Right at noon, in the City at the End of the World.
The temple in the center of the city was originally dedicated to the Serpent Goddess, Shirayukihime. However, after Shiroyasha was dealt with by Aslan, this place also became an asset of Arcadia.
As for Shirayukihime's opinion? It didn't matter. That irresponsible Yaksha had completely forgotten about it.
This place had been transformed by Aslan into a large Secret Realm, used to host the many visiting communities. And today's banquet was also held here.
With Leticia's shadow as the core, Canaria fabricated identities, and after slight modifications by Aslan, servants resembling the Shadow Guards were created. They served exquisite cold dishes, arranging them on long tables covered with white cloth.
High-quality wine from Mount Huaguo donated by the Seven Great Sages, fairy fruits ordered from Avalon, plus chefs donated by Athena.
Added to that were members from various communities who came from all corners of the world to attend the banquet, with different races and appearances.
The atmosphere there seemed like a lively masquerade party.
However, what was very subtle was that the atmosphere was extraordinarily tense and heavy.
Several Beastmen in neat suits gathered, forming small groups.
"You've heard the news too?"
"Yes... but is it true? Arcadia really offended the Twelve Olympian Gods..."
"This isn't just offending."
With a terrified face, a Beastman deliberately lowered his voice.
"At dawn, I bought news from Thousand Eyes. Ares' avatar has been killed."
"The culprit is Arcadia's new leader."
"Ssh! So bold..."
"Maybe because he won against Azi Dahaka, he got arrogant... If I had that kind of power, I think I'd be even more arrogant than him... Uhuk, I didn't say anything."
"But back then, even Canaria was like that..."
"Uhuk, uhuk... Don't say things that undermine unity."
Using a Gift to eavesdrop on the conversation, Mandora Doltrake lowered his head slightly embarrassed.
Why was everyone now predicting Arcadia's downfall? This made him, who had painstakingly prepared gifts, look foolish.
Vaguely, he even seemed to hear nearby communities discussing a fool.
Even though he had been framed so badly by the old Arcadia, and even in the situation where the current Arcadia leader offended Ares, he still wholeheartedly prepared gifts as a sign of sincerity.
Well, no need to say it, Mandora knew exactly who the fool was.
(Damn, why was I stingy with money last night and didn't buy information? Otherwise, how could I end up in this situation?)
(Now I've become a laughingstock.)
(Most importantly, not only is the spent money likely wasted, but there's also a possibility of offending the Greek Pantheon.)
(This makes Salamandra's already shaky situation even worse. What if... we retreat first?)
Mandora's eyes slowly began to gleam. As long as he escaped this chaos, the Greek Pantheon surely wouldn't care about Salamandra, this little ant.
Maybe he could get away just like that?
At that moment, his younger sister, Sandora Doltrake, the next leader candidate, looked around curiously and asked in surprise.
"Brother Mandora, why aren't we going to Arcadia's headquarters to find Lily and the others?"
Previously, Arcadia and Salamandra were allies.
Both intended to forge friendships between the next generations.
Therefore, Sandora, as Salamandra's next leader candidate, got along very well with Arcadia's juniors.
The seven-year-old Sandora at that time got to know Jin Russell and Lily, her peers, and became friends.
And this time was a reunion of friends after a few months, after the Arcadia incident. Sandora was very much looking forward to it.
Mandora hesitated hearing that.
Whether deciding to break the alliance with Arcadia or ally again, both were his personal decisions. Sandora didn't know.
Sandora only knew he came to visit Arcadia's friends, while retrieving the Legacy Gift entrusted by their father to Arcadia, and practicing a bit in Arcadia.
Being a hostage, she was very familiar with this.
Mandora knew well that even if Aslan was willing to return the Void Star: Tai Sui Another Cosmology and Dragon Sun Authority to them, they couldn't keep such secret treasures.
The best outcome was to entrust it first to Arcadia's leader, and only retrieve this heritage after Sandora matured.
At the same time, Mandora could use this method to bear all the blame, to reduce resentment between Arcadia and Salamandra, making him the only guilty one.
But now it was very awkward...
Aslan killed Ares' avatar and successfully pushed the just-resurrected Arcadia back into the fire pit.
If his guess wasn't wrong, Ares should be on his way now.
But current Salamandra absolutely couldn't fight with Arcadia again. After all, Arcadia was wealthy and could afford to make trouble.
But Salamandra now only had few assets left. If fighting again, whether Salamandra could survive was questionable.
Though he greatly admired Aslan as a person and knew Aslan clearly wasn't like Canaria, but sorry...
Salamandra couldn't keep accompanying Arcadia to be buried.
The corner of Mandora's mouth twitched, and he pulled Sandora.
"Sandora, we're going somewhere."
Sandora's eyes sparkled, thinking her brother would take her to Arcadia's headquarters, and she happily let herself be led out.
As soon as the two exited the temple door, they saw a group of people walking toward them.
At that moment, Leticia in the crowd said in surprise.
"Oh? Isn't that the child from the Fire Dragon family?"
Mandora stared at the brilliant blonde woman in Greek-style clothing, whose height didn't reach his chest, and he was stunned.
However, Sandora beside him joyfully jumped toward her.
"Sister Leticia~~"
"Ah? It's little Sandora."
Leticia hugged Sandora, raised her hand, and with a smile on her face, ruffled her head.
As an old cadre of Arcadia, she naturally knew Salamandra's next leader candidate, and their relationship was even quite good.
Seeing a familiar face, Kurousagi's mood became very good. Former allies came to Arcadia to ally again.
"This is Mandora Doltrake, Salamandra's interim leader, and this is little Sandora, Salamandra's little princess. Aslan, don't mistake them."
Kurousagi briefly introduced them, then Aslan couldn't help but reach out and pinch Sandora's collagen-filled cheek.
"Of course I know this. I even wrote their invitation myself."
"By the way, was Sandora waiting for us here?"
"Brother Mandora brought us to wait for you at the door."
Sandora said somewhat childishly.
She didn't know about Mandora deciding to break the alliance; she only knew Mandora deliberately brought her to the door.
And mistakenly thought Mandora deliberately brought her to welcome Aslan and the others.
Hearing Sandora's words, Mandora's heart skipped a beat; the big stone in his heart fell and landed right on his toe.
Dangerous, now he was truly tied to Arcadia.
At the same time, Mandora also felt pity, pity for Aslan, the dragon undergoing self-awakening.
It would be very good if Sandora could train by his side; this was very conducive to her growth.
The Eastern saying, one person achieves Tao, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, referred to this situation.
When Eastern people undergo self-awakening and become dragons, they emit an aura very beneficial to dragon species, even able to awaken young dragon bloodlines (wyvern) in surrounding creatures.
Of course, Eastern people's self-awakening to dragons was otherwise called achieving Tao and becoming immortal. Immortal was a special kind of dragon.
(Whatever, since it's like this, I can only hope Arcadia can withstand the pressure from the Greek side.)
Mandora stood aside with an expressionless face, dismissing his petty thoughts.
Let him be considered a fool.
Hearing Sandora's words, Kurousagi was stunned for a moment, then annoyedly pushed Aslan away and pinched Mandora's cheek.
"No need to wait in the banquet hall at all; just go straight to the main headquarters. Sandora, do you understand?"
"Yes."
Sandora nodded obediently.
"A... A..."
Mandora suddenly stuttered and couldn't help pointing at the golden figure walking toward them from afar.
"A what A?"
Kurousagi glanced at him oddly, then turned to the direction Mandora pointed, and couldn't help opening her mouth wide, showing the same expression as Mandora.
"A... A... Why is Goddess Athena coming?"
Hearing Kurousagi's words, Aslan was also surprised.
No, why did Athena really come?
He had almost openly said their relationship was broken; why did Athena still come?
"Goddess Athena, you really came?"
Aslan looked at the figure appearing beside him with a very strange expression.
"What's wrong? I said I would come to the banquet."
The voice of a woman carrying a smile came from the blonde blue-eyed woman wearing an olive wreath on her head and a white off-shoulder Greek robe with an elegant and intellectual aura.
"How about it? Surprised?"
Athena said in a very cheerful tone.
"Not at all."
The corner of Aslan's mouth twitched; he straightened his clothes and said with slight disgust.
"You not coming would surprise me."
"Is that so? What a pity."
The smile on Athena's face became more pleasant, or rather, more satisfied.
Aslan's reaction gave Athena much pleasure.
"Goddess Athena..."
Leticia and Kurousagi who realized, Karyou by Aslan's side, and several from Salamandra also hurriedly stepped forward, bowing in respect.
Athena glanced at Karyou, then narrowed her eyes and smiled at Kurousagi and Leticia.
"We meet again, Draculea and Indra's pet."
"And this is the Roc clan's daughter, right?"
"I heard from Aslan that you're a very good housekeeper, helping him a lot."
Athena looked at Karyou with a smile.
Karyou's face reddened, seeming very embarrassed by what Athena said, but she also responded.
"Thank you for the praise, Goddess Athena."
(Uh... Did I ever say that? I don't think so.)
(Anyway, Karyou? A good housekeeper? Did she ever approach those words?)
Aslan recalled his daily interactions with Karyou: sparring partners, playing games, drinking, then losing badly but still liking to play, and finally inviting Leticia to challenge him together.
Well, sometimes he also invited Natsuki.
However, Aslan had no intention of refuting; if he didn't want to be scolded by all the women there at once.
Soon after a series of pleasantries, Athena took the initiative to end the conversation, stepped forward, and hugged Aslan's arm.
"Alright, it's not too early; it's time for the banquet organizer to appear."
Athena tried to pull Aslan, but failed.
(Goddess Athena, what's wrong with you? Possessed?)
Aslan sent a telepathic message to Athena. Suddenly hugging him for no reason, what's up?
At the banquet, his female partner was already set: Karyou, who had recently gotten into a relationship with him.
Athena smiled slightly and replied telepathically.
(Aslan, you forgot to wipe the lipstick mark on your lips.)
???
What lipstick mark?
Aslan stared at her with wide eyes. Whatever Athena said, it definitely wasn't from Karyou and the others.
He hadn't kissed Karyou and the others today either.
Athena smiled mysteriously and cut off the telepathic communication.
Even Aslan himself didn't know that on his lips was a lipstick mark left by Algol, which only Athena could see.
The purpose was to mock Athena, that Aslan was hers. Want to snatch?
Ugly woman, look in the mirror first before coming to snatch from her.
If daring, try snatching a man from her?
It's just that the pitiful one was the only victim there: Karyou.
Karyou widened her eyes, looking at Aslan and Athena with a doubtful face.
Especially Athena's arm around Aslan's.
Athena saw Karyou and seemed to understand something.
(Acts in front of eyes...) Athena thought happily.
(What a pity, this poor little bird man is targeted by Algol. Hope Aslan isn't captivated by Algol.)
However, Athena seemed unaware that in Karyou's eyes, she was the one looking at Aslan with malicious intent.
"Hmph~"
Karyou folded her arms across her chest, staring at Athena and Aslan with an unfriendly gaze.
Especially Aslan; Karyou snorted coldly at him.
"Am I disturbing your flirting?"
"So, should I leave?"
Meanwhile, Mandora was already stunned.
No, what was he seeing?
Athena and Karyou fighting over a man? And Athena seemed to be the third party?
Was this plot development too wrong?