After revealing that the chalice of the gods has been stolen, Ganymede breaks down in Himbo Juice. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover struggle to comfort him, while Ganymede explains that seeing ordinary cups is painful because the missing goblet is irreplaceable.

Ganymede makes Percy and his friends promise secrecy before revealing the true danger: if a mortal drinks from the chalice, that mortal will become immortal. Percy realizes why Ganymede came to him, since Percy once refused immortality after saving Olympus, and Percy agrees that Annabeth and Grover can be trusted too.

Ganymede explains that he believes someone on Olympus stole the chalice to embarrass him before Zeus. He names Hera as a longtime enemy because of Zeus’s admiration for him, but he doubts Hera would bother. He then identifies Hebe and Iris, both former cupbearers, as more likely suspects, especially Hebe, who resented and mocked him when he first took the job.

Percy asks for evidence, but Ganymede has none and expects the demigods to investigate. Ganymede tells them to question Hebe first and Iris second, while warning them not to offend either goddess, not to mention that Ganymede sent them, and not to reveal that the chalice was stolen.

Ganymede admits he does not know how long the chalice has been missing because divine time confuses him, but he has hidden the loss by using delivery orders. The danger is urgent because Zeus could call an in-person feast at any time, which would expose Ganymede’s failure. Ganymede promises Percy a positive, signed recommendation letter if Percy recovers the chalice, then vanishes in glittering dust.

Left at Himbo Juice, Percy asks where to begin. Grover says he unfortunately has an idea but wants to finish his drink first, implying the quest’s first lead is already within reach in Manhattan.