Koios's temple was even more 'lively' than Hades (Orphos) had seen during his previous visit to the banquet.
The massive columns were entwined with golden vines that never wilted, radiating a powerful breath of life;
The floor was a carpet woven from the veins of various rare plants, soft and resilient to the step.
The air was filled with a carefully blended fragrance that relaxed the mind yet slightly stimulated the senses.
Koios personally greeted him at the temple gates, a warm and sincere smile on his face, as if greeting an old friend not seen for many years.
"Orphos! Brother, your presence truly makes my humble temple shine!" Koios stepped forward and affectionately patted Hades on the shoulder, his movements natural, as if they were close friends.
Hades, playing the role of Orphos, wore a proportionally flattered yet calm smile on his face: "Brother Koios personally invited me to discuss important matters concerning the world's life force; Orphos dared not ignore them. Your temple, full of wisdom on the growth of life, is truly amazing."
They exchanged pleasantries and took their seats. Attendant gods served wine brewed from morning dew and divine fruits.
The opening, naturally, consisted of harmless greetings and discussions about the laws of nature and the ways of plant growth.
Deeply understanding the powers of [Plants], [Flourishing], and even [Decay], Hades responded flawlessly, demonstrating strength in his words while maintaining the humility of a junior, which made the appreciation and satisfaction in Koios's eyes grow even stronger.
After three rounds of wine, Koios finally brought the topic to the point. He waved his hand, erecting a divine barrier of power to isolate scrutiny, and the smile on his face faded, becoming serious and profound.
"Brother Orphos," he lowered his voice, "we are both responsible for powers related to the growth of life; one could say we share the same origin. I'll speak frankly. Today's Olympus may seem magnificent and beautiful, but in truth, it conceals a crisis—can you perceive it?"
Hades (Orphos) showed 'doubt' and 'solemnity': "Why does my brother say this? The God-King's power shakes the world, the Titan gods fulfill their duties, and the world..."
"Dead stillness!" Koios interrupted him, a note of excitement and sorrow in his voice.
"Beneath the surface prosperity lies a rigid order and... endless fear! His Majesty the God-King..." He paused, as if hesitant, but finally spoke.
"Some of his actions have deviated from the ancient sacred laws, and in the long run, I fear it will not be a blessing for the world."
He stared intently at Hades. "Brother, you walk the earth, cleanse filth, give birth to flourishing, and you know the importance of 'balance'. If the source itself is already rotten, even with our strong divine power, how much of this life force can we preserve?"
Hades was silent for a moment, as if digesting this startling remark, then slowly said: "What my brother says... truly gives one pause. It's just that the God-King's majesty is as oppressive as a prison; what can we do?"
Seeing that Orphos neither directly objected nor showed fear, but instead displayed a thoughtful expression, Koios knew in his heart that the play was working. He leaned forward, his voice even lower: "It's not that I want to do anything rebellious immediately. But it's better to plan ahead than to dig a well when thirsty. We need to unite like-minded forces to protect the true life force and the future of this world!"
He tried to show his hand: "Brother Orphos, I know you are deeply loved by the Earth Mother, and you possess strong divine power and wisdom. If you are willing to assist me, when a new order is established in the future, you will be at the center, and you and I will share the power over life force and the earth! Even... the divinity symbolizing the origin of life is negotiable!"
This was an extremely weighty promise, almost dividing part of the future interests of his own [Growth] priesthood.
A perfectly timed expression of 'shock' and 'struggle' appeared on Hades's face. After much deliberation, he seemed to make a decision and raised his cup: "My brother acts for the world, and his foresight is admirable. Although Orphos is humble, he is willing to contribute to maintaining the balance of life force. It's just... I have long lived on the earth and know little of the gods of Olympus, so I fear I may be unable to bear such heavy responsibility..."
Koios was overjoyed to hear this and immediately took the initiative: "Brother, you are too modest! With your joining, our strength will greatly increase! As for interacting with other gods, leave that to me!"
He warmly embraced Hades's shoulder. "As it happens, I've been planning to visit several important gods recently to discuss some 'minor' matters."
"If you don't mind, brother, you can come with me, just in time for me to introduce you around. Especially the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, and the goddess of law, Themis—they are highly respected. If you could receive their guidance, it would be very helpful for you to understand the laws of Olympus!"
This was one of the key goals of Hades's journey!
He sneered inwardly, but on his face were gratitude and expectation: "It would be a blessing to see the two sisters and hear their teachings. Thank you for your trouble, brother."
"Haha, easy to say! Between brothers, why be polite!" Koios was complacent, consciously having recruited a key ally, taking another step closer to his ambition.
A few days later, recommended by Koios, Hades (Orphos) met the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, for the first time.
Her temple was not magnificent, but rather resembled a vast, quiet library and a reflection of the starry sky.
Countless shimmering knowledge orbs and memory spheres hovered within, like stars, slowly flowing.
The goddess Mnemosyne herself, dressed in a simple robe, had a quiet and profound face. Her eyes seemed able to see through the mists of time, radiating an ancient and extensive atmosphere of knowledge.
"This is our younger brother, Orphos, the plant god," Koios introduced.
"He has a great understanding of the world's laws, especially the cycle of life and the transformation of matter, and is very interested in them."
Mnemosyne's gaze fell upon Hades. Her look was calm and unwavering, but it made Hades feel as if all his disguises were being peeled away layer by layer, looking directly at his essence.
He immediately restrained his mind, used the power of [Secrecy] to its utmost, while mobilizing the [Knowledge] and [Summary] divinities, allowing himself to radiate a pure desire for knowledge and the study of laws.
This was not a disguise, but a part of his true pursuit, merely concealing his ultimate goal—ultimately pointing towards the Underworld and [Reincarnation].
"The cycle of life... the transformation of matter..." Mnemosyne spoke slowly, her voice like the faint friction of an ancient scroll being unrolled, carrying the passage of time. "These are important chapters that constitute the memory of the world. Orphos, your attention to this truly makes you worthy of being a god involved in the realm of wisdom."
Her tone was level, but her words were an acknowledgment of Hades.
Seeing this, Koios immediately struck while the iron was hot, smiling and echoing: "Exactly! Although brother Orphos was born not long ago, he has a deep understanding of the laws of nature, and even I am often amazed."
He intended to elevate Orphos's value and show off his recruiting prowess.
Hades (Orphos) bowed slightly at the right moment, with a humble and sincere attitude: "Sister Mnemosyne flatters me. Compared to the vast memories and knowledge you carry, what I have seen is but a drop in the ocean. It's just that, as a plant god observing the withering of plants and trees and sensing the breath of the earth, I cannot help but admire the 'records' and 'cycles' contained within them."
"Every time a leaf falls back to its roots, it seems like an end, but in fact, the sunlight and rain it witnessed and heard in its life transform into 'memories' that nourish new life and settle in the earth. Isn't that... a silent record and inheritance?"
He skillfully connected plants with Mnemosyne's power of memory, his words filled with praise for the wisdom of nature.
In Mnemosyne's ancient, unfathomable eyes, a faint flicker of starlight seemed to flash.
"You are right. Life itself is a mark of time and a vessel for the world's memory. Death is not nothingness, but a transformation of form." She looked at Hades.
"It is good that you see this. Many gods only focus on seizing power and displaying authority, ignoring the 'record' of the world's own operation."
There was a note of alienation from those who only knew destruction and demand.
This subtle attitude was precisely captured by Hades.
"But, what about the 'records' themselves?" Hades asked, seemingly inadvertently, with the curiosity of a seeker.
"These silent memories, these transformed substances—do they remain forever silent, with no new opportunity? Does the world... need a greater 'cycle' to return value to these 'archives', rather than simply letting them accumulate?"
He did not mention [Reincarnation], but used the more vague concept of 'cycle', which was more in line with the identity of a 'plant god'.
Mnemosyne was silent for a moment, and that silence itself was a response.
She did not affirm nor deny, but was more of a reminder based on ancient knowledge.
But Hades knew the seed had been sown. This goddess of memory, at the very least, was interested in his 'line of thought' and did not reject the concept of a 'cycle' itself.
Although Koios did not fully understand the metaphorical dialogue between them, he sensed that Mnemosyne's attitude towards Orphos was quite special, which further convinced him that he had recruited an ally with great potential.