CHAPTER 517: ETERNAL MERCY

Chapter 517 – Eternal Mercy

"Anyway," Lux said, shifting his tone, "I want to share something. About who might really be behind the bounty. Or at least... who might be stirring it."

The air changed. Subtle. Sharp.

"Go on," Celestaria said.

Lux looked at each of them. One by one.

Then Lux exhaled, slow and controlled.

"My uncle," he said. "Zoltarin. He’s sealed in the ruined old Greed Tower."

Selena blinked. "You have an uncle?"

Lux rubbed his temple. "Apparently. I also just learned that recently. My family tree literally erased him. No records. No portraits. Nothing."

Solara raised an eyebrow. "That... is extreme."

Lux gave a humorless smile. "Because it’s easier to forget a monster than admit he had your last name. Before my father, Zoltarin was supposed to be the current Lord of Greed. Not Zavros. Him."

Celestaria leaned in slightly. "But something happened."

Lux nodded. "He tried to overthrow King Kaelmor. Wanted the throne—wanted the world. Too much ambition. Too much ego. He almost succeeded. But in the end..." Lux’s eyes narrowed. "He lost."

Selena tilted her head. "But your family didn’t... kill him?"

Lux scoffed under his breath. "Unfortunately, no. My grandfather loved him too much. Blinded by favoritism. He begged the king to spare him."

Solara made a low sound in her throat. Annoyed. "Even after treason?"

"Apparently saving Kaelmor’s life once was enough to buy eternal mercy." Lux shrugged. "The king owed him a favor. So Zoltarin lived. Locked, sealed, hidden. A disgrace no one talks about."

Celestaria frowned. "Sealed or not, he shouldn’t be capable of contacting anyone."

Lux’s voice sharpened. "He shouldn’t. But he’s Greed. We don’t need armies or wings to break worlds. Information is our battlefield. Money is our sword. Whispers, debts, favors. One message. One bribe. One investment."

Selena’s brows furrowed. "So even sealed... he could still influence the world."

"Yes," Lux said. "Especially if he already planted agents and debts long before he was locked away."

The goddesses were quiet.

"Zoltarin knows how to manipulate systems. Economy. Debt. Leverage. He’s got layers of loyalists across pantheons. Mortals. Demons. I don’t know about celestials. And it’s all subtle. Investments. Tips. Whispers."

Sira tensed again.

Lullaby blinked slowly, trying to keep up.

Celestaria said, "That explains the bounty’s complexity. Its funding sources kept shifting."

"Exactly," Lux said. "He might not be trying to kill me directly. That’d be obvious. He will try to ruin me politically. Financially. Socially."

"And spiritually," Solara added.

Lux nodded. "If I lose my identity, if I fall from being me, then he wins."

Celestaria looked at Lux seriously. "Can you cut his reach?"

Lux shook his head. "Not fully. The only thing I’ve blocked is direct access to the Infernal Finance System. But outside that? Mortals. Angels. Demons. Economies. He could still touch them."

Solara’s gaze grew distant. "You believe he’s trying to reshape your image."

"Yes," Lux said. "And twist the world around it. Frame me. Corrupt my reputation with the celestials and demons alike."

The goddesses shared a look.

Then Celestaria asked, "Why tell us all this?"

"Because if this escalates," Lux said, "the Celestial Realm will be forced to act. If you’re not prepared, Zoltarin’s influence might drag you into war you didn’t start."

"Or one we might be blamed for," Solara added.

Lux nodded. "Exactly."

Celestaria said nothing for a moment.

Then she stepped closer.

"You were right to call us," she said gently. "And smart to speak now. Thank you."

Sira looked between them. "You’re not going to try and take him?"

Celestaria glanced at her with a tired smile. "We don’t steal what’s already claimed. Not anymore."

Solara added with a small grin, "Also... we’ve seen the way you look at him. We’re not suicidal."

Sira blinked.

Then smirked.

Lux chuckled.

Even Lullaby yawned sweetly. "Can I unfreeze time now? I left pudding outside the dome."

Solara raised a hand, and time resumed like a breath let out.

The air shimmered. Glasses clinked softly again. The soft music resumed. Dishes trembled just a little before settling back.

The time bubble slowly unraveled. The air shifted. The frozen stillness melted back into motion.

Celestaria turned first, hands folded neatly in front of her. "We’ve taken enough of your evening, Lux. It was... a lovely gathering."

Solara gave a wry smile. "Surprisingly lovely. Considering how tense things were."

Selena nodded. "And the food."

Lux tilted his head. "You’re welcome to stay longer if you want."

Celestaria’s smile softened. "Tempting, but we should go. We’ve already lingered more than protocol allows."

Solara added with a glance at Sira, "And before someone gets smited by Pride."

Sira didn’t even blink. Just stared with that same cool warning.

Selena cleared her throat delicately. "Still. Thank you for inviting us. It’s rare to feel... welcomed. Especially in the mortal realm."

Lux stepped forward. "It’s not just diplomacy. I owe you more than just a dinner."

Celestaria held his gaze. "Then don’t forget us when things escalate. We are watching. And we are listening."

Solara smirked. "And maybe next time, we’ll get more chances to talk more privately."

"I will try to go up more," Lux smiled.

Lullaby stretched behind them with a yawn. "You guys sparkle too much. It’s bedtime."

The goddesses laughed quietly. Even Celestaria’s lips twitched.

"We’ll take our leave then," she said, stepping back. "Call when you need us. Or when you’re ready."

Solara’s light flared briefly. "Stay alive, CFO."

Selena smiled. "Stay dangerous."

And just like that—light shimmered around them. Their forms flickered, then vanished, like reflections fading from glass.

Lux stood at the doorway for a moment longer, watching the moonlight spill where they’d been.

"...Yeah," he murmured to no one. "I plan to."

Rava came up beside him. "They like you."

"They shouldn’t," he muttered.

"But they do," Mira added behind him. "That’s your curse."

Sira crossed her arms. "I still don’t trust them."

"I know," Lux said.

Naomi walked over with a sleepy stretch. "That was a lot of divine estrogen in one room."

Lullaby nodded. "Singing was nice though."

"Yeah," Lux said softly. "It was."