"Your Majesty, we've arrived."
Loerke knocked on the door. He didn't mind the lack of response and simply pushed the door open.
The spacious room was littered with messy papers. Nero was curled up on a chair in the center of the room, holding a drawing board, sketching and drawing.
Nero's body occasionally swayed with the antennae on her head, the chair legs maintaining a delicate balance.
Completely engrossed in designing the new Fish-Man Island, Nero didn't even notice Loerke entering. She was muttering to herself, "Colored glass... fairy tale... church? That would be the same as before."
"New... forest... ocean. Oh, right, little Robin. How about combining it with a knowledge-based style? A place where truth resides deep under the sea. Hmm, that sounds pretty good."
"Coral, shells, conchs, seaweed, bell tower, library, school... Hmm, it can work!"
Nero's movements suddenly accelerated, streaks of afterimages blurring across the paper.
Loerke didn't call out to Nero. He stood quietly to the side. In this state, Nero would barely notice changes in the outside world unless someone approached with ill intent.
This terrifying focus was also one of the foundations for Nero being hailed as a polymath.
Neptune and the others hadn't followed them in. For a moment, only Loerke and Nero were in the room. Golden sunlight streamed through the glass, and only the rustling sound of the pen on paper could be heard.
After about twenty minutes, Nero finally stopped writing. She looked up and saw Loerke standing respectfully to the side.
"Lord Loerke, why did you come? Where is the Minister of Science?"
"That fellow will probably take another day or two to get here. Lord Holio asked me to bring the materials over first to help out, and to drop off little Law at Dorry's place."
Loerke looked around. "It seems Otohime's matter is truly urgent this time. You didn't even bring Hathaway with you?"
"Hmm, I almost didn't make it either. As for Hathaway, we've arranged to meet later in the Kingdom of Women."
"The... Kingdom of Women?" Loerke's voice suddenly rose, then he cleared his throat theatrically. "Speaking of which, I've actually been quite free lately. After dropping off little Law, I don't have much to do."
His eyes drifted towards Nero, the hint in his words very obvious.
The Kingdom of Women was a place where men's dreams converged, but it was too far. Going alone felt a bit awkward.
Nero blinked, understanding Loerke's meaning. She picked up another notebook. "Soga? Then take a look at the siren grand theater I've newly designed. Its style is completely different from Nicuss'. I plan to stay until it's built before leaving."
"...No, no need... I suddenly remembered, I seem to have some matters in my territory. I'm not that free after all."
Loerke looked at this sister building of the Golden Grand Theater, his voice a little shaky, and quickly added another layer of 'buff'.
"By the way, Your Majesty, let's first set up the basic layout of Fish-Man Island today. The siren grand theater can be left for the Minister of Science to enjoy later."
"Hmm, that matter isn't so urgent either." Seeing Loerke's sudden change of expression, Nero was a bit confused.
"I still need to quickly take Law to Dorry's place. We'll set off tomorrow. I'll leave the construction team with Your Majesty."
...The next day, another large ship appeared in the deep sea, flying Nicuss' national flag.
"Minister, this bubble won't burst, will it? We're deep under the sea." A long-eared youth with a white headscar, biting an apple, asked casually.
"Then you'd best pray it doesn't burst, otherwise, you, a Devil Fruit user, would be among the first to die."
The Minister of Science sat cross-legged on the ground, fiddling with a small, one-meter-tall robot. "We're about to meet His Majesty. This isn't like Sky Island, so you'd better rein in that slovenly attitude."
"Ha, who do you think I am? I am God!" The long-eared youth, Eneru, sneered, throwing the apple core out of the ship.
The Minister of Science shook his head helplessly. "Lord Holio would be very angry if he knew you were disrespectful to His Majesty Nero. Aren't your wounds still fresh?"
Eneru fell silent. He had been living well on Sky Island, preparing to officially ascend to godhood, when he suddenly encountered Nicuss' fleet.
He initially didn't care about these small fry from the Blue Sea, casually bestowing a lightning strike.
Then... then that old man named Holio really hit hard. His divine guard was disbanded, and he himself was abducted to the Blue Sea.
But how could these mortals know that a god would not easily yield? However, the old man really hit too hard, so God Eneru decided to solve the problem at its source.
That was the old man's superior, the Empress of Nicuss, Nero. He had finally managed to follow along this time. If he could resolve the issue through negotiation, that would be for the best.
He hoped this woman named Nero was a sensible person. He still planned to go to the Endless Earth; how could he stay in the Blue Sea forever?
"Eneru, please help charge this."
Eneru ignored him, propping his chin and looking outside. The scenery of the deep sea had a unique charm.
The Minister of Science's mouth twitched. "...Kami-sama, please help charge this."
As soon as he finished speaking, a thick blue electric arc flashed, precisely hitting the charging device.
"Oh, oh! Your Rumble-Rumble Fruit is indeed the most convenient, Eneru!"
Eneru proudly raised his head. These two-faced Blue Sea people would never again receive the favor of a god.
The Minister of Science didn't care; the personalities of tsundere girls were all pretty much the same.
He released the robot in his hand. This was the last one, perfectly completed before arriving at Fish-Man Island. The construction of the new city would rely on these guys.
"Wait! Turn around! Quick, turn around!" Suddenly, Eneru roared, as if he had seen something terrifying.
The Minister of Science didn't ignore Eneru's words. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit, combined with his unique Observation Haki, gave Eneru a distinct perception.
For him to be so terrified, something incredible must have happened ahead... Wait, something incredible?
The Minister of Science began to understand. His eyelids drooped, his eyes half-open. "Eneru, what did you perceive?"
"Idiot, is this the time to talk about that?" Eneru was frantic. Why was this guy starting to act up too?
"Destruction, chaos! Ahead is definitely the Demon King's domain! Quickly, full speed ahead and escape!"
Hmm, a familiar description. It was confirmed to be His Majesty's aura. The Minister of Science's tense body relaxed, and he looked at Eneru teasingly.
"Since it's the Demon King, won't the great Kami-sama go and eliminate her?"
"So annoying... What do you, a mere mortal, understand... This god's power... is a strategic retreat... I'll make her pay later..."
Eneru's face instantly turned red, and he grumbled in a fit of pique.
"Kukukukuku..."
"What the hell are you laughing at, you stinky old man!"
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