RISE OF EROS

In the Heavenly Palace office, everyone stared at Andrew in silence waiting for him to say something. Andrew didn't keep them waiting long and began his speech, "Well, I imagine you are all curious to know about my meeting with Candice."

None of them spoke, but they all nodded in agreement. Andrew smiled as he watched them nod like a bunch of chickens eating rice. "Well, first of all, the meeting went well. At least I don't think she hates me at the moment," Andrew said with a smile as he remembered what had happened.

"I know you want to hear the details. In short, I will say that she knows my identity now and although she didn't make her position clear, I'm convinced she will keep the secret," Andrew continued.

At that point, Helena interrupted, "We already intuit that what we want to know is if Candice will join as a sister." They all knew that, although Andrew was a bit lost yesterday after the meeting with Candice, he didn't seem worried, so they had intuited that there was no problem with his secret being revealed to the world, but they wanted to know about the relationship itself.

Andrew couldn't help but smile wryly and after shaking his head, replied, "Well, she didn't give a definitive answer, but I don't think she's against it either."

"You mean she'll join us right?", Carolina asked immediately and Andrew nodded his head slightly in agreement. He really wasn't sure, well actually he was sure, as he had seen the abundant pink aura around her, but he still refused to accept it.

It wasn't that he didn't want to take Candice as his wife, it was just that their relationship had progressed so unnaturally, that he didn't believe what his Eros eyes were showing him, even if it was obvious.

The three wives, upon seeing Andrew's nodding, cheered joyfully. Andrew really didn't know how to react to that because where would you see three women being happy to share a man and even worse celebrating the addition of a new woman?

At that moment Fluffy spoke up, "Master, I believe I have explained to you that the harems of the Eros gods are different from any harem." Listening to his divine beast, Andrew remembered that Fluffy had explained that to him some time ago, but at the time he had forgotten.

Remembering that the harems of the Eros gods were harmonious he set the subject aside and continued with the meeting. "Well, putting that aside, in the eventuality of her joining us, what would our plan of action be?" asked Andrew looking at Oliver.

Even if Candice decided to join him as a wife, she was different from his three previous wives. Candice, was a businesswoman with a large company and connections, not to mention, having such a large organization at her command, there were always power divisions that could get them into trouble.

Oliver since they started having business with Candice, started monitoring Candice's companies because whether she became an ally or an enemy, they had to know her strength, so Andrew was asking Oliver to talk about the information he had collected.

Understanding what Andrew meant, Oliver began to talk, "So far, we know that Miss Candice has two main businesses and one emerging one."

Oliver paused and continued his speech, "The grocery business is the most prominent and highest profit. Then there is the fashion business, in which we are her partners and provide clothing designs, and lastly, the newly formed beauty business, in which we are also an essential part of her operation."

Everyone listened attentively to Oliver's words and he went on to explain, "Between these three businesses, she has several trusted employees. There is Gaston who we already know, who is practically her right-hand man in all business in general."

"There is also Canna who is in charge of the fashion business, although she is newly promoted, seems to have been raised by Miss Candice for a few years now, so she is trusted," Oliver continued.

However, at that moment he adopted a serious expression which everyone noticed, so they became serious too and then Oliver said, "There's also his butler Erick and her head of intelligence, which we haven't been able to identify yet."

Andrew noticed the strangeness as Oliver changed the subject and couldn't help but ask, "But they're not the ones you're worried about are they?". Oliver nodded and explained, "There is another man who holds an important position in Candice's business."

"Is there something going on with that man?", Andrew continued to ask noting that this was the important issue and Oliver again nodded in agreement as he said, "This man is in charge of Miss Candice's defense forces."

Listening to Oliver, Andrew furrowed his eyebrows and noted the strangeness of the situation, but before he could ask Oliver added, "That man to my mind, is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"What do you mean?" immediately asked Carolina with a tone of concern. It wasn't just her who was worried, but Helena and Aki were the same.

They already considered Candice a sister and didn't want anything to happen to her, but Oliver's words worried them. "Well, although that man seems subservient and obedient, I actually think he is very ambitious and we have even heard rumors that he wants to marry off his son to Miss Candice."

Those words had not finished coming out of Oliver's mouth when a powerful golden aura emerged from Andrew. Everyone was instantly shocked because they had never felt such a strong power.

Oliver, Castor, Marie, and Aki who had combat skills, although they knew that Andrew had no battle ability, still felt that they were no match for him, which shocked them, but remembering that Andrew was a god candidate they calmed down.

Andrew's anger overflowed and so his divinity seeped out and although he was not a fighter, his power was not small, at least in aura level, very few were his match.

Andrew realizing that his emotions were taking control of him, regained his sanity and calmed down. At that moment he realized that he already saw Candice as his wife, which is why he had unconsciously become angry when he heard that another man wanted to take Candice away from him.

After calming down, Andrew coldly asked, "How much strength does that man have and how can we eliminate him?". Everyone was shocked, as Andrew's words were clear, he wanted that man dead.

However, the connection they had with him, made them understand that Andrew was only ruthless because someone wanted to steal Candice from him and somehow it cheered them up and Castor was the first to speak, "Certainly, he must be eliminated if he goes after sister Candice."

No one refuted Castor's comment nor did they find it strange that he started calling her "Sister". Even Oliver mustered a smile and replied, "Though his forces are extensive, not very powerful. Even his own power is not superior to Castor's so he is not a threat to us, but...".

"Candice may be in danger," Andrew completed Oliver's words and Oliver just nodded in agreement. "What do we do then?", Carolina asked anxious for her future sister's well-being.

"I don't think Miss Candice is unaware of this," Oliver interjected and added, "But she is still in danger." Then a silence pervaded the office and after a few minutes Andrew spoke again, "In the afternoon, Oliver will go to visit Candice and subtly ask if she needs help. If she accepts, we will proceed to eliminate him."

At Andrew's cold words, everyone smiled because they felt that this was how a god should behave. Simply eliminating anyone who got in his way.

"In the meantime, send some Shadow agents to keep an eye on that guy," Andrew added, and as if remembering something he spoke again, "What's the name of this man again?", and Oliver answered, "Barcas and his son is Duruma."

While Andrew and his associates were talking about this, in Candice's office Erick, Vala, Gaston, Canna, Barcas, and Duruma had gathered. They had all only recently arrived and Candice wasted no time, so she started the meeting.

"I gathered you all together because I wanted to inform you that I found the man who will become my husband," she opened the meeting with such a bombshell. Everyone was surprised because they knew Candice was a woman who had refused countless times to have a partner.

Canna was at a loss. She had no idea who it could be. Erick and Vala had a faint idea that it might be Andrew, while Gaston was almost certain it was Andrew, as this conversation came to light after her encounter with him.

Barcas and Duruma, on the other hand, believed that Candice had finally agreed to marry Duruma and was delighted, but this did not reflect on their faces. However, being thick-skinned, Barcas immediately commented, "At last the young lady is willing?".

Barcas' question made everyone in the office furrow their brows because his words had many implications, but no one said anything. As Barcas was about to speak again, Candice interrupted him, "Stop your horses, the man I speak of, is not Duruma."