After a moment, Leticia pushed Aslan away, her misty red eyes gazing at him earnestly.
"Don't give in to temptation now. I'm serious."
"You decide everything." Aslan shrugged helplessly. He didn't understand these matters.
The things Leticia had just mentioned were already giving him a headache.
Leticia could ask him to create a few worlds, research and craft some Gifts—he could do all that.
But asking him to handle these messy political affairs? Sorry, Aslan truly couldn't manage such things.
"While I greatly appreciate Master's trust in me, I can only say I'm capable of handling these issues." Leticia said, massaging her temples with a headache.
If there were truly no other options, she wouldn't have sought Aslan's help.
In truth, she had always been part of the combat faction. Political maneuvering, banquet arrangements, and the like—she could only say she had some experience from her long life.
But how well she performed, she didn't dare claim.
During the rebellion within the vampire clan at Garden Knight, she hadn't even been able to detect or stop it.
Later, in Arcadia, she was always responsible for combat. Arcadia's operational aspects were all handled by Canaria.
"This time, it's truly beyond my capabilities." Leticia lowered her head guiltily, speaking in a low voice, as if dissatisfied with her own incompetence.
But if it couldn't be done, it couldn't be done. Leticia wasn't the stubborn type who forced herself to do things she wasn't capable of. That would only lead to humiliation.
"Alright, leave the rest to me." Aslan sighed, patting her head gently and speaking softly.
"What exactly is going on?" Leticia took a deep breath and said.
"Too many guests are coming to visit. Preliminary estimates suggest we've received over a hundred thousand visiting cards."
"And most of them are coming on behalf of Communities. Each Community will send at least one delegation."
"But for some reason, nearly all the Communities responsible for hosting banquets recently received large commissions for other banquets."
Thanks to the disposable Storage Cards Aslan mass-sold through the Planeswalker he founded, Arcadia currently had no shortage of funds.
Normally, a banquet of this scale would be entrusted to Communities specializing in planning and hosting banquets. As long as one was willing to spend money, what level of banquet couldn't they organize?
Even hiring a Four-Digit God of Cookery to cook personally wasn't impossible.
But coincidentally, several renowned banquet-hosting Communities in Little Garden had received large orders.
Five-Digit Communities would struggle to host a banquet of this level properly.
Leticia looked at Aslan with some frustration and continued.
"If it were just Arcadia's old allies visiting, it wouldn't be an issue."
"But now, there are hundreds of Four-Digit visiting cards, and most of them express very friendly attitudes."
"For Arcadia's reputation, we must provide a banquet that meets the standards."
Refusing would mean not giving them face at all. Most of those Four-Digits came from Pantheons, and even if not, their statuses were significant.
Aslan massaged his temples with a headache.
As expected, he shouldn't have saved so many people back then. It was supposed to be a small celebration, just to reconnect with old allies.
Who would've thought it would escalate to this level?
Because Aslan altered the trajectory of Azi Dahaka's Halo of the Supreme Ruler, he practically made everyone who participated in the battle to defend Arcadia's flag owe him their lives.
Those daring to participate in the fight for Arcadia's flag, competing for the Leo Sun Authority, were all elites from various Communities and Pantheons.
Many Almighty Domain (Three-Digit) beings descended as humans.
It was initially just about boosting reputation, but who knew the reputation would explode, exceeding what Arcadia could currently handle?
Aslan quickly reacted, narrowing his eyes and speaking cynically.
"Over a hundred thousand visiting cards at once, hundreds of Four-Digits, banquet Communities fully booked…"
"Tch, interesting~~"
"They're that unwilling to let Arcadia rise again?"
Due to Aslan's achievements, he simultaneously halted two Last Trials of Mankind. At the same time, the Perpetual Motion Machine's Spirit Status was still in his hands.
This meant Aslan currently held full control over the allocation of the Feast of Merit.
Add to that the countless participants he saved.
Aslan's personal reputation now almost surpassed the total reputation of the former Arcadia, even exceeding Canaria's.
After all, Canaria only made Dystopia disappear, but she couldn't make Little Garden's gods feel the benefits.
On the contrary, the gods didn't know how much they had invested in Canaria.
Aslan was the one who truly made the gods feel the benefits and controlled their allocation.
If such reputation were converted into Arcadia's strength, combined with their uncertainty about whether Aslan truly inherited the dream of the Great Arcadia Alliance…
Moreover, Aslan knew that Ouroboros was the one who destroyed Arcadia back then.
It could be said that Ouroboros' life or death was now entirely in his hands.
As long as Aslan was willing and allocated a bit more merit, countless spies would likely emerge in Ouroboros overnight.
What was lost wouldn't just be some vague Demon Lord but the core that truly supported Ouroboros' operations and existence.
After all, Ouroboros was merely an organization formed for profit. But in the face of merit… what were mere profits?
For Ouroboros, Aslan's threat now surpassed even the Heavenly Army.
It wasn't impossible that there were Ouroboros members within the Heavenly Army.
"Heh, looks like we've really grabbed that snake's critical point this time."
"Ouroboros…" Leticia showed a worried expression.
The mastermind behind Arcadia's destruction. Even the fall of Little Garden Knight might have involved Ouroboros.
Holding such a critical point wasn't necessarily good. It was hard to say if Aslan could withstand Ouroboros' counterattack.
This celebration might turn into his funeral banquet.
"Don't worry. Indra definitely has a hand in this." Aslan laughed, pulling Leticia into his arms, pressing her head, and saying with narrowed eyes.
"After all, our esteemed Heavenly Army Leader also wants to clip Ouroboros' wings."
"Let me guess. He probably wants me to step out as a temporary target. At least on the surface, I need to pose a significant enough threat to Ouroboros."
"After all, Ouroboros hides so deeply. Who can guess who's behind them?"
"At a time like this, a target is very useful. For example, me—someone with enough hatred for Ouroboros, enough of a threat, and most importantly, enough knowledge about Ouroboros."
"Well said. Truly the successor chosen by that naughty Canaria."
A playful male voice sounded in Aslan's ears.
At that moment, Aslan snapped his fingers and wordlessly stared at the sofa to his right.
"I assume this conversation doesn't need to be moved to another dimension, right?"
"Tch, young people these days are getting less and less cute."
On the sofa to Aslan's right sat a man with blue hair, wearing a dark purple suit, an open bow tie, blue-painted nails, and a single ponytail. His demeanor was somewhat flamboyant.
The man propped one leg on the sofa, spread his arms, and looked at Aslan with a faint smile.
"And increasingly capable."
Indra gazed at him with emotion, especially at Aslan's act of breaking the alternate dimension he had just created.
"That move of yours, it's not far from Spatial Divinity, is it?"
"Really, young people these days, each one like a monster."
"Canaria was like that, and so are you."
Monster? Who's the real monster?
Aslan pursed his lips. Compared to Indra before him, who could single-handedly defeat a peak Azi Dahaka in human form, he was just an ordinary person.
"Alright, Uncle, just say what you want. No need to beat around the bush."
Aslan's words clearly annoyed Indra. Indra even let out a clear tsk.
"You've said it all; what else can I say?"
"Oh, really?" Aslan looked at him with slight surprise.
"Uh…"
Indra paused, then sighed.
"Don't joke around. I'm not good at these convoluted things."
As a former demon who betrayed, was he not good at it? Or unwilling?
It seemed Indra had truly repented. He wasn't even willing to actively suggest underhanded methods.
Facing Aslan's suspicious gaze, Indra gave a dry laugh.
Then, he crossed his legs. Vasavi Shakti appeared in his hand. The Indra here was merely a projection manifested through Vasavi Shakti.
"I'll be direct. Be the target once. The Heavenly Army will support you in holding two Another Cosmologies simultaneously and will back you when you run for Full Authority Domain (Two-Digit)."
(Tempting… but not enough.)
The corner of Aslan's lips curled into a smile as he looked at Indra and said,
"And how will my safety be guaranteed?"
(Safety… Is there a slipperier creature than you in all of Little Garden?)
Indra still didn't know how Aslan returned after exiling both Angra Mainyu and himself from Little Garden.
And he even brought Vasavi Shakti back.
He had prepared for Aslan to hand over Void Star – Tai Sui and Vasavi Shakti to escape Angra Mainyu's grasp. Then the Heavenly Army would reclaim the two Another Cosmologies and seal Angra Mainyu.
This kid was indeed a bit cunning.
"I can temporarily lend you Vasavi Shakti. Until the Heavenly Army reclaims it, you're allowed to use Vasavi Shakti in one Gift Game." Indra pursed his lips and said.
"That's it?"
Still not satisfied? Vasavi Shakti, as an Another Cosmology, guaranteed unconditional victory in a Gift Game.
This meant that, while holding Vasavi Shakti and participating in a Gift Game—be it a Demon Lord Game, Maze Game, or any Gift Game—wielding Vasavi Shakti ensured victory.
This was a mandatory trait, etched into the rules of Little Garden's Central Core. It was the embodiment of a Universal Truth symbolizing victory, carved into the Another Cosmology.
It could be said that, with Vasavi Shakti in hand, even a Seven-Digit could win against a Three-Digit, as long as they didn't face a Two-Digit or another Another Cosmology bearing a Universal Truth like Vasavi Shakti.
And the only known Another Cosmology bearing a Universal Truth, besides Vasavi Shakti, was Avesta.
"Don't be too greedy, you naughty kid. This is already the best deal I could fight for." Indra stood, knocking Aslan's head hard.
(Really, why does this kid have the same personality as Canaria? So greedy and so adept at seizing opportunities.)
Aslan rubbed his head in pain.
(Looks like this is indeed the greatest benefit Indra can offer. Time to take what's given.)
Aslan calculated inwardly and nodded slightly.
"Uncle, I understand."
"But Uncle, if I don't use this opportunity now, can I use it later?" Aslan blinked his big eyes, looking at him pitifully.
(Pitiful, weak, and helpless. What harm could he want? He just hopes for Vasavi Shakti's protection.)
Seeing Aslan's pitiful act, learned from who-knows-where, Indra felt his nerves tighten.
His fist tightened!
He wanted to kiss Aslan's cheek with his fist!
But as he clenched his fist, Indra realized his right hand had just broken. This kid was indeed cunning.
(This physical strength, it's not far off from a Star Spirit, is it? It feels close to old Yang Jian.)
Then Indra sighed helplessly.
"This is really the last time. No more."
Seeing how difficult it was for him, Aslan didn't press further.
"Alright." Aslan pursed his lips, as if still slightly dissatisfied.
"But Uncle Indra, can this opportunity be placed on Kurousagi?"
Kurousagi happened to have the Spear of Indra. And once connected to an Another Cosmology, who knows, he might borrow it more than once in the future.
Most importantly, this could hide him from the gods' scrutiny, reduce Indra's pressure, and better protect Kurousagi.
Hearing this, Indra gave him a deep look, paused, and said,
"I admit, you're much sweeter than that naughty Canaria."