146 The Moment Before The Chaos Starts (1/2)

”E-even if I can't kill you, I can put you in a prison, or better yet, take you hostage and tell all your 'followers' to back off in exchange for your safety.”

”They wouldn't care.” As if he was waiting just for her to finish, Cartel says so without batting an eye. ”They wouldn't care that I have been taken hostage or anything. In fact, they would look at it as an opportunity to replace me as the leader and so they will go even wilder, just to showcase how capable every single one of them is.”

One of the most terrifying things about a man like Cartel Hopkins is that he knows how weak he is and how worthless his life is in the grander scale of things. While some people can go into depression after realizing things like these, this man knows how to use it to his advantage.

”So, the only thing you can do now to stop me – is to put all your faith in Danny and Roswaisa's ability to apprehend me while you focus all your resources on stopping the incoming incursions by my men throughout this planet.”

Originally, we were about to take it slowly and stealthily. While I was to cause chaos everywhere I pass by, Cartel's men would handle other places that I wouldn't come across myself. That would have yielded much better results. However, since it seems like our cover is blown, we are going on the full offensive.

There's just thing one thing I have been curious about –

”If Cartel was deliberately blocking Dues' Scrying on me, then it was only a matter of time before she comes to check out what's going on. He basically made her come here.”

So, did things really not go as Cartel had planned? Or, is he manipulating not just Dues but me too?

”Hah!” He turns to me and says, ”I can practically feel the doubts in your mind.”

While what I said was nothing more than a whisper that no one could have heard (except me of course) but it seems like Cartel still was able to feel the doubts forming in my mind.

”What can I say, Irium?” Cartel replies in a muffled smile, ”Whatever answer I give, you'll be suspicious and end up leaning to other answer, wouldn't you?”

That – is highly likely to happen.

”You – don't actually think I'll let you walk out of here, do you?”

”It's not your bloody choice.” As soon as Dues musters up a threatening voice, Cartel refutes – completely unaffected by her demeanor.

”You-”

”Will safely walk out of here.” Cartel interrupts her and adds mockingly, ”And the reason for that is that you can't possibly let the whole planet of Frost see you as Goddess who doesn't care about the lives of the people.”

To the real God, life and death of humans would probably be irrelevant. But, to a fake God who cares about what people think of her, the bomb-switch-like-thingy that Cartel brings out is the biggest threatening device.