"Why have they come?"
Wayne knew the Tribe were brewing something big, preparing to surround and kill him once they had more Legends.
He was waiting too, waiting for the pigs to fatten up before offering them to the altar.
Both sides had bright futures ahead.
Wayne had tried his best to cooperate with the Tribe's performance, refraining from actively provoking trouble and quietly playing the role of a shut-in. Yet, the other side had taken the initiative to seek him out.
"How many came, and for what purpose?" Wayne asked.
"Only five or six, all from the Olympus Divine Realm. They're very strong. As for the specifics... Athena only mentioned wanting peace talks. I'm not clear on what exactly they want to discuss."
Crouch only knew this much. He wanted to press for more information but feared being killed by a single spell, so he had to come to Wayne first.
"Is that so..." Wayne tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking for a moment before saying, "Go back first. I'll come in a couple of days."
"Are you planning to leave them hanging for two days?" Crouch understood his meaning.
"No, it's the weekend in two days." Wayne shook his head seriously. "I'm a good student, how can I just leave school whenever I want?"
Crouch: "..."
That very night, the good student left the castle and went to Nibelung to pry information from the old Dragon King.
"This is Zeus's plan," Orynix said. "He wants to completely stabilise you, ensuring you won't make a move before those pseudo-Legends break through. Additionally, he wants to gather some intelligence through Athena."
"But hasn't Odin already made a public statement?" Wayne was still somewhat puzzled. "Isn't Zeus just adding unnecessary steps?"
The old dragon laughed, his massive head looking rather menacing. "Zeus's actions have nothing to do with Odin. He's fighting for power."
"The Tribe was established through Odin's mediation, so naturally, he's the current leader. But those fools from Olympus aren't content with being subordinates; they want to assert their presence."
"Not long ago, they even sent people to deliver a pile of treasures to me."
Wayne just chuckled. He had imagined countless possibilities but never expected this one.
The final boss hasn't even been defeated yet, and they're already fighting among themselves.
"Alright, keep me informed promptly. Don't make me come asking." Wayne waved his hand and prepared to leave, but Orynix stopped him.
"Are you really confident?" he asked. "Once those who are supposed to break through do so, there will be at least ten Legends."
Wayne didn't answer. After a moment's thought, he opened a spatial portal and summoned Ragnaros.
Ragnaros's enormous size filled the dragon's lair to the brim, and the air grew scorching.
"This is my subordinate. There will be a few more soon, and I have a Legend ally as well. Are you reassured now?"
Displaying strength is one way to make subordinates loyal and dedicated. Never rely on vague loyalty; hiding your own strength is inherently irresponsible to your subordinates.
Orynix glanced warily at the Flamelord radiating violent energy but felt considerably more at ease.
"I overstepped, Lord Lawrence."
"It's nothing. Follow me faithfully, and I can guarantee you'll live to a natural death, and perhaps... even advance further."
After tossing out a big promise, Wayne left.
...
Two days later, Saturday.
While other students went to Hogsmeade, Wayne went to a manor in the outskirts of London.
This was temporary accommodation that the Ministry of Magic had arranged for Athena's group. They had originally booked hotels, but these self-proclaimed deities found them too noisy and refused to stay there.
The manor was the property of a pure-blood family that was vacant, borrowed by Crouch for this purpose.
Wayne Apparated to the manor's main gate, where Arthur Weasley was already waiting. Seeing Wayne, he broke into a smile and gave him a big hug.
"How about coming to ours for dinner tonight? Molly's been mentioning you for a while."
"No problem, I haven't seen Fred and George for ages either."
Chatting and laughing, the two walked inside until they reached outside the drawing room, where Arthur tactfully withdrew, leaving Wayne to enter alone.
Pushing open the drawing room doors, Wayne saw the legendary Athena, along with several others.
His gaze didn't linger long on Athena, whose appearance was quite pleasing and who radiated an intellectual, resolute charm, but instead settled on a middle-aged, muscular man in traditional Greek attire, an olive wreath on his head.
The muscular man was also looking at him, confusion in his eyes.
"Lord Lawrence..." Athena rose with a smile, but he waved her off.
"I know you're Athena, no need for introductions. Who is this?"
Athena glanced curiously at the middle-aged man, seemingly not understanding why Wayne would be interested in him, but said, "This is Heracles, the great hero."
"I meant his original name," Wayne said with a sidelong glance.
"I am Andros," the middle-aged man spoke up, his voice as if naturally amplified by an Amplifying Charm, tone firm, matching his burly frame - very much like the great hero of ancient Greek legend.
And indeed he was.
"So it is you," Wayne revealed a faint smile. "The Invincible Andros. I never imagined you'd joined the Olympus Divine Realm and survived until now."
He stepped forward and extended his hand, "Pleased to meet you."
For Wayne, Andros held special significance - his early magical prowess had been guaranteed by Andros's template. That enormous Patronus guardian, which had now become his signature representative spell, was thanks to this template.
Seemingly surprised by Wayne's enthusiasm, Andros appeared somewhat embarrassed, offering a simple, honest smile as he also extended his hand. "It's an honour to be remembered by Lord Lawrence."
"No need for such formality, we're quite connected," Wayne said with a laugh and shake of his head.
Having said this, he released his Patronus. The translucent white dragon was larger than the entire house.
"So that's how it is?" Andros finally understood why he'd felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing Wayne - they shared the same gift.
Seeing this, Athena felt a slight thrill in her heart, growing more confident about the upcoming discussion.
After this, Wayne essentially ignored Athena and the others, chatting with Andros about his experiences.
It turned out Andros was originally descended from divine realm beings and ancient Greeks, carrying the bloodline of Heracles within him. After he became famous, the Olympus Divine Realm took notice and recruited him.
Later, he accidentally found the legendary Golden Apple and, after eating it, gained an exceptionally long lifespan, which allowed him to live until now and even become a pseudo-Legend.
His strength surpassed even Athena's, but for this operation, Athena would take the lead. His task was merely to protect Athena's safety and demonstrate the might of the Olympus Divine Realm.
"So, what does Lady Athena wish to discuss with me?" Wayne finally turned his gaze to Athena, who had been quietly listening.
This Goddess of Wisdom did possess some emotional intelligence. Since his arrival, she had maintained a humble posture, never interrupting his conversation with Andros. Even when he used Andros to extract many secrets about the Olympus Divine Realm, she kept smiling.
"Lord Lawrence, I come with sincere intentions for peace." Athena gave a proper slight bow. "The Tribe and the Alliance are not irreconcilable enemies bound by hatred."
"Mutual conflict only leads to both sides suffering, and it's the ordinary people and common wizards who endure the hardship."
"Wasn't it you who caused it?" Wayne chuckled dismissively. "If you outsiders hadn't appeared, the wizarding world wouldn't have been exposed, and the world wouldn't be in turmoil."
"Now you're pretending to be the good ones? Fine, as long as you leave Earth, we can coexist peacefully."
Faced with Wayne's sarcasm, Athena showed no embarrassment or anger, remaining smiling.
"Lord Lawrence, although the Olympus Divine Realm are outsiders, that doesn't mean we are. The first generation of gods have long fallen. Like Mr Andros, we are hybrids descended from gods and humans."
Andros nodded beside them. "That's right. Strictly speaking, the current Zeus is actually my junior, though his divine bloodline is more concentrated."
"So we are all the same." Athena laughed delicately. "The ancestors of the Lawrence family crossed the oceans from Normandy to Britain. Olympus merely took a long journey. We are all Earthlings—there's no need for fighting and killing."
Wayne pretended to be convinced. "That does make some sense. But you were the ones who started the disputes—the divine realms interfering in Muggle governance, ancient wizards recklessly using magic on ordinary people..."
"There have been over a hundred bank robberies alone. How do you explain that?"
"Strictly speaking, we are ancient people who were unaware of the Statute of Secrecy and unaccustomed to modern rules." Athena easily found an excuse for herself. "However, the Tribe is now beginning to restrain the ancient wizards. Given some time, everything can be different."
Andros opened his mouth, struggling to say something, but ultimately lowered his head.
"How much time?" Wayne asked, glancing subtly at Andros.
"Let's set a limit of six months." Athena smiled in reply, gently clasping her hands.
Hah.
Wayne sneered inwardly, feigning contemplation. "Very well. If after six months you're still ruthlessly exploiting Muggles, I will annihilate all the divine realms."
"Oh, and by the way, you might want to control your Zeus first. The Centaur tribe that fled to me says he doesn't even spare Goblins, Centaurs, or House-elves... Isn't that a disgrace to wizards?"
Athena's smile finally faltered.
Earlier, when Wayne called them invaders, she hadn't reacted at all, but now she was completely broken.
For no other reason than it was utterly humiliating.
The descendants of Zeus's line were all like thousand-year-old perverts reincarnated, with no distinction between refined and vulgar tastes. Not just humans, they wouldn't even spare humanoid creatures, with a particular focus on the bizarre.
"Lord Lawrence, I will report this to the Divine King." Taking a deep breath, Athena forced a smile:
"But he is, after all, the leader of the divine realm; I cannot interfere with his decisions."
"Yet I see you have your own schemes as well." Wayne looked at him playfully, "Lady Athena, your magic has succeeded. Now you can tell us what exactly you want to do?"
Andros was startled, looking up and around. Only upon careful observation did he notice that the several wizards who had come with them appeared to be silently listening to their conversation.
But in reality, their eyes had already become vacant, having fallen into an illusion.
"Athena, what have you done?" Andros looked at her in confusion, not understanding why Athena would turn against their own people.
"No need for confusion, Heracles." Athena gently shook her head.
"I merely wish to discuss matters unsuitable for outsiders to know. After all... aren't these people precisely the ones Zeus sent to monitor you and me?"