The sun slowly rose over Athens.
Golden light spilled across the radiant city.
Early in the morning, Adam applied a thick layer of sun-protection serum, then changed into a white Greek noble robe nearly indistinguishable from that of any local aristocrat.
Moments later, he boarded a carriage.
Only one companion followed him—
the Fatty, the only one among them completely unaffected by sunlight.
Their destination:
The Athena Library.
The carriage raced through the morning streets.
Athens was already awake.
"What's happening over there?" Fatty suddenly asked, pointing outside.
Adam glanced through the window.
A crowd of civilians gathered at the entrance of a narrow alley. Several Greek soldiers stood nearby, long spears in hand, calmly dispersing the onlookers.
"No idea," Adam said casually.
He didn't pay much attention.
His fingers rested unconsciously on the noble crest at his waist.
Excitement flickered in his eyes.
At last… he would enter the Athena Library.
The carriage continued forward.
"Your Highness—look. Another one."
Adam turned again.
This time, a small shop was surrounded by civilians. Just like before, soldiers were clearing the area.
And then another.
And another.
Nearly every few streets, crowds gathered while guards maintained order.
Something was clearly happening.
Adam frowned slightly.
Still, he chose not to dwell on it.
He had spent several days in Athens, yet rarely appeared during daylight hours. Compared to the bustling mornings, he knew the city far better under moonlight.
Whatever disturbance this was—
it could wait.
Soon, the carriage crossed half the city and arrived at the foot of Mount Olympus.
Greek guards halted them.
"Identification, please."
Athens housed countless nobles, each enjoying extensive privileges. Those privileges, however, existed only alongside verified identity seals.
Unless one belonged to the Senate itself, guards recognized authority—not faces.
Adam handed over his credentials.
The guard examined them carefully before bowing.
"Welcome, Count Behe. However, the library has not opened yet."
Adam raised an eyebrow.
"You mean the library closes at night?"
"Yes, Count. Visitors must leave before dusk."
Adam's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
If someone managed to remain inside until nightfall…
operations would become far easier.
And considerably cheaper.
"May I proceed up the mountain first?" Adam asked.
"Of course."
The guard stepped aside.
With a shout from the driver, the carriage began climbing the circular mountain road.
The stone path spiraled upward—broad, smooth, engineered with astonishing precision.
Halfway up, Athens unfolded beneath them.
Adam leaned slightly toward the window.
And paused.
Under sunlight, the city was breathtaking.
White Greek structures dominated the central and northern districts, broken occasionally by stretches of green gardens—the residences of nobles and administrative institutions.
Beyond them sprawled dense districts of irregular buildings.
Crowded.
Alive.
To the south lay the coastline.
Massive wooden cranes lined the harbor, loading and unloading cargo endlessly. Ships filled the sea—composite-sailed vessels moving like flowing arteries sustaining the city's prosperity.
Some merchant ships displaced four to five hundred tons.
For wooden vessels, they were giants.
Elsewhere in the world, one such ship would be rare.
Here—
they filled the deep-water port.
Roads radiated outward from the white circular Senate building at Athens' center like a spider's web, stretching across mountains and continents.
Western Europe.Southern Europe.West Asia.North Africa.The Middle East.
All connected.
Adam chuckled quietly.
In another life, they said all roads lead to Rome.
Perhaps now—
all roads led to Athens.
The sight genuinely shocked him.
Modern civilization had reached astonishing brilliance.
Yet the arrival of mythic races had frozen history itself.
Perhaps humanity would never advance further.
Only endure.
Unchanging.
Forever suspended in time.
At last, the carriage reached the summit.
The peak had been sliced flat, forming an enormous circular platform.
And there—
stood the Athena Library.
It curved along the cliff like a crescent moon, its open face overlooking the entire city below.
Adam stepped down from the carriage.
Then looked up.
And felt small.
The structure towered over thirty meters high. Standing before it felt like facing a mountain crafted by intention itself.
Within the central fountain plaza, the encircling walls created the illusion of embracing the world.
Knowledge made into architecture.
Even a single brick exceeded human height.
Only giants could have built something like this.
The morning plaza remained mostly empty.
Greek guards stood beside massive pillars, clad in ornate light armor, holding spears nearly five meters long—ceremonial, yet intimidating.
Two guards approached.
"Identification, please."
Adam handed it over again.
"Welcome, Count Behe."
The guard then turned toward Fatty.
"Sir, your identification."
Adam answered quickly.
"He's my attendant."
The guard bowed politely.
"In that case, your attendant and driver must wait at the mountain base."
So one credential wasn't enough.
Adam's thoughts moved instantly.
Fatty was fine—but what about Yinling? Smoke?
They also needed access to high-bloodline techniques.
Which meant—
stealing books remained the only real solution.
Fatty understood immediately and returned to the carriage without complaint.
The vehicle rolled back down the mountain.
"May I enter now?" Adam asked.
"Not yet. Entry begins at eight o'clock. Approximately thirty minutes remaining."
Adam nodded.
Painfully aware of how expensive his daylight protection serum was, he chose a shaded corner beneath a massive pillar and sat down.
More nobles soon arrived.
Carriages came and went.
White robes. Noble crests. Quiet conversations.
Some sat on the ground.
Others gathered near the fountain, chatting in small groups.
The empty plaza slowly filled.
Then—
The library gates opened.
A commander clad in ornate Greek armor stepped out, escorted by eight spear-bearing guards.
His voice echoed across the plaza.
"Entry time has arrived—!"