The crimson sea shimmered as the remaining warship slowly made its way to shore.


    Before the ship could fully dock, a towering figure eagerly rushed towards the port to greet it.


    "Grandfather, you''ve finally returned!"


    King Minos descended from the ship''s cabin, ignoring the attentive wee with a forced smile as he looked at his grandson.


    "What''s the matter? You seem rather disappointed."


    For a moment, Orion''s outstretched hand froze mid-air, his facial expression stiffening as the atmosphere turned icy.


    However, the young hero quickly scratched his head and revealed his signature simple-hearted grin.


    "Not at all! I''m too happy to see you unharmed, and since Mother and Father were worried about you, they sent me to visit. Thankfully, I arrived just in time!"


    The response was both a defense and a show of merit.


    "How fortuitous. A momentter and we might have already dealt with that creature."


    King Minos was unimpressed; his golden eyes gazed deeply at his grandson, speaking again with profound insinuation.


    "If your father mes me for the casualties among the ocean kin, the Minosians wouldn''t be able to face the God of the Sea''s retribution."


    God of the Sea?


    He is Poseidon''s son!


    Suddenly, the bystanders who grasped the hidden meaning of his words shifted uneasily, looking at the so-called "hero" with scrutiny and doubt.


    If they weren''t mistaken, the sea beasts belonged to Poseidon.


    Perceiving the abrupt chill in the air, Orion''s facial muscles twitched, struggling to maintain his guileless expression as he inwardly cursed.


    This old man used to be so straightforward, so when did he be so cunning with words?


    Of course, it could also be that his own Father God''s infamy was too great in the nearby seas, and he had inadvertently given his grandfather a handle to use against him.


    He should have mentioned only his mother.


    Orion was full of regret, frowning as he pondered how to defuse these veiled jibes.


    The sight of his grandson''s frustration and embarrassment brought a surge of satisfaction to King Minos.


    Just as he was about to add another barb, a sword pommel nudged insistently at his back.


    Recalling the advice given before setting foot onnd, the elderly man reluctantly abandoned the idea, mustering tolerance seemingly befitting his seniority. He took the initiative to grasp Orion''s hand.


    "Forget it, you needn''t worry about adult matters. Come, help me back to the pce and tell me about your mother''s well-being."


    "Ah, of course, grandfather, I''ll support you!"


    Hearing King Minos''s yielding tone and unsure how to alleviate the awkwardness, Orion quickly took the opportunity to step down, eagerly assisting his grandfather towards the pce.


    Along the way, Orion asionally spoke of trivial household matters rted to his mother and shared amusing anecdotes from his travels, attempting to bridge the emotional gap between them. King Minos responded intermittently, trying to show some measure of closeness.


    Yet, the smile that creased the old man''s face was, to say the least, a disastrous ident.


    Luo En, mingled among the Divine Blood Guard, watched the grandfather and grandson acting all familial in public and couldn''t help but wince.


    But then, thinking of his own situation, he made peace with it.


    Well, after all, that was the tradition of Greek families.


    ~~


    In Knossos City, the pce.


    As the dismissed servants securely closed the doors and windows, leaving the scene, King Minos, who had been holding back the entire way, no longer felt the need to continue the charade. He eyed his grandson coldly and got straight to the point.


    "Speak, what brings you to me?"


    "It''s because Mother is worried about home and asked me toe and check on you," Orion answered with a simple-hearted face, then straightened his back, looking arrogantly at the enfeebled figure on the throne who even in sitting, required support.


    "It seems indeed that you are advanced in years. Had I not arrived when I did, you might have upset Mother."


    "Impudent...!"


    Princess Ariadne, who sat beside the throne, immediately red furiously at her nominal nephew upon hearing this.


    Perhaps it was the curse of the Divine King''s family: King Minos, though possessing the blood of Zeus and father to five sons and five daughters, seemed to have only one child who truly cared for him—Princess Ariadne.


    Her brothers coveted the throne, while her sisters were more unruly than the next.


    First, her eldest sister engaged in an affair with the god Apollo and broke away from their father.


    Then came the excessive actions of Euryale, her younger sister. She not only became intimate with Poseidon but also bore him this demigod offspring named Orion.


    If it were the former, some reconciliation might be possible between father and daughter.


    But thetter was an unforgivable betrayal for King Minos, akin to stabbing him fiercely in the heart.


    Understanding the consequences, that sister who had fled for "love" had not once returned to Crete Ind since the incident.


    However, her son with Poseidon had visited several times.


    But the purpose was to persuade Crete Ind to submit to Antis.


    Moreover, every time he visited, this nephew would intentionally or unintentionally stare at her with a greedy and fervent look, which made Princess Ariadne quite dislike those eyes.


    At that moment, hearing Princess Ariadne''s reprimand, Orionughed nonchntly, feigning innocence.


    "Auntie, don''t be angry. I am only considering our grandfather''s health."


    Immediately after, he shifted the topic and looked towards the visibly aging King Minos on the throne, speaking earnestly.


    "Grandfather, that demon is only wounded and likely still roams the open sea, and your body is really not fit to continue this strain. For the sake of Crete Ind, why not let the younger generation take over the burden?"


    "So?" King Minos asked expressionlessly in return.


    "As long as you give the nod, I would risk my life to protect Crete Ind for you, guaranteeing that the Minosians will never suffer from the beast tide again!"


    Orion raised his right fist to his chest, pledging solemnly.


    So that was it...


    Luo En, who stood quietly in the shadows, watched Minos''s eager nephew and couldn''t help but sneer inwardly.


    This guy obviously wasn''t here to help, but to usurp the throne.


    And, from the outbreak of the beast tide to the appearance of Orion himself, it seemed that everything had been nned in advance by the God of the Sea.


    The intent was simple.


    Poseidon didn''t n to destroy the whole of Crete Ind; what he wanted was the submission of the Minosians, the faith of the new humans.


    And the greatest obstacle was undoubtedly the still alive and well-respected King Minos.


    Thus, he used the beast tide as a pretext, on one hand to intimidate the Minosians and weaken Crete''s resistance, and on the other, to force King Minos to step down, critically wound, or exhaust the obstinate old foe to death.


    Then, if everything went ording to script, with Crete leaderless, it would be time for the hero to take the stage.


    Indeed, this Son of the God of the Sea mixed with Minosian and Poseidon''s blood—Orion!


    Once he remarkably saves Crete Ind by defeating Keto under everyone''s watch, averting the disaster...


    Then Orion would surely be supported by all the Minosians, umting great prestige.


    Following that, he could use his victorious glory to naturally and justifiably force a pce coup.


    By then, with King Minos old and gravely injured, and the princescking the ability to lead alone, the change of throne on Crete Ind would be almost certain.


    Once Orion, the Son of the God of the Sea, rose to power and silenced the discord within, Crete would gradually reforge its faith in the God of the Sea, bing a vassal of Antis.


    However, a sudden ident led to the perfect n''s untimely demise.


    The Minosians not only thwarted the beast tide''s invasion but even nearly crippled Keto, who was supposed to be the failsafe, creating a glorious moment for the old king.


    With no choice, Orion, who had been lurking nearby, had to make his move ahead of time upon sensing that something was wrong at sea.


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    I wondered why he appeared just in time; it turns out he has always been nearby.


    Having figured out the crux of the matter, Luo En took a new look at the seemingly honest but actually crafty Son of God and shook his head in secret.


    It must be said that King Minos was stillcking in raising his son.


    At this time, Orion down below got tired of pretending, taking steps to ascend the dais, carrying on Greece''s excellent family tradition.


    "Grandfather, how about giving it some thought? I am doing all this for you..."


    "You want me to abdicate? You''re not qualified yet! Get out!"


    Hearing this unabashed ambition and purpose, King Minos looked up and roared, a formidable aura stirring within his frail body.


    However, sensing the flickering me of life within that decaying form, Orion''s face showed an even greater disdain.


    "Grandfather, it seems like your body can''t withstand much more. I advise you to take care of yourself and leave the taxing duties to us younger ones; it''s for everyone''s good."


    "You shut up!"


    Seeing her father bing so enraged that his chest heaved uncontrobly, Princess Ariadne could not hold back her rebuke any longer.


    Yet, this did not make Orion feel the slightest remorse, but instead, he tantly revealed his reprehensible nature.


    "Auntie, don''t rush. Once I ascend to the throne, you''ll be the first one I marry."


    Orion gazed at the beautiful high priestess, his greedy and fervent eyes settling on her voluptuous figure.


    "As long as you obedientlyply, you will remain the high priestess of the Minosians as before, and our bloodline will be the new rulers of Crete Ind..."


    As he spoke, facing the elder he had long coveted, Orion couldn''t help but reach out his hand to grab that pure white wrist, eager to indulge in the sensation of impropriety and taboo prematurely.


    Although a bit anxious, as far as he remembered, aside from that old thing on the throne, there should be no one on Crete Ind capable of threatening him.


    So, why not spend the night at the pce?


    "Bang!"


    A muffled thunderous noise not only interrupted his fantasizing but also broke his nose.