The Greece Antagonist

Crete Island, along the coastline of Knossos City.

As the storm ceased and the huge waves subsided, soldiers guiding the evacuation and residents forced to relocate rejoiced in the calm sea and sky, celebrating their survival after the catastrophe.

However, as bloated, pale bodies and fragments of wooden ship debris washed ashore, the cheering abruptly halted, and a somber, oppressive atmosphere enveloped the area.

"Don't just stand there, continue evacuating the elderly, women, and children toward the inner city!

Those willing to stay, form groups of ten, temporarily organized into reserve units, and follow the command of the city defense forces to search and rescue along the coastline to find any survivors.

Gather the bodies washed ashore for collection, awaiting family identification; unrelated individuals are not allowed to approach!"

Luo En's solemn voice broke the deathly silence, arranging orders meticulously, quickly winding up the halted mobilization machine and steadily bringing it back to operation.

Since the Minosians of Crete Island were already accustomed to making a living at sea, most of them understood the sea's temperament and thus rarely chose to settle in dangerous areas too close to the coastline.

Therefore, there weren't many people who needed to evacuate, and with those who remained for various reasons, there were barely two to three hundred individuals.

Under the guidance of the city defense soldiers and the authority of the Divine Envoy Little Medusa, those willing to stay and those needing to evacuate obediently separated and went their respective ways.

The search and rescue as well as the body collection work also steadily commenced.

"Set up tents over there to accommodate the injured and the bodies..."

"You few, prepare some boiling water, allowing everyone who touched a body to thoroughly clean the contacted parts; also prepare some hot soup for those suffering from hypothermia at sea..."

"In addition, search and rescue teams pay attention, sort the injured by severity; those with medical and first aid experience, go help!"

In front of the coastline, Luo En searched his brain for knowledge related to disaster relief and epidemic prevention, striving to ensure each stage reached the expected standard of completion.

Alright, he was a bit of a perfectionist.

He liked to adhere to the philosophy of either not doing it at all or doing it well.

Since he took over this mess for Little Medusa, it didn't hurt to put in a little more effort.

And with Luo En, a reliable adult in command, the little girl completely relinquished her thoughts and obediently stayed by his side, acting as a human badge and megaphone.

Even Hestia, one of the Twelve Olympians, couldn't intervene and simply drifted to the fire, voluntarily taking on the logistical work of boiling water, cooking hot soup, casting spells for healing, and preventing epidemics.

Before long, the coastal line was cleared, with bodies, ships, and survivors successively salvaged and properly settled.

A belated reinforcement from Knossos City and the temple priests waited blankly for a while, then were directed by Luo En and Medusa to handle the aftermath and corresponding disaster statistics.

"Hum!"

Accompanied by the tremor of Aether Magic, a golden streak of light descended from the sky and landed on an open space along the coast.

The Goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena, showed her original form. Under the excited and fervent gazes of soldiers, priests, and residents, she looked around and walked towards Little Medusa, the center of command and coordination, to inquire in a low voice.

"How are things here?"

Little Medusa instinctively straightened up and thoroughly reported the current situation.

"Two harbors were damaged to varying degrees, needing more than half a day for emergency repairs;

Three merchant ships and four fishing boats failed to reach the sheltered harbors in time, resulting in collisions, but fortunately, there were no casualties;

All unrelated individuals within three kilometers of the coast have evacuated toward Knossos City, currently settled by the temple and soldiers.

For safety, we have also set up warning lines near the coastline, sealing off some dangerous areas..."

Then, the little girl paused slightly and looked toward the nearby tents, her small face becoming visibly downcast.

"But according to the aggregated reports from temples across the city-states, at least twenty-seven ships of various sizes went to sea today and have not returned, with 98 confirmed deaths, 32 injured of varying severity, and 64 missing..."

Nearly two hundred casualties was indeed a significant loss...

Upon hearing the report, Athena's brows furrowed tightly, and a stern coldness set on her face.

Is Poseidon still not giving up?!

A moment later, when she calmed the annoyance in her heart and came back to her senses, noticing the orderly search and rescue efforts around her, and recalling Little Medusa's detailed account, she couldn't help but feel surprised.

"Did you do this?"

"It was Luo En!"

The honest Little Medusa did not take credit, decisively pointing her hand and outing Luo En, who was mingling in the crowd.

Athena glanced at the figure reluctantly standing out and showed a look of appreciation.

"Not bad at all..."

"It is your excellent teaching; I am merely acting according to the instructions you provided before departure."

Luo En skillfully flattered the true leader of Knossos City, pushing out all the credit and responsibility, showcasing his profound skills as a Teflon personality.

Just as Athena was about to say a few words of praise, she felt a bout of vexation and lowered her voice with a cold huff.

"Credit belongs to whoever earned it; I am not that petty!"

Luo En offered a sheepish smile, noncommittal.

No matter how he responded, it would be tantamount to implicitly admitting that the other party really was petty. Keeping silent seemed to be the safest approach.

Athena looked around at the well-ordered temporary camp, her eyes flashed, and she gestured for Luo En to follow her to a deserted corner, where she spoke solemnly.

"Trouble is coming to Crete Island!"

"Poseidon?"

Luo En raised his eyebrows, a hint of gloom hardly perceptible in his eyes.

It seemed that in history, the Minos civilization was destroyed by a disaster from the sea.

"I will try to hold him back..."

Athena pursed her lips, looking earnestly at Luo En.

"But that's not enough!"

"So?"

"So I need your help!"

Hearing the Goddess of Wisdom's solemn contemplation, Luo En was slightly startled, raising his hand to point at his own nose with some difficulty.

"Me? Uh, although I would like to share your worries, I am but a mere demigod..."

"A demigod who can evoke the divine aspect of war, capable of taking several dozen of my strikes?"

Athena narrowed her eyes slightly, letting out a leisurely, cold snort.

"Don't be modest; even though I don't know from which line of Ares' descendants you hail, your potential is undeniable, or else I wouldn't want to train you as a lesser deity."

"Thank you for your kind offer, but it seems I do not yet have the qualification to partake in the wars between the gods, being a demigod," Luo En said, still not accepting the offer, well aware of his own strength and place.

Then, to avoid being pushed into a corner, he promptly shifted the blame to another more convenient scapegoat.

"If you really can't set your mind at ease about the people of Crete, why not consider Lady Heiya?"

"Aunt Hestia has already made it clear that she has withdrawn from the conflicts of Olympus; I don't want to drag her into it again," Athena said, glancing at a figure in the crowd who was boiling water for medicine, her voice growing low after a slight pause.

"Besides, even if she intervened, it would only make things worse..."

"Hestia? The Goddess of the Hearth?!"

Upon hearing this "explosive" piece of information, Luo En belatedly widened his eyes, exhibiting the appropriate shock and surprise.

However, Athena didn't speak, only looking disdainfully at someone.

Keep pretending, keep it up! Not to mention that simpleton Hestia, you probably guessed who I am the first time we met, right?

"..."

In the face of the silence, Luo En gave a resigned smile, tactfully changing the subject.

"Are you saying that this game will be kept to a level below that of the deities?"
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"I can only try to ensure that both Olympus and Atlantis cannot intervene in this matter; the rest is up to you..." Athena said, shaking her head noncommittally, exhaustion in her eyes.

Luo En frowned, falling into deep thought.

Seeing that there was still no answer from him, a faint look of disappointment appeared on the Goddess of Wisdom's face, as she spoke in a deep voice.

"Of course, you can also choose to leave before trouble arrives. In consideration of your aunt and that child, I will not hold you accountable."

Luo En, still undecided, was about to speak when the aether-etched, twelve-sided die atop the bronze altar within his mind burst into a long-dormant golden radiance.

As it turned eerily, the three sea-wave lines representing Poseidon and the five serpent patterns representing Athena appeared in succession, followed by a mechanical voice tinged with joy.

"Your infamy is unknown, but your crimes are proclaimed throughout the world!

Congratulations, your actions have once again succeeded in prying the gears of fate, precipitating the crisis on Crete Island. Please make your vile choice within three days.

Blasphemy One: Choose to assist the Goddess Athena, wisdom and war combined, against the impending maritime disaster, and succeed in randomly gaining one of Poseidon's divine blessings.

Blasphemy Two: Choose to aid the God of the Sea, Poseidon, in hastening the Minos civilization towards its end, and succeed in randomly gaining one of Athena's divine blessings.

Blasphemy Three: Choose to oppose both Athena and Poseidon, extinguish the flame of wisdom, shatter the glory of the God of the Sea, cause the Minosians to weep, let Atlantis sink, and succeed in obtaining a divine blessing from both Athena and Poseidon!"

Perceiving the three glinting golden glyphs within his mind, Luo En's expression subtly changed, and he drew a sharp breath.