"My Lord, this is the result this ti."
Garon carefully handed a certificate to lin, his heart pounding wildly like a drum.
lin glanced at Garon, opened the certificate, then closed it again.
"L-Lord?" Garon asked cautiously.
"Pfft~" Seeing Garon's expression, lin couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha, alright, you passed. I really didn't expect it. You actually have a talent for business managent. How co I never noticed before?"
The certificate was a legitimate doctoral degree Garon earned on his own—not so newly fabricated one, nor was it achieved by intimidating others into passing him.
"Hehe, I didn't know either…" Garon scratched his head sheepishly. lin's praise had always been his favorite gift.
lin rolled her eyes and lightly knocked Garon on the head. This silly guy—if it had been noticed earlier, he wouldn't have taken until his fifties to earn his first PhD!
In the entire Sanctuary, you're truly one-of-a-kind, like a pile of scorpion poop.
But at least Garon's degree was finally settled—it was also one of lin's long-held wishes. Seeing her child achieve sothing made her very happy as the family matriarch.
…
…
As a reward, lin decided to cook a big al for Garon.
But suddenly, lin froze and turned sharply to look out the window.
It wasn't just lin. Garon, and even all the Saints, turned their gaze in the sa direction.
"My Lord, this Cosmo…" Garon's voice trembled with excitent and anticipation.
"That's right—it's her!"
As soon as the words fell, both lin and Garon vanished from the room.
…
In a luxurious private hospital, a man was anxiously pacing outside the operating room, frequently glancing at the glowing sign above the door.
"Why is it taking so long…"
Ding~
A clear chi struck his heart, making him stop suddenly and look up.
Sure enough, the light above the operating room had turned off, and the doctor walked out.
"Polut, is Sicily alright?" the man asked, gripping the doctor's hand tightly.
"They're both fine, Els. Mother and daughter are safe."
"Thank goodness, thank you… thank you so much, Polut. I really don't know…"
"I'm just doing my duty, Els. Go in and see them. But calm down first—Sicily is still weak."
"Okay, okay, I understand."
The man walked into the operating room and gently embraced the woman on the bed, watching together as she cradled the newborn baby.
"Look, darling, her eyes are so beautiful." The woman gazed lovingly at the wrinkled infant in her arms, not even questioning how a newborn could already have her eyes open, so calm and quiet.
"Yes, darling—just like you."
"You still have such a sweet tongue, my love."
"Does she have a na yet?" the woman asked.
"Athena, Athena Archibaldo. I hope she'll be as beautiful and wise as the goddess herself," the man said tenderly.
"Then…"
"I know, darling. You can choose her other na."
"Thank you, my love. Then… let's call her Saori Kido."
On closer inspection, the woman had long, radiant violet hair and a beautiful East Asian face.
But the couple didn't notice—the baby's eyes weren't on them. She was staring at the ceiling, through the steel and concrete above, reaching out with her tiny hand as if trying to grasp sothing.
…
High in the sky, lin gazed downward, her eyes piercing through concrete to et the infant's. Her gaze was filled with love and longing.
"Athena…"
A soft whisper, filled with endless yearning.
"My Lord, I'll bring Lady Athena back to the Sanctuary right away—"
"No need. Leave her with them for now."
"…Yes. Huh?" Garon was puzzled by lin's decision.
This wasn't right—didn't Lord lin deeply love Lady Athena? Why not bring her back to the Sanctuary to raise her personally?
"Contact Shion. Summon one Gold Saint and five Silver Saints to et ," lin ordered.
"…Yes." Garon left to carry out the task.
lin, like a statue, continued to watch Athena. She watched her leave her parents' arms and be taken to the nursery. She watched her quietly lie down and keep looking at her. She watched her slowly fall asleep.
"Athena, I'll always be by your side. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Before long, a blue flash appeared as Garon returned, along with Mu and five Silver Saints: Argol of Perseus, Crateris of the Crane, Dante of Cerberus, Algheti of Heracles, and Misty of Lizard.
"Greetings, my Lord."
"Crateris, if I recall, you have a preschool teaching license?" lin asked.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Good. Tomorrow, apply for a nanny position in the Archibaldo family. You'll be responsible for her care. Dante and Algheti, you two apply as their bodyguards. Argol and Misty are on standby for now. Mu, you'll coordinate everything. When Athena starts school, you'll all beco her teachers," lin instructed one by one.
Right now, Athena hadn't yet awakened her divine soul. Her ability to make eye contact with lin across space was purely instinctual.
Until she awakened her divine soul, lin was willing to let Athena live a happy, ordinary life.
To be doted on by her parents like any other child. To stress over howork like any other child. To make friends like any other child.
But lin wouldn't let go entirely. Three Silver Saints would guard her at all tis. Two Silver Saints, one Gold Saint, and lin herself would work from the shadows to eliminate any potential threat.
This was the highest-level protection arrangent in the world. If even under this protection Athena were hard, then this world was not worth keeping.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Rember, don't let her discover your identities," lin reminded them. She didn't want Athena's peaceful life disrupted.
"Yes."
"Garon."
"Here."
"Contact Howard. Prepare for relocation."
"Uh… yes."
…
Sanctuary.
"Your Holiness, is Lord lin really not going to bring Lady Athena back?" Alexis asked, puzzled.
The Sanctuary wasn't what it used to be. It now boasted top-tier educational systems, from kindergarten to university, as well as comrcial districts, entertainnt zones, residential areas—everything one could ask for.
Athena would have no problem growing up in the Sanctuary.
And it was the safest place on Earth.
Given Lord lin's affection for Athena, why leave her to be raised by ordinary people?
"If Lord lin decided so, he must have his reasons. Let's not speculate further," Shion replied.
"Yes." Though still puzzled, Alexis didn't argue with lin's decision.
"Any unusual activity lately?"
"According to Saints sent out, the seas have been restless."
"The seas?" Shion frowned. "Could it be Poseidon?"
"Not confird yet. As a precaution, I suggest we increase forces stationed along the coast."
"Does Lord lin know?"
"He's been inford and told us to stay on alert."
"Alright, I'll make arrangents."
With that, silence fell upon the Pope's chamber. They looked out toward the sea, recalling a comrade who once sealed Atlantis's Deucalion single-handedly.
…
Kamar-Taj.
The Ancient One stood atop a mountain, gazing into the distance.
"Another deity has descended… The goddess of wisdom and war—Athena. Congratulations on your reunion," she murmured. But…
She didn't finish the second half of her sentence. Her gaze turned toward the ocean.
"Master." Mordo stepped through a portal and bowed behind her.
"Have the guardians of the New York Sanctum stay alert. Offer help if necessary, but under no circumstances should the newborn goddess be hard. If that one goes berserk, no one can stop her," the Ancient One instructed.
"Yes."
Just as Mordo was about to leave, the Ancient One stopped him.
"Wait."
"Yes, Master?"
"Send soone to keep an eye on the sea. I have a bad feeling."
"I understand."
After Mordo left, the Ancient One opened the Eye of Agamotto, using the Ti Stone to observe the future.
But…
Cough cough…
The spell collapsed almost imdiately. Her complexion paled, and she began coughing.
"…Cough… As expected of sothing involving deities. Can't see, can't grasp." She furrowed her brows, suppressed the backlash, and looked into the distance again.
"The tiline is already blurred. Earth… humanity… where are we headed? And … what should I…"
…
Far away in Asgard, Odin and Frigga had also sensed Athena's reincarnation the mont it happened.
"Your Majesty, the goddess Athena has successfully reincarnated."
"Heh heh heh… The notorious couple is back. So folks are about to have a hard ti."
"Your Majesty, should we—"
"No need to plot anything. lin and Athena are simple people. As long as they're not provoked, they won't co looking for trouble. Besides, they value old friendships. Look at Mjurdissel—lin's been helping him all along."
"I understand, Your Majesty. But… I worry about Thor…"
At the ntion of Thor, Odin winced. That kid had gone completely off track—constantly fighting and shouting about "the glory of Asgard!"
Your divine soul hasn't even awakened yet! What glory are you shouting about!?
"Sigh… Frigga, I'll need you to watch over him more closely," Odin sighed.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty."
"Summon Heimdall to . Although Mjurdissel is now considered a vassal of the Sanctuary, he's still one of our faithful. There are still things worth considering."
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