The flagship of the Deep Sea Fleet and the Argo entered the harbor. Under Triton's guidance, Samael and the others set foot upon the mysterious Interstellar City-Mountain Range.
As they went deeper, the sights around them left everyone wide-eyed in awe, eliciting constant murmurs of amazement.
The merman prince proved an enthusiastic host, introducing landmarks along the way such as Altar Street, the Hanging Gardens, and the Machine God Corridor.
Meanwhile, soldiers clad in gold, white, and red armor, wielding metallic swords and shields, became increasingly numerous. The Ether surging from their bodies was solemn and overwhelming, causing many of the weaker heroes to steal nervous glances their way, unease creeping into their hearts.
These guardians of Olympus were clearly far stronger than the Atlantis soldiers seen aboard the Deep Sea Fleet earlier, already approaching the level of ordinary heroes.
Within the Machine God Corridor, whose structure featured Roman-style arches and columns, Samael slowed his pace slightly and glanced sideways at Jason, who was secretly tugging at his sleeve.
"Hey, ever since we entered the Eye of the Tidal Sea, these places have been giving me a really bad feeling. Now that we're in Atlantis, it's even worse. Listen to this, my heart's about to jump out of my chest…"
The captain glanced left and right, instinctively putting some distance between himself and the nearby Olympus soldiers, as if afraid one of them might suddenly snap and cut him down. He looked utterly jumpy.
"Forget it. You're not a woman. What, do you expect me to press my ear to your chest and listen to your heartbeat?"
"I've seen enough, and I've heard all the stories. So when do we slip away… cough… withdraw?"
"We still need to resupply and grab a meal, don't we? Wouldn't it be pretty rude to Prince Triton if we didn't accept his hospitality?"
"Really? Then why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?"
"How could I be? Think about it carefully. Ever since we left the port of Iolcos, have I ever tricked you or lied to you?"
"Seems like… no… um… probably…"
"Hm?"
"Absolutely not! Theseus, you're my good brother. How could you ever lie to me? Guess I was just overthinking it!"
"That's more like it. We've been drifting at sea for so long. It's just a stroll on land. With me here, what are you afraid of?"
A warm, sincere smile spread across Samael's face as he withdrew his hand. Jason, half his body still numb, forced a similarly sincere smile and nodded in agreement, though inwardly he was grumbling.
You're strong. Whatever you say goes.
Seeing Jason finally abandon the idea of turning tail and running, instead shrinking behind Heracles with a look of resigned acceptance, Samael picked up his pace and caught up to Triton, who was waiting ahead.
Just as the tour group was about to enter the grand hall, the Ancient Serpent paused slightly. He stepped closer to the railing and looked down into the open expanse of Altar Street below, which ran perpendicular through the Interstellar City-Mountain Range.
"That area's pretty unsightly. There's nothing worth seeing. It used to be workshops down there, but now it serves as a drainage outlet. It's been abandoned for ages."
Triton answered casually, raising his hand to usher the guests inside to receive his hospitality.
Samael smiled, nodded, and followed, stepping into a hall flooded with sunlight, dazzlingly bright and magnificently ornate.
The heroes filed in one after another and took their seats. Triton headed into the rear hall to arrange wine and fruit in advance, clearly intending to hold a banquet to welcome his distant guests.
As the host departed, Samael narrowed his eyes slightly and tapped the tabletop a few times in a steady rhythm. The lively atmosphere in the hall stalled for a brief moment before resuming its bustle. The heroes rose from their seats, drifting about and gathering in small groups to chat noisily, mostly venting their frustrations from the long voyage and the relief of finally setting foot on land.
Before long, Triton returned. A procession of serpent women followed behind him, their bodies gliding with a soft rustling sound as they carried cask after cask of fragrant wine to the tables, thoughtfully pouring each cup full for the guests.
Unfortunately, every one of these serpent women shimmered with a silvery metallic sheen, their expressions blank, completely wasting such fine figures.
"Everyone, you've had a hard journey. Please, drink your fill!"
Triton lifted a gem-inlaid, conch-shaped bronze wine cup, tilted his head back, and drained it in one go. Smiling, he raised his hand in invitation.
Yet the atmosphere in the hall fell silent.
The Argonauts, recipients of this hospitality, lowered their gazes to the crimson liquid in their cups, but not a single one raised theirs.
"Why aren't you drinking? Is my hospitality insufficient?"
Triton's smile stiffened, a faint frown appearing as displeasure crept in.
Under the merman prince's gaze, Samael, who implicitly stood at the forefront of the group, finally made a concession. He lifted his cup and walked up to Triton, then—
raised it past his lips, and in the instant Triton's smile froze completely, flung the wine behind him.
"The venom of a certain jellyfish. In small doses, it can paralyze the nerves and cripple Magic Circuits. The method's too crude, though. That fishy smell is still obvious. Tch, what a waste of such good wine…"
Standing in the shadows, the god of medicine dipped a fingertip into the wine, brought it beneath his nose, and gave it a light sniff. After calmly stating his conclusion, he flicked the cup back onto the table in open disgust.
"So that's how it is. You really did have bad intentions!"
The atmosphere instantly froze. The heroes' gazes sharpened.
Jason reacted the most violently. His face went deathly pale, his facial muscles twitching as if he'd been stung by a scorpion. He hastily flung the cup to the ground, shot to his feet, and erupted in furious curses.
Triton's brows knitted together as a chill spread across his expression. His fingers closed, and the conch-shaped wine cup in his hand shattered with a sharp crack.
"Why couldn't you just drink the wine and save me the trouble?"
"Attack!"
"Seize these criminals who dare disrupt the Sea God's sacred rite!"
The moment the merman prince revealed his true colors, Samael let out a savage roar. The heroes answered in unison, drawing their weapons as they surged from their seats. Their movements were swift, coordinated, and clearly divided by role.
Those seated closest to the hall's entrance moved with practiced ease, seizing the doorway and forming a defensive line to hold back the Olympian soldiers rushing in from the corridor after hearing the alarm.
The heroes in the middle and front ranks wasted no words. They charged straight at the serpent women screeching and lunging within the hall, cutting them down like vegetables, brutally hacking these special constructs into pieces.
In the span of a single breath, the entire hall was completely under the control of the Argonauts. Triton, who had just summoned his trident, felt the water-blue light patterns flaring around his body flicker once before being forcibly extinguished. A faint sting spread from his chest.
"Easy there, Your Highness. I'd appreciate it if you'd show a little respect for my friends… and for this dagger in my hand."
At that moment, the "guest" who had stepped forward to offer a toast smiled pleasantly, holding a strange purple dagger shaped like a jagged bolt of lightning. Its tip pierced straight through the outer layer of Ether radiance without resistance and pressed firmly against Triton's divine core.
On either side, Heracles pinned Triton's shoulders with an impassive expression while removing the trident from his grasp. The white-haired huntress Diana smiled faintly as she plucked her bowstring. The invisible pressure alone made the son of the Sea God's hair stand on end.
The entire sequence flowed as smoothly as running water. The Argonauts' level of proficiency was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
Seasoned criminals. These bastards were absolutely seasoned criminals.
"So what if you've restrained me? Outside, there are countless Olympian guards, an entire fleet, and thousands of river and ocean current gods! You've disrupted the Sea God's festival. You won't be able to escape!"
"And in three days, my father will return. You outsiders who trespassed into the forbidden domain should think carefully about the consequences. Surrender now. I swear by the Goddess of Oaths that I will spare your lives."
Triton forced himself to remain calm, letting out a cold snort with no fear on his face, even as curses spilled endlessly through his mind.
"In the name of the Great God, judgment is delivered. Sword of Divine Punishment!"
At the same time, the Olympian soldiers trapped within the Machine God Corridor, unable to break through the main entrance in the short term, slammed their metal greatswords blazing with searing crimson light into the walls of the hall.
Amid thunderous explosions and clouds of dust, they burst through the blasted openings and charged straight into the interior.