Chapter 159: Zeus and Roxana's Meeting

Zeus followed Roxana outside, where they found Lucy standing with Lucas by her side. The two siblings stood close together, taking in their new surroundings with quiet intensity. Roxana's eyes flicked toward Lucas, her curiosity apparent in the way she studied him.

She smirked, a touch of amusement in her tone. "Lucy," Roxana began, her voice light yet authoritative, "why don't you take your brother and get settled? Get familiar with your new home."

Lucy, ever composed, gave a small nod. "Understood," she replied in her usual calm tone, though her eyes carried a trace of suspicion as she glanced between Roxana and Zeus.

Lucas, quieter than his sister, simply nodded along, though his gaze lingered on Roxana for a moment longer. There was something in his eyes, a flicker of wariness mixed with curiosity, as if he sensed an aura about her that intrigued him.

Roxana noticed his stare and raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Something on your mind, Lucas?" she asked, her tone teasing but sharp.

Caught off guard, Lucas quickly averted his eyes. "No... nothing," he muttered softly, following Lucy as they began to walk toward their new home.

Roxana watched them with interest, leaning back slightly as they walked away. "He's an observant one, isn't he?" she mused aloud, half to herself, half to Zeus.

Zeus chuckled, noticing the subtle tension in the air between his younger self and Roxana. "Lucas has always been sharp," he said, keeping his tone casual. "But you seem to know a lot more about us than you let on."

Roxana's eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned to Zeus. "I know enough," she said, her smirk never fading as she watched the siblings disappear into their home. "But there's always more to learn."

Zeus chuckled softly, sensing the playful undertone in her voice. "Always keeping a few cards hidden, huh?" he replied, his tone light but laced with curiosity.

Roxana shrugged, her expression unreadable. "It's more fun that way." She paused, her gaze lingering on Zeus for a moment longer before she spoke again. "For now, though, let's head to my office."

Zeus raised an eyebrow, half-expecting another twist or test. "Your office this time? No secret arenas?"

Roxana laughed, a genuine sound that echoed lightly in the air. "Relax," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "This time, it's the real deal."

Still skeptical, Zeus followed her through the winding paths of her domain. After a few minutes, they arrived at a modest building nestled among the more imposing structures. The simplicity caught Zeus off guard—it wasn't at all what he'd expected from someone like Roxana.

Inside, the space was even more understated. There was a simple table, a few comfortable sofas, and barely any decorations. The air felt relaxed, the tension from their earlier sparring session completely gone.

Roxana gestured toward one of the sofas, a calm smile playing on her lips. "Take a seat."

Zeus hesitated for a second before sinking into the plush cushions, watching as Roxana moved with an easy grace, brewing tea in a small pot by the side of the room. The air filled with the comforting scent of herbs, and Zeus's guard lowered just a little.

After a few moments, Roxana returned, placing two cups of steaming tea on the table. She handed one to Zeus before sitting down across from him, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that hadn't quite left.

She took a slow sip from her cup, her gaze never wavering. "You're really not as simple as you seem, Zeus," she finally said, her tone probing yet conversational. "Care to tell me who you really are?"

Zeus met her gaze without hesitation, his smirk returning as he lifted the cup to his lips. He took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through him, and let out a light sigh. "My identity is... complicated," he said, his voice smooth but guarded. "You don't need to know all the details."

Roxana leaned forward slightly, her eyebrow raised in mild amusement. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice light but layered with curiosity, as if daring Zeus to reveal more.

Zeus's eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief, and his tone became more confident, though still guarded. "One thing is certain," he continued, his gaze locking with hers, his smirk unwavering. "I'm not your enemy."

Roxana set her teacup down gently on the table, the clink of porcelain almost drowned by the sharpness of her next words. "I see," she murmured, her voice thoughtful, yet her gaze had shifted—becoming sharper, more focused. "But... watching you now and seeing that kid Lucas earlier... it's clear to me."

Zeus tensed slightly, his curiosity piqued, but he didn't let it show.

Roxana's eyes narrowed as her lips curled into a sly smile. "It's obvious that both of you—Zeus and Lucas—are nothing more than clones or puppets... whatever you prefer to call them. The real you is somewhere else, isn't it?"

For just a split second, Zeus's smirk faltered, a brief flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Damn, she figured it out..." he thought, unable to hide his shock entirely.

[Oh, look at that! She's sharper than you thought, huh?] the system chimed in, its voice dripping with arrogant amusement. [I tried to warn you, but nooo, Mr. 'I've Got This' didn't want to listen. Tsk, tsk. You've been outplayed.]

Zeus resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the system's smug tone. "Not helping," he shot back mentally. S~eaʀᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Roxana, still studying him, seemed to sense the shift in his demeanor. Her eyes gleamed with a knowing look, as if she was enjoying the slow unraveling of the puzzle before her.

"That's why I can't just treat you as an ally," she continued, her voice smooth but carrying an edge of caution. "Not when I don't know the real person pulling the strings."

Zeus's smirk returned, though slightly subdued. He leaned back, feigning nonchalance. "You're clever, I'll give you that," he said, his tone still carrying a trace of amusement. "But knowing that, what will you do?"

Roxana's smile widened, her eyes never leaving his. "That depends," she said, her voice a mix of intrigue and challenge. "On whether the real you is someone I should trust... or someone I should destroy."

[Ooooh, she's playing hardball now! You better think fast, genius, or she'll have you dancing in the palm of her hand,] the system mocked gleefully, clearly enjoying the tension.

"She's not the only one who can play this game," Zeus thought, his smirk returning fully as he leaned forward to meet Roxana's gaze head-on.