HTLCCBFT Chapter 229

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 229

Abino thought he had ample reason to suspect he had gone mad.

First, to completely break free from the divine temple’s control, he had donned garments that others viewed as virtually a death sentence for the afflicted. Then he moved to the outer city, ravaged by plague, spending his days rushing through the streets, praying for the deceased with a mindset of sacrificing himself. Now, he had personally heard from a suddenly appearing merchant—who seemed suspicious no matter how one looked at it—the very words that symbolized the purest, most beautiful ideal buried deep in his heart.

“…Sir.”

It took him a long moment to find his voice again. His expression appeared unchanged, but anyone could detect the tremor in his lightly shaking, urgently eager tone, revealing the upheaval in his heart.

“Please repeat what you just said,” he pleaded, unblinkingly staring at the merchant with unremarkable brown hair yet strikingly beautiful features. After taking a quick, anxious breath, he softened his initially commanding tone with a note of entreaty: “I’m sorry, I beg you, say it again.”

Oliver was taken aback.

In his eyes, this Grand High Priest—whose distinctive, eye-catching appearance resembled what later generations might poetically call a “child from the stars,” an albino patient—had previously carried himself like an emotionless statue. His lines and contours were elegant, his movements imbued with the slow dignity unique to Priests. Even with ordinary looks, such noble bearing would make him stand out in a crowd.

Though their encounter was brief, Oliver’s keen perception allowed him to see that the Grand High Priest’s gaze and tone had held no ripple of emotion all along. Like a meticulously carved doll, every detail reflected the sculptor’s painstaking effort—a masterpiece, yet not acting on its own will.

But after Oliver uttered those words just now, a spark seemed to ignite in those strange, profound red eyes.

Oliver’s thoughts stirred slightly.

From Abino’s intense reaction and his fearless work among the dead, could it be…?

As he pondered, an incredible conjecture surfaced in his mind.

Before Abino could urge him further, Oliver smiled faintly, his deep blue eyes reflecting the other’s form but carrying a trace of compassion and gentleness that Abino could clearly perceive. “Before answering your question, I wish to know your name first.”

“Abino,” the other replied without hesitation. “My name is Abino, sir.”

“You’ve read that book, haven’t you?”

Oliver didn’t directly answer the question, but his subtle shift in topic seemed to melt the invisible frost enveloping the Grand High Priest even more. “Perhaps you wouldn’t mind letting me hear your thoughts on it first.”

To the astonishment of all onlookers—except the cat god in human form, who remained oblivious throughout—this Grand High Priest, usually cold as ice and only showing a hint of softness during prayers, actually revealed a genuine smile.

He lowered his gaze slightly, his long eyelashes failing to conceal the fervent light in his eyes, the profound disorientation, and the childlike, pure delight.

Just like a fanatic who, after day after day of devout prayer, suddenly and without warning receives the attention of the true god in their heart.

He agreed without hesitation: “Of course, I would be most delighted, more than delighted. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, sir… no, Your Highness, the holy divine messenger.”

—

The conversation with the Grand High Priest proceeded extremely smoothly.

If not for the cat god thoughtfully coming in to remind him that it was almost time for the system to force him into slumber, neither the reluctant Grand High Priest nor the still-eager Oliver would have wanted to part so soon.

“You have done very well, my dear child.”

Though much younger in age than Abino, as the owner of the book the other revered as holy scripture and the guide of his thoughts, Oliver naturally adopted the attitude of an elder toward this Grand High Priest, whose icy demeanor had instantly melted into the unreserved admiration of a pure, devoted child: “In the most critical moment, you disregarded your own safety and made the right decision, preserving the spark of hope for everyone. The great cat god will surely bless you.”

In the face of a plague that people were powerless to resist, having an unwavering spiritual pillar was absolutely precious.

Hearing Oliver’s words, the Cat-eared God, who had been quietly listening nearby, tilted his head slightly and immediately bestowed a wisp of divine power upon this white-haired human—just as he had done with Loyel before.

“I am honored, respected divine messenger.” Completely unaware that he had just been blessed by a true deity in person, Abino’s tone drew out slightly, like the lingering push of waves at dusk, his eyes filled with eagerness: “Will you… come again in the future?”

“Of course.” Oliver said cheerfully. “Before that, I need you to recruit more people to prepare for the official disaster relief efforts.”

Abino replied resolutely: “Yes.”

The two young attendants watched in stunned disbelief, and something even more incredible soon happened before their eyes—a hazy golden mist suddenly appeared, tightly enveloping the two mysterious merchants.

In the blink of an eye, the golden mist quickly solidified, then silently scattered like stardust falling from the milky way, or a rainbow seen through the clear, splashing waters of a stream, gradually fading away.

Along with the disappearance of this beautifully dreamlike golden mist, the figures of the two mysterious visitors also vanished.

“Heavens!!! Your Excellency…”

They turned around in a daze, incredulously asking the Grand High Priest, who still wore a not-yet-faded smile: “Who were those two just now?!”

Abino closed his eyes, his emotions still surging.

He felt that at this moment, he was immeasurably happy, and even if he were to die the next instant, he would have no regrets.

“It is the merciful father.” He replied softly in a tone of tenderness they had never experienced before. “It is the god who watches over the world.”

—

The God of Wealth, who always puts his little partner’s wishes first, truly waited until the last moment before his little partner usually falls into slumber before speaking up to remind him.

Due to Oliver being unable to resist speaking a few more words to Abino before leaving, which delayed the last bit of reserved time, when the deity enveloped them in golden mist formed from divine power, the Angel Duke had already fallen into a deep slumber.

He diligently carried his little companion back to the bed in Gregor City and meticulously tucked him in under the covers.

Then, as usual, he quietly lay down beside Oliver, openly gazing at that beautiful and delicate sleeping face.

Of course, there was something different from usual: he was distracted, thinking about what had just happened.

The plague in the royal capital seemed truly troublesome, requiring Oliver to make many trips.

Could they really not find Helf or Plage? Even if they were in a deep slumber, couldn’t they be awakened?

As he pondered, he decided to return to the divine realm first.

To his great surprise, standing before his golden temple was a goddess he had never seen before, seemingly wandering around and peering curiously.

Without the temple owner’s permission, other deities could not enter the gates unless they forcibly broke through with divine power.

He calmly observed her.

Her hair was very long, as long as Oliver’s… and her gown was adorned with rose patterns.

He tilted his head slightly, thinking that he didn’t dislike her.

The pleasant scent on Oliver was the fragrance of roses.

“Oh, if I’m not mistaken, you must be the God of Wealth that Deyth mentioned,” Rose[mfn]萝丝(Luó sī)[/mfn] said with a smile, initiating the conversation. “You taught that troublesome fellow a lesson—it was absolutely brilliant! I haven’t seen that stubborn, annoying guy so dejected in a long time!”

However, the enthusiastic tactics that usually worked on other deities seemed completely ignored by this deity with cat ears and a long tail.

She didn’t give up immediately but continued to engage him in conversation, steering the topic toward what Deyth had angrily repeated—the beloved treasure that seemed to belong to the God of Wealth. “He truly deserved it—coveting the treasure of a more powerful deity, your beloved Oliver… hmm, Ollie, such a cute name. Such reckless behavior must be punished, right? Not all gods are as selfless and tolerant as His Majesty.”

As she chattered on, the God of Wealth stared at her intently.

She soon found herself unable to continue speaking.

For some reason, that seemingly calm gaze made her feel an unprecedented sense of pressure and an indescribable guilt.

“What’s wrong?”

The Rose Goddess forced a smile, pretending nonchalance as she smoothed her silky long hair.

What made her even more uneasy was that, after quietly watching her for a while, the God of Wealth shifted his gaze away as if nothing had happened.

……What in the world was going on?

Rose’s smile stiffened, finally understanding why Deyth became so furious whenever he mentioned him.

Compared to the fool—well, the simple-minded and easily manipulated God of Death—this seemingly innocent God of Wealth might just be the one with the most complex and difficult-to-understand thoughts.

Little did she know, the God of Wealth had merely received a spark of inspiration from her and was feeling somewhat pleased in his heart.

It was only then he noticed that there was no special form of address between him and his little companion.

Among humans—be it intimate friends, fellow ministers, siblings, or most importantly, partners—there would always be a most affectionate term of endearment.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he made a decision.

Then, under Rose’s guarded and bewildered gaze, he declared with unshakable confidence, “You are not allowed to call Oliver ‘Ollie.’”

No sooner had he spoken than he recalled his little companion’s frequently used tone, and so he naturally added, “Please, don’t do that.”

Rose: “……”

Was this strange new deity genuinely under the impression that adding a “please” at the end of a command made it polite?

Before she could even finish rolling her eyes inwardly, the God of Wealth was already delivering another important speech in front of her: “Only I can call him ‘Ollie.’ ‘Ollie’ is my most important partner.”

After hearing this, Rose blinked.

Despite this deity’s seemingly domineering and eccentric temperament, her fondness for him instantly soared to its peak—

“How wonderful!” she said with a beaming smile. “What a pity I am neither the Goddess of Love nor the Goddess of Fidelity, and the God of Marriage has already fallen into slumber, unable to grant you a blessing… Ah, what a beautiful love this is! Please allow me to offer the most beautiful roses for your love!”

She was truly overjoyed.

Your Majesty, she had never encountered such a handsome, adorable, wise, and reasonable god!

—After all, among all the deities, he was the only one whose divine power far surpassed hers yet had voluntarily withdrawn from the competition for her most beloved god-king!

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