Chapter 300: The Age of the Gods

A torrential downpour suddenly arrived, with dense dark clouds pressing down upon the tower; thunder and rainstorm struck this city that had weathered many storms.

Yet this might not be a bad thing for the city and its inhabitants.

"Plop."

Li En closed the window, yet rainwater still seeped through the wooden frame.

Compared to the previous heavy rain, this time was entirely different; the downpour was so intense that Li En could barely see, with endless dark clouds forming a heavy, oppressive mass. It seemed this rainy season would last for quite some time.

Meanwhile, the maids in the house were busy, the sound of wooden planks and buckets constantly clattering, as the water leakage on the top floor of the three-story building had become even more severe. The two mechanical maids, Ophelia and Lya, were exceptions; before confirming the waterproof capability of their metallic bodies, it was better not to let them take risks.

"The rainy season has come; this time it wasn't delayed long. It seems the Lord of Storms is quite satisfied with this Offering." The discussion between Head Maid Martha and another maid near Li En caught his attention; locals always provided Li En with information he had never expected.

"This... it's actually related to the Gods?"

The timing of the rainy season is not purely a natural season, but depends on whether the monsoons from the sea reliably bring the water-laden clouds to where they are supposed to go.

This summer has already been long enough; if it drags on any longer, both the first round of planting and the crops in the fields will face problems.

To prevent the Gods of the Sea and Storms from causing trouble, offerings and sacrifices in many places are maximized. Even so, They still stir up trouble every few years.

"Sometimes, it is to demonstrate Their existence. These 'Evil Gods' often expand Their influence through fear and intimidation."

"If you do not worship Me, I will not send down disasters."

"If I don't cause some trouble, how would you know My importance?"

Although it sounds a bit absurd, in the histories of various worlds, such "Evil Gods" not only exist but often have many followers and devout believers.

"My Lord Li En, you are from the Desert Kingdom. In such an environment, even those Storm Gods are unlikely to succeed in bringing rain, as that is not Their sphere of influence, so you are unaware of Their ways. Every year, They dispatch Storm Envoys to negotiate with the royal families of various nations; many nations must pay a considerable amount annually."

Li En was truly enlightened; could these churches actually intimidate kingdoms? If you don't pay, they won't bring you rain?

"Except for a very few cases, it is not so direct. There is competition within Their ranks; there is not just one Sea God or Storm God. If a nation's Offering is insufficient, then the rain comes later, and no God will help you adjust the scope or timing. One slight mistake, and it becomes a disaster."

Their claim is technically valid: the number of "Gods' Spokespersons" capable of communicating with the Gods and guiding Divine Power to interfere with the mortal world is limited.

Those big shots direct the weather in nations that pay, using up the cloud qi and monsoons. As for what happens next in your poor, small nation, it truly depends on the heavens.

"It is hard to say it is truly luck; if you stop making offerings for several years, you will definitely encounter bad weather."

At this moment, Li En suddenly realized.

This is a world with Gods; the Gods are not merely the embodiment of natural laws but constantly and persistently interfere with all things in a concrete manner.

Li En found it absurd, but for the locals, it was simply taken for granted.

"The Kingdom long ago ran out of resources to offer to the Storm Church. Every so often, we scrape together a little to avoid offending anyone, relying purely on luck. Perhaps because the Kingdom has no fat left to squeeze, things have actually been manageable these past few years."

This "luck" is not even natural climate, but rather whatever the natural climate becomes after these Gods interfere.

"Our priority is the Sea God Church. If we constantly encounter shipwrecks and sea monsters outside the port, then the maritime transport of this city would be ruined."

The Sea God and the Storm God often share similar divine domains; some Gods hold both roles, while others are internally connected. Only when storm and ocean are together can they truly intimidate the various nations of the mortal world.

For a small nation like Aethelin, if there is truly no money or resources, they can only scrape together an Offering for one side, and then that side won't act too excessively. Of course, the premise is that the nation internally allows their faith; otherwise, they will definitely target you.

As for those superpowers, they are too lazy to "offer" anything; only when necessary do they ask for their help, at which point it is a one-time fee.

Of course, such "mortal interference" has a precondition: they do not interfere with mortal political events, especially wars. Yet in reality, history still bears too many traces of such interference.

Leaving aside distant examples, if this rainstorm that made it impossible to see a hand in front of one's face had arrived a bit earlier, overlapping with the cultists' attack, no one could determine what would have happened; the losses in the City of Radiance would likely have been far greater.