"—If any suspicious personnel come up to mediate… I shall investigate his activities and expose his background," Souei said, kneeling beside me.
I hadn't even noticed him arrive. Typical.
Suppressing my surprise, I inclined my head slowly, deliberately. "You frightened me… arriving silently as always."
Souei lowered his gaze. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. But the residents here are far too unpredictable. Your presence alone—"
I cut him off with a soft, amused chuckle. "Souei, I am not merely present. I am authority itself."
Before he could respond, Elmesia spoke, her voice both polite and curious.
"Kukuku… Lord Atem, may I ask you a question?"
I turned my gaze on her, calm and unshakable. "Proceed."
"I wish to form an alliance with you, but before that, I wish to hear your thoughts—"
Her aura suddenly shifted. The light in her eyes blazed as she stared at me directly. A weight descended on the room—a force that pressed upon the hearts of all present. Even Gazel felt the oppressive pressure. This was her Hero's Haki in full display.
I remained seated, expression unbroken. Then, deliberately, I unleashed my own power.
Atem's Pharaoh Dragon Haki erupted, spreading like liquid gold through the room. Shadows deepened, the air thickened, and the walls seemed to close in. Light dimmed as if the sun itself had bowed. Every breath felt heavy; every movement, impossible. The room froze. Gazel could not move. Diablo, trembling, clutched the floor. Even Elmesia, the mighty ruler of Sarion, staggered back, eyes wide.
I rose, my presence a living decree. My golden aura pulsed like the heartbeat of the world. "You dare release your aura in my presence?" I said, my voice calm, but carrying the weight of a Pharaoh. "Know this, Elmesia: there is no one in this world stronger than I. If I willed it…" I lifted a hand, and the air shimmered. "…this world would cease to exist in a single instant."
The room darkened further, every inch pressurized by divine authority. Even Diablo, my loyal subordinate, trembled.
Elmesia's voice, trembling but defiant, pierced the silence. "Y-Your Majesty… what of the demon you command… Diablo? That most dangerous primordial—"
I fixed my gaze on her, eyes glowing like molten gold. "What of him?" My aura intensified, pressing on every soul present. "He is under my control. Should he stray, I shall stop him. That is all that is required. Do not question my judgment, for I am Pharaoh. My word is law."
"But—if he loses control—"
"Then I will intervene," I said sharply. "He does not act without my command. Even if he falters, I will ensure none are harmed. Diablo, Shion… they are under my protection. Nothing escapes my oversight."
Elmesia faltered, overwhelmed. "Y-Yes… I see… You… you truly have command over him…"
I stepped closer, the Pharaoh Dragon Haki radiating with every word. "Understand this: no one—no one—may challenge me or act against my will. Your power is inconsequential here. Your audacity in raising your aura before me is intolerable. Do you comprehend?"
The room grew unbearable. Gazel was frozen mid-step. Diablo could barely remain on his knees, shaking. Elmesia's face was pale, her knees quivering.
"I-I… beg you, Lord Atem… retract your aura…" she whispered, her voice broken.
I allowed a small, deliberate pause. My aura remained, heavy and unyielding. "Do you see now? This is the weight of a Pharaoh. Remember it."
Finally, I retracted the aura slightly, letting the tension ease. The room still trembled under the aftershock of my presence. Elmesia's shoulders sagged in relief.
"Now," I said, voice regal and commanding, "let us continue our discussion—properly this time. And remember, any display of defiance, any challenge to my command, will not be tolerated. You, Gazel, and all present—know your place."
Elmesia, still shaken, bowed deeply. "Y-yes… Pharaoh Atem…"
Even Gazel, still recovering, whispered, "Your Majesty… her strength… she never expected… not even close."
Diablo, trembling, lowered his gaze but nodded. My authority was absolute. The Pharaoh's presence had been proven beyond dispute.
"Then, if anything goes wrong, come to me or Gazel," Elmesia said, still trembling. "Do not lose control."
I inclined my head slightly, amused. "Despite appearances, Elmesia, I am always in control. Let that lesson remain with you. Now, let us conclude our meeting with reason, not arrogance."
Finally, she managed a timid request: "M-may I… meet Master Yoshida?"
I regarded her calmly. "If it pleases you. But he shall not be compelled to act beyond his will."
"That is most certain!" she said, relief washing over her face.
And so, the meeting of the Big Three concluded quietly—now under the undeniable reality: Atem, Pharaoh of Eterna, ruled unchallenged, and his authority was absolute.
On the third morning of the Founding Festival, I departed for the Dwarven Kingdom to exchange our stellars for gold coins.
With the prior complications resolved, I could finally focus on the festival itself—and, more importantly, observe how the conspirators would respond to our success. The tension that had hung over Eterna for days had lifted, and now the only matters at hand were enjoyment and strategy.
The day's highlight was the final battle between Masayuki and Gobta. The stands were packed with spectators buzzing with excitement, their voices carrying across the arena as they placed bets and made predictions. Many had even opened private pools, hoping to profit from the spectacle.
Myourmiles, ever the opportunist, was attempting to capitalize on this frenzy. Regardless of the outcome, he would make a profit by running the operation—an astute lesson in strategy: the true winner of gambling is the one who controls the flow of fortune.
I cast my coin for Gobta, not because I expected victory, but because supporting him presented the largest return should he somehow succeed. Even a Pharaoh finds amusement in calculated risk. Yet my attention remained focused not on gain, but on observing Masayuki's capabilities firsthand.
The arena roared as Souka's broadcast blared:
"NEXT—WE ENTER THE FINAL! WHO WILL BE CROWNED CHAMPION? WILL IT BE THE SHINING MASAYUKI, OR THE CHIBI WARRIOR GOBTA, FIGHTING FOR A PLACE AMONG THE 'FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS'?"
Souka's voice carried a relentless energy, praising Gobta in a way that left him little room to escape scrutiny. Whether she realized it or not, her words were cruelly compelling, making the pressure palpable.
At that moment, Diablo raised a hand, and a sudden hush fell over the arena. The crowd froze; even the female spectators stared, mesmerized by his imposing presence. I allowed a thin smile to touch my lips. The weight of authority, after all, commanded attention without a word.
Gobta had my full support, but the real test lay in Masayuki. Should he rival the strength of Hinata, Gobta would face nearly insurmountable odds. Regardless, the duel would reveal the swordsman's true caliber. A hard-fought battle would expose Masayuki's limits, allowing me to gauge any potential threat he might pose.
Additionally, Gobta's natural luck, amplified by Ranga's presence, made this scenario an ideal stress test. Every outcome was a piece of information, every strike and parry a message to be interpreted.
Souka finished her introductions with precision, her words flowing seamlessly into the opening of the match. The tension in the air shifted; the spectators leaned forward in anticipation.
I observed from my vantage, posture straight and aura radiating calm authority. Every detail mattered—the angle of a stance, the flicker of intent in Masayuki's eyes, the subtle cues in Gobta's movements.
It was time to see how much of Masayuki's strength Gobta would compel him to reveal—and what lessons this would leave for the realm of Eterna.
I narrowed my gaze, golden aura faintly shimmering around me. Every spectator, every participant, every whisper in the stands was merely a background to the Pharaoh's scrutiny.
The match began, and my attention sharpened—measuring, calculating, and preparing to act if the balance of power shifted.