Cthulhu Gonfalon

Hearing Sui Xiong's words, the Goddess of Wealth's expression that was quite relaxed at first, suddenly froze.

"Still going to fight another battle?" she asked with some uncertainty. "Haven't they been separated? The merchant party is in the North, and the aristocratic party is in the South. When they don't even cross paths, how are they going to fight one another?

Sui Xiong shook his head and said, "I just came back after visiting the migration team. They still hate each other, and it's not only that. Because so many people have died during the process of migration, they are pushing the blame on one another."

"Even if that's the case, it's not to such an extent as to go to war," said the Goddess of Wealth. "Anyway, they already hate each other so much in the first place. Does it even matter if they are to add on a little more hatred?"

Sui Xiong sighed and said, "You've got to see if for yourself to understand."

So the Goddess of Wealth went to see things for herself. But she was still unable to find signs of war.

Out of helplessness, Sui Xiong brought her to visit the God of War, Wenner.

After they explained their purpose of visit, Wenner nodded right away and said, "You're right. Ultimately, a major war between the aristocratic party of Commonwealth of Gold Coins in the South and the merchant party of Commonwealth of Gold Coins in the North is inevitable."

The Goddess of Wealth suddenly became a cat with its hackles raised and screamed, "How could you do such a thing? When have I offended you!"

Wenner looked so innocent as he said, "This has got nothing to do with me. You can't say that I'm the one who starts every war just because I'm the God of War."

"Then you've got to avert this war. I can even give you a generous gift," said the Goddess of Wealth with an immediate change in expression.

The God of War shook his head and said, "This is really beyond me. I can help to slightly reduce the scale of the war, but to stop the war… I don't have this ability."

"Why?" asked Sui Xiong out of curiosity. "I've recently met with the God of Plague. And he can prevent a major outbreak of plague. But why are you only able to slightly reduce the scale of a war, but not directly put an end to it?"

Wenner, who was revered as the "God of War," thought about it. Then he organized what he was going to say before giving them a detailed explanation.

Right from the beginning, war was never so simple as merely two groups of people fighting one another. It involved the growth and decline of various forces, as well as the countless grievances and conflicts of interests. If a war broke out because of an accidental reason, then Wenner, the God of War, certainly did have the ability to avert the war and eliminate all trace of it. But when forces, such as these two, had accumulated rancor for so long, there would have been hundreds and thousands of triggers laid for an impending war. The entire country had almost become a mega-sized powder keg that could blow up at any moment with a loud boom. And there was nothing he could do.

Of course, Wenner could at least eliminate a few of these triggers and slightly delay the occurrence of an outbreak of war. But to the Goddess of Wealth, he suggested that the fight was better fought early than late.

"What?!" exclaimed the Goddess of Wealth. Upon hearing his suggestion, she almost leaped to her feet as she said, "Why! What do you mean by "better fought early than late'?!Those are all my followers! Of course it's best not to fight! If the war must be fought, then we must continue to delay it for as long as it takes. The longer we drag on, the better it'll be!"

The God of War sighed and said, "The longer you put it off, the more tragic it'll be by the time the war starts. Even if I try my best to eliminate and put an end to this, the extent to which I can do so is very limited… You'll have to figure it out."

He was not on very good terms with the Goddess of Wealth because of the differences in the doctrines they adhered to. The doctrine of the God of War called on his people to be courageous in the face of combat, as well as to be brave enough to start and confront a war. His doctrine also called on them to solve problems and fight for what they want by force, to protect what they valued and to pursue their dreams… But the doctrine of the Goddess of Wealth called for her followers to make use of all kinds of clever means to gain wealth, accumulate wealth and use wealth. But they must remember to steer clear of danger and guarantee their own safety.

The doctrines of both sides were in complete contradiction on issues pertaining to "courage" and "danger."

A god's doctrines would be a god's ideology, and it was difficult to achieve reconciliation for a conflict in ideologies. If not for Sui Xiong's presence, the God of War would not have spoken so courteously to the Goddess of Wealth.

He had always thought well of men who could fight well. A coward like this Goddess of Wealth, who was unwilling to even fight a war, was also a Great Divine Power?! He seriously found this amusing!

If not for this fellow's considerably sensible judgment in knowing how to find a backer to pull herself up, as well as to subject herself to the patronage of higher-ups, she might have been killed way earlier…

By the same token, the Goddess of War abhorred the God of War. She felt that the other party was a rude barbarian who knew nothing of the importance of rules and did not understand that management was the way to bring wealth. War? Plundering? Fighting one another? What else could they get other than a vast expanse of whiteness that looked nothing but clean?

Being a mentally impaired barbarian who only knew how to destroy, if he had not known whether to withdraw or attack, he would not have honestly conceded defeat when he lost. In that case, he would simply have been beaten to death on the streets and become a pile of useless garbage by the roadside.

These two people, oh, these two gods, had yet to reach the point where their priesthoods were in conflict and where only one could survive. But if given the chance, they would absolutely not be afraid to set traps for the other party, backstab the other party, or make use of the chance to strike when the other party had fallen.

So the Goddess of Wealth clearly did not believe what the God of War said. Although she did not point it out on the spot, after they had left, she said to Sui Xiong with a sneer, "This guy is truly at home with the vultures. All day long, he can just stare at the dead bodies and feed on decaying flesh!"

"Well… not to that extent I guess…"

"He wants to fight wars every time he sees an opportunity. He's happier than anyone else whenever people die!" said the Goddess of Wealth. Angrily, she said, "And what's that about 'sooner rather than later,' better fought early than late? Previously when the two forces, the merchant party and the aristocratic party, were interlocked in battle, was it the best then? This jerk really thinks I've not seen a war before!"

To this, Sui Xiong was rendered speechless too.

When it came to fighting, he still knew a thing or two. But when it came to war, he was really just a layman.

He felt that the things that the God of War, Wenner said, were quite reasonable. But the things that the Goddess of Wealth said made sense to him too…

However, what the two said were completely contradictory.

In his frustration, he sought Leon out. From those under his command, Leon was probably the one who was most learned in the art of war.

After hearing his introduction, Leon pondered for a moment. Then he said, "What both gods said made sense."

"I know what they said made sense, but why are they in conflict with one another?"

"Why are they conflicting one another? I'm not too sure. But I feel that if the merchant party and the aristocratic party from Commonwealth of Gold Coins are inevitably going to war, then it's best to start the war right after the migration has been completed. Don't drag on for too long," Leon said. Upon careful contemplation, Leon had some confidence in what he had said, and so, with almost absolute certainty, he said, "If any earlier than that, the war situation can easily get chaotic, then there will be heavy casualties. If it is later than that, both sides would have ample time to prepare. The fight will get more intense, and thus, the number of casualties will still be just as heavy."

Sui Xiong nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, yes! What you said makes so much sense!"

So he made up his mind to go to the Goddess of Wealth and convey this analysis in order to tell her how to deal with the situation.

Just then, he suddenly froze upon hearing a prayer.

Stopping in his tracks, a playful smile appeared on that big and round green face of his, which was "a face that made up his entire body."

"Oh Leon," he said. "I thought I was going to receive a toast for your wedding a long time ago? But how many years has it been! How much longer do you intend to let this drag on?"