After successfully gaining the initial recognition of Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, and Themis, the goddess of law, the relationship between Hades (Orphos) and the ambitious Koios seemed to grow increasingly 'close'.
Koios often invited Orphos to meetings within his inner circle to discuss matters that appeared trivial but actually hinted at the shortcomings of the current theocracy.
Koios even spoke of Zeus not having been devoured during one of their private conversations.
When the god of growth lowered his voice, with an indescribable tone of pride and temptation, he said: "The real Zeus must still be out in the world." Hades's (Orphos's) heart skipped a beat in an instant.
On his face appeared an expression of shock and disbelief at just the right moment, as if he had heard some fantasy: "Brother... Is this true? How is that possible? His Majesty the God-King clearly..."
"Clearly swallowed 'him', didn't he?" The corner of Koios's mouth curled into a knowing smirk, and he leaned forward, his voice lowering as he shared this top-secret information.
"My good brother, you are in charge of plants, sensing the sprouting and flourishing of life. But I, Koios, am in charge of 'growth' and 'life force' in a broader sense! My perception of life is far stronger than that of other gods."
His eyes flashed with the unique radiance of his priesthood: "When Cronus swallowed that swaddled bundle, I clearly felt that inside the swallowed 'object', there was none of the 'bursting life force' that a new god should possess—like a seed breaking through the soil, an unstoppable 'eruption of life'!"
"Instead... it was more like a stone, carefully disguised but silent within, like an ancient well!"
Hades was enlightened. He understood. This was the unique insight brought by Koios's own priesthood!
In the original myth, Koios might have known this, but for various reasons—perhaps weakness, lack of courage, or the time not being right—he chose to remain silent, or his perception wasn't as clear as it was now, or he was caught up in other events of the original story before he could act.
But now, the situation was different.
The 'butterfly effect' was precisely here!
It was precisely because of Hades's successful escape and concealment that something had indirectly changed.
His activities as Orphos, his alliance with Metis, everything he did in secret—especially the 'accidental' fall of Iapetus.
All of this had imperceptibly stirred the pool of fate, making the already fragile balance of Olympus even more precarious, while also amplifying some 'details' that might have been overlooked, causing some gods who would have remained silent to see an 'opportunity'.
Koios was one of them.
Hades's appearance and 'alliance' gave him more ambition and confidence, prompting him to strive to use every opportunity to overthrow Cronus.
The secret of Zeus's survival had transformed from a potentially hidden doubt into a very valuable trump card in his hands.
"So..." Hades (Orphos) showed a complex expression of 'sudden realization' and 'admiration' on his face. "Brother, you perceived this shocking secret through your own power? The real Zeus..."
"Must have been sent to a hidden place by the Mother Goddess Rhea and the Earth Mother Gaia," Koios said firmly, his eyes shining with calculation.
"This is our chance, brother Orphos! The prophecy is true; Cronus is destined to be overthrown by his son! And we are no longer mere observers of fate, but guides, or even... the ultimate beneficiaries!"
He looked at Hades, his voice full of allure: "Think about it, when Zeus raises the banner of rebellion and fights against Cronus, if we have enough strength, plus the righteous cause of 'aiding' the new God-King and 'correcting the chaos'... who should lead this new era?"
Hades took a deep breath at just the right moment, as if shocked by the grand prospect. He pondered for a moment and finally nodded heavily, raising his cup: "Brother is far-sighted and has a good idea. In that case, we need to plan carefully and accumulate strength. The waters of Olympus are deeper than I thought... but it is also worth a try!"
"Haha! Well said!" Koios laughed and clinked cups with Hades. "Come, drink to our shared future and to this new era that is inevitably coming!"
They both drank in one gulp, each with their own thoughts.
Hades sneered even more in his heart. Koios's ambition and intelligence had exceeded his initial expectations. But this was not bad; it made the situation more interesting and gave him more room to maneuver.
Koios thought he had the upper hand, not knowing that the 'ally' he was trying to win over was a giant crocodile lurking behind the scenes, aiming for the throne of the gods.
Hades always played the role of a calm, wise, naturally balanced ally, seemingly quite 'convinced' by Koios.
His well-timed advice often hit the mark, making Koios increasingly feel that this son of Gaia was not only powerful but also wise, an indispensable support for the future cause.
But secretly, Hades maintained contact with Metis through the Underworld, analyzing and summarizing the movements of Olympus, the composition of its personnel, and the mentality of Koios's group one by one.
The [Knowledge] and [Summary] divinities were in full operation, constantly deducing various possibilities within the Titan god system.
"Koios's ambition is like a vine, clinging to everything it can reach," Hades said to Metis in the Underworld.
"But his foundation is unstable, and he relies too much on the radiance of Hyperion. He tried to win over me and the two goddesses, not knowing that this itself is the cornerstone of Cronus's rule. He is playing with fire, and we need to control the direction of that fire."
Metis traced a map of Olympus's power, outlined by the waters of the Styx, with her fingertips, and said quietly: "His ambition is our best cover. However, I am concerned that his movements are too conspicuous and may have attracted the attention of certain beings. The frequency of Koios's (the messenger) inspections seems to have increased lately."
"It's fine," Hades's eyes were deep. "Koios is a loyal dog on the surface, but in essence, he is more focused on his own protection. As long as we don't touch his interests directly, he will simply turn a blind eye for now and won't become a threat. On the contrary, Koios's (the host) activities help us attract more attention."