I really didn't want to burn it.

"Isn't Sparta inland?" the good girl Mashu asked quietly.

“They’re not Spartans,” Chloris whispered. “They’re Argos.”

"Weren't they northeast of Sparta? How did they get here?"

Chloris guessed, "They might be acting as Spartans' agents. After all, Sparta doesn't have many people, and they've all gone to Troy."

"Like a fox borrowing the tiger's power..."

Li Ang's gaze toward the other person became even more contemptuous.

"Hey! Stop whispering!"

Seeing that these foreigners didn't take him seriously, the tax collector gave a disgruntled reminder.

"We are not a merchant ship, but an exploration vessel."

Drake spoke up to remind him.

The seas of the Greek gods held countless treasures, but also harbored various dangers. Coupled with the atmosphere of hero worship in the age of gods, those who dared to challenge the seas were welcomed and worshipped by the major city-states.

Drake had previously used this excuse to dismiss envoys from various city-states and countries, and it proved to be very effective.

The envoys from those city-states and countries were also quite sensible. Don't be fooled by Drake's lack of fame now; who knows what the future holds?

What if Derek and his crew become heroes one day, or even be deified by the gods, and then come back to cause trouble for us?

In the heroic tales of Perseus, Hercules, Theseus, and others, the fate of those clowns who stood in their way is clearly depicted in the stories.

However, that excuse won't work very well today.

"An exploration ship?" the tax collector sneered. "Now all ships docking in port must be taxed! This is an order from King Menelaus of Sparta!"

Leon was highly skeptical of this man's explanation: "Did the Spartans know you gave this order?"

The tax collector pulled a very crude iron token from his pocket.

"This is a token issued by His Majesty Menelaus! Watch your words!"

The tax collector stroked his beard smugly.

He had never seen such a ship before, but judging from its performance when it entered the port from the near sea, it far surpassed the ships under his command.

The owner of such a fine ship must be either royalty or a wealthy tycoon.

It would be a disservice to his tanned skin if we didn't take advantage of him.

In any case, the overall atmosphere in Greece is now united against Troy. Once this label is attached to them, everyone has to obediently follow the rules.

"Don't be unhappy, this is a new tax specifically levied to prevent Trojans from harassing you at sea. The money you spend will be used for maritime defense, making you safer."

Drake, with an air of "I'm not well-educated, don't try to fool me," retorted, "Wasn't Troy already completely surrounded? Where did these Trojan ships come from?"

Mashu hid behind Chloris and muttered, "Besides, we didn't see any of your defense ships on our way here, we only saw them at the port."

Li Ang delivered the definitive conclusion.

"That goes without saying. It's obvious they don't have the guts to actually suppress bandits, but they do have the guts to use the guise of bandit suppression to make money."

"You... you..."

The tax collector pointed at Li Ang and his group, his face turning a deep shade of purplish-red with anger.

"I suspect you are Trojan spies! Conduct a thorough search!"

"You dare to try?"

Drake's smile vanished, and she pulled out her musket, pointing it at the tax collector's forehead.

"This one……"

The tax collector had no idea what the short, thick iron pipe with a hole in the middle was for. But the instinctive human fear of death made him break out in a cold sweat.

"What are you going to do?"

The tax collector's attendants drew their weapons.

Li Ang and his group were not to be outdone, and they also grabbed rune grenades, rattan whips, and dining tables.

"Stop fighting! Both sides put away their weapons!"

A round-faced, chubby Scottish rooster—no, an owl—jumped between them and spoke in a soft, sacred tone.

Actually, the owl didn't want to reveal her identity, but she didn't want a conflict on the deck.

Although this little girl named Fujimaru Ritsuka has a somewhat goofy personality, Athena felt that she should at least protect her safety, considering how much she had taken care of her these past few days.

Li Ang was simply surprised to hear the owl talking, but the tax collector looked as if his mother had been sent directly to Mars on a space shuttle.

No one in all of Greece was unaware of this divine power, especially since it was an owl that spoke.

So all the Greeks, including the tax collectors, knelt down.

"Athena... Lady Athena."

The tax official felt he had the worst luck imaginable, having somehow managed to tax Athena.

The owl continued in the goddess's voice, "They are an adventure team I dispatched to explore the depths of the Mediterranean!"

"cut!"

Chloris spat dismissively.

The owl glanced at Chloris.

Despite wanting to smash this aunt's head in his heart, the owl continued to boast and announce his divine oracle in order to show off.

“They will travel from here to the depths of the ocean. Argos, you know what to do.”

After saying this, the owl flew back to Ritsuka's head and pretended to be nonchalant, making a "coo-coo" sound.

"oh oh."

Ritsuka stroked her owl with stars in her eyes, "So, round-faced chicken, you're Athena's messenger... That's amazing!"

"Cuckoo~"

The owl tilted its head cutely, trying its best to look innocent.

"Just keep acting..."

A certain adulterous couple strongly condemned a certain goddess who was dressed as a pet bird.

In contrast to the peaceful atmosphere aboard the Golden Hind, the Argos tax collectors looked utterly dejected.

"I...I...I know...I understand."

Even though they were unwilling, the tax collector had no choice but to obediently lead the people off the ship.

In Greece, no one dared to defy the will of this goddess.

However, if you hold back for a while, you'll only get angrier; if you back down, you'll only feel like you've lost out.

Seeing the prize slip away right before his eyes, the tax collector was filled with resentment. He trembled all over and couldn't utter a single word.

As for the other Argos people, they were instantly excited after being told that there was no more money to be had.

With so many people mobilized, they didn't even get a single penny. Is there any justice in this world?

The Argos dared not curse the goddess Athena, so they could only hurl random insults at the Golden Deer.

"You foreigners who have received the favor of the goddess, you wait! Poseidon, the god of the sea, will surely bring misfortune upon your ships in the Mediterranean!"

The tax collector finally couldn't hold back any longer. He ordered the sailors to turn the ship away while holding a longsword and cursing loudly at the Golden Hind in Greek.

“Hey, did you all hear that? He’s threatening us.” Leon turned to Drake. “What are your thoughts?”

“They brought it on themselves,” Drake sneered.

If Derek had been worried about the impact on ordinary people like Ritsuka while on the ship, he might have had some reservations, but now that the Argos people have all disembarked.

Mashu smiled wryly and advised, "I think it would be better if everyone calmed down..."

"I hope you can drift to Collins after the ship sinks, so that you can survive."

The Argos below sneered and cursed.

Mashu's expression changed instantly: "Mr. Leon, Captain Drake, let us take care of them!"

"What do you think, Goddess's messenger?"

Chloris raised her eyebrows and looked at the owl.

"Cuckoo."

The owl snuggled closer to Ritsuka, showing no intention of interfering at all.

Anyway, I'm just a pet bird now, so what does the death of the Argos people have to do with me?

"Coo coo, coo coo, coo coo. (Hopeless, go to hell, goodbye.)"

The owl showed no remorse whatsoever and immediately unleashed the [Bian Que Triple Combo.jpg].

"So...Golden Wild Hunt! (Golden Deer and Stormy Night!)"

When Drake uttered those words, the Argonaut fleet in this important port on the Peloponnese Peninsula met its end.

Even without deploying his own fleet, Drake demonstrated the Argos's firepower coverage with just one Golden Hind.

The poor Argos never dreamed that this ship would have the power to destroy their fleet.

In the tax collector's mind, the ship was just a bit big; little did he know it would be a monster.

Amidst the raging gunfire, Leon and Chloris held hands as they watched the Argos people crying and screaming on the sea.

"By the way, didn't we agree not to cause trouble?"

"Do you think you can tolerate this?"

"of course not."

"That settles it then. Look, the people on the shore are cheering. These Argos people are really unpopular."

Indeed, when they saw that the Golden Hind was only attacking Argonaut ships, the other Greeks nearby applauded and cheered.

Clearly, the Argos people's exorbitant taxes and levies had long been a source of discontent among the local population.

"That's true, but I'm more concerned about something else..."

Chloris's hand climbed onto Li Ang's arm.

"what?"

"When did you get involved with Athena?! You didn't secretly date her on the ship behind my back, did you?"

"How could that be! If that were the case, you would definitely smell her scent when you kiss me... Ouch! I was wrong!"

Accompanied by dazzling fireworks and urged on by Miss Flower Goddess's two-finger Zen, Li Ang began to tap dance on the deck of the Golden Deer.

On that day, gunfire and smoke were the only two themes in this port.

Meanwhile, the heroic deeds of the Golden Deer were widely circulated and became a popular story among bards—the golden behemoth that vanquished evil and brought peace, and the man who summoned divine punishment with a strange dance.

M78 Nebula 756365104

PS: I burst out laughing when I first saw the picture above.

But thinking about it carefully, it doesn't seem to make any mistakes. Mimi-chan really is broken. (* /ω＼*)

Chapter 48 Oh no! Achilles has defected!

The magnificent fireworks display at the port naturally caught the attention of the Grand Duke and the Chief, who had not yet gone far.

"Mr. Vlad III... cough cough, what is this?"

The Grand Duke smiled and nodded: "This is a farewell to us. As expected of the Master of Chaldea, he is indeed loyal and righteous."

"That...no...I think...it's impossible..."

The commander looked at the Grand Duke speechlessly with an expression that seemed to say, "Are you kidding me?"

"Let's go, Lord Okita." The Grand Duke patted Souji on the shoulder. "A scholar will die for one who understands him; we cannot let them down."