Published at 17th of February 2023 9:26 pm

Chapter 431: Bezios

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Bishop Bezios.

He was already born in a rich family– but it was not until he took the reins of his family's wealth did they truly become a personage that could no longer be ignored by the people. A percent of the artificial planets inside one of the Vessels belonged to him. No, perhaps it was better to say that he was on his way to actually buy the entire Vessel he was currently in– that is how wealthy he was and is.

He had the influence, he had the money. The only thing preventing him from actually doing so were the Pontiffs, who were in a way, their Overlords. No matter how much money or influence Bishop Bezios have or will still have in the future; with just one word from one of the Pontiffs, it could all go away.

"...So you're telling me all the power you have is just a child's toy?"

"What? No! I could still move entire planets with just a single wave of my hand if I wanted to do so!"

"..."

"As… as long as I don't get the Pontiffs' attention."

"Right. And trying to move an entire planet is not enough to get their attention?"

"N… no. Not really."

Judging from everything he had learned so far, the Pontiffs were the supreme leaders of the Systellions. But moving an entire planet inside the Vessel was not enough to get their attention? No wonder Van's antics outside when he fought with Apollo were completely unnoticed.

"Honey, why are you telling him everything!?"

"Do you think we actually have a choice!?"

"..."

Van was currently inside Bishop Bezios's car along with Maria and Bishop Bezios himself. They were on their way to meet with another Bishop that Bezios already had a prior meeting with… Bishop Bezios was supposed to be the owner of the car; but if one were to see them from the tinted windows, then one would think Bezios and his wife were just Van's assistants.

Their driver thought something was weird as well, but it wasn't really his concern so he just raised the blinders to block him from the rich folks. This was his first time actually seeing Bezios's son… but to think Bezios doted on his son too much that it was enough to make him look like a servant– truly, the rich are weird.

As for Van, he was still weirded out why the cars aren't flying. He had seen the transparent personal aircrafts entering and leaving the planet he was in right now; but now that he was in the city, there were only regular cars, similar to what Sarah and the Africans had back in the… old world.

Was this their choice… or a law they have to follow?

"..." Right, he didn't have to guess.

"Why are we not flying using your flying vehicle?" Van lightly tapped Bishop Bezios's leg, causing him to slightly flinch as moved from his seat, almost pinning his wife, Maria, on the door.

"It… it's not allowed," Bezios stuttered; his leg slightly hurt from Van tapping it lightly.

"I thought you were the richest man in this place?" Van furrowed his eyebrows as he looked Bezios in the eyes, "Can't you just do it?"

"...That's not how money works," Bezios let out a small sigh as he returned to his previous position, allowing his wife to finally breathe, "And I do not own this sector… this planet yet. And even if I did, planets which allow flying cars have 400% more accidents than those that do not."

"...I see," Van could only squint his eyes from Bezios's words, "That–"

And before he could finish whatever it was he was going to say, a light once again beeped on his arm– an indicator that someone was calling him.

"What is it?" Van then said as he tapped the button, quickly showing a hologram of Athena's face.

[I freed Apollo,] and without even hesitating, Athena answered.

"...Are you sure about that?"

[Yes. He has direct intel of what is happening inside. He would be able to help us.]

"Are you sure he is not our enemy? You even brought Dionysus."

[Even if Apollo is the way he is, he is one of the smarter Olympians,] Athena let out a small chuckle as she seemed to be looking at someone,

[He knows what choice to make.]

"..." Van did not say anything and just stared at Athena's face. But after a few seconds, he let out a small but deep sigh and nodded, "Okay, I will let you handle that side. Coordinate with the one called Pauline Serre since she seems to be the… champion there."

[I've met with the one that looks like your sister… Sarah did too.]

"...How did miss Sarah take it?"

[She didn't. She's hiding inside Solomon right now,] Athena's sighs almost seeped from the speakers, [...And what are you still doing with that world eater?]

"I'm trying to learn something from them," Van said as he glanced at Bishop Bezios and his wife.

[And have you learned anything?]

"...Yes."

Van then told everything he had learned so far. The lack of security; their movements that were limited by the Pontiffs; their overall disregard for anyone that was outside the Vessel and the Ark. Of course, most of these Athena already knew from Apollo. However, hearing it from Van that they did not even send any form of soldier or guard as he rampaged outside the Vessel… just what kind of enemy are they truly facing here?

[An arrogant species,] Athena then let out a small breath as she shook her head, [It reminds me of the Olympians… and like us, that will be their downfall.]

"..."

[I'll call again later, please be careful.]

And with Athena's hologram disappearing, Van could only let out a small sigh as he leaned back to his seat to just rest; seeing as how their travel would probably take a few more hours. It's been a while since he last just let his body be moved like this– after all, aside from the ships from Vivati's planet, there wasn't anything faster than him.

"You have captured… Apollo?"

But alas, it would seem that he would not get any break as Bezios's voice whispered to his ears.

"...Yeah," Van said as he opened his eyes, "He's famous here, right?"

"They are basically celebrities!" Bezios said, the excited tone in his voice almost not proper for someone his age, "They are beings who have lived for hundreds of thousands of years; just thinking that someone like that is living amongst us… makes you wonder the stories they have."

"...Aren't Pontiffs also thousands of years old?"

"No," Bezios let out a small scoff as he squinted his eyes,

"2 of them are even younger than me."

"...What?" Van blinked a couple of times in disbelief as he heard Bezios's words, "How many of them are there again?"

"Eremiel, Irin, and Tartys," Bezios nodded, "There's only 3 of them and Pontiff Tartys is the only one older than me."

"...And how old are you?"

"58."

"...And 2 of them are younger than you?" Van once again blinked, "What's the average life expectancy here?"

"I don't have a clue," Bezios muttered, "70?"

"No one is a hundred years old here?"

"Pft, no," Bezios laughed as he crossed his legs; his tone getting a little friendlier by the second, "Maybe those guys in the Balian sector, but they're just silly old fools that refuse to hold any form of technology."

"...Then how are the Pontiffs so powerful?"

"They drink from the Holy Grail," Bezios nodded with confidence, "It contains…

…all the power of those who came before them."

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