I Am a Prophet in Greece

During a break in the gods' celebration, Zeus invited Theron to a side hall and asked sincerely,

"Great Lord Theron, you once prophesied that I would become the new King of Gods, but I do not know how to persuade my two brothers. Could you, in your wisdom, offer me some advice?"

Theron smiled at this. "Your Highness, forgive me, but I am unable to help. This is a family matter for the King of Gods. As an outsider god, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere."

Zeus immediately frowned upon hearing this. Though he was pleased by Theron's sense of propriety, what he wanted now was advice.

Just as he was considering how to persuade Theron that he did not have to remain merely an outsider god, Theron spoke again.

"Perhaps you could seek the goddesses' help."

Zeus froze, instinctively retorting, "The goddesses have no inheritance rights."

"But that does not mean they have no say, does it?" Theron asked with a smile. "Have you forgotten how you first gained Oceanus's support?"

"Do not underestimate the power of the goddesses."

At those words, Zeus instantly understood, delight appearing on his face.

He remembered. His first step in persuading Oceanus's faction had been to approach Metis, the Goddess of Wisdom.

Then he could win the goddesses' support by courting them.

Zeus was exceptionally skilled at sweet talk, especially when it came to winning a goddess's favor. For him, this was practically returning to his comfort zone.

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance," Zeus said with a smile. "Please return to the banquet. This celebration has only just begun."

Theron smiled and nodded before returning to the feast.

Then he saw Zeus go to his eldest sister Hestia's side. He did not know what Zeus said to her, but the two left together.

As expected of Greece's greatest romantic. With that kind of initiative, no wonder he has so many children.

As Theron was reflecting inwardly, he suddenly felt someone watching him. He looked up and met Poseidon's gaze.

Having already been reprimanded by the gods, Poseidon did not dare be disrespectful toward Theron now, but he remained unconvinced.

He believed that Olympus's gods had contributed the most to defeating Kronos, that the victory belonged to the six siblings. Yet Zeus spoke as though they could not have won without Theron.

Poseidon had heard what Kronos said about Theron during the final divine battle. Theron was nothing more than a swindler, and his own strength was actually quite weak.

Poseidon could not be bothered to pay attention to someone like that, but Prometheus's words had reminded him of something.

The war was over. What came next was the division of the spoils, and the most important prize was the throne of the King of Gods. Poseidon feared that Theron would interfere and help Zeus.

Zeus was already stronger than him. If Zeus also had more supporters, what would Poseidon have left to compete for?

So when he saw Theron leave with Zeus earlier, Poseidon had been unable to sit still.

Now that Theron had returned, Poseidon immediately decided to warn this swindler.

He lifted a cup of divine wine and approached Theron, his voice deep and rough. "Lord Theron, thank you for the power you displayed in this divine war. On behalf of Olympus, I offer you our most sincere gratitude."

The moment Poseidon moved, quite a few gods followed him with their eyes. Once he spoke, even more gods pricked up their ears.

"Lord Poseidon, you are too courteous." Theron remained perfectly calm, neither pleased nor displeased.

"It is only proper. Please enjoy this celebratory banquet. As for what comes next, Olympus will handle it ourselves."

The meaning behind his words was obvious. He was telling Theron not to meddle, dividing Theron and Olympus into two separate camps.

Poseidon clearly knew that the gods were watching him, so he was also speaking for their benefit. He did not want the gods interfering in the struggle for the throne of the King of Gods, believing it to be an internal matter.

While listening to the burly man before him warn him, Theron watched Hestia quietly return to the banquet, her face flushed red. He then watched Zeus secretly lead Demeter away, and finally Hera.

He had no idea what Zeus had said to them, but every goddess returned with a crimson face, shyly lowering her head and not daring to meet Zeus's eyes.

And Poseidon? He was still chattering away, using words laced with threats and warnings to remind Theron and the other gods.

Theron could not help but sigh inwardly. Poseidon really did not seem to have enough brains. What was he supposed to use to compete with Zeus?

Yet Poseidon did not feel there was anything wrong with what he had done. He was even rather pleased with himself.

He believed that if these outsider gods did not interfere and it was merely an internal competition, he would have a strong chance of becoming the King of Gods.

After all, Zeus had not spent so long together with their other siblings inside Kronos's stomach. In terms of closeness, surely the siblings who had shared that experience were closer.

Thinking of this, Poseidon could not help but marvel at how clever he was.

Pursuing the Goddesses

After Theron's reminder, Zeus understood that the distribution of power would ultimately have to be discussed among the six siblings themselves. Outsider gods could not interfere in their family affairs.

Whenever he, Poseidon, and Hades each held different opinions, the views of the three goddesses became critically important.

So how could he make the goddesses support him?

Naturally, he had to make them his wives. Husband and wife were one.

Courting just one did not seem safe enough, so Zeus decided to pursue all three at once.

At this time, Zeus already had Metis, the Goddess of Wisdom, but no one had ever said that a god could only have one wife.

Hestia, Zeus's eldest sister and the Goddess of the Hearth who symbolized domestic harmony, was at a complete loss when faced with Zeus's pursuit.

She was quite reserved by nature, had little interest in love, and no interest in power at all. She could only refuse him tactfully.

Zeus's second sister, Demeter, the goddess who symbolized agriculture and abundant grain harvests, had a much gentler temperament. Under Zeus's honeyed words, she quickly fell for him.

Zeus was powerful and handsome, so eloquent, gentle, and considerate. To a goddess, he possessed an almost fatal attraction.

As for Zeus's third sister, white-armed Hera, who symbolized fertility and possessed breathtaking beauty, she had the strongest ideas of the three goddesses.

She neither rejected Zeus's pursuit nor readily agreed to it. She maintained an elusive distance, yet the two were clearly growing close.

For however long this divine banquet lasted, Zeus pursued them for just as long. In the end, though, only Demeter had been won over.

While Zeus was making moves for the throne of the King of Gods, Poseidon was also taking action.

Poseidon first warned the outsider gods at the banquet, declaring that Olympus would decide its own affairs, including the coming election for the King of Gods. It would be determined internally, and no one else was permitted to comment.

After warning the gods, especially Theron, Poseidon began considering how to make his sisters support him.

He decided to curry favor with the goddesses.

Though the divine banquet appeared lively and celebratory on the surface, undercurrents had long been flowing beneath it. Of the six new gods of Olympus, only Hades seemed to be doing nothing but drinking.

As the god who symbolized darkness, Hades did not actually enjoy lively occasions, nor was he particularly eager for the throne of the King of Gods.

At least, he did not regard it as something already in his grasp, something he was determined to obtain, as Poseidon and Zeus did.

Theron watched the show from beginning to end, enjoying fine wine and food while watching Zeus and Poseidon secretly compete.

The only regret was that Poseidon truly was not very clever. He did not look remotely capable of competing with Zeus.

Especially after Theron had reminded Zeus, Poseidon's actions had fallen completely behind.

Zeus had already taken the three goddesses out several times. Demeter had not even returned yet, while Poseidon had only just remembered to curry favor with the goddesses.

And his method of currying favor was equally shallow.

He merely praised Hestia and Hera's beauty at the banquet and commended their strength. Seeing the two goddesses delighted by his compliments, he felt certain of victory.

It was only then that he noticed Demeter was not at the banquet.

Poseidon immediately prepared to leave the banquet to find Demeter, but he stopped when passing Theron.

"Lord Theron, I do not believe in so-called fate," Poseidon said, lowering his voice with a hint of provocation. "So when I become the King of Gods, you will no longer have the chance to deceive the gods."

Before Theron could say anything, Prometheus beside him could not sit still. He frowned and was about to rebuke Poseidon.

But Theron stopped him in time.

Theron showed no reaction to Poseidon's provocation and warning. He even maintained his smile.

"Talk about it after you become the King of Gods."

Seeing that Theron did not react, Poseidon instantly lost interest. He snorted coldly and left.

"Lord Theron, why did you not teach him a lesson?" Prometheus was furious. "How dare he be so rude?"

"It is fine. He cannot become the King of Gods anyway, so all he can do is talk." Theron smiled. "My prophecy has already been made."

He did not lower his voice when saying this, so many at the divine banquet heard him. For a moment, quite a few gods revealed thoughtful expressions, including the silent Hades.

He glanced at Demeter's empty seat and Zeus's empty seat, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Poseidon arrived outside Demeter's temple.

At the door, he heard faintly strange sounds from within, seemingly a woman's suppressed moans.

Poseidon did not think much of it and called out directly, "Beautiful Demeter, has something happened? Do you need help?"

Strangely, the moment he spoke, all sound inside ceased.

Poseidon was somewhat puzzled. Just as he was about to push open the door, Demeter's voice came from within, though it trembled for some reason.

"Poseidon, what do you want with me?"

"I want you to support me as the King of Gods." Poseidon spoke without hesitation, his tone utterly sincere. "We were swallowed by the brutal Kronos together. We spent thousands of years together inside his body. There are no people closer than us."

"Though Zeus saved us, compared to our closeness, he can only be considered an outsider."

Inside the temple, Demeter fell silent. Just when Poseidon found it strange, her voice sounded again.

"I will consider it."

A smile of assured victory immediately appeared on Poseidon's face, and he left in satisfaction.

Poseidon understood Demeter's personality very well. He knew she was a softhearted goddess and that appealing to emotion was the most effective approach.

But unfortunately, he was not the only one who knew that.

Inside the temple, Zeus held Demeter tightly from behind, the two pressed inseparably together. In a low voice, he asked, "Are you closer to him?"

Demeter's face was completely flushed, and she could not say a word.

Zeus could not help feeling fortunate that he had asked Theron for advice and made his move earlier.

Otherwise, Poseidon might really have beaten him to it.

As Poseidon returned to the temple, he could not resist speaking arrogantly again when passing Theron. "Did you not prophesy that Zeus would become the King of Gods? If I become the King of Gods, do you think anyone will still believe your prophecy?"

"Facts will naturally prove everything." Theron answered with a smile, his gaze toward Poseidon filled with pity. "You will understand sooner or later."