Ironically, those upper-class tourists didn't seem to enjoy staying in the [Paradise Zone]. After all, the gods who came to [Neo-Babylon] had long since grown tired of the scenery of the divine paradise.
If you've come all this way to a place like this, what's the point of staying with your own kind? Why not go to the homes of the lowest of the low and have some fun with them?
So apart from those gods who come here on business trips—and even those gods who come here on business trips—they will definitely visit other areas whenever they have the chance.
Hayden and his companions weren't there for sightseeing, but even they weren't entirely exempt. Whether out of pure curiosity or academic interest, they would inevitably end up venturing into the lower and middle districts of this Fallen City, venturing into the city's dark side hidden beneath the bright, top-level amusement park.
This is perhaps the most complex and bizarrely topographical city in all of West Asia, or even on the entire planet, a city shrouded in darkness. Everywhere are haphazardly constructed buildings, some even hanging on the walls of a space station, all having undergone repeated expansions and renovations. The old high-rise buildings are covered in graffiti, and unsurprisingly, sunlight never penetrates them.
"I've already arranged for you to meet with the city lord here tonight."
As Abigail led Hayden and the others across the street, she explained,
"He's called the city lord, but in reality he's also... um?"
Before she could finish speaking, she turned around and saw that Hayden had already run to the other side of the street to look at something.
As mentioned before, Neo-Babylon is also the largest black market and piracy factory in the Middle East. Illegal bio-modified goods and all sorts of stolen and contraband technology are readily available for buying and selling. Hayden peered into the black market streets and discovered that it truly had everything: from worn-out robes to secondhand military armor jackets. A shop on the left displayed various modern firearms and piles of ammunition, while a stall on the right displayed classic amulets and wands.
Wow, they even sell this kind of thing?
Hayden instinctively stopped in front of a stall. At this open-air shop, he saw a mountain of ancient books. He picked one up at random and discovered it was a handwritten notebook from the early development of arcane magic four hundred years ago, seemingly written by an Englishman. It was filled with strange protective spells cast with tea leaves, or curses that caused tongue swelling.
This is a genuine antique magic book!
He glanced around again and noticed that the shop next door was piled high with containers that looked like cans. Warning signs were posted on all the containers. Upon closer inspection, Hayden was even more astonished, because those containers were all actually prosthetic repair nanomachines produced by Wotan Mystic Technology Corporation.
"These are for sale? And displayed like a flea market?!"
This is truly a genuine dance between the ancient and the modern, and the stages are way too close—they're practically colliding! And to make matters worse, this is the private sale of goods from a major company!
"Didn't I say this is the largest black market in the Middle East?"
Abigail had already trotted over by then.
"To be honest, compared to the tourist value of letting the gods bully mortals, the black market and piracy factory functions of [New Babylon] are the main reasons for its profits and prosperity. Almost anything can be sold here."
"But this is a cutting-edge product from a major company!" Hayden picked up the nanomechanical container, utterly perplexed. "How can they sell something like this on the outside?"
However, the witch shook her head: "They're not exactly cutting-edge products, just products that can be allowed to be lost. The major companies are all aware of which products leak from their companies and end up here on the black market. But they can also buy things from other companies here. So as long as we can control the extent, it's fine. You see."
She gestured to him. Hayden followed her finger and noticed that the seemingly ordinary shop sign featured two crows.
As is widely known, Odin, the chairman of the Wotan Corporation, is said to have two ravens perched on his shoulders. These ravens are Odin's eyes and ears, reporting their daily observations to their master. Therefore, the image of two ravens facing each other is one of the symbols of Odin's "omniscient" power.
The fact that this black market shop's sign features two crows clearly indicates that the Wotan Corporation was aware that their goods had ended up in this black market.
Hayden then realized: "The gods of capital are not without influence here."
Abigail nodded in agreement.
Is this a lawless land devoid of the power of the gods? Quite the opposite! It's more likely that all the gods wield influence here. And without that influence and funding, this place simply couldn't exist!
"Illegal modification techniques, military equipment, smuggling and the sale of stolen goods, all sorts of rare and prohibited items from various places, experimental drugs, and not particularly cutting-edge products leaking from large companies... Of course, there are also antiques, ancient magic tools and magical materials. Things that can't be bought elsewhere can often be bought here, and the payment methods are not limited to money; there are also many barter and commission rewards."
Abigail explained,
"That's why many ordinary people come here to make a living, even knowing they might be hacked to death in the street by the gods. After all, the gods are a tiny minority in terms of numbers; there are only tens of thousands of gods in the entire city. As for ordinary people, there are at least several million. The probability of being hacked to death in the street is very low."
Since Neo-Babylon is the largest black market and piracy market in the Middle East, the city must need many factories and small workshops. They all need manpower, so even the poorest laborers can come here to try their luck, at least to earn enough to eat.
After half a century of development, most of the residents of this "New Babylon," except for a small minority who engage in shady activities, are engaged in "legitimate" work. Food factories, alchemy and pharmaceutical plants, machine shops, and even arms factories have sprung up throughout the space station. These products are sold not only locally but also throughout the Middle East.
Hundreds and thousands of illegal factories provide jobs for millions of residents here to earn a living, and even allow them to save some money so that one day they or their children can leave this hellish place and perhaps change their fate a little.
In addition, in such a chaotic city, there is a natural need for people who "don't belong to any faction," people who can do dirty work, people who can do jobs that can't be seen in the light... No matter which faction, they will need such convenient tools.
Mercenaries, assassins, and odd-jobs operators—heroes emerge and legends abound here, struggling in a lonely and dangerous life without any organization to back them up. They might die in the streets, or they might become world-famous.
...It's ironic that in proper modern metropolises, the poorest people have absolutely no chance of climbing the social ladder. It's in this godforsaken place called "New Babylon" that some of the poor might be able to change their fate—which is why Abigail said it's a place where modernity and antiquity intersect. Because the rigid class system in modern society is far more pronounced than it was a hundred or two hundred years ago. This place is more like a "modern" city from a hundred or two hundred years ago.
Hayden's friends naturally began to wander around and look at things. Professor Albion browsed through the old books and scrolls on the stall, while Red Leaf looked with great interest at the various swords in another shop.
In any case, no one needs to be worried about here. Red Leaf is an ancient god. Professor Albion and Abigail, though human, have both consumed elixirs given to them by Hayden, making them transcendent. Most people will mistake them for ordinary gods, while those in the know will only perceive them as more powerful than ordinary gods.
As for Angela, Hayden had been a little more cunning a few months ago and upgraded her body components, making her look very much like a Valkyrie with a full-body cybernetic body—he did this to prevent other gods or even celestials from noticing that Angela's combat abilities were strange.
Unexpectedly, this modification has now proven to be of unexpected value. Although it's rare to see War Gods appearing on the streets of [New Babylon], who would be so foolish as to provoke them?
However, Angela wasn't buying anything at the moment. She stood not far from Hayden, but turned her head to look in another direction, her expression thoughtful. Hayden followed her gaze and saw a small group of men and women in robes standing in a corner of the road in the distance.
They were all holding strange signs that read things like "The end of the world is coming!" and "Reject materialism!" A tall, burly man stood at the front of them, giving a speech.
"People locked in towers, their souls bound to material pleasures! Reflect on the false history and filthy world created by these false gods! We have always been imprisoned by their vicious commodity fetishism!"
The tall, burly man was speaking strange, fanatical words, raising his fist and issuing a call to action.
"The modern materialistic world is evil! The suffering you experience is nothing but an illusion created by the flesh! The modern internet is an even more hypocritical world created by false gods!"
"Quickly abandon this filthy modern civilization! Reject this evil materialism! Revelation has arrived! The end times are near! The great goddess Sophia will descend upon this hypocritical and sinful world! At that time, the false modern material world will be ended, and we will all return to the beginning, to the sublime and true state of our souls!"
What the hell is this?
Hayden rubbed his temples, completely baffled. Even Angela raised an eyebrow.
Abigail followed Hayden and Angela's gaze and saw what they were looking at. She then explained, "These people are a strange new religious group based in Neo-Babylon."
"I remember they seemed to call themselves... the Sofia Order."
194: The fallen goddess
New religious groups?
Goddess Sofia?
what?
Hayden did indeed know the word "Sophia." In ancient Greek, "Sophia" or "Sophie" means "wisdom," and is the feminine form of "wisdom."
Incidentally, if you change the word to its masculine form, it becomes "Zoffy".
However, although Hayden could understand the meaning of the ancient Greek word "Sophia," he had never heard of any goddess Sophia.
"Rejecting the internet, rejecting modern civilization, and returning to the past?"
Hayden scratched the back of his head, completely baffled.
"Are these people engaging in the worship of demonic old gods or something? But this is the Fallen City of the Devil, so it's not unusual for some people to engage in demonic worship."
It would be more accurate to say that it would be abnormal if it weren't there.
"Probably not. Although I'm not entirely clear on the specifics of this cult."
Abigail frowned and said,
"But they don't worship the devil, they don't worship any of the old gods I know, and they're not the kind of cults that scam people out of money. In fact, they're not very large in scale. Although they come to the streets to preach every now and then, their influence isn't strong."
"As far as I know, most of the Sophia Order members are scholars who study classical magic here, and their base is in the middle and upper classes of the city. Although they seem to want to expand among the common people at the bottom of the city, the results are not good. However, they are quite fanatical."
As she said this, she pointed to the tall, strong man standing at the very front.
"See that man giving a speech? He's the leader of the Sofia Order, the Grand Master Bogomir. He seems to be a magician who came from Europe a dozen years ago to do research. He's an intellectual from a prestigious university, and he ended up getting involved in religion."
This so-called great teacher, Bogomir, was completely unaware that people here were criticizing him. He continued his speech:
"This material world is like a dark sea. Our souls are pearls sunk in the sea, and our physical bodies are merely shells that imprison them. Pearls lost in the sea are not considered valuable. But our souls are actually the only valuable thing in this world!"
"Think carefully, brothers! What kind of happiness does this material world bring you? Isn't it just exploitation and suffering? What benefits has the modern civilization of the virtual network brought you? Isn't it just deception by false gods? Quickly abandon all of this! Join us! Let's refine your souls together! The day of the goddess Sophia's descent is near! She will come to dry up this sea, take back our souls, and return us to the primordial paradise!"
噫
Hayden found it incredible just hearing what he said. A fanatical cult that doesn't seek wealth in the real world and renounces material possessions and the internet?
"Having abandoned modern material civilization, how exactly did they survive? Did they live on air and dew?"
So he couldn't help but complain.
Abigail shook her head: "These people are all studying classical magic in groups. And in this city of New Babylon, groups of classical magicians do have ways to turn their stuff into money."
Ah this
Hayden glanced back at the amulets and wands of classical magic on the roadside stalls, speechless.
"Besides, since they are classical magicians who want to renounce material things and the physical body, they might actually have developed a unique fasting magic."
Abigail shrugged and made a sarcastic remark.
After that, Hayden observed the strange religious followers for a while longer. The Sofian Order's missionary zeal was quite strong, but unfortunately, it was really useless. Almost everyone passing through here was a poor person who had come to "Neo-Babylon" hoping to earn a living or climb the social ladder; who would be interested in listening to your talk of renunciation of material possessions and modern civilization?
Most people would just think of them as idiots.
So Hayden quickly lost interest as well and continued browsing the stalls. After all, there was a wide variety of new and old magical items, and Hayden rarely had the chance to see so many classic magical items and scrolls displayed for sale. Although his level was getting higher and higher, and these ordinary goods were almost useless to him, people always have a tendency to buy things randomly!
On the contrary, Angela watched from afar, observing the fervent believers who were eager to rally the people, her expression thoughtful.
--------------------------
And just like that, a day passed quickly.
Hayden and his cheerful companions each bought something they liked. Fortunately, he hadn't forgotten his business and knew he wasn't there for sightseeing, but for conducting academic fieldwork.
"Abigail, you said you arranged for us to meet with the lord of [Neo-Babylon] tonight. Are we going to go see her now?"
Hayden asked the question in advance as the sun was setting.
Abigail nodded in agreement: "That's about right. Everyone, come with me."
She led everyone up to the top of the Tower of New Babylon.
Compared to the chaotic and disorderly area below, this top-floor paradise was a completely different world. An almost boundless, excessively vast space unfolded before them, a tiered city with a dazzling white base, each level lush with greenery. Small waterfalls cascaded from one level to the next, their flowing springs reflecting soft light. Despite being inside the space station, indoors, it was brighter than outdoors. Along the leisurely paths, the Protoss could be seen everywhere, enjoying their carefree lives.
Everything here is impeccably organized and spotless, like a white marble palace inhabited by ancient gods. Indeed, this is an ancient space recreated using modern technology.
No wonder many of the new gods want to come here for sightseeing. Perhaps, deep down, they also yearn for the lifestyle and environment of the old gods, like royalty and nobility.
As the head of the New Yatu black market, Abigail knew the place like the back of her hand. She quickly led everyone to a palatial hotel and booked rooms for them. However, just when Hayden thought that the lord of New Babylon had arranged to meet them there, Abigail took out her phone and sent a message.
"What are they doing?"
Hayden couldn't help but ask.
Abigail paused, then replied with a puzzled look, "Wasn't I just calling her over?"
That was terrifying. Hayden didn't even have time to process it: "...You summoned the lord of Neo-Babylon to see us with a single text message!?"
Abigail, on the contrary, found Hayden's exaggerated reaction somewhat amusing: "Of course! My little sir, have you forgotten who you are now? You're practically a god, with three or five true gods backing you up. And this so-called city lord? She's nothing more than a bankrupt, fallen demon. Bankrupt, she's just a thing with a few wisps of divine power left. She's called the city lord, which sounds prestigious, but in reality, she's just the property manager of this Fallen City. Those large companies that have invested here are the true owners of [New Babylon]!"
"She's racking her brains all day now, trying to make money to pay off her debts and regain her divine status. You, this rising star, come to her to discuss business, why can't you just send her a text message? Can't you just send the property management a text message?"
This is what the Dark Witch, who has an intimate knowledge of the divine society, said.
Hayden was almost completely bewildered. After all, he hadn't fully adapted to the mindset of this god-like society.
On the contrary, Hongye nodded with some empathy: "Master, this is what happens when an old god loses wealth and power."
Before the words were even finished, the god in those words had already arrived.
Before she even stepped into Hayden's room, a rich fragrance wafted over. If Hayden hadn't already mastered the art of external alchemy, any human would likely be captivated by the scent alone.
"Welcome to New Babylon! Welcome, my distinguished guests!"
When humans, who are captivated by fragrance, hear this charming and alluring voice, they become even more engrossed in it.
Then, this former goddess would gracefully step out with alluring steps.
She wore undeniably seductive clothing. At first glance, it appeared to be a noble, elegant, and jewel-encrusted dress, but in reality, it featured a deep slit and a plunging back—a style rife with vulgarity and sexual innuendo. With each sweet breath, her full breasts, encased in the tight-fitting dress, swayed up and down. Her extraordinary beauty was beyond words. For a woman who looked only in her early twenties, she possessed an overly mature face and a curvaceous, alluring body.
The ruler of Neo-Babylon was once an ambitious capitalist deity. She is not a new god, but an old god who was incorporated into the Mars Industrial Group after the bourgeois revolution.
In other words, she is actually a very famous and ancient deity. Her name was once a household name and is by no means unknown now.
She was once the goddess of domination, the goddess of victory, the goddess of harvest, and the goddess of desire.
She was once called Ishtar, and also Inanna or Astari.
But she is no longer a goddess; she has fallen into the clutches of a demon.
Therefore, the current lord of the Fallen City of New Babylon is called Astaroth.
The Great Demon Astaroth!
"Welcome, Mr. Hayden. Please make yourself at home here, and consider yourself the host."
A faint smile played on Astaroth's lips as he uttered a melodious sound.
"How can I help you? How can I be of service to you?"