Zeus smiled and said, "Honored Oceanus, don't you find the great ocean too lonely?"
He spoke earnestly: "You shoulder the magnificent task of enlarging the world, yet while you do the greatest work, the oceanic gods cannot enjoy the world's richness and color. That is truly unjust."
"The ocean's special nature makes it empty of all things. Though it is infinitely vast and grand, it is far too desolate. This should not be the honor you and your beloved children are left with!"
"The new laws created by the God-King are, instead, an opportunity—an opportunity to fuse the ocean and the world."
"I want to create an outer sea between the world and the Ocean, so that the sea, like the inner sea, can support life, be rich and colorful—like the flourishing world upon the land."
"At that time, let the gods of the Ocean dwell in the outer sea and share in this beautiful world, far from endless solitude."
"Let sea and Ocean be one whole, neighboring and coexisting—why must the boundaries be so strict and the two stand opposed?"
Zeus looked at the two Titans with utmost sincerity and gave his firmest pledge: "Great Oceanus, and kind, gracious Tethys—before my mother, the sacred Rhea—I vow to you both that I will guarantee the ocean gods every honor in the seas and on the land, and that we shall share together in every honor of seas, rivers, and lakes!"
"In the new age, the world welcomes the coming of the ocean gods. There will be no restrictions—the Ocean and the world will become one!"
At last, Oceanus's face broke into a smile from the heart. He was very pleased with this outcome.
Zeus's proposal perfectly resolved the loneliness and limitations of the oceanic gods, and even painted for them a broader future.
What's more, this plan displayed Zeus's wisdom and character, which put Oceanus at ease: at the very least, Zeus was not the sort to harm one ally's interests in order to win another.
Such a god was reliable to work with.
Oceanus said, "Renowned Zeus, son of Queen Rhea, your breadth of mind and wisdom command the gods' admiration. You will surely become the greatest God-King—surpassing even the great Heavenly Father and Kronos!"
"All the gods of the Ocean will, from this day, follow your command. We will be your most loyal comrades!"
Zeus smiled. "Thank you for your support. With your aid, we will build the most glorious new era—a flourishing age like none before!"
Then Zeus said with a smile, "Your daughter—the beautiful, bright-eyed goddess Metis—her wisdom amazes the gods as much as her beauty. She will be my most important friend. Here, I ask that you allow her to remain at my side to assist me."
Oceanus glanced at Metis. She had listened quietly to everything, and even when she heard Zeus's request, she only lowered her head without a word—calm and reserved.
The sea god smiled slightly and looked back to Zeus, nodding as he said with a smile, "To be able to aid you is an honor for the Ocean. We could ask for nothing better."
Tethys's lips held the gentlest, loveliest smile, and she spoke warmly: "Now let us fully enjoy this day worthy of eternal celebration!"
"My dear Rhea, dear Zeus, please taste the Ocean's mead and ambrosia—see how they differ from those within the world?"
Tethys's tender words brought today's conference to a perfect close.
The Ocean Current had already decided to go all-in on this chariot! They were truly fed up with Kronos!
When Zeus departed from the Ocean, there was one more god at his and Rhea's side: Metis followed them quietly and serenely, the very embodiment of wisdom like a tranquil deep pool.
Rhea had been chatting idly with Tethys, all the while listening to Oceanus and Zeus's discussion. Her heart was deeply gratified—even she felt moved, and equally longed for a more prosperous and harmonious future.
Smiling, she asked, "Zeus, where should we go next?"
Zeus smiled back. "Well—"
He looked to the silent Metis. "Naturally, we should follow the counsel of the beautiful Metis."
Rhea glanced between Zeus and Metis, studying their faces, and understood.
Hearing Zeus speak thus, Metis pondered briefly, then spoke unhurriedly, her voice as calm as a clear spring: "Go see the Deep Sea."
"Pontus has long lived in unease. It won't be hard to win his support. He will accept the new order you plan to establish."
"His daughter, Eurybia—the might of the sea—is the wife of Crius, the framework of the cosmos. Once Pontus declares support, by virtue of that tie, Crius will lean more toward you."
"Crius and Eurybia's children—Astraeus, Pallas, and Perses—are all powerful starry gods, yet under the current cosmic order they cannot obtain the honors that belong to them."
"My elder sister Styx, and Pallas's children as well, are all forbidden from entering the world."
Metis paused, then continued: "If you are willing to grant them honor in the new age, that will be enough to win Crius's support."
"Their eldest, Astraeus, together with Eos—the youngest daughter of Hyperion, father of the heavenly bodies—has many star and wind gods as offspring. Under the present order, they too cannot enjoy their rightful honors."
"The children of the great Hyperion and the holy Theia—the shining gods, the Sun Helios and the Moon Selene—are likewise forbidden to hold their own honors in the world. Their radiance cannot shine forth at all."
"With Crius's support, the great Hyperion and the holy Theia will naturally support you as well."
"In this way, the world's foundation—the Twelve Titans (Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Crius, Hyperion, Theia)—will already have six who support you. Add your own family, the Mother of All Things and the Lady of Night, plus the support of the sea god Pontus, and that will be enough for a head-on war."
Rhea nodded again and again, her beautiful eyes flashing with brilliance. Thoughts that had been vague became crystal clear.
She marveled inwardly—no wonder Zeus wanted this child by his side. Remarkable!
Zeus clapped his hands in praise, his smile bright with joy and agreement. "Worthy indeed of the beautiful goddess of wisdom! Your wisdom is even more astonishing than your beauty!"
"After hearing your discourse today, it's as though the clouds have parted for me—sudden enlightenment! Never have I seen the situation so clearly. It seems victory is right before us!"
Metis gently shook her head, her voice still calm as she offered a sober warning: "All of this rests on one most important premise—that you are not defeated by the God-King. Otherwise, it all becomes empty talk."
"Even if you win their support, they will not directly lend a hand. They have all sworn oaths to the God-King never to betray him."
Zeus smiled with confidence. "I don't need them to strike on my behalf. It's enough that the great gods remain neutral. Neutrality itself is a form of aid."
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