Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology - Chapter 1092

Chapter 1092: The Olympics (2) Flame lighting ceremony

Cairo, Egypt

Ibrahim Hassan was panicking, his eyes darting around as he imagined enemies lurking in every corner. Even though the streets had been cleared on his orders, unease still gnawed at him. If anything happened to His Majesty, he didn’t know what would become of Egypt, but he was certain he himself would be finished. He couldn’t afford to take any chances, especially with so many in Greece still harbouring hatred toward the Bharatiya Empire after the war against the Ottoman Empire, which had claimed countless lives.

Although welcoming the emperor of the Bharatiya Empire with an empty city was offensive, he was willing to take his chances as long as his head was satisfactorily attached to his torso. For him now, any kind of reaction from the supreme emperor of Bharat was acceptable.

Kattappa was on high alert as they travelled through the city. The Royal Guards had their shields up, ready to jump into harm’s way in order to protect the emperor, but as they moved forward, the number of people seen on the streets visibly decreased, and a few minutes later, not even a single person could be seen.

‘What is happening?’ Kattappa muttered in confusion. Hearing this, Vijay smiled, “The people seem to be evacuated by the military.” He looked in both directions as he noticed something. “And the Egyptians seem to have formed a defensive perimeter.” Although he had become old, his senses had not dulled.

“This…” Kattappa was at a loss for words. Even Kavya showed a look of astonishment. “Is this the way the king of Egypt welcomes someone, treating them as a plague?” she commented in dissatisfaction. Kattappa showed a look of annoyance as well. However, Vijay simply smiled.

“If I’m not mistaken, he’s just taking extra precautions to keep us safe. After all, the Bharatiya Army did wipe out the Ottoman forces that were entrenched here, bringing some collateral damage along with it. I’m sure plenty of people still resent the Bharatiya Empire for that.”

Kavya’s expression softened after she understood the reason, but Kattappa was not so easy to convince. “Even so, Your Majesty, what will others think if word gets out that you were treated in such a way?”

Vijay was left in thought. What Kattappa said made sense. Although Ibrahim had his reasons, treating him like a plague was unacceptable. “I guess he has already prepared to bear the consequences.”

Ibrahim Hassan, finally, along with his important ministers, made it to Thora Road. Ibrahim looked well-dressed, but his eyes said he was tired.

“Welcome to Cairo, Your Majesty, the Emperor and the Empress. Your presence has brightened the city.”

Kavya gave a light nod of acceptance, and so did Vijay.

Kattappa wanted to show his disappointment right away, but he held himself back, considering the identity of the other party.

“So, Ibrahim, is the city always this empty?” Vijay decided to bring up the matter himself.

‘Here it comes.’

Ibrahim immediately became embarrassed.

“I am terribly sorry, Your Majesty. I am incompetent. In order for your safety, I had no choice but to clear out the entire road and arrange a defensive perimeter in the next few streets.” He also wanted to say this wouldn’t have happened if you had informed me beforehand, but those words didn’t leave his heart.

Vijay did not react much since this was what he expected, but what has to be done has to be done. “In that case,” he looked towards Kattappa, “bring the cars. We can set off to Greece tomorrow.” Showing dissatisfaction was a must.

Ibrahim Hassan, as well as the ministers, had their faces turned white with fright, but since the emperor himself had made the decision, it was not their turn to interject. In fact, Hassan was even a little relieved. Every moment the Emperor of the Bharatiya Empire was in Egypt was like him standing on a tightrope above the crocodile-infested Nile River.

He knew His Majesty’s actions would affect how the Bharatiyas would view Egypt, but he wanted to avoid the worst situation no matter the cost, so it did not matter if fewer Bharatiyas were attracted. From what he knew about the emperor of the Bharatiya Empire, he had a sense of propriety. He wouldn’t punish Egypt for the decisions he had taken, the punishments would be directed towards him.

Moments later, an Imperial R1 stopped right next to Vijay. Without hesitation, Vijay opened the door and gestured to Kavya to get in, after which he got in himself.

“So long, Ibrahim. I will be meeting you at the Olympics.”

Ibrahim immediately did a Namaskara and a slight bow. “Definitely, Your Majesty.”

In truth, Vijay hadn’t decided to leave Egypt just to trouble Ibrahim. He simply hadn’t planned to stay there for long. The only reason he chose to pass through Egypt instead of Israel was, first, because there was less traffic, and second, because he wanted to see the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. He knew the Bharatiya Empire would only continue to grow more prosperous, powerful, and influential. When that time came, as the emperor wielding real authority, he would no longer have the freedom to travel anywhere. Visits to foreign lands would become more of a curse than a privilege, with his every word capable of shaking economies. So he decided to take this rare chance to see a few places while he still could.

He arrived at the port of Alexandria, and there was a ship of the Bharatiya Empire already waiting for him. After getting on the ship, he set off directly to Greece, but not to Athens, rather to a small shallow-water port called Katakolo, a small fishing village on the western coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula, which came under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Peloponnese

—

Olympia, Greece

Georgios Paleologos was pacing around left to right, unable to hide his nervousness. He was about to meet the emperor of the Bharatiya Empire; how could he not be careful? It’s not like he couldn’t see what Ibrahim could.

He asked his subordinates for the nth time whether all the security measures had been taken properly. He even coordinated with the commander of the Bharatiya Empire who was stationed in Greece, and gave him access to absolutely everything, as long as the emperor was protected.

A soldier ran up to him and whispered something in his ear, and Georgios Paleologos’s eyes immediately condensed. “His Majesty the Emperor is on his way. Please start the preparations.”

The people around him, who included officials from the Olympic Committee, a few of the leaders of the republics, and the high priestess, all started to arrange the ceremony in a hurry.

As Vijay stepped foot on the wet, dewy grass, the sound of a welcoming band was immediately heard. Vijay smiled and held out his hand for Kavya to get down.

Georgios Paleologos kept looking at Vijay in curiosity. He had never seen the emperor of the Bharatiya Empire. Myths and legends were numerous, and his image had already become similar to that of a fantasy creature in his mind. But looking at him right now, he couldn’t help but be greatly overwhelmed. He had silver hair like that of an old man, but his skin and body looked strong and healthy, much stronger and healthier than his own body. And especially his eyes, they looked deep and mysterious like a bottomless abyss; one would simply get lost if staring at them for too long. As for the empress, the top-selling novelist of the current era, she looked regal and refined. She did not look like a woman in her 50s at all. She still had black hair, and her eyes still contained the agility of someone younger.

Coming back to his senses, Georgios Paleologos went forward with a smile to greet the emperor.

“Welcome to Olympia, Your Majesty. It is a great honour of mine to receive you personally.”

Vijay smiled and talked with Georgios Paleologos for a few moments before the ceremony began.

In his last life, before every Olympics, the sacred fire of Olympia was lit in Greece as a connection between the ancient Olympic Games and the present. Vijay wanted to maintain this tradition, so he suggested starting off the Olympics in the same way.

The High Priestess held a parabolic dish within which was a mirror. She directed the sun’s rays onto the pyre. After a few minutes of smoke and sizzling sounds, the fire of Olympia was lit up.

Vijay watched with interest as the High Priestess chanted some Greek mantras and took part of the pyre and placed it into a bin. In his last life, the whole ceremony was only symbolic, but due to his intervention, it actually became both symbolic and spiritual, with an actual High Priestess and not some actress, and actual chanting and not mere cheers.

The bin within which the fire was lit up was quickly placed onto a carriage and ridden away, transported directly to Athens. In fact, this was what happened in his last life as well. Before every Summer or Winter Olympics, the flame in Olympia would first be lit, and it was only from this flame that the Olympics in any country would start. This flame was usually transported by planes through special means of keeping the flame always burning, and only then was the torch relay held.

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