"What interest... Can't you tell? I'm examining their bodies."
Hecate seemed somewhat angry. She snapped her fingers, and immediately, the two vines that had deeply entered Stheno and Euryale's mouths churned even more forcefully.
"Were these two mouths the ones that spoke disrespectfully to me just now? It seems I need to give you a good wash."
It was clear that Ares' teacher seemed somewhat angry, and after seeing Hecate's actions, Ares pretty much guessed why Stheno and Euryale were tied to the pillars, looking like something out of an adult anime scene due to Hecate.
Because these two goddesses were born perfect and had always lived under Medusa's protection, they had some psychological issues, always feeling superior to everyone else.
This also affected their way of speaking; in short, they were habitually foul-mouthed. It must have been for this reason that they angered Hecate, the regent of the Underworld.
Ares knew these two goddesses. Even though they knew Hecate's rank was much higher than theirs, they couldn't help but say provocative things in front of her. This wasn't malicious, but simply a force of habit.
In the past, as the indigenous gods of their tribe, the three sisters were worshipped by humans. When they spoke about their followers, the followers certainly wouldn't dare to say anything, and Medusa could handle any enemies they encountered.
However, now they had arrived in the Underworld. Here, every freely moving entity they encountered likely had a higher divine rank than them. Hecate's lesson was also a good thing for them; at least Hecate herself was considered broad-minded in the Greek World and wouldn't truly do anything to them. But the other deities in the Underworld were different: the three great Judges, the Twin Gods, the Ferryman of the Styx, and various River Gods and Underworld Gods—none of them were easy to provoke.
Ares had already planned to arrange for the Gorgon Sisters to stay in the Underworld from now on. It was impossible for the three sisters to offend all the deities in the Underworld just because of Stheno and Euryale.
So Ares decisively stopped Medusa and pulled her aside.
"Lord Ares." Medusa looked at her two sisters, who were about to faint, and asked worriedly, "Are my sisters going to be alright?"
"No, my teacher knows what she's doing. This is also a lesson for them. Not everyone in the Underworld can be provoked. Disciplining them now to make them remember this is better than them provoking other gods later and causing an unmanageable situation." Ares replied, "Besides, they used to bully you quite a bit, didn't they? Look, seeing them both being bullied so miserably now, don't you feel great inside?"
Medusa looked at her two miserable sisters, and a sense of guilty pleasure slowly appeared on her face.
"That's right. Don't beg for mercy, and don't ask questions. Just stand there and watch."
Ares patiently advised her.
Perhaps considering that Ares and Medusa were watching, Hecate's "punishment" of Stheno and Euryale didn't last long. After she snapped her fingers again, the blood-red tentacles binding Stheno and Euryale transformed into scattered petals of spider lilies and dissipated. The two "idol" goddesses also slid down from the pillars, kneeling weakly on the ground, coughing incessantly.
Just now, Hecate had said she would rinse their mouths, and she truly used magic to transform those blood-red tentacles, forcibly pouring large amounts of clear water into the two goddesses' mouths. Stheno and Euryale must have felt extremely uncomfortable now.
"Cough, cough."
Stheno and Euryale coughed while helping each other stand up. They cast a terrified glance at Hecate, immediately not daring to say anything else, and quickly hid by their sister's side.
"You two should be more careful in the future. If you provoke others, they won't be as merciful as I am."
Hecate threatened Stheno and Euryale while examining her fingernails:
"The Underworld is not the Invisible Island, nor is it your original tribe. There are many terrifying deities and monsters here. If you provoke someone you shouldn't one day, you might be taken as a wife, and then they'll subject you to all sorts of perverted games. I won't come to rescue you. Understand?"
Stheno and Euryale exchanged glances and quickly nodded.
At this moment, Hecate's gaze fell upon Ares and Medusa again. She looked at the cute little girl standing beside Ares, then smiled and said:
"You're back? Are you Medusa?"
Medusa was given a push from behind by Ares and reluctantly stepped forward, facing Hecate, the current ruler of the Underworld, with some apprehension, and gently nodded.
"Don't be afraid. I heard from Ares that you are a well-behaved and polite child, unlike your two older sisters."
Hecate thought for a moment and said:
"I promised him to protect you three sisters, and of course, I won't break my word. From now on, you will stay in the Underworld. This is a place where the power of the Olympus Gods and Athena cannot reach. Moreover, even if I step down and Hades returns, he will also choose to protect you. I will give you three sisters a divine position in the Underworld. From now on, you will live here."
After hearing Hecate's words, Medusa said gratefully:
"Thank you, great Moon Goddess."
"Don't thank me, thank that guy next to you."
Hecate waved her hand, then looked at Ares:
"So, do you have anything else, Ares?"
"Yes, I do."
Ares replied:
"But let's talk about it once we're back, teacher."
"Alright." Hecate raised her hand: "Then you can take the three of them to their new posts first and introduce them to the work they'll be doing."
Ares acknowledged her, then took the Gorgon Sisters to familiarize themselves with their positions. After settling all three of them, he returned to Hecate's home and found Hecate again.
After returning home from work, Hecate also took off her work attire, which she wore to display her authority, and once again changed into a cool outfit of a nightgown and slippers. When Ares saw her, the goddess was lying sideways on her bed, eating fresh fruit prepared by Hydra while reading a classic text.
Seeing Ares return, she slightly raised her eyelids to glance at her disciple, then lowered her head again, and at the same time asked:
"You're back. What else did you need me for today?"
"Hmm..."
Ares showed a rare hesitant expression, as if he wanted to speak but held back, but finally firmed his resolve and said solemnly to Hecate:
"Teacher, let's get married."
"???"