"Where is this...?"
The unfamiliar surroundings made the goddess Artemis, Riveria, and Loki widen their eyes in surprise. Though they couldn't pinpoint where they were, it was clear they were no longer in Orario. The air around them felt completely different.
"We're in another world."
"If you're curious, you can ask Hestia later. For now, I'll take you all to Aiz."
Yami spoke calmly as he observed their shocked reactions. He was about to teleport them directly to the Navy headquarters but paused as a thought crossed her mind.
"Before we go, there's something I need to clarify."
"Specifically, I need to explain this to you, Loki-sama."
"If you find a child you want to bless and bring them back to Orario, I'm afraid that's not going to happen. The portal only allows beings I personally permit to pass through, and we aren't exactly on close terms. I won't be offering that privilege unless you provide something truly impressive in return."
"If that's clear, let's go."
Without waiting for any further reactions, Yami enveloped them all in the power of space, and they vanished from the spot. Fortunately, none of the goddesses resisted, or he might not have succeeded with his current strength.
In the blink of an eye, several figures appeared at the Navy headquarters. The sudden appearance of the 'intruders' triggered the soldiers' vigilance. In just moments, several figures sprang out of the naval building, surrounding Yami and the others from all sides.
"Calm down, Borsalino. It's me."
Surrounded but unfazed, Yami spoke softly, addressing the shining figure who had flown up into the sky. The glowing figure immediately stopped midair and appeared in front of them in an instant.
The golden light faded, revealing a face of peculiar humor.
"Oh, it's Brother Yami. Long time no see."
"Hephaestus-sama, welcome to Navy Headquarters."
"Who are these companions of yours?"
Borsalino, who had been lazily floating moments before, now greeted Yami and the goddess Hephaestus with great respect, recognizing the divine presence before him. After all, Yami was a figure who had reshaped the world's balance—a figure deserving of reverence.
However, he wasn't familiar with the others. Still, the divine aura radiating from the other goddesses, especially Hestia, matched that of Hephaestus, hinting at their divine status.
"These three are Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth, Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, and Loki, God of Tricks."
"We're here to check on Aiz and the others. Are they at the headquarters?"
"It's an honor to meet you, gods. My name is Borsalino."
Borsalino bowed respectfully to the goddesses. After receiving permission, he straightened up and responded to Yami's question.
"Miss Aiz and the others? Quite the coincidence! They just returned from a trial with Teacher Zefa. They should be at the training camp now. Would you like me to call them over?"
Though Borsalino was an admiral—one of the top figures in the pirate world—he didn't mind running such mundane errands. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it. True to his reputation as a laid-back officer, Borsalino excelled at fishing for tasks that pleased his superiors.
Yami's expression shifted slightly but then softened as she shook her head.
"It's fine, we'll go to them ourselves."
"By the way, Borsalino, you're overseeing the Navy Headquarters during this period, correct?"
"Work hard, and the next time I meet Sengoku or Kong, I'll put in a good word for you. While a promotion might be out of reach, I can at least ensure you get a proper salary increase."
Borsalino's eyes lit up with surprise.
Wasn't that exactly what he was after?
"In that case, I won't hold you up any longer, gentlemen," he said, and with that, the wily admiral turned into golden light once more, disappearing at great speed. Riveria barely had time to react.
"That light, is it magic?"
"Unfortunately, no. It's a power unique to this world. It would take some time to explain. You'll see it in action soon enough."
"For now, let's focus on finding Aiz and the others."
Yami didn't bother explaining further. The power of space enveloped the group once again, and using his ability to sense auras, he located Aiz's presence. In the next moment, they vanished from the square.
When they reappeared, they were already at the Navy's training camp. It seemed a sparring session was in progress, but it wasn't Aiz's turn yet. The four young adventurers stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the ongoing match with excitement.
Tiona, with her lively nature, cheered loudly, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
Seeing this, Yami shook his head and, with a simple motion of his fingers, transported the four beautiful adventurers to a different spot using the power of space.
Startled by the sudden change in their surroundings, Aiz reacted immediately. The blonde warrior swiftly drew her sword, the 'Despair Blade,' and, cloaked in her newly acquired armament haki, thrust the blade towards Yami's chest.
The strike was sharp and precise, a clear indication of how much Aiz had grown over the past month. Yami couldn't help but feel proud.
He raised his hand slowly and effortlessly caught the blade in his grasp.
"First thing you do when you see me, Aiz, is attack? Are you planning to kill your master?"
The familiar voice caused Aiz to tremble. The girl slowly raised her head, and the moment she saw his familiar face, she froze.
"Master... Riveria... and Loki!"