In the end, the Queen of Hades took Erica aboard the ship as she wished -
At the cost of three gold coins.
Persephone sat on the other side of the ship, clasped her hands together, and apologized to Erica repeatedly:
"I'm very sorry. I stayed in the garden for too long and I really don't have that many gold coins."
Erica just smiled gently, sat on the opposite side of the boat and shook her head to show her understanding, while remaining silent.
After all, these three gold coins also came from Professor Victor.
Hmm...I hope the professor won't blame me.
Seeing Erica's silent look, the Queen of Hades took the initiative and said to Erica:
"Little girl, you have my golden branch, so you can speak on this boat."
After hearing this, Erica lowered her head and looked at the golden branch in her hand, but then she raised her head and shook her head at the Queen of Hades.
With a polite smile, she chose silence.
Nowadays, she feels more and more that this queen of the underworld is unreliable.
Even taking a boat requires her to pay for the gold coins.
So she decided to remain silent on the ship just to be sure.
Anyway, if you don't speak, you can definitely guarantee absolute safety.
On the opposite side, Persephone was sitting in the corner of the boat, with her hands folded around her knees, muttering slightly aggrievedly:
"Obviously when I went back before, I only received one gold coin..."
You will still be charged gold coins for co-authorship.
Erica was even more speechless now.
She glanced at the Underworld Queen helplessly, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
But soon, Erica turned her head and her eyes fell on the skeleton boatman wearing a robe full of gold coins.
There are all kinds of gold coins on it, many of which Erica has never even seen before.
There were several bulging bags around its robe, which seemed to be filled with gold coins as well.
The boatman just kept paddling mechanically and had no other reaction.
This made Erica very curious.
It doesn't matter if it doesn't even give the Queen of Hades face, who is this boatman?
Is it more powerful than the Queen of Hades?
Just then, Victor's voice echoed in her mind.
"Because it's the 'rule' of the underworld."
"Whoever wants to cross the river, living or dead, god or king, must pay gold to Charon."
"Even Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, has to pay Charon if he wants to cross the river."
Although Hades wants to appear in any corner of the underworld, all he needs is a thought.
Even the River Styx cannot sink him, after all, he is the king of the underworld.
So Hades didn't need to take a boat at all.
But if he chose to take the boat, he would have to pay Charon.
Because that's the 'rule'.
After hearing Victor's explanation, Erica nodded in understanding.
Now, she became curious about another behavior.
Charon's fees.
When I arrived, I would only receive two gold coins, but when I was about to go to Hades, I suddenly received three gold coins.
Is it because there is an extra Hades Queen on board?
“Charon charges based on the number of items on board.”
As if she saw Erica's doubts, the Queen of Hades narrowed her eyes and responded with a smile and deep meaning:
"Each passenger, living or dead, is required to pay one gold coin."
Erica was stunned for a moment, then frowned.
its not right?
According to this logic, they should have paid three gold coins from the beginning.
Erica counted the number of people here.
Whether it is Professor Victor, the crow god on her shoulder, or herself, there should be three.
Could it be that one of them was not discovered by the boatman?
"Who knows?"
The Queen's smile deepened a little, and her eyes gradually opened a slit, looking at the crow on Erica's shoulder.
Then the ship fell silent again.
This time, the boat traveled farther and slower, seeming to be heading deeper into the river.
Erica could feel the crazy changes in the scenery around her.
As the river sinks, the sky gradually changes from blue to darkness covered by faint ink marks.
Soon, the green sky disappeared and was replaced by a lava sky as red as blood.
Both sides of the River Styx also turned into surging scorched earth and lava.
Here, there are countless terrifying monsters composed of skeletons and dead souls.
The surging lava intersected between the monsters and divided the earth.
The lava on both sides flows through the scorched earth, and finally slides into the silent River Styx.
However, the moment it touched the Styx, the lava turned into pale smoke, rising into the sky and quickly dissipating.
Soon, the hull of the ship slowly crossed the Styx River in the center of the scorched earth of lava, and continued to move towards the deeper levels of the underworld.
The transparent hull traveled on the quiet river, and the surrounding scenery was once again shrouded in a layer of smoke.
The surrounding buildings and monsters gradually blurred, and even the surging lava solidified in the air.
Soon, the surrounding scene seemed to be covered by ripples, transforming into a solemn and mysterious architectural hall.
Surprisingly, this seemingly endless river seems to pass through this architectural world and continues forward.
Erica raised her head and widened her eyes, her pupils sparkling with wonder.
Everything in front of you seems to be made of a unique rock and shining gold, with some crystal clear green ore mixed in.
Erica was shocked by the countless exquisite and complex buildings.
Although she didn't know where this place was, this building gave her a very strong sense of majesty.
The hull of the boat crossing the River Styx gradually slowed down, and under Charon's control, the transparent boat finally gradually docked.
The surrounding strange buildings are surrounded by the soft light emitted by the fluorite green ore, making them appear mysterious and unpredictable.
Erica got off the boat and took a deep breath.
But as soon as she raised her head, the sight in front of her stunned her.
In front of you is an endless bridge.
Neat street lamps were lined up on both sides of the bridge, each lamp burning with hellish flames.
Behind the bridge is a terrifying palace wrapped in orange flames.
At the end of the bridge is a magnificent palace surrounded by orange flames.
The palace is made of crimson rock and gold, with orange light shimmering from the surrounding windows.
In the center of the palace is a huge open door.
Hazy orange smoke leaked from the door, almost filling the space in front of the bridge.
Erica was staring at all this when she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.
She was stunned for a moment, turned around suddenly, and saw Charon waving to her with his mechanical movements.
Erica was slightly startled and quickly handed the golden branch to Charon.
Charon gripped the golden bough tightly and retracted its robe.
Then it paddled and left the area.
And looking at Charon's retreating back, an idea suddenly flashed in Erica's mind.
What Professor Victor said is indeed correct.
Holding the golden branch, the boatman will definitely take her to Hades.
As Charon left, she vaguely heard the sound of gold coins clanging on his body.
She didn’t know if it was because of Professor Victor’s confidence and arrogance that influenced her.
Erica was actually a little curious about whether she could take away all the gold coins from Charon if she had the chance.
Such thoughts echoed in her mind all the time. Erica shook her head and decided not to think about this issue for now.
When you see Charon next time, if you have the chance, explode all its gold coins!
At this time, she turned back and looked at the huge and magnificent building in front of her.
There should be the palace of Hades.
In other words, the Lord of the Underworld is within it.
Thinking of the coercive Hades, Erica couldn't help but feel a sense of fear in her heart.
The terrifying power she had witnessed in the upper levels of hell was still fresh in her memory.
So, is she going to meet the Lord of the Underworld head-on again?
Thinking of this, Erica took a deep breath and her eyes gradually became firm.
She kept encouraging herself in her heart.
They have arrived in front of the palace of the underworld, and it is impossible to turn back now.
Just as Erica took steps towards the palace.
As a result, Persephone from behind called her.
"Hey, don't rush there yet."
Erica heard the sound and turned her head to see Persephone standing there with a smile on her face.
"Hades will be coming to us soon."
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, the ground around the two of them suddenly erupted with a strong momentum.
A deep black mist appeared out of thin air.
In an instant, orange flames rose from the ground like a giant dragon, tightly wrapping the entire black mist vortex.
Erica stared at this scene with her mouth open, shocked by the flames that were as tall as two people.
The scorching flames were so close that she felt her face being attacked by heat waves.
The whole person stood frozen in place, unable to move.
At the same time, a powerful and flaming voice boomed around, with some strong anger in the voice:
"Damn humans."
"I didn't bother you, but you dare to come to me?"
The next moment, the black smoke finally subsided, and a familiar figure walked out.
Pluto, wearing a crimson cloak and holding a gold-headed spear, walked forward slowly.
"Be prepared to be punished..."
Before he finished speaking, Hades suddenly opened his eyes wide, and the original fire in his pupils seemed to be extinguished in an instant.
"……?"
Because he saw Persephone standing next to Erica.
He was stunned for a moment, lowered his head, looked at his familiar wife with disbelief in his eyes, and asked softly:
"……Honey?"
"Why, you haven't seen me this season, are you not used to it?"
Persephone put her hands on her hips, looking triumphant.
Hades waved his hand quickly and said in a panic:
"No, no, no, no..."
"I'm just curious as to why you came back at this time..."
Persephone cleared her throat and was about to speak.
"Of course...yeah!"
But the next second, she exclaimed, interrupting what she had just said.
Because 'Erica' had already stretched out her hand and took the initiative to hug Persephone's waist.
Seeing the scene in front of him, Hades' eyes were stunned for a moment.
As if he couldn't believe it, he looked at Erica blankly, and almost hugged Persephone into her arms.
Under his stunned gaze, the other party did not panic. Instead, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said in a light and cold voice:
"Of course, with my help, Lord Pluto."
There was a hint of joking in Erica's voice, as if challenging Hades's authority:
"Are you satisfied?"
