V1C17

The stairs leading underground was covered with scattered moss and dirt waters leaking from the cracks on the walls, the deeper they went the darker it became, when Matteo suggested using light magic Aurora suggested to him he should rather not because they might get discovered before they reach their destination so Matteo reluctantly agreed. "The stairs have been but in the early 1900s during the first world war as an emergency escape route for important church figures, apparently it leads to an underground passage that will take you all the way till the northern borders of Venice."

"What about the waters above?" Matteo thought Venice was something akin to a floating city so hearing this was quite absurd, "It was created by a group of Magicians so it is quite sturdy but from the looks of it even Magic wears off with years" Shortly they arrived at the end of the stairs, in front of them was a rapidly flowing river with a half-broken bridge connecting the two sides, Matteo held Lilliana around the waist and when he turned to face Aurora he could not help but blush as bit since it will be his first time holding another woman other than Erica and Lilliana so intimately. Aurora smirked slyly as she leaned against Matteo pressing her breasts against him causing Matteo to flinch as he did not expect this girl to become so daring.

"Aurora, please be respectful towards yourself and your body" Matteo reprimanded Aurora lightly causing the girl 's smile to become even wider than before, Matteo was bewildered as he wondered why the hell is this girl enjoying him scolding her 'Maschocist?' He thought before flying the three of them across the lake to the other side, when they landed Aurora let go of Matteo while walking ahead as if what happened just now did not happen. After entering the open door they entered a long passageway that had a faint glowing light at the other end, so their steps slowed down while they continued to move closer and the closer they got the brighter the light became.

"The mana is extremely thick here" Matteo commented, he was quite familiar with large scale summonings as he once experienced it a few years ago when his father took him along to stop Voban. "Yes, it appears they already started" Aurora nodded while the three of them picked up their pace a bit father while Matteo covered the noise of their steps with silent steps magic that enchanted their feet with silence so their steps were no longer heard. "Your magic is quite versatile" Matteo smirked at Aurora's compliment, he did not explain nor thank as he knew this was an authority power and not his own effort.

"hen they reached the end of the corridor they came across a very large area a floor lower than where Matteo and the girls were standing filled with people chanting in a strange Greek Language while a faint pulsing golden magic circle was materializing at the height of their waists, the magic circle connected each chanting robed man or woman magically with the formation. "This... Is it a sacrificial Summoning?" Aurora shook her head while pointing at the animals locked in cages that was also inside the range of the magic circle, "The animals are the sacrifice, the question, however, would be if they would survive the wrath of summoning a god since Madam Lecretia once told me that Heretic Gods become furious to the point they can't process their thoughts properly"

'Could that be why I managed to kill Baphomet so many years ago?' Matteo thought while they watched the people chanting, a bit further to their right was another doorway on the same floor as them so they went silently on the passageway in the open before entering the doorway that led them down a flight of stairs but the smell of blood was lingering in the air, soon they when they reach the lower floor they came across a passageway that split both ways, Aurora turned to Matteo and Liliana "Bruno will be in the cage that way, and the ritual is that way"

"Then Lilianna and Aurora, I want the two of you to save Bruno first while I will head for the RItual" THe two girls nodded but suddenly the underground began to shake as Matteo's instincts were screaming warning bells in the direction of the ritual site, "Come to me, spells of the world carved into the book with disinherited knowledge" Matteo placed his hands on Aurora's shoulder and Liliana's shoulder, the two girls were not perturbed at his sudden action but trusted him "Manifest before me thy wonders and let the world know of the sorceries which is forgotten." The Spellbook materialized next to Matteo floating as he cast a delayed Teleportation spell that will immediately activate the moment they are in danger.

"You two will have to move safely, I have temporarily placed a teleportation crest on your shoulders that will take you back to the Blandelli Manor. When you got Bruno, immediately activate it okay?" Liliana reluctant nods while Aurora profound gaze was locked on Matteo, there was no way to understand what this girl was thinking but a faint smile formed on her lips before she and Lilianna took off to save Bruno, meanwhile, Matteo was heading the opposite direction.

>\/<

"To think you would give me away so soon to my own Daughter-in-law" Lucretia spoke with a happy voice looking at Erica and Paolo who came to visit her Manor in Sardinia, Paolo Sighed while taking a sip of his tea "It won't be long before he realizes it" Lucretia had a cramped smile feeling reluctant, she wanted him to know but at the same time she felt shame, she never held him properly, nor taught him anything. Erica noticed this could only sit next to her mother-in-law, "Mother, I know you had your reasons but now it's gone, isn't it fine to face him. He had been thinking about you for as long as he learnt that you were still alive"

"But do I even hold the rights to" Lucretia spoke with a rare mocking tone, normally she would be playful and love to tease but the idea of facing her son she felt she did not deserve it, "The one who decides if your worth it or not is Matteo, not you" Hearing this Lucretia shook but soon nodded her head, the three of them continued to talk a bit while working on a plan to remove the gangs related to this incident Matteo was dragged into. "My daughter-in-law is quite capable" Erica puffed her chest with pride as she announced "It's only natural the first wife should have this capability" Hearing this Lucretia could only giggle, she could not tell her daughter-in-law that she purposely linked up her son with another girl.

"So I can guess whoever dragged Matteo in this knows of your relationship with him?" Hearing this question of Paolo, Lucretia nodded "Yes, there are very few people who know of this so it will not be hard to note down the names" Paolo nodded, "Well then, I will support Matteo to clear up Venice fast. Can I count on you for the names?" Lucretia nodded, "Yes, I will have the names ready in a few minutes"

>\/<

"Descend upon us hunters... Artemis" Hearing the chant end Matteo could hear nothing as if everything became silent, no noise, no air, nothing moved at all like time was frozen as the entire room was lit up with a bright light, shortly a beautiful young woman dressed with leather armour over her white shirt and black skirt wearing knee height boots, light blue hair braided at the sides towards the back and tied together in a low ponytail style. Her blue eyes were focused on the blonde hair handsome boy as she a goddess never once met a boy as handsome as he was, "So you're a god slayer?"

"Yes, although I would have preferred them not summoning you as it will only be troublesome" Artemis raised her right brow while looking at the boy with interest, Matteo smirked "How about we have a duel if I win you will vow your existence and become my subordinate god and if you win I will do the same" Artemis felt intrigued at this boy's bravery but she still would not agree so easily, "And why should I entertain your so call gamble?" Matteo smiled, "Because you enjoy the thrill of a hunt, a challenge"

Seeing the predatory gaze Matteo was looking at her as if she was a prey excited her but at the same time also angered her a bit because of her pride as a goddess, a smile form upon her lips as she nodded "Very well, we can have this gamble... How would you like to compete?" Matteo went closer "I will teleport us to a hunting ground, the two of us would choose the same target. The winner will not be the one who kills it but the one who successfully skin and dismantle it"

Artemis touch her lips as she thought about the game, it did not have many rules which meant the first to kill will end up having the difficulty to defend the corpse while trying to dismantle it but simply stealing the corpse then dismantle would be easier. "Interesting game you proposed, but I have a condition. You will have to vow to become my servant afterlife as well for eternity" When Matteo heard this condition he felt hesitation, that kind of vow is no joke, compared to being a subordinate while alive and being one afterlife is two different stories altogether.

After taking some time to consider, Matteo nodded and the two of them disappeared from the underground room leaving the fanatics who were frantically searching for their goddess they were meant to meet but she never appeared. Meanwhile, Liliana and Aurora were talking "You seems to have an interest in my Fiancee" Liliana spoke with a stern eye, Aurora nodded "Yes, at first I was wondering why Madam Lucretia would propose a marriage between me and him, at first I was against it since I never met him before but when I met him, I am certain that it will be harder for me to find someone like him again"

Aurora turned to look towards Liliana, "Besides, becoming the wife of a Campione will require several women so we can have a logical reason to block of people's attempt to frame Matteo. He is after all too kind" Liliana said nothing further, she knew what Aurora meant, the higherups of Italy were planning to sneak in a spy to get close to Matteo in hopes to control him and Matteo naturally knew of this but did not place it in his eyes since he knew it will fail anyway. "Not to mention I do find his character to my liking"

"You will have to gain our approval first and then Matteo's" Liliana spoke with a slightly authoritative tone as she did not want weird women to get stuck on Matteo's thigh, Aurora nodded without saying anything as she was already informed about Erica and Liliana so she could already guess she would have to work hard. After a while, they reached the small room where a battered Bruna was laying unconscious, when Lilliana got hold of him both she and Aurora activated the temporary crest Matteo left on them to teleport away.

Seeing that Paolo was not home, Liliana had the servants call a doctor while leaving Bruno to the Servants to take care of, She pulled out her cellphone calling Erica "Afternoon Lilly!" Erica's happy voice could be heard from the speaker, "Where are you?" "At Sardinia" Liliana sighed, "I rescued Bruno and is currently with a girl who is sent by Lucretia, your rival"

Erica who heard this glared at Lucretia who smiled broadly, Paolo who saw this asked: "What is this about?" Lucretia took a sip of her tea "a New Fiancee for my lovely son" Paolo sighed when he heard this, he looked at Erica who felt complicated as he knew this girl understood having Aurora with them would minimize the headaches they get from the higherups. "Tell her that I will first like to meet her" Erica spoke a bit more before closing the call, "So mother, I suppose we need to have a talk" Erica smiled but it was not a smile yet Lucretia met the smile head-on. Paolo, however, was sweating thinking he was in the most precarious position compared to Matteo.