Mechanical Civilization and Talos [Third Update]

Surviving the Sirens' temptation did not mean their troubles were over.

After that, the Argo arrived at the island of the Phaeacians, where they were welcomed by its king, Alcinous.

However, the Colchian warriors pursuing Medea by another route had finally tracked them down as well.

Incidentally, although the Argo was hailed as the world's first great oceangoing ship, that did not take Colchis into account.

With Mystra Academy backing them, Colchis's technological and civilizational development had advanced far beyond normal standards.

Though the Argonauts had never feared battle, there were now only a dozen or so of them. Facing Colchis's army was simply too much—especially in a naval battle. Individual valor could not replace ships. It was already quite a struggle for the Argonauts' numbers alone to operate the Argo; if battle broke out at sea, they would be no match for Colchis.

Just as both sides were preparing for a fierce clash, King Alcinous stepped in to mediate and said he would arbitrate between them.

During the truce, the king declared that, in keeping with the teachings of the goddess of love, true love should not be torn apart. Therefore, he announced that if Medea was still an unmarried maiden, she should be returned to her father for disposal; but if she had already become Ye Ting's wife, they should not be separated.

Naturally, the Argonauts would not push their luck and reject terms that so clearly favored them. As for the Colchian pursuers, before they had set out, King Aeetes had already received a hint from Mystra Academy. Thus, the king himself was merely going through the motions in pursuing the Argonauts; only the gods and heroes had been kept in the dark.

In fact, they had never even expected to catch up with the Argonauts. Yet