Chapter 333

“What? A secret organization behind the world? I’m member number three? And my number is Nan Tian Men?”

Fisterion did not seem to treat it as any great secret; perhaps a vow or similar supernatural constraint limited him, yet he still revealed much in his own way.

The seat, number three, Nan Tian Men, and the biggest clue—the very word “Gate”—already conveyed substantial information.

“A Gate? A world defense organization?”

Fisterion smiled, not denying it—apparently, the “Secret-Keeping Pact” had very limited power.

“I cannot say.” This too was a hint: “What you deduced was not said by me.”

Li En easily deduced it because the title and organization name bore Li Ensu’s style, plus the hint of seat three.

“Li Ensu, the Thousand-Faced Dragon, is one of the founders? Even a high-up?”

Fisterion first nodded, then shook his head.

“He is a founder, but not a high-up.”

Again, he nodded first, then shook his head.

“You’re not saying he isn’t a high-up—you’re saying this organization has no high-ups at all?”

This time, he acknowledged with a smile.

Li En pondered, then nodded. Though the conspiracy theory of “an organization ruling the entire world” was popular, reality made it unlikely.

This was not an issue of organizational depth or hidden power, but of the world’s inherent diversity—too many high-ups meant too many factions and ethnic interests.

There were far too many ethnic groups, far too many conflicting interests, and with powerful individuals constantly rising, if any supreme being existed, he would be the private asset and Liyibangding of some clan, nation, or even family. This was the world’s “inherent belief,” a product of intensified individual transcendence and ethnic competition.

Truly solitary transcenders barely existed; every powerful being’s growth was deeply entangled with their clan, race, and nation.

Everyone fought for survival, for their Zuqun ’s living space—not merely land and resources, but crucially “powerful transcendental resources”: divine authority, plane control, sources of transcendental energy, rights to harvest transcendental materials, and more.

With resource plundering and concentration, the strong grew stronger, while the weak could only flee to some small plane to barely cling to life.

Against this backdrop, unless they betrayed their own Zuqun and fundamental interests, they could hardly form a true “secret organization.” And if they did, they would inevitably be overthrown by rising lower tiers.

Another clue might be “seat.” Seats might have hierarchy, but as long as all sat at the same table, absolute superior-subordinate relationships were unlikely—gathering around the table was primarily for deliberation.

“A scattered defense organization, perhaps even just a communication body, whose core members are ancient ones who rarely die of old age.”

At that moment, Li En unexpectedly thought of the “United Nations”—equally powerless, each member representing only their own Zuqun or nation’s interests, and existing chiefly as a platform for members to argue.

“United Nations?” Li En asked outright.

Fisterion’s smiling silence was already an acknowledgment.

A council-based communication body, calling itself “Gate of Protection,” was probably just putting on a face—it might be that members spent their days brawling like dogs.

The United Nations’ greatest value, beyond arguing, was forming some consensus and preventing genocide—but now, even that function seemed unreliable; its only value was “arguing,” “I oppose your proposal, I oppose your opposition.”

But here, there seemed to be a difference: this organization appeared to take no overt action, remaining remarkably low-key.

“A shadowy communication body, mostly composed of ancient ones, spending most of their time arguing.”

Li En stated one point; Fisterion silently approved each.

“It can be treated as nonexistent.”

But at this moment, Fisterion shook his head.

“It can be treated as nonexistent only until you reach a certain strength—like Lex—then you’ll encounter it, and it may not be a good thing.”

This time, Fisterion nodded with a smile.

Such an organization, though seemingly useless, always held value—such as responding to “external enemies” or facing existential crises capable of destroying everything.

At that moment, Li En recalled something.

“Outer Gods?”

“Not just that.” Fisterion gave his first clear response, confirming that this troubled world likely faced not only elusive, unpredictable Outer Gods.