[~1400 Words]
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Because of the shifting tides of fate, Ace had never come here to Lulusia in pursuit of Blackbeard.
The butterfly effect caused by his search for God James had quietly altered destiny's path.
And now, James's next move was clear—he only needed to start with Moda's parents to easily win the girl's heart.
"How could this be..." James said softly, his voice carrying a tone of gentle disbelief. "You clearly look like a sweet and sensible girl. It's unimaginable what kind of people could abandon someone as lovely as you."
"Thank you…" Moda's voice trembled slightly, her guard beginning to lower as she felt the warmth behind his words.
"Moda," James asked, his tone tender, "have you been alone all these years?"
She nodded shyly and clutched her milk bottle close, eyes glimmering with hesitation.
[Will he think I'm just trying to gain pity…?]
After a moment of quiet, James rose slightly into the air, then descended to kneel in front of her. His towering, divine presence softened—his domineering aura tucked away—revealing a calm, approachable warmth.
Combined with his strikingly handsome face, that simple gesture erased the distance between them. Moda found herself instinctively relaxing.
"All this time," James continued gently, "you've waited for your parents to come home, struggling to survive on your own. That must have been very hard, especially for someone so young."
He reached out a hand toward her. "But it's over now. Moda, come with me. From today onward, I'll be your family."
"Eh?" Her eyes widened in disbelief, emotions flickering between surprise and hope. Then, shyly, she lowered her gaze.
"But… is that really alright? Someone like me… wouldn't I just be a burden?"
James chuckled softly. "Burden? I am the God and Emperor of a nation. Even if there were millions like you, I could care for every one of them."
Still, he knew that people who had spent their lives depending on themselves often struggled to accept kindness. So, he added lightly,
"If you feel uneasy about it, you could be my secretary—stay by my side and help me handle life's… little inconveniences."
Her lips parted slightly in surprise. "Can I really…? But if my parents return and can't find me, won't they be sad?"
James smiled knowingly. "Do you know where they went?"
"Yes," she said softly. "Before they left, they told me they were going to work at the G2 Navy Base. They promised to send money and letters every month… but after two times, nothing ever came."
Her voice faltered, her eyes growing red. Yet, after years of facing loneliness, she no longer cried easily.
Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, she looked up at James with wide, glimmering eyes.
"I saw you flying earlier… Are you really a God?"
Her thoughts swirled in silent hope. If he truly is… maybe he can let me see my parents again—just once.
James smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying. "You'll know soon enough. Come now—tonight, you'll see your parents again."
Moda's eyes widened with wonder, her lips curving into a trembling smile. He had no reason to lie; his words carried the quiet confidence of truth.
The next moment, a faint, sweet scent of milk filled the air. A soft warmth brushed against James's cheek.
Startled but amused, he looked down to see that Moda had impulsively thrown herself into his arms, pressing a grateful kiss to his face, abandoning even her milk bottle in the process.
James steadied her with one arm around her back, effortlessly lifting her as she flustered and tried to pull away—only to bury her face in his chest in embarrassment.
"Moda," he murmured, "where is your home?"
Her heart thumped wildly. After a moment, she peeked up from his arms, whispering, "God Brother, please put me down… I'll take you there."
"You just point the way," James said, smirking. "I'll handle the flying."
She hesitated, twisting nervously. "But… I haven't picked up my milk bottle yet…"
"Look behind you," James said. "What do you see?"
Moda turned—and blinked in awe. Her milk bottle was floating gently behind them, surrounded by a soft golden aura, held aloft by James's Float-Float Power.
"Ah~" She pouted playfully, finally giving up. Pointing toward the east, she mumbled, "That way…" before hiding her face again in his chest, her cheeks flushed as she inhaled the faint, masculine scent of ozone and steel.
James smiled faintly, then shifted his grip to a princess carry and soared into the sky.
They hadn't flown far before reaching a modest dairy farm nestled among rolling hills. It was clear that, on foot, Moda could never have traveled far from here.
Landing softly beside a small wooden house, James asked, "Do you have a photo of your parents?"
"Yes~ It's inside," she said.
James nodded and, with effortless grace, pushed the door open using his shoulder, carrying her inside.
The house was humble—just a living room and a small bedroom. Yet despite its simplicity, it was spotless. Every corner shone with care.
She might have lived alone, but it was obvious she cherished this little home; it was both her refuge and her memory of family.
James's gaze softened slightly. Her parents… left her here, alone, to work away from home. They're either foolishly trusting or terribly naive.
He gently set Moda down, following her into the bedroom. She walked to her bedside and carefully retrieved a framed photograph—a family picture, polished clean as though she had wiped it daily.
"James-sama, I found it~" she said, holding the photo up with both hands.
It showed Moda as a little girl, standing between her smiling parents. The love in the image was plain, and yet, the loneliness she had endured since then was equally evident.
James examined it quietly. Her parents looked like simple, kind-hearted folk—ordinary people trying to survive in a harsh world.
Since there were no chairs, he sat beside her on the bed. It was small, forcing his tall, broad frame close against hers. The proximity made Moda blush furiously, though she said nothing.
Her innocent, hopeful eyes met his, and James smiled knowingly. He reached out, gently pinching her cheek, then summoned a Den Den Mushi from his dimensional storage space.
Moda gasped softly in awe. "You can make things appear out of thin air…" she whispered, her eyes filled with wonder. Then, with a faint giggle, she thought, 'If only I were a God too… I'm curious about what kind of kid would come into the world if I were with God James-sama.'
James sent the photograph through a transponder line and spoke calmly into the receiver.
"Shura, take a squad of Divine Soldiers to the G2 Navy Base. Retrieve the couple in this photo and bring them safely to God's Country."
The G2 Navy Base, located northeast of the Lulusia Kingdom, was known for its relaxed routine. Moda's parents worked humbly in the mess hall—ordinary civilians in naval service.
That made them easy to find.
As for Vice Admiral Comil, the base's elderly commander—an old-fashioned swordsman with unyielding "slow justice"—he was far past his prime.
Shura and his elite soldiers could handle him effortlessly.
James's lips curved slightly. Garp, Tsuru—if you want them back, come and find me.
When the call ended, Moda's expression lit up with visible joy. Her gratitude was pure and wordless.
Unable to express it otherwise, she leaned forward and kissed James softly on the lips—a sweet, trembling gesture of thanks.
James smiled, accepting it. James took her kiss with pleasure, settling her in his lap and kissing her passionately for over 10 minutes, leaving her breathless.
Only when he finally released her did he whisper, "Now then… let's take you home."
He raised his hand, divine energy coursing through the air.
"Float-Float: Heavenly Uplift!"
With a low rumble, the ground trembled beneath them. The entire dairy farm lifted from the earth, rising majestically toward the heavens.
Moda clung to him in awe as her little house with the dairy farm, her life, and her world ascended toward Sky Island, bathed in golden light.
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