Just as Ares and Hecate were adjusting their subsequent plans based on Tartarus's newly analyzed results, on the other side, after several days of sailing, the Heroes on the Argo finally arrived at their destination: Medea's hometown, the Colchis Kingdom.
Under Medea's guidance, Jason led a group of Heroes to hide the ship in a deep thicket by the shore. Then, they watched as Medea expertly led them deeper into the Colchis Kingdom.
As an island nation, the territory of the Colchis Kingdom was quite vast among the island nations of the Greek World. It not only had a main city-state but also several villages and towns that grew up around the city-state, large areas of wilderness, and most importantly, the Sacred Grove of Ares, where the golden fleece was enshrined.
Because they worshiped Ares and had close ties with several magic goddesses led by Hecate, the Colchis Kingdom's overall strength ranked high in all of Greece. The Heroes present, with the exception of Heracles, were ultimately unable to contend with the kingdom's power.
As soon as the Heroes set foot on the territory of the Colchis Kingdom, they heard a deafening roar from above. The accompanying gust of wind made them instinctively cover their ears. The Heroes looked up and saw a massive red dragon with a wingspan of at least thirty meters flying over their heads. They watched it fly into the distant ocean, then plummet sharply towards a certain spot in the sea, just like a seabird catching fish. This giant dragon also snatched a large sea beast from the ocean, then circled once, returned, flew over the Heroes' heads, and headed towards a distant dense forest.
"Don't worry."
Seeing the wary or fearful gazes of the Heroes, Medea said calmly:
"That giant dragon is responsible for guarding Senior Brother's Sacred Grove. As long as no one invades the Sacred Grove, it will not actively attack humans."
The little witch continued to lead the Heroes forward, and along the way, they encountered another dense forest. In the forest, the Heroes saw countless iron chains binding cowhide-wrapped corpses, hanging from the treetops, densely packed and terrifying.
"What kind of evil sorcery is this?"
Someone exclaimed in surprise.
"Making a fuss over nothing," Medea calmly glanced at them and said, "This is just a funeral custom of the Colchis Kingdom."
"Medea, how do you know so much about the Colchis Kingdom?"
Jason couldn't help but ask.
"Ah?" Medea replied as a matter of course, "Because this is my home."
After speaking, she revealed her identity as a princess of the Colchis Kingdom to the Heroes. After hearing this, a group of Heroes asked in astonishment, "You are the Princess of the Colchis Kingdom? Why didn't you tell us?"
Someone also asked warily, "Are you hiding your identity among us to tip off the people of the Colchis Kingdom and prevent us from getting the golden fleece?"
"Heh." Medea looked at the Hero who implied she had ulterior motives with a hint of mockery, then said, "Why would I do such a thing? If I didn't want you to get the golden fleece, I wouldn't have intervened in the Poseidonia Kingdom and would have let you be killed by Amikos and Poseidon."
"Enough!" Jason, seeing the atmosphere was off, immediately stepped forward to mediate, saying, "Medea has a point. We've all come this far together, we're companions who've shared hardships, there's no reason to suspect each other anymore."
After speaking, he looked at Medea, and pleaded shamelessly, "Your Highness, we don't want to work hard anymore, can you just give us the golden fleece directly?"
"Useless." Medea gave him a look of disdain, walked two steps, putting a little distance between them, and then said, "I don't have that power. This golden fleece was given to my father Aeetes by my brother-in-law Phrixus. Whether it can be given to you depends on his opinion."
After a pause, Medea looked at Heracles again and said, "However, with Senior Nephew here, I believe my Father will be very accommodating. After all, the one with the bigger fist is the boss, right?"
Heracles rubbed his head, not knowing how to respond, and could only say, "You are right."
The group continued on their journey. Finally, at a crossroads, the towering city walls of the Colchis Kingdom's city-state appeared in their sight. At the city gate, they could see many well-equipped Colchian warriors questioning every passerby.
Medea looked around and then said, "It seems my father doesn't want certain people to get the golden fleece so easily."
"Then what do we do?" Jason asked.
As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot overpower a local snake. After Heracles's return, Jason, who was too lazy to think anymore, decided to hand over command to Medea, the local snake.
"Let me think, how about I cast a spell to let you quietly enter the palace first?" Medea said, raising her magic wand. At this moment, a thick fog suddenly rolled in without warning, completely obscuring the city walls of the Colchis city-state.
"Your magic is getting more and more powerful," Jason praised. "Perfect, we can sneak into the city while it's foggy."
However, Medea slowly lowered her hand. She looked at the fog for a moment, then said, "I haven't cast a spell yet. This fog isn't from me."
"What do you mean?" Before Jason could fully grasp the situation, he heard footsteps accompanied by the clear sound of bells coming from within the fog.
A beautiful goddess holding a candelabrum suddenly stepped out of the fog and appeared before the Heroes. Seeing this goddess, Medea exclaimed:
"Teacher, why are you here?"
"Of course I've come to see you, my troublesome little apprentice."
Hecate maintained an appearance slightly older than Medea and approached the Heroes. A group of Heroes, including Heracles, immediately bowed to her. Hecate accepted their reverence calmly, then looked at her young disciple and said:
"Your Senior Brother said that some ill-intentioned individuals might take this opportunity to cause you trouble, so he asked me to watch over you."
"Senior Brother did tell me about this," Medea blinked and asked, "Where is Senior Brother?"
"Oh, he has other important matters to attend to," Hecate said. "Now, come with me; I'll teach you some preventative measures."
…
Meanwhile, atop the highest peak of the Great Caucasus Mountains, Prometheus, who had been punished for stealing heavenly fire and deceiving the King of Gods, and was hung there to suffer, had just finished his day's torment.
The hateful divine eagle had pecked at his internal organs, then ripped open his chest and left it exposed to the wind and frost. However, the Titan did not cry out; after so many years, he had become numb.
Just then, a footsteps that did not belong there suddenly appeared.
The Titan's numb eyes rotated sluggishly, looking at the newcomer, and then a glimmer of light finally appeared in his gaze.