A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

San Francisco International Airport was shut down entirely for the morning, sparking complaints from the city's residents. At the same time, it fueled curiosity—just who was arriving in San Francisco that warranted such drastic measures? Wasn't the President currently visiting France? And there were no updates from the news.

A specially modified Boeing 747 descended onto the runway, flanked by two escorting fighter jets that pulled away once the plane landed.

A set of stairs was erected, and local magicians lined up along both sides of the airport road to offer their formal welcome. At the center of it all, John Pluto Smith—North America's Campione, or rather Annie Charlton—stood clad in her signature armor and mask. The setup was every bit as elaborate as a nation's leader welcoming a foreign dignitary.

Roy, dressed in his cardinal robes, stepped to the edge of the plane's cabin door, surveying the vast United States before making his descent. As he approached, he extended a hand to Annie Charlton, who briskly walked forward to meet him.

"Mr. Smith, you certainly know how to put on a show."

The two "kings" shook hands, and Roy glanced at the lineup of local magicians who had come to welcome him, his smile filled with amusement.

The scene could only be described as excessively grand.

"It was I who invited you to North America, Mr. Roy. I ought to have personally gone to Europe to request your presence, but the Lord of the Flies has kept me too busy lately. I had no choice but to invite you here. How could I dare to show you anything less than the utmost respect?"

The two kings exchanged pleasantries, conspicuously avoiding any mention of Roy's prior, outright rejection of her.

Regardless of why Roy had suddenly changed his mind and come to the United States, Annie Charlton was content as long as he was here to help.

Meanwhile, Annie couldn't help but grumble internally. Did Roy think she wanted to go through all this pomp and circumstance? No, it was his brazenly flamboyant behavior over the past year that made her think he was the kind of person who deeply valued appearances and ceremony. That was why she had gone to such lengths to ensure everything was perfect.

After all, someone like the Eastern Cult Leader Luo Hao required similar treatment. The slightest oversight could incur her wrath. Welcoming Cult Leader Luo Hao would require meticulous arrangements in every respect.

If you housed her in the White House, she might be unimpressed because she cared little for political symbolism. But if you set her up in a penthouse atop the Empire State Building—even with just a simple mat to sit on—she'd likely be thrilled. The height and commanding view would resonate with her lofty self-image.

Annie figured Roy wasn't quite as particular as Luo Hao but still fell into a similar category.

"I've already made progress on the matter you requested. I'll share the details in private… Ms. Annie Charlton."

Roy leaned in closer to Annie, whispering the words into her ear just beneath her mask.

Annie froze momentarily. Though her expression was hidden behind the mask, anyone could guess that her face must be brimming with surprise.

She let out a bitter chuckle, leaning in slightly and responding in a hushed tone, "Your authority is truly troublesome."

There was a distinct discomfort in dealing with someone like Roy—someone in whose presence no secret could be kept. It made Annie feel perpetually at a disadvantage, as though he could effortlessly seize control of any interaction.

"Although I don't know why you want to hide your identity and gender, rest assured—I won't reveal it."

Roy spoke with a smile, his narrowed eyes giving off a fox-like mischievous glint.

Annie paused to deeply observe Roy. He was far more difficult to deal with than her intelligence reports suggested. Initially, she had written him off as a young, high-profile, and arrogant Campione. However, it was now apparent that he was far more deserving of his title—someone who had usurped the wisdom of the gods. His keen intellect made his compatibility with the divine concept of wisdom remarkable.

Soon, Annie regained her composed and charismatic demeanor. She turned toward Erica and Liliana, who were following Roy, and addressed them with warmth:

"...You must be Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranjčar, the renowned twin stars from Milan, Italy! Over the past year, the two of you have gained quite a reputation in the mystical world."

"You flatter us, Mr. Smith! We merely assist the King in handling minor matters so that he doesn't waste his valuable time on trivial issues," Erica and Liliana replied in unison, performing an impeccable knight's salute.

Although they both knew Annie's true identity, they were too shrewd to reveal such a secret.

"Athena, I am John Smith..."

After greeting Erica and Liliana, Annie turned to address Athena. This time, her tone was more measured, lacking the casual warmth she had shown moments ago. After carefully choosing her words, she spoke slowly:

"Put away your clumsy performance, God-Slayer! I am Athena, the goddess of wisdom. You cannot deceive me in the slightest. The stench of your kind is revolting to me, so I suggest you keep your distance."

The proud goddess displayed an unmistakable expression of disdain and moved closer to Roy. To her, the stench of God-Slayers was unbearable, but Roy, in comparison, was like the fresh air of a blooming garden.

"I will restrain myself to the best of my ability, Goddess Athena. I have come to request Mr. Roy's assistance, and I have no desire for conflict with either you or him."

Annie Charlton responded politely, her refined tone paired with a subtle charm that could easily captivate attention. It was a pity that her mask hid her true face.

After all, women know best how to appeal to women, just as men understand other men better.

Annie Charlton had a knack for dealing with people, her social finesse evident in the way she handled the room with a few sentences. Roy couldn't help but think that even if she weren't a Campione, she would excel in any profession requiring diplomacy or negotiation.

"Hmph, I also do not wish to embarrass him and will restrain myself," Athena said with a sharp edge to her voice, but her posture softened as she leaned closer to Roy, making it clear that "he" referred to him.

Annie gave Roy a subtle thumbs-up, acknowledging his ability to make even a proud goddess cooperative.

Roy simply shrugged. Athena wasn't "obedient" because of him; she was simply wise enough to understand how to behave appropriately in any situation. A goddess of wisdom like her would never be swayed by simple persuasion.

Just as Annie was about to invite Roy to get into the car, her eyes caught sight of someone unexpected, and her tone slipped into one of shocked disbelief.

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

Annie's surprise nearly caused her to rudely point directly at the figure walking at the back of the group.

"Eh? As a maid, of course, I have to accompany my master on his travels."

Madame Aisha didn't seem to care about Annie's flustered reaction. She waved at her with a carefree smile, her tone as natural as if this were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Annie quickly strode to Roy's side and whispered in a panicked voice:

"...Mr. Roy, why is Madame Aisha here?!"

"Didn't the lady herself just say? As a maid, she must follow her master," Roy replied with a grin that betrayed how much he was enjoying Annie's distress.

"Oh, I feel like my head is about to explode," Annie muttered, massaging her temples.

At this point, the United States had become host to three God-Slayers and a powerful Heretic God. Among them was Madame Aisha—the most troublesome of the bunch. A single misstep could lead to catastrophic consequences for the country. For the first time, Annie began to regret ever inviting Roy to North America.