The news of Cronus's departure from the Tartarean abyss caused a ripple far beyond the expectations of many gods.
However, the most unexpected and profound reaction came not from the God-King of Olympus, who was always on the lookout for threats, but from Poseidon, who had long distanced himself from the center of power and spent his days with his sculptures.
This Sea King, while the other gods were either stunned into silence or coldly observing, was actually the only child—perhaps the only one—who offered a 'gift' for Cronus's escape.
Without any public announcement, he simply took an exquisitely sealed box and quietly made his way to where Cronus had temporarily settled.
No one knows what father and son spoke about.
There were no signs of violent fluctuations in divine power, no angry roars, no mournful wails, only a deathly silence that even the wind seemed to avoid.
Hades sat on the throne of Hades, his will encompassing the entire Underworld, and he naturally knew that Poseidon's visit was a secret meeting with him.
But he did not spy, and even consciously restrained his perception of that area.
He didn't care.
Not out of trust in his father or brother, but out of the pride of an elder brother and an almost indifferent 'respect'—if there was any whisper between father and son, let them speak.
As long as he didn't cross the established line, he wouldn't pay attention.
After the meeting, Poseidon left indifferently, returned to his palace in the deep sea, and once again took up his carving knife, as if nothing had happened.
And even more enigmatic was Cronus.
After meeting Poseidon, the former God-King changed his initial restlessness, as if he was about to rush to Olympus to settle old scores. Instead, he suppressed all his overflowing coercion and hatred, directly found a remote valley in the underworld, and 'settled' himself there with dignity.
He did not try to challenge Hades's authority, did not meddle in the affairs of the Underworld, but was like a silent phantom, submerged in the shadows of the underworld.
"Your dear father seems to be living in the Underworld now."
Metis leaned against Hades's side, playing with a strand of her hair, her tone a little playful.
"What? Does he think the scenery of our Underworld is unique?"
Hades looked deeply and did not answer.
Cronus's intentions were difficult to fathom. Perhaps he feared Hades's power and a possible attack from Zeus, or perhaps the conversation with Poseidon had changed his mind, or he was simply biding his time, observing, waiting for the most opportune moment to strike.
Either way, Cronus, sitting quietly right under his nose, was a bit 'better' than Cronus scheming in some unknown corner—although this 'better' felt like holding ice in his hands.
Compared to the reactions of the gods, what really made Hades feel a little strange was Zeus's attitude.
It was too bland.
Upon learning of Cronus's escape, Zeus didn't even leave his throne, didn't gather his thunder, and let out neither a roar nor a threat.
Hades decided to go to Olympus in person.
The palace was still resplendent, but it seemed covered in an invisible layer of dust.
The smell of wine dregs was stronger than ever, and an imperceptible fear flickered in the eyes of the laughing nymphs.
Zeus reclined on his throne, a golden cup filled, divine wine spilling onto the floor, but he didn't care.
Seeing Hades's figure condense in the corridor, he didn't even stand up, just slightly raised his eyelids, an almost twisted smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Oh? My great brother, finally ready to visit my little Olympus?"
His voice was hoarse from drink and heavy with fatigue.
"What? You think letting our 'good father' loose isn't lively enough, and you need your useless younger brother to go fight for you in another world and contribute?"
Hades looked at him in silence, ignoring the sarcasm laden with guns and sticks.
Seeing him silent, Zeus continued to talk to himself, his tone becoming more and more excited, with a kind of reckless indignation:
"Alexander! You took him! Took away my most interesting 'toy'! I know it must have been you! What now? Is that 'Zeus' over there not easy to deal with? Troubling you? So you finally remember that I, the 'real' one, am here?"
He suddenly waved his hand, and the dazzling thunder gathered in his palm, condensing into the artifact, the thunderbolt.
However, his next move made Hades's pupils constrict—Zeus casually threw the thunderbolt scepter to Hades like trash!
"Hey! Take it!" Zeus nearly roared, his face full of self-destructive mockery.
"Take the thunder! Do whatever you want with it! Go to whatever world you want! If you want to purge any god—go ahead! What do I have now? What can I still do? God-King? Heh... Before you, the 'god who bears the world', how can a little God-King like me defy your will?! With your order, should I obediently go to another world and become your pawn?!"
The thunderbolt scepter hovered before Hades, its pulsations reflecting his cold face.
He did not pick it up, but looked for a long time at the defeated and decadent brother before him with an extremely strange gaze.
For a long time, the air in the Golden Palace seemed to freeze, and Zeus's agitated breathing gradually subsided, leaving only an empty, deathly silence.
Finally, Hades spoke, his voice so smooth it carried not a single trace of a ripple, yet with the weight of fate:
"I permit you to go to that world."
It was not a command, only 'permission'.
It seemed like granting a gift, and also like opening a cage.
The meaning was perfectly clear: whether to go or not was Zeus's own decision.
He would not pursue or help.
This was both 'freedom' granted to Zeus, and a form of exile—an opportunity to push him out of the current chess game.
Zeus was stunned.
He looked at Hades, at the hovering thunderbolt, and then at his own empty hands.
The rage and self-deprecation on his face vanished, replaced by humiliation, relief, and a slight hint of madness.
Hades said nothing more, and his figure slowly dispersed, like a shadow merging with the light.
Only Zeus remained, sitting alone on his empty and magnificent throne, facing the passage to another world leading to unknown wars and possibilities, sinking into a long struggle and choice.