— — — — — —
"How long has she been gone?"
Athena studied the bronze mirror for a long moment. The seal inside was intact. No cracks, no flaws.
And yet the truth was undeniable.
The Demon Star was no longer inside.
Laius swallowed and answered carefully, "I do not know, Your Majesty. According to the logs, during the routine inspection three hours ago, the Demon Star was still sealed. The anomaly was discovered during another unscheduled inspection twenty-three minutes ago."
"This inspection was ordered by our ancestor Perseus as always at 7:00 AM, and I personally issued the task at 7:30."
His jaw tightened as he spoke.
Lying now would be suicide. Telling the truth might still earn punishment, but at least [Perseus] would not bear Athena's wrath.
The air in the hall grew heavier with every second.
Just as Laius felt his fear rising to the point of suffocation, Athena let out a soft sigh.
"You did well."
He froze.
"The Demon Star's escape is not your responsibility. I will report this to Zeus myself and bear the consequences."
"Please rescind that order!" Laius dropped to his knees immediately.
Being punished was less terrifying than not being punished. If he made such a blunder and allowed his superior to take the blame, no good ending awaited him.
Athena waved a hand dismissively. "Enough. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up. Why are you panicking?"
"If Zeus wants to make an issue of this, I'll simply establish my own faction."
A cold smile curved her lips.
"The throne of the Egyptian pantheon has always been open to me."
Laius went very still. He even feigned a brief bout of selective deafness.
That was not something he was qualified to comment on.
Still, he remained kneeling, insisting on punishment.
Athena glanced at him and said lightly, "First offense."
Laius exhaled sharply in relief.
Everyone in Little Garden knew Athena's rule. She would forgive two violations. The third would be dealt with decisively, even ruthlessly.
In a matter as serious as the Demon Star escaping, a recorded offense was far better than none.
With punishment, at least he knew where he stood. Without it, who knew what kind of reckoning might come later?
Greek gods were not exactly famous for linear thinking. Athena might be the most rational among them, but even she had her limits.
Zeus had once taken an interest in Laius himself. He had nearly ended up as the king's newest "partner." It was Athena who intervened back then and saved him.
She had protected her subordinates more than once.
As Laius was busy feeling grateful, Athena asked calmly, "Who has had contact with Algol recently?"
"Only Your Majesty and… and…" Cold sweat returned in an instant.
It couldn't be.
Please don't let it be that.
But the only other person who had contact…
Before he could finish, Athena nodded knowingly.
"Ryo Yagami."
"Yes!"
Laius answered firmly, then clenched his teeth. "This was my failure to notice in time!"
Whether it was true or not, he would shoulder it. Better him than Aishelia. [Perseus] could not afford to lose their current leader.
Athena looked at him with mild surprise.
"How curious. Perhaps I set a bad example. You all seem quite eager to protect each other."
Laius kept his head down, sweat dripping.
Athena sighed softly.
"Relax. I already knew."
"He tricked me. He tricked Shiroyasha. If he met Algol and didn't take the opportunity to pluck a few whiskers, that would be the real surprise."
She let out a faint chuckle.
"Let's hope Algol is smart enough to cut her losses. Otherwise, her reputation among the gods will worsen several times over."
Laius nodded fervently.
Ever since crossing paths with Ryo, nothing had gone smoothly for him either. Perseus himself had been beaten to literal death once and was still in rehabilitation.
"Dismissed," Athena said quietly.
Algol's disappearance would not destroy her, but negligence was negligence.
Greece needed to give the Cross Pantheon an explanation. Many God-kings would demand one as well.
Zeus would absorb part of the fallout, but most of it would fall on her.
"Yes."
Laius withdrew wisely. At times like this, it was best to let the master think alone.
It was like a corporation losing several hundred million in a disastrous decision. Not fatal, but painful enough to rattle the foundations.
The project manager surviving without being fired was already fortunate. The smart move was to step aside and let the CEO recover.
In the vast, ancient hall, Athena gazed at the now-empty bronze mirror and laughed softly.
"Interesting. How did that bastard know I intended to release Algol?"
"My other self figured it out, but I doubt she had time to warn him."
She shook her head. "No matter. It works in our favor."
Her voice turned faintly thoughtful.
"Spread the news quietly that Algol has escaped. I have a feeling she came prepared this time."
Without a sound, a divine attendant in white Greek robes appeared behind her, knelt, bowed his head for a brief moment, then vanished.
---
Mount Olympus. Temple of Zeus.
Upon a throne carved from ancient oak, a giant wreathed in thunder inhaled and exhaled lightning. He glanced down at the kneeling attendant below.
"Algol has escaped?"
"Yes, Lord."
Zeus let out a low chuckle.
"My daughter remains clever. She knows better than to let rumors spread that she intended to devour Algol and complete that incomplete Spirit Rank."
He shook his head, amused.
"She holds the concepts of Metis and Athena. If she truly seized Medusa's Spirit Rank from Algol and completed the Trinity Queen Spirit Rank, this war of godslayers over the possibility of Two-Digit might end before it even begins."
"Offending every existence below Two-Digit in one move? She's far too smart for that."
"Algol has truly escaped. Whether Athena let her go or she sensed danger and fled on her own, the result is the same."
The attendant lowered his head even further.
Zeus was not explaining this to him. He was explaining it to the other great beings who had turned their attention here.
From the oak throne, Zeus seemed to hear responses from unseen peers. His smile widened.
"So the last person to meet Algol was Ryo Yagami?"
"A fledgling community stepping onto Little Garden's stage, intending to use Greece as a stepping stone?"
His laughter rumbled like distant thunder. "Let him try."
"I will be here, on Mount Olympus, waiting for his arrival."
"Hahaha!"
Deep violet lightning erupted with his laughter, swallowing the entire temple in a sea of crackling power.
.
.
.