339 Grass is Greener on the Other Side (1/2)
When Zero returned, the wedding ceremony was over and the feast was in full swing. Some of the archangels weren't present and had left for official duties. Zero didn't really mind. After all, there was only one real archangel in charge of running Heaven's operations that he needed to talk to.
\”Oh, Zero! You're here. Have you eaten?\” Gabriel asked and Zero shook his head. The archangel laughed.
\”I guessed as much,\” he said and dragged the teen over to the long table of feasts. \”Here, the chefs reserved this for you. We can talk after you've eaten your fill, Michael's orders.\”
Zero beamed at the sight of food and completely forgot his manners until Medusa came around to greet him.
\”Zero, I want to thank you for what you've done for us,\” she smiled and Zero choked on a pheasant leg.
\”Oh no, the pleasure is all mine,\” Zero reassured after he could breathe again. Medusa looked really pretty and Zero wondered if Poseidon really didn't want to regain his sight. It's a real shame that he couldn't see how pretty his wife was. After all, a woman's most beautiful moment was on their wedding day. Once it was over, Poseidon would have missed it forever.
\”What are you thinking about?\” the gorgon asked when she saw Zero's troubled expression.
The young doctor sighed and shook his head. \”I'm just slightly annoyed that Poseidon has to be this stubborn. Doesn't he know that if he doesn't heal his eyes tonight, he won't be able to see you in a wedding dress this beautiful anymore?\”
Medusa laughed lightly and patted Zero on the head. The boy certainly grew taller and the long hair suited him.
\”Sayden's always been this way. He won't be satisfied until he feels like he has punished himself enough. The man has many regrets but it's a good thing I'm here to share half of that burden with him. Thank you for giving us a second chance, Zero. It doesn't matter if it was because of a quest, you've done a lot for us.\”
Zero blushed. \”It's nothing. The true gift that I prepared for your wedding should be waiting back in your new home. I do hope that both you and Poseidon will take care of it for me and protect this happiness. I will have to leave Heaven very soon and start on my adventure.\”
The gorgon bent down to give the teen a hug. Even if Zero was now about five feet and three inches (160cm), he was still shorter than the gorgon. The young doctor felt that the hug was very warm even if the gorgon's skin was cold. He wondered if she would also be able to give Minerva hugs like this. If Athena's new life was raised with enough love, who knows, the past karma of the unfortunate goddess could be resolved entirely over time.
After Zero had eaten his fill and exchanged greetings with everyone at the feast, he excused himself along with the archangels who gathered in one of the meeting rooms Michael booked for them at the 7 Virtue Tower.
For the recommendation meeting, only Gabriel and Michael will be present. Zero was told that he could request anything within reason from Heaven for helping to save the plane and reviving the dying Tree of Knowledge. Prior to this, Heaven and Hell held an individual meeting to renegotiate the terms of mana flower supply. For now, Zero wouldn't have to concentrate too much about negotiating for Hell's benefits because Mammon and Lucifer have that settled. For now, the supply rate of mana lotuses will be seventy percent to Hell and thirty percent to Heaven so that the new Tree of Life can help to support both planes better.
Zero knew what he wanted to ask for but he was also wondering how Merlin would react after he handed the magician his property deed. Of the many things that Zero could ask for from Heaven, the most valuable thing Heaven had to offer was the rich land of the plane that was ideal for cultivating plants of all sorts.
Once they were seated comfortably, Michael sighed and started with the speech he had to give. Zero half-listened and half-zoned out on the archangel who didn't really care. After all, this was just a formality. Truth be told, they'd already discussed the terms outside of the meeting. Sadly, it had to be done formally and recorded for archiving.
\”With the above-mentioned terms and conditions, please let us know what you desire. Heaven will do its best to accommodate.\”
Zero smiled. Finally! Without hesitation, Zero slammed his palms down on the table with a huge grin.
\”A pasture! I want a deed to one of Heaven's pastures, preferably the one closest to the Garden Eden. I also want visitor permit rights for the villagers of Half Moon Village to travel to and from Heaven freely. A long term visa with Merlin as the guarantor.\”
Gabriel's smile froze and Michael facepalmed. What was the use of pretending to be formal if Zero was going to be like this? Negotiations were supposed to happen but here, Zero spoke as if it had all been concluded. Then again, they really were concluded behind the scenes. Zero sought Michael out before the meeting some time ago to prepare a thank you gift for Merlin. He mentioned something about being very poor and decided that setting up a business in Heaven that will generate income for his teacher while he was away seemed like a good idea. Of course, the teen was going to split the profits. He was going to take forty percent of the profits and Merlin was going to earn sixty percent. What Zero didn't say was how he was going to send half of what he earned to Half Moon Village for them to expand the village and work on some of Zero's other projects. Zero also wanted to support Half Moon Village because they were also supplying his teacher and Coux with materials needed for the cafe and hospital. However, the land in Half Moon Village was too small and not as fertile as the one in Heaven. Owning a pasture in Heaven for farming purposes would resolve a lot of problems. Not to mention, The Tree of Knowledge in Garden Eden needs to be tended to regularly by Cleo.
\”We have no problem issuing long-term visitor permits if you can have the villagers to register with the cupids. However, why a pasture? How big is the pasture that we are talking about?\” Gabriel probed further, completely puzzled about Zero's unique request.
Zero thought for a while. \”How big is the pasture closest to Garden Eden?\”