Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 354: Ch.353 Conflict

As for Su Ming, after some thought, he decided to store his money in a safe place.

In the main world, he was essentially off the grid, making banks out of the question. He also didn't want to be like a corrupt official, digging a hole and burying all his money.

So, in the end, he carried his silver briefcase and went to Hephaestus' volcano.

Leaving the money with a god was about as secure as it got—they hardly cared about material wealth, and where else could you find security as strong as that? Besides, having a god as a personal vault wasn't a bad deal.

However, the god of fire began pestering him about his thoughts on using the Gauss rifle. The problem was, there hadn't been a chance to use it yet.

There just wasn't an opportunity for sniping; he had been taking the front lines lately. There's no way he'd be using a rifle for melee combat.

Hephaestus seemed eager for an answer but couldn't do much about it. He swung his hammer, working on some oddly shaped weapon, and amid the clanging of metal, Su Ming could make out some scattered questions from the god.

"Did you provoke Eris when you went to Olympus?"

"I don't think so? She threw a golden apple at me, and I ignored her."

Su Ming thought back; a cold response shouldn't count as provocation, right?

"She's been causing trouble in Olympus lately, saying that a mortal—you, specifically—intends to marry all three virgin goddesses and even presented some evidence."

The god of fire said this while hammering away.

"What?!" Su Ming almost choked. He hadn't even met those three goddesses. How could such rumors have spread?

"Eris handed a golden apple to Athena, saying it was a gift from you. Last time, Athena lost the contest for the golden apple to my wife, so this time she accepted it without hesitation."

"Uh..."

"Then Eris somehow found a glowing, singing white deer and gifted it to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, again claiming it was from you. Artemis loves deer, so she accepted the gift."

Su Ming fell into thought. Eris had likely been to the Dreaming, and that deer was probably from there. But what was her goal in doing all this? What kind of conflict was she trying to stir up? What entertainment was she hoping to get from it?

The god of fire tossed the weapon into a nearby water tank to quench it, "Lastly, she went to space and somehow commissioned the 'Weapons Master' to create the most advanced multifunctional smart stove in the universe, gifting it to Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, in your name. Naturally, Hestia couldn't refuse a gift like that."

Su Ming thought for a moment, "It seems like nothing's really wrong. I just need to deny it."

"The problem is, she presented a second golden apple to Hera, saying that you hoped for the Queen of Heaven's approval." The god of fire put down his hammer, watching steam rise from the water tank, patiently waiting.

"That shouldn't work. Hera would easily see through her lies," Su Ming shook his head, not particularly worried.

Hephaestus's eyes flickered with firelight, and he bared his sharp teeth in a grin, "But Hera agreed."

"Hiss..." Su Ming sucked in a breath. Was this old woman having a midlife crisis? What kind of game was this?

"There are many reasons why she agreed. First, there's the golden apple. Each of these apples is inscribed with 'To the most beautiful goddess.' Refusing it would mean admitting she wasn't beautiful enough to deserve it. Secondly, the three virgin goddesses are renowned beauties in Olympus. Though there are some issues with the bloodline, our father has always had his eye on them."

"Zeus already has seven wives, and Hera doesn't want him rounding up to an even number."

Su Ming sighed, understanding what was happening.

"Additionally, those three goddesses are the dream lovers of nearly all male gods. Now, there are a ton of gods who want to kill you, including Hades."

"Isn't Hades interested in Diana? Even though he's her uncle..."

"Yes, but Eris is also spreading the word that you're Diana's partner. You didn't know? Hera also endorsed this claim."

Su Ming was practically laughing from frustration. Were these gods so idle that they had nothing better to do? The multiverse was on the brink of destruction, and they were playing games like this? Were they trying to marry him off for good luck?

"Actually, I can guess a bit of Hera's intentions. She prepared twelve labors for you as a condition for marrying the three goddesses. Do you know what that means?"

Hephaestus patted Su Ming's shoulder plate with his massive hand and, almost instinctively, squeezed it, studying its craftsmanship.

Su Ming understood as soon as he heard about the twelve labors.

Not only was this a formal qualification for mortals to enter Olympus, but it was also a trial to become the god of war. Hercules had once completed this trial to become the god of war.

Unfortunately, Ares undermined him, and in the end, he only became a demigod hero.

But now, Ares was dead, and the current god of war was Diana. Hera clearly wanted Su Ming, who had no faction or blood ties, to take on the mantle of god of war.

She knew Diana wasn't interested in being a god of war; every time she came to a meeting, she did so reluctantly. Hera saw this as the perfect opportunity to reclaim that divine role and power.

At that point, Su Ming, isolated and surrounded by enemies, would have no choice but to rely on Hera.

The three goddesses, unable to refuse such gifts, would be in both agony and bliss. Even Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was still a woman, unable to resist the temptation of a golden apple.

Eris would get what she wanted too—seeing the goddesses clash with Diana and watching all the male gods come after Su Ming. She would have successfully stirred up conflict and enjoyed the chaos—a win-win situation for her.

She had set up her three sisters and her aunt—how delightful for her.

She wasn't afraid of people seeing through her lies. This was a blatant scheme that played on everyone's weaknesses.

"I can see through her lies, but that doesn't mean everyone else can. Many believe Hera's proclamation because that's the only voice coming out of Olympus now."

"The three goddesses as well?"

"Yes, Hera must've silenced them, but I imagine they'd try to assassinate you to protect their chastity."

"Alright, got it. Thanks, Hephaestus." Su Ming nodded. As long as he was aware of the situation.

Assassination?

He wasn't worried at all. He still had the mission to find the Sandman, and Death wouldn't let him die. Without her say-so, it would be hard for him to die even if he wanted to.

If he completed the mission, the Endless family would owe him a favor. Compared to that, what was Olympus?

It seemed like he had to get on with the mission soon, find the Sandman, and stop wandering aimlessly.

Just then, an arrow suddenly fell through the volcanic opening, without warning, striking Su Ming in the chest.

It was an arrow made of moonlight, piercing directly through his armor, impacting his body, and then slowly dissipating.

"Hmm... just a hole in the heart, no big deal." Su Ming touched his chest and shrugged at Hephaestus' helpless gaze, "You Olympians call this an assassination? We humans usually call this a provocation."

"I've never seen a human who could take an arrow to the heart and still keep talking nonsense," Hephaestus remarked, signaling that he wouldn't intervene.

Su Ming knew that this arrow was from Artemis. As the goddess of the hunt and moonlight, her archery skills were top-notch in the universe.

But for now, it seemed her accuracy was there, but the lethality was lacking. The arrowhead wasn't even poisoned—how amateurish.

That woman was pushing her luck; it seemed she needed a lesson to calm down for a while.