Percy and Grover are searching for Ares's shield in a pawn shop. Ares tells Percy that he is looking for the shield because he needs to retrieve Zeus's master bolt. Ares asks Percy to help him, but Percy refuses. Ares warns Percy that Percy will regret his decision, and Percy leaves.
Percy and Grover return to camp. Grover tells Percy that everyone, except for Chiron and Annabeth, has left camp because of the theft of Zeus's master bolt. Percy and Annabeth are sent on a quest to find the master bolt and clear Chiron's name. They are given three days to complete the quest.