The messenger took his leave, and after a moment, a somewhat reserved Orion was brought by him into the tent.
When Heracles saw the rumored lover of the Goddess of Wisdom, he was very surprised. He had thought that Orion would be a beautiful youth like the legendary Endymion to be actively pursued by the goddess, but he did not expect that Orion was a giant man dressed in animal skins, looking somewhat like a primitive man, and his muscular physique could even rival his own.
He couldn't help but take a second look, and then he fell into another layer of shock.
"This Orion is quite formidable."
As a seasoned veteran of combat, Heracles immediately saw Orion's formidable strength hidden beneath his simple exterior. Although he was not as strong as himself, and perhaps a little weaker than Perseus, he was much stronger than the self-proclaimed divine children and Heroes on the Argo.
If he weren't there, Orion against the Argo Heroes should be able to single-handedly cut through the Heroes on the Argo. Even powerful figures like Atalanta and Peleus likely wouldn't be his match in a fight.
However, Orion was not very surprised when he saw Heracles. He had learned from Apollo earlier that Heracles was closely related to Ares, and since he lived alone in the mountains, he had not heard of Heracles's "fierce reputation" circulating in the outside world.
He simply came before Ares, greeting him with some restraint and respect: "Hello, esteemed Ares."
Ares looked at him carefully, then asked with a smile: "How was that can of insecticide I gave you? Was it effective?"
"Yes, it was effective," Orion sincerely thanked him. "If it weren't for the potion you gave me, Artemis and I might have met with misfortune under the giant scorpion's poisonous sting and massive pincers."
"No, Artemis wouldn't have. She has main god-level magic resistance and immortality, but you're not so sure. The poison on that giant scorpion's sting is Hydra's poison. If stung by it, even a demigod would immediately die."
Ares replied without much ceremony.
"It sounds like you seem to know the origin of that giant scorpion?" Orion asked.
"Of course I know, that's a synthetic monster created by my dear sister Athena." Ares thought for a moment and said, "A few years ago, she secretly came to the Underworld once. By selling her charm, she drew a tube of blood from Hydra, my teacher's handmaiden. After returning, she quietly developed a potion that could turn normal humans into famous monsters."
"A virgin goddess can also sell her charm?" Orion retorted.
"Why not? A virgin goddess can do many things. Aren't you currently in love with a virgin goddess?" Ares's expression was subtle, implying something: "What's more, Athena's trading partner wasn't a male, but Queen of the Underworld Persephone."
As soon as Ares uttered this sentence, both Heracles and Orion immediately felt that they had learned something extraordinary.
"Will I be silenced by that Goddess of Wisdom later?" Orion asked himself uneasily.
"Do you think she'll let you go if you leave now?" Ares retorted, "When you came to me, you must have already made up your mind, right?"
"Ares knows my intention?" Orion asked in surprise.
"Of course I know. I also know that you were driven here by Athena. It seems my sister is very impatient. She doesn't even have the patience to deal with our second uncle slowly after she deals with me."
Ares walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, looking into Orion's eyes, and then asked, "But what I'm most curious about is you, Orion. You clearly had a chance to run away with Artemis. At that time, Apollo should have jumped in himself. Why did you enter this dispute for the two of them?"
"Because I also want to be a Hero," Orion replied, "even if it's just a Hero for one person..."
He then explained his reasons to Ares and Heracles. After listening, Heracles immediately looked at him with the eyes of a comrade.
"With this goal alone, you are already a Hero, Orion," Heracles praised him.
"Thank you," Orion replied somewhat reservedly to Heracles, then looked at Ares and asked, "So, Ares, can I join your ranks?"
"Of course you can. Our team welcomes all capable and ambitious people!"
Ares opened his arms and embraced Orion, then patted him on the shoulder and said to him very seriously:
"But Orion, you need to be clear about one thing: this team of mine opposes Olympus not to become new gods, but to liberate all of humanity. So... if you're coming to me for trivial things like glory, wealth, or eternal life, then you can go back."
"I haven't thought about those things," Orion replied. "I just want Artemis to be able to live peacefully."
"Then, welcome to our team." Ares extended his fist, and Orion, understanding, also extended his fist and bumped it against his.
"Now, let's continue discussing our battle plan."
After Ares and Orion exchanged smiles, they immediately turned back to the table, pointing to the sand table he had created on the table with magic.
"Ares, I just joined, is it really okay for me to hear all this?" Orion asked quickly when he saw this.
"Of course it's okay. When you employ someone, don't suspect them; when you suspect someone, don't employ them. That's a principle." Ares looked at Orion: "Moreover, I was already worried about who would lead the second team for the next operation. With you here, I no longer have to worry."
"There's such a good thing?" Orion muttered, "So, actively defecting can directly lead?"
Ares ignored him and pointed to the sand table, saying, "Next, Athena has that 'Olympus Champion,' and we have Heracles. The Snake-Foot Giants' days are numbered, so she will definitely gather a large army and go straight for the kill, striving to eliminate all the Snake-Foot Giants. Heracles, your next task is to compete with Athena's subordinate for the first kill of the Giant King Alcyoneus. If you can secure this kill, then we will have more say in the world. Athena and Zeus can disregard these things, but we cannot. We still have to reshape this world."
"I understand," Heracles nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll give you a team of elites, and you guard here." Ares pointed with a wooden stick to a certain spot on the sand table, a narrow valley just outside the Pallene Peninsula. "However, if you really can't get it, don't force it. Now is not the time to contend with the 'Olympus Champion,' and he is not your opponent."
Heracles agreed, and Ares then looked solemnly at Orion:
"Speed is key in warfare, so I'll be direct, Orion. I hope you will lead a unit and take this opportunity to attack Athens!"