CHAPTER 326: CHAPTER 325-FIRST ACTION.

Seeing how pushy Hera was becoming, Azrail quickly left Kia back at her own place, leaving word to his family to give Kia some time of her own. She needed to digest everything she learned, and it would take some time of her own, not to mention that hidden Anya will be trying to destroy her, so it will be a terrible battle for her, everything unseen and unknown.

And that’s what the reward will be worth if she could even get a little bit of breathing space or even put up a small fight against Anya. The Kia Azrail knew, the one who didn’t have all the support she has now, in the past had fought and kept it all at bay before through her own sheer power, will, and talent.

Kia has monstrous talent burning around in her body; it’s just all suppressed away. Yet this situation has made the will and mental strength of Kia terrifying, and it will only grow when Kia understands that something is trying to push her away. The last time she did it with sheer will and power, without support, fighting against it all alone, but this time she has support and help.

’I wonder how far along she will reach this time.’

Azrail had anticipation to see how it would all unravel in the end and how far Kia would go this time. It will be a sight to see, and hence, once it was all set up, Azrail quickly settled down and moved towards All-Realm. All-Seer connected him to the realm, and soon enough, he accepted the link sent by Hera, quickly appearing back in the same place he had met her first.

’They seemingly never get tired of this whole throne, big room charade.’

Though Azrail couldn’t really disagree, since he himself has also used it and is still using it. It’s the best way to display power and the superiority you have in the situation. Now fully looking like DeathMark, Azrail looked toward the hidden figure shrouded away as Hera spoke in a calm tone.

"You sure took your time. Once you used my status to gain fame, did you think you could just do whatever you want?"

Her words were followed by a subtle pressure on Azrail, who took it on and replied.

"I had no such thoughts like that, and just like I had promised you, I was searching for more information. Entering and looking through the limbo isn’t such an easy thing. It takes time and a lot of mental power out of me. As someone so exalted, you should understand how hard it will be to enter something like that, especially when I am still just this strong."

The words Azrail spoke calmed Hera down, her presence getting lighter. There being truth to the words Azrail spoke, the silence once again being deafening for a moment, after which Hera spoke.

"That I can understand, so I can forgive you for this one time, for taking so long."

’Bitch, it was just a few days.’

Azrail held his tongue and his mind. He knows that, to this woman, she still thinks she owns him. She relishes the fact that the weak Azrail is a pawn in her price, similar to a dog that should respond when called upon. Even though Azrail had established a contract more similar towards being partners, in her mind, that wouldn’t have registered much at all.

Thus, holding himself, a smile came to Azrail’s face. The situation is similar to his first life, dealing with those pompous ones who think they are above all. Azrail was the weak one, so he had to manipulate and lie to get his way, and right now the difference is only being towards the fact that the one he is facing now is just a Goddess.

’Ah... I definitely have upgraded.’

Laughing internally at that, Azrail spoke with a light bow.

"Thank you for your magnanimity. It’s as they say, your generosity fills the entirety of Olympus. The name of Grace and Queen is definitely only yours to wield."

Do those words have much effect? No...

Do they have some effect? Yes...

Lip service, even to the queen here, has its effects, however slight they may be.

"You seemingly are using your words better than the last time we met. Now tell me, what else have you found?"

"Not much, but I did end up finding a big clue."

"There seemed to be some kind of connection between Io and Hephaestus."

The moment Azrail said this, he could feel a shift in the atmosphere. Hera seemingly was in thought for a moment, after which.

"Are you sure about this?"

"100%. This comes from a directive I saw. They are in contact."

A heavy silence fell into the place, a brooding call one can say as Hera spoke.

"As my proxy, what’s your action?"

’Smart asking me that.’

"I would like you to introduce me to Hephaestus. Perhaps if he does indeed plan something, then I can be of use to him, to his power. He might be able to use me against you."

"He will see right through that."

Hera replied.

Azrail let the silence stretch just long enough for the throne room’s golden light to feel like a weight on his shoulders. Hera’s eyes—sharp. He kept his face hidden, the mask of DeathMark unreadable, but inside he was already three moves ahead. Hephaestus. The name alone carried the scent of forge-smoke and betrayal, and Hera knew it. She had to.

"He won’t see through it," Azrail said at last, voice low, deliberate. "Not if I give him something he wants more than he wants you gone."

Hera’s fingers tightened on the armrests of her throne. The peacock feathers behind her rustled, though there was no wind. "And what, exactly, does the Smith want that you can offer?"

"Recognition." Azrail took a single step forward, boots ringing on marble. "He’s the laughingstock of Olympus—the cuckolded husband. The limp-footed craftsman who builds wonders no one thanks him for. You keep him at arm’s length, Hera. You humiliate him with every glance you spare Zeus’s bastards. Give me a crack in that armour, and I’ll wedge myself in. I’ll be his ear. His blade. His revenge."

He watched her throat work, a swallow she tried to hide. Good. She was listening.

"You’d sell me out that easily?" she asked, but there was no heat in it—only calculation.

"I’d sell the idea of selling you out." Azrail tilted his head. "Hephaestus isn’t subtle. If he’s speaking to them, he’s planning something loud. A weapon. A trap. A god-forged cage. I walk in, offer to be the hinge that the door swings on, and he’ll bite."

"You’ll need an introduction," she said. "A reason to be in his forge without raising alarms."

"Make me your envoy," Azrail said. "Tell him you’re sending DeathMark to commission a gift. Something for the newest addition to your team. Something ostentatious enough that Hephaestus will salivate at the chance to outshine himself."

Hera’s lips curved, not quite a smile. "You want me to pay for my own noose."

"I want you to pay for the rope," Azrail corrected. "I’ll tie the knot."

She studied him for a long moment. Then, with a flick of her wrist, a scroll unfurled in midair—parchment the colour of storm clouds, sealed with wax the shade of dried blood. It drifted into Azrail’s waiting hand.

"Deliver this personally," she said. "Hephaestus is... particular about messengers. He’ll smell a lie on anyone else. But you—" Her gaze flicked over the black cloak, the hidden patterns itched onto it. "You reek of death. He’ll trust that."