Accompanied by childlike cries, the "Mother," who had regressed in mind and body to that of a young girl, pulled her three "daughters" who were taller than her out of the Garden of Eden, beginning a busy and interesting journey.
——Now, there’s truly no way to sneak off and meet that fellow.
Aile, with a heavy heart, followed everyone to the work site.
The day passed quickly, and the triumphant Mother led her daughters back to the familiar Garden of Eden.
As soon as they entered, the aroma of food and a gentle voice came from the hall:
"You’re back? Wash your hands and have dinner."
Luo En put down the clay tablet in his hand and smiled as he invited the four to take a seat.
Tiamat rushed to the table like a whirlwind and sat right next to her beloved son on the right.
Ishtar followed closely, taking the left side.
Siduri, who was slower, and the more reserved Aile, could only sit across from them with slight frustration.
As usual, the five deities savored the delicious food and drinks on the table, enjoying the rare warm moment.
Looking at the joyful scene before him, Luo En couldn’t help but smile, feeling content.
It was just as he had anticipated.
Even though he and Tiamat had revealed their identities, the three native goddesses Ishtar, Aile, and Siduri didn’t choose to inform the Babylonian gods but rather kept this news hidden altogether.
On one hand, the Three Goddesses had their requests of him:
Ishtar hoped to obtain more advanced agricultural techniques and mana to support more people, and to connect with the Assyrians, becoming the Guardian Goddess of Nineveh;
Siduri wished to gain better brewing techniques to improve and develop more delicious wines, expanding her belief system;
Aile hoped to establish and perfect the Underworld’s judgment system, making the Garden of Eden a true Divine Paradise...
All of these would be for naught without him as the central figure.
On the other hand, through the previous encounters, the Three Goddesses gradually gained a deeper understanding of him, and their relationship grew strong, surpassing mere "friendship."
Whether rationally or emotionally, they couldn’t flip on the spot, choosing betrayal or exposing the secret.
Of course, with Luo En and Tiamat’s abilities, they wouldn’t give the opposite the chance.
As time passed, in the face of Tiamat’s formidable maternal love, the Three Goddesses gradually succumbed, unknowingly boarding the ship of rogues.
This was a straightforward, legitimate plot.
After all, no one was forcing them to choose.
But by secretly allying with the former rebel leaders behind the Babylonian gods, it’s almost as if they’ve switched sides.
If exposed in the future, these Three Goddesses would struggle to shake off the label of "accomplices."
If they wished to avoid judgment, they would have to follow the rebels down this path.
Luo En swirled his wine glass, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
He couldn’t wait to see the expressions on those Babylonian gods’ faces when they discovered the stolen Underworld and the rebellion of the Three Goddesses.
Meanwhile, the Three Goddesses, full after the meal, began inquiring about matters concerning them.
Luo En patiently answered them one by one.
Firstly, regarding Assyria, Empress Semiramis had already rebuilt the temple for Ishtar in the capital, Nineveh, officially consecrating her as the Assyrians’ City Guardian God. Luo En added some personal touches, splitting Ishtar’s belief into three aspects: Divinity, Demon Nature, and Humanity:
Divinity was Ishtar herself, Demon Nature was Tiamat, and Humanity was naturally Empress Semiramis.
On a certain stone tablet unearthed in the Two River Basin, it was recorded that Nineveh’s Ishtar was an aspect of the Dark Goddess Tiamat, intricately connected to this Mother of Origin;
While in certain Babylonian texts, Empress Semiramis was also referred to as an incarnation of Goddess Ishtar, conveniently corresponding...
The trio combined, mutually fulfilling each other.
Using Assyria’s expansion to collectively gather beliefs was more than fitting.
Secondly, concerning the Underworld, following Gilgamesh, Judges of the Underworld Urnammu and Hammurabi successively took office, collectively undertaking the judgment of departed souls and establishing a fair system in the Underworld.
Behind them, the Moon God Sin and Sun God Utu sensed the opportunities inherent in this advanced concept of life and death retribution.
With Ishtar and Luo En as guarantees, the father-in-law and brother-in-law had no doubts and decisively joined the Underworld, assisting Queen of the Underworld Aile in increasing the Judges of the Underworld to seven, strengthening the restrictions and authority over departed souls.
Meanwhile, cities in the Mortal World like Uruk City, Uruk, Babylon, Nineveh City, and Kuza City were quietly forming a coalition under the deliberate guidance of several deities, covertly creating an alliance of interests, with one hand on belief and the other on the Codex, reshaping a new order for Two River civilization.
Lastly, arrangements for Siduri saw her successfully open a tavern in the Underworld, responsible for sacrificing the gods and humans of the mortal world, as well as guiding the departed souls and monsters of the Underworld.
As a result, she acquired the title of "Sacrificial Chief," becoming an essential bridge between the living and the dead, the deities and humans.
After listening to Luo En’s recount, the Three Goddesses completely relaxed.
Everything is developing in a favorable direction.
It seems their previous choice was correct; working together indeed could better this world.
Just as the goddesses were about to celebrate, a deep roar suddenly came from above the Underworld.