Reborn as the God-Emperor in Marvel

Solomon didn't expect Luka to call just a few hours later, but he didn't doubt the clues the reporter provided. This guy would do anything to uncover the truth now.

After hanging up, he glanced at Rodin. Luka's voice was so loud that even Rodin, standing behind the bar, could hear it. The bar owner, who was wearing sunglasses, handed Solomon a chocolate sundae before reaching for the remote control behind the bar—no one could reach into the bar without permission. That was a rule at the Hell's Gate Bar.

"I am now standing in front of the Izaverta in Vigrid, the holy land of the Lagnar Church. This year marks the once-in-500-years arrival of the church's main deity, 'Creator Jubileus.' Devotees around the world are celebrating Easter with joy." The small LCD TV mounted on the bar wall switched to the WNN World News channel. The anchor's voice was explaining the scene on the screen, showing Lagnar followers dressed in white robes with gold trim. They held their hands to their chests, all facing the same direction. The next shot showed Lagnar priests dressed in white, without hoods, but wearing wide white hats with golden sun symbols on the front.

"Fake news!" Solomon sneered.

The Lagnar Church hadn't even been around for another 500 years. This Easter was probably a last-minute event, but the church followers still believed wholeheartedly. The fact that such a young religion had this much influence was likely why the Sorcerer Supreme decided to keep the existence of gods and demons hidden. Humanity's fragile minds couldn't resist the allure of faith. Some young people, although not deeply religious, still shared superstitious things on social media to fill the void left by a lack of belief.

"Faith is like poison!" This was Solomon's belief. He would never give his faith to anything. He couldn't stand the idea of his mind being controlled.

"But on the other hand, there have been continuous reports of people committing suicide to celebrate the arrival of the main god. Yesterday, the high priest of the Lagnar Church and over 20 followers committed mass suicide, and the church where their bodies were laid was vandalized by unknown individuals. Nations are treating this as an abnormal situation and are calling on the Lagnar followers to stay calm."

The screen now showed the church that Bayonetta and Solomon had visited the previous night. However, the TV only showed images from before the place was wrecked, perhaps because the current state of the church was too gruesome to broadcast.

"That wasn't my doing. It was that big guy who made that mess," Bayonetta said, propping her chin up with her hands. "Did that little wildcat tell us to watch TV just for this?"

Solomon shook his head. "Maybe it hasn't aired yet. Even live broadcasts have delays, and this half-plane probably has poor signal reception. Mr. Rodin, I swear I wasn't bad-mouthing you, so please don't take away my ice cream."

"The president of the Izaverta Group, who actually runs this religious city, has appeared in public for the first time."

Rodin pushed an apple martini toward Bayonetta. "The human world is really in chaos."

"It's downright foolish." Enzo, waving a whiskey glass in his fat, ring-adorned hand, agreed. His cigar had been forcibly put out by Rodin when Solomon entered. "Offering your life to bring back a god? Only fools like these keep my business running."

"Ha? You arrange funerals for money? You're no saint either," Rodin replied disdainfully. Enzo wasn't offended by Rodin's attitude, but Solomon was quite fond of Enzo. Despite being fat, greedy, and fond of flaunting his wealth, Enzo's mind was free—unshackled by religion.

Moved by this, Solomon ordered another sundae, adding it to Enzo's tab. Rodin was happy with that too, as Enzo frequently owed him money. The sundae could be considered interest, and Enzo wouldn't remember how much he owed anyway. A little extra debt wouldn't hurt.

"I'm always a good citizen as long as I get paid." The information broker turned around, the large ruby on his pinky ring gleaming even in the dim light. "A good-hearted person wouldn't want to deal with these crazed followers. Tell me, aren't I doing charity work here? Hahaha!"

"Then you should donate to the church," Bayonetta said, sipping her drink. Rodin's cocktails were always to her liking. "Just pay me what you owe, Enzo."

Enzo wanted to argue, even trying to dodge the issue by pointing out that Bayonetta hunted angels for fun, but he never succeeded. This time was no different. He said, "If you hadn't messed up the cathedral, I'd have made more money! Think of me a little, Bayonetta!"

The usual noise of the Hell's Gate Bar was interrupted by the sound from the TV. Though the volume wasn't high, the cheers from the crowd still drew everyone's attention.

"That's him! Izaverta Group's president Balder has finally shown up! The wealth this group brings has boosted Vigrid's economy tremendously. Balder, surrounded by followers, might be the one to stop these suicides..."

The camera zoomed in on a grand building. Judging by the golden sun-ray motifs, it was clearly a Lagnar Church structure. The shot then switched to a white podium adorned with gold lines and two golden rings. From the center, long golden spears radiated outward, with the longest on the X and Y axes, and shorter ones at 45-degree angles.

A man dressed in ornate white robes stood on the podium.

"That's him! He's the one paying for the job!" Enzo shouted. The man on screen looked even more religious than Solomon, with a high-collared white robe trimmed with red, and a white peacock with a purple crown perched on his shoulder. A sun-shaped emblem adorned his chest. Enzo added, "This guy is the leader of the Lagnar followers. He's never shown his face before, but now, for this 500-year Easter, he's appeared. Some say he might not even have survived since the last one."

Solomon narrowed his eyes. Balder had indeed been alive 500 years ago, because he was a Lumen Sage, wielding the power of angels. Such power could easily let someone live for centuries. The man with slicked-back white hair and a golden mask covering half his face was the same Balder the Sorcerer Supreme had mentioned.

"Izaverta Group owns the most advanced technology unseen in this ancient city. The followers consider these miracles," Enzo continued. But everything he said was information Bayonetta already knew, such as how Balder was the last of the Lumen Sages. Repeated intel was worthless, meaning Enzo's excuse to delay payment had failed once again.

"Bayonetta's payment came from him? If that's true, then the church yesterday was probably a trap. That angel must have been sent by him." Solomon speculated. "But Bayonetta came out unharmed! If he wanted to catch her, wouldn't he send someone stronger?"

"We don't know what Balder is planning," Rodin said. "For now, we'll just have to see how things play out."

Solomon nodded and sighed. "I'll return to Kamar-Taj and report this to the Sorcerer Supreme. Until we figure out what's going on... Bayonetta, you'd better hunt fewer angels. No one knows if that's Balder's trap. Bayonetta?"

The witch seemed lost in thought. Solomon's keen hearing picked up a soft "pop" as she pulled a brass-wrapped lipstick from her deep cleavage. She twisted it open, and a chill emanated from it.

"Is that what you had when you woke up?" Rodin asked.

"Yes."

"Does it remind you of anything?"

"No."

"You could let the mystic take a look," Rodin gestured to Solomon. "I don't recognize the runes on it, but maybe Kamar-Taj's library has clues. If you learn what it does, you might remember something."

Bayonetta was becoming more intrigued by Balder. Just moments ago, during the broadcast, Balder had suddenly looked straight into the camera, as if staring directly at the witch watching the TV. He had even spoken, though only Bayonetta heard him. His words triggered a flood of memories in her mind—she saw herself in a burning tower and forest, surrounded by flames. She saw a man dressed in white, floating in the air, with many peacock feathers extending from behind him. Snow-white feathers fell from the sky.

"I'm waiting for you, my dear daughter…"

The witch tensed, but everything seemed normal. It was as if the man named Balder had never turned and spoken. No one else watching the TV had noticed anything unusual.

"Daughter?" Why would Balder call her that? Solomon had mentioned that the sage and witch clans each had only one member left, but due to the lack of information, no one knew if Balder and Bayonetta were connected.

"I'm heading home. My sons are throwing me a birthday party!" Enzo said, finishing his drink and standing up.

"You're not paying today either?"

"Consider it a birthday gift! Thanks, Rodin." Enzo swaggered out. "If I get a job offer, I'll contact you!"

"Damn fat pig!"

"Ciao~!"

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