared to the monumental value his now awakened nephew could bring to his designs.

If that sacrificed life had possessed even a fraction more value than Tide, Ikenga doubted he would have ever had this conversation with Tide today.

Ikenga stood up from his seat, signaling that his time in the Everflowing Treasury had come to an end. But before stepping into the void, he looked back at Tide and delivered his final directives.

"Take your time with these preparations," Ikenga spoke "We still have a generous window before the gears are truly set in motion."

He gestured to the two hovering prototypes between them. "We, the Origin Gods, still have to construct the remaining eight missing components to complete the set. Use this gap to carefully set up your plays. Above all, be entirely discreet in your actions. We cannot afford to garner early attention from the desperate paragons."

Ikenga paused, his eyes narrowing as he thought of the logistical safeguards. "Once your networks are seeded, get in contact with Krogan. His divinity over contracts and binding oaths will play a vital, non-negotiable role in securing these upcoming transactions."

As the name left his lips, Ikenga suddenly stopped. The fiery, unpredictable image of Ember crossed his mind, shifting his calculations. He looked deeply at Tide, dropping a crucial piece of foresight.

"There is another relative of yours whose status as a deity will rise exponentially through the ranks the very moment he ascends. He is a vital, irreplaceable piece of this puzzle. Ultimately, both you and the Paragons will absolutely depend on him, for without his unique influence, the true value of these raw tower materials can never fully play their role."

"An ascendant relative..." Tide murmured, his eyes narrowing as he ran through the lineage. "A god of forging?"

Realization dawned on Tide. He looked at the prototype components still floating in the air. "It was one thing having the materials in hand, and it was another knowing how to put it together. A Mage Tower isn’t just a pile of stone and law anchors. It is a cosmic conduit. It needs a master smith of divine proportions to actually fuse the materials, temper the law structures, and spark the forge fires hot enough to bind the rare components."

"Precisely," Ikenga replied "You understand the market, but Ember will control the actual production. The paragons could learn to forge a tower on their own but that is something they can’t do under the limited time they have, where a rival could have a ready made tower while the other is still learning."

With those final words, Ikenga vanished from the realm, leaving the space where he stood entirely vacant.

Tide stood alone in the newly glowing heart of his palace. The heavy scent of alcohol was gone, utterly replaced by the crisp, aroma of treasure. An aroma that was once overwritten by Siren’s scent. He turned back to the floating map of Nana, a ruthless, confident smile stretching across his face.