Besides the few people I had been introduced to, where pleasantries were exchanged. The rest are busy with their own things. Therefore, taking the initiative through Mana Sense; the first person I focus on is a very tall man, tanned and bald, with the most pronounced muscles I've seen. His simple clothes and soot covered apron fails to hide an impressively powerful physique, the man is quiet and lost within his own thoughts. Next is a much smaller man, sporting a neat green suit complete with an equally green top hat and carrying a bit of a beer belly. He is walking furthest behind and with a drunken sway while nursing a bottle of what I presume to be some kinda alcoholic drink. As I made small talk with Emery and Fleur; I managed to find out that the large man goes by the name Eabroni, while the small man happens to be called Yehor.

Vica and her friend are currently walking ahead of me, as I fell back to talk with the two ladies. So, continuing my silent observation, the last four individuals are conversing very seriously in two pairs. Well, one pair seems to be, while the louder pair is more aptly described as; arguing. A man and a woman, both seem to be among the younger members of this group; maybe in their late 20s. Both carry a bow on their person and are almost identical in looks with their dark blonde hair, bar the difference in hair lengths and their gender. I can't help but ask Emery due to their increasingly heated arguments, "are those two okay?"

"Ah, they are the twins Camila and Aaden. That's actually pretty tame compared to how heated their arguments can get. Please don't mind them." She replies. As I continue to converse, a part of my mind is keeping track of their argument.

"Please think before you act, dear brother!" Camila says in the tone of an irritated older sister talking to her baby brother, I can imagine they have been discussing the matter for a while now and she's tired of repeating after herself.

"But aren't you awfully curious about how strong he is?" Aaden insists, I think I know where this conversation is going.

"Yes!" She hissed, "but I refuse to sate such curiosity at the possible cost of our lives!"

"Pfft, no need to be so serious dear sister." the brother says, "Vica is walking right there, proof that the guy is not as bloodthirsty as you imagined."

Little did he know that I almost was, and, although I make conscious effort to give mercy and allow others a second chance; that largely depends on their position among the surviving people, their use to me, and various other things that is simply; how heroic or villainous I feel during that specific moment—and, judging from my previous reaction, a slight lack of control while retaliating. Next I hear Camila still counter arguing her brother, "that is a massive amount of faith you're placing on how tolerant he is to our antics. Remember how frightened you were of that slash!"

Leaving them to it, my attentions shifts towards an opening door slightly ahead of us, through which I can Sense a kitchen. Several kitchen staffs walked out and into a different door, this one leading into a room that is decently large and containing an impressively large round table. We're close! I quickly shift my attention to observe the last two Parthenon members. A very hyperactive man sporting a lean athletic build, he wears a yellow feathered beret on his head, fidgeting greatly as he walks alongside a tall woman in a beautiful fallen brown leaf patterned one piece dress; by tall I meant she has a unique look, like someone took a photo and slightly stretched it vertically, while her actual height itself might just be a little below 1.8 meters. The woman seems to be demanding for the man to find her various plant seeds, more specifically ones she does not yet own.

Yes, all thirteen people are eye-catching at worst and drop dead gorgeous at best! As I expected, we soon find ourselves before the second door and I was led in…

"Ah, I forgot!" Emery tapped my shoulder and hastily pointed at the tall lady and hyperactive man; revealing their names to be Adahlia and Pacho respectively. Ending the hasty introduction with a fun bit of gossip. "Yes, he and the playboy over there share a similar name."

Now, a playboy!? Archer twins, a drunk man, and a lady demanding for seeds. They definitely have a greek god-ish vibe going on—consider me greatly intrigued... So, assuming I'm right, Vica as their goddess of war should be among the toughest of the lot right, even if her gender is a bit off… one or two at a time, we entered the room and took a seat—well, several people sat, but for some reason, they stood up and repositioned themselves, and even the chairs, the moment I sit too.

Now there is a slight bit more space between me and the chairs on both sides of me when compared to the gap between theirs. Straight ahead of me are both Paco and Regina; who I assume personates Zeus and Hera. Following to the right of Regina is Ludovica, Adahlia, Camila, Sonya, Fleur then Emery. I would guess; Ares—duh, Demeter due to her request for seeds, Artemis from her silvery bow, a scholarly Athena, Aphrodite the drop dead gorgeous I spoke about and motherly Hestia, respectively.

On the male side to the left of Paco are Cabot, Pacho, Aaden, Eabroni and Yehor—or Poisedon with his trident necklace, overactive Hermes, Apollo due to the golden bow, bald and buff Hephaestus and lastly drunk man Dynosius. This leaves us with one free chair, right across from Emery-Hestia for a total of 13 people. The only one missing, in my opinion; is the personification of Hades, if there even is one.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Thank you all for your attendance," Paco-Zeus said. Turning to look at each and every one of his colleagues, before finally looking straight ahead to make eye contact with me. "Our guest especially! We are here today to discuss a matter of great importance, a matter that would influence the future of every single one of us. Which is the defeat of Ludovica and her promise about relinquishing ownership of our Territory into the hands of Zane from Rumah."

Just her promise? As in the other 12 did not agree to it or is this some kinda ploy to renegade on the bet? Damn it, foolish of me to be swept away by the situation and fought without extracting some form of imposed System Contract regarding the wager.

I push Ki into the Trilattic armor chestplate I currently have equipped to give my Charisma a boost and cleared my throat to interrupt Paco from his speech, Intimidate. "What's there to discuss? Just give it over as promised."

"I'm afraid that is impossible." Regina-Hera answers instead. "You have no idea of the way things are run here, let alone all the ongoing projects and programs we are organizing for the betterment of our citizens. Not to mention they do not know you. Would you personally, be willing to place your life in the hands of a stranger?"

"Then why make the challenge in the first place?" I inquire. They rudely challenged me to a duel, is proven lacking in strength, and are now trying to break away from the consequences. "You're not giving me a good first impression right now. I had spared Vica for… reasons, but if this is how you operate. I'm starting to feel the world would be a better place without her or any of you. I don't have time to play along with your politics."

Aaden-Apollo is smiling eagerly at my words, while Vica-Ares and her friend Sonya-Artemis seem greatly displeased; in the way one is fuming and the other has a cold glint in her eyes. Emery-Hestia looks lost, while the personification of the god of crafting; Eabroni, and the god of wine; Yehor, are both still busy with their own things. That leaves the rest of the Parthenon who are looking at me with a mix of wariness and increasing opposition. Paco, to the nods of Cabot-Poseidon and Regina-Hera says, "as things stand, we cannot follow through with the bet. I apologize and suggest you leave in peace."

I see myself as a simple person, and its not like I need their Territory. But I'm very unhappy with how they're treating me, so what better way to kick at their ego for the disrespect than to grab what is most precious to them. Therefore, whilst still comfortably sitting on my chair, I say with a grin. "It's too late now that you've called me over. Last chance for all you immature old-people to change your mind."

I wait quietly for a few minutes while they sit there in silence… Well, I have no qualms about breaking it for them. "What have you got to say for yourself, goddess of war, Vica?"

"I apologize, despite my misgivings regarding all this. Nonetheless I stand by the decisions of my brothers and sisters in arms." Ludovica said with an ugly expression on her face. My smile only got wider, as I cannot help but look at the round table before me. It is well made, a mix of metal and Polished stone; which depict these 13 losers, their abilities and various beautiful sceneries. I grab the table's edge before me, and through pure Mana Manipulation extend tendrils of mana further along the table to assist me with gripping the object.

"Such a pity, this is very well made." I say before, still with the one I had gripping it, I lift said table up to several mixed varieties of looks on their faces. At a decent height, I rotate the table so its beautiful art is clearly visible to the people below. Then with a major effort on my muscles, I frisbee-throw the thing out of the building—or, with the amount of force I applied, the city—while making sure it is low enough that everyone on the ground will find the murals clearly noticeable. "I'll be sure to name your Territory as Parthenon Hypocrites when I take charge."

Both archers were quick to draw their bows, two arrows of light; one silvery and the other fiery like the hair color of the two who released them, yet, both hitting nothing but air when I both shifted out my weapon and Blinked into position before Aaden's face. Purposely delaying my attack by a fraction of a second, I Smash at his head with my Guandao. As expected, he was forced to use his bow to protect his brains from the attack. Thus, with the sound of a sword coming out of its sheath, the bow is cleanly cut in two… unceremoniously followed by its weak user, exactly when Eabroni yells, "YOU DARE YOU! MY MASTERPIECE!!—"

"BROTHER~!!" And yet, Camila's scream drowned out whatever it was the blacksmith wanted to say next. Her eyes wide open in abject horror as she looks at the limp corpse of her brother on the room floor. "YOU! AADEN… DIE YOU MURDE—"

"I apologize but every single one of you was offered a chance, a chance you promptly refused... And, unfortunately for you all, between some challenge that came out of nowhere, the stupid commentator, and your sore loser ways. I'm feeling a little angry right now—a little… murderous." I say to Camila's head, now midair and spurting blood all over the floor. Blink and Slash-Stab was all it took. I've decided that this course of action is best; the brother had been playfully hostile since the moment we met and the sister had lost her mind due to his death.

Through Mana Sense, I could instantly determine that out of the 11 enemies still present; only 6 others are poised for combat. Vica and Sonya who are both personifications of war-ish gods are cautious but passive. Paco, Regina and Cabot seem to be close to attacking me together, while Eabroni is fuming and losing his mind. He must really like that table, and what I did with it must have punished him way more than it did the others. After all, who can blame someone for loving his own work of art. Suddenly understanding his plights deflated the burning anger within my heart into a tiny ember.

Though, maybe one more to let the lesson sink in? I channel my inner frog-teacher.