In the city of Knossos, within the hearth goddess's residence.
The three Gorgon sisters, Hestia, and Lorne all stared at the golden hunting hound squatting on the living room floor, wide-eyed and trying to act cute, falling into a strange silence.
"Woof?"
Perhaps stared at for too long, the dog felt a bit uncomfortable.
It let out a low whine, stuck out its tongue, and rushed toward its master, attempting to get close as usual.
Its sharp claws scratched deep marks into the hard stone floor as easily as cutting tofu.
"Stop!"
Seeing this, Lorne's face changed slightly.
He immediately shouted a strict command and subconsciously took a step back.
Hearing its master's order, the golden hunting hound forcibly halted its charging steps, only able to squat on the ground dejectedly, letting out a wronged low whine.
But soon, it turned its gaze toward the two old acquaintances who usually bared their teeth at it, then changed targets and rushed toward Stheno and Euryale on the side.
"Aaaaaah! Don't come over!"
In an instant, the two fearless Gorgon demonesses were terrified out of their wits, screaming and closing their eyes as they each grabbed one of Lorne's arms from left and right, using him as a meat shield and firmly pushing him in front.
Feeling the tremendous force that nearly twisted his arms off, and seeing the enlarging dog face right in front of him, Lorne, unable to dodge, let out an indignant curse.
Beast!
But that accusation, was unclear whether he was cursing the dog for being too human-like, or the people for being too dog-like.
"Bang!"
Finally, the dog that got its wish happily crashed into its master's embrace, excitedly knocking him down.
A creaking sound of overburdened bones came from Lorne's chest.
"Woof woof!"
Then, the dog let out joyful low barks, stretched out its tongue to lick its master's face, fully embodying its veteran "lick dog" label.
"Shut your mouth for me!"
Lorne firmly covered the dog's mouth, with a stance of rather die than submit.
Although since that night, he had washed this dog inside and out more than ten times, the scene of it swallowing Poseidon's "meatball" whole was still vivid in his mind.
Therefore, as soon as he saw the dog open its mouth, he seemed to smell the fishy stench from the ocean, feeling nauseous straight from the heart.
As for being kissed by this dog mouth...
Lorne thought about it and couldn't help shivering, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"Back off! Sit!"
Finally, under the master's strict command, the golden hunting hound could only end this intimacy, obediently getting off its master and dejectedly squatting back in place.
But after this commotion, the robe on Lorne's body had become tattered, making him look as if he had just suffered abuse.
Looking down at the red marks on his skin, then at the silly dog surging with divine power all over, the young man couldn't help feeling a bit jealous.
Back then, whenever he wanted to pluck some divinity from the twelve main gods or those divine-blooded relatives, he had to risk being killed.
Yet this dog got the benefit...a group of people busied themselves for months, only to end up cheapening this silly dog.
—Half of Poseidon's paternal authority...
Thinking of this, Lorne couldn't help kicking the silly dog again.
Primitive myths often carried strong worship of reproduction and life, which were quite important functions and authorities for gods, especially in the Greek divine era.
The previous two generations of god-kings: Sky Father Uranus was castrated by his youngest son Cronus, losing his fertility rights and thus abdicating;
Titan god Cronus, because he swallowed his six children into his belly, hindering the operation of life laws, was eventually overthrown by Zeus and his five siblings;
And Zeus, to consolidate his throne, countered the Titan bloodline curse by being amorous everywhere and constantly producing offspring, gaining the strongest paternal authority in Greek history.
Originally, Poseidon, inferior to Zeus in all aspects, had slim hopes of competing for the supreme authority of Olympus.
Now, unexpectedly losing half his paternal authority and mistakenly becoming a lone-balled warrior, Poseidon's path to god-king was equivalent to being completely cut off.
Who knows what kind of revenge that crazed ocean overlord would take because of this.
While rubbing his faintly aching temples, Lorne glanced at a certain empty chair across from him.
To prevent Poseidon from jumping the wall in desperation, Athena had immediately gone to Olympus after the temple battle to complain to Zeus.
—Poseidon actively tore up the ceasefire agreement, secretly infiltrated Crete, intending to rape her priestesses and divine envoys in her grand temple!
To this day, three days had passed.
The few people at home were all anxiously waiting for the result.
And when Lorne looked toward the door for the umpteenth time, a blazing golden stream of light finally plummeted straight in front of the door, transforming into a familiar figure.
Back?
Seeing the visitor clearly, Lorne quickly invited Athena into the house.
The three Gorgon sisters and Hestia on the side very tactfully chose their respective specialties, some moved tables, some served tea and snacks.
And as soon as she sat down, Lorne couldn't wait to ask: "How did it go?"
But upon mentioning this topic, Athena's tense beautiful face turned iron-blue.
"Poseidon said he came to the island with sincere intentions of reconciliation between both sides, to propose marriage to me..."
"Propose marriage? What a joke! Not coming early or late, why specifically when you had left?"
"That's right, you didn't see that sea toad's eyes on little Medusa, it was clearly lust at first sight, with ill intentions!"
Hearing this, Stheno and Euryale each darkened their little faces, puffing up in rebuttal.
Hestia on the side couldn't help speaking up for her grandniece.
"Moreover, didn't you already reject Poseidon long ago, swearing to remain virgin? How could he not know?"
However, Lorne turned a deaf ear to the three's indignation, instead seriously looking at Athena across from him and faintly asking.
"What did His Majesty the God-King say?"
"Father god rebuked me for injuring uncle, saying even if I disagreed, I shouldn't treat an elder like that..."
As Athena spoke, two flames of anger seemed to dance in her bright eyes.
"Then what?" Lorne continued to press.
"Of course, he went to find his next lover." Athena coldly snorted in mockery.
Clearly, this was both an expected result and that father's usual routine.
After hearing Athena's answer, Lorne sighed, propped his arms on the table, rubbed his sore temples, and murmured.
"Trouble..."
"..."
Athena pursed her lips, her face similarly shrouded in gloom.
Looking at the two with worried expressions, Hestia on the side was quite puzzled.
"Hey hey, wait a minute, didn't we win? And we gave Poseidon a good beating? Why do your expressions look like we lost?"
The external brain at the table raised her eyes, glanced at her normally performing symbiote, and faintly asked.
"Then what? Poseidon uses the humiliation as reason to rally the sea gods and Atlantis's forces, directly flattening Crete?"
"Zeus doesn't care?"
"His Majesty the God-King already cared, didn't he?
We were wrong first, disrespectful to an elder, and destroyed his foundation, so suffering revenge is only right, isn't it?"
"That's not right?"
Hestia subconsciously rebutted, the confusion and indignation in her eyes deepening. "Shouldn't he rebuke Poseidon? I clearly saw that guy attempting misdeeds first!"
Facing Hestia's questioning, Lorne spoke unhurriedly.
"How you see it doesn't matter; what matters is how His Majesty the God-King thinks."
"Even so, there should be right and wrong distinguished, right? Even I can see this is clearly Poseidon's fault!"
"Only children distinguish right and wrong; adults care more about pros and cons!"
The faint murmur completely killed the topic.
Hestia wanted to speak in defense, upholding her simple sense of justice and right/wrong accumulated over millions of years.
However, her lips parted for a long time, but she couldn't utter a single rebuttal, only looking at her subordinate god and asking a heartfelt question.
"Can black really become white?"
"Yes!"
Lorne nodded faintly, his answer firm and decisive.
In his original world, deer could become horses, rats could become ducks, so of course black could become white...
As long as the one holding authority silenced all opposing voices.
Finally, after getting this answer, the glimmer of hope in Hestia's eyes completely shattered and she just drooped her head, murmuring soullessly.
"But, this is wrong..."
"So, we are working hard to build a world that can clearly distinguish right and wrong."
Hestia's heart trembled as she looked at that face brimming with smile and warmth, and the large shadow covering her eyes was gradually swept away.
That's right! Even if power can invert black and white temporarily, it cannot completely distort truth and justice.
—Justice cannot be tamed or killed, because truth always exists!
Hestia couldn't help recalling her aunt, the goddess of justice Themis, who parted ways with Olympus after the first god-queen Metis was swallowed by Zeus.
And at this moment, Athena across from her also glanced at Lorne, the gloom on her face gradually replaced by a touch of approval.
—She really liked this kid more and more.
Because what he said was exactly what she had been striving to do.
—Tch, shouldn't have let him...
Athena glanced at Hestia digging at her corner, and her slightly improved mood inevitably grew a bit more depressed.
After briefly comforting her main god, Lorne looked at the extra empty seats on both sides and asked again.
"By the way, why didn't Apollo and Artemis come back together?
Where are they?"
And upon these words, Athena's face directly blackened like the bottom of a pot.
"The nurturing goddess Leto is unwell in body and mind; they went to Cos Island to visit their mother."
"Who said that?"
"Apollo! On the second day in Olympus, he took the nurturing goddess's letter and took Artemis away together."
"..."
Hearing this, Lorne said nothing, his face also turning ugly.
Nearly immortal gods easily fall ill? And unwell in body and mind?
Who are you fooling?
Moreover, the illness didn't come early or late, but specifically at this time?
Too coincidental, right?
Probably because he saw the wind direction wrong, Apollo used mother's name Leto to trick Artemis away!
This double-crosser really could only fight with the wind; unreliable the moment trouble arises!
Lorne couldn't help cursing his brother-in-law who deserted before battle bloody in his mind, his depressed gaze turning to the darkened-faced Athena.
Now, he finally understood why this wisdom goddess was so angry upon return.
Turns out she was stabbed in the back by Apollo.
"I can help!" Hestia raised her hand high, firmly choosing to stand on Athena's side, her eyes blazing.
If they could build a world clearly distinguishing black and white, right and wrong, an era where everyone lives in peace, she was willing to try.
—Even if it meant breaking with those former brothers and sisters.
"Aunt, I understand your kindness.
If we can win, it would indeed be worth you risking it, but now facing the entire ocean divine system, even adding you is far from enough."
Athena shook her head, politely declining Hestia's alignment.
"Are there other candidates?"
Lorne pinched his sore brow, then his eyes lit up as he casually took out that pure white bird tail feather. "For example, Hephaestus?"
"Recently, the rebel party in Otreus is stirring again. Father god ordered Hephaestus to go to Mount Etna with the three Cyclopes to mass-produce combat divine artifacts, in case of emergencies."
"When?"
"Two days ago."
"..."
Lorne fell silent again, not continuing to ask.
Clearly, this was mostly the handiwork of that Olympus god-king.
But even if this path was blocked, Lorne was not dead set, continuing to press.
"What else? The two at sea? River god Oceanus, ocean goddess Tethys? Your maternal grandparents loved your mother the most back then."
"Also, going to the goddess of justice Themis who represents judiciary and fairness for mediation is fine; isn't she always upholding fairness?"
Athena raised her eyes, faintly looking across.
"Do you think why the defeated twelve Titan gods can live stable lives, continuing to enjoy sacrifices?
Instead of being settled one by one?"
"..."
"Don't think about it; they all swore on the Styx. Without father's permission, they won't easily intervene in Olympus struggles."
"Those unwilling to swear?"
"There are; basically all locked in Tartarus hell..."
"Fuck!"
Consecutive setbacks, Lorne couldn't help exploding a national curse in his heart.
To be honest...even he had to admit, that old bastard of Olympus was indeed good at guarding against people, almost completely blocking all unstable factors threatening his kingship in all directions.
And this was exactly Zeus's terrifying aspect.
He seemed to say nothing, yet seemed to say everything.
He seemed to do nothing, yet seemed to do everything.
With some micro-operations, not only disintegrating Athena's newly assembled small group, but also releasing a signal to Poseidon that he could act.
Even the paths for Crete to seek aid and pull allies, he had calculated ahead, sealing these retreats one by one.
Therefore, even with the wisdom-renowned Athena personally acting, facing that Olympus god-king's methods, she could only return with a bloody nose.
No good; compared to Poseidon, this one's level is way too high.
Moreover, currently Crete had few cards to play, how could they possibly outplay that Olympus god-king sitting on the entire world?
Seeing nothing could be done, Lorne could only dejectedly lie on the table, finding joy in bitterness.
"So, good news is, your father god values you more and more?"
Hearing that slightly teasing tone, Athena unhappily lightly hummed.
"There's no way around it; who let the Titan curse most likely fulfill on descendants' bloodline? Compared to peers, offspring are the primary targets to guard against."
She paused, then couldn't help but glare at the person opposite her.
"Moreover, thanks to a certain someone, that sea god majesty lost half his paternal authority and thus making the future seizure of power basically hopeless.
Since there is no threat to his throne, father god is of course willing to let my uncle vent."
"Then can we make peace?"
"What do you think?"
Facing Athena's faint gaze, Lorne immediately hardened his face, kicking toward the dog lying under the table.
"All your fault! Ruined the goddess's great plan!"
Seeing that shameless act of shifting blame to the dog, everyone uniformly sent contemptuous looks.
"Then what to do next? News of Crete isolated and without aid will soon reach Poseidon's ears!"
Medusa stepped forward, seriously asking.
"Reduce sea defenses!"
"Nationwide celebration!"
Athena and Lorne answered in unison, then their eyes met, each seeing appreciation in the other's eyes.
"Great! We can play again!"
"This time I want the biggest float! Let these stupid mortals all submit under this goddess's beauty!"
Euryale and Stheno, minds full of "festival," couldn't help beaming and cheering.
"Aren't we discussing countermeasures?"
Hestia's reaction remained simple and pure.
And after brief thought, Medusa also raised her head, thoughtfully speaking.
"Feint?"
Seeing Medusa's reaction, Athena and Lorne couldn't help showing a touch of gratification and bitterness.
On this barren land at home, finally grew a good shoot.
Of course, this was not only merit of Lorne and Athena, but also related to Medusa herself loving reading, constantly learning, striving to integrate into human society.
Seeing that Medusa had only guessed the general idea and was still somewhat confused, Lorne took the initiative to explain.
"Poseidon just suffered a major defeat, his divine authority is unstable, and it was ambush result.
As the saying goes, once bitten by snake, fear well ropes for ten years—after eating so many losses, he should learn."
"...So, the more Crete appears unprepared and relaxed, the more Poseidon will suspect if there's a trap waiting for him."
Athena then supplemented, telling Medusa the countermeasure she and Lorne reached by different paths.
And Medusa listened very seriously.
Since being revered by Crete people as snake goddess, she sprouted a protective desire to properly guard this land, constantly striving for it.
"But fakes are fakes after all; even if can fool Poseidon temporarily, can't hide forever, right? If time drags long and he really discovers Crete's reality, chooses strong attack what then?"
"Lie flat..."
"Pray for luck..."
At this time, Athena and Lorne at the table looked at each other, eyes meeting.
They once again gave similar answers.
Only this time, both somewhat helpless.
(End of Chapter)