"Understood, do you have any additional information?" Alan further inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes, we do," Count Rant replied, his voice still subdued. He leaned closer to Alan and whispered, "According to our intelligence, among the protagonists, there might not only be Level 2 but also Level 3 protagonists!"
Hearing this, Alan became intrigued. He had never encountered a Level 3 protagonist. All the protagonists he had previously met were at Level 1, and he had only recently become a Level 2 antagonist.
The concept of a Level 3 protagonist intrigued him, as they were likely to possess extraordinarily powerful cheats, skills beyond the ordinary, and capabilities that could turn the tides of any battle.
"However, this is merely speculation at this stage; it hasn't been confirmed," Count Rant added, his tone turning cautious.
"After all, some of our members from the Rivenland Antagonist Guild, including various secret sects, court nobles, and magic academy instructors, have collaborated in hunting down some protagonists but ended up being killed or pursued relentlessly by them.
These encounters have only added to the mystery and fear surrounding these supposed Level 3 protagonists."
Alan listened intently, his mind racing with thoughts of strategy and potential encounters. He knew that dealing with such powerful adversaries would require meticulous planning and perhaps, new alliances.
"Now, as the general of Beaconburg's paladins," Count Rant continued, his gaze shifting towards Alan, seeking to gauge his reaction.
"Alan," Alan interjected calmly, emphasizing his name.
"Yes, Lord Alan," Count Rant corrected himself, showing a hint of respect. "Your strength is certainly top-notch among us antagonists.
Your reputation precedes you, and your feats are well-known throughout the land.
Joining our Rivenland Antagonist Guild would be an honor for our association."
Alan pondered the offer. His reputation as a skilled and powerful antagonist was not something he took lightly.
He had worked hard to reach his current level, overcoming numerous challenges and adversaries along the way.
"No, thank you," Alan responded flatly, his voice betraying no emotion. "Your organization consists of antagonists from Rivenland, right?"
He shook his head as he spoke, indicating his lack of interest in joining a group based on regional affiliation.
Hearing this, Count Rant's face fell slightly with disappointment. "Do you consider our status and identity insufficient?" he asked, puzzled and slightly offended.
"Not at all," Alan replied, his voice calm and measured.
"I just don't see the necessity for me to join. I prefer to operate independently, relying on my own resources and strategies. Your guild certainly has its strengths, but I believe my path lies elsewhere."
Count Rant hesitated for a moment, then said, "In that case, might you grant me the honor of joining our chat group? If you agree, we will share with you all the information we have, sparing no detail."
As he spoke, Count Rant bowed deeply in a gesture of great respect. This particular form of bowing was usually reserved by lower nobility when addressing those of higher status.
His offer was not just a formality; it was an invitation to share knowledge and resources, a gesture of goodwill in a world where information was as valuable as gold.
Alan considered the offer. Joining the chat group would provide him with a wealth of information and potentially offer insights into the movements and plans of the protagonists.
It could be a valuable asset in his endeavors.
"I will consider your offer," Alan finally said, his voice neutral but thoughtful. "Information is a valuable commodity, and I am always open to new sources.
However, I will need to evaluate the benefits and implications of such an alliance."
Count Rant nodded, understanding the weight of Alan's words. "Of course, Lord Alan. We would be honored to have you, even if it's just in our information network.
Your wisdom and strength would be a tremendous asset to us."
The meeting ended with a sense of mutual respect. Alan had made no commitments, but the door was open for future collaboration.
As he left the room, his mind was already analyzing the possibilities and planning his next move.
In a world of protagonists and antagonists, information was power, and Alan was always one step ahead.
"Alright," Alan responded indifferently.
He wasn't particularly interested in the 'Rivenland Antagonist Guild.' In fact, there were many such chat groups among antagonists, and Alan didn't mind being added to one more.
While he had no intention of collaborating with them, he occasionally found some useful information or amusement in these groups.
After all, life as the Almighty God could be quite dull, and a bit of entertainment was welcome.
Soon after, Count Rant excused himself and disappeared around a corner into an alley, where several men of various identities were waiting – among them, a court magus, a noble, and a knight commander.
"How did it go, Count Rant?" asked a plump nobleman with a curly mustache.
"Not very well," Rant replied, frowning slightly.
"I suspect that this new Paladin General of Beaconburg, Alan, has reached the level of a 2nd-tier antagonist," Count Doran said, somewhat reluctantly.
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have displayed such a dismissive attitude in our conversation. However, even as a 2nd-tier antagonist, he should be interested in a 3rd-tier protagonist.
His interest in joining our chat group probably stemmed from that curiosity."
A Flower Knight, clad in his distinctive armor, chuckled coldly. "Sounds impressive, this Beaconburg Paladin General.
But is this Alan, sharing a name with the Almighty God, truly more capable than us?
I remember encountering another arrogant antagonist before, who also acted like he was the best in the world. Not long after, he was outsmarted and killed by a protagonist."
"Indeed," agreed another Court Magus, also an antagonist. "Many antagonists are overly proud, thinking they're invincible.
But this is Rivenland, where the Almighty God's protection is relatively weak. For him to refuse cooperation with local antagonists here in Rivenland is simply foolish."
Meanwhile, Alan had joined the "Rivenland Antagonist Guild Chat Group."
The messages in the group suggested caution and observation to identify protagonists, and to avoid engaging during the Ceremony of Divine Grace, as this was when protagonists were likely to be at their strongest due to Fate Favor.
They discussed the challenge of taking down a protagonist who might receive blessings during the ceremony and decided it was best to wait until after the event to act.
Alan read these exchanges without much reaction. He seemed neither concerned nor particularly interested in the group's cautious strategies.
The chat group was quite active, with many members interacting intensely.
Not all of them were local antagonists of Rivenland. Like Alan, some had come from other places to participate in the Ceremony of Divine Grace.
They were busy exchanging information, identifying protagonists, discussing the timing and manner of their attacks, and even coordinating joint efforts.
Alan, however, lost interest and stopped following the chat. At the moment, his mind was at ease, and he harbored few concerns.
He was there simply to attend the Ceremony of Divine Grace, to see which deities would bestow their blessings, and to casually eliminate a few protagonists along the way.
As for the actual ceremony and the restrictions on killing when the gods descend, Alan didn't care at all.
Besides, as discussed in the antagonist's conversations, some lucky protagonists might receive blessings from the deities during the ceremony, potentially enhancing their powers significantly.
Although this wouldn't necessarily elevate a protagonist's level by one, it could still greatly improve them in other ways. This was something Alan wanted to verify for himself.
Just as he was about to turn off the group notifications, to his surprise, Rant, the Earl, tagged him in the chat and sent him a private message.
Alan opened it to find that Rant, an antagonist, had brought news about the Ceremony of Divine Grace in Rivenland.
To prevent disruptions, a super magical barrier called the "Sky Curtain" would be deployed over the city.
This barrier, of forbidden spell caliber, couldn't block the descent of deities but could prevent troublemakers from escaping. Additionally, the "Sky Curtain" had various functions like detection and automated attacks.
The task of setting up the "Sky Curtain" was assigned to the Court magus team. Within the ranks of the antagonists, one was partially in charge of the "Sky Curtain."
This meant they could somewhat manipulate this forbidden spell to aid in detecting and even attacking protagonists, serving as one of their trump cards.
However, as Rant mentioned in his private message to Alan, even though they controlled a quarter of the "Sky Curtain" and might consider seizing more control, they still couldn't ensure complete suppression of the protagonists who received blessings during the Ceremony of Divine Grace.
This was because the forbidden spell couldn't counteract divine powers and was an indiscriminate magic, so Alan should be cautious.
After reading the message, Alan didn't respond. Meanwhile, Elizabeth brought him another letter, again from Agatha, the Queen of Rivenland.
The letter, a blank sheet at first, gradually revealed magic-patterned text as Alan held it.
"Lord Alan, would you be interested in discussing the implications of the Ceremony of Divine Grace more 'deeply' with me?" the message began.
"If you are willing…" it continued, leaving the invitation intriguingly open-ended.