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Through the streets and alleys, the thin mist that drifted in from the sea had not yet fully dispersed, but there were already people and vendors emerging from their homes or setting up their stalls, commencing the usual rhythm of life.

Wisps of cooking smoke rose from nearby homes, carrying the scent of food, which diluted the terror and unease that had loomed over the city the previous night.

The number of city defense soldiers, who had been stationed at street corners to maintain order, had visibly decreased.

It appeared that, after a night of settling, the situation had gradually calmed down, and everyone\'s life seemed to have fallen back onto its old track.

Their Goddess, their sovereign, would, as usual, shelter the people of Crete Island, enjoying days of prosperity and stability.

However, after scanning the surroundings, Luo En\'s eyes gradually narrowed.

The blockade at the city\'s coastline had not been entirely lifted;

The number of patrol teams within the city had decreased, yet the quantity of soldiers in the barracks had increased;

And the defense force at the Astrological Observatory, the palace, the temples, and the sacrificial grounds had been reinforced, with personnel coming and going even more frequently…

A relaxed exterior with a tight core?

Luo En arrived at a conclusion in his mind, shook his head, calmly closed the doors and windows, and went downstairs to the kitchen to start a fire.

Leave professional matters to the professionals.

The current state of affairs on Crete Island hadn\'t deteriorated to a matter of life and death, so it wasn\'t yet his turn to worry for the Minosians.

Instead of fussing over these things, it was better to eat well, drink well, and do what he was supposed to do at the moment.

Luo En, as always, had prepared breakfast for Little Medusa and Hestia, who had not yet risen, and afterward, he took his farming tools to the backyard to continue tending the land, replanting, and... sword training!

The ancient longsword of aquamarina hue repeatedly hacked, thrusted, and sliced through the empty yard…

Over and over again.

~~

For several days, all was calm.

The horrific tidal wave that struck at dusk seemed nothing more than a fleeting nightmare.

The Minosians, gradually emerging from the shadows, resumed their usual activities: some went out to sea, some set up their stalls, some tilled their fields, and life returned to its peaceful tempo, with the city regaining its usual bustle and noise.

And the only news of late that might be considered a bit sensational

was merely about the Prince who had been out on assignment, summoned back in a hurry by the King for failing to adequately manage the disaster.

Of course, considering King Minos\'s reputation for strict enforcement of laws, these Princes, with their noble Divine Blood, couldn\'t escape their father\'s whip. They were each flogged half to death, stripped of all authority, and then sent into the temple to pray for the Goddess\'s forgiveness.

It was said that they hadn\'t come out for several days, with their daily meals having to be delivered inside by Princess Ariadne.

Luo En listened to the rumors from the neighbors, living his daily life as usual.

Only, he planted less and practiced his swordsmanship more diligently.

Little Medusa propped up her cheeks, puzzled as she watched the figure that wielded and sheathed his sword continuously in the courtyard.

"Isn\'t everything already resolved?"

"Resolved?"

Luo En\'s breathing slowed slightly as he turned his head to look at the girl with a naive expression on her face and pondered in a deep voice.

"No, it\'s gotten worse…"

Little Medusa looked stunned, her gaze clear yet confused, while Hestia in the kitchen stopped stirring the frying pan and poked her head out, slightly curious.

Seeing the two of them, utterly unaware of any crisis at home, Luo En sighed and asked in a serious tone.

"Guess why King Minos hastily summoned back the Prince who were out on assignments, beat them half to death, stripped them of all their authority, and threw them all into the temple to repent? Logically speaking, slight negligence doesn\'t warrant such harsh measures, right?"

After pondering for a moment, an epiphany flashed through Hestia\'s mind, and her face turned grave with understanding.

"They\'re planning a rebellion! They must be plotting to kill their father and seize power!"

"..."

Luo En raised his hand to his forehead, exasperatedly commenting.

"If they really had such intentions, would they dare to return to Knossos City so ostentatiously to report for duty? Besides, even if they wanted to, they would need the capability. The prosperity of the entire Crete Island is almost single-handedly upheld by King Minos. You really think he hasn\'t accomplished anything in these several hundred years?"

"People get old, they don\'t die!"

In the midst of Luo En\'s rapid-fire questioning, Hestia\'s certain gaze inevitably turned confused, looking towards the backyard with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity.

"So what\'s this all about?"

Seeing that the eldest sister of the Divine King\'s family, the famous Goddess of the Hearth, had given up on thinking, Luo En couldn\'t help but let out a silent scoff in his heart.

How come, being born to the same parents, you didn\'t inherit any of the excellent family genes for scheming and rebellion?

Just as Luo En was considering how to start explaining, a hesitant voice came from the side.

"Could it be that he just wants to take the opportunity to take back control?"

Luo En turned his head upon hearing this, surprised to see Little Medusa with her brows tightly furrowed, and he couldn\'t help but let a smile of approval bloom on his face as he began to lead the conversation.

"Then, when do you think it\'s necessary to take back power?"

Upon hearing his words, Medusa felt a tremor in her heart, her little face clouded with uncertainty.

"Big trouble is coming!"

"Indeed, it seems like the kind of big trouble that requires the full force of Crete Island to deal with..."

Luo En added in a grave tone, his gaze passing over the courtyard to the gloomy sky above the sea, his eyes flickering mysteriously.

As the saying goes, one voice in governance brings order, multiple voices bring chaos.

Since ancient times, whenever a major event occurred, nations needed to operate as a whole, a unified law to unleash unparalleled potential and cooperate to face risks.

Although the political systems in the East and West are different, the basic principles of operation are mutually intelligible.

Clearly, King Minos, not shying away from making a big fuss, intended to take the opportunity of negligence to call his sons back for punishment, with plans to assert his authority and reclaim power.

In doing so, he could prove that his influence remained strong, deter those slightly restless voices, and then focus the collective strength of the cities of Crete to prepare for the approaching trouble.

Luo En thought of Athena, whom he hadn\'t seen since their parting, and his brows drew together in concern.

As expected, it had come to that point...

While Luo En was calculating the next developments, a petite purple figure darted out.

"Anna, where are you going?"

Hestia peeked out from the kitchen, her eyes showing surprise.

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

Little Medusa spoke without hesitation.

"It\'s useless."

A low voice came from behind, rational and detached.

Luo En wiped the bronze longsword in his hand, his gaze deep and penetrating.

"Minosians cannot live without the sea, just like fish cannot live without water. They have to make a living, and until the crisis truly arrives, until they feel the real pain themselves, nothing will stop them from going out to sea..."

"I know..."

Little Medusa nodded, her gaze as resolute as ever.

"But, if I can persuade even one person, that\'s one less person in danger!"

With that, the petite figure rushed out of the room decisively, not looking back as she sped towards the coastal camp.

Luo En looked at his own empty hand and at the small figure disappearing at the end of the road, somewhat bewildered.

Some people, having been caught in the rain themselves, don\'t want to see others running in the rain without an umbrella and wish to shelter them.

And some people, because they have been soaked themselves, want to tear apart others\' umbrellas, leaving them exposed to the rain as well.

Perhaps, Luo En wasn\'t one of the latter.

But Little Medusa was certainly one of the former.

What a fool...

In the courtyard, Luo En shook his head, reminiscing about the intense battle with Athena that evening and the insights gained, gradually entering the state of "Infinite Martial Refinement", his sword continuing to swing forward.

Each time faster than the last, each time more powerful than the last!