greek gods in new york

36

A good family gathering, the atmosphere has become extremely weird.

At least, I sat face to face with Pandora at the dining table, with a particularly unified expression, that is, unhappy.

Looking at each other, the two of us turned our heads to look at the fifth person at the table.

Zeus is still the same as the rich old man: handsome under the white hair, expensive suit is clean and fit, even if he is hungry, his chest sticks to his back, when my dad brings the stew to the table, he eats well polite.

It's as if he's not joining a family dinner, but dining with VIPs in an upscale restaurant.

As for my dad?

My dad seemed to realize that Zeus would not be a monster today, so he didn't drive his own dad out of the house, but accepted him silently.

Pandora and I sighed speechlessly.

"It is not good."

Probably seeing that the two of us were unhappy, another elder at the dining table comforted us with kind words: "Everyone sit at the same table and eat, it's nothing."

It was Hephaestus who spoke.

If it weren't for him, Pandora and I would definitely bite Zeus in a small way.

It was Hephaestus who coaxed and persuaded us, and finally persuaded us by calling the police to delay the meal, wasting my dad's preparations, and not worth it for Zeus.

The Greek God of Vulcan is as good as I thought he was.

Describing Hephaestus as ugly is a euphemism. As the legend says, Hephaestus looks very sorry and a little lame.Even if it was an expensive formal suit, it didn't set off the extravagance and handsomeness. Instead, it was like forcing a suit on a beggar, which felt a bit out of place.

But Hephaestus is not offensive.

On the contrary, Hephaestus looks more like a normal human being than a few Greek gods who do not take the usual path.

He has a kind and easy-going temperament, which makes people willing to listen to his opinions and talk to him.

Dad can't socialize, so the task of communication at the dinner table is transferred to me.

Fortunately, Hephaestus seems to have a good temper, so there should be no pressure to chat with him.

I ignored Zeus, who was trying to interject, and asked curiously, "What are you doing now, Hephaestus?"

The formal suit on his body is not custom-made, but the price is still high.

Pandora spoke faster than Hephaestus, and said directly: "The rocket maker."

Me: "What?"

Hephaestus smiled proudly upon hearing this.

"Before the 80s, I was still a blacksmith," Hephaestus replied patiently, "It's just that it was not easy to do it in an era when the production line was so developed. Around the 80s, I watched a lot of science fiction movies with Pandora, and I had some doubts about the contents. I got a lot of interest, so I went to study aerospace engineering.”

Pandora added: "Then Hephaestus was accepted by NASA and has worked until now."

I:"……"

No wonder you've been in the Midwest before!

An aerospace engineer who has also worked for NASA for decades.

How exaggerated is this qualifications? !

And I thought it was interesting, so I took the engineer test. How should I put it, I really deserve to be the god of craftsmen.

Building rockets can be regarded as a concrete embodiment of craftsmanship in the 21st century!

I figured it out. In Greek mythology, the division of labor among the gods is clear, and often one god undertakes several responsibilities.Everyone has their own abilities and specialties, and they won't suffer much in modern times.

Only my dad, who is nothing but God of War.

He is also a villain god of war who represents violence, killing, and unjust war.

"I'm not at NASA anymore," Hephaestus said with a good temper. "When I came to New York, I found a job as an engineer in another company."

With experience in NASA and working for so long, it is estimated that Hephaestus' salary in New York is not low.

"I'm glad Pandora made friends."

Seeing my friendly attitude, Hephaestus relaxed a lot, and took the initiative to laugh: "The special new friend is you, Nicole. She can settle down in Changjie Middle School, don't have conflicts with classmates, don't have problems every day, That's great."

Me: "Huh? Pandora still has conflicts with classmates?"

It's really hard to imagine!

Among other things, just her killer outfit...

Because Pandora's colorful hair and smoky makeup are too intimidating, since she came, even Catherine's chances of finding fault have become smaller.

Besides, Pandora looks rebellious, but she actually has a very good personality.

She is very loyal and willing to work as a team.Because Loki often skipped training camps, she also talked to him.

Usually, as friends, although there are expectations of me and Meryl-like the homecoming dance, Pandora will not force us to act.

Have your own opinion, but respect mine too.

It's hard to find a friend like this with a lantern, okay?

After Pandora came to New York, her position in my heart rose rapidly, and now she is only below Meryl.

"Pandora is nice," I said honestly, "everyone on the race team likes her."

Hephaestus shook his head helplessly: "Her former classmates don't think so."

Pandora rolled her eyes unceremoniously: "That's why they don't deserve it."

Ok.

Thinking about it, it is also true that with Pandora's character of saying something, it is estimated that there will be no less conflicts.

Hephaestus couldn't help laughing.

My dad brought up the last mixed salad and put it on the table, not forgetting to push in Hephaestus' direction.

This flattered Vulcan.

Back then, the relationship between the two of them was not so good that my dad cared about what his own brother ate.

"Thank you... thank you."

Hephaestus nodded hastily.

He couldn't help but stared at my dad for a moment, then turned his eyes to me again.

"I didn't expect Ares' life to be like this," Vulcan sighed, "Nicole, he taught you very well."

"..."

I understand what Hephaestus means.

Ares' daughter turned out to be an ordinary person who can go to school, communicate normally, and doesn't shout or kill.

In the age of theocracy, this is really hard to imagine.

Hearing this, my dad still didn't respond.

He just quietly watched Hephaestus put some vegetables on his dinner plate, and then suddenly asked, "How is she doing?"

I:!

Pandora:!

We both tensed up at the same time.

To know the "she" in my dad's mouth...

Naturally, it was the old lover Aphrodite.

Fortunately, Hephaestus seems to have let go of past grievances long ago.

"She is very popular in New York," Vulcan replied, "but we have been divorced for many years and we don't communicate often. Hasn't she contacted you?"

Aphrodite seems to have only met me once.

I don't know if it's because she's very busy now, or because she doesn't want to recall the past. After all these years, if Pandora hadn't come to New York, I wouldn't have known that Beauty God is today's fashion devil.

My dad didn't seem to care what Hephaestus answered.

He just laughed, then stretched out his big hand and touched my head: "I'm doing well now."

After finishing speaking, my dad turned around and went back to the kitchen to get the chicken in the oven.

He didn't expect nor respond to Hephaestus' words at all.

There was a moment of silence at the table.

"Nicole."

In the end, Hephaestus broke the silence: "Is there no possibility of Ares recovering? Although he is not so angry now, but..."

I know what the unfinished words behind Vulcan are.

The old gods decided that my dad had lost his soul to become like this.

So, Ares who has lost his soul, is he still a complete Ares?

Until this time, Zeus, who had been busy eating, finally had his stomach full.

He put down the spoon slowly, and took out a delicate handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his mouth.

"About half a year ago, I said that Ares has the possibility of soul recovery," he said, "Nicole, guess why?"

I just turned to look at Zeus.

The latter probably found the opportunity to speak, with a dignified expression, and went straight to the point.

"Now you also know that before the Outer God finds an entity that can walk freely in this world, He is only a mass of energy at best," Zeus said, "Since it is energy, it can be collected. The energy of the gods, naturally Has the potential to create souls."

"Nicole, Ares conceived you at the cost of losing your soul. It's hard not to let people think that the reason you were born was that he gave you his soul. Now as long as we defeat the Outer God and collect all of his energy, Maybe it can reshape the soul of Ares."

After speaking, Zeus spread his hands.

"But if the energy is taken by the new god, Ares will have no possibility of recovery."

Gather energy...

I can't help but think of BB still on the bookshelf in my bedroom.

"So, believe me or not," Zeus said earnestly, "If you have the opportunity to come into contact with the energy of the Outer Gods, you must collect it yourself and keep it for yourself. This is for your father's benefit!"

is it?

I don't think it's that simple.

Among other things, whether it is a new god or an old god, you don't even know what "that thing" is, and you start to compete for resources and think about how to use it?

It is said that human beings are greedy, but I don't think the gods are any better.

and--

"Zeus."

I took a deep breath.

Just between words, my dad brought the grilled chicken to the table.

Alluring aromas floated around, but no one touched a knife and fork on the table.

If the power of the Outer God can really bring my dad back to normal, I will do everything in my power to get it.

but……

"Don't talk big, don't throw the bait," I said, "just give me the tempting result, which doesn't attract me at all now. In my heart, you are no better than the snake in Christianity."

Zeus looked particularly hurt: "This is the image of me in your heart?!"

I responded calmly: "It's actually very easy for you to want me to believe you."

Zeus, who was sitting at the dining table, had a meal.

"First of all, you have to be honest. Up to now, you have concealed many clues and facts."

I speak.

"You must know more about the Lazarus Project. What do you know?"

37

Although I'm only 16 years old, I can't live as long as these old gods and have scheming.

But I'm no fool either.

Up to now, I have encountered "that thing" several times, and based on the clues at hand, I have vaguely realized what it is.

My father, Ares the God of War, paid a heavy price for my birth, and the price was his soul.

Not long ago, Loki had determined that I was indeed a god and not a human being, and that I was the only one keenly aware of "the thing" when it didn't have a physical body.

Even if I'm a fool, I can realize the problem, okay!

My being born must have something to do with "that thing".

That is to do with the beginning of it all, the Lazarus Project.

That's what Loki wanted to say but didn't say on the night of the homecoming dance.

Zeus absolutely, absolutely knew.

Otherwise, how could he come to the door?There must be a reason for saying that it is up to me, right?

It was hard not to, and the reason was that he probably knew what the Lazarus Project was all about.

I threw the truth-telling request on the table, and in an instant, the restaurant was silent.

My dad still had that dull look, immersed in his own world, without expressing any opinions.

And Pandora and Hephaestus are completely on my side, looking at Zeus like me, waiting quietly for his response.

"If I say now..."

Zeus still wanted to confuse the past, he wore a very decent smile, as if teasing a child: "That's not without surprises——"

Pandora interrupted angrily: "Zeus!"

I had no expression on my face: "If you continue to be perfunctory, I will call the police and say that you have broken into a private house."

Just like the trick that Pandora used before, Zeus couldn't produce legal proof anyway to prove that he and my dad were related by blood.

"well."

Hearing this, Zeus immediately surrendered.

The old handsome guy gave in helplessly and leaned back on the chair.

"Honestly, I knew something like this would happen today," he said with his right hand in his suit pocket, "so I was prepared."

Then Zeus took some carefully folded copies of paper from his pocket.

He pushed the copy paper towards me: "Look for yourself."

I took the copy paper, unfolded it and laid it flat.

What appeared before my eyes was a photocopy of an old report.

There are only a few pages, but the content is clear.From the densely printed fonts, I quickly came to a conclusion.

This is a copy of the report from Project Lazarus.

and--

Halfway through, my eyes widened.

"Project Lazarus," I looked up in disbelief, "failed?"

Zeus was waiting for me with this expression.

He was leaning on the chair with a dignified and majestic expression, and a solemn expression on his wrinkled face under the gray hair.

"To be precise, there was an accident."

The All-Father corrected me in a low voice: "And the plan was aborted."

I looked down at the copy paper in my hand again.

"During this period, I went to the U.S.-Mexico border, Nicole," Zeus said, "and found the project base of the Lazarus Project back then. The huge base has long been sealed, and there are very few local files left. It was not operated properly, and there was an accident 17 years ago, which caused a lot of casualties.”

"But……"

But where did I come from if the plan was aborted?

"I looked through the local police records. The only survivors are Ares and your godfather Fernando. As I thought, the specific project materials are sealed in the archives of the colleges and universities that participated in the Lazarus project, and only a few people can read them." .”

Having said that, Zeus stopped talking.

His keen eyes flicked around my eyes, obviously watching my emotions.

Seeing that I didn't speak, Zeus continued: "Nicole, you thought I knew but concealed it. You came to interrogate me, but you interrogated the wrong person. The one who really knew but concealed it from you is your godfather, and he concealed it for a whole year. 16 years."

I curl my fingers resting on the table.

"Why didn't you say that?" I asked.

"That's what you said," Zeus couldn't help but laugh, "Which one would you believe, the godfather who took care of you since childhood or me? Why should I sow discord?"

Zeus was changing the subject.

I asked him what he knew, and he told me that Fernando knew.

Zeus still didn't answer my question, he just shifted the contradiction to Fernando.

But I know he's right.

Rocky is also wary of Fernando, I can sense it.

Maybe he really knows something.But even if Fernando really knew everything but chose to hide it from me, I believe he was doing it for my own good.

These old gods who popped up suddenly, and the godfather who has been taking care of me and accompanying me to grow up, of course I choose to believe in the latter.

If Fernando wanted to harm me, he could leave me and my dad alone. Anyway, it would not be convenient for a fool to take a child anywhere.He had a chance for a full 16 years.

As for hiding...

Zeus has hidden things, Loki has hidden things, and I can accept that Fernando has hidden things from me.

"Then you went to the project base," I asked, "what did you find out? Even if the files are sealed up, there will always be some clues."

"of course."

Zeus nodded: "The last piece of paper."

I pulled out the bottom piece of paper in my hand.

Familiar photos came into view, and I instinctively stopped breathing.

"There are only so many files I can find, but I have given a lot of surprises," Zeus said, "Nicole, do you understand now?"

The final copy paper is an archive.

Not staff, but archives of experimental projects.

And the one-inch photo on the file is the one I am most familiar with, the photo of my mother placed in the living room.

"Sarah Hawke, your mother," Zeus whispered, "is not a human being, but an 'outer god' determined by Lazarus' plan to find a way to connect with the present world."

His words fell to the ground, and there was a dead silence in the room.

"I don't know why Ares succeeded, and I don't know if your mother has human consciousness."

Zeus said, "But Nicole, that's why I came to you."

I just feel chills in my heart.

I don’t want my father and mother to give birth to me, whether my mother is a human being or something else, just to find the “thing” that is linked to reality...

Loki said that only I could perceive the energy of "that thing".

If Zeus' investigation is true, it will solve my doubts.

And, He does look for a connection to reality.

I could feel, I could even feel that He was trying to talk to me, but I couldn't understand what the "thing" was saying.

"About that."

Zeus said again: "Shouldn't you ask Fernando what's going on?"

indeed.

If you don't ask about the Lazarus Project, you should ask about my mother.

I have to admit that Zeus's move to divert the conflict was very successful.

Anyway... I have to talk to Fernando.

…………

……

This idea remained in my mind until the quiz rematch began.

As long as we win the opponent again, we can stand out in the New York sub-division and become one of the four teams to enter the finals.

Therefore, on the day of the rematch, many of our relatives and friends came.

Not only Zeus, Benji and others who paid attention to this matter, but also my dad and Fernando.

Even Dionysus, who is always drunk when he doesn't care about world affairs, is rarely sober and present. Even the Stove Lord in Chinatown, wearing a white jacket, appears on the field as if he just stopped by in the morning.

A group of old gods mingled among the parents of Changjie Middle School, which felt strange and funny.

"There are so many people here," Meryl sighed, "Nicole, you and Maggie have so many relatives."

Like the Greek gods, and other old gods, Meryl naturally classified them as "relatives".

In fact, the only people she knew were my dad and my godfather.

Compared with other old gods who were either glamorous or dressed in strange clothes, my dad and Fernando, two middle-aged bachelors, looked like standard parents of high school students.

I walked forward and my dad patted me on the shoulder.

Even on such an occasion, he just tidied up his loose shirt and looked extraordinarily casual.

"Come on," he said, "you can do it."

"Thank you dad."

Saying that, I turned my head to look at Fernando.

I haven't seen him since the homecoming dance.

Fernando seemed to have just returned to New York, looking dusty.

He was wearing a cool jacket over a plaid shirt and sunglasses.Meeting my gaze, Fernando took off his sunglasses and chose to look directly at me: "What's wrong, Nicole?"

I took a deep breath: "I want to talk to you."

Fernando tilted his head.

Under his thick and thick hair, a pair of seemingly tired eyes shot out a sharp line of sight.Fernando's scrutiny has never been calm, I thought he would be silent, but my godfather just nodded: "Okay."

Then, he also reached out and patted my shoulder.

"But not now," Fernando said. "You have to participate in the quiz competition, chica. When you get the promotion qualification, I invite you to dinner and talk alone, how about it?"

"It's a word."

"Go."

Fernando grinned and gave me an encouraging smile.

He urged me gently in his baritone voice: "Don't keep your partner waiting."

With his promise, I feel much relieved.

As for my partner...

I searched around, but couldn't find anyone other than Meryl.

After pushing and shoving in the crowd for a long time, they finally found them at the other end of the parent support group——

Hermes took the lead, followed by Loki and Pandora, one by two squeezed in front of the Stove Lord.

Pandora: "Grandpa, touch me!"

Rocky: "Grandpa, touch me first!"

Hermes yelled and organized everyone: "Come one by one, don't rush, let Grandpa Stove pat your head in turn!"

Meryl:?

I:"……"

Can you make some progress? ! !Even Rocky called him Grandpa!Does Odin know that he is two generations shorter out of thin air?