Arrival

At the last moment before the Clashing Rocks closed, Bai Mo used the last of his strength to pull himself up on top. Then he gasped for breath, the dizziness from oxygen deprivation gradually fading with each breath. Afterward, he saw everyone aboard the Argo running toward him.

Cheers and praise rang out endlessly. The heroes of the Argo tossed Bai Mo into the air again and again, all thanking the great hero who had saved the Agor in its moment of crisis.

Standing on the deck, Atalanta could not help smiling as she watched Bai Mo being thrown into the air repeatedly. Then a shout brought everyone's celebration to a halt.

"Sorry to spoil your fun, but right now, every last one of you needs to clean this ship!"

Asclepius's voice rang out. Everyone stared blankly at him, and Bai Mo, who had been tossed into the air with no one left to catch him, fell straight to the deck.

"That hurt." The voice did not come from Bai Mo. Falling from this height was nothing to him, but Jason happened to be directly beneath him and served as his cushion. Then everyone saw Asclepius carrying something like a stretcher and putting Bai Mo onto it.

"Contact with unknown creatures can lead to infection by unknown viruses. Bai Ermo, you're going into quarantine starting now. The same goes for you, Heracles. Everyone else, get to work on sanitation. Do you want to live with that pile of minced flesh?"

As the physician, Asclepius had always been primarily responsible for sanitation aboard the ship, not just medical treatment. From cleaning the ship to the crew's meals, Jason had entrusted almost everything to Asclepius.

Thanks to him, no one aboard the Argo had shown any symptoms of illness. Everyone was perfectly healthy, which could be considered a miracle for seafarers in this era.

As a result, practically everyone was assigned to clean the Argo.

"Why haven't these Clashing Rocks split apart yet?"

Bai Mo had changed into clean patient clothes and was staying in a room with Heracles, watching everyone cleaning outside.

Oh, and there was Jason. Having been injured when Bai Mo landed on him, he was now comfortably resting in the large bed in his captain's cabin as a patient.

"Perhaps it's because we're still alive. This thing hasn't killed us yet, but it's already closed, so it can't accept that and refuses to let go."

Heracles answered, sitting down on the bed. He spoke to Bai Mo in a somewhat grave tone. "Those sea monsters were of divine blood. You noticed that too, didn't you?"

Bai Mo nodded. When he guessed that the gods were behind these sea monsters, he had already more or less figured that out. Both men felt that a shadow had fallen over their journey. Afterward, Bai Mo and Heracles discussed whether these sea monsters might have been Poseidon's offspring, and both independently arrived at the same answer.

It's fine. Poseidon has almost too many children to count. Surely he won't actually come after me. Bai Mo thought this, but at the same time, he was considering countermeasures. Entrusting his life to someone else and counting on their mercy was a fool's idea. Bai Mo touched the olive branch tucked against his chest.

If Poseidon came after him, his only option might be to place himself under Athena's protection.

Bai Mo's gaze darkened.

They can drive me into a corner just by making a move? Heh. The gods really do wield the knife while humans are the meat on the chopping block. Veins bulged on Bai Mo's fists, and his nails dug deep into his flesh. In an instant, defiance filled his heart.

He looked out at the sea, his thoughts returning to his days on Blue Star.

Back in elementary school, he had disliked socializing. He had once had a friend, but his childhood had still been lonely. Once, a conflict between students led a small clique to come looking for trouble with his friend.

Back then, Bai Mo had stood beside his friend without hesitation, and they had gotten into a fight. Bai Mo could barely handle two people. Against three, they could bluff and deceive them by acting tough.

Against five, Bai Mo and his friend could only take a beating. During it, someone grabbed Bai Mo by the hair, and his teeth shattered against the corner of a wall.

Afterward, his friend told Bai Mo, "We're too weak. How could two people possibly beat five? I'm going to hang out with them from now on and give them my pocket money and snacks. That way, they won't beat us up anymore."

"How can you do that? If you do, they'll definitely get worse. From now on, let's use our playtime every day to train. One day, we'll be able to beat them."

From then on, Bai Mo was alone.

Colski. After countless hardships, the Argo finally arrived, and everyone knew that the real challenge was only beginning.

"What? You're going off on your own?"

Jason was somewhat speechless. This final trial was the one that truly threatened their lives. They might have to face the army of Colski, and having Bai Mo beside him made Jason feel safer.

"No. A hidden blade is often deadlier. I'm planning to act alone this time. Besides, with Heracles here, the enemy won't be stupid enough to start a war, unless they've already sacrificed their brains to Ares."

On Blue Star, the difference in strength between people was not great. One person could not fight an entire country. But this era, or rather, the magnetic field world, was different. Heracles really could fight a country alone, and a top magnetic field powerhouse really could defeat the entire world.

But the mountain that was the Olympian Gods had always weighed down on Bai Mo. Now, taking advantage of everyone being off the ship, Bai Mo sat cross-legged and began to think. He considered the cards he held and the state of the plot.

Heracles had not left the party, so the plot would most likely change quite a bit. But Bai Mo was not worried about the king of Colski making a move. In the original story, they had not dared use force even without Heracles around. Now that Heracles was here, these people would be even less inclined to act recklessly.

Hmm, next comes Medea...

Bai Mo looked at the lead-colored arrow in his hand. This arrow had already served its purpose. As for Medea's tragedy, Bai Mo had always deeply sympathized with this poor woman who had been toyed with by the gods, but now he could barely look after himself.

Once the Argo's voyage ended, Athena's deadline would arrive. Although Athena had treated him reasonably well so far, Bai Mo did not want to risk his life in anyone's service, human or god.

"Leaving this world requires energy, and only gods can provide energy on that scale. There's a temple to the Three Goddesses of Fate here. Phineus also said I have to obtain my own thread of fate, or the only ending awaiting me is death."

Looking at the brightly lit Colchis in the distance, Bai Mo murmured, "Even without Phineus's prophecy, I'd still have to get my thread of fate. I couldn't control my fate in my previous life. Now that I have a chance, I'll get it, no matter how difficult it is."

Mount Olympus

"Hahaha, look at that rotten idea of yours. Uncle Poseidon, all your efforts went to waste this time."

A goddess's laughter echoed through the palace of the gods. Seated near the seat of honor, a man with long, wavy azure hair and a golden trident shook his head as well. Yet there was not a trace of anger on his face. Instead, he smiled as he enjoyed the wine poured by a celestial maiden.

"Aphrodite, stop mocking your uncle," said Hephaestus, the somewhat ugly god of fire beside her. But Aphrodite ignored him as though she had not heard.

"It's fine. Those two pieces of trash were simply useless. If they couldn't even handle something like this, they don't deserve to be my offspring. Brother Hades, once they reach the Underworld, don't hold back. I don't want to see those two pieces of trash again."

As casually as if he were discussing dinner with his brother, Poseidon sentenced his two offspring to death.

Beside the goddess of love, Ares, wearing a helmet and holding a spear, radiated murderous intent as he said, "Since none of you managed to make Heracles and Bai Ermo leave, then according to our agreement, I'm free to do as I please next."

With that, Ares gave Athena a somewhat provocative look. Both men had considerable ties to Athena, especially Heracles. Ares could hardly wait to use that man's blood to win a smile from his mother, Hera.

On the seat of honor, Zeus opened his eyes and glanced at Ares. That single glance made the god of war's murderous intent all but dissipate like smoke swept away by the wind.

To Zeus, familial affection and offspring were nothing more than pawns. Heracles was one, and in his eyes, so was Bai Ermo. The only difference was whose hands held those pawns. For now, Heracles's allegiance remained uncertain, while Bai Ermo would most likely fall into Athena's hands.

What a painful loss. Isn't it a waste for someone so capable to become Athena's pawn instead of risking his life for me?

Ever since the hero Perseus had handed Medusa's head to Athena, Zeus had held no affection for this daughter of his. Rather, from the moment Zeus had wanted to rape Athena, the two gods could no longer have called each other family.

After the gods' banquet ended, Hera came to Athena's temple.

"Ares won't put away his spear because of my husband's authority. Athena, for our future, we must ally once again to deal with that husband of mine."

Hera settled comfortably into Athena's seat and spoke mildly. How could Athena fail to understand? She replied evenly, "Zeus doesn't want us to intervene in person. Even Poseidon could only find two sea monsters. But Colchis worships the god of war. If war breaks out, once Colchis makes a sacrifice to him, Ares will spare no effort."

Athena ruled out a direct assault outright. Then she looked at a game piece that somewhat resembled a captain and said, "The best way to breach a city is from within. The king's daughter, Medea, is the one who can help Jason obtain the Golden Fleece. Love will make a woman throw caution to the wind, even betray her father."

But Hera gave a playful smile and said, "Yet Bai Ermo has the lead-colored arrow you gave him, and he utterly detests toying with people's feelings. Are you sure he won't do something?"

Athena paid it no mind and merely smiled faintly.

A ruthless woman. Hera already knew that Athena had prepared a backup plan, so she said no more and left to find Aphrodite, the goddess of love.