Chapter 99: The Self-cultivation of the Cult Leader (3k, 7k per day)
A sumptuous feast, from early morning to late evening.
As the end approached, Lorne, the chef, decisively handed the cleanup work to Hestia and quietly slipped out the back door.
Nothing else.
Artemis looked so scary.
——Not only did she stare at him from time to time during the meal, but the way she tore the meat and swallowed it seemed as if she was grabbing him and chewing it...
Although he didn't know how he had offended the female hunter, he thought it would be wise to avoid her when he saw that the situation was not going well.
Lorne muttered to himself as he walked leisurely along the long street of Knossos, thinking in his heart.
Currently, the three Gorgon sisters are sleeping in the temple of Athena in order to absorb a large amount of ocean divinity.
The noisy Nikki was also taken away by the goddess of wisdom to Olympus for help;
Hestia needed to clean up the house and entertain her newly arrived niece Artemis;
After experiencing the beast tide, Crete is gradually getting back on track under the coordination of himself and Princess Ariadne.
Old King Minos still had to deal with his troublesome sons, so he didn't have time to bother him for the time being...
It's a rare opportunity to have some free time, so why not enjoy the quiet night alone.
After making up his mind, Lorne strolled along the street in the mood for a walk, trying some local snacks, buying some interesting handicrafts, or listening to people chatting quietly, feeling the atmosphere of fireworks everywhere.
But soon, his relaxation was forced to end.
Because many people recognized him as the clerk and came up to him enthusiastically, wanting to greet him.
Looking at the heads that were gathered around him and the many women nearby who were screaming excitedly, Loen's scalp suddenly went numb. He quickly apologized, squeezed out of the crowd as quickly as possible, cast pseudo-invisibility magic on himself, and left this no longer safe place.
When he slipped to a secluded corner three streets away, he looked back at the crowd that was still gathered there and had not dispersed for a long time, and he could not help but shake his head and sigh.
Now I really look a bit like the future god of wine, and have become a person who drives both men and women crazy.
But, this doesn’t seem bad…
Loen stretched, smiled, took out a bottle of wine from the magic circle, turned around and knocked on the door of a low house.
The owner of the house in the yard opened the door upon hearing the sound. A strong young man with slightly rough skin was pleasantly surprised to see the figure standing outside the door.
"Mr. Secretary..."
"Shh!"
Lorne made a gesture for silence and quietly pointed to the men and women on the street not far away who were still looking for him.
The young man immediately understood and stopped talking, holding his breath and inviting the distinguished guest into the house.
It was not until the two of them walked into the inner hall that he dared to breathe loudly. He hurriedly moved the simple table and chairs, put out the few fruits and jerky in the house, and entertained Loen.
"Sir, why did you come so late without telling me in advance? There is nothing good to entertain you at home."
Looking at the shabby furnishings in the house and the few scattered items for entertaining guests on the table, the young man rubbed his hands in embarrassment, his face full of embarrassment and guilt.
"Don't be so polite, I've already eaten, I just came to sit down."
Lorne chuckled in relief, then his eyes fell on the young man's slightly pale left arm, and then he asked.
"How is it? Are you getting used to the new arm?"
"adapt!"
Hearing this, the young man couldn't help but nod his head vigorously, his eyes full of gratitude.
"Thanks to you, I can support my family with my own hands again. Otherwise, I really don't know how I would row out to sea alone."
"Don't thank me. Thanks to old Contanius' help, I was able to predict the time of the sea monster's attack. Now, I have repaid your father a favor."
Loen looked kindly at the old fisherman's son, or rather the ordinary young man named "Polymonos", took out the bottle of wine in his arms, put it on the table, and whispered instructions.
"Your arm has just grown back. It will take some time to fully recover to its previous state. Drinking the wine I gave you regularly will be good for you."
"I really regret that you took the trouble to send it here..."
Seeing that this busy secretary still cared about him, a fisherman's son who was so ordinary that he couldn't be more ordinary, Polymonus was so moved that he could hardly speak.
Even though he had lived two lives as a human being, Loen still couldn't stand such overly sentimental scenes and quickly waved his hands.
"Okay, I didn't do anything, I just did it casually. If there's nothing else, I'll leave first?"
"Please wait a moment!"
However, the young man, who was usually a little taciturn, took the initiative to block the door at this moment, with great courage on his face, and spoke stutteringly.
"There is a meeting tonight. If it is convenient for you, can you stay and attend?"
"Well, I'm not used to being in the spotlight..." Lorne hesitated.
"It doesn't matter if you don't show up!" Polymonus hurried into the house and took out a black hooded cloak, with an eager look on his face, "Look, I've prepared everything for you!"
Seeing that it was hard to refuse the invitation, Loen thought about the strange expression on the face of the hunting goddess at home while she was having dinner tonight. After weighing the pros and cons, he nodded slightly.
"Okay then, I'll go with you, but I'm not sure how long I can stay."
When Polymonus heard this, he nodded quickly as if he had heard a great grace, and his face was filled with wild joy.
"no problem!"
Then, after asking his wife at home to take good care of the children, the young man put on a black hooded cloak of the same style and took Loen out of the city through the back door.
Although the road was not flat, Polymonus, who was leading the way, walked very fast, like a galloping horse, and his whole body was filled with vigorous energy.
And traces of very light golden red flowed beneath his skin, conveying the rhythm of life.
Loen, who was following behind slowly, nodded secretly.
The experiment was successful and everything was just as he expected.
Soon, the two took advantage of the night and came to an empty valley outside the city.
At this time, the place was already filled with people wearing long robes and wearing ivy wreaths and bindweed.
There were men and women, young and old, and there were hundreds of them.
Judging from their accents and manners, some of them came from Knossos, some from Rhodos, some from Naxos, and even some from Greek city-states outside Crete.
These people gathered in this valley far away from the hustle and bustle of the world, putting aside their real identities and barriers, chatting happily about interesting stories from all over the world, or sharing food and drinks they brought with them, and starting a temporary feast.
Compared to those somewhat indulgent figures, Lorne and Polymonus, who were mixed in the crowd, seemed ordinary and normal.
However, their arrival was also warmly welcomed by the people.
Infected by the enthusiasm of the people around him, Lorne did not deliberately show alienation. With his face disguised and distorted by magic, he greeted the people nearby politely and implicitly.
Not long after, a group of girls or women wearing ivy crowns on their heads, wearing deerskins on their bodies, holding ivy-wrapped canes or canes topped with pine cones, came out of the forest with solemn tunes and atmosphere, beating drums and cymbals.
Suddenly, the noisy valley became quiet, and everyone looked at the maids chanting hymns.
"Come, Dionysus, god of bliss, born of fire and lightning,
Basareus and a thousand mighty Bacchus,
Swords, blood, and pure women delight you,
You shout 'Aha!' above the clouds! (I'd like to change the Dionysian hymn here to 'Aha!' That would be so much fun, what do you think?)
Roaring fan of Bacchus!
You hold the scepter in your hand, your anger rises to the sky, and all living things fear you.
The mortals who live on earth also respect you.
We are the ashes of Titan, the descendants of madness!
Our blood is thicker than water, we are connected by blood!
Come, O joyful God, and grant happiness and blessings to all!"
Gradually, the people gathered around, as if infected by the solemn yet cheerful melody, began to sing along happily and participate in this grand secret celebration.
And Lorne in the crowd was lip-syncing with ease, his mouth twitching and his hand touching his forehead.
All right.
No matter how many times he participated in it, he still felt uncomfortable with being sacrificed in front of others, and he felt extremely ashamed.
That’s right, the budding secret sect before his eyes was exactly the small group that Loen had personally created during this period by taking advantage of his position.
They were connected by wine, worshipped wine, and advocated self-indulgence. They were the predecessors of the future Orphic religion that worshipped the god of wine.
Soon, the initial hymns ended, and the Dionysian madwomen who presided over the assembly gathered around the newly elected high priestess and brought her to the stage.
"Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for coming from afar to participate in the celebration. Let us raise our cups and offer sacrifices to the God who has bestowed us with blessings and joy!"
At this moment, the Patriarch, who was mixed in the crowd, looked in the direction of the voice and could not help but see the flushed little face filled with excitement and rebellion.
"puff!"
Suddenly, the wine that Loen had just swallowed was spat out, a look of surprise and shock appeared on his face, and he muttered to himself.
Why is it her?
(End of this chapter)
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