When Whis arrived at the Grand Zeno's Royal Palace, he was immediately greeted by the Grand Minister, who wasted no time getting straight to the point.
"Whis," the Grand Minister said calmly, his hands folded behind his back, "your Universe has been quite lively lately. Tell me—what were Vados and Marcarita doing in your sector? Don't tell me you were having a family reunion."
Whis felt cold sweat form on his forehead. He had hoped the matter would go unnoticed, but clearly, the Grand Minister had sensed the disturbance. The battle between Uchiha Chiga and Marcarita had drawn far too much attention.
With no other choice, Whis reported truthfully,
"A God named Uchiha Chiga has appeared in my Universe. Both Vados and Marcarita were drawn to him."
"A God?" The Grand Minister's tone sharpened with intrigue. "Uchiha Chiga, you say? Then he must be the one who fought Marcarita. What does he look like?"
Whis blinked. "Hmm? Grand Minister, can't your staff show what happens in each Universe?"
The Grand Minister didn't reply. Instead, he raised his staff. The black crystal orb at its tip flickered with divine energy, replaying the earlier battle between Marcarita and Chiga. However, Chiga's figure was obscured by a strange mist—his features completely hidden.
Whis frowned. "To even block the Grand Minister's staff… He truly comes from another dimension."
"Oh?" A small smile tugged at the Grand Minister's lips. "Not a God from our reality, then. How fascinating. Tell me more."
Whis pondered for a moment before replying, "I don't know much about Uchiha Chiga yet. But his strength is extraordinary. The result of that battle was… Marcarita's defeat."
The Grand Minister's eyes widened slightly. "Marcarita… lost?" He hadn't expected that. Since the mist had concealed the outcome from his staff, this was new information.
He began pacing slowly, his expression thoughtful. "What is his personality like?"
Whis considered the question carefully. "He's composed and reasonable. He fought Marcarita because of Vados—and from what I can tell, Vados seems rather fond of him. She's even been hoping he'd take up the mantle of God of Destruction for the Sixth Universe."
"Is that so?" The Grand Minister chuckled softly. "Well, you're not young anymore, Whis. It's only natural to think about such matters."
Whis tilted his head, feigning ignorance. He cared far more for fine dining than for affairs of the heart. After a moment, he asked tentatively,
"Grand Minister, shall I summon Vados? She knows Uchiha Chiga better than I do."
The Grand Minister shook his head. "No need. If she likes him, let her remain on Earth for now—perhaps to properly accompany this guest who has come from afar. However…" His expression darkened slightly. "What about Marcarita? Why did she go as well?"
Whis sighed. "Ah… she said she went to Earth to 'watch shows.'"
That phrase clearly caught the Grand Minister off guard. He blinked, tilting his head in confusion. "Watch… shows? What does that mean?"
Whis waved his hands, trying to explain, "They're called TV dramas on Earth—performances humans record and broadcast. Marcarita thought what was happening between Vados and Chiga felt like one of those dramas, so she wanted to watch it firsthand."
The Grand Minister's brow relaxed, and a faint smile appeared. "Ah, why didn't you just say she wanted to see a play?"
Whis froze for a moment, then awkwardly laughed. "As expected of the Grand Minister, always so precise."
Though he appeared stern to outsiders, the Grand Minister was far more approachable when speaking with his children. He shook his head lightly, saying with fatherly pride,
"Whis, don't flatter me too much. It's not a good habit."
Whis resisted the urge to roll his eyes but instead bowed slightly. "The Grand Minister's teaching is wise."
The Grand Minister let out a satisfied hum, waving his hand. "Very well, you may return. Your Universe has become rather lively lately—do make sure nothing gets out of hand."
Whis nodded, though his expression showed hesitation. The Grand Minister noticed immediately.
"Whis, is there something else you wish to ask?"
Whis's eyes shifted respectfully toward the depths of the palace. Lowering his voice, he asked,
"Grand Minister… I heard a rumor that Zen-Oh intends to erase several Universes. Is that true?"
At the mention of Grand Zeno, the Grand Minister's expression grew serious. His usually calm eyes narrowed slightly. "Where did you hear that?"
"It came from the Eleventh Universe," Whis replied softly.
"Marcarita's Universe," the Grand Minister murmured. "No surprise there. The God of Destruction from that realm has always been… impulsive."
The black orb on his staff shimmered again, revealing the image of a clown-faced deity—Belmod, the God of Destruction from the Eleventh Universe. The Grand Minister regarded him with quiet disdain.
"Presumptuous fool. A mere God of Destruction cannot begin to fathom Zen-Oh's will."
Then, turning back to Whis, he added,
"The rumor is true—but it's not just a few Universes. Zen-Oh intends to erase all of them. If even one survives, it will be by his grace."
Whis's eyes widened in disbelief. "Nani!? Why? Did one of the Universes offend Zen-Oh-sama?"
The Grand Minister shook his head gently. "All Universes exist solely under Zen-Oh's command. Their creation or erasure depends only on his whim. Perhaps he has grown tired of the current order… and wishes to cleanse and recreate everything anew."
Whis fell silent, recalling the six Universes that had already been erased long ago. A deep unease settled in his chest.
Floating closer, the Grand Minister placed a hand on Whis's shoulder, his tone softening.
"Whis, do not burden yourself with such worries. Even if the Universes vanish, you Angels will not die. You will simply enter a long slumber… until the next cycle begins."
But those words brought little comfort. The six erased Universes had shown no signs of rebirth even now. Thinking of that, Whis felt a weight in his chest—a rare, helpless feeling for an Angel.
The Grand Minister sighed quietly. "If you truly cherish your Universe, then when that day comes, I will do my best to mediate on your behalf."
At that moment, his imposing aura faded, replaced by the gentle warmth of a father speaking to his child.
Whis's heart softened. He understood that, for the Grand Minister—who had always obeyed Zen-Oh without question—to say such words, was already pushing the boundaries of divine obedience.
"Grand Minister…" Whis said quietly, his voice filled with emotion.
The Grand Minister tilted his head and smiled faintly.
"Hm, that sounded heartfelt. Usually, when you say 'Grand Minister,' it feels like you're addressing a superior. But this time—it sounded like a son speaking to his father. I'll take that as a compliment."
Whis rubbed the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. "Heh… perhaps it did."
The tension that had clouded his heart slowly lifted, replaced by a quiet sense of relief.