The Villain of Ancient Greece

As the night faded away, dawn broke.

With the faint morning light streaming through the window, Lorne, who had enjoyed a good sleep, yawned, got out of bed, and opened the curtains, gazing out at the whole city of Knossos.

In the streets and alleys, the thin fog drifting in from the sea hadn’t completely dissipated, but there were already a few pedestrians and vendors—some were leaving their homes, others setting up their stalls, resuming their daily routines.

The thin smoke from nearby homes rose into the air, carrying the scent of cooking food, which softened the terror and unease that had hung over the city the night before.

Meanwhile, the city guard troops stationed at the street corners and intersections, who were responsible for maintaining order, had visibly decreased in number.

It seemed that after a night of stillness, things were gradually calming down, and the lives of the people were once again returning to their old routines.

Their goddess, their ruler, would continue to protect the people of Crete, allowing them to enjoy a life of prosperity and stability as always.

However, Lorne surveyed the area, and his opened eyes gradually narrowed.

The blockade along the coastline outside the city hadn’t been completely lifted yet;

The number of patrols in the city had decreased, but the soldiers in the barracks had increased;

Meanwhile, the defense forces at the observatory, palace, temple, and sacrificial sites had been strengthened, and the frequency of personnel entering and exiting had increased…

External relaxation, internal tightening?

Lorne reached his conclusion, shaking his head.

He calmly closed the window and went downstairs, entering the kitchen to start the fire.

Professional matters were best left to professionals.

At the moment, the situation on Crete Island hadn’t reached the point of life and death, so there was no need for him to worry about the Minos people for the time being.

Rather than dwelling on such matters, it was better to focus on eating well, drinking well, and taking care of the tasks at hand.

As usual, Lorne prepared breakfast for the still-sleeping little Medusa and Hestia, then took his farming tools to the backyard to continue planting, re-seeding, and… practicing swordplay!

The ancient, jade-blue longsword swung through the empty yard again and again, cutting, stabbing, slashing...

Again and again.

For several days, there was peace and calm.

The terrifying sea tide that occurred in the evening seemed to be nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

The Minos people, gradually recovering from the shock, resumed their usual activities—those who needed to go out to sea went to the sea those who needed to set up stalls, set up the stalls, and those who needed to farm went back to work.

Life returned to normal, and the city regained its past prosperity and noise.

In recent days, the only noteworthy news was that the royal princes, due to their negligence in responding to the disaster, were urgently recalled by the old king for questioning.

Of course, given King Minos’s strict enforcement of law and order, these princes, carrying noble divine blood in their bodies, couldn’t escape the old king’s punishment.

They were first severely beaten, then stripped of all their powers and sent to the temple to pray for forgiveness from the goddess.

Rumor had it that they hadn’t left the temple for several days, and their daily meals had to be delivered by Princess Ariadne herself.

Lorne listened to the gossip from the neighbors, but his daily life remained unchanged.

Only, he was planting fewer crops and practicing his sword more diligently.

Little Medusa, resting her fragrant chin on her hands, looked at the figure in the yard who was constantly swinging and sheathing his sword, somewhat puzzled.

”Didn’t everything get solved?”

”Resolve?”

Lorne’s breathing slowed slightly, and he turned to look at the confused little girl, Medusa, as he sighed deeply.

”No, it’s getting worse...”

Little Medusa was stunned, her eyes clear and bewildered, and Hestia in the kitchen couldn’t help but stop the spatula in her hand and poked her head out slightly.

Looking at the two smart people in the family who had no sense of crisis, Lorne sighed and asked in a deep voice.

”Can you guess why King Minos rushed to recall his exiled sons, beat them half to death, stripped them of all their powers, and threw them into the temple to repent?

Logically speaking, such a small mistake wouldn’t warrant such a severe response, would it?”

Hestia thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up as realization struck and she suddenly understood, her face turning serious.

”They’re planning to rebel! They must be trying to assassinate their father and seize the throne!”

”…”

Lorne raised his hand to his forehead, exasperated, and responded dryly.

”If they really had such plans, would they dare return to Knossos so boldly to report in?

Moreover, even if they wanted to, they would have to have the capability.

The prosperity of all of Crete is almost entirely supported by King Minos.

Do you really think he’s spent the last few hundred years for nothing? The man is old, not dead!”

As Lorne’s rapid-fire questions flew, Hestia’s once confident gaze began to falter.

She awkwardly glanced toward the backyard, now confused and curious.

”So what’s really going on?”

Seeing the eldest daughter of the god-king family, the renowned goddess of the hearth, completely abandon her thinking process, Lorne couldn’t help but mutter inwardly.

’They share the same parents, but why didn’t you inherit any of the family’s skills in rebellion or strategy?’

Just as Lorne was about to explain, a hesitant voice interrupted.

”Could it be that he just wants to take this opportunity to reclaim his authority?”

Lorne turned to look, surprised by the voice coming from Medusa, who frowned tightly.

A smile of approval slowly spread across Lorne’s face as he responded, guiding her thoughts.

”When do you think it’s necessary to reclaim power?”

At those words, Medusa’s heart skipped a beat, and her face shifted between doubt and concern.

”A big problem is coming!”

”I’m afraid it’s a crisis so large that it will require all of Crete’s strength to deal with it…” Lorne added in a low voice, his eyes shifting over the yard and towards the stormy sky above the sea, his gaze darkening.

As the saying goes, ”When one decree is issued, there is governance; when two or three are issued, there is chaos.”

Since ancient times, whenever a major event occurs, a country needs to operate as a whole.

A single decree must be issued to unlock unparalleled potential and unite everyone to confront risks.

Although Eastern and Western political systems differ, the basic operating principles are the same.

It was clear that King Minos, not hesitating to make a big scene and recalling his sons under the pretext of their negligence, had intentions of asserting authority and consolidating power.

This way, he could prove that his influence was still strong, deterring any dissenting voices.

After that, he could focus the strength of the cities of Crete to face the looming big problem.

Lorne thought back to Athena, who had been absent for a long time since their last meeting and his brows furrowed.

As expected, it had come to this...

Just as he was calculating the next developments, a small purple figure suddenly dashed out.

”Anna, where are you going?”

Hestia’s head popped out from the kitchen, looking surprised.

”To tell everyone not to go out to sea!”

Without a second thought, Medusa spoke.

”It’s useless.”

The low, steady voice came from behind, rational and indifferent.

Lorne wiped the bronze long sword in his hand, his gaze deep and penetrating.

”The Minos people can’t live without the sea, just like fish can’t live without water.

They will always go back to it.

Before a true crisis hits, before they personally feel real pain, no one can stop them from going to sea...”

”I know...”

Little Medusa nodded, her gaze as firm as ever.

”But, if I can convince one, I’ll try.”

With that, her small figure dashed out of the door, resolute and running swiftly toward the coastal camp without looking back.

Lorne, standing at the door, glanced at the empty space in his hand and then at the little figure disappearing at the end of the road, a little stunned.

Some people, because they’ve been caught in the rain themselves, don’t want to see others running through it without an umbrella.

They want to hold the umbrella for them.

And some people, because they’ve been caught in the rain, want to tear off everyone else’s umbrella and make them stand in the rain too.

Lorne perhaps didn’t belong to the latter group.

But Medusa certainly belonged to the former.

What a fool...

In the courtyard, Lorne shook his head, remembering the fierce battle he fought with Athena that night and the insights he gained.

Gradually, he slipped into the state of the Endless Martial Refinement, and his sword continued to strike forward.

Faster each time, stronger each time!

(End of Chapter)