GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

Someone said to the god of knowledge, "It's too late for that now."

The god of knowledge's lip quivered. He sighed and replied. "I can see that."

The gods might not know the value of their demigods but a financial competition about who gets to have their demigod compelled them into action. For most of them, it has become a matter of honor and pride to outbid the others. Unfortunately for the other gods, there is no one more desperate than Harkam.

The screen is showing the priests trying to outbid one another. The priest of the church of the storm started it after Harkam instructed her to. Harkam had instructed the Colossus before the god of knowledge started talking and she had dropped a price halfway through the god of knowledge's speech about showing restraint.

Stelios couldn't help to smile. "Harkam is not one to show restraint."

He hadn't finished talking when Harkam's priest, the Colossus suddenly transformed. The priests and Helios were scattered to the wind by the expansion of her body. Stelios' eyes widened in shock as he saw her grab Helios.

He screamed at Harkam. "What are you doing?"

The commotion that occurred next did not allow his question to be answered. There was a loud crash as a large hand broke through the top of the temple. It reached for Harkam and crushed some avatars in the process. Harkam dropped some items into the hand and the hand withdrew. The gods heard another loud crash outside the temple. Then everything turned silent.

The dust that obscured the god's vision subsided to show the Colossus now reduced to the size of a normal giant standing beside Helios. She is holding items with divinity in one hand while her other hand is on Helios's shoulder. Standing beside her is the cage that they used to hold the captured royal guards.

The god of knowledge shook his head and sighed. "Harkam has done it this time. Now things have been overturned. There's no going back."

Back At The Ant Mound.

The Colossus patted Helios on his back. "How are you doing Mr. Negotiator? Sorry about my earlier handling, I had to protect you. Wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to you. Now, why don't you get on with your job? Call the royal guard and let's do this."

Helios asked her, "What about the other gods?"

She smiled sweetly at him. "Do you see anyone of their priests here? They're probably busy with other matters. I can only imagine what could be more important than this negotiation. This just goes to show that I and my god are the only ones taking this seriously. They are not here while we are willing to go to extreme measures to get what we want."

Her eyes glinted with the vague suggestions of a threat that he is quick to pick up on. Her words are clear enough and her smile seems innocent but the way she is staring at him with sharp eyes served to drive the matter home.

Helios nodded. He understood immediately and he doesn't mind. It wasn't what he had in mind and the situation derailed from what was planned but Helios and the others would just have to adapt to the situation and make the best of it. He called for the royal guard. The royal guard came out of the ant mound carefully.

"What was that earlier? What are you trying to do? If you mess up, this negotiation will turn sour." The royal guard screamed at her with false bravado.

It isn't fooling anyone. Its shaking legs are enough indication of the amount of fear that he has for the Colossus.

She said to Helios, "See how wrought he is. Don't make the poor guy suffer too much. Or more innocent people will suffer. You don't want that do you?"

Helios shook his head. He certainly doesn't want that.

She smiled, apparently pleased with his reply. "Now get on with it will you?"

"We have settled on a deal. We have here 100 items each containing divinity enough to create a demigod and we also have all the royal guards that we took on as guests. They have expressed interest in returning to the fold of the ant colony. They have an admirable work ethic. There's no way we can say no to such enthusiasm." Helios did his job as quickly as possible.

"Which demigod is yours?" The royal guard asked.

"That will be Tanya. The one with blue skin and purple hair." The Colossus answered.

The royal guard reported back to the queen and another royal brought up Tanya. They also took the captured royal guards. The captured royal guards are already frozen within the cage. A year is enough for their fungus problems to resurface. They might not be able to move but they are still aware of their surroundings.

"Son of the sun god, is that you?" Doofus asked.

Helios didn't reply but it wasn't going to stop Doofus.

He cried, "Save us, son of the sun."

"Help us."

"Please help us."

More and more of them cried out to him for help with their divine sense. They pleaded to him to help them. But Helios looked on indifferently as they were taken away. He didn't feel guilty or sorry. It is just a cry for help from the weak. He has killed people who begged him not to and has slit the throat of infants to get his way as Gehaldirah. This much doesn't faze him. It is just best to keep silent so that what he says now will not be used against him in the future.

Saying something nice to the ants will make the gods look unfavorably on him. He is the one that suggested they be captured and used as bargaining chips. Feigning innocence now will make them realize that there might be more to him. Saying something bad to the ants will also work against him if he needs to deceive them or lie to them in the future. Saying nothing now leaves a blank space that can be filled in the future.