Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

However, after waiting for a while, the door still did not open.

Has something happened?!

Samael's pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately leaped over the high wall and into the courtyard, where Tamamo-no-Mae, her eyes filled with curiosity, followed closely behind.

laugh!

But the instant the ancient serpent landed, a bronze dagger thrust out diagonally, viciously stabbing towards his kidney.

boom!

Samael frowned slightly, then immediately turned sideways and stamped his foot to avoid the sharp edge of the short sword. At the same time, he bent his elbow forward and thrust it forward, intending to ambush him from the side. Like a cannonball that roared out of the barrel, he smashed through the stone table and porch along the way and embedded himself straight into the pillar.

"You lackeys of Mount War God, you actually tracked me down here, but don't expect to get anything out of me!"

Although blood was spilling from his mouth, a powerful roar came from the billowing smoke and dust. The robust old man, with his hair and beard standing on end, looked as if he were about to die a martyr.

Samael pondered for a moment, then slowly looked up.

"Who are you?"

Chapter 111 When Allies Are in Trouble, Remain Unmoved

"I am Themistocles! What, do you think the noble bloodlines of Mount Ares won't sleep soundly unless I leave Athens?!"

"Timistokli?"

"You bastards, I am the general who led you bunch of brats to save Athens twice!"

The old man looked at the young man who was tilting his head, looking somewhat confused, as if he were really thinking. His pride was thwarted, his breath hitched, and his lion-mane-like beard stood on end in anger. He couldn't help but curse and complain.

"Where did those senile old fogies in the council chamber find a greenhorn like you? You haven't even figured out the mission objective, yet you dare to come here and probe my background?"

"Oh, I remember now, you're that unlucky fellow who got banished by the Citizens' Assembly!"

Samael suddenly realized the old man's identity. He had been pinned against the wall and had just led the Athenians to agree to the Battle of Salamis. Only then did his expression soften slightly.

"Wait a minute, aren't people saying you're serving your sentence in the Argos region? Why are you still hiding here?"

However, the ancient serpent's surprised question after a brief pause caused the old man's mood, which had just begun to improve, to darken again. His pent-up resentment from the past few days manifested in a cold, irritating snort.

Where I live is my own business! What does it have to do with you, a petty thief who broke into my private home?

"Private residence? I'd like to ask you why you're in my house!"

The two looked at each other, both with surprised expressions, and the atmosphere froze.

"laugh!"

Just as Samael realized that something seemed wrong, the tightly closed door was shaken open with a hum, and a sharp explosion accompanied by a crimson ethereal tide burst through the air.

Samael instinctively flung aside the old general he was carrying, slid to the side, drew his sword with a backhand and slashed. The scarlet blade collided with the cluster of dark purple thorns, and amidst a clanging of metal, he barely knocked them away.

The force of the recoil caused the ancient snake to stagger back two steps before finally stopping its momentum.

However, as the remaining force of the incoming blade was dissipated, Samael also bent his fingers forward, grasped the scarlet gun barrel, skillfully twirled the gun with his palm, faced the door, and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Hey old friend, can't we stop making every welcome ceremony so dramatic?"

"I want to test your reaction."

Scáthach, holding a bag of ingredients in one hand, deftly caught the crimson magic spear thrown by Samael with her right. As she responded casually, she frowned and looked forward, her gaze lingering for a moment on the ancient serpent's chest, a hint of seriousness and hidden concern appearing in her eyes.

"Your skills have declined considerably. It seems you're quite badly injured. Come to my room first, I..."

"Heave-ho~ Hehehe! Lord Samael! Lord Samael is back! I caught him first!"

Just as Scáthach was about to speak, the lively and energetic pink-haired Valkyrie Hilde rushed into the courtyard, carrying a basket of bread, and bumped into Samael's arms.

The blonde Slud, who had rushed to the door, immediately placed the miscellaneous items she was carrying on the table. Her face darkened, and with a flickering, electric hand, she skillfully paralyzed the disrespectful, energetic girl, then grabbed her, carried her away, and respectfully stepped aside.

Of course, even the black-haired, clueless Otlinde, who was flipping through the poetry manuscripts empty-handed and slacking off all the way, couldn't escape the clutches of a certain gentle yet violent older sister.

Slud, whose mastery of Thor's power had become increasingly refined, pressed her two younger sisters' heads down and bowed to Samael in respect.

The ancient serpent looked at the two Valkyries, whose hair stood on end and whose delicate bodies trembled like leaves, and couldn't help but chuckle. He casually picked up a luscious apple from a fruit basket that floated by and took a crisp bite.

"Samael, you bastard, you just got back and you're already stealing our stuff! You might as well just die out there!"

At this moment, noticing the weight reduction in the fruit basket, Holo, who was quite protective of her food, immediately had veins bulging on her forehead, her clenched teeth grinding, and she waved her fists, chasing after one of her unscrupulous younger brothers.

"Eat fewer apples, you might get indigestion... Oh... there are pastries too? Kids shouldn't eat so many snacks..."

As the ancient snake maneuvered, it used its snakeskin to steal one prize after another from Holo's treasured basket, enraging her older sister, who jumped onto Samael's back without regard for her image, coiled around his neck, and began to bite him like a mad dog.

After a brief period of commotion, the atmosphere in the courtyard relaxed and became more lively. Samael grinned and pulled Holo off the back of his neck, signaling everyone to close the gate. He then sat down at the stone table and began to get down to business.

Of course, one of the old generals who had been sheltered by this group of outsiders was also invited back.

After learning a brief overview of the current situation in Athens from Scáthach, Samael recounted, in a concise manner, how he escorted the Spartan Queen and the High Priest, and offered his perspective based on the situation in Greece.

Although the Persian fleet seized the opportunity and won a brilliant victory in the early Battle of Samira, it was far from suffering heavy losses. Instead, the Greeks became arrogant and exiled the veteran admiral Themistocles, and many other officers were also implicated.

In this situation, without a leader, the Athenian navy lost its advantage, and it would be difficult to inflict another heavy blow on the Persian fleet. Even with the addition of the Viking fleet, such a victory would be hard to replicate.

However, Scáthach intercepted the exiled Themistocles ahead of time and hid the old general in Athens, saving Samael the trouble of re-familiarizing himself with the Athenian naval structure and commanding operations after taking over Mount Ares.

Now, Thessaly has fallen, and Thermopylae is in dire straits. This last pass guarding the northern gateway to Greece has become the key to determining the course of the entire Greco-Persian War.

As the core of the Panhellenic League, Athens' most appropriate strategy at this moment is to quickly integrate its army and support Thermopylae.

However, at this point, the old general Timistokli's eyes flickered, and he murmured softly.

"I think that instead of betting everything on Thermopylae, we should take the initiative, evacuate the Athenians to the sea, contact the Egyptians, and then engage in a decisive battle with the Persian fleet!"

"What about the allied forces at Thermopylae?"

"Since the Persians have shifted their focus from naval warfare to land warfare, this is divine mandate and oracle. All the risks must naturally be borne by the city-states along the route themselves."

The old man lowered his voice, his expression meaningful.

"The Spartan army is the best in Greece. Letting them suffer a bit might not be a bad thing for Athens. We can also use this time that the Spartan king bought to perfect our plans at sea. In the future, Greece will remember their great deeds and sacrifices."

Chapter 112 The Serpent of Athena = The Holy King?

Our allies remained unmoved, using the Persians to weaken Sparta's power. So that's what you were planning, you old codger.

Samael secretly rolled his eyes. After a frank discussion, he gradually learned about Timistokli's sinister plans.

To be honest, Themistocles of history devoted himself wholeheartedly to ensuring Athens' continued prosperity and made outstanding contributions.

Domestically, he supported Pericles' reforms, which greatly shook the rigid aristocratic system.

Externally, he participated in the Battle of Marathon, organized the Battle of Salamis, and defended the territorial security of Athens and even Greece in the two Greco-Persian Wars.

In order to help Athens gain a favorable position in the Greek world, he led the Athenian navy to collect tribute from various island nations, thus accumulating Athens' economic strength.

Subsequently, he also strongly advocated for the construction of a new power structure after the Third Greco-Persian War, namely the Delian League, with the aim of containing the rise of Sparta and maintaining the hegemony of Athens and Mount Ares.

But perhaps because of his humble origins and the ridicule and ostracism he suffered from the nobles of Mount Ares, the old general became extreme and eccentric in his actions.

Within Athens, Themistocles also began to be envied by his compatriots; while the wealthy people of Athens admired his achievements, they began to reveal his past misdeeds, such as his lack of manners, rude behavior, and extreme personality when he was young; Themistocles responded in kind and without mercy.

Themistocles always preferred to leave the affairs of his term of office until the very last day, so as to appear powerful and have people come to him for help. While this accumulated his authority, it also attracted a great deal of hatred.

In addition, while expanding his navy and levying taxes on other countries, he also openly accepted a lot of bribes, which inevitably worsened the relationship between Timistoklie and the inhabitants of these island nations.

Furthermore, his consistently tough stance towards Sparta and other rising city-states led both internal and external forces to plot to remove him from Athenian politics.

Ultimately, they succeeded in banishing this old man who was both a hero and a tyrant, and successfully sowed the seeds for Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War.

In conclusion, if we consider only Athens' gains and losses, Themistocles was undoubtedly a worthy savior and a hero of the city-state.

But if you're working with this old guy as a foreign ally, it probably won't be a very comfortable experience.

Who knows, one day he might betray a bunch of allies for his own and Athens's benefit.

Therefore, it was truly not unjust to kick this old fellow out of Athens.

Having grasped the implications, Samael immediately abandoned his plan to reinstate Timistokli.

His perspective is too narrow; it would be more appropriate for him to be a combat staff officer.

"Forget it, why should I tell you all this? I'm no longer a general of Athens."

After a long and eloquent conversation, the old man came to his senses, stood up, waved his hand with a somewhat dejected expression, and looked utterly disheartened.

Just as he was about to leave the courtyard, Themistocles glanced back at Scáthach and the three Valkyries, and gave them a gruff reminder.

"However, I still owe you a favor. Don't blame me for not reminding you that if you want to help the Spartans hold Thermopylae on land, you'd better persuade those old stubborn guys on Mount Ares as soon as possible. With 7000 against 30, such a disparity in strength, they can only hold out for 5-7 days at most."

"Queen Gogo of Sparta and Helen, the High Priestess of the Temple of Luna, have arrived in Athens and are seeking help from Mount Ares. We expect to hear back soon."

Samael gazed meaningfully at Mount Ares and casually replied.

Timistokli frowned and sneered, offering a blunt and dismissive rebuke.

"If the Egyptians had turned against them and the Battle of Salamis hadn't been won, these two women might have had a chance to persuade the nobles in the council chamber, but now, with their successive victories, they've forgotten where they belong."

These short-sighted fools have already abandoned Rome, Macedonia, Thessaly, and what good is Thermopylae? Their only goal is to hold onto their small territory of Athens, and they'd probably be willing to submit to the Persians for that.

Then, the old man's gaze drifted toward the Acropolis in Athens, a hint of mockery appearing on his face.

"Don't waste your energy. To these stubborn old men who cling to the order of bloodlines, whether it's the emperor of the Roman Pantheon, those two Spartan women, or you yourselves, all your words will probably be less effective than the great serpent in the Parthenon, which is revered as the saint and king of Athens, crawling in front of them and hissing a few times."

The Holy King of Athens—the Great Serpent?

Samael suddenly remembered that in history, after the fall of Thermopylae, Themistocles, in order to persuade the Athenians to evacuate to the sea and fight a desperate battle with their backs to the river, repeatedly warned the nobles of Mount Ares to listen to his advice, but to no avail.

In order to put his strategy into practice, he deliberately led the priests to release a giant serpent, an Athena relic kept in the Acropolis, and used the serpent's disappearance to tell the Athenians that the goddess of wisdom, Athena, had abandoned her city and that there was no need for them to remain there.

After the evacuation was completed, the refugees saw the pride of Athens in the distance, and thick smoke rose from the top of the Acropolis. Those stubborn old men who stayed behind in Athens eventually died heroically, but it did nothing to help the overall situation.

Although Themistocles saved many Athenians' lives through his clever maneuvering.

But his audacity in manipulating divine will foreshadowed his exile. The citizens who benefited from his benevolent lies later disregarded his motives and instead exiled him on charges of blasphemy and dictatorial intent.

However, this old fellow has long since been kicked aside by the Athenians. His trick of letting the Sacred Serpent of Athens escape and manipulating public opinion is probably no longer possible.

What Samael was more concerned about was the snake that had been used as a tool.

"What color is the snake enshrined in the temple?"

"Black, but not entirely; the scales have a faint purplish sheen..."

"Is this what it looks like?"

"That's right, but it's much bigger than yours."

Timistokli looked at the snake image in the man's palm with some surprise and nodded slightly.

Upon hearing this, Samael's lips curled up slightly, his eyes revealing a faint sense of nostalgia and joy, and he muttered to himself.

The Holy King? The position I left behind has been taken by a snake.

If I'm not mistaken, could it be that one?

A strange expression appeared on Samael's face; the more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

hum!

Just as the ancient serpent was deep in thought, two pillars of light, each composed of dozens of runes, shot into the sky, humming and trembling in mid-air.

"Oh, the talks broke down so quickly?"

Seeing that his probing had yielded results, Samael stretched lazily, a sharp glint of cold light flashing in his eyes amidst his playful expression.

"Come on, let's go for a walk up the mountain... Looks like we'll be busy today..."

Chapter 113 War God Mountain Nursing Home

Inside the spacious and solemn council hall, the pampered nobles of divine blood, dressed in white robes, sat in rows according to their social status and lineage on the circular marble steps. Although they were dressed in luxurious attire, they all looked old, and the entire hall was filled with a somber atmosphere.

"Gentlemen, my husband Leonidas is fighting a bloody battle against the Persians at Thermopylae. Outside is a formidable Persian army of 30. Once this natural barrier is breached, the enemy can advance unimpeded and reach the gates of Athens. At this critical moment concerning the life and death of Greece, I once again implore Mount Ares to sound the war horn, immediately assemble the troops and march north to defend Thermopylae!"

Queen Gogo of Sparta addressed these high-ranking nobles of divine blood with passionate fervor.

However, pairs of dozing, drowsy old eyes roused themselves from their drowsiness and looked down at the two solitary women in the center of the open-air stands, their gazes indifferent and unmoved.

"Ridiculous! Since when has the fate of Greece been decided by a tiny Thermopylae, by you Spartans?"

The old man at the highest point, wearing a Medusa emblem on his chest, frowned in displeasure and opened his eyes with a cold snort.