Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 489: Youth is Wonderful

"Don't tell me you think that Apollo is real," Yang Chen said as he approached. "Although I've never met Apollo, I can't imagine any of the main gods would be that bored. It just doesn't make sense."

Christine chuckled, "In theory, I don't think Apollo would do such a thing. But hearing that old lady describe it, the scene of fire raining down from the sky and bombing the base does sound a bit like something he would do."

Yang Chen frowned, "What do you mean?"

Christine playfully blinked, "Apollo's divine artifact can cause similar effects. Of course, the real destructive power would be far more significant."

Yang Chen was stunned; he hadn't considered that possibility.

"But who knows what's really going on without seeing it firsthand. However, I'm not interested in running off to Europe. Whether it's Apollo or not, we'll find out sooner or later. If you're curious, you could go check it out. If I remember correctly, Apollo's awakening time should be around now. Maybe it's true that Apollo got a bit overheated in the head. He always did do outrageous things," Christine said with a laugh before running back inside.

Yang Chen sighed. He had nothing more to say to this perpetually carefree woman. As for the situation in Europe, he wasn't too concerned. To be honest, as long as it didn't affect his and Lin Ruoxi's plans, he wouldn't care if Paris was flattened after they left.

The days before their departure quietly slipped by, and soon the calendar turned to April. After that dinner night, Huilin immediately returned to the company to work on her new album, attending various "meet and greets" and "fan meetings," and continuously learning new singing and performance techniques.

Christine, who was usually always traveling, had stayed in China for so many days only because Yang Chen had asked her to. After that night, she returned to the United States early, giving Yang Chen one less thing to worry about.

Once Lin Ruoxi had arranged everything in Zhonghai down to the last minute, the young couple bid a simple farewell to their family and boarded an Airbus bound for Paris, France. This was the first time they were traveling together as a couple. For Yang Chen, it was a bit surreal, considering they had only gotten a marriage certificate without any formal ceremony, let alone a "honeymoon." Going to Paris, the city of romance, felt somewhat light and whimsical.

Given Lin Ruoxi's wealth and her unsuitability for mingling with the general public due to her personality and appearance, they booked first-class seats.

International first-class is quite different from domestic flights, often costing several times more, especially during peak seasons. Most passengers are wealthy older folks with nothing better to spend their money on.

In the first-class cabin of about a dozen seats, Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi were the youngest by far, surrounded by kind elderly passengers.

Out of her work mode, Lin Ruoxi wore a black off-the-shoulder lace dress, with low-key luxurious tailoring and a simple yet elegant ensemble that highlighted her aloof and solitary aura. Her fair shoulders exposed to the air resembled snowy peaks, gleaming faintly under the sunlight.

Lin Ruoxi had let her usually tied-up hair down, and her silky black hair fell gently over her shoulders, exuding a delightful scent of gardenias that was refreshing even from a distance. Sitting next to her, Yang Chen couldn't help but swallow occasionally, finding his wife irresistibly alluring. Watching her so closely was like being caught in a whirlpool of seductive pheromones, making it hard to pull away.

If not for Lin Ruoxi's icy, porcelain-like face occasionally casting disapproving glances at him, Yang Chen might have already forgotten about the elderly passengers around them and pounced on her without a second thought.

Yang Chen had initially expected the long flight to be quite boring. After all, with his wife present, he couldn't indulge in his previous antics of flirting with flight attendants or engaging in adult games in the restroom. However, seeing Lin Ruoxi dressed in an elegant outfit, far from her usual business attire, was a feast for his eyes.

"Do you know that your expression makes me want to slap you? Don't you feel embarrassed?" Lin Ruoxi muttered, unable to tolerate Yang Chen's fervent gaze, which made him look like a drooling pig.

The airplane's air conditioning made the cabin somewhat dry. Yang Chen licked his parched lips and shamelessly smiled, "It's just that you look so beautiful, Ruoxi darling. Usually, you don't let me get close to you. Now that we're flying to France, I can admire you for hours."

"You are so low-class!" Lin Ruoxi didn't know what to say. His shamelessness was indeed unbeatable! Her cheeks blushed involuntarily, and despite her irritation, her heart couldn't help but beat faster with a hint of pride. It was infuriating!

At this moment, the elderly white couple seated nearby were smiling and speaking to each other in French, clearly discussing Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi.

Although Lin Ruoxi could speak English, some basic Japanese, and Spanish, she didn't understand French at all. Seeing the couple's friendly demeanor and curious about their conversation, she turned to Yang Chen, who seemed to understand all languages, and asked softly, "What did that couple say?"

Yang Chen, still somewhat dazed from gazing at Lin Ruoxi's neckline, replied in a half-dreamy state, "The old lady said we look like a happy young couple. The old man said he thought Chinese people were more conservative, but it seems we understand romance just like the French. Youth is wonderful."

Romantic?!

Lin Ruoxi almost rolled her eyes in an unladylike manner. This shameless guy staring at her like a pig was called romantic? She was barely restraining herself from slapping him!

"Are you sure you didn't mistranslate just to tease me because I don't understand French?" Lin Ruoxi asked angrily in a low voice.

Yang Chen chuckled, "Do you think I'd waste my time like that? If I were to mistranslate, I'd say something like, 'This girl is so beautiful, perfectly matched with this man, they're a heavenly couple. Clearly, this girl must have pursued this guy. Look at how manly he is, obviously a perfect gentleman.'"

"Enough!" Lin Ruoxi was on the verge of breaking down and quickly stopped him with a shout.

Yang Chen quickly shut his mouth and raised his eyebrows before letting his gaze drift back to Lin Ruoxi's chest.

Lin Ruoxi, feeling exasperated, raised her left wrist adorned with an exclusive Patek Philippe women's watch. Despite its simple and delicate design, the watch carried a price tag comparable to that of a supercar.

"We've only been in the air for less than an hour," Lin Ruoxi lamented inwardly as she checked the time. The thought of having to endure another dozen hours on the plane with this man made her wish she could faint.

Secret Base of the Seventh Bureau of Safety, Paris, France

The heavy steel doors of the central monitoring room slowly opened with a metallic clang. Dressed in a military uniform, Depney, with his brown-gray hair and short stature, walked onto the command platform, his face ashen. Below him, a sea of fluorescent screens and technical agents typing rapidly at their keyboards filled the room.

Depney slowly scanned the large monitoring center, then snapped his fingers with his right hand.

A staff officer ascended the command platform from a lift below, bowing respectfully. "Director, what are your orders?"

"Where is Fodessa?" Depney asked gruffly, his expression darkening.

"Vice Director Fodessa went to meet with the leaders of some supernatural organizations and mercenary groups from South America and West Asia about an hour ago. He should be back soon," the staff officer replied respectfully.

Depney's face grew even more sullen. "Hmph, he's really taking his time. Is meeting with foreign underground organization leaders part of his job?"

At that moment, the steel doors of the monitoring room opened again, and a tall, burly man with a rugged face and light yellow hair, dressed in a deep blue military uniform, walked onto the command platform, holding his officer's hat in one hand.

Upon seeing Depney, the man paused for a moment before saluting sharply, his gray eyes showing a hint of determination. "Director, Fodessa reporting."

"Where have you been?" Depney asked in a low voice, his tone strained.

Fodessa answered solemnly, "I went to the hotel where the distinguished guests for this meeting are staying to secretly meet with the leaders of the Jaguar Mercenary Group and the representatives of the Sea of Death supernatural organization."

Before Fodessa could finish his report, Depney suddenly spun around and delivered a powerful kick!

"Bang!"

Seemingly ordinary, Depney unleashed an astonishingly fierce power, sending the towering Fodessa sprawling to the ground with a single kick!

Fodessa, struck in the chest, lay on the ground, not daring to rise or resist. He quickly rolled over and knelt, keeping his head bowed in silence.

"Meeting representatives, Fodessa, you've grown quite bold," Depney growled, his eyes wide with anger, his face twisted. "Do you know that while you were meeting with those representatives, I was being scolded by the President in his office?"

Confronted by Depony's roar, Fordsa stood rigid, not daring to move. The attendant had long since retreated, and the staff below the command platform kept their heads down, working silently as if they hadn't seen anything.

"You idiot, do you think you're some big shot in our Seventh Bureau of Security? Let me tell you! When General de Gaulle established the original CIA, which is now our Foreign Security Bureau, our Seventh Bureau has produced countless heroes and achieved numerous glories! But you, Fordsa, will never be one of them!"

Depony charged forward again, kicking Fordsa in the left cheek!

Fordsa let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but he did not dare to get up. He remained kneeling with his head down.

"Remember this, Fordsa, your ancestors betrayed France and defected to Nazi Germany! Your blood is tainted with that of filthy Germans! If it weren't for my exceptional promotion, you'd be just an ordinary field special forces soldier, with no hope of ever becoming an officer, let alone sitting in the position of deputy director of the Seventh Bureau!"

Fordsa's body trembled, blood dripping from his left cheek onto the cold, hard ground. His voice quivered as he said, "Fordsa will never forget the director's kindness."

"Hmph!" Depony squinted, his gaze as sharp as a blade sweeping over Fordsa's body. "It's good that you know. The origin of the golden sun totem, the true identity of Apollo, and the secret organization conference we're hosting this time must not have any issues. If I lose my job, don't expect to have a good life either."

"Yes, sir!"