"Well…"
A strange feeling stirred in Mike's heart.
He gently closed his eyes, focusing on the sounds and feelings around him—the light breeze, the scent of the clouds, and the voices of the Skypiean people rising up in a wave of emotion.
"Finally… Enel has been defeated!"
"We're finally free from his oppression!"
"The people of Skypiea are free!"
"This young man is our hero!"
"He deserves all of our love!"
"I support him becoming the new ruler of Skypiea!"
"Me too!"
Mike couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
They wanted to make him their ruler? Just because he beat up Enel?
Then again, they had been suffering under that tyrant's rule for years.
He had just shown up out of the blue and toppled their "God," setting them all free.
The gratitude and hope they were feeling must be overwhelming.
'Of course', Mike thought, 'the biggest prize on this island is still the City of Gold… but if I could turn Skypiea into my own private vacation spot… that wouldn't be so bad, either.'
He could visit whenever he wanted, have some nice "heart-to-heart" chats with the beautiful Skypiean girls, listen to Conis's enchanting singing…
Yeah, that sounded pretty delightful.
"But…" Mike chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness in his expression.
"I really don't want to actually govern Skypiea."
The idea of staying here permanently and dealing with all the island's problems sounded absolutely exhausting.
He didn't even have anyone he trusted to leave behind to manage things for him.
He glanced around at the hopeful faces in the crowd, his brow furrowed in thought.
Suddenly, his eyes landed on Gan Fall, the old man who had asked him the big question in the first place.
'Hey, wait a damn minute…' A slow grin spread across Mike's face.
'The solution is standing right there in front of me.'
If he remembered the story correctly, after Enel was gone, Gan Fall teamed up with the Shandian chief to rule Skypiea together.
They ended the 400-year-long war and brought peace to the island.
'If Skypiea is going to be under my name,' Mike decided,
'Then there can't be any fighting over land or race. Harmony and happiness will be the new law. Entertainment above all else!'
'The ruler of Skypiea… I guess that's me.' Mike's eyes gleamed with a new idea.
'I'll be the one to maintain the balance. It's not that hard. I just have to drill the idea of equality into their heads. Anyone who doesn't like it… well, they'll be dealt with.'
"Alright then," Mike said softly, then turned to address the massive crowd.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Marine Headquarters Captain, Mike." He stood tall, the "Justice" cloak on his back fluttering in the breeze.
"I can accept the role of Skypiea's ruler, in name only."
"But as for the actual governing of the island, I won't interfere. You'll all manage things yourselves. If I have time, I might pop in and offer some advice now and then."
His gaze swept over the Shandian warriors before finally landing on Wiper.
"You're the Shandians, right?"
Wiper hesitated for a moment as a complicated look appear on his face.
He glanced at Enel's unconscious body, then back at Mike.
This man's gentle expression did nothing to hide his overwhelming strength.
Even for a rebel like Wiper, it was clear that this was not a man to cross.
"Yes," Wiper finally answered, his voice low. "We are Shandians."
"Good. Go get your chief. He needs to be part of the discussion about Skypiea's future."
Wiper took a deep breath and nodded.
"Understood." He turned and left for Hidden Cloud Village.
"Oh, and Kuro," Mike said suddenly, turning to his subordinate.
"You handle the aftermath." He remembered that Enel had imprisoned Skypiea's original guardians, the God Army and forced them to build his ark.
"Go rescue them. They're our people now, after all."
"Yes, sir!" Kuro accepted the order and sped off towards the sacred land.
*****
Not long after, Mike, Gan Fall, and the Shandian Chief were seated around a table in the dining hall.
Inside, the atmosphere was warm and calm.
Outside, it was a completely different story.
Enel's unconscious body was surrounded by a massive, angry mob of Skypieans and Shandians.
"Punch him in the face!"
"Watch my professional balls crushing technique!"
"Hey! Be careful! Mike-sama said not to kill him!"
"Yeah, don't take it too far!"
The crowd was a chaotic mess of mocking shouts and angry roars.
They were finally getting to vent years of pent-up rage on their former tyrant.
Mike watched from the window with a faint smile on his lips.
'You brought this on yourself, Enel. Hopefully, you learn your lesson.'
He turned back to the two elderly leaders, who were sitting solemnly at the table.
They knew this conversation would decide the fate of their people.
"Mike-sama…" Gan Fall began.
"What do you intend for Skypiea? Can our people… the Shandians and the Skypieans… truly have a new beginning?"
"Yes. I will be taking Enel with me when I leave," Mike said, his gaze clear and resolute.
"As for Skypiea's future, I plan to entrust its governance to both of you. I expect you to cooperate and let go of your past grievances. If any problems come up, you can contact me."
The two elders stared at him, stunned.
"We… we govern together?"
"Yes," Mike said. "Don't feel pressured, but don't be without pressure, either. I will be back. And if things here don't meet my expectations when I return, I will hold both of you accountable."
Gan Fall and the Shandian Chief grew even more serious.
They exchanged a long look, and after a moment of silence, they both nodded slowly, accepting the weighty decision.
"This is a very good outcome," Gan Fall murmured, a wave of relief washing over him.
The two stood and gave Mike a deep, respectful bow.
Mike just smiled and waved a hand.
"No need for that. This is for Skypiea."
The two elders then walked out to announce the news to their people.
A massive cheer erupted across the island as the word spread, and faces lit up with smiles that hadn't been seen in years.
Just then, the dining hall door opened quietly.
Conis stepped inside, her cheeks flushed with a shy blush.
She approached Mike with light steps.
"Mike..." she called out softly.
Mike blinked in surprise, then smiled warmly.
Without a second thought, he opened his arms and pulled her into a gentle hug.
Conis's face turned a deep shade of red as she nestled into his embrace, feeling completely safe.
At that moment, another figure appeared in the doorway.
It was a tall, elegant Shandian woman with a long black ponytail.
Upon seeing Mike and Conis in a tight embrace, the woman's face immediately turned red.
"Oh! Sorry..." she murmured, looking down nervously.
A faint, playful smile curled at the corner of Mike's lips.
He didn't let go of Conis.
"No, no..." he said smoothly, his eyes twinkling.
"You came at just the right time..."