Falsifying history is good business

Chapter 20 Nothing can happen again
"The situation is very clear, it's not a natural coincidence." Lin You had a blank expression. He knew this fact the first time he opened the map in the hotel. "Someone is deliberately making trouble."

God was no longer satisfied with communicating through the communication array of the solar system model, but appeared directly in the laboratory. He looked at the two identical treasure maps on the table, even the paper was the same, and his face was solemn: "I didn't find any signs in the Treasure Island world."

"What about the big world? Can we check it through the timeline?" Lin You suggested.

"There is no definite clue either." God sighed, "Through the timeline, I did see a pirate named Flint, but apart from the name, he has no similarities with Flint in the Treasure Island story, and I didn't find any characters from the Treasure Island story."

"But these two people, who are completely different except for their names, drew two identical treasure maps." Lin You sneered and took a closer look at the map. "The paper material, ink color, handwriting, and the thickness of the map lines are all the same. If one of them was not brought back by me personally, I would have suspected that someone was playing a trick on me with the copy spell."

"I have observed Flint, the pirate of the great world, and there is no trace of his soul or fate being created or altered by man; he is a perfectly ordinary man living in the eighteenth century."

The god and the man exchanged the clues they had observed, trying to find clues about the mastermind behind the scenes, with serious expressions as if they were facing a great enemy. An existence that could escape the sight of God and the gods and quietly change history could not be overvalued.

Lin You suddenly proposed a conjecture: "Perhaps, this Flint is just a tool; his existence is to allow this treasure map with obvious problems to appear in the big world in a logical way without causing any contradictions in the worldview logic."

"The question is how this tool was made? His soul and destiny have not been changed."

"Maybe it has been changed, but you didn't notice." Lin You thought thoughtfully.

God resolutely denied it: "It's impossible. The extraordinary power that can change fate is not something that can be found everywhere. As long as someone uses it, it will definitely leave traces."

"Maybe this is your blind spot. What if it's not the supernatural power that changes fate?" Lin You said meaningfully, "At a critical moment, a word, a hug, a kiss, can all change a person's future choices. What if the mastermind behind the scenes disguised himself as an ordinary person to approach Flint and guide his life trajectory towards Flint in the Treasure Island story?"

God pondered for a long time, and said in a deep tone: "If a higher god deliberately disguised himself as an ordinary person, then he could indeed hide from my sight."

Lin You continued, "Because of the protection of the God's Contract, you are unable to use power beyond the limits of the contract in the Great World; your control over the world has also decreased as a result."

"We have no choice but to do this. It is not easy to shape a big world. No one wants the world to be destroyed in the future because of a war between gods caused by some confused gods."

"Whether the world will be destroyed is a matter for the future. The key right now is how to track down the mastermind behind the scenes?" Lin You asked, "Can the gods who oppose the Great World Plan identify the suspects?"

"I need more time."

“Are there many gods like this?”

"Indeed, there are quite a few." God explained, "Whether it is me or other pantheons, there are many new stories that humans have quoted and extended. Just like the Olympus pantheon was cited as the background of the Saint Seiya story, and I also got the image of this black man because of a comedy movie. These images exist independently in their respective story worlds."

"But these independent beings also support the Big World Plan. In order to integrate into the Big World, they are willing to give up some of their autonomy and exist in the form of clones and spiritual consciousness." Lin You was puzzled. "Like Ophiuchus in the Saint Seiya world, people who would rather die than control their own destiny are ultimately a minority."

"From a proportion point of view, it is true. But if we look at it from an absolute number point of view, it cannot be said to be small."

"So, how do we deal with those who don't cooperate?" Lin You continued to ask.

"Don't interfere with each other and keep your distance." God said calmly, "Since they are willing to accept being forgotten by humans and the destruction of their world, then respect their choice. How do you say it in your hometown... Mind your own business."

Lin You pointed at the two treasure maps on the table and asked with a sneer, "You call this keeping out of one's own way?" "It's still unclear whether the mastermind behind this is from those uncooperative story worlds." God thought for a moment, "I will continue to investigate. Even gods will leave traces when traveling between different worlds."

"But I am worried that the other party will know that we are investigating and choose to stop for the time being."

"Then wish us good luck and hope the other party is not so smart." God pretended to be calm.

Lin You, however, could not relax; "No matter what the result of the investigation is, the most important thing is that no more accidents happen." He took out a quill pen and reminded, "In order to save the Saint Seiya world, the ink has been used up; no more accidents must happen in the near future."

Unexpectedly, God followed up the conversation and asked, "Speaking of the Saint Seiya world, I just met Chronos. He suspected that the awakening of Asclepius might be man-made."

Lin You's eyes turned cold, and he subconsciously looked at the treasure map on the table; "Do you think there is a connection between these two things?"

“It’s hard to say, but… it’s too coincidental, isn’t it?” God imitated Lin You’s previous tone and said, “Even when you were writing online novels in your previous life, you wouldn’t dare to arrange such a coincidental plot, right?”

Lin You smiled bitterly and said, "If the changes in the Saint Seiya world were planned by someone, then his goal should have been achieved; the 'truth factor' has been consumed, and the quill pen will be useless for a short period of time."

"So we will temporarily close the world fusion track to ensure that everything is safe." God said and suddenly changed the subject, "Have you considered how to deal with the situation of two Athenas coexisting in the future?"

Lin You spread his hands and said in a very calm tone: "Why should I consider this? Shouldn't the gods of Olympus make their own choices? Who is the master and who is the clone? They make the choice and I will implement it."

"You can say that now, but the real test will come in a dozen years. You named Athena and gave her your family name. After a dozen years of getting along, can you still turn a blind eye to the change in her fate?"

God smiled calmly, and his smile was somewhat unfathomable. "I have reminded you before that the more you gain by changing the story world, the more causal relationships you will be entangled with. Because of your momentary weakness, Athena's fate is destined to be entangled with you."

"This was forced upon me by Chronos. It's not what I wanted." Lin You was furious.

"There is no difference in essence." God smiled happily, as if he was happy to see Lin You fall into a dilemma; "By the way, you also got the Ophiuchus's microcosm, which is an extraordinary power that leads directly to the path of becoming a god. How does it feel to suddenly become powerful?"

"What a bullshit! It's been dormant deep in the soul without any reaction at all." Lin You complained dissatisfiedly.

"Be patient. Since you have kept the flame of the Saint Seiya story alive, it will shine again sooner or later."

God smiled and left.

When the portal disappeared, Lin You stood silently for a long time facing the two treasure maps; then he suddenly stretched out his right hand and lightly drew a line in front of him.

An unstable dimensional gate looms.

"Sooner or later? I'd rather it be sooner rather than later."

　Second update
　　
　
(End of this chapter)