The Greece Antagonist

"Master, the lookout time is over for today, we should head back."

Hecate, knowing that her disciple didn't fully trust her, could only roll her eyes in frustration and curse silently in her heart.

You little rascal, tormenting me all day long, wait until the day I turn the tables—you'll see!

After consoling herself, the pitiful Queen of Hell, bound and leashed, was led by her ungrateful disciple through the council hall of War God Mountain, carefully avoiding passersby and stealthily slipping towards the cave where she was imprisoned.

Watching Hecate's staggering step and her contorted posture of shame, Luo En tightened the rope in his hand and thought of an activity that seemed healthy for body and soul:

—Walking a dog...

Well, in the future, I'm definitely taking Master out more often to get some air.

Not for anything else, mainly just to show filial piety!

~~

At night, in the Great Temple on War God Mountain.

Athena, who was reviewing documents at her desk, heard the noise outside, stopped writing, and looked up with interest at the familiar figure striding into the temple.

"You're free to visit me today? Just so you know, I don't have much money to buy you for a night."

Hearing the undisguised teasing in those words, Luo En glared at Athena with a dark expression.

"Turning the good into a prostitute while making fun of your victim?"

"Alright, alright, I admit my guilt; I repent."

Athena raised her hands in surrender, smiling cheekily, unfazed like a pig not afraid of boiling water.

"However, there's no money. I've invested it all in the rebuilding of Athens. As the Shepherd of the Mortal World, you should take the largest share as a sacrifice for your people."

"I'm not here to collect debts tonight; I have other important matters to discuss."

Luo En huffed irritably, then pulled over a chair and sat across the desk, recounting the Netherworld Twin Gods' visit that day and his conversation with Hecate, including a name he had not told Hecate.

After listening, Athena nodded thoughtfully, "So it's him? This guy who loves wandering around the world might indeed come across some unusual information. If the news is true, it might just work!"

"Then, shall we invite him to the mountain tomorrow?" Luo En asked with a smile.

"Why would he come?"

"Athens and Corinth are trading—how about inviting him to discuss the trade taxes and routes?"

"Good idea, let's do that! Just to be safe, I will also call a few acquaintances to ensure the setting is right." Athena nodded repeatedly, eagerly wrote several flamboyant invitations, and placed them into bamboo tubes.

Several white owls flapped their wings across the dense night sky and flew into the hall, grabbing the bamboo tubes thrown by Athena. They soon turned and headed towards Corinth.

As the messenger owl took off, Luo En slightly raised his hand and closed the temple's large door.

Athena's eyelid twitched, and she moved her chair back slightly, feigning casualness.

"Now that our business is concluded, maybe you'd like to get busy with other things?"

"What's the rush? Our business is concluded, but we still have an old score to settle."

Luo En rose from his chair, his smile cold as he looked towards the Goddess of Wisdom retreating with her chair.

"Chasing after the debts to this extent, how could you not offer some compensation?"

"What kind of compensation do you want?" Athena swallowed nervously, her gaze somewhat glassy.

Luo En sneered sinisterly, "Get down! This time I'm on top!"

Immediately after, the sound of colliding chairs and falling documents echoed through the room as the workaholic goddess was forcibly pressed against her own desk, enduring the lashes from behind.

The subdued moans sounded like a mournful nocturne under the night sky, plaintive and endlessly melodious, lasting until dawn.

~~

The next day, the god Hermes, wearing his winged cap and sandals, holding his staff of commerce, arrived at the council hall on War God Mountain.

As soon as he entered, the aroma of wine and the sight of a table laden with delicious dishes made Hermes's mouth water involuntarily.

"Arrived? Have a seat!"

The enthusiastic Luo En, waiting at the entrance, guided Hermes to his seat, while Athena skillfully poured drinks for the guest, both hosts exuding a warm familiarity in every gesture.

Hermes initially felt a bit overwhelmed and nervous.

But as the wine flowed and the courses were served, a pleasant tipsy sensation quickly made him forget that inexplicable hint of unease.

Finally, full and content.

Hermes finally remembered the main purpose of his trip, and proactively took out a draft of the trade document he had prepared overnight from the Magic Circle Diagram, handing it over to the two leading figures of War God Mountain.

"This is Corinth's demands, you might want to take a look first."

However, Luo En took the document, casually setting it aside, and said with a beaming smile,

"Let's not rush this, I would like to know more about the God of Wisdom Thoth and the Divine Era World he resides in."

Hearing this, Hermes sobered up a bit, shaking his head with a wry smile,

"I told everything I knew last time in Arcadia, that is all I know."

"I see, that makes it a bit challenging, we really need to think this through regarding the business cooperation between Athens and Corinth."

Athena showed a look of regret, raising her hand to signal the end of their meeting.

Seeing this, Hermes grew anxious and softened his tone a bit,

"May I boldly ask what exactly you want to know about the God of Wisdom Thoth and the Divine Era World? Perhaps I could be of help."

"Greece is too small; we are looking to open new trading routes and expand our commercial territory to bring prosperity to the world!"

Luo En proudly replied, revealing his grand ambitions.

Such a beautifully envisioned plan undoubtedly excited Hermes.

Linking two Divine Eras through commerce, as the god of commerce and travelers, his divine authority would certainly see a significant boost!

But then Hermes regained his composure, his expression troubled,

"Finding a new Divine Era World suitable for trade means crossing the entire Sea of Chaos, and the risks involved are too great!"

Like the Sea of Okeanos, the Sea of Chaos is divided into inner and outer sections.

Although the inner sea, filled with ancient sea beasts and chaotic clusters, poses theoretically low danger due to the Supreme God's immense power, allowing free access,

the situation in the outer sea is much more complicated, with unceasing chaotic storms and unexplored areas shrouded in chaos fog.

What's worse, once a deity leaves their own Divine Era, their divine power is severely affected. Facing any significant trouble, even the Supreme God might not come away unscathed.

Taking such huge risks just to establish a trading route didn't seem worthwhile to Hermes.

Regardless of objections, Luo En shook his head nonchalantly and looked towards Hermes with a smile,

"With your protection as the god of travelers, our fleet will surely reach its destination smoothly."

These words deepened the frown on Hermes' brow.

Even if they managed to establish the route after great difficulties, what then?

A trading route through the Sea of Chaos sounded utterly useless; the immense resources and manpower required for each voyage aside, a slight misstep could mean the destruction of ships and loss of lives. He couldn't fathom what merchandise could justify such enormous expenses and balance such great commercial risks.

Unless they were doing business with deities from another Divine Era?

Or perhaps, was the commerce just a façade, and War God Mountain was seeking to open routes at any cost in search of a new Divine Era for some ulterior motive?

The more Hermes thought, the more he sweated, and his gaze towards the exquisite dishes and fine wines on the table filled with a deep resentment.

Had he known this would be no ordinary banquet, he wouldn't have meddled in these troubled waters today.

"Ha ha, I suddenly remembered I have something else today, shall we talk another time?"

Hermes replied noncommittally, smiling while carefully standing up and quietly inching towards the door.

However, the two figures at the dining table gracefully raised their glasses, smiling amiably at the god of commerce and travelers' retreating back.

At that moment, as Hermes reached the door, he suddenly felt a heavy weight on his shoulder and could no longer move.

Stiffly, he raised his head to see the imposing figures unexpectedly standing behind him, his face twisted into a smile uglier than a cry.

"Grandpa, Uncle, what are you doing here?"

At the door, The Atlas Titan and the Seer Prometheus stood towering, hauling the fleeing Hermes back to his seat like picking up a chick.