Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 851

Even before the Beyond the Heavens Empire was established, Minhyuk was already aware that the most devoted person to the nation was Haze. If he knew, then the people and the soldiers would also know.

The people who saw her whispered about how Haze studied every single day, trying to learn how to enable the people to live and prosper, to the point that she would only sleep two hours to four hours a day.

The priest, who checked up on her, whispered about the time when she collapsed from overworking. When she had woken up, she immediately stood up while saying, ‘I have work to do.’

The fruit store owner whispered about how she would peel and cut a single fruit to small pieces to save money despite being able to secure more profits for the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

Several whispers reached hundreds to tens of thousands of ears, eventually changing their view of Haze. Everyone learned of Haze’s hard work. Then when a boy pointed his finger at her...

“Mom, look. It’s Haze Who Cried Wolf.”

“This rascal! You can’t say that. She’s not the one who cried wolf. She’s the most respected figure in our empire.”

The people had already fallen in love with her. They knew that she represented the Beyond the Heavens Empire. They knew that she had continued to devote herself to them despite the fact that they had pointed fingers at her and criticized her. They knew that she continued to work hard for their sake, despite the overwhelming physical and mental fatigue that she had to endure.

So, perhaps, the notifications that appeared in front of Minhyuk were the most appropriate notifications.

[Your vassal Haze has gone beyond the limits of a human and has become a god.]

[She was a woman that lied. However, all her lies were filled with ‘devotion’.]

[The God of Devotion has been born to the world.]

[You are the Battle God’s Descendant and the Food God. You can now include Haze in the Food God Swords.]

[You can only choose a total of thirty Food God Swords. The thirty Food God Swords will represent and prove your prowess and majesty.]

Minhyuk had once told Haze about how he could pick the Food God Swords. The Food God Swords could experience a 10% increase in growth rate and a 3% increase in all stats. These Food God Swords would be the face of the empire. They were just like the Luvien Empire’s Swords of the Gods.

When Haze heard that, she said...

–You have to consider this carefully, Your Majesty. They will be the pillars of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

However, Minhyuk did not hesitate.

[You have chosen the first member of the Food God Swords!]

[You have chosen God of Devotion Haze as one of the Food God Swords!]

[Prime Minister Haze has become the first Food God Sword!]

“...Your Majesty, didn’t I tell you? The Food God Swords will represent the Beyond the Heavens Empire,” Haze said, black blood dripping down her chin.

However, Minhyuk just held her hands gently. Fortunately, the poison that was ravaging her body was slowly being driven away the moment she became a god. After all, gods had a body that could not be damaged or killed by some light poison.

Flaaaaaaash–

Then, at that moment, a pillar of light fell down from the sky and enveloped Haze. Just like that, her vitality and life was fully restored. She slowly stood up as the notifications continued to ring in her ears.

[Your total HP and MP have increased significantly.]

[Your defense has increased significantly.]

[Your attack has increased significantly.]

[The God of Devotion’s skills has been revealed.]

[Special stats: Dazzle (DAZ) and Faith (FTH) have been created.]

[You have gained +10,000 DAZ.]

[You have gained +10,000 FTH.]

Amidst the notifications, a voice rang in Haze’s ears.

[The God of Devotion is looking at you with a smile!]

[The God of Devotion says that you’re the only one that can inherit his position!]

[The God of Devotion wants you to be loved!]

Everyone viewed the God of Fraud in an unfavorable light, especially since his name contained the word Fraud. However, the real name behind it carried majesty, grace and nobility.

“Beyond the Heavens Emperor! You have extorted us through your prime minister!”

The kings and emperors looked embarrassed as they stared at the one million white platinum coins that littered the ground. An emperor had come here for the sake of one mere subordinate. However, they also thought that it was a good thing.

“Kneel down in front of us right now! Apologize for what you have done!”

They all knew that they could not overpower Food God Minhyuk right here and now. However, if they could force Minhyuk to apologize to them right now, then that would mean that he would admit to ordering Haze to extort them.

However, Minhyuk was a king that knew his subordinates well. He knew the type of woman Haze was. She would definitely not give them the answer that they wanted.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Minhyuk blinked, his palms clenching into a fist. These people had kidnapped, imprisoned, tortured and tried to kill his precious subordinate.

“That’s funny, I have never done anything that you are accusing me of. More importantly...”

A cold glint appeared in Minhyuk’s eyes as he looked at the kings and emperors. Murderous intent flashed in his eyes and completely overwhelmed these treacherous kings and emperors. Some of them might be more powerful than the rest. However, in front of Minhyuk, who had sealed one of the Great Demon and had killed one of the Six Monster Gods, they were nothing. If Minhyuk went crazy here, then they would not be able to stop him.

“How should you pay for the crime of harming my subordinate?”

“...Hiiiik!”

“How dare you accuse us! Shameless!”

At that moment, the powerhouses of the different empires and kingdoms began to flock in right after Minhyuk appeared. Minhyuk could tell that the situation was taking an unusual turn. He desperately wanted to grab these stupid kings and emperors by the collar and throw them on the ground. However, if he did that, then they would truly go to war.

‘I have to do something, but I can’t figure out what to do.’

However, unlike Minhyuk, Haze seemed to have figured out a way for them to get through this situation.

“Do all of the kings and emperors here want to wage war with the Beyond the Heavens Empire?”

The kings and emperors smiled widely when they heard Haze’s question.

“If the need arises.”

At that moment, Haze triggered one of the skills that she received after becoming the God of Devotion.

[You have triggered the skill: Inducement!]

(Inducement)

Rank: God

Passive Skill

Level: MAX

Effects:

•You can induce and lead the most influential person among those that you are conversing with to say what you want to hear with your words.

•They will follow your words as if they are possessed, the direction of the conversation will depend on how you communicate and speak with them.

The most influential person among the emperors and kings present was Elise, the emperor of the Aplath Empire.

‘I really want to say something.’

Elise felt strange. There was a strong urge to say words right now, it was like his mouth was tickling and he had to say it so badly. In the end, he could not overcome the ticklish sensation in his mouth. He opened his mouth and said, “Do you think your Beyond the Heavens Empire can handle us, huh? If you take out your empire’s prominent talents then your military force is nothing but rubbish.”

[Inducement has been successful!]

[Please lead the conversation in the direction that you want.]

It was very important to be the one to lead the flow of the conversation.

“So, Your Majesty is saying that our empire is nothing but a weak empire without our talents?”

“Am I wrong? What else is left if they are not in the picture?”

To some extent, those words rang true. The main reason why the other empires and kingdom could not invade the Beyond the Heavens Empire was because Ben and Brod lived there.

[You have triggered the skill: Agreement.]

[They will agree with Emperor Elise’s words.]

With Inducement, Haze could lead the conversation and make them agree with what she wanted. However, the skill: Agreement would only be triggered if there were others around.

Just like that, the other kings and emperors nodded.

“Beyond the Heavens Empire is a shabby and useless nation, there’s nothing left to see there.”

“Just what the hell does the Beyond the Heavens Empire think it can do?”

“It’s quite ridiculous to completely rely on and believe your talented people just so you can play around.”

“We can even push back the Beyond the Heavens Empire right here and now!”

The kings and emperors voiced their agreement to Emperor Elise’s words.

Then, Haze asked, “Let’s all be honest here. All you want to do is to get your talents back, no? That is why you are threatening me and His Majesty.”

“Ahem!”

“Ahem, ahem!”

“Hmmm...”

That was the truth. If the Beyond the Heavens Empire returned their talents right here and now, then they would all shut their mouths and return to their own empires and kingdoms. No, to be honest, they would even be willing to apologize.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk looked at Haze and thought, ‘That’s surprising.’

They were in a situation where all of the kings and emperors present were arrogant and confident, yet they were all being forced to go along with Haze’s words, which resulted in this strange yet gentle flow of conversation.

‘Is this the power of the God of Devotion?’

Anticipation slowly built up within Minhyuk as he continued to watch Haze.

“So? Are you going to give them back?”

“Are you going to return our talents?”

The moment those questions were uttered, another skill was triggered.

[God’s Negotiation has been triggered!]

It was a skill that would assist Haze into leading the negotiations in their favor. She would just be able to dazzle and seduce them into whatever result she wanted the negotiation to have.

“Sure, we can give them back.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

The faces of the kings and emperors all turned bright. Would they be able to get the talents that they have lost back? There was nothing better than that.

“However, we just can’t return them to you like that. We have our own conditions.”

However, Haze would never make an offer that would not bring her profits. All of the kings and emperors present here had already suffered greatly from Haze’s hands, but they found themselves hooked on her words.

‘Why do I want to hear those conditions?’

‘If only I can get them back then...’

‘I can bring them back. I can take them back to my empire!’

The greed in their hearts started to boil over.

“A hundred thousand platinum per talent. Ah, each of Your Majesties also has to give one Authority Herb to us. After all, you have humiliated our Beyond the Heavens Empire here.” Haze’s expression grew stern. “You even looked down on our Beyond the Heavens Empire, daring to call it shabby and useless.”

The kings and emperors all turned silent. They did not dare to refute Haze’s words. After all, they all thought that they would be able to get their talents back soon.

“You even dare to say that our troops are nothing but rubbish. Then, put forward those powerful soldiers that you are proud of. If any of your soldiers can win against the people that His Majesty had summoned, then we will give you your talent back. Of course, they are free to choose whoever they want to fight amongst those that His Majesty had summoned. However, if they lose, then you will have to pay us a hundred thousand platinum.”

“...!”

“...!”

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In other words, she wanted them to compete against the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

“Of course, those that we will summon would not include our Beyond the Heavens Empire’s Spear God Ben, Brod, Elpis or any other talents that you tried to recruit.”

Greed immediately filled the eyes of the emperors and kings.

[The skill: God’s Negotiation is making their hearts waver!]

All of them believed that the Beyond the Heavens Empire was nothing without those aforementioned talents. Besides, their side could even choose their opponents. The conditions were amazing.

“And these terms for our negotiations will only be in effect for four minutes.”

Minhyuk, who listened quietly to Haze’s words, could see where she was going with this.

“Let me say it again, these terms would only be in effect for four minutes.”

[Through God’s Negotiation, those who are listening to you will start to feel nervous and become panicked!]

“So, bring forward your chosen fighters from your empires and kingdoms. We will only summon twenty soldiers on our side. If the subordinates of Your Majesties could win against these twenty soldiers, then we will return your talents.”

Of course, Haze did not forget to emphasize the risk involved.

“Again, if your chosen fighters lose, then your talents will not be returned and you will have to pay us a hundred thousand platinum and one Authority Herb.”

The Authority Herb was a mysterious herb that could increase the CHA of the kings and emperors. These kings and emperors would often consume this herb right away the moment they get their hands on it.

Minhyuk understood what Haze wanted to do here.

‘Haze, you...’

The twenty soldiers and the four minute time limit. Those were the conditions that she brought forth.

In order for these kings and emperors to regain their talents, they immediately chose strong personnel from their empires and kingdoms and brought them forward. Their numbers were well over fifty.

‘You induced them to agree to the conditions for me to summon the Immortal Knight Order?’

The Battle God’s Immortal Knight Order was something that Minhyuk had acquired when he became the Battle God. There were a total of twenty knights in this order and all of them looked shabby and rugged, like mere weak soldiers. However, the most important point here was...

‘The commander of the Immortal Knight Order is Sword God Valen.’