Even if... even if he possessed a super self-destruct spell that could kill himself and all the evil gods and villains together, Hayden would be perfectly willing to use it. But this thought saddened Hayden even more, because he couldn't do it, because he didn't have it.
...But at least Hayden can be sure of one thing.
Knowing that the magic of sacrifice is powerful, but unwilling to sacrifice herself, instead taking it for granted that civilians should be sacrificed as substitutes, Hayden could cooperate with her, but they could never be "comrades." Hayden also didn't think that hitting her with a [Resurrection] spell would change the situation.
Given that their values differed, Hayden could not truly and unconditionally trust Mickett. He couldn't gamble the lives of others, including the guerrillas, Isham, and countless ordinary people, on her.
Therefore, he had to find out what the Smoke Mirror was up to on his own, and couldn't rely on Mickett.
For some reason, after reaching this conclusion, Hayden felt a strange heaviness in his heart. Considering his further understanding of Mickert today, Hayden was actually becoming more and more willing to befriend Mickert... What a pity, what a pity.
"dong dong dong"
There was a sudden knock on the door of the private room. It was not someone else, but Karen, who was standing guard outside, trying to come in.
"Let's put this issue aside for now,"
Hayden sighed with relief. Although Mickett was unreliable, at least he had a wife who could be a reliable comrade-in-arms.
"Karen said she has something she wants to talk to you about. I'll go out first to help you maintain your privacy."
These words made Mickett raise an eyebrow. She knew Karen, but they weren't that close. In the past, when she needed to discuss collaborations with the Flower Magic Company, Hayden's agency was sufficient.
What did Hayden's wife want to talk to her about? How strange!
That being said, Mickett has no intention of backing down because of this.
"That's all for now. But there's one more thing, Mr. Hayden. I still need to entrust the tuning of the Void Demon's body and the preparations for the next duel to you."
She spoke in a clear and obviously stressed voice.
“Of course, that’s no problem,” Hayden replied, while also asking, “Will the next duel be like this one, with the two gladiators fighting in the ceremonial arena?”
If that's the case, then Fudimo should be guaranteed to win next time.
"Things might change. As the challenged party, Smoke Mirror has the right to decide the specifics of the next duel. He should inform us by today. But in any case—"
Mickett smiled slightly as he said this.
"If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. Doubting will only reduce efficiency. No matter what new tricks the smoke mirror comes up with, the duel agency work will be entrusted to you. My promise remains valid, and I will do my best to provide you with the resources you need."
Hayden nodded, then turned and left with a wry smile—no one knew what new tricks the smoke mirror was going to come up with, in other words, he had to investigate it himself.
A minute later, Karen pushed open the door to the private room and walked in. She was wearing a dark green business suit without any logos or decorations, and a black folder was tucked under her left arm.
“Good day, Ms. Karen,” Mickett greeted her.
Karen didn't respond. Instead, she sat down unceremoniously in the empty chair in the private room and said directly, "Today, in front of all the gods in the world, Hayden used too many of my things in the body of Voodoo. Just to be on the safe side, we'd better finish the technology cooperation contracts first, so your board of directors won't come to investigate you."
This truly surprised Mickett: "Just because of that? You could have had Mr. Hayden handle this. Why come to me personally?"
"Hayden can only act as an agent for the technical cooperation projects under my name; he can't sign on behalf of my parents. In fact, I drafted the agreement myself."
Karen opened the black folder, pulled out a few sheets of paper, and pushed them in front of Mickett. The goddess of the underworld glanced at them; the contents were not complicated. They simply permitted Mickett to use some of Hela's techniques in the duel, and even a small portion of Peacock King's techniques. The details were listed on another sheet.
As for the terms of the exchange, they were surprisingly simple: all Mickett needed to do was formally grant Hayden the right to use most of her technology. Karen also provided a separate list.
Micket read through the entire contract and laughed without a hint of humor: "I think it's pretty good. Especially the part that grants the usage rights to Mr. Hayden."
She pulled a pen from thin air, placed her hand on the signature line, and said thoughtfully, "Just consider this a chat, consider it a reference for me. Why is there such a high degree of mutual trust between you and Mr. Hayden?"
“That’s a funny question. We’re husband and wife,” Karen said bluntly. “I’d really like to ask you why you trust Hayden so much.”
It seems Karen doesn't like Mickett. This isn't surprising at all. Everyone knows that Karen can sometimes be even more radical and vehemently opposed to evil than Hayden.
“He and I are business and strategic partners,” Mickett replied with a smile. “Since we’ve decided to work together, of course we need to trust each other—in my view, this isn’t much different from a marriage or family relationship. It’s all about forming a bond because of need and dissolving when the need is gone.”
Anyway, Mickett doesn't like Karen, just as Karen doesn't like the statement.
Karen's expression turned serious. Mickett, on the other hand, maintained a smile. The atmosphere in the entire box froze.
If anyone knew that the two goddesses in the private room were going to fight over a man, they would probably pay for a ticket just to watch!
In short, this cold atmosphere lasted for a few seconds...
Then suddenly, Karen laughed too: "You monster, you have no idea what it feels like to love someone. Stop pretending."
These harsh words startled Mickett.
"Today, all the gods have seen that your technology and divine power have been completely controlled by the clone. The clone even has your knowledge and memories, all of which are in the hands of the Smoke Mirror—guess how many gods will dare to establish a business partnership with you from now on?"
Karen slammed the contract on the table and said coldly,
"Hayden seems to think you can still be saved, so he asked me to sign a supplementary contract with you. I do think you were just one step away from falling to your death, but kicking someone when they're down isn't my style, so I didn't object—but now I know why he thinks you need to be saved, and why he feels sorry for you."
Karen laughed again, but it was a cold laugh: "You never have another person who knows that you and he are willing to sacrifice for each other; you will never hold a child in your arms and realize that he is your life and continuation... Alas, Miktikashiva, I really feel sorry for you now."
"Hurry up and sign the contract, lest all the other big shots in the group want to take advantage of you. Apart from that, there's nothing else to say between us."
Then Karen stood up and actually turned around and left.
Micket was scolded harshly by Karen and stared blankly as she walked away. For a moment, she didn't understand what Karen was trying to say—until Karen had reached the door of the private room, Micket finally reacted and immediately used her divine power to scan Karen.
Karen reacted quickly, immediately channeling her divine power for protection. The two great gods clashed briefly, and despite Karen having only been a god for a few years and Mikt being a centuries-old veteran god, neither gained the upper hand.
But Micket wasn't actually trying to attack Karen. In the instant their divine powers collided, Micket had already discerned what she wanted to know. Once they both withdrew their divine powers, Karen's expression remained unchanged, but Micket's face had darkened.
She is the goddess of death and the goddess who brings new life into the world. Even though their battle is evenly matched, she already senses that Karen is pregnant.
"What?" Karen, as she deflected Micket's divine power, also realized what Micket was trying to investigate. She should have been angry, but seeing Micket's face suddenly turn ugly, she found it somewhat amusing: "Hayden and I have been married for almost two years, and you're only getting angry now?"
Indeed, it sounds a bit funny. But Mickett had her own reasons. After all, her understanding of marriage wasn't much different from signing a business partnership agreement; in her view, marriage was simply a close cooperative relationship, primarily economic. When she heard that Hayden and Karen were getting married, Mickett didn't see anything wrong with it.
(Actually, given the prevailing notion of a capitalist society, Mickett's idea isn't entirely wrong.)
But strangely enough, even Mickett himself couldn't explain why—the moment he discovered that Hayden and Karen had a child, an inexplicable killing intent suddenly surged from Mickett's dark heart!
But this murderous intent only lasted for a second.
A second later, Mickett returned to her rational state. A calming chill flowed through her veins, like waves blocked by reefs.
She couldn't possibly lash out at Karen or Hayden. Just as Karen said, without Hayden's help, Mickett would really be killed by Smoke Mirror, and even if he won, he wouldn't be able to control the entire company.
With Hayden's support, Mickett has a chance to ascend to the throne of the supreme god. But if Hayden abandons her, Mickett is now in the most powerless state she has ever been: it's uncertain how much of her own power and skill will still be useful to the Smoke Mirror, or how much of it has been seen through or sabotaged. In a sense, her life is already in Hayden's hands.
What's even funnier is that she hadn't realized the danger involved before.
Now, after being scolded by Karen and realizing the existence of Karen and Hayden's offspring, Micket suddenly had a moment of profound realization—I am actually in such a precarious situation!?
Karen didn't say anything more and left.
Mickett was left all alone in her luxurious box, and began to think, to think rapidly.
(If I fail this time, my existence will be completely ended.)
She realized, perhaps for the first time in her long life, this feeling of completely losing control.
(And now I don't even have a clone. Unlike Hayden and Karen, who already have offspring, I have no backups... no way to continue my existence.)
After all, in Mickett's view, so-called "descendants" are just backups for continuing existence.
(Should I create another clone? But there probably isn't enough time. Besides, if I fail, Smoke Mirror definitely won't let my other clones off the hook...)
Despite this, Mickett showed no weakness whatsoever. However, as she looked at her own shadow curled up on the ground, the mighty Goddess of Death appeared utterly alone.
What should she do?
342: The Vampires' Little Problems
Hundreds of years, perhaps even thousands of years, Miktikahiva experienced a rare and terrifying sense of powerlessness.
Ironically, Hayden isn't feeling too good right now; he's mainly feeling a bit depressed.
After today's duel, Hayden had thought he had gained a better understanding of Mickert and might one day become her true friend. But in the blink of an eye, while he did understand Mickert even more, it was all in vain. He now fully understood Mickert's mindset and position, and he knew perfectly well that Mickert could not be completely trusted.
Once you understand, you realize that it's impossible to reach a consensus.
Hayden's current understanding only frustrated him. He and Mickett were close, but he wasn't foolish enough to believe in their "bond," because it was full of lies, desires, and half-truths. Mickett wasn't human at all; humanity was merely a projection of her true self.
This is also a feeling of powerlessness. Because even if we can understand each other, we cannot stop fighting.
So what should he do?
Hayden stood outside the door for a while, thinking, before he saw Karen come out of the private room.
"Why did you argue with her?" He was maintaining the protective barrier outside, so he knew what was happening inside. He couldn't help but sigh.
“It’s not like I haven’t hated her for a day.” Karen said dismissively. “What I hate most are those guys who say sacrifice is important but never actually sacrifice themselves, only knowing how to sacrifice others. Most capitalists are like that, but those from Smoke Mirror Company are the worst, and they’re not ashamed at all, they’re proud of it.”
The most despicable of the wicked (by Karen's standards) are always those who are attached to wealth and status, who feast on themselves, yet preach to the poor about living a life of poverty and selfless devotion.
Hayden knew his wife's standards very well, so he didn't say anything. The two of them then teleported away from Aztland.
But this doesn't mean Hayden can go home. Karen is returning to New Bud, but Hayden still has many things to do in South America. He has a heavy burden on his shoulders, but Karen's burden is just as heavy.
What are your plans for the future?
Karen asked first.
"The main body and Voldemort continue preparing for the duel in seven days." Hayden shrugged. "Mictikashiva remains the best option for our current alliance with Smoke Mirror Company. You won't have any reservations, will you?"
“It’s come to this.” Karen replied calmly. “Besides, if things continue like this, even if she really wins against the Smoke Mirror and becomes the company’s main god, what then? I might even have to pity her.”
She frowned again as she said this: "If you ask me, not knowing what Smoke Mirror is up to is actually a more troublesome thing."
“I’ve already put Fenrir in charge of this part of the work.” Hayden scratched the back of his head. “This is probably the hardest part.”
Only by understanding the enemy's objective can we determine how and whether we can defeat them. This is especially true when the enemy is a deceptive force, like a smokescreen.
Then Karen suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, startling Hayden.
"Hayden, are you sure you don't need my help?"
She looked surprisingly worried, her emerald eyes fixed on Hayden. The elf's melancholy gaze was so beautiful, like a painting, that Hayden was momentarily stunned.
As the saying goes, even the most beautiful person can become tiresome after three days, but this only applies to mortals. In mythology, gods and fairies can persuade others to do anything for them simply by virtue of their extraordinary beauty.
But Hayden thought for a moment and still replied, "Because of the launch of the skill chips, the global economy is experiencing severe turmoil, and you are under a lot of work pressure. I can't add any more burden to you. Didn't you also say that we should all fulfill our responsibilities and do our jobs well?"
But Karen immediately shook her head: "Being responsible doesn't mean carrying everything on your own shoulders, Hayden. If you want others to trust you, you should also trust your partners to rely on when you're tired. If you're half-dead in battle, do you think it's being responsible to drag yourself up and work while you're badly injured? Self-centered stubbornness is just shirking responsibility."
At this point, Karen reached out and took Hayden's hand: "If you're really under too much pressure, we can actually get Abigail or even Alastor to come and help you or replace you. Also, I've already looked into alternatives to abandoning Miktikashiva."
Anyway, the ultimate goal of the entire Hayden team is not to help Micket defeat Smoke Mirror, but to gather the power of Smoke Mirror to deal with Mitra! Karen has always disliked Micket, so of course she will prepare a Plan B that does not need Micket.
Hearing Karen's words, it would be a lie to say Hayden wasn't moved. But he couldn't help giving a wry smile: "Is it really that bad? Do I look like I'm on the verge of a breakdown from all the pressure?"
Of course not. Immortals don't have such fragile bodies.
But Hayden is indeed under a lot of pressure right now.
A quick review reveals that his situation in South America was truly dire.
The duel between the main gods is still undecided, but almost all the gods with good eyesight can see that Smoke Mirror has gained the upper hand... or rather, at least Mikt's situation is not very good.
Since the duel between the main gods is a zero-sum game, then Micket's "unattractive" appearance is actually Smoke Mirror's advantage. The gods of capital understand this principle well. Most of the gods, seeing Smoke Mirror wielding Micket's power today, feel that He will likely win next time.
Trust brings power, especially when it's the trust of the "god of capital," which will inevitably influence the flow of external funds to the two players. In this era, money is magic—a simple truth everyone understands.
The Smokescreen was already aggressively seeking investments from around the world. Everyone thought He would win, and that Miket was doomed. How could things possibly turn out well?
Hayden has never been someone who is strong enough to possess great power on his own. His strength relies heavily on skill and leveraging external forces. However, not only is the whole world funding Smoke Mirror, but even in South America, there are no readily available resources for him to utilize.
Mickett? I've emphasized it many times, I don't trust him.
Besides, almost all the Smoke Mirror Gods were his enemies. And they weren't even human; they were the earth, the wind, the sun, and death of this continent. This is literally the case; the entire environment of South America was Hayden's enemy.
Then he has to find a way to turn it into a force to deal with Mithra, otherwise Mithra will use the "Reincarnation" technique to dominate the whole world.
As the saying goes, the most formidable enemy in the world is someone smarter than you. Hayden didn't know if Smoke Mirror was smarter than him, but he reasonably assumed Smoke Mirror was at least no less intelligent. As for Mitra… well, Mitra was almost certainly smarter than Hayden, wasn't he?
Hayden was under immense pressure. The current situation was actually quite dire.
But as he pondered this, another thought came to mind. After a long pause, he finally said, "Karen, do you think Miktikashiva can be considered Isiam's mother?"
These words made Karen frown again: "I don't think these inhuman evil gods from the Smoke Mirror Corporation can understand the relationship between parents and children like humans do. It should be something very foreign to her, something she might see but not fully comprehend... What are you planning? You want to use children in your war plans?"
“No, no, no, no, no, no.” Seeing Karen’s eyebrows about to rise, Hayden quickly waved his hands. “Absolutely not. I’ve learned my lesson—but on the other hand, I also feel that we can’t decide a child’s future on our own. There are some things I plan to ask her directly.”
But Karen was clearly unhappy: "You can't send a child to war, even if she wants to."
“Islam is not an ordinary child,” Hayden said solemnly. “She has her own thoughts and choices. You see, just like our own child—you ultimately didn’t freeze the fetus because the child itself didn’t want to. Aren’t we both like that? We’d rather die outside tomorrow than be confined within high walls and cages for a hundred years, like at the company or at home.”
Karen was immediately speechless, caught off guard. She couldn't directly deny this viewpoint, after all, she herself had run away this way. But she was still unconvinced: "Then what exactly is the responsibility of parents? Are they just going to let their children run wild?"
"So it's hard to say. What standards or norms are there in education?" Hayden was actually quite helpless. "Does being strict mean being responsible? Not necessarily. Finding the right approach, observing and judging to give them what they need, that's being responsible, isn't it?"