## Chapter 1633 – 1633. God’S Atlantis
The [God’s Atlantis] district generally tries to maintain good relationships with the surrounding districts. It’s incredibly difficult for a district to survive on its own. Therefore, they maintain good relations with other districts as if they were engaging in diplomacy.
If relations with other districts deteriorate to the worst and they become isolated, life becomes difficult. It could even become a matter of survival.
However, there are exceptions, of course. A prime example is the desert district to the west. The desert district was generally larger than other districts. However, it was not abundant. It was barren. So, it generally doesn’t receive much attention from other districts.
Trade between districts? It was rare for anyone to come to the desert district from other districts, except for merchants. For travel purposes? There might be some crazy people who would travel to see the desert in the outer western districts, but not in my ‘District 5,146, Scorpion Desert.’
So, it was very rare for another district to contact us like this. It’s been quite some time since I established the Heavenly Demon Cult in this desert and took control of the district, and this was the first time another district had officially approached us.
I slowly rose from my seat, watching the dancers. Perhaps because I had lingering feelings, my feet wouldn’t move easily. When I turned my head, the dancers smiled at me.
Even if it was just a superficial smile, I couldn’t help but be drawn in. They were beautiful, after all. Their sweat-drenched skin was supple, and their breaths were alluring. Normally, I would have dived into the dancers and spent heavenly time with them, but… right now, there were uninvited guests in the district.
I left the banquet hall with Enas.
“They will probably ask for an alliance.”
Enas said.
It was neither good nor bad. There wasn’t much benefit to be gained from an alliance.
I entered the audience chamber. I leaned halfway back on the wide, plush chair. The maids brought wine and fruit. I fondled the maids’ breasts and buttocks as I drank the wine and ate the fruit they offered. I was happy right now.
Soon, Enas brought in the envoys from the other district. They were wrapped in white cloth from head to toe. That in itself wasn’t unusual. It was probably to protect their skin from the desert’s murderous sunlight. But I frowned.
“Insolent ones. Will you keep your faces covered in front of me?”
“We apologize, Ruler of the Scorpion Desert. We do not show our faces to others. It is our culture and our rule.”
The voice that came from beyond the cloth was a woman’s. And a very beautiful woman’s voice at that. That alone eased my anger, but I didn’t show it.
“This is my district. Do not force your culture and rules on me. If you don’t want to show your faces, get out of the city as you are.”
At my warning, the envoys looked at each other. The one who seemed to be the highest-ranking among them sighed softly.
“The Ruler of the Scorpion Desert is right. If you come to another district, you must follow the laws and culture of that district.”
They slowly unwrapped the cloth covering their faces.
My eyes widened. It was because their beauty was above average.
Distinct features, dark brown hair, and bronze skin. But what caught my eye the most were their ears. Long, pointed ears. They weren’t human, they were elves.
“So, you weren’t human.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not at all.”
I straightened my posture and dismissed the maids. I was going to send them away roughly, but I changed my mind.
“It seems like you’re finally ready to talk. Let me introduce myself again. I am the ruler of District 5,146, the Scorpion Desert, and the master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Cheonma.”
I stroked my face with one hand. I wasn’t wearing a mask right now. But it wasn’t my real face either. I had changed my face using Deception (SS).
“We are followers of Lord Calas, the ruler of District 5,140, the Desert Forest. I am Helian, the representative of our group. We have come to find the Heavenly Demon Cult under Lord Calas’s orders. The fame of Cheonma is well-known even in District 5,140.”
District 5,140, the Desert Forest.
It was one of the wealthier districts in the western desert. As its name, Desert Forest, suggests, trees grew in the desert. I never imagined that the residents of the Desert Forest would be elves.
‘There are many types of elves, so it’s not that strange.’
There are wood elves, aqua elves, night elves, and so on, depending on nature. It wasn’t surprising that there were desert elves.
“You haven’t even properly introduced yourselves yet. Would you like some cold water?”
“If you would offer it, we would be grateful.”
They didn’t refuse. Because it was water. In this desert, cold water was a luxury item more expensive than tea. The maids brought cold water with ice floating in it. The desert elves gulped down the cold water. Satisfaction spread across their faces.
“How is it?”
“…The water tastes very good. We have traveled through many deserts to meet Cheonma, but this is the first time we have had such delicious water. It doesn’t seem like ordinary oasis water.”
Of course, it was. This was the best-selling brand of bottled water in Korea. It was superior in many ways to the water from the stagnant oases in the desert.
“I hate small talk. Let’s get to the point. What does your district want?”
“First, please understand that this is not just an issue for our district, but for the entire western desert region.”
“Are you talking about what happened five days ago?”
“Yes. Five days ago, the ‘Owner of the Oasis’ sent a message to all the rulers of the desert districts.”
“It was a message saying that if we wanted to maintain the oasis, we had to offer women. It was a very annoying request. What’s even more infuriating is that the oasis is actually drying up.”
Five days.
The Owner of the Oasis had given them a period of ten days. Half of that time had passed, and the oasis was more than half dried up. It was because they had been drawing water from the oasis and storing it. The problem was that the oasis water wasn’t refilling. At this rate, the bottom of the oasis would be exposed within three days.
“Our Desert Forest district is the same. The oasis is the life of the desert. We cannot let the oasis disappear like this.”
“The solution is simple. Offer sacrifices to the Owner of the Oasis.”
“Human sacrifice is forbidden in the Desert Forest. We will not abandon our own kind under any circumstances.”
“Really? What great kinship.”
“……Did Cheonma accept the Owner of the Oasis’s proposal?”
I stared at her intently and asked in return.
“What do you think?”
“I cannot be certain, but I believe you did not perform human sacrifice.”
“Why?”
“While coming here, we did not hear any stories about human sacrifice. If human sacrifice had been carried out, people would have talked about it.”
“I could have secretly performed human sacrifice, couldn’t I?”
“The Owner of the Oasis’s request has already spread throughout the entire desert region. There is no point in hiding it. Eventually, it will be known. Above all, I know that Cheonma is not the kind of person who would do that. Even if the opponent is a god, you would fight against them rather than surrender.”
“It seems you’ve heard about me. You’re right. I have no intention of surrendering to the Owner of the Oasis or whatever it is.”
“Our Desert Forest also thinks the same as Cheonma. If we surrender to the Owner of the Oasis once, we will have to give up a lot. District 5,140, the Desert Forest, formally requests an alliance with Cheonma, the ruler of the Scorpion Desert. The term of the alliance is until the oasis crisis is resolved. The purpose of the alliance is to overthrow the Owner of the Oasis.”
Helian said with a determined expression.
I looked at her indifferently. Then, Helian’s eyes trembled as if she was flustered.
“What benefit do I get from an alliance?”
“The overthrow of the Owner of the Oasis. You can regain the authority over the oasis!”
“The Heavenly Demon Cult can survive even without the oasis. There is a way to get water. There is no need to risk facing the Owner of the Oasis. Do you know why? Because you are here. Eventually, you who cannot endure will defeat the Owner of the Oasis.”
Desert Forest.
A forest in the desert. Good. Just the name gives off a mysterious feeling. But let’s think realistically. To maintain a forest, many things are needed. The most important of these is, of course, water.
‘They must be growing and maintaining the trees with the water from the oasis. In other words, if the oasis disappears, the Desert Forest will also disappear. In the current situation, these elves are the most desperate.’
Because they are desperate, they are sending envoys like this. They probably sent elves to other desert districts as well.
“……Does Cheonma intend to do nothing?”
“I don’t have to do anything. I intend to survive even without the oasis water.”
“It is presumptuous of me to say this, but if water is not supplied, the citizens will revolt. In this desert, matters related to water are very sensitive.”
“You’re foolish. Just kill them before they revolt. Don’t you know that simple solution?”
Helian’s expression twisted. She looked at me as if I were a madman. It seemed she didn’t understand my words.
I snapped my fingers and raised my voice.
“Enas! Are you outside? Come in!”
“Yes, Cheonma.”
Enas, who had been waiting, immediately entered.
“Enas. Are there any guys preparing a revolt?”
“There is information that more than 10 people are meeting in the western slums.”
“It smells like a revolt. Wipe them out.”
“Yes, Cheonma.”
Enas went outside.
I raised my shoulders and looked at Helian. Helian’s eyebrows were trembling.
“See? A great leader does not allow the seeds of revolt.”
“…We have never questioned Cheonma’s leadership. We also respect Cheonma’s will. We will convey Cheonma’s will to Lord Calas.”
Helian immediately prepares to leave. She is exuding an aura that she doesn’t want to get involved with me.
“Wait a minute. Hear me out until the end. I am willing to form an alliance if the Desert Forest provides benefits.”
Helian paused. She closed her mouth for a moment and thought about something carefully.
“…What is it that you desire?”
“First, dancers. Hand over the dancers of the Desert Forest to me.”
