The Kingdom of God today was vastly different from when Enel ruled over it.
For 400 years, the Shandia and the people of Skypiea had fought over land, treating the soil as an incredibly precious resource.
Hikaru, now the ruler, respected their customs and traditions. To ease tensions, he decreed that any citizen of the Kingdom of God could rent a small piece of land outside Upper Yard for a high fee. This allowed them to settle and live in peace.
The Skypieans were overjoyed, welcoming his rule with open arms.
However, the Shandia were not so easily convinced. Upper Yard was their ancestral home—why should they share it with outsiders?
But now, they had surrendered.
A flash of lightning illuminated the grand hall, and Hikaru appeared on the throne. He gazed down at the elderly man bowing before him with a faint smile.
"Your Majesty, we have decided to submit to the rule of the Kingdom of God. Our strongest warriors will enlist as divine soldiers and guards, while others will work as cloud harvesters..."
Chief Shandia spoke with deep respect, though his aged face darkened with reluctance.
"You should have done this a long time ago. Why be so stubborn?"
Hikaru's voice was calm but carried a hint of amusement. "I'm not as ruthless as Enel. As long as you work diligently and live peacefully, wouldn't that be far better?"
His words carried an unspoken message—had they surrendered earlier, they could have enjoyed a far better life.
"Your Majesty, this is the list of divine servants from the Shandia," Shura announced, placing a document onto a sandalwood tray.
An angel nearby carefully lifted the tray, while another unrolled the list and presented it to Hikaru.
Raki.
She was strikingly beautiful—cool and composed, with an air of quiet nobility. A true warrior, yet possessing the elegance of a queen.
Hikaru studied her name and portrait, recalling everything he knew about her. It seemed another opportunity to grow stronger had presented itself.
"Why is there only one name?" he asked.
"In the name of the great warrior Kalgara! We are not being insincere, Your Majesty!" Chief Shandia hurriedly replied.
"There are very few women in our tribe, and even fewer who meet your standards. Only Raki qualifies. She is the pride of our younger generation and will surely satisfy Your Majesty."
He had no other choice. Hikaru's standards were too high. If not for someone like Raki, he wouldn't have been able to fulfill the request.
"Very well. As per my previous terms, from this moment on, the Shandia are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Like the Skypieans, you may establish a settlement outside Upper Yard. The finer details will be handled by the God's Decision-making Group."
The God's Decision-making Group consisted of Hikaru's most capable subordinates, skilled in administration and governance.
Hikaru had no interest in managing affairs personally—he was here to enjoy life. As long as power remained firmly in his grasp, who would dare rebel? His Observation Haki wasn't just for show.
Thanks to the abilities granted by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, his Observation Haki had evolved beyond Enel's—allowing him to not only sense everything across the Kingdom of God but also read minds and foresee the near future.
[Hikaru's ability to read minds and glimpse the future was the result of his journey through time and space, which had altered both his body and soul. However, mind-reading only worked on those without Observation Haki or those who failed to guard against it.]
All he needed was a firm grip on the kingdom's direction. The rest? His subordinates would handle it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Chief Shandia bowed deeply.
Throughout the exchange, Wyper remained expressionless. He was a warrior above all else. Now that their fate was sealed, he had no choice but to serve under Hikaru's rule.
A few days later, lightning crackled through the skies above the temple, flashing relentlessly.
Inside, Hikaru reclined on a luxurious couch, absentmindedly honing his Rumble-Rumble Fruit abilities while contemplating his next steps.
Just then, a soft voice echoed from outside the palace gates.
"My Lord God, Raki has arrived."
The lightning flickered and vanished as Hikaru responded indifferently.
"Bring her in."
"Yes!"
Moments later, a tall and striking woman walked into the grand hall.
Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail that cascaded smoothly down her back, and her fitted lavender outfit accentuated her toned yet curvaceous figure.
She knelt before him, her posture both respectful and tense.
"Your Majesty! I am Raki, a warrior of the Shandia clan. I am here… to serve as your divine servant."
Her voice was firm, but there was a trace of hesitation behind her words.
Hikaru studied her for a moment before nodding in approval.
"Not bad, not bad. If you serve well and please me, you may have the chance to become my divine consort in the future."
"Yes…"
Raki clenched her jaw slightly, suppressing her unease. Behind her stood the entire Shandia tribe—her fate was tied to theirs. If she displeased Hikaru, his wrath could reduce them all to ashes. She had no choice but to comply, no matter how reluctant she felt.
"One more thing," Hikaru added casually. "In the Imperial Palace, you will address me as 'Your Majesty the Emperor.' Elsewhere, you may call me 'God.'"
"Understood, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
Realizing her earlier mistake, Raki stiffened, her heart pounding.
Hikaru waved his hand, signaling the attending angels. Understanding his unspoken command, they led Raki to the side hall to change into a proper divine servant uniform.
The angels' standard attire consisted of flowing white palace gowns with feathered wings. However, divine servants—who were considered candidates for goddesshood—were allowed more variety in their dress.
Goddess consorts, on the other hand, had even greater freedom, as long as their appearance pleased Hikaru.
Before long, Raki returned, now dressed in an elegant lavender cheongsam that accentuated her slender figure. Though undeniably stunning, she seemed uncertain, her movements cautious.
She had always been a warrior, used to practical and battle-ready clothing. The Shandia, living in hardship, rarely had the luxury of fine garments. Now, wrapped in this ornate dress, she worried that a single wrong move might tear the delicate fabric.
"My Lord God…"
Her voice, soft and uncharacteristically shy, caught Raki's attention. His gaze sharpened, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Why did you choose this outfit? Were they playing tricks on you?"
Raki hesitated before answering, lowering her head slightly.
"One of the angel sisters recommended it. She said… it would look charming and that God would definitely like it."
Having just arrived in Hikaru's inner circle, Raki didn't dare question the arrangements made for her. She simply followed along, trusting that disobedience wasn't an option.
Raki chuckled. "I do like it. Now, come sit and talk with me for a while. Let me guide you."
He continued to admire her beauty without looking away. He wanted to test whether Raki possessed a unique trait, similar to Connie.
"Ah—?"
Raki was momentarily taken aback. Why isn't he following the usual script?!
Confused, she instinctively lifted her gaze to meet his—and found herself stunned.
Hikaru had sharp, well-defined features, with deep, piercing eyes that gleamed like the stars. His dark hair fell loosely around his face, exuding an effortless charm. He carried an air of wild confidence, a presence that demanded attention.
A true Blue Star man.
If she had to describe his appearance in one word, there was only one choice—
Handsome.
[No helping it. The readers love a handsome protagonist. To keep them engaged, I have to go with the best strategy—making the MC impossibly attractive.]
Raki: Cool, elegant, and undeniably beautiful—like an angel descended from the heavens.
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