Four days later...
Sin woke up in a very cozy bed, and lazily yawned as soon as he sat up. He smiled as Hancock's scent greeted him, and it was all over the sheets and his body.
Instinctively, he searched for her and found her on the Drum Rocky where the new Capital was being built.
She was very serious when it came to ruling, not shirking from her responsibilities, and even though she had not been training much, he had sensed her Haki growing stronger.
Her colour of the Supreme King was a lot more potent now, more than both Robin's and Yamato's, and he could guess why that was the case.
Hancock had always wanted to rule, and now she was ruling, in every sense, reaching one goal after another, and happy.
After taking a long icy bath, he got dressed, not in his usual clothes but in a black suit with golden highlights, buttons, brooches, and the symbol of the Winterheim on his back, which was also made from gold.
After putting on his shoes, he wore a royal black and golden coat, which was littered with gold linings and had a large symbol of Winterheim on the back, the head of a reindeer with the Mark of Winter in the background, circled by an Oroborus. And on the front, on the left side of his chest, was the symbol of the Royal Black Family, which was a golden octagram with the eternal flame in the centre, which was also golden with another symbol of a smaller black flame inside it.
On the side table, inside an open chest, was a Golden Crown. A beautiful wreath with the symbol of the Winterheim at the front.
Wearing it to tame his hair, he smiled in the mirror, and then walked out of the Royal Chamber, only carrying the Nidai Kitetsu on his waist.
He kept his left hand on the sword hilt, pulling it an inch out and imbuing it with his Armament Haki.
On his way, he passed by Hit and Salome, where the Monkey was playing around with the Kuja Snake, and both rushed over to him.
"Good morning." He brightly smiled at them, and the monkey informed him about how Shachi and Penguin had slipped down the frozen stairs, their legs weak after training for hours early in the morning.
Hit enjoyed it a lot, and as he laughed again, Sin chuckled as well and gently scratched him under his cheek.
"I will be gone for a few days. Don't be too mischievous. Okay?"
"Hii!" The Monkey promised him and then jumped on top of Salome, who took him away.
Sin watched them leave and then continued walking towards the tallest tower.
He glanced at Kalifa, who was now dressed in a suit, just like Hina preferred, and she was also covering her cleavage in a mesh undershirt. On top of it all, she was wearing her Rear Admiral coat.
"I am coming with you. The Fleet Admiral has ordered me to stay by your side during Reverie." She said after she gave him a polite bow.
"I see." He simply nodded, started climbing the stairs, and she slowly followed after him.
When they exited the Tower, standing on top of the castle, Kalifa frowned at the ruthless snowstorm, but Sin just looked right through it and closed his eyes, picking up on all the signatures in the country.
Winterheim was probably one of the best places for him to test his limits with his Observation Haki, especially during these storms.
Kalifa soon panicked when she heard him slowly take out his sword, and then stepped back in horror as dark red lightning crackled around him, with waves of oppression threatening to steam away her senses.
He swung his sword once at the sky, spun around and then swung one more time, forming two dark and massive Air Slashes, in the form of a cross, which struck the dark clouds, making them rumble as if it was the end of the world.
Her mouth dropped open as she watched the sky get split and sunlight peer through, and the snowstorm subsided within seconds.
Sin smiled when he heard the joyous cries of kids at seeing the sun and then slowly returned Nidai Kitetsu in its scabbard.
Kalifa, deep in shock, stared at his back, and with all the gold on him glinting under the rays of the run, her heart skipped several beats in reverence.
He did not seem to be a human. She felt like she was staring at the back of god, and when he turned to glance at her, her heart skipped another beat and she blushed, despite all her efforts and training over the years.
"Come." He offered his left hand to her, and she instinctively placed her hand in his.
Sin pulled her to him, folding his arm around her waist, hugging her close, and then shot up in the sky, leaving Winterheim far behind.
Several minutes later, they landed on the Tower of Erumalu, where Simca was waiting for him.
Without giving her even a chance to greet him, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and shot up into the sky again.
He could reach the Red Line in less than two minutes, but since he was carrying the two of them with him, he took it slow and covered the distance in half an hour.
Still, they were both rattled by the ordeal and when they landed on top of the Holy Gate of Mary Geoise, scaring the guards standing under it, they needed a few minutes to get back their bearings.
Both Kalifa and Simca had not been to the Mary Geoise before, and they gasped at how beautiful the place was.
It was almost as if they had entered heaven.
"Wow..." Simca whispered but then heard Sin speak.
"What a filthy place."
Both of them froze at those words, and when they glanced at him, they found his eyes narrowed as he stared the God's Domain and then glanced at the travelators.
"King Sin..."
The Black did not pay any attention to the Guards, grabbed the two Rear Admirals, and appeared right in front of the gate of Pangaea Castle, where a certain Vice Admiral was waiting for him.
Gion furrowed her brows when she met his cold grey eyes, and then sighed.
"Honestly, I was hoping Tsuru-san was worried for nothing, but now I am glad I listened to her and came here."
Sin smiled at his words and shook his head.
"You worried for nothing."
"You are late. The rest of the Kings and Queens have already paid their respects to the Empty Throne."
"Do you think I would kneel to some empty throne or to anyone for that matter?" He playfully asked and walked past her.
All three of them frowned at his words and decided not to speak again.
They were now worried about someone hearing what he had to say.
Once they entered the castle, Gion took the lead and led him to the Great Hall, where the Royalty and their companions were currently dining.
"Sin, we are not allowed to take the weapons inside the Hall," she softly said, and he sighed in his heart as he knew she was begging him to not create chaos here.
"Fine." He grabbed his sword and handed it to her, and she gratefully looked at him before she placed her sword, Konpira, right next to his Nidai Kitetsu on the shelf.
"Seriously? A Cursed Sword?" She frowned when she took her hand off the weapon.
"Nidai Kitetsu."
Her eyes widened at his words and she stared at the sword in fascination.
"Heh... you have truly surpassed all the Master Swordsmen now." She chuckled, and he smiled.
"I am impressed that you can tell."
"Of course, but now that you are a Grandmaster, you have entered a realm that is too vast, and progressing through it is a hundred times harder."
"Maybe for you." He shrugged. "I am way more talented than you."
She smirked at his narcissistic words and then glanced at the two armoured guards, who quickly opened the door for them.
All the voices in the Hall stopped when he entered, and on the way to his seat, he took off his overcoat and handed it to Kalifa.
"Sin."
"Cobra." He smiled at the King of Arabasta and then nodded to Pell and Chaka, who were sitting on either side of their King.
Thankfully, their seats had been arranged between Arabasta and the Germa Kingdom, so he did not have to associate with some stupid people.
Sin glanced at Judge and the fifteen or sixteen-year-old princess by his side, who was curiously looking at him.
"Good afternoon, Princess." He smiled at her and then drew his hand forward.
She instinctively placed her hand in his and tried her best to keep an indifferent expression when he planted a kiss on her knuckles. And she, somehow, succeeded.
"May I have your name?"
"Vinsmoke Reiju."
"Black D. Sin." He gave her his name and then glanced at Judge, who was narrowing his eyes at him.
Sin smiled at the tall man and then sat down next to Reiju, taking the seat that Simca was supposed to take.
"Did your father ever tell you that he was great friends with my late uncle?" He curiously asked, and Judge's eyes widened at his words.
"Mors is dead?" The man asked in his deep voice, and the Black sighed.
"Yes."
"How?"
"An experiment that went wrong." He lightly said, keeping his eyes on the Princess, who was blankly looking at him. "Tell me about yourself." He said and then waved the attendant away who was coming over to plate food for him.
Sin personally plated some food, mostly kiwis and steaks, and then raised his brow at Reiju, who was staying silent.
She turned her face away and continued eating her meal.
"Do you have any siblings?" He gently asked, and she nodded her head and smiled.
"I have three of them."
"Why? Did one of your brothers pass away?" He asked, not looking at her, and her hands froze. "I know you have four brothers."
She nodded her head.
"Four."
"So, he's alive?" He asked with a light smile and chuckled inside as he finally sensed a turmoil in her emotions.
And still, she was able to mask all of it.
"I don't know. We lost him."
"Oh. Need some help finding him?"
"No." She flatly said, and he dropped the topic.
Sin signalled to the attendant, who quickly walked over.
"Bring me two bottles of the Golden Wine from the Wine Islands."
"Your Highness..."
"Go." Sin narrowed his eyes, and the authority behind his voice made the maid flinch.
She quickly rushed out, catching the attention of everyone in the Hall, and the Black ignored their glances as he just focused on eating.
"What are your plans these days for Winterheim?" Judge suddenly asked him after a few minutes, and Sin nodded to his words and picked up the glass to sip on water.
"We are focused on building the new Capital right now, but works are underway for the construction of a powerplant and a greenhouse, where the crops will be raised. Our Chief Scientist is also developing crops that can be raised on Winter Islands."
"He's from North Blue, isn't he?"
"Yes. Swallow Island."
"Why Drum Island?" He curiously asked, sipping on the wine.
"Harsh climate, fairly big island with 95% of the land uninhabited. Rich in precious minerals, interesting fauna, a good river system, and the finest doctors in the world. Winterheim also has a decent population, and they were without a king when I took over. So, it made things easy." He said and sipped some more water. "Arabasta and Vira are close, then there is Blossom Island, a spring island that has no government but is rich in food resources. Also, the Nanatsu Islands, not ruled by anyone but rich in various resources, and O-Kan, where some of the most beautiful animals in the world live. It is in a good location."
Sin finished speaking and smiled when the maid entered Hall and quickly rushed over, carrying the two bottles he had asked for.
"Thank you." He lightly said, much to her shock, and she nodded her head and stepped back.
Sin opened the bottle and then poured himself a glass of the Golden Wine, and also poured some for Reiju, much to her curiosity.
As for the other bottle, he passed it to Gion, who shared it with the Two Rear Admirals.
Even Reiju, who had tasted the finest wines in the world was surprised by its taste.
"How's it?" He gently asked, and she nodded her head.
"Perhaps the finest I have ever tasted." She honestly answered.
"Pour some for your father then." He said, and Judge did not refuse the glass when Reiju poured it for him.
Seeing them drink a different wine, some Royals ordered the same to their attendants, but unfortunately for them, they were bluntly refused by the Steward of Pangaea Palace.
At their embarrassment, Doflamingo sinisterly chuckled, but Sin did not even glance in the direction of his fellow Warlord.