"Lord Peter, are you leaving us?!"
Shura tried to change his mind, but Peter only responded with a calm smile.
"Is there anything bad about my leaving? At least you won't have to worry about me finding a reason to kill you one day."
Shura immediately closed his mouth and dared not say another word.
Ohm looked at Peter with contempt before speaking with difficulty:
"So, my lord, what is the point of not declaring your control over the island? Even if you're gone, we can still rule in your name."
"I don't care about that. My control over you had only two purposes, and they are already fulfilled. After my departure, the people of the island are free to live as they wish."
As soon as Ohm heard that, he fell to his knees.
"My lord, we are with you with all our hearts!"
Daigu rushed forward and slid to his knees at Peter's feet as well.
"That's right! Wherever you are, you are the true ruler of the Sky Island… our God!"
Gedatsu and Shura followed, kneeling as well.
The islanders looked at each other in confusion. They had always lived under the rule of a god, and suddenly that god was telling them he didn't want to rule them anymore. Enel had been a tyrant, but they were still not used to living without a ruler.
Peter witnessed a strange scene: instead of celebrating their freedom, the people of the island all knelt, begging him to stay as their ruler—even if only in name. Even Conis no longer mattered to them. All they wanted was for this god, stronger than Enel, not to abandon them.
"Some people are strange."
He muttered calmly. He understood their way of thinking, but he did not respect it.
"I was reminded of a saying by a wise man: if he had to choose between eliminating tyrants or eliminating slaves, he would choose to eliminate the slaves, because if tyrants disappear, the slaves will simply create new ones."
He muttered calmly. He understood their way of thinking, but he did not respect it.
"As you wish. I have no conditions for you. Live as you want. The only thing I demand is that you carry out the two orders I gave. Now, stand up and divide into groups."
"Yes, O Great God of Destruction!"
Shura and the others quickly began organizing the people. Those skilled in shipbuilding, mechanics, or design went to refurbish the ship, while the rest went to collect rare items and treasures.
Amid all this movement, Conis and her father stood alone, unsure of what to do.
"Ah…"
The girl opened her mouth to call out to Peter while he was speaking with Shura.
He glanced at her briefly, then continued speaking:
"Whatever it is, remove that ugly face from the ship. And I don't want those devices that create thunder clouds either. Dismantle them all and make space."
After Shura and the others left, Peter pointed at Conis.
"Come with me."
"Wait a moment, please!"
Her father, Pagaya, hurried toward him.
He was a middle-aged man, mostly bald with a few strands on the sides, a thick beard, and narrow eyes. Exhaustion was clearly visible on his face as he said nervously:
"O God of Destruction, this girl knows nothing. She doesn't know how to serve gods. She is absolutely not fit to be a servant."
Peter looked at him sideways, a hint of mockery in his gaze.
"Hahaha… if that's the case, then you're right, she isn't suitable. Alright then, tell me who on this island is suitable to be my servant. Give me one name, and I'll go pick them myself."
"…"
Pagaya lowered his head.
He didn't want his daughter to become anyone's servant, but he also didn't want to harm another family to save his own.
"Heh… everyone thinks I'm easy to deal with."
Peter let out a cold laugh and suddenly raised his left hand.
Within seconds, dozens of tightly packed shops on the nearby street vanished completely.
The distant islanders trembled in fear, not understanding what had just happened, and immediately fell to their knees.
A shop owner who had been returning to retrieve something found his store completely gone. He collapsed to the ground in terror, nearly losing control of himself.
Daigu, not far away, felt his heart stop and rushed over immediately.
"Lord Peter, please calm down."
Then he turned angrily toward Pagaya.
"What's wrong with you, old man?! The Lord God chose your daughter—that's an honor for you! Instead of thanking him, you object?! Do you want to die?!"
Daigu kicked Pagaya violently, knocking him to the ground.
"Father!"
Conis screamed and tried to rush to him, but Daigu stopped her.
"Don't move."
He stood over Pagaya and said coldly:
"Listen, old man. The Lord only asked for one girl out of kindness. If you anger him, do you want the entire island to pay for your stupidity? Look around you!"
Pagaya lifted his head with difficulty.
The neighbors had already understood what was happening, and they were now looking at him with resentment and hostility.
"Is that Pagaya? I thought he was loyal after offering the gift to the Lord. How selfish—refusing to offer one girl."
"If I were him, I would have been grateful from the start."
"Because of him, my shop was destroyed. But the god is merciful—he only destroyed the shop without harming anyone."
"A god this merciful deserves devotion. One girl is nothing."
Conis heard everything, and her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
How could these kind neighbors accuse her father?
"How can they say this? Father only did it for me…"
Daigu lifted his foot and kicked Pagaya's leg.
"You hear that? If you don't want everyone to hate you, go and apologize to Lord Peter. And if he does not forgive you, then stay on your knees forever."
Pagaya stood up with difficulty, hiding his face.
No one knew the pain tearing his heart apart.
"I… understand. I'm sorry, my lord. I was wrong."
Step by step, he walked forward until he stood before Peter and knelt at his feet.
"O Great God of Destruction, I was selfish and disrespectful. Please forgive me."
"Father…"
Conis could not bear it anymore and knelt beside him.
"Lord Peter, I am willing to become your servant. Just forgive my father—he didn't mean it."
Peter looked down at them with a cold expression… then suddenly smiled.
He was not laughing at the father and daughter, nor at the villagers.
He was simply pleased that in this strange world, he had gained a power that could easily change people's destinies.
"Rise. Since everyone calls me a merciful god, I will not harm my followers. This is 100,000 Belly, equivalent to nearly one billion Ek. Take it as compensation for Conis."
He threw twenty banknotes of 5,000 Bellyin front of Pagaya.
The man looked at the strange money, not recognizing it, but still picked it up with trembling hands.
"Thank you very much for your generosity."
Daigu, who expected punishment, was shocked instead to see a reward. His eyes widened in envy.
"My lord, your mercy is beyond words! I speak on behalf of all the Sky Island people!"
Peter looked at him, remembering his decent performance earlier, and took out the remaining money from his pocket, about 130,000 Belly, and threw it to him.
"You were also good. This is your reward. Keep working."
"Thank you! Thank you so much, my lord!"
Daigu hugged the money tightly, thanking him repeatedly.
130,000 Belly might not mean much in the Blue Sea, but in Sky Island, where the currency is the Ek, it was equivalent to 1.3 billion Ek, a true fortune.
The villagers watched the scene with clear envy.
They accepted Daigu being rewarded, but Pagaya—who had disobeyed the lord—also received a reward? That was hard to accept.
In the end, they attributed everything to Peter's mercy and generosity, while secretly envying Pagaya for his daughter, who had earned him forgiveness.
Peter had no intention of staying any longer.
He motioned to Conis, who stepped forward, and then left without looking back, taking his new servant with him, who had cost him 100,000 Belly.
As they left, Conis looked back at her father one last time. He returned her gaze.
Daigu noticed this and stepped between them.
"What are you looking at? Do you plan to do something stupid again?"
Pagaya snapped out of his thoughts and quickly shook his head, remembering Peter's wrath.
Daigu softened his tone slightly as he watched the girl leave.
He realized Conis was no longer someone they could treat the same way as before.
With that thought, he didn't want to increase Pagaya's suffering further, so he helped him up.
"My friend, what were you thinking? A god like him—if he chose my daughter, I would gladly accept. Why are you making things complicated for yourself?"
He patted his shoulder.
"Don't think too much. Conis is going to a better life. Next time you see her, she might be a priestess… or even his wife."
Pagaya forced a small smile.
"I hope so."
Daigu's words eased some of the weight in his heart.
Perhaps there was some good in this after all.
But a father's heart could not suppress its longing.
Forgive me, Conis… your father is helpless. Take care of yourself, and take care of the Lord, too.
Without looking back, Pagaya walked slowly toward his home, while the villagers watched him with mixed envy and pity.
Sky Island Port — where the ship is docked
Nami stood with one hand on her hip, pointing with the other at the group of workers arriving with Shura.
"Peter asked you to repair the ship, and I have no problem with that. But listen carefully… anyone I catch stealing even a single piece of gold will be punished by me personally instead of Peter! Now get to work, I'm watching you myself!"
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You may find some mistakes [or not] since I forgot parts of the story. I will reread it, and expect a large batch of chapters coming soon.
baby chubi