Abducting a Stepmother?

Jason's eyes flickered, and he coughed as he explained.

"Ahem, you should take your less injured companions with you. I'll pilot the Argo and take the wounded back home for treatment."

After all, as captain, he needed to consider the safety of most of the crew, many of whom were already seriously injured and unfit to immediately embark on another adventure.

Upon hearing this, the Argo Heroes exchanged glances and nodded slightly, clearly understanding the captain's good intentions.

"Hmph! You coward, if you're scared, just say so. Why put on such a grand show of righteousness when you want to desert!"

Leaning on a long spear, Caenis limped out from the back hall, showing no gratitude and coldly snorting with disdain.

Amidst these doubts, more and more Argo Heroes, their expressions shifting, scrutinized Captain Argonaut in the crowd.

Jason was struggling to breathe, his face flushed with embarrassment. He wanted to argue, but he was speechless with embarrassment.

Just as Jason was feeling somewhat embarrassed, Samael raised his hand and patted the captain on the shoulder, speaking approvingly.

"You're right. Even if it means sacrificing one's honor for a moment, one should not put the lives of the crew in danger. You are indeed the most qualified captain."

"Indeed, we need to consider the majority of the crew. Besides, crossing the River Styx and searching for Paradise Island is a matter of skill, not quantity, and it's not suitable for too many people to participate. After I invite a few friends who are willing to accompany us, I'll trouble you to take the rest of the crew back to Iolcus."

With the support of the Goddess of Wisdom's adopted son, the Argo Heroes gradually dispelled their doubts and understood Captain Ja's good intentions.

Even the hot-tempered Caenis, after much thought, realized her mistaken assumptions and apologized to Jason.

Jason responded to the crew's reconciliation with nods and groans, his gaze unconsciously darting away. In a fleeting moment, he turned his head, wanting to seek help from his old friend, only to find that he had already led several familiar figures out of the palace.

Samael stopped at the secluded port where he had arranged to meet Poseidon.

"Hmph! I think that kid is clearly trying to desert his post. Do you really need to defend him?"

Artemis slightly raised her eyes and bluntly exposed Jason's true intentions.

The group from Mount of Ares, along with Atalanta, Medea, Circe, remained calm and unconcerned about the captain's choice.

On the contrary, Heracles, at the back of the line, glanced back at the reception room, sighed slightly, frowned, and shook his head.

Clearly, many of the Argo Heroes had discerned Captain Jason's intentions, and his attitude had truly disappointed those close to him.

Samael turned around, smiled slightly, and didn't seem to mind.

"What he said is not wrong. The underworld is filled with Death Qi, and it is not a place for the wounded."

Furthermore, since the location of Paradise Island has been determined, we no longer need the Argo to disguise ourselves.

Apart from a few people, the other members are basically of no help. I can't just leave them all in Atlantis, can I?

Even Poseidon's territory is not necessarily secure.

Moreover, it is human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm. His choice was not entirely without responsibility. On the Oceanus Sea, no one was more suitable than this captain to transport the rest of the crew back home.

Therefore, there's no need to be so critical.

After the ancient serpent's objective and rational analysis and explanation, Artemis calmed down a little. Judging from her appearance, it would probably be difficult for her to get rid of her bad impression of Jason in a short time.

After all, after spending so much time together, it's inevitable to develop some closeness, and the captain's attitude at this moment has a hint of betrayal.

Samael was not surprised by this.

He was quite familiar with Jason's character. Now that the Golden Fleece was in hand, the throne seemed within his grasp. Expecting Jason to risk his life was probably not so easy.

Therefore, even when they ventured deep into the eye of the tidal sea to complete their exploration of Atlantis, it was only through a combination of bluffing and deception that Samael managed to keep Jason calm.

Now, with a series of unexpected events, his and Artemis's exposed combat abilities and involvement with the divine forces have exceeded the limits of ordinary beings.

Based on Jason's intuition, he had already guessed that he was involved in something serious, so it wasn't surprising that he withdrew now to save his life.

In response, Jason chose to back down, and Samael also held back.

For example, he didn't say that Jason's uncle, the King, was a bit cowardly, but his lust for power was no less. After obtaining the Golden Fleece, once the Argo Heroes returned to their respective countries, he turned his back on them, expelled his nephew Jason, and left him to live a life of wandering and hardship.

We are all adults, and we need to make our own choices and pay the corresponding price.

As the azure light patterns spread rhythmically from Thetis Island toward this place, Samael gathered his thoughts and looked at everyone in turn, his gaze landing on little Medea with a slight hesitation.

To be honest, this trip to the Underworld was fraught with risks, and Medea lacked experience in combat, so he didn't really want to involve her.

Anyway, with that silly bird Circe around, if we run into any trouble, we can always talk to Hecate, the Witch Goddess.

Sensing Samael's intentions, little Medea, filled with a sense of crisis, rushed forward and clung tightly to the ancient snake's arm, her cherry lips pressed together, pleading with pleading eyes.

"I want to stay by Lord Theseus's side, although I may not be very reliable... um... I'm sure I can be of help, please believe me..."

Seemingly because of her timidity and lack of persuasiveness, coupled with her naturally pessimistic nature, Medea immediately drooped her little head, looking dejected.

"I... I don't want to go to Athens alone..."

"Isn't Caenis there too? Rhode coming along too, they're going the same way anyway, they'll protect you."

Eager to get rid of this burden, Circe, almost beaming with joy despite her aunt's ego.

Suddenly, Samael's mind went blank, and he looked at the tearful little Medea in astonishment, as if he had seen a ghost.

"You're planning to... go to Athens?"

"Well, if... if Lord Theseus doesn't want me to follow you, Athens is your homeland, right? In any case, I will wait for you to return there!"

As if she could already see herself being forced onto the ship all alone, Medea looked sorrowful, and a resolute determination to take root in Athens and wait patiently appeared in her eyes.

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Ah?"

"You absolutely cannot go to Athens alone without me with you!"

"That..."

"Stay by my side and don't wander off, that's all for the underworld."

Samael, with a stiff smile, gripped Medea's soft hand tightly and, in an almost domineering tone, began to persuade her.

Seeing that happiness had come so suddenly, and without noticing anything amiss, little Medea smiled radiantly, her heart overflowing with sweetness, and shyly nodded in agreement.

At this moment, a look of horror filled Samael's eyes, which gradually faded.

Just now, he suddenly remembered that, according to the epic poem Medea, this Witch who suffered an unhappy marriage fled to Athens after betraying her ex-husband Jason, and became the new queen of King Aegeus of King of Athens.

As luck would have it, Aegeus was none other than the father of this King Theseus.

In other words, if some fate or inertia were to occur during the time Medea was left to fend for herself in Athens, she might have an additional nominal "stepmother" when she returned.

Well, with more people and more helpers involved, it's not so easy to avoid getting dragged in.

Moreover, he vaguely remembered that in some Greek legends, Medea reached the pinnacle of Age of Gods Magecraft, possessed an immortal body, and eventually became the Queen of King's Landing.

Perhaps, bringing this girl along might provide a hidden buff! Let's do it!

Samael, determined to avoid having a stepmother, waited until the vortex leading to the depths of the underworld opened, then picked up little Medea without a word and jumped down.

The six figures—the Healer, Orpheus, Atalanta, Heracles, Circe, and Artemis —exchanged glances and nodded, then followed closely behind.

Moments later, the deep whirlpool closed, and the sea returned to calm.

At this moment, having ascended to the top of the Stardust Mountains and looked down upon his ally Poseidon who had gone far away, he slowly withdrew his gaze, holding his trident, and walked step by step to the center of the Great Altar, silently reciting divine words.

In an instant, countless stars fell, forming a vast corridor from the Great Altar, stretching out into the scattered starry sky.

Poseidon, holding onto the silver, luminous spiral staircase, strolls through the starry sky. Along the way, in the luminous niches, ten uniquely shaped, True Body Machine God are arranged on both sides, remaining silent.

Until the end of the Milky Way, a silver vortex keeps turning. This is the core of the space that opened up the curved realm, extended thousands of spiral arms, and formed the Giant God Ocean starry sky scene.

At the very center of the starlight vortex, a giant cocoon of silvery-white metal, about one meter tall and shaped like a teardrop, with its outer shell engraved with intricate incantations and technological creations, beats rhythmically like a heart.

The threat comes from the stars?

Hmph! Zeus, you are clearly afraid of challenging your own power!

I conquered it!

Poseidon gazed with fascination at the prosperous kingdom of Atlantis that had brought him this power, a kingdom that emboldened him to challenge the divine authority of Olympus and the source of miracles, his expression one of madness.