Chapter 175: Conis, Sky Island's New Messenger
"Roger was once the Pirate King," Ross said with a chuckle.
"One Piece... right?"
Just hearing the name sparked awe in Conis. She could only imagine the kind of monster Roger must have been.
But learning it was all in the past only fueled her curiosity. "What about him now?"
"He's dead. The World Government executed him publicly."
Ross shot Conis a pointed look, making her flinch and shrink back.
"The World Government—that's your side, isn't it?" she asked, her voice tentative.
"Not anymore. It's ours now."
Ross's lips quirked into a sly grin. Teasing someone as innocent as Conis was almost too easy. Compared to the cutthroat folks down in the Blue Sea, she was refreshingly straightforward.
"Ah, right! Yeah, ours!" Conis corrected herself hastily, stealing a nervous glance at him. When he didn't snap, she let out a quiet breath of relief.
Talking to Ross always left her on edge. She'd braced herself for death when she stepped up earlier, but somehow, she was unscathed—while Pagaya had paid the ultimate price.
That tragedy only hammered home how terrifying Ross truly was.
After a moment, Sora glided over to Ross's side with her usual poise, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Handled it?" Ross asked, turning his head slightly.
With Sora nearby, things felt a lot less tense for him. Too bad she'd soon head back to the Holy Land Mary Geoise and dive into her tech projects. He really needed to find a dedicated secretary.
He had options within his ranks—Nico Robin topped the list for her skills. But trust was the issue. A secretary would handle his deepest secrets, the kind he couldn't risk Robin uncovering.
Her real value was as the last living scholar, perfect for weaving the false histories he needed to spread.
Before his last trip from Mary Geoise, he'd bounced the "age of gods" idea off Saint Saturn. But he wasn't ready to pull the trigger. He needed those special economic zones up and running first—that'd be the prime window to launch the narrative.
Rushing it now would mean tangling with Celestial Dragon infighting on top of everything else. His foundation wasn't solid yet.
"Gan Fall played ball," Sora reported with a nod. "From here on, this is the Skypiea Special Economic Zone."
She laid out the details. "He'll head back to Angel Island soon and declare Skypiea's allegiance to the World Government. You'll be the new god here, with him as your messenger and zone governor."
Ross's approach had been diplomatic, so Gan Fall had little choice but to agree. It'd take time—these people were used to a divine hierarchy, with gods ruling from on high and messengers handling the grunt work.
Once Ross built real loyalty, resistance would crumble. Whether he was an outsider hardly mattered after they'd seen his power. Gan Fall would smooth things over, prompting the locals to fall in line on their own.
"Sounds good," Ross said, nodding.
Rebellion wasn't a worry. Gan Fall wouldn't dare after witnessing his strength, and the elites Ross had stationed here outmatched the islanders anyway.
Gan Fall might edge out most of them in a scrap—D-rank threats at best—but he couldn't wipe them out in one go. The second word reached Ross, it'd be over.
Gan Fall was sharp enough not to test that.
Ross eyed the meek Conis. "Tell Gan Fall to appoint her as a divine messenger too—his deputy for day-to-day ops. She'll be the direct line if he needs to reach me."
Brute force only kicked things off. Skypiea had nearly a millennium of history; to get them pulling their weight, he had to dangle some hope.
Conis was his gesture of goodwill, much like what he'd done in Alabasta. Let the locals run things, as long as they stayed loyal.
"Me? No way, I couldn't!" Conis stammered, waving her hands. A flicker of reluctance crossed her face.
She'd have jumped at the role once, but the crowd's cold stares in the square still stung. No one had backed her stand for the island.
Deep down, she wanted out. "Lord Ross, you saved my life. Let me follow you instead."
It was a spur-of-the-moment plea—and her honest wish. Skypiea felt stifling now; Sora's tales of the Blue Sea had ignited her wanderlust.
"You're not just for Skypiea," Ross replied with a warm smile, gently ruffling her golden hair. "It's my will you're carrying out. I saved you, so repay the favor by watching over this place for me."
Conis's shoulders slumped. "Aw, man..."
She'd talked herself into a corner. Refusing Ross? Not an option.
"I'll... give it a shot," she muttered, fidgeting. "But I don't know if I'll be any good at running things."
"You'll manage. Don't sweat it—I've got your back," Ross assured her, his tone encouraging. He shot Sora an appreciative glance.
Then he beckoned Gan Fall over from nearby.
"Saint Ross, your orders?" Gan Fall approached swiftly, bowing low with utmost deference.
Sora's rundown of Ross's lineage—a true divine heir from the Blue Sea—had squashed any foolish notions. This wasn't some impostor god. Ross's power was heavenly, backed by an untouchable heritage. The real deal.
"Conis is your new deputy," Ross explained calmly, nodding toward her. "She'll be a divine messenger too. Loop her in on daily affairs, and use her to contact me if needed."
"Understood, my lord," Gan Fall replied gravely, straightening up.
He stole a glance at Conis, his expression a mix of surprise and understanding. Ross was grooming her—eventually, she'd take the reins.
Whatever she'd done to earn this, it was a win for him. A compassionate local like Conis wouldn't bleed her own people dry.
His only concern? Her loyalties might lean more toward Ross than Skypiea. Her choice to guide him here had already tipped her hand.
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