Chapter 208 As soon as the money arrives, I'll align with you
Chapter 208 As soon as the money arrives, I'll align with you
The Netherworld is connected by five rivers: the River Acheron, River Cocytus, Phlegethon River, River Styx, and River Lethe.
Normally, the departed souls must pass through the River Acheron, River Cocytus, Phlegethon River, River Styx, and River Lethe sequentially before they finally reach the Elysian Fields.
In this process, the departed souls, unable to accept their death, weep at the River Acheron, lament their past lives at the River Cocytus, purify their spirits at the Phlegethon River of Fire, and then cross the River Styx aboard Charon's boat.
Ultimately, after reaching the River Lethe, the souls drink its waters, forget their current lives, and step into the "Elysian Fields".
There, the three judges, Radamanthys, Minos, and Argus will decide where the souls should go:
Those who are kind and morally upright will be allowed into Blissful Paradise, known as Elysium;
Those who were evil in life must be cast into a special Hell designed for holding and punishing the wicked, where they will face severe punishment—a place called Tartarus Hell.
Most souls, neither particularly evil nor notably good, will remain in the plains filled with daffodils, where they will either wander aimlessly or await new life.
The entire Netherworld is divided into three regions by the Phlegethon River of Fire for easier management.
Charon's ferry is one of the few means of transport capable of crossing between these regions.
Most importantly, this fellow recognizes only money.
—As long as the payment is right, it does not matter whether you are a human or a ghost; he will transport you without fail.
At this moment, Luo En acutely felt the Ferryman of the Underworld River's extremely professional work ethic.
Due to the addition of the living, his boat became unstable due to the weight of the Law of Life, and the wandering departed souls in the River Styx, sensing the scent of the living, stirred up waves to engulf Luo En and Thetis on the boat, trying to taste the freshness of life or seize their beautiful shells.
Charon, standing at the bow, unflinchingly thrust his long pole into the River, stirring it. His Authority vibrated in the burning Stygian Water, creating ripples that shattered the distorted faces of the departed souls, allowing the rocking ferry to proceed smoothly.
From his adept movements, it was clear that this old man was not doing this for the first time.
Soon, under the guidance of this professional pathfinder, the group smoothly followed the Phlegethon River of Fire and reached the boundary of Tartarus.
"We've come to the fork; repeat what you promised me earlier," said Charon, stopping his pole and turning his head emotionlessly to look at Sisyphus at the stern of the boat.
The professional scam artist complained bitterly.
The upcoming fork was a part of the River Styx, known as the "River of Oaths."
Oaths made in the name of the River Styx are immensely sacred; any human who violates these oaths will often be engulfed by the waters of the River Styx after death and then suffer eternal divine punishment in the cold waters of the River.
The painful, floating spirits they saw along the River were mostly from here.
And as the three judges gradually took office and the divine authority in the Netherworld continued to stabilize,
even the deities who violated the oaths made in the name of the River Styx would suffer backlash.
However, compared to these frail humans, the constraints on deities were much lighter, often costing them but a year of sleep.
At this moment, seeing Sisyphus remain silent, Charon's face could not help but darken.
"Are you thinking of backing out?"
"Don't worry, as long as he can escape the Netherworld, my friend is willing to do anything!"
Luo En confidently assured, while exchanging a glance with Thetis, they tacitly moved forward, one to the left and one to the right, firmly restraining Sisyphus.
The professional con artist, sandwiched like a cookie, having no way to escape, could only make a mournful face and repeated the promise he made on the shore to the flowing waters of the River Styx below.
Thirty gold coins blessed by faith, two grand sacrifices; honestly, although costly, it hadn't reached the point of bankruptcy for him.
Seeing thousands of Underworld Butterflies flying from both banks towards their dilapidated vessel, Sisyphus's face turned pale.
"Hypnos!"
"Damn, did you provoke the God of Sleep?"
Meanwhile, Charon also realized this smuggling trip was different from the usual, seemingly caught in some serious trouble, and immediately turned hostile.
"No way, I'm not taking this trip!"
He just wanted to make some money, but they seemed intent on taking his life.
"I'll triple the money! He will pay!"
Under Luo En's "gentle" gaze, Sisyphus, his shoulder firmly gripped, could only nod sadly.
However, Charon firmly shook his head, a trace of fear in his eyes.
"Not even for ten times the amount, they'll kill me!"
"Twenty times, plus a statue!"
"Hiss—"
Charon sucked in a cold breath, his throat dry, and after a long struggle, he managed to murmur.
"This isn't about money..."
"Thirty times, take it or leave it!"
Hearing that inhumane hike in price, Sisyphus almost moved to tears.
Because while the other party was calling out the price, he was the one who had to pay.
If the earlier ticket was a small loss, now this was truly throwing money down the drain.
However, before the unfortunate man could contend, the Ferryman of the Underworld River, upon hearing the final price offered by the employer, completely threw aside his fear of his peers and the rules of the Netherworld, eagerly nodding in excitement.
"Deal!"
Immediately after, Charon eagerly turned to the generous financier on the ship, rubbing his hands as he inquired, and that perpetually unchanging old face actually showed a trace of sycophantic humanity.
"Where to? You say!"
"Elysian Fields."
"Okay!"
Charon agreed decisively and then grabbed his long pole, vigorously maneuvering it through the Stygian water, carrying the three smugglers as they darted past the banks lined with poppy and valerian.
"Hmph, stubborn ignorance!"
However, the next moment, amidst a cold reprimand, countless golden-black Underworld Butterflies converged above the river, and a figure with golden hair and golden eyes slowly formed a silhouette, his arm slowly lifting.
In an instant, the fluttering golden-black Underworld Butterflies transformed into a chillingly cold hundred-meter long sword.
—Dreamscape descends, fantasy manifests.
To turn thoughts into reality using Divine Authority was the combat style of the God of Sleep.
As Hypnos's arm fell, the hundred-meter long sword, harboring icy sharpness, cleaved towards the fast-moving ferry across the water surface.
NABC