Sabaody Archipelago, Island 1.
Resin bubbles seeped from the ground one by one, shimmering with colorful, crystal-clear brilliance under the sunlight.
In the past, due to the Celestial Dragons, the entire island of Sabaody Archipelago was filled with countless sins and darkness. Various illegal crimes were rampant, and gangs ran wild.
But...
Since the destruction of Holy Land Mary Geoise, the Marines have launched a comprehensive cleanup of the Sabaody Archipelago, striking down and destroying most of the dark forces, directly eradicating illegal activities such as human trafficking and drug dealing.
Therefore, islands 1-29 of Sabaody Archipelago, which were once called lawless zones, are now completely free of those shady illegal activities and have become ordinary residential areas.
However, among these islands, Island 1 is still a bit special.
Two years ago, after the human auction house building was demolished, this island was left vacant until several months ago when construction suddenly began, erecting a luxurious white palace.
The owner of this palace is the current Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the World Government and President of the World Government... Carl D. Sephiroth!
After ending the Great Pirate Era, Sephiroth was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the World Government and successfully elected as the lifelong President of the World Government with a unanimous vote in the World Government Council.
After a series of institutional reforms, many royal families "voluntarily" gave up their ruling power and became honorary royal families with almost no real power or privileges.
Even the Vinsmoke Family, which dominated North Blue, only received the honorary title of "King of North Blue" and lost their royal privileges.
Of course, the matter of Vinsmoke Judge and his three sons holding important positions in the World Government military is another story.
The current World Government Council is composed of representatives elected by the residents of various islands through a democratic election system to participate in World Government decisions.
However, as the President of the World Government, Sephiroth has the power to veto the council's decisions, while the council needs a two-thirds majority of representatives to veto his decisions.
......
At the entrance of the Presidential Palace.
Click! Click! Click!...
Flashbulbs continuously flickered.
Reporters holding cameras were blocked by security personnel and could only stand on both sides of a hundred-meter-long red carpet, constantly photographing the world-renowned important figures entering the palace where President Sephiroth's wedding was held.
"Photographing King, what are you shooting? You haven't even taken off the lens cap! Today is the President's big wedding day, a world-class news event. Don't mess things up, okay!"
Morgans slapped Photographing King on the back of the head, muttering. This employee of his was good at everything, except that he often forgot to take off the lens cap when taking pictures.
"Ah! Sorry, I accidentally forgot." Photographing King smiled awkwardly, quickly took off the lens cap, and started taking pictures again.
As if thinking of something, he tentatively said: "Boss, didn't you also receive an invitation to the wedding banquet? Why don't you just take me inside to take pictures..."
Hearing this, Morgans subconsciously remembered the time Sephiroth held a knife to his neck.
So, he immediately glared and said: "Hmph! If you want to die, just say so. I promise not to stop you. Mr. President has already said that no other news reporters are allowed in except for the photographers he has arranged in advance."
"Uh, okay! I don't want to die yet..." Photographing King scratched his head and continued to snap pictures of the people walking down the red carpet.
Across the globe, on countless islands, people buzzed about Sephiroth's wedding. It wasn't idle gossip—the President was hosting a feast for the entire world. The sheer extravagance defied belief. Who could fathom such inhuman generosity?
Sephiroth had arranged automated food dispensers on every street. With a simple touch, citizens could choose from over five hundred dishes, all free of charge. Entertainment programs added to the festive atmosphere, turning the celebration into a global banquet.
Amidst this unparalleled feast, people showered the generous President with praise and congratulations.
The cost of this worldwide wedding banquet was astronomical, incomprehensible to outsiders. Yet to Sephiroth, even trillions spent were merely part of the cycle of material consumption.
Money, for him, was nothing more than a lubricant for society's machinery. Important, yet not.
......
In the Presidential Palace's garden courtyard, melodious music filled the air.
Luffy stood before a long table laden with food, devouring it without a care for decorum, his belly swelling to comical proportions.
"Luffy, stop eating! The ceremony's about to start!" Usopp grabbed his captain's arm, dragging him to the guest seats.
They settled in, waiting for the wedding to commence.
Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, Cobra, Du Feld, Charlotte Linlin—friends, allies, and relatives of the brides—took their places. Their eyes fixed on the wedding stage, where Sephiroth stood tall and striking in his white suit.
The silver-haired young man captivated every gaze.
"Now, please welcome the brides!"
Tesoro, clad in a purple suit and serving as host, glanced at his watch and signaled the band. The music shifted to the wedding march, and a cascade of red rose petals rained from above.
Guests turned their heads, watching the procession of brides pass through the flower arch. The lineup was breathtaking:
Hancock, Sandersonia, Marigold, Scarlett, Violet, Makino, Reiju, Perona, Gion, Tina, Domino, Ain, Tashigi, Iska, Kuina, Sugar, Monet, Conis, Laki, Sharley, Shirahoshi, Nami, Nojiko, Pudding, Yamato, Kozuki Hiyori, Black Maria, Baccarat, Rim, Vivi, Uta, Nico Robin, Stussy.
Tokikake, seated among the guests, pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at his eyes. Smoker, sitting beside him, raised an eyebrow.
"What are you crying for? It's Sephiroth's wedding."
Tokikake clutched Smoker's arm, wailing. "Why does Sephiroth get all these beautiful girls? I'm handsome, I'm rich, and I'm still single!"
Smoker could only stare, silent.
Tokikake's heart burned with envy, jealousy, and resentment. Watching Sephiroth marry thirty-four stunning women was more painful than death itself.
On the stage, Sephiroth gazed at the approaching brides, his heart swelling with emotion. For years, these women had urged him to marry, both openly and subtly.
Seeing Sephiroth marrying thirty-four beautiful girls at the same time, Tokikake's despair deepened. Meanwhile, Sephiroth stood tall, his expression serene, as the brides drew closer, their presence a testament to years of patience and devotion.
He couldn't disappoint any of them. Treating them all equally without establishing precedence, he'd settled on a single solution—a mass wedding.
The real challenge had been convincing all the women to agree to this arrangement. He'd spent weeks negotiating, persuading, and occasionally begging until they'd finally relented.
As the brides took their places on the wedding platform, Tesoro turned to Sephiroth with ceremonial solemnity.
"Groom, do you take these thirty-four women as your lawful wives?"
Sephiroth's lips curved into an easy smile. "I do."
"Will you stand by them through wealth or poverty, health or sickness?"
"Absolutely."
Tesoro then addressed the assembled brides. "And do you all take this man as your husband?"
Thirty-four voices answered in unison: "We do!"
The ceremony concluded in a whirlwind of celebration. Tokikake, ever the instigator, led the charge as wedding guests forced drink after drink on the groom. Sephiroth, who'd intended to remain sober, found himself downing barrel after barrel of potent liquor until the world spun in dizzying circles.
......
Four months later
Presidential Palace, Study
Sephiroth leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he studied the interstellar expedition plans spread across his desk. The weight of ushering humanity into the cosmic age rested heavily on his shoulders—he needed to choose the perfect moment to present this to the World Government Council.
A sharp rap at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Carrot peeked in, her usual confidence replaced by nervous hesitation.
"You needed something?" Sephiroth asked.
"The ladies..." She swallowed hard. "They're pregnant."
His chair creaked as he bolted upright. "Who—how many—?"
"All of them."
Sephiroth's jaw went slack. Several seconds passed before he managed, "Well... damn. Guess I'm more potent than I realized. Might need to exercise some restraint unless I want to populate an entire city block..."
Carrot fidgeted in the doorway, her expression growing increasingly troubled.
Sephiroth caught the shift immediately. "There's more?"
Her hands drifted to the subtle curve of her abdomen. "I... I think I might be pregnant too."
Silence.
Sephiroth blinked. "Forgive the blunt question, but... whose?"
Carrot's eyes welled up, her lower lip trembling as she fixed him with an accusatory stare.
"Wait—hold on!" He raised both palms. "I definitely would remember if we—"
"You were blackout drunk after the wedding," she mumbled, cheeks flaming.
The rest went unsaid, but her mortified expression painted a vivid enough picture.
Sephiroth activated Blood Recall, the memories flooding back in humiliating clarity. After a long moment, he dragged a hand down his face with a defeated sigh.
"Right. Crystal clear now. Of course, I'll take responsibility."
[End of Book]