Multiverse's Holy Right

The entire morning saw San Francisco International Airport completely shut down, much to the frustration of the city's residents. Yet, it also sparked widespread curiosity—just who was arriving in San Francisco today to warrant a half-day airport closure? The President wasn't visiting France at the moment, was he? And there wasn't a single news report about it.

A specially modified Boeing 747 touched down on the runway, with two escort fighter jets peeling away only after the plane had landed.

A stairway was rolled up, and a crowd of local magicians lined the tarmac in welcome. Standing there in full armor and a mask was John Smith—or rather, Annie Charlton, the North American Campione—who had been waiting for quite some time. The scene resembled nothing less than a head of state welcoming a foreign leader on an official visit.

Dressed in a bishop's robe, Roy stood at the aircraft door, surveying the land of the United States before descending the stairs. As Annie Charlton strode briskly toward him, he extended his hand.

"Mr. Smith, you've certainly gone all out with the fanfare."

The two Kings clasped hands, and Roy glanced around at the welcoming committee of local mages with a smile.

The scene could only be described as overwhelmingly hospitable.

"I was the one who requested your presence in North America, Mr. Roy. Ideally, I should have gone to Europe to extend the invitation myself. But recent troubles with the King of Flies have left me tied up, forcing me to ask you to come here instead. How could I possibly neglect proper hospitality?"

The two Kings exchanged pleasantries, carefully avoiding any mention of Roy's earlier outright refusal.

Whatever the reason for Roy's sudden change of heart and arrival in the United States, Annie Charlton didn't care—as long as he was here to help.

At the same time, she couldn't help but grumble internally. Did he think she wanted to go through all this trouble for a welcome? It was just that Roy's flamboyant behavior over the past year had convinced her he was the type who cared deeply about pomp and prestige—hence the elaborate reception.

People like Luo Hao from the East were like that. The slightest hint of disrespect could provoke her displeasure, and hosting her required meticulous planning in every detail.

If you put Luo Hao up in the White House, she might still be unhappy—she couldn't care less about political symbolism. But if you lodged her at the top of the Empire State Building, even just giving her a mat to sit on while she enjoyed the breeze would delight her. After all, the Empire State Building was tall enough to let her feel like she was "overlooking all beneath heaven"—a fitting experience for someone of her stature.

In Annie's eyes, Roy was much the same—just not quite as extreme as Luo Hao.

"I've already made progress regarding your request. The details can wait until we're in private… Ms. Annie Charlton."

Roy suddenly leaned in close, whispering into Annie's masked ear.

Annie's body stiffened for a moment. Though her mask concealed her expression, one could easily imagine the look of astonishment on her face.

She let out a bitter chuckle and murmured, "...Your authority is truly troublesome."

Facing someone before whom she couldn't keep any secrets made Annie feel distinctly uncomfortable, easily allowing the other party to gain the upper hand in conversation.

"Though I don't know why you're hiding your identity and gender, I won't reveal it," Roy said with a beaming smile, his eyes crinkling shut.

Annie studied Roy intently, realizing he was far more formidable than the intelligence reports suggested. She had assumed him to be a young, flamboyant, and arrogant Campione, but now saw why he was worthy of usurping divine wisdom—his own intellect made him highly compatible with wisdom itself.

However, Annie Charlton soon regained her enthusiasm, addressing Erica and Liliana who stood behind Roy: "...You must be Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranjcar, the twin stars of Milan! Your reputations in the mystical world have soared over this past year."

"You flatter us, Mr. Smith! We merely assist our King with trivial matters so he needn't waste precious time on them," Erica and Liliana replied in unison, executing perfect knightly bows. Though aware of Annie's true identity, their wisdom prevented them from revealing the secret here.

"Athena, I am John Smith..."

After greeting the two knights, Annie turned to Athena. Her tone lost its previous casual cheerfulness as she carefully measured her words before speaking.

"Cease your pitiful performance, Campione! I am Athena, goddess of wisdom. You cannot deceive me in the slightest. Your stench offends me—keep your distance."

The haughty goddess wrinkled her nose in disgust, edging closer to Roy. While he carried no particular fragrance, compared to the reek of other Campiones that assaulted her senses, being near Roy was like standing in a fragrant garden.

"I shall restrain my impulses, Goddess Athena. I've come seeking Lord Roy's assistance and have no wish for conflict with either of you," Annie Charlton said with refined courtesy, her cultured voice carrying an undercurrent of charm that might easily captivate young women—were it not for the female body concealed beneath that mask.

Truly, women understand best how to attract women, just as men understand men best.

Anne Charlton was a master of social grace, effortlessly attending to everyone present within mere sentences. Roy was certain that even were she not a Campione but an ordinary person, she'd be the type to navigate professional circles with consummate ease.

"Hmph. I too shall restrain myself to spare him embarrassment," Athena declared while leaning against Roy, making clear exactly who "him" referred to.

Annie Charlton secretly gave Roy a thumbs-up, impressed that he could make even a goddess obey him so readily.

Roy merely shrugged in response. Making Athena obedient? That was impossible. It was simply that Athena was wise enough to know what to say in any given situation. The Goddess of Wisdom was not one to be trifled with.

Just as Annie Charlton was about to signal Roy to get in the car, she suddenly spotted someone.

"Lady... Lady Aisha?! What are you doing here!"

Annie exclaimed, barely stopping herself from pointing rudely at the maid walking at the very back.

"Hmm? As a maid, of course I must accompany my master on his travels."

Lady Aisha paid no mind to Annie's outburst and waved at her with an air of natural innocence.

Annie Charlton hurried over to Roy's side and whispered urgently, "...Mr. Roy, why is Lady Aisha here?!"

"Didn't the lady just say? As a maid, she must accompany her master."

Roy replied with a cheerful laugh.

"Ah, my head is spinning now," Annie groaned, rubbing her temples.

With three Campiones and a powerful Heretic God now gathered in the United States—and among them, the most troublesome of all, Lady Aisha—the slightest misstep could spell catastrophic disaster for the nation. She suddenly regretted inviting Roy to North America.

***

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