Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

To avoid internal weakness and to facilitate Greece's response to the war with Persia, Athena, Medusa, and Themis decided to lift the restrictions and allow Mount Ares to replenish the 88 constellations of Saints on its own.

The Saint Cloths worn by these successors are basically star projections obtained under the blessing of the three goddesses of the sky, earth, and order. These projections can greatly amplify divine power and grant them a certain degree of insight and skill.

Therefore, the stronger and more promising a Divine Blood Hero is, the more the effectiveness of this item will be multiplied when paired with the Star Palace Saint Cloth.

In theory, the 88 constellations gather the most outstanding divine heroes of all Greece, while the Athenian Academy trains the most outstanding magicians and scholars from various city-states. The two form an alliance to protect Mount Ares and Athens' sword and shield.

However, since the three goddesses disappeared, these Athenian nobles, freed from restraint, gradually became bolder and more unscrupulous.

Nowadays, the 88 Star Palaces are basically all family members of these old fogies. Those disobedient city-states have not gained any benefits and have long been squeezed out of the core of the War God Mountain power system.

Even the Academy of Athens, which challenged the authority of the council, was shut down, and Socrates, as the leader of the school, was sentenced to death on charges of "insulting the gods of Athens and corrupting the minds of the youth."

It can be said that no one in Athens could defy the authority of the Ares. The surrounding city-states, which were being threatened, were also intimidated by the power of Mount Ares and the Athenian navy, and had no choice but to obediently offer tribute and maintain a humiliating subordinate relationship.

But precisely because of this, the Greek alliance of city-states, which had been tightly bound together in the war of the Titans, was now riddled with cracks. If it weren't for the presence of Persia as an external enemy, the Greek alliance would probably have long since disintegrated and turned into a chaotic mess.

"Turning Greece into 'Greece of the Athenians' is to encourage integration, using a carrot and stick approach to promote a Pan-Hellenic cultural identity led by Athens, not to let you bully your own kind, monopolize the benefits, and treat those city-states like servants. You bunch of pig-brains!"

Samael grew angrier the more he thought about it, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot. In his anger, he slammed his fist on the table and complained repeatedly.

As a member of Sparta, High Priestess Helen kept her eyes down, pretending not to hear the Athenian king's ambitions.

Once Samael's anger subsided slightly, Helen turned and glanced at the brightly lit council chamber, then hesitated and asked a question.

"So what do you plan to do with these people?"

"What are we going to do? They should all be dragged out and fed to Stalin!"

"Stalin?"

"Oh, I saw a kind of monster in the north, also known as the Merciful Father. It especially likes to eat traitors and fools, and it's keen on throwing criminals into cold regions to dig potatoes."

"So that's how it is. I wish Greece could import such magical beasts."

Helen nodded thoughtfully, feeling a pang of emotion.

"Ahem, no need for all that trouble. Once it's light tomorrow, kill the idiots who need to be killed and arrest the ones who need to be arrested! If I'm in a good mood, I'll pick a few honest ones to keep as mascots on Mount War God."

Samael smirked, his eyes flashing with a sinister light. He then raised his hand to stroke his chin and muttered under his breath.

"The charge, colluding with the Persians? Hmm, that's good..."

In the shadowy corner, Geguo's eyelids twitched and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

It seems that tonight many noble families in Athens will receive a sum of money from the Persians.

At this moment, the ancient serpent composed himself and searched through the documents for those high-ranking nobles of divine blood who needed to be eliminated. He coldly compiled a "purge list" and handed it over to the group of berserkers who were keen on killing people.

You have enjoyed my authority long enough; now it is time to pay your debt!

"Your Majesty Theseus, isn't it too hasty to launch such a large-scale attack at the last minute? Thermopylae..."

Below the court, Queen Gogo of Sparta hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowed with worry, before she couldn't help but step forward and express her concerns.

"Don't worry, I have no intention of relying on these idiots. Keeping them around will only make things worse. Give me some time, and the fleet assembled in Athens will set off immediately by the day after tomorrow at the latest!"

Samael put down his pen, looked up at the two worried Spartan messengers, smiled slightly, and offered words of comfort.

"Before that, I had already entrusted two good friends I met on the road to go to Thermopylae to assist Leonidas in the defense. With them there, there shouldn't be any major problems in the short term."

It's them!

Gogo and Helen exchanged a glance, recalling the two foreign women who had come and gone so quickly that night. Their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense all the way, finally settled down. They looked gratefully at the wise and sagacious king and bowed their heads even more devoutly to show their respect.

"Alright, you haven't slept for days and nights while traveling, so stop standing there like an idiot. I've already asked Hilde to prepare two guest rooms for you. Go downstairs, take a shower, have a hot meal, and get some rest. Leave the rest to me."

Oh, and by the way, remember to settle the protection money you owe me.

Samael winked teasingly, chuckled, and nodded in acknowledgment. The two Spartan messengers, embarrassed, nodded awkwardly and retreated.

As the two employers walked further and further away, their figures gradually disappearing into the night, the ancient serpent, having already compiled a "purge list," casually tossed the blood-smelling item to Blood Axe King Eric and Warrior King Sigurd.

As the two Nordic heroes departed, the man Samael had been waiting for finally entered the hall.

Chapter 118 I'm a pro at ripping people off!

"Your Majesty Theseus, as you instructed, I have contacted all my colleagues. The navy is approaching Icarus Port and will be assembled by dawn. They will be ready to be at your command at any time!"

"Me too. Two legions of hoplites have already assembled at the Acropolis in Athens to deal with any unforeseen circumstances..."

At this moment, two elderly men with white hair and beards, and muscular builds, reported to Samael on the situation of the army and navy. One was beaming with excitement, his gaze toward the council chamber filled with schadenfreude; the other was quiet and composed, like a silent pine tree by a mountain stream.

The two men before him were Themistocles, the naval commander who won the Battle of Salamis and was later exiled, the same man Scáthach had happened to harbor; and Mytiades, the renowned army general who organized tens of thousands of Athenian hoplites, commanded the Battle of Marathon, and defeated the Persian army. Mytiades was more adept at concealing his talents and dealing with people.

Therefore, although he was sidelined by Mount Ares after his great victory, he did not fare as badly as Timistokli, who was unpopular and had a bad temper.

Currently, these two are Athens's two most capable naval and land forces. However, they were tricked by Mount Ares and fell into a deep abyss. With the return of Samael, the holy king, they were able to be reinstated and given important positions. Therefore, after verifying the identity of His Majesty Theseus, the two became loyal supporters of the new king.

Compared to a certain troublesome naval commander, the calm and gentle army commander Mitiades was more to Samael's liking, and therefore more important tasks were entrusted to him for coordination and handling.

"How are the supplies and medicines being prepared?"

"The situation is not stable, and it is not easy to coordinate at night. It will take some time, and it is expected that it will take at least a day to gather enough supplies."

"Hmm, that's within the plan. What about the Academy of Athens?"

"Archimedes, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Plato, a student of Socrates, have all agreed to serve in the army, and are currently actively contacting magicians and scholars who were dismissed from Mount Ares."

"very good!"

"..."

After asking a few questions, Samael glanced at the army commander who answered fluently and nodded in satisfaction.

"I have dispatched the remaining Pegasus Knights from Mount Ares to the various city-states along the route to deliver the order for the army to assemble. The integration of the army before boarding the ships will be your responsibility."

"Yes, Your Majesty Theseus!"

The Army Commander-in-Chief pounded his chest with his right fist, nodded solemnly, and remained calm and composed.

Seeing the Holy King chatting enthusiastically with the army commander next to him, Admiral Themistocles frowned and poured cold water on the conversation.

"Your Majesty, the Athenian fleet has just experienced a major battle and suffered some losses. If too many land troops are assembled, I'm afraid it will be difficult to handle the transportation pressure."

"Warrior King Sigurd and his Viking warships will be mobilized."

"However, carrying too many land troops not only makes it difficult to conceal our position, but also affects the maneuverability of our ships. If we encounter the main force of the Persians, it may be detrimental to the naval battle. Moreover, in terms of the size and scale of our fleet, we are still far inferior to the Persians, unless the Egyptian fleet can be in place to cooperate with us in besieging Persia."

"The Egyptians' attitude is currently unclear. They can be used, but not relied upon. Expecting them to fight to the death is unlikely..."

As Samael pondered, his five fingers rhythmically tapped the table. When the sound abruptly stopped, the ancient snake's eyes narrowed, its gaze flickering.

"We can't count on the Egyptians, but we can consider another backup... Timistokli, take my decree and go to Ithaca Island tonight!"

"Itaka Island? You wouldn't be looking for... wait, isn't it said that he died on the Sea of ​​Oceanus after the Trojan War?"

Upon hearing this, Admiral Timistokelli was initially taken aback, then his face showed astonishment and confusion.

"The pursuit of Cyclops, the curse of Poseidon, the temptation of Calypso, the song of the Sirens, the strait of Scylla, and the wrath of Helios—these troubles that would leave no trace for ordinary people—couldn't do anything to him. This old guy is tough!"

Samael sneered, raised the corners of his lips, and began to complain.

Then, the ancient serpent gazed at the turbulent sea and asked indifferently.

"You reminded me that, for some reason, the intensity of the war seems to have escalated. What we're dealing with is probably no longer a conventional naval battle. Just in case, we need to find someone with strategic skills. So, if he's alive, you can be his second-in-command. No objections?"

"You're joking. If he were willing to step forward, breaking through the Persian blockade would be a piece of cake. After all, he's Odysseus, the strategist who won the Trojan War for the three goddesses in the battle of the gods!"

Even the proud Timistokelle had to lower his head with a wry smile to show his submission, but he couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him.

"But since that lord is still alive, why doesn't he return to Mount War God?"

"Why? It's all to bail out Athens, to prevent these idiots in the council from ruining all of Greece!"

Samael chuckled in response, then glanced at the two bewildered old faces below and murmured to himself.

"Thank you, Goddess. In addition to the two major governing mechanisms of Mount Ares and the Academy of Athens, they have also left two layers of protection outside."

The goddess's order? That explains why Odysseus left Mount Ares and faked his death to go into seclusion.

The army commander pondered for a moment and suddenly realized the truth, but a new doubt arose in his mind in an instant.

Double insurance?

One was the strategist Odysseus, so who was the other?

"Alright, get to work. We only have one day to prepare!"

However, the holy king on the steps showed no intention of explaining and casually dismissed the two generals who were filled with doubt.

After seeing the two off, the ancient snake stretched its limbs slightly, its arms outstretched behind it. It glanced at a stone slab with slight wear marks next to it, and curiously wiped away the divine runes to open it.

Athena, you brat...

The ancient snake looked at the bag of well-preserved salted olives in its hand, feeling both amused and exasperated.

You even hide snacks in the work area, you're something else...

Confiscated!

Samael picked up a bright green fruit, popped it into his mouth, leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and chewed. His depressed mood improved considerably.

But then, after retaliating by devouring his adopted daughter's snacks, the man opened his eyes and stared at the mountain of documents piled on the table, and couldn't help but feel a surge of urgency.

You brat, all you do is mess things up for me. How can you be so unreliable?

As for why I say that...

Ah, when the flaws of democratic politics and the deliberative system first appeared, with Athena's intelligence, she could not have imagined how rotten this thing would become without checks and balances and oversight.

Moreover, the sacred serpent of War God Mountain, along with the two additional layers of protection outside, are clearly left behind to target the bunch of useless idiots in the council hall. It's obvious they're waiting for someone to come back and clean up the mess.

All signs indicate that the person these arrangements are waiting for is either him or the three returning goddesses.

The more unrest they cause in the council chambers, the more public resentment they accumulate, the easier it will be for them to clean up the mess, the more prestige they will gain from their positions, and the easier it will be for them to unite the Greek states and consolidate their authority.

To put it another way, the three goddesses are like the abdicated and retiring Emperor Qianlong, while the greedy fools in the council hall are like Heshen, who was fattened up and waiting to be slaughtered, and he is like the Jiajing Emperor who took over the position...

Wait, that's not right! If we calculate it that way, wouldn't he become that bastard Athena's illegitimate son again?

Samael twitched his lips, quickly stopping his self-deprecating attempt to lower his seniority, and walked towards the main hall while chewing on the bag of salted olives.

Now that the problem here is solved, it's time to go check out the other side.

Chapter 119 Ragnarok!

Temple of the Three Females.

Under the moonlight, the Holy King quietly arrived, pushed open the door, passed through the verification of the defensive magic array, and stepped inside as the surrounding air rippled like water.

hissing...

Under the bright moonlight, the rustling sound of scales rubbing against the marble floor could be heard. Hearing the noise, the purplish-black giant snake emerged from the shade behind the Medusa statue, shrank in size, and affectionately rubbed against the back of the creator's hand.

Samael patted the little guy's head and smiled slightly. Then, recalling a secret ritual from his past life, his expression turned cold and solemn. He raised his right hand, stretched it straight forward, and curled his fingers into a fist.

puff!

The fingertips pierced the palms, and the dripping divine blood, driven by willpower, formed obscure and profound incantations, turning into scarlet ink on the ground beneath their feet, constructing a dense ring-shaped magic array.

Sensing a subtle resonance, the ancient serpent seized the opportunity and, following the revelation of the power of destiny, moved its lips and teeth, chanting divine words.

"Fill it full, fill it full, fill it full, fill it full, fill it full!"

The cycle begins again, followed by five

However, when it is full, it is time to abandon it.

Declaration:

You obey my orders, my life is with your sword

With a blood pact as the medium, if you are willing to follow this will and this principle, then respond.

swear here

I am willing to accomplish all the good deeds in the world

I wish to put an end to all evil deeds in the world

"I am the cause of the past and the effect of the future, the one who moves destiny. You are the seven-day being bound by the three great incantations, the guardian of the Wheel of Restraint and the Scales!"

As the final stroke was completed amidst the flowing blood, a surging tide of ethereal energy stirred up a fierce wind within the hall, and a crimson and black ghostly light soared into the sky, echoing the 88 constellation runes on the dome, trembling and flashing together.