Just as Rhett was single-handedly beating up Enel, the Shandian warriors and Skypiea residents, armed with weapons, converged from different directions. Though wary of each other, they had no choice but to face the common threat before them — Enel.
"What... what exactly do you want?" Wiper gripped his Burn Bazooka tightly, his eyes fixed on Rhett.
Having finished his beatdown and encountered the arriving warriors, Rhett casually sat on a broken golden pillar, his Black Tide greatsword planted beside him. The blood mist swirling around him added to the oppressive atmosphere.
He glanced at the ragged group of warriors.
"I gave Enel a choice. Now, I'll give you one too."
An elder from Skypiea trembled as he spoke, "Enel... has he truly been defeated?"
Perona floated in the air, smiling as she waved a Tone Dial in her hand. "Of course~ He's now our ship's 'God of Thunder'!"
The Shandians' expressions changed drastically. "You've subdued a god?! Impossible."
Moriah let out a low chuckle. "Fufufufu... Don't measure our captain by your own standards."
This was the advantage of having a crew. Rhett felt at ease.
Both groups of warriors were tense, their weapons aimed at Rhett.
Rhett stood up, and the blood mist suddenly expanded, enveloping the entire area.
"Listen," his voice was cold and clear. "Your hatred means nothing to me."
Everyone was stunned.
"But this island is now my territory."
Rhett pointed toward the distant golden bell. "Four hundred years ago, Noland and Calgara promised to ring it as a symbol of their friendship."
"Four hundred years later, you're killing each other over this piece of land. Don't you find that ridiculous?"
The Skypiea elder paled. "But... Jaya is our sacred land..."
"Sacred land?" Rhett scoffed. "When Enel took over, why didn't you call it sacred land? Now that I've taken it, you want me to give it back? Are you scared of Enel but not of me, who defeated him?"
"Do you really think I'm easy to push around?"
A Shandian warrior gritted his teeth. "We just want to reclaim our ancestors' land! We've decided not to run anymore. We are brave warriors."
Rhett's gaze swept over them. "Like I said, I'll give you two choices."
"First, continue fighting me until you're all dead."
The blood mist churned, the Black Tide greatsword trembled slightly, and Conqueror's Haki faintly spread. Rhett was genuinely worried he might accidentally wipe them all out.
"Second, share this island. The golden bell belongs to me, as does the pet and the gold inside."
Silence fell over the area.
Just then, Enel's figure emerged from the clouds, lightning crackling around him.
"Captain Rhett is right," his voice still carried the tone of a divine oracle. "You ants are unworthy of fighting over this land."
Both the Skypieans and Shandians took a step back, fear evident in their eyes.
Enel sneered. "If it weren't for the captain's mercy, I could reduce you all to ashes right now."
Rhett raised his hand. "Enough."
Enel snorted but said no more.
"See?" Rhett looked around at everyone. "Your enemy was never each other, but 'gods' like Enel. And now, I will be this island's new god. You can live on the land as you please. I won't interfere in your lives. In fact, I'll offer you protection. All I ask in return is your complete loyalty."
"Now, I'm giving you a chance."
"Either reconcile, or—"
The blood mist exploded, transforming into countless blades hovering at everyone's throats.
"Die."
Wiper clenched his fists, furious at his own weakness.
Too bad you're not Tesoro, not the one Rhett is looking for.
Rhett knew he needed to add fuel to the fire. "The reason you've always been oppressed is ultimately because you're weak. You know about the Blue Sea, right? There's no shame in relying on the strong."
After a long silence, Wiper was the first to lower his weapon. Once someone took the lead, the others followed suit.
"...We accept."
The Skypiea elder trembled as he nodded. "We... accept as well."
Rhett, satisfied, withdrew the blood mist. "Good."
Perona floated over, her ghosts happily scattering petals. "Congratulations~ Starting today, we're all friends!"
The Shandian warriors and Skypiea residents exchanged glances, slowly lowering their weapons.
He scanned the crowd, his voice lazy yet firm.
"Alright, the fighting's over. Now, let's talk about how to improve your lives."
The Skypiea elder stammered, "You... you really don't plan to drive us away?"
"Drive you away?" Rhett raised an eyebrow. "Who's going to pay taxes then? Mmm, no no, you're all my wings."
Enel snorted coldly, lightning dancing at his fingertips, but he didn't dare to argue.
Rhett's first order was: "Build roads!"
For centuries, the Skypieans and Shandians had fought bloody battles over land disputes.
He made the decision outright. "Connect Angel Island and Shandia! From now on, we're one family. Anyone who stirs internal strife will have a nice, long sleep."
Moriah's zombie construction crew worked with incredible efficiency. In just a few days, cloud bridges, cloud ladders, and cloud markets sprang up.
Rhett healed the wounded priests. As long as he didn't want them to die, no one could die in his presence.
What was Skypiea's most valuable resource? Dials!
The reason Rhett had wasted so many words was to maintain Skypiea's normal operations. In his eyes, Skypiea was a golden goose, laying eggs of all kinds of functional Dials, essentially monopolized by Skypiea.
Wind Dials, Flame Dials, Tone Dials, Impact Dials... these were all rare commodities in the Blue Sea.
Tom had used up almost all the stock crafting the "Nirvana."
Rhett stroked his chin, scheming. "Monopoly, monopoly, new monopoly! Rhett decrees a new monopoly!"
The "Skypiea Dial Trade Company" sprang up. The Shandians were responsible for collecting, the Skypieans for processing.
Profit sharing?
"I'll pay you wages."
Rhett withdrew the blood mist with satisfaction: "Good."