The next day, Yusei didn't linger and directly took a flight back to Japan.
He still remembered the previous account.
Regarding the History Compilation Committee, he felt it no longer needed to exist.
Additionally, perhaps because Erica felt she had offended him last time, she handed him a stone that evening.
This stone was precisely the Gorgoneion. It was quite useless in his hands, and while it could attract Athena, it was ultimately a treasure.
For a Campione, this treasure, which could lure Athena, was excellent.
Because it meant they could hunt another Heretic God and obtain her Authority.
Yusei didn't mind. Regarding the Copper-Black Cross's goodwill, he naturally accepted it without hesitation. As for whether to kill Athena or not, he'd decide based on his mood at the time.
Around evening, the plane arrived at Tokyo International Airport.
Yusei and Erica got off the plane and had just reached the pickup area when they found a black sedan already waiting there.
"I must say, your Copper-Black Cross is very considerate."
"Hehe, serving the King, of course. If there's anything you need, please feel free to command us. Although we did approach you because of your power, that doesn't prevent us from sincerely wanting to be your subordinates."
Erica's attitude was extremely humble. Yusei could tell. She really was afraid she had angered him before.
'Now, saying this was partly to show complete deference and partly to test me, right?'
Yusei looked at Erica with a faint, ambiguous smile, "Alright, that's enough testing. You work for me, and I naturally won't treat you poorly."
Seeing she was exposed, Erica blushed but didn't say anything more, only nodding in thanks to Yusei.
Getting in the car, the driver was a young girl Yusei hadn't met before, not that Liliana. She was probably a member of the Copper-Black Cross's Japanese branch.
"Erica, your Copper-Black Cross should know where the History Compilation Committee is located, right? I mean the Headquarters."
In the car, Yusei asked Erica beside him.
"The History Compilation Committee's Headquarters? That's a bit difficult." Hearing Yusei's words, Erica frowned in thought.
"Is finding an address that hard?"
Erica nodded, smiling wryly, "As a mysterious organization, the true headquarters address is always hidden. Simple intelligence can't collect it because only the elders know the headquarters location."
Yusei didn't press them, only sighed, "I understand. Just keep an eye out for me then, try to find some clues as soon as possible."
"Yes. We will definitely search with all our strength."
Yusei grunted in acknowledgment and closed his eyes, intending to rest. There was still some distance to the Copper-Black Cross's Tokyo branch, and they needed to wait a while longer.
Whoosh!
However, at that moment, an intangible wave spread out. The entire world seemed to enter a different dimension.
The sedan lost control instantly. The tires skidded, sending the car crashing towards a large tree by the roadside.
Erica quickly grabbed onto Yusei beside her, while the female driver in the front could only fend for herself, desperately trying to control the car, but it was clearly useless.
Suddenly, a skeletal energy arm materialized. The five fingers of the bone hand extended outside the car, gripping the hard asphalt road and leaving five large finger holes in it.
But because of this, the car, which had been careening like mad towards the tree, also came to a stop.
Feeling the car stop, the driver hurriedly bowed deeply to Yusei in a fluster.
"I-I'm terribly sorry, Devil King-sama! So sorry!"
"Alright, it's not your fault."
Yusei stopped the driver from continuing her apologies, his gaze already fixed on a petite figure standing on a building in the distance.
There stood a little girl.
Wearing a thin sweater and a mini skirt, with black knee-high socks. A blue knitted cap sat on her silver hair.
It was the child-form Athena!
"Campione, return the Gorgoneion to this one."
The moment Yusei got out of the car, Athena, standing on the building, spoke expressionlessly.
"That's my property. Why should I give it to you?"
Yusei glanced at Athena, deliberately waving the Gorgoneion in his hand as he spoke.
This scene made Erica, standing nearby, twitch her lips, 'Was it necessary to specifically show it off?'
But it didn't really matter.
Originally, the Copper-Black Cross's goal was to use the Gorgoneion to lure out Athena, allowing Yusei to kill her and obtain her Authority.
As for whether Athena would obtain the Gorgoneion, and subsequent claims like 'Athena regaining her power and destroying the world', those were just laughable statements. They didn't believe them, nor did they care.
"Appropriating this one's possession and being so shameless about it. Campione, do you truly wish to engage in a meaningless battle?"
"It's not that I want to fight, but you suddenly blocked my way. Look at this car… isn't it because of you that this meaningless battle is about to happen?"
Yusei smiled as he looked at Athena.
Yusei's words made Athena frown. It seemed somewhat logical, yet something felt off.
But as the Goddess of Wisdom, she quickly realized this was just Yusei's sophistry, and she paid it no mind.
"Is that so? This one understands. Then let this one quickly end this battle and reclaim her power."
Athena's small face remained expressionless. The next moment, a gust of wind blew around her, and she vanished from her spot.
When she appeared again, she was already right in front of Yusei.
Yusei was startled, his body just beginning to react when Athena's face drew closer and closer.
"Mmph!"
Yusei's eyes widened as he looked at Athena, who was now right before him. Besides the sensation on his lips, he felt an intangible power flowing into his body.
The power flowed into his skin. His body grew weak and limp, one could say he couldn't move a muscle.
Erica, seeing this scene, immediately panicked. She drew her Western longsword, preparing to make Athena back away from Yusei.
However, Athena didn't even look at her. With a small gesture, a golden light cage instantly restrained Erica. Meanwhile, Athena herself deepened her kiss, pouring more of her power into Yusei.
After a while, Athena finally separated her small lips from Yusei's, her little face still expressionless as she wiped her mouth, "You have been struck by this one's Death Incantation. You will undoubtedly die."