Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

"Mesopotamia is currently in dire need of rebuilding, and the city-states are desperately short of talent. Perhaps there is an even more suitable king among them."

Ishtar had a strange expression. She put one hand to her forehead, somewhat unable to bear looking at the serious-looking person. She raised her elbow and nudged Ereshkigal beside her.

"You should say it."

The goddess of the underworld coughed lightly, her voice low and somber.

"We've felt something's been off with you these past two weeks..."

Ishtar rolled her eyes, put one hand on her hip and leaned forward, pointing the other at the ancient snake's nose, emphasizing her words.

"Something's...not...right!"

"Listen to everything I say, and do whatever I'm told."

"Normally, she's either busy helping Ellie cultivate flowers and plants in Paradise Lost, constantly nagging her to make them bloom quickly, or she's actively dragging me to various places in the Underworld to search for treasure, or she's teaming up with those ghosts to gamble."

"Furthermore, they prepared three different meals a day, and even went to consult chefs both above and below ground..."

As Ishtar complained, Ereshkigal nodded repeatedly, and finally added her own comment.

"So, we went to ask Gilgamesh..."

"He said that since you're likely to run away, he wanted to do his best to make it up to us before you left..."

The Great Goddess of Uruk rested her chin on her hand, as if she had remembered something, and her smile was somewhat teasing.

"The guy buried in the mud slabs even said he could offer rental services."

"If binding is required, one can invoke the Lesser Heavenly Lock through the Gate of Babylon."

"It's just that that gold-plated guy doesn't want to lose out in anything he does, and the rent he asked for was too high. Otherwise, we might have been able to borrow it."

Gilgamesh, I'll fuck you!

The ancient snake's face darkened, its smile stiffened, and it inwardly grumbled.

All I did was trick you into serving as the judge in the underworld, deciding the good and evil of souls.

But I've tried my best to get you these benefits: a permanent position, 9-to-5 work hours, meals and accommodation provided, a house while you're alive, and a burial allowance when you die.

You ungrateful scoundrel, you must have done it on purpose!

The victim was furious and his mind was filled with thoughts of how to make excuses and salvage the situation.

At this moment, Eresh patted the ancient serpent on the shoulder with sympathy and delivered the final blow.

“Well, Shamhat told us that if you wanted to escape, you'd probably take this route…”

"So, Ishtar and I waited here in advance."

Damn me!

Backstabs with combo attacks and critical damage! You guys are amazing!

Samael was on the verge of tears, squatting on the ground and drawing circles in his mind, feeling a dull pain in his back and his entire spine cracking.

"I think those guys were afraid you'd really run away."

"After all, there aren't many people left who can be spoken to..."

Ishtar rested one hand on the ancient serpent's shoulder, her contemplation carrying a deeper meaning.

"Fine, I accept my fate. Let's go..."

Seeing that his escape attempt had completely failed, Samael stood up dejectedly, raised both hands in front of him, and pretended to be bound.

The plan is so rotten it's practically a sieve; what secrecy is left?

Moreover, apart from Shamhat and Siduri, he had never fought any of them before.

If you don't accept your fate, what else can you do?

Are you suggesting I get a good beating and then be dragged back as a corpse?

"Snapped!"

The impulsive Ishtar slapped away Samael's outstretched hands and gave a cold snort of annoyance.

"What are you thinking! If you want to leave, then leave. We don't care!"

Ai Lei raised her pretty face, her fingertips gently tracing the side of the ancient snake's cheek, as if trying to remember its outline. She pursed her cherry lips and murmured softly.

"But at least, I should say something. I don't want you to leave without saying goodbye like last time."

Samael looked up in surprise and slowly lowered his fingers.

"So, you've come here..."

"Of course it's a farewell! Do you really think we're going to take you back and hang you at the door to dry like a snake?"

Ishtar, her voice dripping with mockery, turned her head away.

"Feel sorry…"

Samael looked apologetic, took a deep breath, and thoughtfully explained the situation.

"The world of Mesopotamia had already taken shape and began to sink to the surface, and the Age of Gods could no longer survive."

"I think the reason why the Mother Goddess was rejected was probably due to this kind of inclusiveness."

"Based on everyone's deductions, if we choose to go back to a world bubble that is prosperous in the age of gods and has greater plasticity, and establish an anchor point, perhaps the Mother Goddess can return again."

"I must do this!"

The ancient serpent solemnly raised its head, revealing its resolve to Ereshkigal and Ishtar.

Chapter 172 Mom, Time to Get Up (4/4)

Ishtar and Ereshkigal exchanged a glance, their eyes already understanding, and nodded in unison.

"Hey, here you go!"

The goddess of Uruk hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly took out a bright and clear ruby ​​necklace and tossed it to Samael.

"Keep this safe! It's my favorite piece out of the seven matching jewelry pieces in the Pala set."

"If you lose it, you won't be forgiven!"

The so-called Pala is a set of seven types of jewelry worn by Sumerian women.

These include crowns, beaded necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and so on, which often possess sacred power for goddesses.

Ereshkigal's "Hidden Crown" and Ishtar's "Shining Crown" each have seven symbolic facets.

Therefore, these two items are divine treasures formed from the elevation of seven Pala jewelry pieces, possessing extraordinary functions.

The one that Samael is holding now is clearly one of Ishtar's favorite pieces, which she replaced and disassembled from the Shining Great Crown.

After the distressed Uruk goddess gave her a few harsh words of advice, Ereshkigal untied the ghostly cage from her waist and handed it to Samael.

"And this too, take good care of yourself."

The ancient snake instinctively took the two items, its gaze repeatedly examining them. Gradually, it understood, and then gently held them to its chest, responding earnestly.

"Don't worry, I will contact you as soon as the situation stabilizes!"

"wait for me!"

According to common knowledge in the mystical world, whether it is constructing a targeted communication technique or conducting a more difficult spirit possession ritual for a specific target, a special medium is required.

Generally speaking, these are what are known as "Holy Relics".

Clearly, Ishtar and Ereshkigal gifted Samael treasures imbued with their own aura and divinity in the hope that the ancient serpents could make contact with them in the future.

Furthermore, if they encounter danger or need help, they can be summoned to descend upon another land, provided conditions permit.

"Tch, who cares! You'd better not bother me!"

Watching the figure gradually disappear into the thick fog, Ishtar curled her lip and snorted softly.

"Yeah! We can't care about this guy!"

"It's best if he doesn't come back; the bed is bigger, and I can get a good night's sleep!"

Ai Lei waved her small fists at the air, united in their hatred of the enemy, and the surroundings gradually filled with the sour and astringent smell of green fruit.

But soon, the goddess of the underworld was the first to break down, biting her lower lip tightly, her eyes filled with loneliness.

"What if Samael really doesn't come back?"

Ishtar suddenly circled behind Ereshkigal, her claws snapping forward to grab her sister's small breasts.

This eccentric Uruk goddess breathed menacingly into her sister's ear, her brows furrowed in a stern and menacing manner, perfectly embodying the image of a female rogue.

"Then I'll sleep with you! He'll have no chance with me after that!"

With her sensitive spots being given special attention, Ai Lei whimpered and collapsed. The whispers from her wicked younger sister made her blush and feel utterly ashamed.

"They're about the same size, and they feel nice to the touch."

"Why do you touch her inappropriately more often at night than I do?"

"Discrimination! Blatant discrimination!"

Immediately, Ishtar, who was wantonly harassing her older sister to vent her dissatisfaction, couldn't help but recall something and smugly curled the corners of her lips.

"However, with me watching over things these past few days, I managed to prevent you from succeeding!"

"He's my destined husband, and this goddess is determined to be the first to marry him!"

Aileen blushed slightly, pulled away Ishtar's claws, raised her chin, and gave a grumpy reminder.

"The place he is going to is very likely there. The return of the Mother Goddess will probably not be completed in a day or two."

"By then, will it even be your turn?"

Ishtar blinked, spread her hands, and didn't seem to care.

"It doesn't matter, as long as I get there first."

"Hmph, I won't give it to you no matter who I lose to, that's a matter of principle."

So after all that, you just wanted to take it from me? Just to enjoy the feeling?!

Ai Lei stared in disbelief, her blood rushing to her head, her lips twitching violently.

"Don't move, let me touch you again and see if there are any differences between us..."

"I'm so unwilling to accept losing like this, without even knowing why."

As the goddess Uruk muttered to herself, she subconsciously raised her hand and pinched Ereshkigal's slender waist.

However, Ishtar apparently did not notice the gradually distorted smile of the goddess of the underworld.

As the sliding fingertips approached her lower abdomen, Ereshkigal, unable to bear it any longer, picked up the gun barrel and slammed it into the head of that reckless little devil.

"You should...stop now!"

"boom!"

The earth cracked open, and Ishtar, with half of her body buried in the ground, felt dizzy and disoriented, as if the whole world before her eyes was filled with glittering gold.

Ereshkigal used the power of the earth to bury her troublesome younger sister until only her head was sticking out.

"Hey! Ereshkigal, why are you throwing a tantrum again? Didn't we agree to compete fairly based on charm? Using violence is against the rules!"

"Can't you accept defeat?! Can't you accept defeat?!"

Ishtar, buried alive, stared at the several Garura spirits that remained to guard the place and protested at the top of her lungs.

"You idiot, you better reflect on your actions!"

Ai Lei's face darkened, and she angrily picked up the gun barrel and turned to walk towards the temple.

Mother Goddess, you saw it all. All that talk of sisterly love and unity against outsiders is a lie!

Let's rely on ourselves; whoever grabs it first gets to keep it!

Several days later, in the cedar forest, in the ruins of the Blood Temple.

Samael, dressed in his travel gear, casually moved a pillar weighing several hundred pounds and stepped into the dimly lit passageway.

Inside, vines hang low, and stones are scattered about. The purplish-red tubular structures, resembling blood vessels, are mostly dry and fallen off, but a few still maintain a peculiar rhythm.

The ancient serpent took out the purple snake scale given to it by Anna from its bosom and followed the flickering fluorescence on it, heading towards the interior.