Although Jason was a bit wicked and cunning, he was still a qualified captain. He was skilled at using tactics like goading to quickly motivate the Heroes.
Considering that Heracles would also serve as a major general on the Argo for Captain Jason in the future, Jason also took seriously the issue of others isolating Heracles. He had to find a way to integrate Heracles into the Argo group, even if it meant not having Heracles become sworn brothers with the other Heroes. At the very least, he couldn't let everyone keep their distance from him as they did today.
When the Argo set sail later, Jason would still rely on Heracles to row diligently for him. If the other Heroes weren't even willing to row with him, then the Argo might as well not set sail and just stay put.
Therefore, at Jason's strong request, this simple strength contest among the Argo Heroes quickly began. At first, many people were unwilling to compete with Heracles, fearing they would be injured by him. However, everyone has a bit of pride, especially these Heroes. After Jason skillfully used goading, these Heroes quickly fell for it. They competed with Heracles in their excitement, and through this back-and-forth, exchanging a few boasts, they quickly became familiar with each other.
However, this also had some counter-effects. For example, Orpheus, who was originally only responsible for playing the lyre, also got carried away and went to compete with Heracles. As a result, his arms, which had only played the seven-stringed lyre, were like kindling sticks in front of Heracles, and with a slight force, they were broken by the latter.
For this, the ship's doctor, Asclepius, had to bandage him while frantically scolding Jason, Heracles, and Orpheus, wasting his precious medicine.
Using this event, Ares naturally seized the opportunity to stir up a wave of hatred using the identity of Perseus. He didn't directly convey the faith of Athena to these Heroes again, but merely used his sarcastic skills to subtly implant bad impressions of Athena in the minds of these Heroes.
Perseus's clone, not wanting to steal Heracles's thunder, had its functions actively restricted by him. But even with restricted functions, a clone personally manipulated by the God of War was not something just any random person could compete with.
In the arm-wrestling matches with Perseus, from Castor to Atalanta, and then Peleus, all were defeated. Even Jason, who in the original myth won all the way to the end and personally arm-wrestled Heracles, was happily sent away by him.
And every time he won, Perseus neither mocked his opponents nor boasted about his faith. He simply put on a very annoying smile, and while smiling in front of the losers, he prayed to Athena.
He didn't know about others, but Atalanta and Castor, after losing to him, were absolutely filled with anger. Castor already had an old grudge with Athena, and as for Atalanta, ever since Athena almost tricked Artemis last time, Apollo used his sister's temple to convey the message "Athena is not a good thing" to all her followers. Coupled with Perseus's current appearance, it naturally made Atalanta, a loyal follower of Artemis, hate him to the core.
Ares naturally cheered for Apollo's assist in his heart, thinking 'well done.' Of course, on the surface, he was still Perseus, a loyal supporter of Athena, a hardcore man who had offended all the crew members three days after boarding the ship.
However, this arm-wrestling contest among the Argo Heroes was ultimately won by Heracles. When he silently and firmly pressed Perseus's arm, which had turned purple, onto the wooden barrel, all the Argo Heroes cheered for him. Because he defeated their common hated target, Heracles, this "monster," was instead accepted by them, and these people began to proactively speak with Heracles from then on.
Everything was going according to plan. Seeing this scene, Jason and Asclepius exchanged a smile, and as Perseus watched from the shadows, Ares in the Underworld Garden also showed a knowing smile.
His trip seemed to be to help Athena gain glory, but in reality, it was to help Heracles make a name for himself. Therefore, while Perseus seemed to have lost, Ares and Heracles had won.
Moreover, if he remembered correctly, the Argo's first stop would be Lemnos Island. In this "women's country" of the Greek World, according to Greek tradition, except for Heracles and a few women, the Heroes on the Argo would disembark to carouse with the women there. If Ares were Athena, he would definitely use this point to make an issue and test whether Perseus was truly a clone of Ares.
But after losing this arm-wrestling match to Heracles, Ares had an excuse to stay on the ship. At that time, he could logically decline the matter, which was a good thing that killed two birds with one stone.
After this event, the Heroes on the Argo became much more familiar with each other, looking quite presentable and barely qualifying as members of a group. So, after another day, when Jason welcomed Hermes's two twin sons, Ekhion and Eurytus, aboard, he officially announced that they would cast off and depart.
Fifty Heroes who considered themselves to possess extraordinary strength sat on both sides of the Argo and began to vigorously row the large ship's oars. Among them was Heracles, whose strength far surpassed that of mortals. When he rowed with all his might, the entire Argo seemed to have a thruster attached to its rear, cutting through the waves like a sharp sword and surging forward a significant distance on the sea.
At first, a few Argo Heroes, unconvinced, wanted to compete with Heracles in rowing, but after seeing this result, they all wisely shut their mouths.
Ares also controlled Perseus to participate in rowing, but with Heracles putting in the effort, he was always absentmindedly slacking off, and no one even noticed.
As the Argo completely sailed out of Thessaly's harbor, Perseus turned his head to look back. The clear sky was as blue as if it had been washed clean, just as calm as the sea below, with only a small white cloud hanging there.
However, from a perspective invisible to ordinary people, Ares saw the Gods of Olympus on that white cloud. Zeus and Hera stood in the very center, then Athena and Apollo, the most popular of the fourth generation of main gods, were arranged to their left and right, and finally, the twelve main Gods of Olympus were lined up, followed by a large group of lesser gods.
Ares's own clone also stood on the cloud, pretending to be reluctantly working, looking at the departing Argo with a face full of resentment.
And when Perseus looked over, Athena also voluntarily smiled and nodded gently at him.
Perseus smiled obsessedly at Athena, and at the same time, through his own perspective, he subtly adjusted the expression on his divine clone's face. Then, he retracted his gaze and, along with the Heroes on the Argo, rode the wind and waves away.