The Greece Antagonist

Asclepius took the Elixir of Immortality, drank it in one gulp, and the unreal feeling on his body slightly subsided.

Watching his great-nephew gradually regain the vitality of the living, Luo En continued to speak.

"Moreover, the sacred pact that remains in your soul can help you avoid Zeus and The Three Fates' pursuit temporarily. If you don't want to be captured by Zeus and turned into his slave, you will need to regularly drink the divine wine I brew to maintain the operation of the sacred pact and the vitality of your body," Luo En added.

"Is there no other way?"

"Not for now."

Luo En shook his head and waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough, don't ask so much. It's already good enough that you're safe from Zeus," he said.

Asclepius looked at the wound in Luo En's palm that had not yet healed and hesitated to speak.

He obviously knew what the so-called divine wine was made of.

The blood of deities is the source of divine power, and excessive loss is a significant burden on oneself.

Having been saved by the man before him twice already, Asclepius, who usually didn't care much about such debts of gratitude, still did not want to owe him too much.

Of course, Luo En was not exactly a great benefactor; he did not have the noble quality of giving without expecting anything in return.

However, Asclepius, who had just escaped death and was penniless except for his medical skills, really had nothing to offer at the moment.

The payment for this hiring would have to come from someone else.

Luo En stood up, brushing off the dust and grass from his clothes, and looked toward a city-state in the north with a subtle smile on his face.

"Come on, let's go to Thessaly."

Asclepius was taken aback at these words, then he understood and scoffed while shaking his head.

"To see him? No way!"

"After all, he is your father. Your aunt dared not tell him about your situation before, now that the dust has settled, whether you're dead or alive, he should know, right?"

"And what difference does it make if he knows? Does he dare to seek revenge against His Majesty the King of Gods for me?"

"Perhaps not!"

Luo En smiled, giving Asclepius a meaningful look as he faced his skeptical expression.

"Let's make a bet. If he doesn't have the courage, you win. I'll beat him up for you, and from then on, I'll stay out of your father-son issues. On the other hand, if he dares to seek revenge from Zeus for you, you lose..."

A dutiful son seemed quite tempted: "Sounds good, and then?"

"Forget about your so-called [Elixir of Immortality] and focus on creating the [elixir of immortality] for me. I'll provide the materials!"

The moment Luo En said this, Asclepius's expression instantly became agitated, his gaze burning intensely.

"Do you have a source for the [Golden Apple]?"

"I didn't before, but it seems like I might have a lead now."

Luo En smiled meaningfully, and the image of Echidna, Mother of Serpents, flashed through his mind.

If he remembered correctly, Ladon, the hundred-headed dragon guarding the [Golden Apple] in the Sacred Garden, was one of the infamous offspring of Typhon.

With his connection to the Mother of Serpents, he might actually be able to sneak in and snatch a few Golden Apples, allowing Asclepius to help him concoct an advanced [Immortal] magic potion.

A mere [Elixir of Immortality] was of limited effect for deities and came with a myriad of troubles; he naturally didn't consider it seriously.

In comparison, the [elixir of immortality], characteristic of a Chief God, was what truly interested him.

Previously, the opportunity and materials were lacking; it was merely a fanciful dream.

Now, with the entry ticket to the Sacred Garden at hand, obtaining the Golden Apples was not entirely impossible.

And, with Asclepius now ostensibly obliterated from the public eye, the concern with the Elixir of Immortality was indirectly resolved. It was the perfect time to have this Medicine God stay focused in his little workshop, working for him, rather than wandering outside and causing more trouble.

"It's a deal!"

By now, Asclepius was breathing heavily, eagerly accepting the bet without hesitation, his voice tinged with excitement.

Golden Apples! Those were the Golden Apples containing the [nature of immortality]!

This guy actually had a way to get them!

If things went as he said, his long-dreamed research could advance further, and the possibility of deciphering and replicating the [immortality] exclusive to a Chief God might no longer be a fanciful dream.

Thus, regardless of the outcome of the bet, he would not lose!

At this moment, Asclepius was completely drawn into the stakes of the bet, eagerly urging onward; for the first time, he was extremely eager to meet his bothersome father.

"Where is Thessaly? Let's go! Let's hurry up!"

"Got it, got it. Once we get there, without my permission, you must not reveal yourself."

Luo En helplessly responded while secretly curling up the corners of his lips.

This father and son duo might gain something, but he definitely would not lose out.

Moreover, a grand drama of fatherly and filial affection, whether you call it, certainly warranted the extra ticket price.

Oh, wait.

To be precise, there should be two performances...

Luo En's gaze, deep and distant, swept past Asclepius beside him, looking towards the Thessaly labor camp and the Great Temple of Olympus far away, his face bearing a smile that grew increasingly sinister as they progressed on their journey.

~~

A few days later, in Thessaly.

On the green grassland, an Olympus labor camp convict, herding cattle and sheep, received a visitor he hadn't expected.

"Is it you? What are you here for?"

The moment Apollo saw Luo En appear, his face, weathered from years of hard labor, instantly contorted with uncontainable rage.

"Get lost! Get out! Don't appear in front of my eyes!"

Seeing his brother-in-law's reaction so charged, Luo En coughed dryly, attempting to ease the atmosphere.

"Ahem, actually, I came here with no ill intentions, just to visit you, and also to convey thanks on behalf of the Goddess Mnemosyne, for your leniency towards the Nine Muses."

Because of Artemis's mediation, Apollo had not pursued the lesser deity's betrayal, had agreed to the Nine Muses' disloyal requests, and even wrote to Mnemosyne, making a promise of reconciliation.

With that, the previous conflicts between them were completely turned over.

It was for this reason that Mnemosyne dared to leave the Temple of Memory and brought the Nine Muses as guests to War God Mountain.

However, after hearing Luo En's voluntarily expressed "goodwill," Apollo's face turned livid, marked by humiliation and sorrow.

"Enough! I've already let them go to you, what more do you want? How long will you continue to humiliate me?"

"Huh?"

Looking at the God of Light in front of him, gnashing his teeth as if greatly wronged, Luo En was filled with question marks.

Just as the atmosphere started to freeze, a burly figure galloped across the grassland on a warhorse, riding towards the slope in front of them, and called out to Apollo with a bright smile.

"Do you have a guest? Just in time to let me entertain them."

"Admetos, what are you doing here! Go back!"

However, seeing his friend arrive, the God of Light acted as if facing a great enemy, blocking him and looking warily at Luo En.

Watching the King of Thessaly retreat to a shaded area, Luo En spread his hands, looking very innocent.

"I mean, during the Gigantes' rebellion, I also lent a hand to the people of Thessaly. All I'm doing is saying a word, is that worth all this defense?"

"Helping?"

Apollo's face darkened even more, and he asked through clenched teeth.

"Are you referring to the time you had my sister send a poison snake on his wedding day to kill him?!"

"Huh?"

Luo En, hearing this utterly nonsensical accusation fall on him, looked bewildered.

"What are you talking about?"

"Still want to argue? Fine, let me help you remember!"

As the God of Light took a deep breath, summarizing his previous ordeal in a few words, Luo En started to sweat slightly on his forehead.

Not long ago, the King of Thessaly, Apollo's close friend, forgot to sacrifice to the moon and Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, during his wedding ceremony, which incited the Goddess's wrath to send a snake to disrupt the bridal chamber, but Apollo arrived just in time to save him. He was later deemed doomed by the gods.

Apollo found his sister and beseeched her, and thus his friend's soul was retrieved.

And the price was, reconciliation with the Nine Muses. Your adventure continues at empire

At this moment, with a mix of old grievances and fresh wounds, Apollo looked at Luo En, his gaze filled with sorrow and resolution.

"Say whatever else you want! Just don't make it hard on my friends! And don't threaten me using my sister!"

Luo En:...