Chapter 18 - Strategic and Hidden Agendas!

In the meeting room of the royal ship in Camelot, King Arthur's eyes were wide open and fixed on Qin. – Shut up, Qin! – he ordered.

"... That look..." Qin thought, lowering his head as he laughed nervously.

The first elder, with his hand on his chin, remarked. – Then that's why the lord is so calm... Everything so far was part of a plan... 

Snow White goddess, looking at Arthur, crossed her arms. "I was right..." she said to herself crossing her arms. – So, you knew I would say yes...?

Everyone looked at her, murmuring. – Hmm?! What are you talking about?

Elder Glayder, blushing as he looked at Hera, thought to himself. "My God! This woman is, I don't even have words to describe such perfection..." 

Elder Darkblood, with her arms crossed, looked at Hera. "So, is this the important thing he went to take back? I can't compete with the most beautiful woman in the world... He has even rejected me because of her..."

King Arthur sighed, looking at all of them. "I thought about all this after the Essence of Light. Everything went as I planned, I had no plans to leave the people I killed alive. The only surprises I had were in Hera's cases, Tristan's condition, and in going to get Hera. I can't say I didn't know she would accept, but I had to act as if I was waiting for an answer... – he said with an indifferent face.

Hera, in a long green and gold dress, a ponytail in her hair, and jewelry that highlighted her literally white skin, crossed her arms.

Emperor Qin exchanged glances with Lancelot and Persival. – What's happening between these two...?

Queen Andromeda, looking at Arthur and Hera, thought. "Strange... What is this talk of saying yes..."

Arthur looked at Windsor. – Tell Tristan I want to talk to him. – he ordered.

Elder Ashura sighed. – Sorry for my son. He still hasn't fully recovered. But I'll talk to him... – he said with his head down.

Arthur responded. – Understood. Prepare for my trips to Anain and Cyrus. Zeus is coming, so I need everything we've discussed to be ready in two weeks! – the king ordered, standing up.

Everyone stood up. – Thus, will he become sovereign! – they exclaimed in unison.

Arthur ran his hand over his face. – Find ways to improve the kingdom's economy and bring the refugees back to the kingdom! Bedesvire, Ryu, and Jarvis, you are responsible for this! – he exclaimed, looking at Hera. – Hera, I want to talk to you, now! – he demanded, leaving the room with a serious face.

Hera, following Arthur like a sheep follows her shepherd, thought to herself. "I should have kept my mouth shut..." as she looked at the ground and took one step at a time.

Outside, she stopped next to Hera. – Daughter, how are you? How long has it been – the queen asked, hugging her.

Hera hugged the queen, smiling. "She changed, she's brighter with Arthur's presence..." she thought. – Yes, months have passed...

Queen Andromeda, smiling, ran her hand over her face. – Let's talk about it later. Now, what's happening between you and Arthur? – she asked, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow.

Hera, smiling, bit her lip. – Ehm... B-Between us... – she stammered, with her head down.

…

A few days ago, in the desert of Alfmosis, Arthur rode with Hera on his back. 

Hera's arms wrapped around Arthur's waist, spoke softly. – You said you'd like to have a simple life in the countryside... – she sighed, her voice carrying a wistful tone. – I've always imagined myself having a very big wedding with many guests... – she said with a cheerful smile, her eyes sparkling with the vision.

Arthur's gaze hardened and riding, replied. – In short, you want to marry a man who calls himself god king... – his voice growing colder and more indifferent, masking the turmoil within.

Hera's face turning a deep shade of red face, lifted her head. – N-No! That is not what I said! Never have I... – she exclaimed, but Arthur's interruption came swift and stern.

Sighing deeply, Arthur's grip tightened on the reins. – That's what you made me understand. Anyway, behave when we get there! Don't mention anything about what happened to us and between us! – he paused, his voice softening slightly. – Be prudent and I'm serious. This isn't one of those things I say, and you disobey me, are we understood?! – he questioned, his hands on the saddle and his eyes fixed on the horizon.

The goddess, sensing the underlying tension, lowered her head, holding onto Arthur's waist a bit tighter. "Arthur..." she echoed in her thoughts.

– Understood... – she whispered, her voice laced with concern and affection.

Arthur felt her grasp tighten, and for a brief moment, allowed himself to acknowledge her feelings for him.

…

In the corridor toward the meeting room, the queen looked at Hera with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. – Hera?! Hello... – she exclaimed, waving a hand in front of her eyes.

Hera crouched. – Sorry, queen mother, I really have to go. The king is waiting for me...! – she said, retreating from the queen's presence.

Looking at Hera, with an eyebrow raised and her arms crossed, the queen whispered. – These two... – and sighed.

…

Still on the continent Eurus, in the middle of the Ocean of Death, Alucard looked at the Bahr twins in the garden of Hades' palace on the island of Tartarus. – Is he still alive?!

The first twin, with his head down, ran his hand around his neck. – He still lives... – he said.

Alucard Olympus, the firstborn of the King of the Underworld, in a white and gold kimono, with blond hair flowing down his shoulders to his back, and veins embellishing his pale face, said. – You had a simple mission, to kill a human!

The second twin, with his head down, sighed. "The bastard crushed our skulls..." he thought. – That's the question, young master, he doesn't seem to be human... He must have the King's Force...

– He crushed our heads... If it weren't for our healing factor... – the first twin grunted, looking at the floor full of veins.

The heir to the Underworld put his hand on his chin. – Ahh! Now only the leviathans and my father can handle him... – revealing, he roared, showing his sharp fangs and claws in his hands.

The twins exchanged glances, smiling slightly. – We are from the Thousand Armies sect. We'll handle that kid the same way we did with his father... – they said with smiles on their faces.

Hades, Dracula, Vlad or Cheon Ma, are some of the many names that the King of Monsters, King of Darkness, the strongest and most powerful man in the world, has King of the Underworld, not in the physical sense of the thing, but in the sense that he has the whole world under his control from the shadows.

He has an ability that he acquired when he had a breakthrough into the Darkness Domain, Clairvoyance. He knows everything his senses are capable of absorbing, in addition to Necromancy, Darkness Mastery, Dark Magic, Dark Energy manipulation, and so many other abilities that we would talk about until you grow a beard.

He was not always the strongest man in the world that he is today. Rather, the man who gets stronger with each passing second, he was the crown prince of Cronus III, the king of the gods, at the time, and the older brother of the strongest, most handsome and most powerful man in the world at that time, although he was the most lovable son, he was not the most loved...