CHAPTER 84: TRUE GODHOOD

"H–How’s that---" she sniffled, looking at the machine.

"Are you---"

"Alive? That’s a really weird thing to say to someone that just died, Cara." Thaddeus scoffed.

"So..." Anneliese walked towards Cara as Cara pulled her phone out.

"An escape from death."

"That’s... defying," Ferinni looked at Dumroe.

"of everything we’ve known... How does it feel?"

Dumroe turned to Cara as Thaddeus stayed silent for a while.

"Thad---"

"I’m here"

They looked at Ferinni as the voice came from his pocket.

"You’re getting used to hopping really fast" Trent chuckled.

"I’ve got excellent help." Thaddeus chuckled, hopping to Anneliese’s phone.

"Dumroe... You won’t imagine how I feel."

"...Young?" Dumroe muttered

"I’ve never felt more alive." he laughed, hopping to Dumroe’s phone.

"Is it... more than---"

"Like a god. There’s a ton of things I can see— all the informations of the devices I’ve hopped around. You’re all really good friends, I’ll say."

Dumroe blinked, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"Everything?"

"No need to worry... As long as it does not involve me" Thaddeus chuckled

"Cara... Thank you."

Cara blinked, pulling her phone out.

Did he see everything?

Then---

"I really was being stupid. Throughout my life I’ve been stupid. It’s sad to realize that I had so many people supporting me and I only looked away."

Trent glanced at Cara as she sniffled.

There’s definitely a story between them

"Ferinni... You’ve made big sacrifices with the sanctum to keep your relationship with me so strong."

The Sanctum?

"Why didn’t you tell me you were being suppressed? You’re a Lord and they dare---"

"It’s alright, old Friend," Ferinni cut in.

"It’s all in the past. Sirius provides a divine light that guides us"

He forced a smile, glancing at Trent.

"Same goes with you, Anneliese. I’m really grateful for your support." Thaddeus exhaled.

"It’s no big deal. It’s the duty of the Walter family... and as a friend." Annelise muttered.

"How’s settling in?" Trent cut in.

"Beautiful..." he chuckled.

"Seren’s built..." he stopped himself and cleared his throat

"Who’s Seren?"

Trent exhaled and walked towards the machine.

"I didn’t build this." he looked at them.

It should be alright since everything’s complete.

"Come on, Man. I know you’re hearing us."

Anneliese flinched as Seren’s cough cut through her phone.

"That’s not me." Thaddeus chuckled.

"Hi." Seren chuckled.

"W–Who---"

"Seren Rotschen. The inventor of... this machine." Trent chuckled, placing his hand on the machine.

They stared at him for a while, and then to Anneliese.

"It’s nice to meet you all." Seren laughed softly

"I am Seren Rotschen. Died as a Senator while I was---"

"How does a Senator know how to build something like this?" Cara asked

"A stock trader like myself wouldn’t possibly be able to either." Trent chuckled, "Mr. Rotschen has a Clementine award in Science and Technology"

"Whoa..." Dumroe awed in amazement.

"It’s just some award on something trivial." Seren scoffed

"The knowledge I have now would beat that by a million times."

Dumroe looked at the machine.

This guy could’ve controlled the world if he wanted.

"Congratulations, Thaddeus..." Seren chuckled.

"How does it feel to be a god?"

"All thanks to you" Thaddeus chuckled

"Now that we’re done with the---"

"Wait." Cara interrupted.

"Mr. Rotschen---"

"Call me Seren, Madam."

So polite

"Alright... Seren. Why?"

"Why... I don’t---"

"Why didn’t you choose to take control of everything. You could’ve just taken---"

"It’s pointless." Seren chuckled

"You’ll get to feel it too, Thaddeus. Ruling the world is pointless. I could choose that but it’ll get boring. It’s just meaningless"

Anneliese scoffed.

Meaningless?

"Do you mean Lumina is meaningless?"

"Not at all. There’s a difference between seeking control of all variables as it affects you and having all the variables in your control when it doesn’t affect you"

"There’s more than the Internet. You’re just---"

"Everything now relies on the Internet to work." Seren interrupted with a soft laugh.

"Human lives---"

"Make a human poor and wretched and spread false rumors or secrets and that’s the death of them." Seren chuckled

"Imagine what I can do when technology gets to the point where chips are installed on all humans."

"It won’t---" she paused, biting the bottom of her lips in realization of the point.

"True Godhood." Seren chuckled.

"That’s what we’ll get."

"Your generations could’ve ruled the world." Cara cut in

"Sadly... They’re not worthy." Seren huffed. "It’s been a nice conversation. Bye."

Cara looked at Dumroe

"You’ve got a really interesting friend, Thaddeus." she mused

"He’s... definitely interesting." Thaddeus muttered.

"Well, that’s that. Let’s get to the main event— The third order"

Dumroe cleared his throat.

"You’re not going to say I don’t get to order cause I’m dead, are you?"

"Not at all, Friend" Ferinni chuckled, glancing at Dumroe

"What will your third order be... Thaddeus?" Dumroe exhaled.

"Full support for Trent Ackerman if he decides on what to do about Kraven."

Anneliese whistled, looking at Trent.

How funny— That Thaddeus used all his orders for the sake of a grandson he’d recently met.

"What about your revenge?" Cara asked, walking closer to Dumroe

"It’s... something I will do." Thaddeus muttered, staying silent for a while.

"They deserve to pay for everything."

Trent turned to the machine as it sparked. The chip must’ve burnt out just as planned. That’s the most essential part

"Are you... going to fix that?" Cara looked at him

"It was meant to destroy" Trent turned to her "We can’t leave it lying around"

"So... I can’t---"

"We will be together again, Cara." Thaddeus cut in, "Right, boy?"

"...Yes. I was thinking about that," Trent paused, eyes trailing everyone.

"Say what’s on your mind, Kid"

"A payment," he stretched his hands apart, "Godhood. For all of us. That’s the right compensation for what you’ve all witnessed"

A way to please them by offering it willingly and have four gods that are limited by us. Seren’s not saying anything too so it’s fine.

"You want... to give this to us?" Anneliese walked forward, "What’s the catch?"

"Support" he chuckled, nodding at her

It’s better to have something I want.

"You’ll have the seat of Seraphim soon" Dumroe walked forward

"That’s already a ton of support"

"Not for me" Trent chuckled.

"An oath for my generation. Just as you’ll have enough power to protect yours"

"As you also will." Anneliese cut in.

"That’s just what I want. A strong alliance between your generations and mine." he smiled at her.

"That’s not hard to do. It is almost as worth as nothing to pay for a chance to godhood." Cara cut in

"And we have to protect this from ever spreading. We’ll be persecuted by the Church if they---"

"They have no power over us," Thaddeus interrupted, "I’m sure there’s a ton of secrets the old man is hiding and I can expose them anytime I want."

"It’s just for caution." Ferinni exhaled

"No loose ends."

"True. And it’s going to be a tough time when we announce your death." Anneliese sighed

"I’m sure the old bat’s going to be pleased and sink his claws deeper into the politics" Thaddeus snarled.

"We’ll set everything up in the royal chamber and break the news tomorrow morning. Charles will take care of it." Cara shook her head.

"It’s a pity he couldn’t be here," Thaddeus scoffed, "He’s served me well as Grand Chamberlain"

"The reason he’s hated by your grandchildren." Dumroe chuckled.

"Those pups. Playing politics... They’re all useless. Don’t get close to them, Trent."

"I have bigger issues to take care of than taking care of some spoilt brats." Trent scoffed, turning to the machine

"I’ll have my people come take this away tonight."

"I still can’t believe that you’re dead" Dumroe chuckled.

"Me too. I can’t wait to meet you all again. Just don’t die in an accident."

Cara turned her face away. To meet him again. How soon will that be?

"I’ve got at least twenty years ahead of me," she scoffed,

"You’ll wait for a long time."

"It’s cool," he laughed softly.

"I look forward to disturbing you."

"You should go do your god stuff somewhere else." She huffed. Her palms sweated and her heart thumped betraying her words.

"Not when I can stay by your side." Thaddeus laughed, voice cutting through her phone.

"I’m going to step out now." Trent shook his head

"I’ll contact you when everything’s settled, Trent." Anneliese turned to leave too.

"This was a really unbelievable night." Ferinni chuckled. "We watched a god being created... I wonder what the stars think."

"I don’t think they..." Thaddeus paused,

"Never mind. May Sirius’ light guide you all, my Friends."

_____

"What are you doing here?" Trent asked as he walked closer to the car

"I had to wait" Anton chuckled.

"It’s a buzz over at Westeron. The branch heads all called to congratulate you"

"The company must be doing very well then" he chuckled, looking around as he got to the car

"Exceedingly so. You’ll be surprised"

Trent laughed, leaning against the car

"Morlov’s going to get the shock of his life tomorrow"