Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Samael glanced at the cold, bearded senator on the ground, then looked up at the group of wrinkled old men in the circular seating area, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Ahem, Lord Builder, this matter is a bit complicated. Perhaps we could discuss it after the meeting..."

"Idiot, shut up!"

A harsh rebuke interrupted the outpouring of flattery. The richly dressed old man, his face flushed with anger, sneered at the uninvited guests in the courtyard and spoke in a chilling tone.

"Attempting to reach the Holy Land, forging the emblem of the Pandion family! Kid, you dare to try and deceive me? You have some nerve!"

Then, the old man looked down disdainfully, as if watching a clown's farce.

“I can vouch for him; he is not a descendant of our Pandion family! Men, seize him and throw him in the water dungeon. Interrogate him thoroughly and make him confess who orchestrated this! This matter is definitely related to the Spartans!”

The soldiers who had gathered around looked hesitantly at the Medusa emblem on the old man's chest, exchanged glances, and then, amidst the commotion, hesitantly raised their swords and shields.

The group of divine blood nobles, still reeling from the shock of the sudden collapse of the 88 constellations of the Holy Domain, looked at the old man who had stood up to confront them with strange expressions.

"Fake? Surely not? That girl gave it to me herself..."

Sama stroked his chin, muttering as he examined the intricately patterned stone, and then, in full view of everyone, casually kicked it.

hum!

In an instant, a beam of light, interwoven with gold and purple, shot into the sky above the venue, passing through the central gap between the three goddess sculptures.

In the blink of an eye, the 88 constellations, with the twelve zodiac signs as their main element, were lit up one after another within the dome reflecting the starlight and galaxy, and a sacred mark gradually took shape.

Medusa... an olive branch...

Inside the open-air hall, the members of the Divine Blood Clan, who were seated in a circle, suddenly stood up and looked at the central stone. Their expressions of astonishment were beyond words, and their incredulous gazes were fixed on the figure standing lazily to one side.

The Pandion family! It truly is the emblem of the Pandion family!

Under the gazes of the crowd, some strange, some curious, and some mocking, the head of the Pandion family, who had raised the question earlier, looked even more embarrassed, his cheeks twitching constantly. Even the Medusa emblem on his chest looked clumsy and shabby in comparison.

“Boy, I will verify your bloodline in due time. If your identity is true, I will give you the opportunity to return to the Pandion family.”

The old man's face was grim. After snorting a few times with his neck stiff, he turned to a dark expression, pounded the table, and coldly threatened.

"But this is the sacred and solemn council chamber of Mount Ares. We are discussing and making decisions about the fate of Greece. Get out of here before I lose my temper, or no matter who you are or what kind of illegitimate child you are, you will be immediately expelled from the Pandion family!"

"Remove me from the list? Sorry, you seem to have misunderstood something."

Samael looked at the old man standing at the center of the circular seating arrangement, trying his best to maintain the dignity of the head of the family, scratched his head helplessly, and asked in a low voice.

"Does possessing the family crest necessarily mean one is your bloodline...?"

Not an heir? Could it be?!

As the man's casual words flowed from his lips, the current head of the Pandion family was struck as if by thunder. A certain possibility surfaced in his mind, causing him to tremble violently, his face to change drastically, and he looked at the man on the field who had removed his white hood in disbelief.

According to the Pandion family records, only one member has been personally identified by the goddess as having disappeared during the war of the Titans...

Similarly, Helen, who was standing next to her, clearly realized something as well. She turned her head in surprise and stared blankly at the figure whose face was distorted and changing under the halo of light.

"It seems I've been away for too long; it's necessary to introduce myself."

Samael looked around, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Let's get to know each other again. My name is Theseus, and if I remember correctly, I should be your king..."

The familiar yet unfamiliar name exploded in everyone's minds like a thunderclap, leaving many nobles of divine blood stunned and bewildered, and the venue fell into a deathly silence.

The ancient serpent's gaze swept over the aged and bewildered faces of the councilors, its gentle smile concealing a sharp, cold edge, as it pondered leisurely.

"Speaking of which, it seems like it's all thanks to me that you're all able to sit here so peacefully?"

Theseus, a great hero of the Greek heroic age, who participated in the Calydonian hunt and the Argonautical expedition, and the greatest builder of Athens! The saintly king who single-handedly elevated the Pandion family to godhood!

In addition, the laws of Athens, the Athenian navy, and the anti-war mechanism for Mount Ares all originated from his work!

Today, the formation of the Greek Union is built upon the foundation laid by his personal charisma and leadership during the war of the Titans, which united the Greek city-states and successfully repelled the wandering star warriors!

It can be said that the glory revered by all people, the majesty that looked down on Greece, the ability to command the troops of the various states, and the power to hold Sparta accountable, all in the hands of every noble of divine blood present in the council hall, all originated from him!

Queen Gogo stared wide-eyed at the assassin "Ezio" who had protected them on their journey, her face filled with disbelief. Helen gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar silhouette in her memory, her fingers clasped together in front of her chest, her eyes filled with a misty haze.

And now, he's finally back...

Chapter 116 The Great Purge at Mount War God

"Impossible! His Majesty Theseus has been missing for many years in the war against the Titans of the Planetary Vanguard! How dare you defile His Majesty's name, you imposter!"

Amidst a righteous and furious roar, the head of the Pandion family, with a sinister and resolute gaze, stomped his foot and charged out of the circular platform. Divine power surged wildly within him as he bent his fingers and locked onto Samael's throat.

As the shadow loomed over the "imposter," the people from War God Mountain couldn't help but reveal a hint of surprise in their eyes as they peered up.

Yes, this is a fake! His Majesty Theseus has long since disappeared into the war of the Titans, he will never return, nor should he!

hiss!

However, just as gloating gazes converged in the hall, a sharp shrill sound rang in everyone's ears, and the entire War God Mountain trembled violently as if a mountain had collapsed and a tsunami had struck.

puff...

In an instant, the rock strata split open, and a giant serpent about a hundred meters long, with black scales and purple halos, emerged from the crack in the ground. It coiled up in front of Samael and, with lightning speed, opened its mouth and, in full view of everyone, swallowed the demigod enveloped in ether.

Holy Serpent...

The people of War God Mountain were stunned by what they saw; a chilling coldness seemed to freeze their blood and souls.

hiss!

At the same time, the purplish-black giant serpent, enjoying a takeout delivery, raised its neck and hissed, its body pulsating with light patterns, and a torrent of golden-red ether opened its mouth and spewed it down onto Samael below.

Amidst the crisp metallic scraping sounds, dozens of square golden modules, engraved with intricate incantations and star patterns, flew around Samael, forming various joint components that covered the ancient serpent's body, fully arming it.

Sagittarius Gold Cloth, Wings of Victory, Medusa's Shield, Golden Bow...

The nobles of divine blood, who had originally harbored some ulterior motives, numbly recalled the names of those divinely crafted weapons in their minds, their eyes glazed over.

"Lower your head!"

"hiss~"

The purplish-black giant snake flicked its tongue, obediently lowered its head, and affectionately rubbed against Samael's palm.

The sacred serpent has been tamed!

bang bang bang...

At this moment, everyone's limbs were ice cold and their legs were weak. Regardless of their status or strength, they had unknowingly prostrated themselves on the ground, their bodies trembling and their heads buried deep in their hands.

In fact, Theseus, who guided the Greeks to defeat the wandering star warriors, was the last and greatest king of ancient Athens.

Since the war of the Titans, the rebuilt Athens no longer supported or appointed a king, but instead adopted the Areopagus decision-making system, implemented democratic politics, and transitioned to city-state governance.

The king's royal power was taken back to heaven by the three goddesses, who jointly bestowed it upon this sacred serpent enshrined in the temple.

Now that the sacred serpent has been tamed by this man, and has offered up the Sagittarius Cloth, known as the "Goddess's Guard," along with a host of divinely crafted weapons, it symbolizes the re-transfer of royal power.

The only person qualified to be King of Athens has returned!

Samael continued to tease the sacred serpent before him, a slight smile playing on his lips, a hint of wistfulness and nostalgia appearing in his eyes.

It really is this little guy, the one he gave to Themis as a token back then.

However, as time passed, this thing was transformed and accelerated by the three goddesses, and it became the sacred serpent worshipped in Athens.

This serpent not only guards the divinely crafted armor and holy garments that once belonged to him, but also the crown he held in Athens, awaiting the return of the final and last king of Athens.

I was wondering how you dared to abandon Athens and venture into the inner sea of ​​the star to explore. It turns out you had a backup plan all along.

Samael sensed the information left on the snake by touching it. His eyes were thoughtful, and his doubts and worries lessened a bit. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. He looked up at the Divine Blood Guards and nobles kneeling around him and asked with a playful tone.

"Now, it's my turn to speak. So, does anyone remember the motto that's passed down on Mount Ares?"

"God's...power is bestowed at birth; God's...duty is from beginning to end..."

After a moment of silence, a Divine Blood Guardian uttered the answer in a slightly trembling voice.

"That's right. God's power is given at birth; God's obligations are from beginning to end. This is God's advice on self-discipline and self-warning. I leave it to you in the hope that people will maintain a sense of awe and humility."

Because what is sacred is never the bloodline in your veins, but the heroes who bring glory to those bloodlines and create merit for Greece!

Unfortunately, you only remembered the first half of the sentence...

"What? With such a dazzling aura on Mount War, does anyone actually think they're a god being worshipped? I'm not dead yet!"

Samael sneered, exposing the true intentions of these entrenched nobles of divine blood. He then walked through the crowd step by step toward the gate. The dull sound of his footsteps seemed to pound on the hearts of everyone, making the old men with ulterior motives along the way turn ashen-faced and dare not raise their heads.

As the ancient serpent stepped out of the hall, its figure was fragmented by light and shadow, and its right hand was raised in a gesture.

"Spears, runes, in the name of Odin, the Father, gather here!"

The three accompanying Valkyries, Hilde, Slud, and Otlind, received the command, slowly stretched their bodies, chanted divine words, and flapped their wings to float into the air.

In an instant, Valkyries dressed in white battle robes, wielding luminous spears and runic shields, and bearing pure white wings, responded to the call and gathered in the sky, forming an orderly array in the air. The rising and converging runes connected to form a huge magic circle that covered the entire city of Athens.

Tsk tsk tsk!

At the same time, under the master's slap, the sacred serpent raised its head and hissed, the light pattern array of the eighty-eight constellations opened, and dozens of streams of light fell straight down from above the God of War Mountain, landing on the square outside the council hall.

As the various lights faded, figures of flowing ethereal energy knelt before Samael.

"Your Highness, the ships have approached the port of Icarus, and the fleet has been assembled in the city. Please give the order!"

In solemn contemplation, King Sigurd raised his head, leaning on his sword, and asked for instructions. Behind him, the dragon slayer Beowulf, the Blood Axe King, the Raven King, and other Norse heroes stood in orderly ranks.

"No obstacles encountered?"

"all the best!"

"Tsk, it seems that Mount War God is rotten to the core, inside and out."

Samael shook his head somewhat dejectedly, turned and walked towards the group of elderly and senile nobles huddled in the shadows of the hall. He reached into the arms of the cold, bearded councilor on the ground, rummaged around for a moment, and then threw a bulging money bag in front of them.

With a clinking sound, Persian gold coins rolled around.

“Look, some of you have betrayed Greece, revealing my and the Spartan messenger’s route to the Persians in an attempt to prevent the Spartan-Athenian alliance!”

Samael frowned and snorted coldly, his anger palpable.

"From this moment forward, martial law will be imposed on both the inner and outer cities of Athens. Mount Ares will be closed, and no one may enter or leave the council chamber. I will thoroughly investigate all the noble bloodlines of the gods to see just how many people are colluding with the Persians!"

Inside the council hall, under the overwhelming divine might sweeping across the four directions, the nobles of divine blood trembled and nodded, each one like a docile little white rabbit, obediently shrinking into their seats, handing over their seals, and waiting for questioning.

After the fighters and Blood Guards gathered in the square were confirmed to have stood firm and cleared their names, as night fell, they were incorporated into the ranks of the Norse heroes and began to take over the city's defense and security affairs, conducting house-to-house searches of the Blood Families in the inner city.

For a time, the inner city of Athens, which was completely closed and isolated, was undergoing a well-organized large-scale cleanup.

As night fell, the old men who had previously cowered like quails in the council chamber gradually sensed something was amiss. Many of them began to muster their courage, tears streaming down their faces, to pledge their loyalty to the returning king.

As the Valkyries brought in warm dishes one by one, the Athenian elders gradually relaxed and nervously accompanied His Majesty the King to a welcoming banquet.

Samael was enthusiastic, with a reserved smile, and made a solemn promise.

"Don't worry, it's just a routine check. You'll be able to go home first thing tomorrow morning. Although I am the king, I still have to act in accordance with the law and do things based on evidence and conscience! I will never let a bad person go unpunished, but I will never wrong an innocent person!"

Before the pillar, Queen Gogo, munching on a pear, fell into deep thought, recalling the money pouch she had taken from a traitor and the Persian gold coins scattered on the ground.

Chapter 117 Feed Stalin!

Inside the side hall of the Goddess of Wisdom on Mount Ares, candlelight flickered. The returned King of Athens sat at a table, skimming through data on Athens' military, civil affairs, economy, and judiciary. His all-powerful, star-shaped eyes flashed deeply, and his brow furrowed more and more.

"A bunch of useless junk!"

Suddenly, Samael slammed his fist on the table. The dull thud echoed through the hall, stirring up etheric breaths that blew in all directions. A gust of wind swept through, and the candlelight flickered erratically.

“Ah…Your Majesty Theseus, is something amiss?”

The Spartan high priest, who was waiting at the bottom of the steps, bent down to collect the scattered papers, tidied them up, and respectfully returned them to the table, unable to resist asking a question.

"Of course not! Let's not even talk about those petty things like embezzlement, oppression of the people, misinterpretation of the law, and elimination of dissidents. Just the military issues alone can cost lives!"

The Ares Mountain is short one-third of its divine blood warriors, and not even half of the 88 constellation Saints are qualified! The Zodiac Palaces are basically all descendants of the Athenian aristocracy sent there to gain prestige! These pretty faces are utterly useless if a real war breaks out!

The Athenian Academy, which should have been a gathering place for all the talents of Greece, was shut down because Socrates was voted to death by the Assembly. Now, there are very few magicians and scholars in Athens.

It's fair to say that Athens' internal defenses were practically non-existent! No wonder I breached them so easily!

Samael flipped through the documents, his face turning pale with anger. He quickly pointed out the problems and consequences, rebuking them with rage.

Based on the information left on the Holy Serpent, the 88 constellation Saints who possessed the Primal Cloth and successfully became gods were taken by Athena and her companions to the Inner Sea of ​​Stars to investigate the situation.