After a few minutes, the two women finished listening to the story, their faces reflecting deep emotion.
Hina shook her head and sighed:
"I heard this story when I was a child. Back then, I thought it was just a joke.
But I never expected the truth to be like this."
Nami nodded sadly and added:
"Indeed… If that's the case, no wonder Rolando could never find the City of Gold."
Then she knelt down earnestly, brushed her hand over the deck, and said with genuine determination:
"Don't worry, Rolando… We will clear your name of every false accusation!"
When Hina noticed Nami's eyes had turned into Berry symbols, she averted her gaze and muttered sarcastically under her breath:
"I just hope you truly mean clearing his name, and not simply using it as an excuse to seize the ship."
Nami leapt lightly with a playful laugh:
"What's the problem? If we don't guide the ship down, how could we prove Rolando's innocence?
For his reputation's sake, I'll endure some trouble and figure out a way to bring it down."
But soon, confusion crossed her face as she looked at the massive vessel beneath her feet:
"But… how do we even operate this thing? Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to kill that guy called Enel."
Peter spoke calmly:
"I know how."
The moment he stood, Nami threw him a flirtatious glance and said with an alluring smile:
"I knew the dearest person to me would be the most reliable in this moment.
Tonight… whatever you want, I'll grant it~"
Peter ignored her attempts at seduction and walked toward the high platform where the throne stood.
Beside the throne were two golden spheres shaped like metallic handles connected to the electrical system.
He stood before the throne, placed his palms on the devices, closed his eyes, and spoke to himself:
"I may not be that skilled, but controlling simple currents isn't difficult."
As soon as the words left his mouth, strong electrical currents burst from his palms, flowing through the devices into the ship's propulsion system.
Hina's eyes widened in shock:
"Th-the Ki… it can be used like this too?!"
Robin, on the other hand, appeared thoughtful:
"A flying ship powered by electricity… I truly have never seen such a thing."
Suddenly, a buzzing sound roared, and the ship trembled beneath their feet.
Nami turned to see the front and side propellers spinning as the ship slowly rose into the air, defying the laws of physics.
"Th-this is impossible… Is it really flying?!"
She spun around in disbelief until she spotted strange shells fixed to the hull below. Excited, she hurried to inform Peter and Robin.
Peter smiled as he explained:
"Those are Jet Dials, extremely rare now since they've gone extinct in most Sky Islands.
If the electrical propulsion fails, we can still rely on them to keep flying."
Nami couldn't help doubting him, wondering secretly if Peter was just asking the dragon for everything and pretending to be all-knowing to impress them.
Peter narrowed his eyes at her with a half-smile:
"I feel like you're doubting me right now."
Nami flustered quickly, laughing awkwardly:
"H-ha… Anyway, the ship is working now, so let's use it to head back. Come on, Hina, let's open a gap in the rock!"
Both Nami and Hina raised their hands, unleashing blasts of air that blew apart the rocky wall above them.
Slowly, the golden ship emerged from the thick forest.
At that moment, Daigo, who had left earlier, froze in shock when he saw the ship truly rising.
"Th-this is real?! Wasn't controlling it exclusive to Lord Enel?!
Could it be that Lord Peter has inherited even the power of the Thunder God?!"
His body trembled at the thought, and he rushed at full speed back to Angel Island using a Wind Dial.
Meanwhile, Peter, smoothly controlling the ship's mechanisms, steered it toward the horizon where he sensed a large gathering of life—straight to Angel Island.
He quickly overtook Daigo, who was running below, causing the man to cry out in despair:
"Wait for me, God of Destruction!!!"
On the island, the people had already gathered all the shells they owned—some in joy at the death of the old god Enel, and others in hopes of currying favor with the new god.
Even rare shells like Jet Dials and Impact Dials had appeared among them.
Shura and his companions stood stunned, grateful that they hadn't tormented the villagers too much in the past. Otherwise, someone might have used an Impact Dial against them—a weapon ten times stronger than a regular Impact Shell, more than enough to kill them.
Luckily, the villagers handed over their treasures willingly. The three forced smiles and praised them, which only made the villagers more delighted.
Amid the excitement, a gentle girl's voice rang out:
"My parents only have ordinary shells, like Heat Dials or Light Dials…"
It was Conis, clutching the edge of her dress shyly. Then she added with enthusiasm:
"But my father is a mechanic… We'd like to offer this Waver as a gift to the god."
Shura and his companions exchanged glances before one of them smiled and said:
"A fitting gift indeed… Perhaps he will like it."
Conis bowed in gratitude, but when she looked up, her eyes widened in terror:
"Wh-what is that?!"
Cries of astonishment erupted from the villagers, all pointing at the sky where the massive ship appeared, floating above them.
Even Shura and his companions couldn't hide their shock, wearing the same expressions of disbelief Daigo had shown earlier.
"I-is that… the Ark?"
At that very moment, Daigo clung to a large white shell beneath the ship and waved his hand frantically at his companions, shouting:
"Shura! Ohm! Gedatsu! The God of Destruction has descended upon us! Hurry and order the villagers to welcome him!!!"
His voice echoed loudly, reaching every corner of the island.
No one waited for Shura and his men's command—everyone fell to their knees at once, bowing in reverence to the new god.
"You…"
But the three who had been speaking quickly swallowed their words, dropping to one knee as well to welcome Peter's arrival.
On board the Ark Maxim, Peter stood at the bow with three women at his side, gazing down at the scene below. A mocking smile tugged at his lips as he said:
"Hah, I never thought I'd one day play the role of a Celestial Dragon, savoring the treatment of a god."
Nami's eyes blazed with anger as she clenched her small fist and spat bitterly:
"Just seeing their reaction is proof enough that this so-called Enel was never a good man!"
Hina nodded in cool agreement:
"At least it seems we didn't kill the wrong person."
Robin didn't join the discussion, instead smiling at Peter and teasing:
"Go ahead, Lord of Destruction. Leave this place to us, and go receive the worship of your new subjects."
Peter cast her a side glance, reserved but not rejecting. Instead, he floated into the air toward the kneeling crowd.
Meanwhile, Robin took hold of the Ark Maxim's controls together with Nami and Hina, fumbling awkwardly as they slowly guided the ship down to the Sky Island's harbor.
Peter landed before Shura and his companions, looking down at the sky dwellers who dared not raise their heads to meet his gaze.
He spoke with a commanding voice, his arms folded across his chest:
"Stand. I want no bowing or kneeling from anyone."
He knew such false submission was meaningless—he sought loyalty from the heart, not obedience born of fear.
But the sky dwellers didn't understand his intent, glancing at one another without daring to rise.
Then Shura gritted his teeth and stood first. The others hesitated, but slowly followed, rising one by one.
Peter paid little attention to their hesitation and asked Shura and the others directly:
"How goes the task I entrusted to you? How many types of Dials have you gathered?"
Ohm quickly presented a large sack brimming with shells, saying proudly:
"God of Destruction, we have gathered this vast collection. Not only the common Dials such as Sound, Heat, and Water, but even rarer ones like Flame Dials and Impact Dials—we've obtained a good number of those too. Just give us more time, and we will make all the villagers work at full speed."
Peter nodded with satisfaction. His request for Dials hadn't been out of dire need, but rather because they were unique and useful in daily life, not to mention a defining trait of the island. He intended to keep some for himself, classify the rest into his collection, or perhaps arm his followers with them.
But above all, they were simply new curiosities that intrigued him.
"The quantity doesn't matter—what matters is variety. Now then, what's the story with this Waver? Was it also a gift from the villagers?"
Peter had spotted the eye-catching Waver nearby and asked directly.
Shura smiled as he pointed behind him to a blonde girl:
"You recognize the Waver? Yes, it was chosen especially for you by one of the girls."
Peter's eyes fell on Conis, who looked flustered and bowed her head in embarrassment.
"Oh, a thoughtful gesture," Peter murmured with a smile, already deciding he would test this jet-ski-like vehicle once he returned to the Blue Sea.
Then his gaze shifted from the Waver to the girl herself, studying her intently.
She was a young woman of about eighteen or nineteen, wearing a short sky-styled dress, with a small pair of wings on her back that marked her as a Sky Islander. Her long blonde hair was braided into twin plaits that trailed behind her, but what most caught his eye were the two small tufts of hair sticking up from her head.
Peter wondered to himself: How did she tie those? Shouldn't they fall?
He suddenly asked her:
"You… What's your name?"
At first, Conis didn't realize he was addressing her. When she sneaked a glance and met his eyes, she quickly lowered her head again and answered nervously:
"I answer you, my lord god… My name is Conis, just an ordinary girl from Sky Island."
Conis? Wasn't that the girl who played the harp when Luffy met her in Skypiea?
Peter couldn't recall clearly, but her pure, fair complexion—surpassing even that of his companions—made him take a special interest in her.
Add to that her small wings, and a strange thought flickered through his mind: purely out of curiosity, what would happen if Saiyan blood mingled with that of a Sky Islander? What kind of child would be born?
He smiled firmly and declared:
"From today, you will remain by my side as my personal maid."
Conis's eyes widened in shock. She had never expected this. She raised her head quickly, trying to voice her refusal, but Peter spoke louder, his voice booming over the crowd:
"I am a man from the Blue Sea, and I won't remain on this island for long. During my time here as your god, I have only two conditions:
First: Offer me as many of this island's treasures as possible—whether Dials, fruits, plants, or anything unique to it.
Second: Assign your men to redecorate and renovate the Ark Maxim I arrived in. Make it grander and more splendid.
Once you've completed these two tasks, I will leave you. After my departure, do as you please—it will no longer concern me."
A wave of astonishment rippled through the place. Shura, his companions, and all the sky dwellers were struck dumb by his words.