The report wasn’t good.

  Nevah lowered the papers and looked across the desk at his old friend. “Votic, you know this means that we’re going to have to tighten security for the AG.”

  The gray-skinned Anubis God stopped pacing behind his desk. The coin kept rolling over his fingers as the canine demihuman turned his focus toward the ivory God.

  “How many centuries have we been holding these games?” Votic shook his head. “And never have we had a threat this bad.”

  “Danger, like everything else, evolves.” Nevah laughed. “You know this as well as I do. It’s up to us to change with it or we’ll be consumed.”

  “You realize how bad it is that a mortal was able to figure this out before any of us did!” Votic slammed his fist down on the desk.

  Nevah grinned when the display of force did nothing. It was rare to find furniture that was made out of Tier Nine material, but its durability was beyond comparison. As one of the few Gods who could work with that level of material, he had made sure to give any Gods he deemed to be influential one of the priceless pieces of furniture.

  Not only was Votic the God of the Adventurer’s Games, but Nevah knew he was highly ranked in the Primus. It never hurt to have that group of god-killers look kindly at you, which had allowed Nevah to enjoy the title of the oldest of the Gods.

  “Reviving old Dungeon Gates?” Nevah chuckled. “Isn’t that what you killed Wurn over?”

  “Part of the reason that there are a limited number of gates in each city is to slow how quickly a God can build their power within a city.” Votic groaned. “That stupid cow’s research was too dangerous, but here he is from beyond the grave, making trouble for all of us!”

  “It could be worse…” Nevah pointed at some of the other bullet points. “Looks like the Iscariots have made a big move as well. And it looks like the squids are poking their heads into our realm again.”

  “You took care of that last time…” Votic sat down in his chair and flicked the coin up into the air. “Can you take care of the Demons for us again?”

  Nevah tilted his head, then ran his hands through his white hair. “Is that a request from the Primus or you?”

  “Both?” Votic’s canine eyes narrowed as he caught the coin and leaned forward. “You do know that the only reason we put up with your antics is because you’re very useful in times like this.”

  No, you let me live because too many of you would die if you tried to kill me. Nevah let the veiled threat go. Another reason he’d lived so long was he didn’t take many things personally.

  “When you’ve lived as long as I have, antics are all you have.” The God of Pleasure watched the coin flip up through the air again. “How about we play a game for it?”

  “You want to put a wager on a job that you’re being given?” Votic caught the coin and threw back his head as he laughed. “That’s not the way this works, old friend.”

  “Oh, I know…” Nevah grinned. “I was never going to play for whether or not I was going to do the job.”

  “Now I’m interested.” Votic flicked the coin back into the air. “What are you wanting to play for?”

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  “You’ve heard about Trent Vowler?” Nevah looked at the emblem at the bottom of the last page of the report. The water tower emblem had been around long enough for him to recognize where these papers had come from. Mive was one of the older ones, but he had never had ties with the Primus in the past. Either the old Kitsune had broken centuries-long habits or something had happened to his security. Either way, any information shared with him at the moment was going to end up directly in the Primus’ hands.

  “He survived Kire.” Votic waved his hand and then caught the coin. “What about him?”

  “The report says that Kire’s daughter is protecting a group of Godlings and a Hunter who are supposed to be a part of Trent’s class.” Nevah made sure to only reveal what was in the report.

  “Which means Kire can’t be involved anymore.” Votic tossed the coin into the air again. “Trazor is being sent to deal with them, as well as the rogue guard that used to work for...” Votic snatched the coin out of the air as he leaned forward and looked for the paragraph on the report. “Ah! Viskor Heema is the guard. He used to work for Tres before joining up with Kire’s daughter and that Bandit King.”

  “Let me play for them.” Nevah leaned back in his seat.

  “Them?” Votic laughed. “The last time you played a game, you lost your daughter. You really want to play against me for ALL of them?” The Anubis shook his head. “It’s too much anyway and you’ve got nothing I want.”

  “Call off Trazor and the rest of the Primus.” Nevah gestured out the window behind his gray-skinned friend. “If I lose, I’ll run security for the games this year.”

  Votic paused and leaned forward. “You’ll take full responsibility for all the security and any incidents?”

  “Sure, why not?” Nevah grinned.

  Votic tapped his muzzle, then shook his head. “It’s impossible. Once the hit has been made, there’s no way to recall all the godkillers.”

  “But you can recall Trazor and the official Primus agents.” Nevah grinned. “And you can put a reverse hit on anyone who tries to go after them who hasn’t already taken the job.”

  “You have a point, you have a point.” Votic stroked his chin. “So what do you want to play? A timed run? Maybe some five card?”

  “A simple coin flip will suffice.” Nevah smirked as the Anubis’s jaw fell open.

  “You’re willing to bet all of that on a game of chance instead of skill?” Votic threw back his head in laughter.

  “I have a hunch that luck will be on my side.” Nevah tapped his fingers together. “Oh, and didn’t your granddaughter just turn 18?”

  “What do you want with Nakten?” Votic’s eyes narrowed.

  “A simple joining of the bloodlines to make sure you keep your end of the bargain.” Nevah spread his arms out, palms up. “My great-grandson is building a harem and he doesn’t have any demihumans in it yet and what better way to make sure that you look out for him than to stick your granddaughter next to him?”

  “There it is…” The Anubis sighed. “You’re always trying to tie your bloodline to everyone else, even if it’s not through you personally.”

  “Even tyrants won’t attack a city where their daughter is well cared for.” Nevah grinned. “How do you think I’ve lived this long?”

  “Still, that’s a big ask.” Votic growled. “My station doesn’t make me any more immune to repercussions from the others, just like Wurn’s didn’t protect him.” His yellow eyes narrowed. “And you know that I didn’t have her Mantle activated on purpose to keep her out of this life.”

  “Something that has caused her to lock herself in her room for the past three months.” Nevah clicked his tongue. “Seriously, that girl has got some commitment when it comes to picking a hill to die on.”

  Votic held the coin between his finger and his thumb and pointed it at his friend. “You need to offer more for me to risk her.”

  “Level 90.” Nevah tilted his head. “I’ll help you get those last two levels.”

  Collaboration at the end levels was rare between the Gods at Tier Eight. Floor 81 was the last event floor, which meant that once someone hit level 86, they had to farm a regular floor. The experience needed was so great that even Gods with thriving cities would only see their experience trickle in as it moved slowly towards Tier Nine. There were very few Tier Nine Gods and helping Votic reach Tier Nine would cement him as one of the strongest Gods on the planet.

  “You’re serious?” Votic started breathing faster as he got excited.

  “It would be my pleasure.” Nevah grinned.

  Without another moment’s hesitation, the coin flicked up in the air.

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