Chapter 499

“God damn Greed, I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” Ben laughed, thrilled to see his friend again despite the situation he was in. “No nation has you tied down?”

“You kidding? Sticking to one place is a good way for some bastard or ex-fling to find me. Just having my shows on is giving me enough headaches with people showing up uninvited, if you know what I mean.”

“Ha, I can guess. Glad to see nobody’s eaten you without me around to save the day.”

“Well, there’s been a couple of close calls but luckily I can afford to have some muscle around. I told you our little ordeal would make me rich and I meant it. Actually, Jeeves, do me a favour and hand me over, would ya? Go take some lunch while I catch up.”

Ben reached out to take the crab as his guard, Jeeves, gave a small nod before leaving, promising to find him again in an hour.

Which means I’ll need to stick around for a bit, even if I’m not going to fight with this group. Oh well, it will be nice to catch up.

“So, are you going to introduce me to your friend?” He asked, eyeing Sachel. “Don’t tell me you ditched sparkles already? It would put a real damper on my show if that got out.”

“Huh? Oh no, absolutely not. Greed, meet Sachel, the Oracle of Myriad. Sachel, this is Greed, the guy I was stuck in the dead god’s trial with. As for Thera, we’re still going strong. Was actually about to try and figure out why they decided to split us up for this. Hope you don’t mind being carried along for that.”

“Ha, sounds fun. Who knows, maybe if you cause enough chaos I could end up with a good encore for my show.”

“Ha, I doubt it will be quite that bad, I just want an answer or two.”

They kept up their chat as the three of them pushed their way to the front where a tall, imposing man was standing, waiting for the crowd to gather before he’d begin talking to the lot of them about where they’d be going and what was expected of them while they were there, or so that was the plan until Ben pushed his way to the front, trying to seem friendly, even as he was already connecting to the man to dig through his head for anything worthwhile.

“Hello there,” He started cheerfully, not seeing a need to start a fight if he didn’t have to. “Sorry to bother you but I was hoping you could help us out. Both me and her were split up from the individual parties we’re a part of when we were led to believe that sort of thing wouldn’t happen. We were just wondering if that was some sort of mistake or if there was any particular reason this happened?”

“The planners who arranged things must have judged you’d be useful enough at this gate that they did it,” He said apologetically. “I understand this isn’t the most desirable outcome, but please understand the situation we’re in. We have to try and do our best for the survival of the world as a whole.”

It sounded plenty reasonable to anyone listening, enough that Ben may have even felt just a tiny bit bad about the fact that he going to completely ignore their decision, if not for the fact that he was watching a memory in the man’s mind where he’d been told to try and guilt anyone who wasn’t happy with the arrangements the ones who’d planned this has made.

Still, Ben tried to keep up a polite appearance as he went on.

“Alright, are any of these planners around so we might be able to get an answer as to why we’d be useful at our given location instead of with our parties? I think it would leave us significantly more comfortable with the outcome.”

“I’m sorry, but there aren’t any around. I could try and arrange a meeting for later in the week after everyone is gathered and we go over the necessary information.”

Ben just stared quietly into his eyes for a minute before giving a small nod. “So there’s five of them here, got it. Okay, we’re going to go talk to them so don’t wait up.”

He gestured for Sachel to follow him while he carried Greed, only stopping at the feeling of a hand grabbing his arm.

“Are you really going to put your feelings above the world?” The man asked, sounding incredulous. “We’re talking about the safety of everyone here, don’t be selfish, be smart. I understand why you might be bothered about this but these arrangements were made with the utmost care. This is for getting the best results.”

“Listen man, I won’t let myself be guilted by significantly more powerful people than you so you’re not going to have much luck. I’m already aware you lied about no planners being here, I’m just going to get an actual answer so let go.”

Still, he wasn’t released, instead getting a firm look Ben suspected was supposed to be intimidating that just left him to sigh.

“God I fucking hate doing this,” He muttered before speaking up. “I said to let go, or do you intend to restrain an apostle and oracle in something that’s meant to be voluntary?”

That got him to finally let go, the man taking on a surprised look while Ben made sure to slip away.

When in doubt, always play the apostle card.

“Still finding trouble everywhere, huh legs? Of course, if this ends with a bit more money in my pocket like last time I won’t complain.”

“It… probably won’t. I’m just looking for answers, it should only be a minute or two so let’s just get this over with.”

He brought the two with him as he rushed around the coliseum, getting through three of the five planners and not even bothering to ask any questions, instead skipping straight to invading their minds in his search for answers. It was only when he reached the fourth that he got his explanation with one memory appearing in the other’s head, seemingly perfectly designed to fill Ben with rage.

So who is it? The nameless planner asked a person Ben couldn’t recognize, though was dressed like he was part of one of the many religions in the world.

A craftsman who happens to be a rank one adventure along with a separate… acquaintance of his. He’s a man I refuse to live under this sky with, if you would help me gain the result I seek, well, you’ll see my appreciation.

A card came out of the stranger’s hand, ready to transfer untold funds in exchange for the favour, even as the planner still hesitated.

Rank one is rather important, you’re asking quite a bit.

I have it on good authority that he’s only reached the rank due to a flaw in the rules. He’s an artisan through and through, he won’t be missed.

…alright, I make no promises but I know a few gates will be more dangerous than others, I’ll have them sent that way and let things fall as they will, but aside from the persuasion already planned for any unruly guests, there’s no guarantee he won’t ignore it either.

That’s all I ask. Thank you. If this fails I’ll simply try something else in the future.

The memory ended with cards clinking and funds being exchanged, letting Ben see the price that was just put on his life. When he’d wanted to find out why they’d been split, he’d been expecting either a genuine reason or incompetence, not outright malice, not only directed at himself, but Sachel as well.

What problem does someone have with the higher believers of Myriad? Of course, she seemed like an afterthought so maybe I got her dragged into this. Hmm.

He got the name of the god that worshiper gave faith to but it was one he didn’t recognise and there was more still he wanted to know. It needed more investigating and he didn’t hesitate to plunge deeper, seeing others who had had bribes placed against them to lower their chances of survival including an ex-lover of Greed’s landing him in the same group by coincidence, with each memory building up inside of him to create a single feeling. Rage.

Ben didn’t think himself a great person, even if they had a real reason for dividing him and Thera he would have ignored it, but that wasn’t true of everyone there. These were people who were going to knowingly put their lives on the line. For a single one to die due to that sort of corruption would be beyond outrageous by any reasonable standard, let alone to line someone’s pockets.

He didn’t need to think about what came next, every mind in his head was unified in a single action, materializing thick chains around the corrupt planner when he was finally beginning to notice the look Ben was giving him before Ben used nearly the rest of his mana to raise the ground beneath him to stand above the crowd and apply an enchantment to one of the bands on his arm, holding it up to his face to let it act like a microphone.

“Warriors and mages who’ve come to fight for the world, may I have your attention!” He yelled out, drawing all eyes to him with his volume. “I am Ben, apostle of the god Myriad and holder of the Awakener title after helping many of you rise to greater heights and I’m here to tell you you’re being deceived!”

The crowd’s eyes pulled to him with the many he’d help awaken listening carefully, fully feeling the debt to the one who’d helped them achieve more power than they’d ever hoped, with their serious looks only raising the focus of those who didn’t know him, aided by the initial trust that came with the fact that he was an apostle.

“Some of you have been separated from your parties, I’m sure they told you it was for the world but that’s a lie! It was all to make this bastard richer!” He yelled out, hoisting the terrified planner to the air as murderous eyes assaulted the man. “He at least has been arranging for people to end up at more dangerous points to lower your chances of overcoming this battle! One of the people paying him was even the representative of another god!”

The air filled with bloodlust at his words, the people there seeing his rage and being pulled into it, letting him rile them up further into the anger they wanted to feel for that sort of betrayal.

“Tell me, is this what you’re prepared to fight for?”

“NO!” The scream went up, Ben having their feelings in his hands the second he’d gained their trust with his credentials.

“Is this what you’re prepared to die for?”

“NO!”

“Good! Then come with me and let’s get someone to answer for this!”

With the crowd fully behind him, he marched out of the coliseum, the trapped planner at the edge of panic for having been discovered while those he came with had their own reactions.

Thera and Sonya were both enraged enough hearing everything that they were happy to join along while Greed found himself faced with a potential bit of inspiration for some new material, just like he’d joked about. Sachel was busy dealing with the shock that someone had apparently wanted to kill her, leaving both Skoe and Ralia to wonder in fear at just what Ben intended to do now that he was well and truly mad.

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