Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

"Besides, isn't there that guy?"

Samael, caught in the crossfire, looked embarrassed and waved his hand helplessly.

“I already told Siduri I was going to resign…”

When the ancient snake caught a glimpse of the frantic, clawing figure behind him out of the corner of his eye, his expression turned serious, and his tone became solemn.

"Besides, I want to spend more time with Ereshkigal and Ishtar during this period. They've been working so hard and have been so lonely all this time..."

Stay with...stay with me?

Ishtar froze on the spot, immediately straightened her body, retracted her outstretched claws, and adopted a ladylike demeanor.

The goddess's pretty face flushed with heat, her hands, unsure of what to do, tugged at the hem of her dress, her gaze wandering aimlessly.

The high priest, Xiduli, awkwardly opened her mouth to ask, her eyes filled with expectation.

"Then what do you think, Your Majesty..."

"Fool! Do I really have to say it out loud?"

Gilgamesh rolled his eyes, gave a soft snort, and looked displeased.

"I've been in this position for over 500 years, I'm already fed up with it!"

"Even the king needs rest! Even the king needs his own private space!"

"In any case, divine will can no longer control the destiny of Mesopotamia, so you should learn to walk on your own!"

"In short, go find whoever you want, just pretend I'm dead."

Upon hearing that the wise king and the shepherd priests had both abandoned their duties, the chief priest Siduli was filled with bitterness and felt utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

"Here's what we'll do: go back and hold a referendum, conduct a public search, or carry out a secret assessment—any method will do—to elect a new king."

“In the early stages, Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and Shamhat will be responsible for teaching him basic political affairs. Once things are completely on track, they will then leave him to his own devices.”

In the end, Samael came up with a compromise to extricate the High Priestess Siduri from her predicament.

However, something bad naturally pulled me out of the task of guiding the new king's assessment.

After all, it was their own country and their own people. Gilgamesh, Shamhat, and Enkidu, the iron triangle of their former era, had no choice but to nod in agreement.

After the matter was resolved satisfactorily, Siduri's face darkened, and she snorted defiantly.

"Once things are back on track, I will resign and come here to recuperate."

"Welcome, welcome! Everyone is welcome!"

Eager for more life and vibrant Ereshkigal in the Underworld, she immediately agreed to reserve a good spot for High Priestess Siduri in Paradise Lost.

Looking at the group of hardworking old comrades who were all clamoring to retire, Gu She suddenly had a brilliant idea and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"How about we open Paradise Lost, and let the meritorious and the innocent, whether in life or in death, all enter?"

"This will be a perfect country, a country without regrets."

Ai Lei's eyes lit up, and she nodded in agreement.

Now, she has a better way to deal with the souls who bravely sacrificed themselves in the Battle of Uruk.

"It's so lively? Me too! Me too!"

Not to be outdone, Ishtar, now in high spirits, clamored to join the house selection line.

"This goddess has made her decision: I will become the manager of Paradise Lost!"

"Hmph, my life power can maintain the stability and operation of this zone, so that death and life will be in balance!"

Since ruling the earth is out of the question, it seems like a good idea to take control of Paradise Lost.

Since everything had to be new, the goddess rested her chin on her hand, paced back and forth, and murmured to herself, brainstorming her new title, and finally settled on the general content.

"Dawn Star, Queen of the Universe!"

"Morning Star? You're the goddess who rules Venus, right?"

Samael's expression was strange, and he asked in a low voice.

Venus is often regarded as the morning star because it is very bright in the twilight.

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

Ishtar, not understanding what he meant, nodded readily.

"It's nothing, I just think this title suits you very well..."

The ancient snake remained calm, responded with a smile, and offered its praise.

However, in the instant he turned around, Samael's eyes flashed and his lips twitched violently.

Venus, the brightest star, son of the dawn!

Seven Great Purgatory... Nine Great Hells... Paradise Lost...

It can't be such a coincidence, right?

Chapter 169 An Expanding Heart (1/4)

As evening fell and the noise subsided, Samael bid farewell to the familiar ghosts of the underworld and embarked on his journey back to the Temple of Fever.

However, upon glancing down unintentionally, the ancient snake stopped in its tracks and turned to greet the figure standing in the deep valley.

"Grandpa, you're here too?"

Jusudra turned around, nodded slightly, and looked at Samael with an ambiguous expression in his eyes.

"Yes, I came here specifically to wait for you..."

"wait for me?"

Samael was both confused and flattered.

This long-lived being, who came from the golden age of mankind and survived the great flood in West Asia, possessed a wealth of knowledge and could be considered a treasure.

Previously, the three Noah's Arks that saved the lives of tens of thousands of Sumerians were built under the direct command of Jusuddra.

The plan to break free from the shackles of fate was able to proceed smoothly precisely because it received the old man's repeated assistance.

For some reason, Samael had a vague feeling that Jusudra seemed to grant his every request and had an inexplicable fondness for him.

"That's right, my mission in this body has come to an end, and the spirit that I once possessed will bid you a final farewell."

Jusudra walked slowly, his tone solemn and low.

Spirit Origin? So this old man really fused with that person?

Samael's gaze sharpened, and he tentatively uttered the name of the last hidden Heroic Spirit besides Merlin, Leonidas, and others.

"The Old Man of the Mountain—Hassan Sabah?"

The term "assassin" comes from the "Assassin Order" in the Middle East.

Hassan al-Sabah, the "Old Man of the Mountain," was the original founder of the Assassins.

Hassan al-Sabah can be said to be the embodiment of the assassin profession, and therefore he is qualified to be a Grand Assassin.

Furthermore, judging from the old man's performance in the battle at the Temple of Aa, he was able to shield Marduk's senses with "Aura Concealment," and his timing in striking was impeccable.

These facts essentially prove that he was the most outstanding assassin, and together with Samael, he accomplished the great feat of breaking free from the shackles of fate.

At this moment, as the true name was uttered from the ancient serpent's mouth, a black aura of death, like smoke and mist, swirled around Zhusudra, and then the ghostly blue flames ignited.

A figure wearing a double-horned skull mask and a black armor cloak emerged from the illusion, leaning on a sword and moving forward.

"As you can see, I have sped forth from the abyss of the secluded valley, from the darkness of death; I am the old man of the mountain!"

Samael stared at the dark and obscure figure, his pupils contracting as he confirmed that Jusudara had indeed been possessed by that Grand Assassin.

However, recalling the connections between those familiar figures, doubts arose in the ancient snake's mind.

At the beginning of the third storm, Gilgamesh summoned the priestesses to perform a large-scale séance, and the aid they summoned was almost all closely related to this disaster.

For example, Merlin is a Grand-rank magician and, like Gilgamesh, possesses the "clairvoyance" to see through the world.

Anna is the nascent goddess of Gorgon, and has a deep connection with the fallen monstrous goddess.

Leonidas was a descendant of Zeus and Heracles, the mighty god. She not only subdued the three Gorgon sisters, who were of Typhon blood, but also caused the banishment and persecution of the monster goddess, which was closely related to Zeus, the king of the gods.

But what was the foundation upon which this old man of the mountain was able to descend upon Mesopotamia?

Suddenly, Samael seemed to realize something, slowly lowered his head, looked at himself, and looked astonished.

At this moment, the old man in the mountains slowly bowed, his voice low and somber.

"The title of Grand Master is not what I desire; the proof of being the strongest can be granted by a single strike that severes the shackles of destiny. Everything is as you wish..."

In the ethereal voice, the illusory image of the skeletal swordsman that resided in Jusudera gradually faded into a few points of pale blue light and dissipated, leaving only a wisp of advice echoing in Samael's ears.

"Remember, there is destruction before construction, and there is no life without death!"

"One thought can lead to heaven, another to hell!"

As evening fell, the radiance of the Temple of Fever gradually faded, and the Underworld returned to silence and darkness.

Samael, leaning against a pillar, kept pondering the advice he had received during the day, his eyes thoughtful.

“Aaaaaa…”

A moment later, the stone door was pushed open by a delicate hand, and Ai Lei, draped in a bath towel, walked gracefully out of the bathroom. Her fingertips lightly touched the ancient snake's furrowed brow as she asked with concern.

"What are you thinking about?"

Samael smiled slightly, his brow relaxing.

"I just feel there's a real need to further refine Purgatory, Hell, and Paradise Lost."

“Isn’t Gilgamesh just sitting around doing nothing? The Seven Gates of the Underworld’s judgment is too simplistic. Why not just make this guy the chief judge?”

"Moreover, Shamhart, Enkidu, and Siduri can all help manage the Underworld, which will make things easier for you."

"As for Paradise Lost, let Ishtar handle it as he sees fit."

Ai Lei listened attentively, nodding frequently, but in the end, she still had some doubts.

Why are you suddenly thinking about these things? Are you really alright?

Samael raised his hand and stroked his chin, his expression somewhat meaningful.

"There's nothing wrong now, but who knows what will happen in the future."

“Marduk is still alive after all. The Mother Goddess has exiled herself, and it’s hard to guarantee that she won’t be exploited by those with ulterior motives.”

"Therefore, we need to at least retain some ability to protect ourselves, and have alternative options."

Without hesitation, Ai Lei nodded, choosing to give her full support.

Having received the promise from the God of the Underworld, the ancient serpent's somewhat uneasy mind finally calmed down. Its wandering gaze swept around and then settled on the large bed behind it.

"It's late, shall we go to sleep?"

"Um…"

"Wait a minute, I'll transform right away."

Samael noticed his owner's awkward expression and the blush on her pretty face, and gave her an "I understand" look, decisively preparing to transform into a beast.

However, before he could even make a move, his fingers were firmly gripped by Ellie's soft hand.

Immediately, the murmured words, as soft as the buzzing of mosquitoes, reached Samael's ears.

"Tonight... tonight there's no need to change anything..."

"That's true, it's been a long time since we've had a proper talk together."

Upon hearing this, the ancient snake's expression shifted, and it turned around, its gaze serene and calm.

"Yes, that's right! Speak... speak properly..."

Ai Lei nodded with relief, feeling much more relaxed. Her tense face blossomed into a soothing smile.

As night fell, the two figures nestled together, growing ever closer.

In the darkness, a silence filled the air. Ai Lei, her face glowing with beauty, spoke first, breaking the stillness.

“Samael…”