Yama Rising

"You don't need to visit me again." Anko was holding an intricate teacup, but she wasn't drinking from it as she looked directly at Hela, who was seated across from her. "You're also beginning to feel the pressure, right?"

She was standing in front of the window with her ice-blue hair spilling down her back, resembling a goddess of snow and ice. "Look..."

The city of Nara was teeming with activity, yet all of them were standing around the death gods of the utopia alliance, and outside of that circle was a massive throng of journalists. In contrast, the pavilion where the Cathayan Underworld's representative team was staying was completely devoid of visitors. In fact, everyone was avoiding it like the plague.

No underworld had explicitly expressed their stance, but it was very clear to everyone which side had more influence and support.

"Hela, our two nations have always been closely connected." Anko turned to look at Hela, who had a grim look on her face, and sighed, "If the Cathayan Underworld even had the courage to do something, regardless of whether they succeed, I would perhaps consider lending them my support. This a sentiment from the bottom of my heart, I would truly consider that option. However, it hasn't made a move at all. The Alkebulan Underworlds were scheduled to arrive three nights ago, but they suddenly went radio silent, and it's clear that they must've been intercepted by the three pillars. I'm sure you can tell that this has dealt the Cathayan Underworld an extremely heavy blow. Perhaps they've prepared a series of trump cards, but they've all been foiled, and that's very disappointing in my eyes. A mature underworld should have many backup plans, particularly one of the four pillars. How has the Cathayan Underworld become like this? Why are they unable to even put up any semblance of resistance? Even if, by some miracle, an underworld like this managed to weather this storm, how would it be able to contend with the three pillars in the future?"

She picked up the hem of her dress in an apologetic manner as she concluded, "Hence, I must apologize, but I cannot accept your proposal. Also, seeing as our nations have always shared close ties with one another, I want to issue you a friendly warning that there are most likely more underworlds siding with the utopia alliance than you think."

Hela opened her mouth to say something, but she didn't have anything to say in the end.

Anko had spoken nothing but the irrefutable truth.

During the seven days since the Cathayan Underworld's arrival, it had unleashed three bouts of retaliation, but only one of them had actually been effective, and that was the conference during which it had declared its new partnership with the five Northern Europa nations and the new energy resource. However, that tiny spark of hope had been quashed almost instantly.

After that, the Alkebulan Underworlds were intercepted, and the Cathayan Underworld had withdrawn into its shell like a cowardly turtle! Hela had half a mind to kick down the Cathayan Underworld's door, then grab Qin Ye by the collar of his robes and yell: "Do you know what you're doing? Are you just waiting to die at this point? As one of the four pillars, you're responsible not just for your own fate, but also for the fate of your allies! Is this how you treat your allies as one of the four pillars? Look at your opposition! They're offering such lucrative benefits that even I'm tempted to join them! Have you considered us at all in your decision-making?!"

However, she couldn't do that.

She had to keep everything bottled up inside. In fact, she and Jörmungandr had to do everything in their power to try and convince other underworlds to support the Cathayan Underworld, even though it was most likely going to be a lost cause.

In the end, she could only heave a faint sigh before rising to her feet in an elegant manner. "Pardon my intrusion, I'll be taking my leave now."

"Farewell."

The door slowly swung shut, and if it weren't for the fact that there were many emissaries of the Nipponese Underworld around, she would've most likely collapsed straight onto the ground.

Never had she felt such crushing despair.

The odds were overwhelmingly against their favor, but what could she do?

She shook her head and began to make her way toward the corridor. There were still a few underworlds that she could try to persuade. After all, not everyone wanted to see the rise of a supreme superpower in the world. However, right as she raised her head, her brows immediately furrowed slightly.

An Emissary of Hell was waiting for her at the corner with a respectful smile on his face, and he extended a bow toward her.

Where were you a few days ago? 

Hela approached the Emissary of Hell with a slightly absentminded expression. "Do you need me for something?"

Are you here to revoke the agreement or feed me more lies? 

"Mistress Hela," the Emissary of Hell replied in a respectful manner. "Yanluo Qin would like you to join him in welcoming the arrival of the new continent's representatives. In addition to that, he asked me to relay a message to you: even though the Alkebulan Underworlds have been intercepted, this will be the truly decisive factor in the final outcome."

Hela's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this, and she didn't even reply before picking up the hem of her dress and rushing back to her room.

…………………………………………………..

On the national highway of Nara, Izanami wore a wide smile and a lavish kimono as she waited by the side of the road, accompanied by a group of officials from the Nipponese Underworld.

The representatives of the new continent had arrived, and if it weren't for the fact that the host was obligated to greet all of her guests, she didn't want to come here at all. After all, who would want to meet with these madmen unless they absolutely had to?

Then again, the outcome was already decided, and nothing could ruin her good mood. With that in mind, she continued to look on with a warm smile, and right at this moment, several carriages appeared in the distance, leaving a trail of netherfire in their wake.

"Everything has already been decided, and the Cathayan Underworld won't be able to do anything in the final 12 hours. On top of that, only the new continent and the three pillars are still yet to arrive, so they no longer have any allies still to come." She turned to Susanoo-no-Mikoto as she said, "This is only the first step. I will definitely help you avenge your son, but it'll take a long time, so you have to be mentally prepared."

"Rest assured, I have more than enough patience..." Susanoo-no-Mikoto licked his lips with a bloodthirsty expression. When the time comes, I'm going to make his head into a wine cup! I'm prepared to wait even 1,000 years if that's how long it takes!

He then hesitated momentarily before asking, "Do you think they still have a chance to make a comeback?"

At this point, the carriages were only around 300 meters away, and Izanami replied, "Their chances are downright negligible. There's not a single underworld displaying any friendly intentions toward them right now, and it's next to impossible for them to turn the tables in the final 12 hours. It's a good thing that the three pillars reacted so quickly. I almost passed out when I heard about the Cathayan Underworld's partnership with Northern Europa and their new energy resource. Thank heavens that didn't amount to anything in the end..."

Just as they were speaking, the carriages had already drawn to a halt around 20 meters away from them. Izanami immediately approached the carriages with a warm smile before extending a deep bow. "Please allow me to give a warm welcome to the death gods of the new continent, Xolotl, Ah Puch, Supay, and Supervising Ambassador Viracocha. I welcome you on behalf of the Nipponese Underworld..."

"And the Cathayan Underworld, the five nations of Northern Europa, and the Alkebulan Underworlds." A calm voice immediately took over from where Izanami left off, and she was so shocked to hear this that her head swiveled around 180 degrees in a gesture that completely broke common etiquette. At the same time, Susanoo-no-Mikoto and all of the journalists present also turned toward the source of the voice with stunned expressions.

"Is, is that Yanluo Qin?" A Hindustani journalist was looking on with an astonished expression, and right at this moment, the crowd silently parted to reveal Qin Ye in his golden dragon robes. Behind him were Zhao Yun and the two death gods of the five Northern Europa nations. Even though it was only a group of four people, they were giving off the same aura as an almighty army.

No one dared to utter a single word in their presence, and all of the journalists were looking on with their mouths slightly agape and the netherfire in their eyes flickering violently. Three seconds later, a flurry of commotion instantly rang out, alongside which came the incessant flashes from image capture crystals.

"Yanluo Qin, may I ask why you've come here? Is it because the new continent has some type of agreement with Hell?"

"Yanluo Qin, the Cathayan Underworld has been lying low during the past few days, is it because you were waiting for the arrival of the new continent's representatives?"

"Yanluo Qin, is the new continent a participant in the Zhu Rong plan? Has the new continent maintained close ties with the Cathayan Underworld during the past century?"

A flood of questions was instantly hurled at Qin Ye.

At times, increased exposure wasn't necessarily a good thing, particularly when one had nothing to display. If one were to attract excessive attention to oneself, only to have nothing to show the bystanders, then they would've been better off keeping a low profile.

This was backup plan A2: "If a situation arises where all seems lost, we lie low and wait for our opportunity to deliver a lethal blow, rather than doing everything in our power to increase exposure and create talking points. That is unbefitting of a nation of our status, and if we don't have anything to display, our credibility will only be further harmed."

For some underworlds, even if they didn't make any sound, they would still exist at the center of the world, and anytime they did make their voices heard, the rest of the world had to listen.

The Cathayan Underworld had always occupied such a position, which was why Qin Ye dared to lie low for this long.

Looking at the raucous journalists around her, Izanami gnashed her teeth together viciously.

The Cathayan Underworld was still the Cathayan Underworld, and the three pillars had still underestimated its influence in the end. Even if it didn't make any sound, it was still constantly the center of the world's attention.

She forced a smile onto her own face as she feigned a surprised expression and asked, "To what do we owe this pleasure, Yanluo Qin? Could it be that the new continent is an important ally for the Cathayan Underworld?"

The four death gods of the new continent were also looking at Qin Ye with surprised expressions. They were also completely taken aback by Qin Ye's presence here.

However, there was naturally no way they were going to pass up an opportunity to communicate with one of the four pillars.

"Yanluo Qin." A native Usonian elderly man with a dark complexion and tattoos all over his body made his way directly over to Qin Ye. He joined his palms together and smiled as he said, "It is truly a great honor for us to be greeted by you in person."

This was the supervising ambassador, Viracocha.

Qin Ye noticed that he was standing at the very forefront of the group.

He also smiled as he extended a hand toward Viracocha. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

The two shared a brief handshake while everyone looked on with excitement and anticipation in their eyes, but Qin Ye only conversed briefly with the death gods of the new continent before they went their separate ways.

That's it? They didn't do anything! What just happened?! 

Izanami was also staring at Qin Ye with disbelief in her heart. The two sides had shared a very polite yet aloof conversation, and it was clear that the new continent wasn't an ally of the Cathayan Underworld. Despite this discovery, she was feeling even more uneasy.

If they weren't allies, then why had Qin Ye come to greet them in person and even brought along his allies in the form of the death gods from the five Northern Europa nations with him?

This was clearly a flex of the Cathayan Underworld's muscles, but why were they flexing for an underworld that wasn't even their ally? Could it be that they were confident in their ability to somehow recruit this ally within the final 12 hours? But that was preposterous!

Qin Ye paid no heed to the sea of discussion taking place behind him and returned to his room, followed closely by Hela and Jörmungandr.

Qin Ye picked up his teacup in an unhurried manner before taking a casual sip, but Jörmungandr was so agitated that he could barely remain in his seat. "Mr. Qin, what was that all about? It's clear that the new continent isn't an ally of ours, and 12 hours is nowhere near enough for us to recruit them! It's almost impossible for us to lure such an important ally to our side, one that's holding three votes, no less, particularly considering the two rulers of the new continent aren't going to be swayed by any benefits! They're completely deranged and don't care about anything! Even if you somehow manage to find something that could draw their interest, it would still take at least half a year of negotiation before an alliance can be formed!"

Qin Ye set down his teacup and smiled as he replied, "I've done my homework when it comes to the new continent. They've participated in all international conferences as a symbolic gesture, but they never vote. However, during every single one of those conferences, their team of representatives has always been accompanied by a supervising ambassador. His role is to prevent the death gods from taking any sides or to betray Mictlantecutli and Mictetikasiwa by signing agreements with other underworlds. This is a necessary precaution for an underworld that is on the brink of collapse. Hence, the supervising ambassador is far more important than the three death gods when it comes to speaking rights. He is the true representative of Mictlantecutli and Mictetikasiwa."

Jörmungandr looked up at the ceiling and heaved a forlorn sigh.

Of course he was aware of all of this, but what did this have to do with anything?

"Rest assured," Qin Ye cast his gaze toward the door with a calm expression. "He'll be here within the next half an hour."

"How is that possi..."

Right at this moment, the sound of door-knocking rang out, and a friendly voice rang out on the other side of the door. "Greetings, Mr. Qin, I am Supervising Ambassador Viracocha of the new continent."

Jörmungandr's voice abruptly cut off.