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Ryo considered himself a practical man.
When he was weak, he knew how to play it safe. When he had enough strength, he didn't mind playing hardball.
Sure, he'd schemed against allies before. But he never crossed the line. No matter how great the profits, he always left others a share. He wasn't the type to rob someone blind and then kill them for good measure.
He hadn't broken through the Eighth Sense and reached three-digit rank yet, so there was no way he would be stirring up trouble in a place like Little Garden.
Even when Omega hinted that a new two-digit opportunity had appeared, he didn't rush in.
With the dimensional forum's ability to search other worlds, he had a very real chance of grinding his way up to two-digit. Maybe even to the level beyond that.
At least his odds were better than those stagnant three-digit beings stuck in place.
Logically speaking, there was no need for him to get involved in Algol's mess.
Breaking seals. Becoming the Demon Opposed to the Gods. Crafting some grand Divine-Demonic Duality theory.
Staying out of it would be safer.
But reality rarely cooperates.
If Ryo didn't get involved, would Algol stop?
Wouldn't she still act through her incarnations?
Wouldn't the gods eventually notice something was wrong?
Ryo had known for a long time that secrets never stayed buried.
The Twin Goddesses knew he was the so-called "Trickster." Athena knew. Shiroyasha knew. Even Leticia and Kurousagi were in the loop.
Everything he'd done would come to light sooner or later. All he could do was grow strong enough to protect himself before that happened.
And if he couldn't?
Then he needed someone strong enough to stand in front of him.
Athena couldn't do that.
He wasn't sure about the Twin Goddesses.
Shiroyasha was too constrained to provide real protection.
Queen Halloween was even less reliable. Her attitude toward him had always been strangely ambiguous.
Counting them all up…
The most suitable choice was actually Algol.
A lone wolf. Extremely powerful. A three-digit Star Spirit. Not a rule-breaker monster, not two-digit, but among those just below that tier, she was one of the hardest to deal with.
She was straightforward. Easy to understand. Easy to communicate with. And their interests aligned.
As for drawbacks?
She'd offended most of the gods.
Primarily the Greek pantheon and Buddhism.
But Ryo wasn't exactly on good terms with them either. And Zeus' faction in Greece was bound to clash with him eventually.
Add in his hidden identity as the Trickster.
In some ways, his situation was even worse than Algol's.
So honestly, teaming up might be the most reasonable option.
Or to put it bluntly—
The right wolf meeting the right jackal. Perfect partners in crime.
"You've really handed me a headache," Ryo said with a wry smile, though his mind was already made up.
"A headache? Worse than when I challenged everyone in Little Garden?" Algol snorted.
The Lilith sealed in his Zanpakutō wasn't just a stray fragment this time. It was her true consciousness.
Previously, she'd sent a sliver of will that gained self-awareness after interacting with him. When it started acting independently, she crushed it.
Now, what resided in the blade was truly her.
She'd already slipped part of her essence beyond the seal.
That was how she'd broken through the mental barriers Ryo had layered over the Zanpakutō. She'd been observing him for a while now.
To be honest, when she first understood what he'd been doing, even she muttered, "Outrageous."
Then she thought about it again. So what if faith shifted?
She was the Primogenitor of Demons in Little Garden in the first place.
The ones actually suffering from Ryo's schemes were the gods who sealed her. The very "ugly" ones she despised.
If your enemies are getting screwed over, that's good news.
Why would she stop him?
As for him wanting her to shoulder the blame? That didn't bother her either.
If she shouted, "I'm the Trickster!" who would believe it?
Why?
Because she didn't have that kind of… subtlety.
If she announced she was robbing a cosmetics store, everyone would believe her instantly.
But masterminding layered provocations? That wasn't her style.
At worst, she'd be treated as a powerful three-digit aiding the Trickster.
And how many of those were there already?
Ever since the Trickster appeared, the fixed human histories in Little Garden had been destabilizing.
Simply because every pantheon was pulling strings behind the scenes.
Athena's subordinate Aishelia hadn't shown her face in ages. Several newly risen saints in Christianity suddenly went into seclusion. Buddhist heirs disappeared from public view.
As if no one noticed.
Algol still had subordinates. She'd even arranged for certain demon families to quietly seize thirty percent of the cosmetics market in the four-digit outer gates.
Did they really think being sealed meant she was clueless?
What a joke.
Ryo looked at her seriously. "How much do you know about my enemies?"
"That's my line. Do you know how many 'ugly women' I've insulted in my lifetime?" Algol shot back.
They both fell silent.
Right.
Between the two of them, their combined enemies probably outnumbered the total divine factions in Little Garden.
With plenty of overlap.
If you thought about it, it was almost funny.
They were both in terrible positions, yet still here trading jabs.
Ryo's brow twitched.
"Your identity can't be exposed. And even if you take on Zazalamagiu's identity and hide in Arcadia, it won't stay hidden forever."
Algol rolled her eyes, "You really think our cooperation hasn't already been exposed?"
"You look good, but how is your brain this slow?"
That's twice she's called me stupid.
Ryo ground his teeth internally but kept his composure.
"I know Athena, Shiroyasha, even the Twin Goddesses are aware. But knowing and having you physically appear in Arcadia are two different things. Understand?"
This time Algol got it instantly. Her tone turned teasing. "Oh? Enjoying my benefits while clinging to Athena's embrace too? You've got some nerve."
"It's about appearances," Ryo said dryly.
Then he frowned. "Though… if we manipulate the conflict between Zeus and Athena, you could stage a token concession. Shift the location of your surveillance to Arcadia instead…"
He looked at the floating Zanpakutō carefully.
But making Algol bow to Athena? Impossible.
"Bow to that ugly woman?!" Algol's voice spiked sharply. "Not happening. Kill that idea."
"I see. Then let's drop it," Ryo sighed. He'd known it was a long shot.
"Wait." The blade trembled.
"What?"
"You misunderstood." Algol's voice turned strangely thoughtful. "It's not that I can't bow to Athena. I just have one condition."
Ryo stared at the sword. "…A condition? Fine. Let's hear it."
"Your Cosmos…"
Ryo's expression changed slightly.
"Does it have any beauty-enhancing effects?"
.
.
.