Chapter 208

Chapter 208. Joining Forces (1)

There ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍is such a thing as intuition.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍kind that naturally makes you think of a certain person whenever something happens...

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍seemed like intuition had no basis whatsoever, but that wasn't entirely true. Intuition was a form of insight built upon accumulated experience.

Of ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course, there was no denying that intuition could sometimes be wrong.

Even ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍so, Anagin trusted his instincts quite a bit.

For ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one simple reason.

His instincts were usually right.

So when he heard Midas's description and immediately thought of his Master, he decided to verify it himself.

To find out whether Midas truly was his Master or not.

And the moment he saw the Oracle of the Temple of Delphi transformed into gold, his suspicion became certainty.

Midas was his Master.

Why?

The reason was simple. They were identical.

The gold nugget his Master had pressed into his hand when he left his hometown looked almost exactly like the Oracle who had been turned to gold.

The texture of the surface.

The feel of it.

Of course, this too was nothing more than a personal conclusion based on intuition.

Even so, Anagin was certain.

Midas was his Master.

So he told everyone.

The original Argonaut Expedition Team, the New Argonaut Expedition Team, Sphinx and Spanich as well.

He told them he believed Midas was his Master.

As expected, everyone was visibly shocked.

That much had gone exactly as Anagin expected.

Even he had been surprised after reaching that conclusion, so those who had never even considered the possibility were bound to be even more stunned.

What surprised him was what came next.

He had expected them to glare at him with hostility, or at the very least become wary and start plotting.

Instead, they remained surprisingly calm.

They were clearly shaken by the revelation, but there was no hostility.

Rather, they invited Anagin to dinner so they could discuss everything properly.

"Can we talk while we eat? You just arrived, and it's not like you have anywhere to stay yet."

It wasn't as though he couldn't hear the gears turning in their heads.

Still, it was far less than he had expected. And he did need somewhere to stay.

So Anagin accepted the invitation.

Since they had acted differently than expected, he became curious about what they intended to say.

‘How unexpected. I figured they'd immediately run to the priests and report that I'm Midas's disciple.’

Thinking that, Anagin returned to the Argonaut Expedition Team's camp.

They immediately sat down for dinner.

"Come on, have a seat."

The meal was held inside a large tent that also served as their meeting hall.

The attendants accompanying the heroes brought in the food.

Among them was Sanchonius from Chiron Tower.

"Your meal is ready."

"Oh, thanks. Looks delicious."

The food, incidentally, was lavish beyond belief. Barley bread fried in pork fat and sheep's milk cheese. Lentil stew and whole garlic purée. Roasted sausages and ham. Black olives and onions pickled in vinegar to stimulate the appetite. Olive oil, wild thyme, coarse salt. And even an entire roasted wild boar.

Considering they were camping, it could only be described as luxurious. The generous portions pleased Anagin even more.

As the guest, Anagin refrained from touching the food first and waited to see what the hosts would do.

He wondered whether they would discuss business first or eat first.

Fortunately, they chose to eat.

The moment the members of the Argonaut Expedition Team and the New Argonaut Expedition Team began eating, Anagin reached for the food as well.

He first tore the barley bread fried in pork fat in half and ate it with cheese. Then he washed it down with lentil stew. Next came the plump sausages and ham together with the whole garlic purée, chewing away heartily.

Once the rich grease had coated his tongue, he refreshed his palate with the pickled onions and olives before finally carving into the roasted wild boar, slowly savoring the main course.

Crunch. Crunch.

The perfectly crisp roasted skin was a masterpiece.

After some time had passed—

"How much do you know about the Midas Subjugation?"

Meleager asked Anagin.

He wanted to know how much Anagin knew about the current situation.

Anagin had expected questions about whether Midas really was his Master or how the two had become Master and disciple...

Instead, the question felt rather unexpected.

Still, Anagin didn't mind and answered honestly.

After all, they had treated him to such a luxurious dinner.

"I know that Midas, one of the Rebels, attacked the Temple of Delphi and turned the Oracle into gold. The practitioners and kings gathered to punish him, didn't they?"

"That's right. Then do you know who's participating?"

"No. I don't know that much."

"A great many people are participating. Even excluding those hoping to strike it rich, quite a few famous heroes and kings have joined as well."

"Oh? Like who?"

Anagin asked with feigned interest.

Meleager exchanged glances with Atalanta and the others nearby.

It felt as though they were silently asking each other whether it was alright to tell him.

"...To start with, my fellow members of the Argonaut Expedition Team—Jason of the One Sandal, Asclepius the Physician, and the twin brothers Castor and Pollux are definitely participating. We've already received word."

"Hmm. I don't know any of them, so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to react. More importantly, isn't Orpheus participating?"

Anagin mentioned Orpheus the Musician.

That bastard who had attacked him in an attempt to obtain new merit.

"...No. Orpheus isn't participating."

"That's a shame."

Anagin genuinely sounded disappointed.

He had wanted to see the man again and beat him to death. He still hadn't forgotten the damned illusion Orpheus had shown him.

"The New Argonaut Expedition Team will be participating as well."

"Wait. The New Argonaut Expedition Team too? I thought you four were all there was."

Pointing at the four members—Irida, Tramachus, Lynceus, and Thyreos—Anagin asked.

This time, Tramachus, Meleager's cousin, answered.

It amused Anagin a little that the two cousins seemed to fill much the same role.

"No. There's no way they'd call just the four of us the New Argonaut Expedition Team."

"That's true. Who else is there?"

"...Idas of Great Strength. My brother."

Lynceus of Farsight answered with a slight frown, clearly uncomfortable.

Anagin immediately pointed it out.

"Why the face? You and your brother don't get along? I mean, that's understandable, but do you really have to make it that obvious—"

"We don't have a bad relationship. It's just... there are circumstances."

Apparently uncomfortable discussing it, Lynceus trailed off.

Anagin didn't press the matter.

He wasn't that curious.

An awkward silence settled over the group for a moment, but Tramachus smoothly introduced the remaining members.

"Tethes the Sniper and Tolemos the Vanguard are participating too."

"Hmm. Still doesn't mean anything to me."

Even after Tramachus kindly explained, Anagin's reaction remained underwhelming.

What could he do?

He genuinely had no idea who they were.

Fortunately, neither the Argonaut Expedition Team nor the New Argonaut Expedition Team took offense.

They all knew this was simply the kind of person Anagin was.

Instead of getting angry over something so pointless, they continued explaining.

"In addition to them, many well-known practitioners are taking part. And the kings who have joined aren't to be underestimated either."

"Really? From what I heard, most of them were just looking to ride on your coattails. Hoping to share in the credit after you defeated Midas."

"Where did you hear that?"

"From the captain of Corinthos's mercenary company. Oh, that reminds me—they're the ones who sent me here. Keep that in mind. Corinthos sent me."

Anagin fulfilled the promise he had made to Halysis. Since things had turned out this way anyway, he decided it was in his best interest to keep his word.

Instead of asking why he was saying that, everyone simply nodded. They seemed to understand exactly why Corinthos had instructed him to say it.

‘Nice. Makes things go faster.’

"We'll keep that in mind. But what you heard is only half true."

"What's the other half?"

"There are kings here who genuinely intend to kill Midas."

Perhaps because they were kings, Meleager explained carefully while applying honorifics.

Despite Meleager's serious tone, however, Anagin felt little reaction.

It couldn't be helped.

No matter how he imagined it, he simply couldn't picture his Master being defeated.

Of course, that might have been nothing more than Anagin's premature conclusion.

They were kings.

Perhaps they possessed some hidden trump card.

Yet his intuition insisted that even if they did, it wouldn't matter.

Perhaps sensing what Anagin was thinking, Meleager asked,

"What is it?"

"Ah... I was just curious. Which kings are trying to capture my Master? Can you tell me?"

The moment Anagin asked, the atmosphere changed.

Meleager's expression subtly—but unmistakably—changed as well.

He wasn't hostile.

But he was wary.

And he intended to address that issue before anything else.

It was finally time to get to the heart of the matter.

"Before I answer, let me ask you one more time. Are you certain Midas is your Master?"

"If you're asking whether I have concrete proof, then no. But my instincts tell me Midas is my Master. So... I'm probably right."

It sounded almost absurd.

Yet no one dismissed it.

They all took Anagin's words seriously.

"I see... Then why didn't you keep it a secret?"

In one sense, it changed nothing.

Yet it was also something they couldn't simply ignore.

After all, Anagin had openly admitted that one of the Rebels—Midas—was his Master.

Even an innocent person would hesitate before saying something like that.

At least, under normal circumstances.

But, proving once again how far removed he was from common sense, Anagin answered calmly.

"It isn't exactly a secret. Besides, I said I'd confirm it before telling you."

"Is that all?"

"I did wonder whether you'd all lose your minds and attack me... but if that happened, I'd just fight back."

Anagin made it clear that he hadn't revealed his Master's identity out of ignorance.

He had known exactly what he was doing.

He was so confident that it almost left the listeners speechless.

That confidence made him sound even more sincere. The fact that it was Anagin speaking certainly helped.

Perhaps because of that, everyone suddenly felt that continuing to question him on the matter would be foolish.

"Very well. Then how did you become Midas's disciple?"

"I don't remember the details. A few years ago, he came to my village because he was looking for something. Then he ended up staying for several years. That's when he became my Master."

"Midas was looking for something? What is it?"

"I don't know. I wasn't interested, so I never asked. Doesn't the fact that I only recently learned his name make that obvious?"

"Then how did you become his disciple?"

"It's not like I wanted to."

Anagin explained how he had become his Master's disciple.

Namely, how the man had suddenly appeared, declared that he would become his Master, and then started punching him.

"Good heavens..."

Several people were horrified to learn that Anagin had been beaten for no reason.

"Ah... Now that I say it out loud, it's kind of depressing..."

"Did you know your Master was one of the Rebels?"

"Of course not. I didn't even know the Rebels existed until after I became a practitioner."

As Anagin answered without hesitation, everyone nodded in understanding.

It was the truth.

There was no reason to doubt him.

Once he had more or less explained his relationship with his Master, the subtle tension that had lingered in the air finally seemed to ease.

But only briefly.

Another question followed.

"One more question. It may be a rather sensitive one."

"Go ahead."

"If your Master really is Midas... will you stand by his side?"

Just as Meleager had said, it was a direct and sensitive question.

The person being questioned, however, remained perfectly calm.

"Huh? Me? Why would I?"

Anagin blinked innocently, genuinely unable to understand.

Because he truly didn't.

Caught completely off guard, Meleager awkwardly explained,

"Well... because he's your Master?"

"I already told you I didn't become his disciple because I wanted to. Besides, I don't even like the guy that much."

Since he had never wanted to become his disciple in the first place, there was no reason for him to harbor any particular affection.

If anything, Anagin was more curious why they would even ask such a question.

"More importantly, do I look like the kind of person who'd help someone who goes around causing trouble whenever they feel like it?"

Perhaps that argument was more persuasive than expected.

Everyone finally let go of the last traces of suspicion in their eyes.

It left Anagin feeling a little bitter, as though they were saying his personality was terrible.

Still, the issue was settled.

Everyone present now believed that Anagin had merely become Midas's disciple by circumstance, not because they were allies.

With the verification complete, they moved on to a new topic.

"In that case, would you be willing to help us subjugate Midas?"

Joining the Midas Subjugation… It was a question Anagin had expected to some extent.

He paused to think.

After all, he hadn't come to the Temple of Delphi to subjugate his Master.

He had simply come to confirm whether the Oracle of the Temple of Delphi had truly been turned to gold… And whether his Master had really been responsible.

He hadn't thought any further than that.

‘More accurately, I planned to decide what to do after confirming whether Midas really was my Master or not.’

In a word, it meant he moved in a rule-of-thumb manner.

Personally, he hadn't thought that was a problem.

No one was rushing him.

He had plenty of time to take things at his own pace.

However, somehow he ended up in a situation where he was pressed for an answer. And it was a situation where refusing here would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Though he doesn't particularly care.

"......"

As Anagin's silence stretched on, the gazes around him once again began to fill with subtle emotions.

Mild suspicion.

Unease.

The faint suspicion and anxiety gradually deepened, nearing the breaking point.

Just before it crossed that line, Anagin finally spoke.

"Well... why not? I'll join too."

"Really?"

"I've got a few things I need to confirm with my Master."

"What do you mean by 'confirm'?"

"Nothing important. Just something personal and trivial. More importantly, what you really want from me is information about my Master, isn't it?"

Anagin accurately identified what both the Argonaut Expedition Team and the New Argonaut Expedition Team truly wanted.

People who called themselves heroes and aspired to become heroes would never ask someone else to fight in their place.

"That's right."

"If that's all, then I probably won't be much help. I don't actually know that much about my Master."

"Even so, you know more than we do."

"That's true. I'll tell you everything I know."

Anagin made the promise despite having very little to tell. It sounded like a grand offer, but in reality it was an empty promise.

Meleager, however, didn't seem to think so. He immediately asked another question.

It was...

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

"Do you think we can defeat him this time? During the Midas Subjugation?"

Whether this campaign would succeed.

Anagin shrugged.

"Who knows? That's a pretty vague question. I don't know everyone who's participating in the Midas Subjugation."

"Then judge based on us."

"Oh, that's easy."

"You absolutely can't."

Anagin declared without hesitation.

There wasn’t the slightest chance they could ever defeat his master.

If anything, they would be the ones to die.

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