After seeing Hades coming to find her from a peeping perspective, Hecate and Ares also hurried back to Hecate's Garden from the Underworld's magic workshop.
As soon as she returned home, Hecate hid in her Tree Palace and began to dress up. Of course, this dressing up was not for the sake of 'a woman beautifies herself for her admirer,' but rather, the Moon Goddess wanted to maintain a high-status, sage-like image in front of Hades to increase the weight of her words.
After all, she was meeting the supreme leader, so Hecate couldn't maintain her most childlike avatar and wear a nightgown with slippers and messy hair, as she did in front of Ares. She, Hecate, was a Goddess, not the Fiery Cloud Evil God; she still needed to save face in front of outsiders.
Moreover, this sudden incident was crucial to her and Ares's upcoming plans. Success or failure depended on whether Hecate could fool Hades.
On the other side, after returning to the Garden, Ares immediately transformed into a Shorea Flower in Hecate's Garden, quietly monitoring the entire situation while also preparing to give his teacher reverse guidance on the matter of deception.
After all, Hecate's achievements in magic were unparalleled in the Greek World, but she had few followers, so her ability to deceive was naturally below the average of the Gods. She couldn't compare to a great deceiver like Ares, who could sweet-talk his way through heaven and earth.
A moment later, Hades arrived in front of Hecate's Garden. Standing amidst a swaying Shorea Flower Sea, Hades looked at the Tree Palace towering in the center of the flower sea and called out loudly:
"Is the Goddess of the Dark Moon Hecate in? I am Hades, and I have something to discuss with you. Can you let me in?"
Seeing Hades arrive, Ares quietly moved his flower branches and then looked in the direction of the Tree Palace. A moment later, Hecate's voice came from the Tree Palace, softly saying:
"Please come in, Hades."
Hmm, having spent a long time with this Goddess, in Ares's memory, except when she was scolding him or instructing him to do something, his teacher's voice always had a languid, listless quality, sounding as if she would collapse and fall into a deep sleep the next second.
Ares had never heard Hecate speak in such a cold and arrogant voice. Honestly, it really did give her a mysterious Goddess vibe.
After Hecate's voice fell, Hecate's Garden automatically opened an entrance for Hades, and he stepped in. When he arrived in the Garden, Hecate, having changed her attire, also slowly walked out of the Tree Palace.
At this moment, the Goddess had taken on the figure of a young woman. Her graceful and lithe body was enveloped in a black, form-fitting long robe. A series of precious pearls adorned her, hanging from the hem of her skirt and cloak, making a crisp clinking sound as the Goddess moved.
On her face, there was a black veil covering her fair cheeks, and a hood concealed her forehead, leaving only a pair of wise magic eyes, looking at Hades with a gaze that seemed to see through everything in the world.
Seeing Hecate like this, Ares had to admit he was truly impressed. Although since coming to this world, almost all the women Ares had seen were not ugly, they were either Goddesses like Athena or Artemis. Even Aphrodite, the most beautiful woman in the Greek World, would stand next to him with a sour face during morning meetings.
However, appearance is born from the heart. Ares felt a certain resistance towards these Goddesses. He only thought Artemis was a silly younger sister, while Aphrodite and Athena were even more serious. The former he only saw as a hot potato, a beautiful vase that couldn't be touched, and the latter, no matter how beautiful she was, Ares only felt that this woman was scheming against him with every smile and frown.
In serious moments, whenever Athena smiled, Ares felt as if he could see a blood-red 'Danger' sign above his head. Many signs also proved that this woman had indeed accepted Kroto's commission and was ordered to kill him, but now she was silently plotting something unknown.
But Hecate was different. She was probably the Goddess with the closest relationship to Ares in the Greek World. Ares had been staying with his teacher for a long time, refusing to leave, and the two of them even had a slight sense of family. When Ares saw Hecate after she had meticulously dressed up, it was like suddenly realizing that the older sister at home, who loved to lie in bed all day, scratch her belly, and snatch the TV remote and snacks, had suddenly transformed into a dazzlingly beautiful woman.
If Hecate had gone to Olympus in this appearance to attend the feast of the Gods, she would have probably been madly pursued by male Gods like Zeus and Poseidon.
It was fortunate that the most honest and steady Hades was currently in front of her, so Hecate dared to dress like this to highlight her mysterious aura. And indeed, Hades's expression remained normal after seeing Hecate.
Hecate spared no expense to put on a show this time. She didn't even wear her favorite slippers, but walked barefoot on the stinging grass of the Underworld. She came before Hades, extended her hand, and the plants on the ground automatically grew, forming a wooden table, two opposing stools, a pot of fine wine, two cups, and some sweet fruits on the table.
"Please be seated, esteemed Hades."
After inviting Hades to sit, Hecate directly said to him:
"I already know your purpose."
Hades was slightly startled. The wine cup he had raised hadn't yet reached his lips. He looked at Hecate with some surprise: "You know this too?"
"After all, it's not just your marriage, but a matter concerning the overall situation of the entire Underworld."
Hecate nodded slightly, and at the same time, Ares's voice sounded in her mind:
"Teacher, that's how you maintain status. Only say half a sentence, leaving the other half hanging. That's how you create mystery."
"Understood."
Hecate responded in her mind, quietly waiting for Hades's reply.
"Since you already know, then it's easier to talk."
Hades lowered his head, closed his eyes somewhat helplessly, and then said to Hecate:
"Hecate, I want to ask for a method."
"Hades, I have many methods here."
Hecate chuckled softly:
"The key is, which one do you want to ask for?"
After a pause, she continued:
"This Queen of the Underworld, do you want her, or not? The authority of the Underworld, do you want to release it, or not? All of this depends on your thoughts, esteemed Hades."