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[Open System Panel]
Kaito
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Realm: Nascent Soul Stage Peak
Cultivation Method: Basic Cultivation Method
Special Abilities: Eye of Identification, Dimensional Gate, Space Compression Technique
Followers: Izayoi Sakuya, Tom
Magic Treasures: Tenkuu (renamed after human transformation), Conqueror's Banner (5.1 million souls) I
tems: Dimensional Gate Sub-gate x1, Dragon Ball Space Capsule Technology, Coke x278...
Overall Evaluation: You are already a visible big shot across the myriad worlds, though you might still get accidentally stepped on! ┓(´-`)┏
Kaito looked at the figure for the new souls added to the panel.
He let out a quiet breath. No wonder they were a civilization capable of crossing the universe. Their soul strength was genuinely something.
Combined with the souls from the Falmuth Kingdom rebels that Diablo had delivered, the total reserve had broken five million again.
'No wonder they say you don't get rich without a windfall, and horses don't fatten without midnight grass. I've done well for myself.'
Chito and Yuuri were watching him with an expression of mild concern. They tugged on Sakuya's sleeve.
"Sakuya-nee-chan, is something wrong with Lord God? Is he alright?"
Sakuya answered without looking up.
"Nothing is wrong. He is always like this."
They accepted that and stopped asking.
"Ahem... I heard you two talking about me."
Kaito cleared his throat, looking slightly caught out, and turned to the group.
"Hehe!"
"Alright. Let's move. Time to leave this world."
The words landed with quiet weight. Was it finally time?
Everyone took one last long look at the distant horizon. Yuuri cupped her hands around her mouth.
"World, goodbye!!!"
[Open Dimensional Gate!]
A glowing white portal appeared out of thin air before them.
"This is the Dimensional Gate. Let's go."
Kaito stepped through first. The others followed quickly behind him.
Jura-Tempest Federation · Kaito's Villa
"Welcome back, Kaito-sama!"
The moment Kaito stepped out the other side, Shuna was already there, waiting at the entrance with a gentle smile.
"Yo! Shuna, what brings you over today?"
"Hehe! I was actually coming to find my brother. But then I saw the Dimensional Gate open and thought it must be you coming home."
She gave a slight bow.
Kaito nodded. As Quartermaster General of the Jura-Tempest Federation's entire military, Shuna frequently needed to coordinate supply allocations with Benimaru. It made sense she would be nearby.
"I think my brother will be glad you are back."
"Is that so? Is there something they need me for?"
Benimaru would not normally disturb Kaito or Rimuru over minor matters. If he was looking for him, something had come up that needed a decision from above.
"I am not entirely sure of the details. It seems to be about matters in the One Piece world."
"Understood."
"Then I will take my leave, Kaito-sama."
Shuna placed her right hand over her chest, bowed, and headed off.
"Wow!!! Is this Lord God's world?!"
"The air is so fresh!"
Yuuri and Chito came through the gate and immediately tilted their faces up to a clear blue sky, breathing in air that felt almost impossibly clean. It was as though something in their lungs was being rinsed out for the first time in years.
"Is this the Jura-Tempest Federation Kaito-sama mentioned?" Ishii looked at the single-story villa in front of her, then at the handful of other buildings scattered in the distance. "It seems smaller than I imagined."
"This is not the central district of the Jura-Tempest Federation. This is Kaito-sama's private residence."
Sakuya explained quietly, hands folded at her front.
"Eh?! This is Lord God's house?"
Yuuri studied the villa with an expression of faint betrayal. She had imagined something considerably more divine.
"What's that look for? I designed this myself."
Kaito fixed her with a deeply offended stare.
In fairness, it was not just Kaito. By some unspoken collective agreement, the senior figures of the Jura-Tempest Federation had all settled into individual three-story villas. No one had gone for anything grander. The differences between them were mostly in how the interiors were arranged.
"Shouldn't a god's home be magnificent? With soaring towers? Guards in golden armor?"
Yuuri tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled by the gap between expectation and reality.
"Where did you get all that from, you little gremlin?"
Kaito rolled his eyes.
'If she knew Milim's setup is somehow even worse than mine...'
"Lord God! Yuuri didn't mean to be rude about your home. Please don't be upset!"
Chito stepped forward quickly with an apologetic look.
"Hahaha! I'm not upset, Chito. Honestly, compared to some of the others out there, mine is on the humbler side."
He thought of Guy's palace built atop permafrost. Luminus's royal palace. Ramiris and her labyrinth. Against all of that, his place and Rimuru's could fairly be described as cozy.
Not that he minded. He could only sleep in one room at a time. And the smaller the house, the easier it was for Sakuya to clean. Everyone won.
"Anyway. Someone!"
A demon in a black uniform appeared instantly before him, right hand over chest.
"Kaito-sama."
"Take these two to the civil affairs office for identification registration. Hand them off there afterward."
Kaito indicated Kanazawa and Ishii.
"Yes, Kaito-sama."
He turned to the two of them, his expression going completely blank.
"Follow me."
"Yes! Thank you so much, Kaito-sama!"
"Thank you, truly!"
Kaito waved them off. The three departed together.
He watched them go and shook his head with faint amusement. Every subordinate Diablo had trained was exactly like their boss. Toward Kaito and Rimuru, absolute deference. Toward everyone else, the expression of someone waiting to be repaid a debt.
"Never mind them. You two, come with me. There is someone I want you to meet."
"Okay! *2"