"Hahaha..."
Medici laughed for a long time, clearly showing some emotional instability. If he wasn't in a ghostly state, he would probably have laughed until he cried.
During Medici's maniacal laughter, Lynn uncharacteristically remained quiet. He simply watched the hysterical hotpot ghost in front of him, sighed silently, and thought to himself that he hadn't beaten Alista Tudor enough.
Lynn pondered how he would pummel Alista Tudor the next time he dared to test him.
While Lynn was deep in thought, Medici's laughter gradually subsided. The former Angel of War finally calmed down, but he was still in a good mood. He looked at Lynn and, for once, without his usual sarcastic tone, said, "Well done, brother!"
It was a simple statement, without any hint of sarcasm. Though it was a common phrase in the Second Epoch, hearing "brother" in the Fifth Epoch was a first.
Lynn blinked, snapping out of his reverie. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Of course, after all, you must have saved the whole cosmos in your past life to have me as your brother in this one!"
Lynn swiftly contradicted his previous statement without hesitation, showing no shame in doing so.
"Well…" Seeing this, Medici instinctively sneered but didn't argue.
Lynn continued to smile, "And not only did I beat up Alista Tudor, but I also extracted a weather warlock's characteristic from him. Guess who it's for?" His face bore an arrogant "beg me" expression.
"No guesses." Medici narrowed his eyes, refusing to play along. As an experienced war angel, he knew that giving Lynn any satisfaction would only inflate his ego further.
"You're no longer as cute as when you were a child. Back then, you used to beg me so earnestly!" Lynn looked at Medici with feigned disappointment but didn't press the matter further. He then put on a more serious expression, "You know, now that I've returned to the War of the Four Emperors period, I have a new plan to save you."
"Hm?" Medici's expression turned serious as well. "You plan to rescue the version of me from the War of the Four Emperors?"
As expected, the War Angel quickly grasped Lynn's new plan.
"Exactly, smart!" Lynn wasn't surprised that his new plan was guessed. He gave Medici a thumbs up and said leisurely, "My plan is simple. I'll give the weather warlock's characteristic I took from Alista Tudor to your past self during the War of the Four Emperors and escort you back to the Solomon Empire. You can recover under the protection of the True Creator, act as their strategist, and when the time is right, eliminate Tudor and reclaim your characteristics."
"During this process, I will help you. Given the unique circumstances of the War of the Four Emperors and the subsequent Pale Disaster, you might even become a god in that era…"
Lynn paused, his smile fading slightly as he looked at Medici, "I don't like the Pale Disaster, nor do I like the God of Death and the Primordial Demoness, and you just happen to need a continent-wide war."
"For you, the reason for war doesn't matter. Starting a war to end the Pale Disaster and protect the Northern Continent is just as valid, isn't it?"
Medici raised an eyebrow at this, then nodded slightly, "It is indeed feasible."
The Red Priest's promotion ritual only required a continent-wide war and enough victories. The purpose of the war wouldn't affect the ritual's outcome.
Lynn's suggestion was entirely workable. Given the scale of the Pale Disaster, if Medici could end it successfully, the ritual would be sufficiently weighty.
Lynn then remembered something and added, "I'm currently on the Savant Pathway, at Sequence 2 as a Knowledge Magister. If all goes well, I'll become an Paragon before the God of Steam and Machinery ascends."
Upon hearing this, though Lynn didn't spell it out, Medici immediately understood his implication—cooperation or mutual assistance.
Lynn would help him reclaim his characteristics and rise to the position of Red Priest, and in return, Medici would help Lynn ascend during the War of the Four Emperors.
"That won't work on me. I can't influence my past self as you can," Medici said, resuming his arrogant posture.
"I know that. I'm just seeking your advice on how to persuade your past self during the War of the Four Emperors," Lynn replied, as one of his divine avatars pulled a chair from the void and placed it behind him. Lynn sat down comfortably and continued, "After all, your past self just got turned into hotpot. I'm worried he might be extreme and hard to persuade."
"Starting a fight right away wouldn't be ideal!" Though he said this, Lynn's expression seemed to anticipate it.
"Humph!" Medici rolled his eyes but didn't rebuke, "Do what you think is best. You don't need me to teach you how to persuade people."
"True, but I need to boost my credibility!" Lynn smiled, "So, Red, why don't you tell me some of your darkest secrets to earn the trust of your past self?"
What a cunning plan.
Medici: …
"Fuck off!" Medici couldn't hold back and spat out the word after a few seconds.
"Whatever." Lynn pouted, disappointed that he couldn't get any juicy secrets. He then said, "So, which plan do you choose? Should I stick to the original and try to change your fate before you become hotpot, or should I go with the new plan and help your past self rise during the War of the Four Emperors?"
"I must warn you, I can't control when I'll land before you become hotpot," Lynn finished, watching Medici quietly, not urging him, waiting for his decision.
He didn't mind either plan. To Lynn, both had their pros and cons.
(End of Chapter)