Chapter 397: Whether You Are the Goddess of Gossip, or I Am

"Them? Just deal with them however you see fit, right?"

Su Nian rolled his eyes and said indifferently.

"I'm not the same person I was when I first arrived in Little Garden, needing to rely on the skin of Arcadia."

"Do we need to care about them now?"

"That's true, too."

Shiroyasha chuckled and scratched her head.

In a word, the once-fallen Arcadia was propped up by Su Nian single-handedly, and the high regard many factions held for Arcadia was solely because Su Nian was there.

Su Nian, on the contrary, hadn't reaped many benefits from Arcadia; as for having once flown their banner, is there a possibility that Shiroyasha's banner is much more useful than Arcadia's?

The fact is the exact opposite; it was actually many of Arcadia's former allies who had reaped quite a few benefits from Su Nian, and Su Nian had cleaned up quite a few messes for Canary.

What's more, even if you were to bundle together the combat power from the peak era when they teamed up to raid the Three-Headed Dragon, it's not certain it would be enough for Su Nian to fight alone.

In Little Garden, there is no room left for wisdom to be displayed.

Even for Athena, she is first the Goddess of Victory, and only second the Goddess of Wisdom.

Canary was nothing more than a specific product of a special era.

If Dystopia were gone, could Canary have enjoyed such a luxurious team of teachers?

The treatment of having Heitian, Halloween Queen, Sun Wukong, Indra, and Athena as teachers is not something just anyone can enjoy.

A Canary like that would at most just be a slightly famous Poet.

On the contrary, Kasukabe Takaaki, without the burden of Arcadia, might just be able to shine brilliantly.

After all, gods like heroes far more than they like Poets.

"If they are willing to stay, give them the treatment of a Cadre; if they aren't willing to stay, this place isn't lacking their combat power."

Although it is cruel, this is reality.

Su Nian is willing to keep them, still out of consideration for Black Rabbit, Leticia, and Sun Wukong.

After all, Su Nian has a good relationship with them and doesn't want things to get too awkward because of the remnants of Arcadia.

"Is that so? That's not bad either; it has a bit of our style."

Shiroyasha patted Su Nian's shoulder with satisfaction and said.

"I'm not worried about you being swindled by that guy Canary."

Canary? Is she not dead yet?

Su Nian narrowed his eyes and sensed for a moment.

Uh... she's still lying on the hospital bed now, nearly out of breath; it'll probably only be a matter of these few days.

No, why does he care about Canary? Is Fiction Canary not useful?

Su Nian, who had accidentally been led into a ditch by Shiroyasha, only just came back to his senses and was about to speak.

He discovered that he had been kicked out of the Heavenly Rock Cave at some point and had returned to the entrance of Arcadia's main headquarters.

He looked at the iron fence in front of him, as well as the blue-and-white European-style mansion, and said speechlessly.

"Just how much does Shiroyasha not trust me?"

"To actually worry about me being swindled by Canary?"

"But this feeling is actually quite nice."

Su Nian said in a rather pleasant mood; this means his relationship with Shiroyasha has gotten a little closer, doesn't it?

Then Su Nian took a step and crossed into the courtyard, and it was also at the moment he crossed into the courtyard.

Su Nian felt two familiar strands of Magic: Divine Power.

"Uesugi? And Mata? Why did they come over?"

"Did they come to deliver someone?"

Su Nian looked at the mansion not far away, as well as those constantly radiating fluctuations of Magic: Divine Power, and frowned.

"Does this mean I'm supposed to go deal with them?"

A slight doubt arose in his heart, but Su Nian still followed the fluctuations and took a step forward.

Arcadia headquarters, inside the card room.

"Pair of Aces."

Mata placed two playing cards on the tabletop.

"Pass."

Athena looked at the cards and said flatly.

Uesugi Kenshin, who was on the side, immediately followed.

"Pair of Twos."

"Can't beat that."

Mata rolled her eyes and then said toward Uesugi Kenshin.

"Uesugi, get it straight that Athena is the landlord, okay?"

"Apologies, Mata."

Uesugi Kenshin replied without emotion.

"I seem to be unable to remember my own position."

No, you clearly remember it very well; isn't it just because I teased you a little... Mata muttered in her heart, then looked at Athena.

"Speaking of which, how is your Trinity Spirit Status coming along?"

Ever since Athena drove away Argo, she had been participating in the God Slayer War with high intensity.

In the identity of Non-Conformist Athena, she entered the fray and eliminated who knows how many God King Heretic Avatars and reincarnated Godslayers.

She could be said to be unrivaled in splendor, considered the person most likely to win and claim the final reward.

Even in the casinos of Little Garden, Athena's win rate remained consistently high.

But ever since Algol returned, the situation had completely reversed.

With Algol ascending to the throne of the Queen, Athena would inevitably be unable to escape a reckoning.

The conflict between Algol and Athena was almost common knowledge.

Athena glanced at her, then said calmly.

"Two-thirds complete."

Mata clearly believed Athena's explanation and sighed helplessly, a hint of pity appearing in her eyes as she looked at Athena.

"Sigh, you are also a person of bitter fate."

As she spoke, she looked at the two cards in Athena's hand and began to calculate how to win this round.

"Pair of threes."

Uesugi Kenshin's merciless words brought Mata back to reality.

"Hey, Uesugi, that's enough!"

Mata looked at her sulking colleague with a wry smile.

At this moment, Athena softly laid down two cards.

"Rocket."

Hearing this, Mata froze instantly; she slowly turned her head to look at the smiling Athena and said in a stiff tone.

"You actually held onto cards like these?"

"Sorry, I'm used to it."

Athena reached out to tuck a strand of hair from her temple behind her ear.

Mata's mouth twitched; she now seriously doubted the accuracy of Athena's words just a moment ago.

This Athena was definitely also brewing something big.

"Forget it, forget it, I give up on you."

Mata helplessly laid down her cards; having played with Athena several times, she had never won, as Athena always hid her biggest cards to play at the end.

"Speaking of which, what exactly are your thoughts? Why not go hide in Spirit Mountain? Why run to Arcadia?"

"Are you really not afraid of Algol coming to settle scores with you?"

Out of a thousand-year friendship, Mata still offered Athena a word of warning.

"Did Indra not notify you all?"

Athena asked while organizing the deck of cards.

"Notify us of what?"

Mata rolled her eyes at this moment.

"Which useless god even dares to step forward and sit in the position of Lord of the Heavenly Army as a mascot—that's already something to be thankful for."

"Is it about the relationship between Algol and Su Nian?"

Uesugi Kenshin said calmly.

"I heard from the monkey that Su Nian seems to have reached some cooperation with Algol."

To put it bluntly, the matter of Algol being driven out of Little Garden did not seem as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Athena had also played a certain role in it.

"No way? How come I saw you two fighting as if every move was meant to kill?"

Mata opened her mouth in surprise; the several Three-digit high monks from Buddhism sent to gang up on Algol were still nursing their injuries even now.

One must know that this was merely the aftermath.

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Athena glanced at Mata, then smiled and said.

"Then it seems the effect was quite good."

Algol needed Athena's cover, and naturally, Athena also needed Algol's cover.

The anger during the fight was real, but anger is the kind of thing that dissipates once it is vented.

Anyway, they were sisters who shared the same bed; how much hatred could there really be?

"Damn it, you're all old schemers! The atmosphere of this Little Garden is ruined by you lot."

Mata couldn't help but mutter, then turned her head to look at Black Rabbit, who had been standing to the side.

"Little Black Rabbit, has your man not returned yet?"

Hearing this description, Black Rabbit was startled, covering her reddening face as she said.

"Eh? I-I don't have that kind of relationship with the Leader..."

Seeing Black Rabbit like this, Mata couldn't help but sigh and say.

"Sigh, this silly rabbit is beyond saving; she doesn't even know how to capture such a good man sooner."

Black Rabbit was just about to explain, but was frightened by a look from Athena and dared not explain at all.

How could she dare to have ideas about Su Nian? Every morning, she could see different people coming out of Su Nian's room.

Sometimes it was Jialing, sometimes it was Leticia, and other times it was Athena, Algol, and there had even been times with Baiye.

However, Su Nian and Baiye were always noisy at night, as they were playing games.

It's just that she didn't know why it was quiet at night with the others, without hearing a single sound.

At this moment, Uesugi Kenshin, who was lying on the table watching Athena shuffle the cards, answered lazily.

"Probably still discussing matters related to the Sun Authority with Baiye, right?"

"Sun Authority? Is it to repair and complete the Last King's Spirit Status?"

Mata asked curiously; after all, this topic had been quite popular recently, and much of her intelligence gathering had been focused on clues regarding the Sun Authority.

It seemed to be about using the Sun Authority to win special privileges for oneself in the upcoming God Slayer War.

"It's not that matter; it seems to be about the last piece of Sun Authority or something."

Uesugi Kenshin said with a yawn; going with the monkey to bicker with those folks from Buddhism really exhausted her.

But it could be considered a success, as she had managed to reclaim the old members of Arcadia and also hoodwinked Sun Wukong regarding the private gifting of the Monkey Sun Authority to Su Nian.

"The last piece..."

Mata was speechless; she knew very well what that implied, so she instantly changed the subject, shaking Uesugi Kenshin and saying unhappily.

"Are you the gossip goddess, or am I the gossip goddess!!"

"Why do you know everything!!"

The shaken-awake Uesugi Kenshin replied unhappily.

"If you were willing to accompany the monkey to bicker with Buddhism, you would know too."

Instantly, Mata stopped talking.

She was the one who pushed this job onto Uesugi Kenshin precisely because she didn't want to deal with such bickering.

(End of chapter)