Arthur:
"So this is the Lotus eh?" I muttered to myself as I looked up at the massive hotel.
Massive though was an understatement. The building was easily the largest in all of Vegas, hell it might be bigger than any of the buildings I had seen in New York.
Which was weird considering my vague memories of my past life didn't remember such a building existing in this city. Which either meant that my Earth was truly mundane and didn't have the supernatural or that I was simply seeing it as is because I could now see through the mist.
That didn't matter though. As right now was both the easiest and most crucial part of my entire journey. All I had to do was walk into the hotel to find Percy, swap the bookbags, and then walk out and grab a plane back to New York.
If everything goes as planned then the only danger I would be in was more random Greek or Biblical monsters wanting to gut me.
I sighed, "Murphy, don't fuck me now."
I walked through the gold and marbled glass doors with a nod from the doorman.
For the slightest moment, my mind gained a feeling that I could only describe as a cool numbness. My senses dulled ever so slightly and a little tingle of warmth went up and down my spine in a relaxing manner.
I could only marvel at the massive size of the place from the inside. It truly was a casino, amusement park, arcade, and entertainment district all wrapped into one.
Maybe I would have to plan a vacation here one day.
Honestly had I not been expecting something with my foreknowledge I would have completely missed the subtle change in my body and thoughts. Thankfully not only was I aware of it, but I had just the ability to combat such effects.
!
Mental intrusion blocked.
As fast as it had come over me the feeling receded as my Gamer's Body kicked the mental influence out from my body.
That was pretty close. I had been hedging a bet that my Gamer's Body would protect me from the compulsion the Lotus seemed to put on people. While it didn't specifically say it would protect me from mind attacks, it did say that it would stop curses and keep me at 100% to keep fighting.
Thankfully it seemed to extend to mental attacks as well. Made sense really. I couldn't exactly fight at full capacity if my mind was being affected.
"Excuse me, sir." I said to the man at the reception desk, "Could I get a room for a two-night stay?"
The man's eyes widened as the trademarked customer service smile formed onto his face, "Of course you can, young man."
He handed me a room key and a green plastic card. A smirk slightly etching itself onto his as if he knew a joke I was a part of.
Too bad I was fully aware of this place's fuckery.
"Your room number is room 4002 on the top floor of the building and the card is used for any cash transactions you'll need during your stay. Have a merry day at the Lotus sir!"
I nodded thanks and walked off towards the elevator. My mind still completely reeling from how stupid I was.
I had completely forgotten about the infinite cash card. Possibly the most broken thing that's completely skipped over and never talked about again in the series. Well at least in terms of mortal usefulness.
Which made sense, the scene where it was introduced insinuated that the card was only useful inside the hotel considering it was to be used for games, entertainment, and food in the casino. But everyone seemed to forget that Annebeth had proceeded to use the damn thing to pay for a taxi to California and the mortal card reader had registered this thing as having unlimited money.
This… this just made life so much easier. The mortal part of my life at least. I didn't have to worry about staying at camp year-round or sneaking into the house Richard owned to look for secret caches he might have stored. I could just outright buy it!
Well pending I can get Chiron to step in as my guardian to buy it since I was a minor and hoping that Richard had no other adult family members to claim it first. Which could be a problem. My sisters weren't adults yet, but their mother or mothers definitely might have a claim.
Still wasn't fully aware of how that side of the family worked yet. As either, they had different mothers or Richard's balls contained a worrying amount of hair coloring genes.
Hopefully, it wasn't genetic if that was the case.
Personally, I was happy with the brownish hair I had gotten from Artemis. Silver eyes were a bit much though. I was fine with the blue ones I had previously.
Ding!
I flinched thinking my interface had popped with a notification, only instead it was the elevator opening.
Unfortaly it had me come face to face with three people I had been hoping to hide my presence from.
I probably should work on increasing my luck stat…
!
+1 to Wis!
'Oh fuck off game.' I thought as I came face to face with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.
While Grover certainly wouldn't know me considering I really haven't interacted with him at all, I've had talks with Annabeth and Percy multiple times.
In my head I was already going through the backup plans I'd thought of on the plane ride here about what I'd do if I accidentally encountered them. All the plans involved lying obviously and a few more possibly involved using a Styx Oath if needed.
But there was no need to go extreme right off the bat. Let's see how a simple Hey guys I'm the backup! or Hey, crazy running into you guys here! Small world right? would go.
I opened my mouth to get the first word in, hopefully, so I could set the tone and carry the conversation. Only before I could get a word out they… walked right by me?
I wasn't that forgettable was I? I mean I know I'm not exactly handsome considering how young I am, but come on! Who else had silver freaking eyes?
Noticing the kinda glazed look they had as they passed me I paused. Two things had occurred to me.
One, the lotus mind-influencing thing was affecting them hardcore if Annebeth and Percy didn't recognize me. Second, Percy didn't have the backpack with him.
'Right, I think he throws that thing in the room somewhere when he first gets here.'
Well, that certainly made things easier and harder. I wouldn't have to somehow swap backpacks with him while he had it on him, but now I had to break into their room.
Their probably magically defended room.
Maybe I could use a ledge to climb onto their balcony or somehow pick their door lock to get into their room. But that might set off some kind of alarms and let the staff know someone was doing some shady shit.
Or… perhaps I could play on the fact they didn't recognize me at a glance and that I had never had direct interaction with Grover.
My enhanced eyes quickly began scanning around the massive place until they found a door that said employees only.
A smirk came to my face.
The fact that this was turning into a mini heist was not lost on me.
Stealth mode, don't fail me now.
Olympus:
When Hera flashed into the throne room she had to hold back a sigh as she felt a migraine that had been becoming far too common for her liking coming on.
Had she been expecting her husband and brother to be arguing even more seriously than the previous meeting in light of recent events?
"A SON? YOU DARE BREAK THE OATH AND SIRE A SON!?"
"YOUR DAMN RIGHT. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE DONE SO TWICE ALREADY!"
Yes.
In fact, she was pleasantly surprised that it had not come to blows yet.
Had she been expecting all of the other gods to be arguing with each other almost as loudly?
Yes.
After all, a Son of Poseidon was one thing. Everyone knew her brothers couldn't keep their cocks in their pants. Even with a Styx Oath and a potential world-ending prophecy.
Exciting yes.
But a child of Artemis? The goddess who was infamous throughout all pantheons for her oaths to be a maiden forever? Who happily galavanted around the world with her small army of semi-immortal maidens for thousands of years? Who happily turned any male that came across her camp into animals and had caused quite a few diplomatic incidents with foreign gods who had desired to "tame" the huntress?
Hera giggled softly at the memories of Zeus and Athena having to speak with other pantheons on why some of their male gods would show up mutilated and castrated after trying their luck.
Just that alone would have caused an uproar throughout Olympus.
But the child was a male.
Honestly, Hera was just relieved that Artemis had not committed infanticide or tried to permanently change the child into the opposite sex.
But the fact that the child was male, alive, and claimed by her was more than she had expected.
What wasn't expected however was that both Apollo and Ares were currently in the middle of the throne room fighting? Both were covered with wounds and golden ichor.
Judging by the look of utter rage on Apollo as he attempted to strangle the life out of the gleeful smirk on her son's face, an awfully big nerve had been touched.
A glance at a giggling Aphrodite and a golden faced Artemis all but confirmed that.
"Athena." She spoke with a sigh.
The wisdom goddess gave her a nod. Already knowing despite the question not being asked.
"Ever since most of the council arrived Aphrodite has not stopped talking or squealing about Artemis's current situation."
Hera nodded. That was pretty understandable, Aphrodite had been frustrated with Artemis for millennia over her rejection of love and sex. Anyone could have guessed that once the love goddess had heard the news she would have burst with excitement and tried to annoy Artemis about it.
But that still didn't explain-
As if sensing her question Athena constituted, "While Artemis was doing her best to ignore her as usual, Apollo seemed to be quite irritable today and snapped at Aphrodite to shut up."
The queen of Olympus could sense where this was going.
"Of course this caused Ares to jump in to defend his lover and while in argument your son decided to ask Artemis an inflammatory question to get under her skin."
Hera could almost sense the migraine about to appear, "And what question did my dear son ask?"
"He said and I quote." A light dusting of gold-covered Athena's cheeks as an annoyed scowl appeared on her face, "Hey sweetheart, now that we all know that you can put out, why don't you tell me your favorite position and I can take that fine ass for a spin."
Despite extreme levels of volume in the throne room, the slap of the queen's hand hitting her own face was noticeable.
"He then implied that they could also have a threesome with Aphrodite."
Hera glanced back over at Apollo still trying to strangle Ares.
She needed a vacation from this family.
With an annoyed growl, the Queen of Olympus flared her divine energy.
The throne room suddenly went quiet.
Well with the expectation of Ares and Apollo still wrestling on the floor, but progress was progress. At the very least she now had the attention of her husband.
"My love." She began, "I know you are quite angry right now about our brother breaking his oath, but we already discussed it in the council meeting yesterday. Today's meeting is about your daughter's oath-breaking. So could we perhaps focus on that and calm your sons down?"
Hera was no fool though. She was trying to get this meeting going so she wouldn't have to spend another minute with a growing migraine. It was already known in her mind that nothing was going to come from this half meeting half trial about Artemis.
The facts were all simply just in Artemis's favor. Nothing could truly punish her for breaking her oath.
Her swearing upon the Styx?
The weaker gods could be exiled from their pantheon for a decade or so, with nectar and ambrosia being denied from them along with access to festivals and prayers that worshiped them.
Basically making them into a near mortal and comatose that for the duration of their punishment.
When her husband actually decided to punish them that is.
Her family and the council usually got off extremely lightly comparatively. As were the perks of being the children and grandchildren of Kronos. Their power and domains were simply too important to punish.
As for Zeus or the council punishing her?
Hera couldn't help the little snort that escaped her lips. There almost wasn't a crime that her stepdaughter could do that her husband wouldn't forgive almost immediately.
The sly little bitch had her father wrapped around her little finger. She had always been one of her father's favorite daughters. She was one of if not the most beautiful, and because of her domains and heritage one of the most powerful.
There had been a point where Athena had been Zue's favorite. Her wisdom, beauty, and power endearing her to him.
But after the incident where Athena, Poseidon, and herself had trapped Zeus and made him swear to be a better leader... the relationship had soured somewhat.
Leaving her stepdaughter as the spoiled princess of the family.
Was she perhaps a little pissed off that her own children didn't even crack the top 5 list of her husband's favorite children?
No.
She was completely livid about it.
Was there anything she could do about it?
Also no.
She leaned back in her throat with a sigh. She knew Artemis would get away with this and maybe get a slap on the wrist, her husband already knew and had decided, and judging by the complete look of calm in her eyes as she settled back down into her throne, Artemis knew as well.
Was it so much to ask that her husband act like a proper king for once and actually punish his children when they go out of turn?
"APOLLO AND ARES IF YOU DON'T STOP TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW I WILL BLAST YOU OFF OLYMPUS MYSELF!" Zeus roared from her side now that he had actually stopped arguing with their brother and was paying attention.
Both gods removed their hands from each other immediately, the Sun god giving Ares one last glare before they both dragged themselves back to their thrones.
"Now that we are calmed and collected." Zeus began as he addressed the council fully, "This meeting has been called because our fellow Olympian has broken an oath that she swore to the Styx, herself, and I."
The King of Gods turned his head along with the rest of the council to the offending party.
"What do you have to say about this daughter?"
Before the goddess could utter a word, another god decided to speak instead.
"I vote we fully exonerate Artemis and leave her child alive. Also, mother just told me last night that you were so ugly as a baby that it's no wonder father mistook a rock for you." Poseidon cut in snidely.
'Not even 5 minutes.' Hera thought as she began rubbing her temples.
"HOW DARE YOU! MOTHER ALWAYS SAID I WAS THE CUTEST BABY SHE'D EVER SEEN!"
Within moments chaos erupted around the room as both brothers went back to screaming at each other in an argument, the rest of the gods following suit as she saw Apollo lunge at Ares again.
Making a mental list of places she could possibly hide out for a few weeks of vacation time. The small little smirk of mischief she saw etch itself on Poseidon's face before he had interrupted her husband wouldn't leave her mind.
What was his game?
Arthur:
"Thank you for understanding sir." I humbly said in my most sincere customer service voice, "We truly apologize for giving you the wrong room card. It would have been most awkward had you gone up to the room on your own and be unable to get in."
"No worries my man." Grover waved off in a dazed manner as he turned back to his Hunt the Human Hunter game, "Just glad you guys caught it before it could be a problem. Have a good day."
"You as well sir," I said as I turned around and pocketed my new key card into my stolen uniform.
Easy as pie.
"Good thing he was dazed though. Might have questioned why the hell a kid was dressed as a staff member." I muttered as I took the jacket and bell cap off and tossed them in a nearby trash can.
Part 1 of my mini heist was complete. Now came the easy part of simply walking into their room and grabbing the backpack, walking out, and flying back to New York.
"Excuse me." A faint voice said next to me, "Can you help open this?"
I looked down to my side to see who had stopped me and I almost flinched.
Didn't need my fancy eyes or Observe to know who this kid was. Pale skin, hair seemingly darker than ebony, and bomber jacket were a pretty big give away.
"Sure thing bud," I said while taking the bottled soda he handed me to twist the cap off before handing it back.
"T-thanks!" The young boy said gratefully if not somewhat awkwardly before scurrying away.
A chuckle left my mouth as I proceed to the elevator and began punching in my floor number. Nico was a pretty adorable kid and he was so awkwardly cheerful and excitable when he was first introduced in the books.
It was a shame he'd become so angsty, repressed, and vengeful when he grew older.
Though I guess if the only family member I had left as a 10-year-old was killed after abandoning me, I'd be a little pissed off at the world too.
!
Quest issued!
Quest type: Crossroad
You have the chance to both save and change the lives of two Demigods. Bianca and Nico Di Angelo have been stuck in this hotel by their father to protect them for almost 80 years. But you know what fate awaits them should you let things play out by themselves. So do what you do best defy Fate itself! Again! You have just shy of about 2 years to break them out of the lotus and get them to camp before their daddy comes knocking.
Rewards:
10,000 XP
New System Feature
New System Feature
10 Golden Drachmas
Skill Book
Failure:
The Di Angelo children suffer their cannon fates or possibly worse
Do you wish to accept?
[Yes/No]
Goddammit, another one of these crossroads quests. Couldn't I just get a normal one that didn't try to fuck me over or threatened to have people killed?
I honestly was ready to decline it. Potentially pissing Hades himself off wasn't something I really wanted to do. Not because I was afraid he'd kill me or lock me in his castle's dungeon because for one he couldn't kill me.
And no that wasn't me being arrogant. I was only Lvl 13 after all.
Gods couldn't attack you directly. Ancient laws or as I like to call them, Riordan's laws, dictated that Gods couldn't attack you unless you initiated combat first. Meaning the most he could do was throw curses at me or send monsters.
The curses wouldn't work on me thanks to my Gamer's body and the more monsters he'd send after me the stronger I would grow from their XP.
Trapping me in his castle like he did to Percy?
A simple counter to that was to make sure I was a good friend of Percy. Something I was already in the process of doing.
Why may you ask?
Because he's the protagonist, he's the strongest modern Demigod by a country mile, and he'd burn the fucking world down to save his friends.
If I endeared myself to him as a good friend he'd probably tear the Underworld apart with his bare hands just to save me.
Did that make me kind of an asshole? Yeah probably. But it's not like I was entirely using the kid as an insurance policy. He is pretty cool and goofy when you get past that awkward early teen exterior.
So yeah, I wasn't really afraid of what Hades would do to me physically.
I was more afraid that pissing him off would cause me to not ever be able to gain his favor so I could ask for his blessing one day.
Do you know how absolutely fucking useful just the ability to shadow travel or control ghosts would be? And those were just the basic powers that Nico had as a Demigod. Hazel could control the Earth and it's metals to a degree, while Bianca seemed to be able to use some kind of Hellfire to make unkillable bone zombies explode.
Though… that XP did look pretty juicy. Also, 2 whole new system features sounded rather interesting.
Pinching the bridge of my nose I sighed.
"Fuck it."
I mentally gave the command for the yes button and entered the elevator as the door opened up, this time being completely empty as the doors closed behind me.
I'd have to come up with a plan on how to get them across the country and into the camp safely. As I'm sure Hades would be even more pissed off at me if I let them die.
'That's a problem for another time though.' I thought idly as the elevator signaled I had arrived at my floor
There was no way in hell I was going to take them and the fucking Master Bolt with me at the same time on an airplane.
Two powerful children of the Big Three, the King of Gods' weapon, and a child of Artemis all going through an airport with my luck? And then being stuck in a small metal tube together?
That was just asking for us to get fucking attacked.
The quest said I had about 2 years before they were taken by the Fury's to the boarding school, plenty of time to return this bolt, train myself up a bit more, and come up with a plan.
I stepped out of the elevator and almost immediately found the door I was looking for.
Room 4001
Taking my new key card and swiping it rewarded me with an immediate green light on the handle and the sounds of locks clicking open.
Excellent.
Pushing the door open and stepping into the room I gave a low whistle. These rooms were pretty damn impressive.
Separate bedrooms, fully loaded bars, hot tub and skeet shooter on the balcony, and at least a 70" flatscreen in the main room?
Hot damn. Maybe I really would have to come here on vacation one day. Not like I would be affected by the mental effects to stay here for decades.
And any date I brought would probably be thoroughly impressed at me booking a hotel like this.
But now where was that backpack?
Looking around I didn't see it on any of the beds or in the rooms. And I was 100% sure Percy didn't have it on him downstairs.
A speck of blue caught the corner of my vision in the room's trash can.
That's right. Percy yeeted that thing in there once he got to the hotel because he figured he didn't need it anymore.
Yet he had it when he got to the underworld? That was how it was revealed that it had the Master Bolt inside of it.
'Either it's keyed to Percy to return to him like his sword is or Ares was keeping a watch and teleported it back to his shoulder when the three of them busted out of this place...' I thought with a shiver at that last part.
I really hoped it was the former. Because if it was the latter then I was about the have a pissed off war god come after for taking this.
Which shouldn't be a problem if I timed this exactly right. Poseidon had told me there was a council meeting today. So Ares should be distracted or at the very least stuck for a long while.
According to my current favorite great uncle, these meetings could range anywhere from half the day to multiple days at a time. Depending on how much arguing and fighting was going on.
And apparently, on their agenda today was the existence of little old me.
Joy.
Poseidon promised he would really amp up tensions and argue with Zeus as much as he could to delay the start of the meeting to give me as much time as possible.
I could fully understand why Poseidon was considered the nicest and most chill of the Olympians in modern times.
Grabbing the backpack with the bold I opened my inventory and slung it inside. That should theoretically stop any teleporting or monsters from detecting that I had the damn thing.
Now it was time to get out of here. I had a plane to catch.
But first.
"Stats." I ordered.
Arthur Winchester, Lvl: 13
Title: None
[HP] - 2000/2000
[MP] -1000/1000
[STR] - 35
[VIT] - 20
[PER] - 25 (40%) = 30
[DEX] - 36
[INT] - 20
[WIS] - 8
[LUK] - 7
Points - 30
Without another word, I added 5 points into luck and 2 more into wisdom.
Heist complete.
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