As their eyes met, the Goddess of Wisdom''s angry expression faded, and her twinkling eyes yfully regarded the one across from her.


    "So, when did you realize it?"


    "Just now."


    Luo En hummed lightly, pointing indignantly at the hand Athena used to grip her gun.


    "If you truly cared about the oue of this contest, that expression on your face wouldn''t be enough, right? You should at least grip the gun tightly..."


    "Observant, aren''t you?"


    Athena chuckled, with no hint of surprise on her face.


    Seeing this reaction, Luo En''s suspicions were thoroughly confirmed.


    "You did it on purpose!"


    "Reason."


    Athena stood with her arms behind her back, smiling smugly as she looked at the judge before her, as if sizing him up.


    By now, Luo En''s thoughts were bing increasingly clear as he began to exin lightly.


    "You are the War God, not the Goddess of the Hunt, and oveing Artemis in hunting would not be so easy.


    Even if I were to judge, it likely wouldn''t increase your odds of victory by much.


    A game you are likely to lose, yet you dive headfirst into it voluntarily—this doesn''t seem like your character..."


    At this point, Luo En paused, looking deeply at the Goddess of Wisdom before him.


    "...Unless, from the very start, you never intended to win!"


    "p p p p!"


    With a burst of crisp apuse, Athena across him revealed a satisfied smile.


    "Not bad at all, I really didn''t misjudge you."


    "So the w in your gun grip was also deliberately shown to me?"


    "What do you think?"


    "..."


    Luo En''s face darkened, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily as he couldn''t help butin.


    "If you had been clear from the start, would I have had to go out of my way to create conditions for your victory?"


    "If I hadn''t done so, how else would she believe that she was the true victor?"


    Athena smiled, her voicecking any real constion.


    "In any case, it''s not like your efforts werepletely wasted."


    "So I should be thanking you?"


    "Of course!"


    The Goddess of Wisdom nodded unabashedly, her gaze profound.


    "If not for me, could you have made a Chief God stay on Crete Ind and guard the door in peace, keeping you safe for three months in my absence?"


    "...!"


    Luo En, upon reflection, instantly grasped the possibility, his expression subtly changing.


    "Poseidon is still not giving up?"


    Athena first nodded, then shook her head.


    "I''m not sure, but from ourst sh, I always felt he wouldn''t let go so easily."


    Luo En frowned, also offering no rebuttal.


    The reason was simple: Given the grudge-bearing nature of that character, anything was possible.


    Athena might be able to fend off frontal attacks by invoking Zeus''s name,


    but against the covert tactics of the God of the Sea''s vast pantheon, the isted Goddess of Wisdom might find herself vulnerable to guard against.


    And if anything unclean from the sea madendfall, the likely targets would be the same culprit who spoiled Poseidon''s previous n, as well as the current de facto ruler of Crete Ind.


    Realizing his precarious situation, the furrows in Luo En''s brow deepened.


    "Shouldn''t this be something to tell the God of Stove?"


    "If my aunt wishes to live in peace, she should not get involved."


    Athena pursed her lips, gazing toward the distant clouds around Mount Olympus, sighing faintly.


    "And once you''re ensnared in certain affairs, getting out is not so easy..."


    The power struggles within the Divine King''s family were always brutal, with no room for warmth or mercy.


    Since they had stayed out of it, they shouldn''t drag in the elder who was like a sister or mother to them.


    To ay any suspicions, Athena quickly added further exnation,


    "Moreover, when ites to schemes and battles, my aunt isn''t exactly gifted."


    Luo En detected the hidden meaning in Athena''s words and looked toward the opposite side of the mountain with a teasing smile.


    "So, you''re dragging Artemis into this?"


    "What do you mean ''dragging into this''? Don''t make it sound so ugly. She came willingly, stayed by her own desire—it has nothing to do with me."


    Athena rolled her eyes at Luo En, her face the picture of innocence, yet the corners of her lips betrayed a subtle smile.


    She came willingly?


    Luo En faintly perceived the contradiction and looked pensively at the Goddess of Wisdom.


    "Aside from representing Zeus to invite Hestia to the gods'' festival, what else brought Artemis here?"


    "Seems she heard that King Minos has an exquisite hunting dog, right?"


    Athena spoke casually as if she had heard it through the grapevine.


    In an instant, Luo En understood, and two words slipped from his lips.


    "Cunning!"


    "Hmm?" Athena slightly tilted her head, ncing behind her.


    "I mean, you are far-sighted and n for eternity! Truly, you are the Goddess of Wisdom!"


    Luo En quickly corrected himself, his expression one of profound respect.


    "Spare me!"


    However, Athena clearly was immune to such ttery, she gave Luo En a white look behind her and said with a tone of annoyance.


    "Keep a close eye on your dog. If I am not around, at a critical moment, it might just save your life."


    Luo En nodded seriously, as his own life was at stake.


    He certainly understood what Athena meant.


    After all, Artemis had alreadypeted with Athena in a huntingpetition, which he had officiated and judged, resulting in Artemis''s final victory.


    As long as the Goddess of the Hunt had some pride left, she wouldn''t continue to forcibly demand the Golden Hound.


    As long as he wasn''t foolish enough to hand over the dog on his own initiative.


    In times of real trouble, the Golden Hound that had caught Artemis''s eye could prove very useful, and in turn, win the assistance of the Goddess of the Hunt.


    Moreover, ording to the terms of the hunting agreement, he was to be Artemis''s guide andpanion afterward.


    If something unexpected urred while he apanied her, the Hunting God might as well pack up and leave.


    Thus, as long as Artemis remained on the ind of Crete for one more day, his safety was mostly guaranteed.


    As he sorted through his thoughts again, Luo En instantly felt Athena''s invisible care for him and couldn''t help but admire the Goddess of Wisdom''s mind, intricate as a honeb.


    Then, pointing to the darkening sky, Luo En asked, "So, how long should I continue to coax her?"


    Athena smiled slightly, leaning elegantly against the trunk of a tree, enjoying thekeside view, "No rush, let her be happy for a while since it''s rare for her to beat me. By the way, the prey has not all been cleaned up yet, has it?"


    The two exchanged a look and simultaneously revealed mischievous smiles.


    Meanwhile, the Goddess of the Hunt, who waspletely unaware that she had been yed by the two of them, was squatting in the messy hunting field, busily skinning, deboning, tying, and loading each piece of game... and thoroughly enjoying it.


    While waiting, Athena did not forget to issue another reminder.


    "Although Artemis currently has a favorable impression of you, it''s best if you don''t get too close to her or be overly involved."


    "Understood, Crete Ind is my home!"


    On the issue of allegiance, Luo En naturally made a clear pledge.


    "Not because of that..."


    Athena gave Luo En, who was disying his loyalty, a sidelong nce, her eyes shimmering deeply.


    "Don''t be fooled by her normal appearance, but this woman is a bit crazy in her bones. If you get too close, be careful not to lose your grip..."


    Crazy?


    Luo En paused slightly, reflecting on the contradictory nature of Artemis in mythology—sometimes gentle, sometimes somber, sometimes generous, sometimes vengeful—and his eyes held a new measure of caution towards the Goddess of the Hunt.


    Seeing that Luo En took her advice to heart, Athena stretchedzily, satisfied, and then got up and called out.


    "Alright, it''s about time, we should head back as well."


    However, just as the two were about to set off to meet with Artemis, a thunderous boom resounded in the sky, and mes adorned with water-blue sea patterns and bird motifs zed fiercely atop Mount Olympus.


    Suddenly, the ease and contentment on Athena''s face vanished, reced by a gloomy expression.


    "Tsk, here ites again! Looks like I have to make another trip to Olympus."


    Observing the anomaly in the sky, Luo En immediately understood that it was probably the unresolved aftermath between Crete Ind and the Sea of Okeanos.


    Regarding the disputes among the Chief Gods, he was currently helpless and could only see Athena off as she began her journey.


    "By the way, this is what I promised youst time. Keep it safe; you might find use for it. If you have any questions, I''ll exin them to you when I get back."


    Before departing, Athena handed a golden belt to Luo En''s hands, leaving him a few reminders, then spread her golden wings and transformed into a massive owl, vanishing into the dim sky.


    Just as Luo En held the item in his hand, somewhat perplexed, a surprised whisper came from behind him.


    "The War God''s military belt?"


    Artemis, who hade at the sound, looked at her future guide with silvery eyes that twinkled with a hint of yfulness and curiosity.


    "To personally bestow something you won from Ares upon you, it seems she''s quite fond of you," she said.


    It wasn''t that she won it and then gave it to me; she won it for me...


    Luo En thought back to the promise made before the battle, feeling the pure authority of war contained within the belt, and silently corrected his thoughts with aplex gaze as he looked towards the direction where the golden figure had disappeared.


    ~~


    Meanwhile, in Antis, the Temple of the God of the Sea.


    A ghostly blue figure, formed from sea water, opened his eyes and looked down at the youth in hunting garb prostrated at his feet, his deep and solemn voice echoing through the hall.


    "I will hold that woman back in Olympus, you must aplish that task before she returns!"


    "I understand, Father God..."


    Within the deep blue glow, a face that was na?ve yet shadowed by gloom raised slightly, a hesitant look shing with a trace of resentment.


    "But I''m worried that some people on the ind may dy your great n, so..."


    "Are you teaching me how to do things?!"


    In an instant, a chilling coldness apanied by a derisive snort fell from above, those eyes from the abyss scrutinizing the shivering scion below.


    "Do you know how much effort I''ve spent to keep you alive? Keep your useless cunning to yourself! If you want to win, fight for it yourself! If you mess up the main task, or if your ipetence causes my ns to fail, you should know the consequences!"


    "As youmand, Father God! I assure you, I will not fail your trust!"


    Seeing the impending wrath of thunderbolt ready to strike, the hunter with the na?ve face dared not ponder longer, hastily swearing oaths.


    Finally, under the hunter''s solemn vow, the oppressive atmosphere in the great hall dissipated somewhat, reced by a mournful reminder.


    "Remember, this is yourst chance..."


    The hunter buried his head deeper, only daring to lift it slightly after the bundle of ghostly blue light in the hall hadpletely vanished.


    And at that moment, the na?ve face was filled with darkness and venom.


    You bastards of Crete Ind, just you wait, this isn''t over!