After returning from Amazon Lily, Sephiroth went around distributing Pure Gold to his core members.
Considering that some members still had close family ties, Sephiroth also provided Pure Gold accessories for their immediate relatives.
However, he explained them as miraculous little trinkets that could "preserve eternal youth," created through the "special powers of the Great Angel Mythical Zoan." He never mentioned immortality.
There were actually a few people in this world who could naturally remain youthful forever. They were relatively rare, but hardly the stuff of legends.
...Incidentally, Melise and Galette, those two Filial Daughters, never brought up their families at all.
When it came to immortality, Issho and Zephyr, the two elderly men, had rather more complicated reactions.
When Issho received his accessory, he wavered in a way he rarely did. It was not excitement, but unease.
Rationally speaking, on a macro level, an immortal ruling class was a very bad prospect.
Issho was that rare sort of hero who possessed both a sense of public duty and compassion.
Had he not spent this time studying and discussing Sephiroth's various ideas in depth, his expression might have been considerably grimmer.
Zephyr, an old man past seventy, felt even more conflicted than Issho.
But after Sephiroth spoke openly and honestly with them, both accepted.
Reason was one thing, but emotionally, neither could rise above ordinary human feelings.
...If all else failed, he could retire with everyone once the world was at peace.
At least, Sephiroth genuinely thought so. After all, his power belonged to him alone, and Artificial Angels could take care of their daily needs and ensure a good quality of life.
His desire for worldly power was much weaker than he had imagined.
The Inner Court of Babylon Temple-
Inside the study in the High God's Residence.
Afternoon