*Chapter 194: Parading in Public*

Helen shuddered all over.

Did she still have a choice?

No, she had no choice!

Even a speck of dust from battlefield of gods would weigh like a mountain on everyone.

Moreover, as daughter of Zeus, she was destined to suffer a more miserable fate if she fell into hands of Ares' followers, not to mention she had an ex-husband who had hated her for over two thousand years.

When she boarded ship, she had already overheard sailors joking about how current emperor was a cuckold, saying emperor could have chosen any name, yet he insisted on inheriting former emperor's title, calling himself Menelaus 233rd.

Only those of divine lineage like them knew truth: there was no inheritance— it was same damn person from start to end.

Both she and Atreus knew they had no choice but to face this destiny.

At that moment, a massive island appeared on horizon off starboard side.

Atreus and others overheard sailors chatting.

"Yo, Crete Island again."

"Wonder if that Minotaur is still in legendary labyrinth?"

"You mean bull-headed man from Greek mythology?"

"Of course."

"Ha! No monster can survive for thousands of years."

 sailors' banter sounded odd to a certain traveler.

Atreus: I used to dream of being a true lover warrior...

 Aegean Sea was quite small. As a sea in eastern Mediterranean, it stretched about 600 kilometers from north to south and 300 kilometers from east to west. From Paradise Island, trip was just over 100 kilometers, enough for a round trip in a day.

 ship, which they had snuck onto in morning, reached Piraeus Port by evening.

In this world, it was May 1918. Normally, World War I should have been winding down. But this world defied logic. Germany was strongest in Allies, and Greece was second.

 Greek Empire's warfare was peculiar. Despite having far fewer troops, less capable soldiers, inferior weapons, artillery, and warships compared to Russian Empire, they always managed to hold their ground.

On a tactical level, Greek slave soldiers were almost always crushed when facing Russia's "gray beasts." Even regular army couldn't match Tsar's elite forces.

Yet every time Russian army seemed on verge of a strategic breakthrough, a "Gundam" would emerge from Greek side.

This thing, which looked like a WWI tank, could race across rugged North Caucasus terrain at 80 kilometers per hour. Even more absurdly, it could leap over trenches ten meters wide and eight meters deep.

Multiple reports noted that when it leapt, you could glimpse hooves beneath tank's chassis.

Regardless, this speeding tank always managed to break through Russian lines, storm command post, and take out Tsar's generals.

Although Russian Empire in this timeline had reformed and was no longer feudal, landowners still exploited so-called free peasants. When these peasant soldiers saw their commanders fall, they immediately fled.

Greeks would then seize chaos and crush Russian forces, achieving victory after victory.

 two sides engaged in a furious back-and-forth in Romania and North Caucasus. Greeks never invaded Russia's vast territories, only maintaining frontlines.

It wasn't that Russian army wasn't trying hard enough— it's just that Greece had Gundams.

 Tsar, in a frenzy, kept sending spies, sacrificing countless elite operatives in a desperate attempt to uncover secret of Greece's "super tank."

Atreus, however, instantly knew: This wasn't some super tank— it was a chariot dressed as one!

 only question was— who was demigod inside?

Sire! times have changed back!

Arriving at Piraeus Port, Atreus's desire to complain about this Greek Empire grew stronger.

You'd think it wasn’t industrialized, but it was.

 port was filled with steel cranes, and steamships puffing out black smoke came in and out, exuding atmosphere of second industrial revolution in early 20th century.

You'd think it was modern, but it wasn't.

Leaving port, you immediately saw class divisions of ancient Greece:

 roads were divided into two types. One was clearly for upper-class Greek citizens. Although it was paved with asphalt, only Greek-style horse-drawn carriages traveled on it. Even sidewalks were classical Greek avenues, and pedestrians wore traditional Greek clothing. Men wore short cloak-like outer garments (chlamys), and women typically donned peplos, a garment made by folding rectangular fabric and fastening it with pins.

 expensive gold accessories they wore also highlighted their superior status as official citizens.

 other road was for lower classes, who kept city running. It was crowded with all sorts of vehicles: from advanced narrow-wheeled cars with sunshades to ox carts and horse-drawn carts transporting goods. filthy, chaotic streets were even more crowded on sidewalks, where ragged commoners and porters carried bags of goods unloaded from ships into city, under watchful eyes of overseers.

Atreus, using a black mask, bribed a mid-level official at port's immigration office. From that moment on, his identity became that of Count Reinhard von Lohengramm from German Empire.

Ditching his disguise as Kratos, Atreus revealed his true appearance, dyed his hair blonde, and somehow looked part.

Especially after he hypnotized a German major to procure a six-man cavalry escort, Atreus, now impeccably dressed, paraded around with three Greek women.

Among Allies, Germans were considered first-class, and Greeks second.

So, leading veiled Helen and three women dressed in full Greek gowns, Atreus walked boldly through streets, without anyone daring to stop him.

Several guards at checkpoints glanced at them and waved them through.

Thus, they grandly arrived in Athens and checked into a luxurious hotel near Acropolis.

Atreus summoned manager, and after a quick hypnotism, got full scoop.

" Acropolis is an area forbidden to commoners by imperial decree. An entire brigade of Imperial Guard is stationed there. Even Germans would be shot on sight if they approached, as it contains ruins of temple of ancient Greek goddess Athena."

"Any exceptions?"

"Yes! Grand Duke of Bulgaria, Agamemnon 250th, is descended from there. Bulgarian nobles are granted unrestricted access to Mycenaean temple."

After questioning him further, Atreus could only laugh bitterly.

Turns out Earth's history took a detour after 490 BCE, when Athens celebrated its victory over Persian army at Battle of Marathon. Instead of constructing old Parthenon, they cleared Mycenaean ruins and began building a new one.

But in this world, Parthenon never had a chance to shine. Instead, Mycenaean city-state lost its power struggle against Sparta. Menelaus family, favored by Ares, gained control of most of Greece, while Agamemnon family had to migrate north and settle in what is now Bulgaria.

(End of chapter)