Chapter 1025: Drawing In The Spies
"Me too! I'm willing to devote everything I possess for the sake of Paradise!" another voice cried out, joining the plea.
"I also want to-"
Soon, a wave of fervour swept through the crowd. One by one, the denizens screamed at the top of their lungs, begging to be granted the same transformation that had just elevated the street thief. The scene became a clamour of pleas as everyone rushed to offer their devotion. Only a few remained standing, their expressions a mix of awe and hesitation. They watched the fervent display, their faces reflecting the internal struggle between joining the crowd and committing themselves to Paradise.
Witnessing the scene, Orion smiled. He had intended to use this opportunity to make the denizens of the Sleeping Fox Runaway City see Paradise in a favourable light, sowing a seed that would enable Paradise's representatives to thrive once it germinated. However, it appeared he had accomplished far more than he expected.
This wasn't merely a need being met but a leaking dam that would gradually submerge the entire Sleeping Fox Runaway City. Those who still harboured doubts about Paradise would be drowned by their own people until they were convinced that there was no other way to survive in this ruined world than to reach for the lifeboat that was Paradise.
Soon, many individuals surrounded Orion, prompting Seth and the others to form a protective circle around him, holding the crowd back.
Seth snorted in annoyance before activating his gift, creating a scorching steam stretching outwards, pushing the people back and preventing them from approaching further. His eyes, however, kept shifting towards the individuals already kneeling before Orion.
Within the protective circle, Orion focused on the few individuals who had managed to rush forward and prostrate before him, along with two other men near the former thief. Just as he was about to speak, a man, appearing to be a wingless Sloth Demon, sprang up from the ground, his hand clutching a gleaming dagger aimed at Orion's exposed neck.
Contrary to his expectations, the man bit his tongue, causing blood to roll down his lips before his body began to gradually swell. Realizing what would transpire, Orion let go of the man and immediately utilized his lightning to construct a sealed cage around the grotesquely swelling body. Then, in the next second--
BAMM!!
The body burst with a shocking explosion. Fortunately, the lightning cage contained the explosion and its aftereffects, with only a whipping gust of wind spreading outwards in every direction.
At this moment, Seth could no longer restrain himself and rushed forward. "Are you okay, Chief?" Seth asked, arriving before Orion.
Orion nodded, his gaze fixed on the specific groups of individuals—both men and women- already fleeing after realizing their plans had been thwarted and their presence discovered. "I need you to apprehend all of them. The more survivors there are, the better," Orion commanded, retracting his lightning to reveal the charred body parts of the dead assailant. Seth nodded. A puddle of molten lava emerged from his body, transforming into his exact replica. Swiftly disappearing in one direction, he disappeared in the other, swiftly tailing the fleeing assailants.
Lakul arrived, his expression filled with fear and worry. "Supreme Leader, these aren't the Sleeping Fox Runaway City's gods' chosens. They are traitors bribed by the Journeying Jaguar Runaway City to work for them. Please, this wasn't my intention. I would never plan for something like this to happen!" he said, his voice trembling with emotion.
Orion nodded, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Lakul. "You don't need to worry," he said, "I knew you might have trouble apprehending these spies. But understand this, if you are even slightly involved in this event, I'll be forced to take more severe measures to handle this issue."
Even though he was dissapointed at the fact that the gods' chosens weren't as loyal as Paradise warriors, he knew that their actions were not without reason. They needed immense resources to grow stronger, resources that a Grade One Runaway City like the Sleeping Fox Runaway City could not provide.
Their only hope lay in allying with a Runaway city capable of meeting their needs—a Grade Two Runaway City and higher. Only those genuinely loyal or unable to advance further would choose to remain.