To Peleus's question, Jason pursed his lips and remained silent.
But Ares knew why he didn't want to sail the Argo to Calydon to participate in the boar hunt.
After losing the help of the two strongest Heroes, Heracles and Perseus, Jason, on this journey, seemed to have his potential unleashed, slowly transforming into a true captain capable of leading the Heroes. However, even he couldn't compel all the crew members of the Argo to follow him to Colchis Island.
Heroes all possess strong individualistic thoughts, and this is true everywhere. Therefore, even if these Heroes boarded the Argo and temporarily obeyed Jason's command, when the Argo's itinerary conflicted with their own goals and arrangements, they would not hesitate to leave the Argo to pursue their own objectives.
During the journey from Phineus to the Clashing Rocks and then to the Black Sea, many Heroes had already left the Argo for such reasons.
And if the Argo truly were to moor in Calydon to participate in the hunt for the Calydonian Boar, then perhaps some Heroes would disembark and leave the Argo as a result. In that case, by the time Jason reached Colchis Island, the strength at his disposal would likely be significantly reduced.
From what Ares understood, his worries were not unfounded. After the Calydon hunt, putting others aside, Atalanta would definitely disembark and leave. Although this female hunter was raised in the wilderness by a sacred beast sent by Artemis, she was actually the daughter born to King Iasos of Arcadia and Clymene, a legitimate Princess.
It was just that her father, Iasos, was a typical man who favored sons over daughters. Because he wanted a son, upon seeing that the child he had was a daughter, he simply abandoned Atalanta in the wilderness. If not for Artemis's pity, Atalanta would likely be dead by now.
However, during the Calydonian Boar hunt, Atalanta displayed her strength, which was no less than that of a man. She was the first among the Heroes to discover the boar and wound it. It was precisely because of the arrow shot by Atalanta that Prince Meleager of Calydon was able to successfully kill this troublesome boar with his spear.
This event made Atalanta a female Hero admired by everyone in the Greek World. And because of this, the Old KingIasos of Arcadia shamelessly came forward, wanting to recognize Atalanta as his daughter.
Perhaps thinking that he was, after all, her biological father, Atalanta recognized her father this time. But then she was taken back to Arcadia by Iasos because her father wished for her to marry and bear powerful heirs for Arcadia. Later, this led to the tragic story of Atalanta choosing a husband through a footrace wager, only to be tricked by Aphrodite.
If Ares were here, whether Atalanta's tragedy would occur is a separate matter, but this female Hero would likely eventually return to Arcadia with her father, thus fulfilling Jason's concerns.
However, Ares had actually quietly made arrangements for this situation.
So, as the Heroes discussed where to go next, he cleared his throat and said to Jason, "Jason."
As Ares spoke, his voice suppressed the voices of all the Heroes present. Everyone else immediately fell silent, listening quietly to Ares. Only Medea, who feared nothing, looked at Ares with surprise and asked,
"Senior Brother, have you finally woken up?"
"I wasn't sleeping."
Ares nodded to Medea, then looked at a certain blond captain.
He asked,
"Jason, do you want to become a Hero?"
"Of course," Jason replied after biting his lip.
"Then go to Calydon."
Ares said,
"I know what you're worried about. Don't be afraid. In Calydon, you will indeed lose something, but you will gain more. Besides, your crew members also want to participate in this hunt, don't they?"
After speaking, he looked at the other Heroes. Meeting Ares's gaze, many Heroes involuntarily turned their heads away, but there were also simpletons like Peleus, and maidens like Atalanta who genuinely yearned for the hunt, who met his gaze without fear.
As Ares scanned the room, Jason also turned to look at his crew members. He noticed the longing in their eyes, so after a brief thought, he shrugged his shoulders in resignation and said,
"Since it is Ares's will, we naturally cannot disobey. All hands, next stop, divert to Calydon!"
Hearing Jason's arrangement, the Heroes on the Argo let out a cheer, then they rowed with all their might, the great ship turned around on the sea, and then sailed towards Calydon.
...
While the Argo was sailing towards Calydon, on the other side of the land, across the sea from Calydon, a muscular man also arrived at the coast.
He stood on the shore, gazing across the sea. The sunlight from the sky shone on his perfectly bronzed muscles, reflecting a dazzling light. He wore lion hide armor, carried a golden bow on his back, and on his shoulder, he carried a heavy club cast purely from bronze, which no human could possibly wield. This man was Heracles, who had left the Argo long ago due to the arrangements of Athena and the gods.
Heracles had now completed his ninth labor, obtaining the belt of Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen, which she had received from Ares, in the Amazon kingdom.
In the original myth, Heracles was also treated with courtesy in the Amazon kingdom. Although the Amazon women looked down on men, they greatly respected great Heroes like Heracles, who surpassed mortals. However, due to Hera's jealousy, the Amazon women were incited and came into conflict with Heracles, leading to the tragedy of the Amazon tribe.
However, here, Hera's attitude towards Heracles had changed to one of protection. It was naturally unlikely for her to transform into an Amazon woman to incite the entire race. And with the double assurance of Ares and Artemis, Heracles was treated as an honored guest in the Amazon kingdom and received enthusiastically by the Amazon women.
Just to be safe, Ares still instructed his Queen Hippolyta to arrange a series of powerful Amazon warriors to engage in duels with Heracles. Both sides stopped before causing serious harm. Ares was only afraid that someone might impersonate Heracles and try to steal his belt, so he took precautions.
Given Heracles's strength, such a trial was naturally easy for him. Thus, he successfully obtained the belt, which Ares had essentially crafted for him, and wore it around his waist.
And after completing the trial, Heracles did not forget his friends on the Argo. Therefore, under Ares's secret guidance, Heracles traveled overland, crossing mountains and rivers, and arrived at a place across the sea from Calydon.
"Hmm, this should be the cape that Teacher spoke of."
The strongest demigod in Greece stood on the shore, gazing towards Calydon for a while, then took off the bow and arrows from his back.
As Ares had instructed, he drew his bow and aimed an arrow directly at the Sun Chariot traveling across the sky, threatening,
"Helius, God of the Sun, immediately stop your scorching sunlight, otherwise, I will shoot down your'Sun'!"