Eren wasn't particularly eager to delve into the intricacies of the Origin Force at this juncture.
He had more immediate concerns that demanded his attention. The dawn of a new day had already broken, signaling the time to set his plans into motion.
"Alright. How do I store this thing?"
Eren inquired of Argo while scrutinizing the cloud of Origin Force. He had initially attempted to store it in his ID Storage, but doing so had caused the space runes within the storage to teeter on the brink of complete dispersion. Realizing that normal methods wouldn't suffice for this enigmatic substance called the Origin Force, he abandoned the idea.
Argo scratched his chin thoughtfully before offering a solution.
"Well, boss, considering you're originally from this world, the easiest way for you to store it is in your Soul Space. Just envelope it in your Soul Sense, then retract it. That should stow the Origin Force inside your Soul Space," Argo explained. Following Argo's guidance, Eren promptly stored the potent Origin Force within his Soul Space, effectively harboring it within the depths of his soul, always within arm's reach.
***
"Now that that's settled– Argo, how confident are you in a battle against a Sage?"
Eren inquired directly, wasting no time on formalities. He didn't have the luxury of investigating every detail related to Argo's activities over the past decade. While he had maintained contact with Argo, the demon had largely kept to himself, focusing on cultivating the emotions of the patrons frequenting his restaurant chains.
Argo didn't want to isolate himself during the period when he was cultivating gluttony emotions from his patrons. However, he had deliberately reined in his freedom-loving nature while harnessing his demonic heritage, all to avoid drawing attention and jeopardizing Eren's Lazarus Project.
In his perspective, the conversion rate of gluttony emotions to Origin Force was disappointingly low. Nevertheless, keeping a low profile had also afforded him the advantage of staying hidden from prying eyes. And his restaurant chain had really grown over the course of the last decade, balancing what he lacked in quality with quantity.
Now, having successfully extracted Origin Force from the world of Anfang and achieving S-Rank status, he no longer needed to maintain this covert approach.
Moreover, the Lazarus Project that Eren had been diligently working on had reached a critical stage where Argo's identity as the Demon Prince of Gluttony—Beelzebub—no longer needed to remain concealed. In fact, Eren needed him to step out of the shadows and reveal his newfound powers. This marked a pivotal moment for both Argo and Eren.
"Hmm, that's a tough question, boss," Argo replied, contemplating Eren's query.
"Truth be told, it largely depends on the Sage's Individuality. For example, I might have a decent chance against someone like that Gregory Grant guy or Sages such as your sugar mama's grandpa and Osha Daman.
I mean… No matter how confident I am in my abilities, I sure as hell am not delusional. I've just broken into the S-Rank, so taking on Sages like them would already be pushing my limits," Argo opined. He then shook his head and sighed before addressing Eren's subtle query.
"But if you were to ask me to face off against that old hag, I'd be in way over my head. There's simply no way I could handle someone like her.
Even someone like Garos Renar would be too much for me. He could probably take me down within minutes, even if I ignited the demon soul fragment within me," Argo explained, outlining his perceived limitations with his newly acquired S-Rank powers.
"So, it seems I got to proceed with the plan I've already set in motion," Eren muttered to himself. He wasn't disheartened by the fact that Argo couldn't instantly resolve all his concerns. He was already satisfied with the fact that he had Argo to rely on when it came to regular Sage Rankers from various factions.
In truth, even if Argo had possessed the power to eliminate Eliza, it wouldn't have guaranteed Eren's ultimate success. His primary focus in the Lazarus Project had always been Reen.
Argo eliminating Sage Eliza wouldn't necessarily ensure Reen's safety. In fact, it might expose her to even greater dangers. Eren was certain that Eliza had taken extensive precautions to safeguard Reen.
With her roots in the Lab Salem and her status as a Witch of the Enderflames, her voodoo magic alone could easily influence someone as formidable as Alephee. After over a decade in Eliza's care, there was little doubt that Reen would be bound by the intricacies of voodoo magic, making her situation even more precarious.
Eren proceeded to outline the intricacies of his plans to Argo, who took some time to contemplate before offering his thoughts.
"Boss, I believe sticking with the plan you've devised is the way to go. My newfound status as an S-Ranker doesn't significantly alter the situation, except for the fact that I can contend with a Sage.
I can bet your left nut that there's a strong likelihood that Anfang's World Will will assist you in all your endeavors in the coming time, possibly to ultimately hand over its own God Spark to you. If you manage to break its shackles, it might actively work towards granting you a God Spark," Argo concluded, his expression pensive.
Eren furrowed his brow, intrigued by Argo's insight. He had assumed that his pursuit of the God Spark was primarily driven by his own desperation and desire for power. Argo's explanation hinted at an ulterior motive behind Anfang's World Will's actions, one that Eren had yet to fully grasp.
Argo chuckled before elaborating further.
"It's rather simple, boss. Anfang's World Will is akin to a clever fox that seeks meat without having to hunt for it. It yearns to free itself from the constraints of the world-encompassing array while safeguarding its ecosystem from excessive disruption caused by otherworldly hyenas.
By bestowing you with the God Spark, it effectively shifts its problems onto your shoulders. The otherworldly invaders from the Calamity Era sought the God Spark when they came to Anfang. So, once you dust yo ass and leave from Anfang with the God Spark, they'll have little incentive to return here.
Even if they do, they won't stay for long. In essence, while Anfang may experience turbulence for a time after you succeed in your plan, Anfang ultimately foresees a brighter future for itself. But it all depends upon how thoroughly you get rid of the world-encompassing array," Argo explained, shedding light on the true motive behind Anfang's World Will's engagement with Eren.
