Just as Luo En, driven by a will to survive, was about to find an excuse to decline, his hand suddenly felt heavier.
He looked down and saw the tray in his hand and the Golden Apple inscribed with runes on it.
"You decide who gets it," she said with a smile.
The bride, Thetis, handed him a dinner knife as if making a wise choice effortlessly, her face filled with anticipation as she looked towards her husband, the chosen one.
However, Luo En caught a glimpse of the cunning glint deep in her bright blue eyes.
"..." The person in question had a poignant gaze, feeling gloomy.
Great, things must be going awry.
He knew marrying a smart woman wouldn't bring peace; this wife certainly wasn't a simple one.
"So you want me to decide? Fine, let's do this!"
Seeing there was no escape, Luo En pondered for a moment, decided to brave it out, and stepped up onto the platform. Grinning, he took the knife and made his judgment under the fixed stares.
First step, peeling, giving the skin to Aphrodite.
"Fair is fair, you are really pretty, worth a look as a peel indeed."
Second step, cutting the flesh, giving it to Hera.
"As the queen of heaven, every creature in Olympus from the 800-year-olds to the animals can mock you, male and female, even sheep. Since your reputation can't be saved anyway, I might as well give you the inner part."
Third step, dividing the remaining core among Athena.
"You should have, as a male deity, inherited Zeus's throne, but lost the chance because of Zeus's issues, so I'm giving you the core."
As a result, the whole place went deadly silent.
Aphrodite clenched her fists, Hera raised her scepter, and Athena summoned her Spear and Shield, gritting their teeth and glaring at the shameless referee who had just disparaged them.
Seeing this, Luo En quickly stepped back, dragged the Goddess of Discord, Eris, from the crowd, and firmly shielded himself with her.
"And you thought you could be the Goddess of Discord? Look at me, I unified them instantly, even better than you could stoke the flames."
Eris, who had been enjoying the show, was flabbergasted, and quickly denied as she faced the fierce trio of goddesses.
"It wasn't me, I didn't do anything, don't mess around..."
With a crisp sound of landing, Luo En threw a Rune Crystal from the beam above into the middle of the gathering.
Suddenly, the projected image showed a shadowy figure sneaking into the venue last night, secretly planting the golden apple.
The irrefutable evidence laid before them made the pantheon of gods sober up from a frenzied state. The shame of being cleansed turned their faces dark as they glared at the instigator.
Eris stiffened, forced to stubbornly resist.
"Misunderstanding, this is a misunderstanding!"
Luo En, thoughtfully, asked.
"You mean this wasn't your intention?"
"Exactly! That's what I was saying!"
Hearing that someone had thrown her a lifeline at the critical moment, Eris nodded repeatedly, hoping to climb down quickly and distance herself from the mess.
Luo En nodded, and handed the dinner plate and knife to Eris.
"Don't joke next time."
Relieved by the noticeably softer tone, Eris immediately lit up with joy, nodding like a pecking chicken.
Was he really that easy to fool? This guy was too gullible.
With that in mind, next time...
The Goddess of Discord, watching Luo En walk away, had a deep and scheming look in her eyes, revealing her incorrigibly bad nature.
"Well, now that they have their shares, I'll give the remaining piece to you, Your Majesty."
At that moment, leaving Eris behind, Luo En approached Zeus, smiling as he handed the remaining bit of the apple core to him.
Instantly, the onlookers realized and contemptuously stared at the King of Olympus.
Who didn't know that during the divine war, Eris had brought the Hundred-Handed Giants to the rescue at a critical moment, a staunch ally of His Majesty the King of Gods? If nobody had instructed her, how could she have dared to mock the assembled gods?
It's you again, Zeus!
Feeling the contemptuous, annoyed, or gleeful gazes focused on him, Zeus, utterly confused, was flabbergasted.
"What are you talking about? Nonsense!"
"Looks like I really didn't divide it wrong."
Luo En scoffed, pointing at the apple stalk in Zeus's hand and outright adding scorn to his words.
"Dare to do but not to claim, can't even decide on an apple; I guess that's pretty much what you are worth."
Instantly, the King of Gods, ridiculed publicly, shuddered with rage, his face flushing deep red.
After all, what man could tolerate having his adequacy publicly questioned?