Ars couldn't help but laugh, the busy body was definitely Rosar, all because she probably wanted to show off her charming prince, even though her prince had no interest in showing off.
Ars lamented to himself, if only he was sure previously… He could imagine all the teasing, making her super uncomfortable until she confessed today.
Well, while it was too late to have fun that way, this also served as ammunition for future interactions. And he was definitely telling Rook just to pour salt on her wound.
All of a sudden, the mini ceremony that was requested didn't feel like a waste of time anymore…
Ars also needed to plan his trip to Water seven to collect Blueno samples and find Capone Bege for his sample on whatever place he was, so he could get a special skill or two for Otojoō to use on her work, making possible the movement of large amounts of goods.
These 2 shouldn't be too hard to find…
He decided it was time to evolve his wives. He moved towards his house, found a maid and asked her quickly.
"Could you call all the queens?"
"Yes, you majesty."
After that the maid quickly went to find the queens and in a short while they were all grouped. Once everyone was together Ars declared swiftly.
"It's time to decide who is the next poke… I mean queen to evolve!"
Olivia raised an eyebrow and questioned.
"Who is what?"
Ars smiled but shook his head.
"You wouldn't get it!"
She rolled her eyes and just said.
"Fine."
Ars then asked calmly.
"Do you guys already agree on who will go first or will we discuss it now?"
Rachel replied quite simply.
"We decided in the easiest way. By order of arrival!"
Ars nodded and looked at Elia and inquired.
"So you will be the first. Anything you wish to do before going!? Or are you ready now?"
She quickly thought about it and replied confidently, putting her hands on her hips and puffing her chest.
"Well, if there was something I had to do, I don't remember so leave it for later!"
Everyone just laughed, and Ars quickly took her hand, teleported them to the laboratory and got the list of the powers they chose before, he gave it to her and asked for her confirmation.
"These are the powers you will receive, any last minute change of mind?"
She looked at the list and started reading it loudly enough that Ars could listen.
"So, water breathing, enhanced physique, exoskeleton, elemental intangibility and wind control. No, I think this is good for now."
Ars nodded and pointed at the first tube, and then he said.
"Well, you know what to do."
She got in and Ars quickly imputed the powers she wanted, then the machine went to work and Ars moved to the second computer to create the injection for Rook.
Once he got to the second computer, he quickly searched for the Rook file, when he found it he put the usual 3 points in body and 1.5 in mind, when done he confirmed the choices and pressed the button for its creation.
Shortly after he had the injection ready, he exited the laboratory and went to search for Oak. He quickly located him in his house. Lately Oak had started to stay in his house more often making small wooden crafts, Ars wanted to check if he had a fancy looking box, so he could use it to store the injection.
When he arrived Oak was happy to see him.
"Come in your majesty."
Ars quickly entered and Oak pointed at a chair, and Ars quickly sat down. Oak also sat down in front of Ars and questioned him.
"So what do you need from this old man?"
Ars was surprised, Oak seemed happier than usual, so Ars asked.
"Did something good happen?"
Oak smiled and replied with a serene smile.
"No, just reminiscing about my past and I realized that most of my mistakes from the past are rectified. Yes there are a few ones I can't correct but I'm happy with my current situation. Ever since I met you my luck has changed for the better. I can see my granddaughter smiling everyday and I made peace with my daughter in law, who graduated from being an overgrown brat… Anyway, I'm pretty sure you came with a request, you are a busy person… That, when there is nothing to do, trains… So what do you need?"
Ars smiled and nodded, before explaining.
"I heard from Fierzy, that lately you have been doing small wood work, so I came to ask if you have a small but good looking box."
He nodded and replied.
"I have a few, but how small are we talking about?"
Ars thought about it and showed him the injection, and explained.
"Big enough to fit this, and small enough that it doesn't bounce around."
Oak thought about it and went to get a box, it was slightly larger than what Ars wanted but he let Oak speak his mind.
"That is quite specific… So, this is the closest size to your requested size, and I think we could line the inside of the box with a velvet fabric and something like cotton or feathers inside the fabric to make it bounce less and if it bounces, it would increase the chance of the injection not breaking. Also making it that i don't need to create a box in a rush"
Ars nodded, that was indeed a good idea, so he looked at Oak, smiled and confirmed it.
"That's a good idea, let's go with that! When can I pick up the complete box?"
Oak thought about it and replied calmly.
"Probably, still today by night."
Ars nodded and got up. He prepared to go away, but before he left, Oak, with difficulty bowed to him and said.
"There are a lot of things that I screwed up in the past… But my biggest screw up was pushing Fierzy away, I should have handled it differently… Thank you for helping my family, and thank you for giving me such an opportunity."
Ars smiled and grabbed the old man's shoulders and pulled him up, before saying.
"No use talking about it, we are both not the best with words, but let me say this, I'm equally thankful you chose to follow me that day. I pretty much see everyone who is close to me as family, because for me… Friends are family… And you guys came with me when I was just a nobody, and I can only thank the people who put their trust in me, because without them I would still be a nobody."
Oak smiled and added.
"Maybe but a very powerful nobody i would say… Knowing your dislike for the world government, you would either be a revolutionary or a pirate. But look around you, most people in this kingdom not only like you, they worship you. You went and became the one that gave them the possibility of a new life, for a lot of people you are not just their king, you are the guy that saved them and happens to be a king! So raise your chin and be proud of what you accomplished!"
Ars smiled at him warmly, and replied with a serene expression.
"I am!"
Oak smiled, hit Ars on his back and said with a smile.
"Go on, let me go work, pretty sure both of us have better things to do than thanking each other."
Ars nodded and left, he could see from his behavior that Oak had accepted his death. Ars knew he was already planning for his death for a few years, to be precise since they met… Ars could only sight and accept that even if you last for an eternity… Even eternities come to an end.
Ars then flew to a nearby island to buy information on Capone Bege, since he was a well known mafia boss, it was decently cheap. He looked at the target location and calculated if he could still make it today, but considering that they were in different seas from each other it would be hard.
He decided to go on a different day and went back to his island, when he arrived since there was still a bit of time to wait, he went to train.
A while later he thought that Oak should be done by now and went to collect his box for the next day.
Ars knocked on the door and Oak answered.
"Come on in, it's open, I was just finishing decorating the box."
Ars looked at the box and was surprised when he saw that not only the interior of the box had changed but the exterior too. Now it was painted and decorated with a few small metallic accessories. Ars couldn't help but comment.
"Damn! That looks amazing!"
Oak looked proudly at his creation and nodded.
"Indeed… I'm quite proud of this one!"
Ars looked at him and asked.
"How much for the work?"
Oak thought about it, he didn't even realize that this was a paid job, so now he was a bit lost. After thinking for a few minutes, he decided.
"Let's make it, 100000 berries!"
Ars looked at him and asked, a bit surprised.
"Isn't that too little!?"
Oak just looked at him angrily and complained.
"I already gave you the price, so pay up and get lost instead of complaining that it's too cheap."
Ars laughed and nodded, he paid for the box and left to go eat dinner.
He arrived home and the maids were about to serve dinner, and when they saw him they quickly brought another plate for him.
Olivia looked at him and asked.
"Today we didn't see you for a while, is everything ok?"
Ars nodded and asked.
"Yeah, but did you need something?"
She shook her head and explained.
"Not exactly me, but Risa was searching for you, she wanted to train with you."
Ars looked at the little girl, put both his hands together and said with an apologetic face.
"Sorry, today with everything I had to do I didn't get much time to train. I went to speak with Rook because of the request going around, then i spoke with your mothers, then i went to ask something to be produced to Oak, that will be used for Rook's rewards delivery, and then i went to buy information in a different island, before coming back, receiving what i asked from Oak and finally i came to eat dinner."
Ars noticed he wasn't getting through her, so he promised.
"How about tomorrow, after the small reward ceremony, i take you to train with me, the whole day, just the 2 of us?"
Risa looked at him excitedly and exclaimed.
"Really!? You mean it!?"
Ars nodded with a smile, but the queens were looking at him with a dangerous expression, and Kuina reminded him.
"Make sure you don't go overboard with the training!"
All the queens nodded, except Rachel who was still unaware of his extreme training regimes. Ars rolled his eyes at them and said calmly.
"Of course I won't be going overboard with the training…"
Ars intended to go to the west blue, to get a Capone Bege sample, and he could train on the way with the little girl… That wasn't going overboard with training…
The next day right after finishing reviewing the documents that needed to be reviewed, he went to wake up the little girl.
Risa was still fast asleep when he entered the room and decided that it would be a good idea to wake her up.
One of the maids that were nearby instantly changed directions to go snitch to the queens, Ars knew he had little time to get the little girl ready. He quickly changed her clothes and got her a mask like his own. Then he picked her up and took her to the training ground to pick up her wooden sword.
Sadly Rook wasn't there yet, he got so excited about his day with his daughter that he nearly forgot his only actual duty besides the revision of the documents.
Happily for him, Rook was also arriving, because he wanted to receive the reward in peace without many people watching. Ars eyes shone and said excitedly.
"You couldn't have arrived at a better time!"
He took the box with the reward inside it, and the very few soldiers that were already training, came to see.
Rook looked at the princess still half asleep in Ars' arms, and commented.
"Doesn't she normally sleep for a bit longer!"
Ars nodded but replied a bit panicked.
"Yeah but today it's a day where she's gonna go along with her father for the day…"
Rook semi serrated his eyes and looked at the fidgeting Ars, with an interested smile.
"The queens have no idea of your plan do they?"
Ars smiled and replied confidently and excitedly.
"No… They didn't previously, but by now they should start to have an idea. Well I need to go or I'm getting an earful even before leaving."
Rook tried to contain his laughter but couldn't.
"Pfttttttttt… You would probably get into a fight with an emperor of the sea with no fear, but you are scared of your wives… So…Escape before you can't escape anymore."
Ars shook his head and replied.
"Not fear… It's just you can't even fight back so you can't win… Because if you are winning and they somehow cry you feel like you lost either way because you love them… And no one likes to see someone they love cry."
Then Ars transformed and took off, leaving everyone there laughing and nodding.