Chapter 1202
"Wait, what...?"
Wrath’s brow furrowed in confusion.
"Are you saying the path to paradise is paved with the authorities of the demon kings?"
He tilted his head, struggling to grasp the logic behind the statement.
"I managed to piece it together by watching the people here during our stay."
Raon gave a firm nod of certainty.
"These villains are harvesting the demon kings' authorities—which are essentially concentrated negative emotions."
After spending the last week observing the inner workings of this place, he had arrived at a final judgment. This so-called Land of Clouds was nothing more than a glorified pen, a stable designed to let humans indulge their basest cravings so their darker impulses could be siphoned off.
The reason Evelyn and Denning Rose had flagged the massive shift in continental wealth was because of the sheer volume of resources being funneled into holes like this one.
"It was hard to swallow at first."
Raon looked over the mountain of delicacies and the grand architecture surrounding him, his expression hardening.
"To think that Derus Robert and the Archangel would stoop to using the very same emotional spectrum as the demon kings."
Because the Archangels had constructed the Land of Clouds, he had assumed it was a factory for Holy Power. However, their true goal was the polar opposite: the raw, primal filth of human feeling. The fact that those who spiraled deepest into negativity were the ones rewarded by the administration only solidified his theory.
"I—I see!"
Wrath’s jaw dropped as the realization hit him.
"This king simply thought the food was exquisite, but these wretched bastards were masking such a repulsive scheme!"
He gnashed his teeth, furious that he had been distracted by the endless banquets.
"Which is exactly why I have to play the part of a degenerate even better."
Raon triggered Gluttony, mindlessly cramming the expensive dishes into his mouth with animalistic fervor.
"Your hunger remains as impressive as ever."
Kuanyu walked up beside him, wearing a beaming, friendly expression.
"It is truly a marvel how you suppressed such intense cravings for so long."
He struck his palms together, seemingly delighted by the change in the man before him.
"I didn't have a choice."
Raon dropped any pretense of politeness, sneering at Kuanyu as he spoke.
"In the world outside, I was a nobody—weak, broke, and alone! But in this place, I can have everything!"
He bared his teeth in a wild grin, acting every bit the man who had succumbed to the hedonism of the Land of Clouds.
"Precisely. That is the soul of this place."
Kuanyu’s smile didn't waver; he didn't seem to mind the lack of respect in the slightest.
"Continue to chase every whim. A man of your caliber, Mr. Zilfen, is surely destined for the true heaven."
He nodded encouragingly, as if he had total faith in the man's potential.
"Heaven? How much longer do I have to wait for that!"
Raon scowled, playing the role of the bored, impatient glutton.
"Rest easy. As I promised, you will eventually set foot upon those holy lands, Mr. Zilfen."
Kuanyu clasped his hands, offering a reassuring look.
"You'd better be right! If this place is the paradise I dreamed of, I can't wait to see the real thing!"
Raon began stomping his feet, his eyes bloodshot and glazed with the fever of greed, lust, and intoxication.
"I shall look forward to that day as well."
Kuanyu bid him farewell and moved off toward the other residents.
"Kheh..."
Ignoring the departing manager, Raon tilted a bottle and let the spirits burn down his throat.
"What is that so-called Branch Manager's problem?"
Wrath watched Kuanyu's back, his face twisted in a scowl.
"He hands out meals, mansions, and gold whenever someone asks. He is nothing but a pathetic pushover!"
He let out a dry, mocking laugh, claiming he had never met such a spineless individual.
"Is that so? I feel like I've seen one quite often."
Raon gave Wrath a flat, pointed look.
"What! Why are you staring at this king while talking about fools!"
Wrath gestured wildly, demanding that Raon look elsewhere.
"And those people are far from pushovers."
Raon let out a low chuckle, tapping his fingers against the table littered with scraps and dregs.
"Not pushovers?"
"Exactly. Kuanyu and the rest of the Land of Clouds leadership are essentially grading the livestock."
Kuanyu wasn't just throwing wealth away. He was watching with a predatory intensity to see who could generate the most potent negative energy, who could do it the fastest, and whose 'harvest' was of the highest quality.
It was no coincidence that those who displayed the most bottomless greed often vanished from the Land of Clouds shortly after. They were undoubtedly being escorted to 'heaven.'
"I don't know what kind of place heaven really is, but..."
Raon tore into a saucy poultry leg, a dark smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I'm going to tear it down, whatever it is."
The time for playing the part of a farm animal was drawing to a close. Based on the way Kuanyu looked at him and the shift in the guards' movements, his 'ascension' was imminent.
"To deduce all of that in such a short window... you really are something else..."
Wrath wrinkled his nose, begrudgingly impressed by Raon's sharp intuition.
"It wasn't that hard to see."
Raon clicked his tongue, glancing at the surrounding humans who were lost in their own delirious trances of excess.
"Especially since I'm the one carrying all the demon kings' authorities."
Because he was so intimately familiar with the weight of those powers and the nature of human emotion, he had spotted the pattern the moment he realized what Derus and the angels were cultivating.
"I wanted to burn the whole place down the moment I arrived, but..."
He knew he had to keep his cool. He was revolted by how Derus and the celestial beings were treating people like cattle, and he burned with the urge to level the Land of Clouds, but a premature move would ruin everything. To truly dismantle Derus's grand design, he had to get inside heaven and strike at the heart.
"Fair enough."
Wrath nodded, conceding the point.
"But tell me, why haven't you tapped into this king's wrath?"
He tilted his head, curious why Raon was using the other powers while ignoring his own.
"How could I possibly use wrath in a place like this?"
Raon shook his head, dismissing the idea entirely.
"If I get labeled as some unhinged lunatic with rage issues, I'll never get the invite to heaven."
Even though the Authority of Wrath was his most reliable tool, showing that kind of explosive anger here would likely result in him being tossed out or sent to a dungeon rather than the upper tiers. For now, he had to remain the perfect, obedient prize.
"Rage issues! Do not insult this king's divine power with such a pedestrian term!"
"Call it what you want. Right now, it's just a tantrum."
Raon brushed off Wrath, who was practically vibrating with indignation.
"Who wants a guest who screams like you? I'd be evicted in a heartbeat."
"Grrrr..."
Wrath had no comeback, simply letting out a low growl while biting his lip in frustration.
"Just be patient a little longer."
Raon licked the remaining sauce from his fingers, his eyes cold and dangerous.
"I'll let you get a taste of heaven's finest very soon."
A heavy thud echoed as Kuanyu, the Branch Manager of the Land of Clouds, dropped to his knees before a wall of absolute shadow.
"You have returned?"
He spoke with deep reverence, pressing his forehead against the cold floor. The darkness shifted and coalesced like liquid, eventually forming the silhouette of a tall man.
"What is the status of the next batch of sacrifices?"
The figure emerging from the gloom stared down at Kuanyu with piercing, golden eyes.
"We have secured some high-quality livestock this time. One in particular has met the criteria for heaven in less than a week."
Kuanyu kept his head low, reporting his progress with pride.
"In only a single week?"
A low hum of surprise vibrated from the man in the shadows.
"Indeed. I had been tracking this specimen in the outside world, and he has exceeded even my highest expectations."
Kuanyu’s lips curled into a thin, satisfied line.
"Is there any chance he harbors hidden agendas or rebellious thoughts?"
The golden-eyed man narrowed his gaze with suspicion.
"Not a chance. He failed to detect any of our psychological traps, and the defensive barriers didn't trigger a single reaction from him."
Kuanyu shook his head with absolute confidence.
"As you know, even if someone managed to slip past the initial perimeter, the barrier hidden in the very grass was designed by 'That Person.' No mortal could ever deceive it."
He looked up, his eyes bright with the certainty that their security was flawless.
"That is true."
The dark figure nodded, acknowledging the power of the one who had crafted the wards.
"This mercenary is a gutter rat—no lineage, no real talent. He spent his life being stepped on and ignored by everyone. The mountain of resentment he built up as a defense mechanism has finally detonated here. He is simply one of those rare, gifted pieces of livestock that appears once in a blue moon."
Kuanyu smiled warmly, noting that this wasn't their first encounter with such a desperate soul.
"Given how quickly this livestock is maturing, he will be a significant asset in heaven. Include him in this cycle."
His eyes shimmered with a greed that mirrored the very people he managed.
"As you wish."
The man in the darkness gave a calm nod, trusting Kuanyu's evaluation.
"Excellent. I will return to collect the livestock by the end of the week."
He ordered the final arrangements to be made before stepping backward. The shadows rippled, and his form dissolved into nothingness. Even after he was gone, Kuanyu remained bowed in respect.
"Once this is concluded, I should finally be allowed to join them."
He began to shake, his body trembling with the frantic anticipation of an addict.
"Just a little bit longer..."
"Hahhh..."
Wrath let out a heavy, tired sigh.
"When is this going to end? This king is reaching his limit!"
He shook his head, declaring the entire situation to be an unbearable bore.
"Why the long face? Isn't this supposed to be your version of paradise?"
Raon gestured toward the feast laid out across the long table.
"It's all the food you love."
The kitchen in the Land of Clouds was staffed by masters using the best ingredients money could buy. For a glutton like Wrath, this should have been a dream come true, making his current misery a bit of a mystery.
"It is dull!"
Wrath slammed a fist onto the table.
"Everything is too heavy! Even the sweets are cloying and over-rich!"
He sniffled pathetically, admitting he actually missed the simple, home-cooked meals from the annex.
"I think it's perfectly fine. You're just being difficult."
Raon sighed, tired of the constant complaining.
"It is not being difficult, it is having standards! Your palate and your stomach are the ones that are broken!"
Wrath shouted back, insisting that Raon was the strange one.
"Flavor is nice, but as long as it provides sustenance..."
"Be quiet!"
"Just listen to me for a second."
Raon was in the middle of trying to pacify the fuming demon when a voice interrupted.
"Mr. Zilfen."
Kuanyu had approached him for the first time in a week.
"You look even better than the last time we spoke. It seems you are finally letting your inner desires breathe."
He wore a soft, fatherly smile, noting how much more vibrant Raon appeared.
"What are you talking about? I'm nowhere near satisfied!"
Raon waved his arms so violently he nearly knocked over a pitcher.
"My hunger doesn't stop here! I want to own every scrap of wealth in this land!"
He gripped his hands into fists, declaring that he wouldn't be satisfied with just food and gold—he wanted everything.
"But of course. That is only natural."
Kuanyu’s smile grew wider, clearly delighted by the greed.
"I have come to present you with a grander prospect, Mr. Zilfen."
He reached out a hand that looked as pristine and perfect as a statue's.
"Your path has cleared, Mr. Zilfen. It is time for you to ascend to heaven."
Kuanyu gave a polite bow, officially inviting him to the next level.
"Heaven?"
Raon repeated the word in a shaky, hushed tone.
"I can really go there now?"
He acted as if he had been waiting a lifetime, clutching the gold and gems on the table with desperate hands.
"Yes. It typically takes months, sometimes years, to qualify. But your potential is so vast, Mr. Zilfen, that you have been granted an early passage."
Kuanyu glanced away for a moment, mentioning how rare such an occurrence was.
"That's because I'm special! I've always been special!"
Raon played the part of the power-mad Zilfen perfectly, letting out a dark, manic laugh.
'Finally. The door is open.'
After two weeks of waiting, the way forward had appeared. His heart thudded against his ribs at the speed of the opportunity.
"Before we depart, there is someone you must meet. Follow me."
Kuanyu explained that an emissary from heaven had descended to the Land of Clouds. He led Raon toward the massive temple situated at the very heart of the complex.
"An angel? Give me a break."
Raon followed behind, snorting with fake skepticism.
"You will see for yourself soon enough."
Kuanyu stopped at the temple gates and turned around, gesturing for Raon to enter with a graceful sweep of his arm.
"Fine."
Raon crossed the threshold. As he stepped into the cavernous hall, where columns of holy light cascaded down like falling stars, he felt a crushing weight press against his very soul. The source was impossible to miss. In the center of the sanctuary stood a man with golden hair and furled wings, radiating a blinding brilliance.
"Step forward."
Despite his overwhelming presence, the golden-haired figure wore a gentle, welcoming smile as he reached out.
"Ah..."
Raon moved toward the angelic figure with slow, halting steps, his body trembling as if he were in a trance.
'I've got them right where I want them.'
Though his eyes looked vacant and his movements seemed clumsy, his mind remained sharp and ice-cold.
'That thing is a genuine angel.'
The path leading directly to Derus Robert was finally visible. He bit down on the side of his tongue, using the sharp sting of pain to anchor his rising fury and excitement.
'I'll be seeing you very soon.'
Derus Robert!
