"Father God Zeus above, Hercules, my friend, you're still as brave as ever after all this ti!"
In the warm atmosphere, Telamon laughed heartily, stepped out of the crowd, and affectionately wrapped his arms around the burly man.
King Adtos too ca forward with a smile on his face, pounding on Hercules's chest, as solid as rock, while personally picking up the wine jar to pour him a drink.
Both were old friends of the mighty hero, having forged a deep friendship through their joint campaign against rampaging beasts.
Upon hearing that Thessaly had been attacked by the Giant Spirit Clan, Hercules had traveled day and night, hastening to help.
As the three n t, naturally, there was a round of warm greetings.
"Hercules, my child will be born soon, and you just happen to be here. How about you give him a na?"
Upon hearing his friend Telamon's request, Hercules glanced at the sky outside the hall. The sight of an eagle soaring by sparked an idea in his eyes.
"Hey, Telamon, may your child be as robust as this eagle. How about the na Aeas for him?"
Telamon, chard by such a wonderful connotation and blessing, gladly accepted and gave his dear friend another embrace in thanks.
Luo En, within the crowd, listened to their conversation, his eyes flickering subtly.
Telamon's son, Great Aeas, a hero of the Trojan War, fad for stacking seven layers of oxhide on his Bronze Shield, withstanding an unblockable spear thrown by Hector, the great hero of Troy.
Fate, still ceaselessly advancing.
He wondered if he could alter that so-called "destiny" in the end.
Luo En, looking at Hercules, who was the center of attention in the arena, intended to take advantage of the break in the conversation to acquaint himself with this son of destiny, facilitating his plotting for the future.
However, to his surprise, the distant Hercules, upon seeing him as well, ca over with a beaming smile: "Are you from Athens?"
Luo En nodded and asked with a smile, "Sothing on your mind?"
"Nothing important," Hercules said with a slight wave of his hand, "I just wanted to ask how the God of Wine has been. Is he still on War God Mountain?"
Luo En's eyelid twitched, a hint of vigilance rising within him, as he pretended to be curious and asked further.
"He's always on War God Mountain. What do you need this information for?"
As he waited for an answer, Luo En narrowed his eyes slightly, carefully observing any changes in Hercules's expression.
Indeed, after the gods fell into slumber, he had planned to take Hercules, this son of destiny, under his wing, or at the very least, to interfere more and nurture him early to beco a tool against destiny.
However, having only contacted his mother Alcne once in secret, and giving him the significant na Hercules, he felt a strong sense of being watched and an indescribable sense of restraint.
Clearly, his excessive ddling had drawn the gaze of The Three Fates.
Out of caution, Luo En had to halt this dangerous probe and abandon the enticing plan to cultivate Hercules.
And since then, he seed to have lost the sense of connection to Hercules, as if sothing had shielded him from this son of destiny's attention.
He calculated that this was their third formal eting in many decades.
And upon this encounter, the lad asked out of the blue about the God of Wine's well-being, which naturally made Luo En alert, fearing guidance from The Three Fates behind it.
At this mont, Hercules, oblivious to the alarm bells ringing across from him, scratched his head and laughed heartily.
"My mother said that it was he and Queen Hera who picked up from the wilderness and brought back to the city, sparing from death. When I was younger, I was busy with training and lacked the ability to go out on my own. Now that I'm grown up, I'd like to take the ti to go to War God Mountain and formally thank that kind man."
So that was the reason?
Upon hearing this, Luo En slightly relaxed and a warm smile appeared on his face.
"Alright, your thanks will certainly be passed on to the God of Wine when I return to Athens. I'll also help to ask if he has ti to see you."
Hercules, sensing the implication in his words, looked at Luo En with so surprise.
"You are close to the God of Wine?"
"Yes, I'm a follower of the Dionysian Sect and an Angel Envoy of that great gentleman."
Luo En smiled, throwing out a pre-prepared persona, continuing to spin his tale.
Before he could be certain of all of Hercules's intentions and whether there was any danger, he was not prepared to et the little brother in his real identity, much less let him directly visit War God Mountain.
After all, too many secrets lay buried there.
Whether it was the Sanctuary and the Eighty-Eight Constellations aiming to usurp divine authority, or his ancestor Hecate locked in the dungeon, all were matters that must remain in the dark.
Who knows whether The Three Fates' gaze had always lingered on Hercules. For safety's sake, it was better to scrutinize this little brother a few more tis.
At this mont, Hercules, having heard that the man in front of him might have direct contact with the God of Wine, brightened up and, seeing no one around, pulled the man behind a pillar, speaking in a hushed tone.
"Actually, I've also been troubled by sothing recently and wanted to ask him directly…"
"What's that? Tell , perhaps I can help," Luo En asked with a smile, quietly releasing the affability inherent in the "Rose" persona.
Hercules looked at the sowhat familiar Dionysian Sect Angel Envoy before him and couldn't help but voice the doubts in his heart.
"I want to know... is he really my father?"
"Pfft!"
Upon hearing this, Luo En, who had just taken a sip of wine, suddenly spewed it out, his face full of astonishnt.
"The God of Wine, Luo En, is your father?"
I take you for a brother, and you want to be my son?
Isn't that a generation off? Great-great-grandson? (The protagonist and Hercules' great-great-grandfather—Perseus of the Perseus Constellation were brothers, so this isn't entirely incorrect.)
Could it be you're also looking for a Greek traditional, farcical mix-up of father and son?
Luo En was inwardly on guard, unconsciously distancing himself from Hercules.
At this mont, the strong man touched the back of his head and revealed a resigned, bitter smile.
"I'm not sure either, it was a strange old person I t on the road who told this."
As he spoke, he recounted everything about his encounter with the old woman the previous night, the advice she gave, and handed over the dusa badge bearing his na to the person in front of him.
For so reason, the man before him made him feel very close and familiar as if they had known each other for a long ti.
"So that's what happened..."
Luo En caressed the bronze badge in his hand, his eyes thoughtful.
Seeing this, Hercules was slightly startled.
"So, is that God of Wine my father?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
The person heavily disguised himself repeatedly shook his head, firmly rejecting such a grand declaration of kinship.
Hercules furrowed his brows: "So, was that old person deceiving ?"
"No, she spoke of a symbolic taphor, not a relationship by blood."
Luo En shook his head, explaining gravely.
"What the old person ant was, if you see Queen Hera as the mother who has given you a new life, and take pride in her grace, then she believes the God of Wine, Luo En, who saved you with herself back then, is like the father bestowing you new life. Additionally, that God of Wine might offer you necessary help at a critical mont, becoming a spiritual ntor to you."
After listening to the reasonable analysis from the person before him, Hercules had an epiphany.
But soon, new doubts surged in his heart.
"Strange, why did she tell all this?"
"The answer is right in her previous words, you might want to guess."
"Could it be..."
After a mont of thought, Hercules suddenly looked up in surprise.
"Queen Hera?"
Seeing that the other had figured out the answer, Luo En smiled and exited the scene, leaving Hercules so ti to ponder and digest everything.
After all, they were not yet close, and he had already interspersed many personal concerns in their recent conversation.
Being too familiar might complicate things, or even draw the attention of The Three Fates.
To achieve the perfect ending in the ga he was nurturing required patience.
And as Luo En turned his back, the smile on his face quickly vanished, and he ground his teeth in frustration.
a father, you a mother, and conveniently foisting a son upon ?
Didn't get enough on War God Mountain last ti, did you? So keen on making a dad, I'll let you have a proper try next ti!
Muttering under his breath, Luo En cald his emotions sowhat, his brow furrowing slightly.
Triton and the two chanical Gods from Poseidon's faction have arrived; Hercules from Zeus's faction has arrived; the Twins from Apollo's faction have arrived;
His own faction represented by Athena and the God of Wine, Luo En, also arrived; even Hera seed to be willing to partake...
The situation in Thessaly was getting more and more complex. It was still uncertain what the Old Gods would do next, and whether this war would evolve into the prophesied Gigantomachy.
While Luo En was musing, he caught sight of the Eagle circling in the sky outside the city, seemingly never landing.
Moreover, more and more birds were rising up from the forest, their cries full of panic.
No, sothing is coming!
Luo En imdiately beca alert. Before he could express a warning, a series of dull earth tremors spread from outside the city toward the Royal Palace, causing collapse and chaos wherever they went. Dozens of towering, mountainous figures erged from the cracks in the ground, laughing sinisterly as they walked toward the city.
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