Chapter 93: Ashokas Proposal (1/2)

After Alex scolded Hermes for his poor financial decisions, they went to the guest estate and slept.

*Stomp* *Stomp*

What woke Alex up wasn't the sound of birds chirping, or the radiant sun, but an unbearable stomping sound.

'What's this deal about....?' Alex groggily woke up.

He washed himself up and dressed and then flew in the direction of the sound.

It seemed to come from outside the estate, and Alex could only look on stunned when he saw the scene.

On the extremely wide streets of Patliputra that were usually, quite empty, a stampede of people all moved synergistically in one direction.

The crowd stretched from one end of the city to another, and Alex was truly curious as to the cause of this 'rioting.'

He speedily flew past the crowd and found himself above a very large square.

There was a tall statue of Ashoka in the center of the square and the crowd gathered around it.

'Isn't that...Ashoka?' Alex discerned a balcony upon the statue, and Ashoka was standing there, surrounded by armed guards.

Suddenly, the emperor saw him and he waved.

Alex approached the balcony and under the gazes of the entire city's population, he entered the balcony.

”Good morning, Alex,” Ashoka smiled.

Alex rubbed his head and asked, ”Good morning, hmm, what's this about?” He pointed to the crowd.

”I'm announcing my abdication today.” Ashoka declared with determined eyebrows.

”If you don't mind me asking, what are you planning to do after the abdication, Ashoka?”

Ashoka contemplated and then jabbed his finger in the air.

He replied, ”Truthfully, I just wish to travel the world.”

Out of the blue, Ashoka asked Alex, ”I've got an inquiry of my own, would your people welcome me? I'd love to see the western lands.”

Alex was a bit alarmed at the sudden question.

He didn't usually like making big decisions on behalf of Olympus, but he had to be spontaneous about it.

'What would Hermes do in this situation?' Alex swiftly fell into thought.

He nodded and replied, ”Olympus would welcome you with open arms.”

'Hermes always takes the chance to make alliances.'

Ashoka laughed and nodded, but then, one of his guards tugged at his clothing.

The emperor's face turned serious, and he asked the guard, ”Is it time?”

The guard nodded.

Ashoka bit his lips and stood up, facing the crowd below.

Perhaps as one of his attributes as a god and ruler, his voice was unnaturally loud and clear, and even the people at the furthest stretches of the human stampede could hear him.

”My people, I have overseen the Maurya land for a century and a half, are my calculations right?”

The crowd unanimously made a humming approval sound.