Chapter 892: Captives of Gluttony
“So that’s how it is. He’s also here for the Trade Fair. I also received an invitation for the Trade Fair initially, but after arriving here, I don’t know why it turned into a ball, and such a chaotic one at that.”
“You mentioned you were afraid of ghosts at first, so I asked, ‘Are you not afraid now? These Undead.’”
“Uh, actually, I’m still a little afraid now, but they haven’t hurt me. They’ve been very friendly, bringing me tea and water. They say there’s nothing to be afraid of about death; it’s just a transformation.” the man said.
My heart was enlightened. So this was why the Death Trinity Church allowed Lavias to host this banquet. They also wanted to attract people and spread their values.
Moreover, since the ball was entirely orchestrated by them, these believers could preach to familiar VIPs or promote their packages at any time. I’ve already seen people leaving with Death Lurkers or Bane’s Black Hand to discuss private matters in rooms outside the venue. I suspect they’re arranging for someone to be killed.
Don’t be fooled by how preposterous this event is; it’s merely a setting for these socialites to indulge their dark desires. Any such ball is a social platform, providing them with ways to increase their connections and influence.
“Since you’re so afraid, why come again? You’ve been here several times, haven’t you? Are you used to it? Or do you think you can make money here?” I asked again.
The man didn’t suspect I was trying to trick him, as there was no value in it. He thought I was just chatting with him and honestly replied, “Actually, I come here to eat. I don’t know why, but my appetite is very poor after I leave. Only at this banquet can I eat to my heart’s content. And all the drinks here are free. The host is truly generous.”
“Do you know who the host is? Who organized this banquet?” I asked knowingly.
“I don’t know, but I heard from my boss that it’s a great noble with immense influence. Ah! The signature dish is about to be served!” he said, suddenly looking towards the center of the venue, mid-sentence.
A butcher with a pig’s head, a bloated and rotten body, and leeches crawling on his wounds dragged a mobile oven with an iron hook embedded where his hand was severed. He also had a Black Hand mark on his chest.
This butcher was revolting to look at, but many people watched him with great anticipation, still talking non-stop. To be able to eat while looking at such a disgusting butcher showed that their appetites were already abnormal.
A Vampire Girl hovered in the air and shouted loudly, “I’m sure the first signature dish, Charred Elf Deer, left a deep impression on everyone. Now, presenting tonight’s second signature dish: Blood Fin Tuna!”
The butcher held the scalding pot lid with his remaining hand and lifted it directly, releasing a large amount of steam. Inside was a giant tuna, larger than two or three people. It was likely a Sea Magical Beast.
“Ooh!” the people in the hall cheered collectively. Many even gathered from the dance floor where they were reveling.
“That’s right, it’s this sea demon. Legend has it that its meat is a dream delicacy, especially the fins and dragon tendons, which are priceless. But hunting one is extremely difficult. Who will be the lucky one to taste its splendor tonight?” the Vampire Girl asked loudly.
The atmosphere reached its peak. Many people crowded around. Some shouted “highest bidder wins,” while others proposed duels, nearly coming to blows.
“Sorry, I have to go line up too. If I’m late, I won’t get any,” the fur merchant said, hastily standing up and rushing over. I was surprised and couldn’t even call out to him.
Watching a group of well-dressed handsome men and elegant ladies crowded around the oven like dogs fighting over carrion, completely abandoning their gentlemanly demeanor, I could only think of one word: captives of gluttony.
Even as the Gluttony Witch, I wasn’t drawn to this rare magical beast meat. Although it should be delicious, these rich people were throwing away their dignity just to get a taste, especially after having eaten so much already.
It could only be said that they were all controlled by the food, becoming sinners stained with the sin of gluttony. And according to the fur merchant, they probably couldn’t eat anything on normal days.
I was stunned and suddenly understood. Their excessive overeating here would naturally lead to a buildup of a large amount of protein and calories in their bodies. Moreover, the food here was all heavy and oily, making it easy to get sick of it if consumed in large quantities.
With the Gluttony buff in this venue, they could eat without limit. But once they returned to reality, they would surely develop anorexia. Their bodies would constantly feel full, and their palates would be ruined by the heavy oil and salt.
I could see from the start that the merchant was out of place with the atmosphere of the ball. He didn’t like the noise or interacting much with these Undead, but he still came, solely to eat.
Many people here were like that. Their complexions were abnormally flushed. From my perspective as a doctor, their eating habits were extremely irregular and unhealthy. Forget about high blood pressure; even their digestive systems couldn’t handle their daytime-skipping, nighttime-binging behavior.
However, the more they couldn’t eat normal food, the more they relied on the corrosive gluttony at the banquet to eat. Eventually, they would be completely unable to leave. Once they lost access to the banquet, their bodies would collapse.
This was damn poison! I suddenly understood the essence of Lavias’s banquet: to create dependence, making people unable to leave, thus being at his mercy. To turn the basic human need for food into poison – my understanding of the Beelzebub Church’s cult nature deepened.
This also made me understand the support of the Death Trinity better. Normally, even if the Undead presented a friendly demeanor, people would still be wary, let alone when they preached their doctrine that death is normal and should not be feared.
But as long as the guests became dependent on the food here, they would be unable to leave and would have to return again and again, allowing them to spread their doctrines. Furthermore, after accepting too many free meals, it was hard not to develop a favorable impression and believe them.
The Death Trinity could preach or promote their business to their heart’s content, and Lavias could spread his gluttonous acts. Both sides got what they needed. Anyway, if they died from eating, this place was a cemetery; they even handled burials.
Of course, such a grand banquet required some expenses. But I had already surveyed the entire venue; this was a money pit. Next to the ballroom was a luxurious casino with attractive dealers dealing cards online.
After these rich people had eaten their fill for free and tired themselves out from dancing, they would surely need a place to spend lavishly to satisfy their desire to show off. The casino was a good place for that. The establishment itself didn’t participate, as the house always wins.
In addition, there were busy preparations in the back for various dazzling grey market goods. The commission from the Trade Fair was also a substantial income.
This then fed back into the ballroom, creating a virtuous cycle of making money and causing death.
