Atalanta naturally had no reason to refuse the Sparta High Priest's request.
She had given up all fame and status to live in seclusion here because she liked children. Moreover, the one making this request was the supreme leader of Sparta, who had taken her in.
Although Kratos and Deimos, the brothers, both looked a bit fierce, Atalanta believed that as a former Argo Hero, she would have no problem handling these two little ones.
"Then I'll leave them to you."
The Sparta High Priest lifted Kratos and Deimos, one in each hand, and handed them to Atalanta, instructing her:
"Be careful, these two little brats are very fierce. Don't let them bully the other children in the orphanage."
"I understand."
Atalanta held Kratos in her left arm and Deimos in her right, nodding to the High Priest. At this moment, Kratos suddenly let out fierce wails, reaching out and grabbing Atalanta's mouth, pulling it outward with force. Not to be outdone, Deimos opened his mouth and bit Atalanta's green hair vigorously.
The smile on Atalanta's face stiffened, then she excused herself to the High Priest and, holding the two mischievous children, turned and walked into the house.
Through the High Priest's ear, Ares heard the distinct sound of a bamboo stick hitting flesh from inside the house. He figured those two audacious brats had been dealt with by Atalanta, which made him sigh with emotion that Atalanta's demeanor was still as impressive as ever.
He wondered if Kratos, when he grew up and became the terrifying God Slayers from the prophecy, would recall Atalanta's 'love education' today when he cut off the heads of the Gods.
After entrusting his important future partners, Ares's consciousness largely withdrew from the Sparta High Priest and shifted to Perseus.
To deal with Athena, Perseus now led a group of Heroes, tirelessly running around daily, conducting various behind-enemy-lines espionage and assassination activities for the Olympus Gods' grand strategy. From time to time, he even had to personally kill one or two traitors who had defected to the Snake-Foot Giants, truly toiling day and night, squeezed dry by Athena.
However, with the Heroes' active efforts, the Olympus Gods were indeed gradually tipping the scales of victory from the Snake-Foot Giants to their side. This was partly due to Perseus's tireless work, waking early and sleeping late, forgetting to eat and sleep, and partly due to another Argo Hero.
Apollo's son, the future Dr. Asclepius.
After Apollo returned to Olympus, he invited this Hero to Olympus. However, he did not directly participate in frontal combat but rather worked in logistics, leading a group of healers to provide medical services to the Heroes and human soldiers.
Under Athena's enticement, Asclepius still obtained the blood left by the demonized Medusa, and he has now researched the formula for a "Resurrection Potion," saving a large number of powerful Heroes on the rear battlefield. Even Bellerophon, another clone sent out by Ares some time ago to collect research materials for Hecate, who had subdued Pegasus and killed another Chimera clone, was saved by Asclepius's Resurrection Potion.
Of course, this was also intentional on the part of Ares and Hecate; otherwise, with Ares's operational skill and riding Pegasus, Bellerophon would not have died so easily.
After being revived by the Elixir of Resurrection, the medicinal properties of this elixir remained within Ares's clone body. He could preserve it for future study with Hecate.
After controlling Perseus to clear today's annoying "daily quests" issued by Athena, Ares also casually checked on his other Hero clones. However, just as he was distracted, a resolute Spartan messenger suddenly ran into the tent where his divine power clone was located and reported to him:
"God of War, a God wants to see you."
"A God?"
Upon hearing the messenger's voice, Ares's spirit quickly flowed back into this divine power clone. He pondered for a moment, then asked:
"Is the God who came from Olympus?"
"No, we haven't seen him in the divine registry."
The Spartan messenger replied:
"He's an old man in a black robe, a bit thin, and he's waiting for you in front of the Hell Gate right now."
"An old man in a black robe?"
Ares thought for a moment, then stood up and said:
"I understand."
With that, he picked up his weapons and armor, walked out of his legion's grand camp, and headed towards the Hell Gate.
Arriving at the Hell Gate, Ares saw the "old man in a black robe" the messenger had mentioned. Indeed, this person was Hades, who had been on "vacation" for a long time.
When Ares saw him, Hades was standing in front of the Hell Gate, reaching out to stroke Cerberus's nose. Although the multi-headed hound was unwilling, it dared not challenge Hades at all and could only lie obediently on the ground, allowing Hades to rub its head fiercely.
"Uncle."
Ares was quite polite to Hades. He greeted Hades and then asked:
"Is your vacation over?"
"Not yet, I just heard some news and came back to take a look for now," Hades said, hearing Ares's greeting. He withdrew his hand and calmly looked at his nephew, replying, "Minthe is still waiting for me over there... How is Persephone doing?"
"She's fine," Ares replied. "Teacher made her an Athena toy, and she really likes it. I even heard that she once said, 'I'm so happy here, I don't miss Olympus.'"
Hearing Ares's playful remark, Hades showed a helpless smile, but his expression immediately turned serious, and he said to Ares:
"I'm going to Olympus next."
"Oh? Uncle wants to help Zeus?" Ares inquired.
If so, his and Hecate's plans would need some minor adjustments.
"Probably."
Hades replied:
"It's been many years since I've seriously fought with anyone... Actually, I'm only going up the mountain to ask Zeus for someone's life, but I don't think he'll give them to me at this critical juncture if I ask for them and don't help him."
"Is that so?"
Hearing Hades's words, Ares already had a rough idea of his purpose for this trip, but he still asked:
"Whose life do you want?"
"You know, Asclepius, the son Apollo asked you to help raise back then."
Hades sighed and said:
"Actually, I don't really want him to die, but resurrection medicine really shouldn't exist in this world, at least not in our current era. The order of life and death has been disturbed by him, and he can no longer live."