Haru exited the bathroom dressed in a red skin tight shirt, a long red coat with large red and black tree design on the back, reaching to his knees, black leather pants with a brown belt and red combat boots with metal guards reaching up to his knees. Draped over his broad shoulders was a large crimson fur cap with two red shoulder pads and red metal wristbands up to his elbows.
He looked around his personal chamber and softly shook his head in resignation. Oken was already there kneeling on the ground with his head bowed. "Your imminence, the chefs have prepared the feast and are awaiting your arrival."
"At ease Oken. Let us go." Haru smiled kindly and walked out of the room with such grace and elegance it looked as if he was gliding over the surface.
Oken nodded and followed after his Master stoically.
Haru strolled through the crystal palace towards the large dining room followed by Oken, the doors of the room sliding away to reveal the Dining Chamber. The inside of the room was quite simple but large, with a great crimson gem hanging from the ceiling, bathing the whole room in a red hoe and a large table with spacious crystal chairs in the middle of the room.
Haru entered the dining room followed by Oken; the standing chefs snapped into attention and bowed their heads as Haru walked up to his chair and sat down. The table was filled with every type of food a man could desire, a meal befitting of a king. The chefs had really outdone themselves.
Seeing as Oken stood beside his chair and the chefs excused themselves from the room, he smiled softly. "Oken my boy, sit down and tell me all about the world's situation during my slumber."
"Sire, my place is to stand beside you, not consider myself as your equal." the stoic man exclaimed.
"Oken." Haru started calmly. " How many times do I have to tell you to not use formalities with me? We are long past that stage. Sit down and eat. This meal is more than I can eat "
"As you wish Milord"
"It seems the world has changed far more than I had anticipated, " Haru commented lightly as he floated to his throne room. They had eaten their meal with the usual dilemma of Haru trying and failing to make Oken stop calling him "Sire" and all those formal names. Oken had explained the situation of the world below and Haru had to admit, it was far more complicated and worse than before.
The throne room was situated at the back of the palace at the top floor facing the vast landscape and forest inside the moon. The outside of the moon could be seen as nothing but a round silver ball of sand and stones, but on the inside, it was a land of lush and green grass and dense forests stretching as far as the eye could see with large blue lakes and rivers. Haru had collected any and all endangered species of animals and plants and had nurtured them on the moon.
You could find any kind of animals and plants your heart desired, from animals as small as ants to as tall as skyscrapers.
The two story tall Sentinels—covered in golden armor from head to toe with enormous axes, standing at the door of the throne room—bowed to the king and opened the great golden gates with vines like designs engraved on it. The gates opened to reveal a dimly lit, large hall-like room with a crystal staircase leading up to a pedestal in the middle of the room, where a large crimson throne was situated. The room had gold and blood red pillars located in a row to the sides, with a large red carpet leading to the front of the stairs.
The wall behind the throne was a clear red transparent glass, lighting the Throne Room in a dim red hue and enabling the King to watch over his domain. Made from gleaming black and red crystals with a modified cushion and two circular globes as armrest, the throne was a work of art itself.
Haru floated through the large room, up the stairs to his throne and sat down while Oken stood beside the large throne stoically.
"Yes, the 'Heroes' try their best to subdue the villains but make a critical error of judgment in the end."
"Would I be correct in assuming that these … villains are sent to some kind of containment structures instead of being dealt with?"
"Yes Sire. The villains are sent to jails to atone for their crimes. While the Heroes' decisions to leave them at the hands of the government are noble, it's their belief in second chances that eludes me." Oken explained calmly.
"I believe it's their desire to not become executioners, considering themselves to be below the law." Haru explained calmly and revolved the throne around to gaze out of the large window at his vast domain "While it's a very honorable quality, on the other hand, it's their greatest weakness. From what you have informed me about these criminals, many of them have one reason or another for committing transgressions and while I don't approve of foul play, they at least have a purpose for doing what they do?"
"And the others?" Oken inquired interestedly. His master always had a distinctive outlook and way of thinking than others regarding many issues of the world.
"The others basically commit crime for the fun of it. This 'Joker' character for instance is undeserving of second chances regardless of the tragedies of his past. Their show of mercy regarding some of these villains is admirable, but the rest needs to be dealt with permanently. "
"Regrettably, that is one action this band of Heroes cannot seem to take." the tall man stated with a small frown while Haru smiled softly.
"What is the name of this band of Heroes?"
"It's called the 'Justice League'."
"An interesting name, ironic even. They refer to themselves as the upholders of justice, yet refuse to kill for the sake of justice." the redhead voiced out with a subtle hint of amusement. " They wouldn't happen to operate from that floating station in Earth's orbit, would they? "
"Affirmative your Highness, they call it the 'Watch Tower', a place where they can protect the earth from both outside and inside threats." the brown haired man replied dutifully. Haru hummed in thought and eyed a small bird feeding an even smaller hatchling in a massive tree outside the Crystal Palace.
"Oken, what would you say to the concept of me consolidating with this group of Heroes?" the redheaded King asked curiously, without looking at his devoted right-hand man. He knew that the stoical man appeared to be mulling it over, obviously searching for appropriate words to both answer the question and not offend him.
Seeing as he couldn't come up with an appropriate answer, Oken bowed slightly and replied. "My opinion on the matter is of no importance, Sire. My job is to follow and serve you."
Haru chuckled softly and shook his head in resignation. "It's settled then, I would join this band to see what the world is like now and to cut a few loose ends. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to study the present world."
"As you wish Sire."