Chapter 3 - Search for Evil

There were billions—perhaps even trillions—of planets scattered throughout the Tenth Universe, each with its own civilizations, cultures, histories, and people. Even the gods could never know everything about them. The few worlds consumed by corruption were the ones that had once drawn Zamasu's attention during his time as a Supreme Kai apprentice under Gowasu. He had sought to eradicate them in the name of justice, but his judgment had been clouded by pride and a distorted sense of righteousness. What began as a crusade for justice had eventually become a genocide that ignored the innocent alongside the guilty.

Blinded by ego, ideology, and narcissism, Goku Black still struggled to accept the reality of his new position. He had imagined that becoming a God of Destruction would grant him unrestricted freedom to purge mortals across his universe. Instead, he discovered that doing so would only doom both himself and Zamasu to an unceremonious end—erased by Hakai for defying the will of the Omni-King.

That morning, Mitarashi quietly entered Goku Black's bedroom. She drew back the curtains, tying them neatly to the sides before opening the windows to let fresh air flow through the room.

The cool morning breeze stirred the sleeping god.

Rather than rise, Goku Black grabbed his blanket and pulled it over himself until he resembled a cocoon.

"I never knew my lord hated mornings," Mitarashi commented dryly as she attempted to tug the blanket away.

"The air is cold..." came his muffled complaint from beneath the covers.

"It's morning, my lord. Of course the air is cold," she replied, struggling against the surprising strength of a stubborn God of Destruction.

"I thought we were going to inspect the planets today? I've already prepared your bath and breakfast downstairs."

After a moment of resistance, Goku Black finally relented. He pushed the blanket away from his face, revealing messy hair and an irritated expression. He stared at Mitarashi, who stood triumphantly holding the blanket as if she had won a battle.

With a disgruntled sigh, he sat up and climbed out of bed.

Behind him, Mitarashi immediately began straightening the sheets and pillows. Goku Black stretched his arms overhead, several joints popping in protest before he made his way toward the bathroom.

After his bath, he was greeted by a freshly prepared breakfast. He sat at the dining table and began eating while Mitarashi attended to him.

She passed dishes he couldn't easily reach across the long table, refilled his tea with hot water, and replaced the loose leaves whenever they lost their flavor—all with flawless precision.

Goku Black ate in silence for several minutes, observing her movements.

Not a single action was wasted.

No mistakes.

No hesitation.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"Mitarashi, do you know how to fight?"

"Yes. Martial arts are part of a Kai's education," she replied while refilling his cup.

"A proper companion to a God of Destruction shouldn't merely excel at household duties. They should be capable of fighting beside their master."

"That is true, my lord. The relationship between an Angel and a God of Destruction is built on both guidance and combat capability." She placed another serving of meat onto his bowl of rice. "However, our partnership is different. In fact, it is rather anomalous compared to the arrangements found in other universes."

She smiled faintly.

"Still, rest assured, my lord. I may spend much of my time serving you, but I am not neglecting my own strength. I can keep up with your speed and power if necessary."

Goku Black nodded in approval.

Once he finished his meal and drained the last of his tea, he set the cup down.

"I'm full. Let's go inspect some planets."

"As you wish, my lord."

Using Mitarashi's teleportation abilities, the two traveled to a randomly selected world.

The moment they arrived, Goku Black began coughing.

The planet was smothered beneath a thick blanket of smog. It wasn't a natural phenomenon—it was the product of its inhabitants. The air was heavy and toxic.

As they walked through the wasteland, the silhouettes of towering skyscrapers emerged through the haze.

Broken power lines hung from leaning towers.

Shattered glass littered the streets.

Concrete debris was scattered everywhere.

Abandoned vehicles burned quietly in corners, their flames still flickering despite the apparent age of the destruction.

"What a despicable place..." Goku Black muttered, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief that Mitarashi handed him.

He paused.

"...Yet strangely nostalgic."

"Where are the inhabitants?" Mitarashi asked, scanning the ruins for signs of life.

The gravity was noticeably lighter than that of Goku Black's world. Several buildings had become overgrown with strange vegetation that released poisonous gases into the atmosphere.

The planet felt abandoned.

Dead.

Yet something about it suggested that it hadn't always been this way.

To gain a better view of their surroundings, the two ascended into the air and flew toward one of the tallest skyscrapers, intending to assess the situation from above.

Once they reached the top of the skyscraper, Goku Black closed his eyes and extended his senses, searching for any trace of advanced life. Beside him, Mitarashi raised both arms and focused on feeling the flow of ki throughout the planet.

Unfortunately, they found nothing.

No cities filled with life.

No hidden survivors.

No civilizations waiting to be saved.

Only overgrown toxic vegetation and swarms of insects remained.

Nothing else.

The wind carried thick smog across the rooftop, reducing the horizon to a gray blur.

"Are you going to destroy this planet, my lord?" Mitarashi asked.

"Yes."

Goku Black extended his hand.

A black sphere surrounded by a violet glow materialized above his palm.

"What we see here is an ugly monument to mortal failure," he said coldly. "And we are here to clean up their filth."

"Hakai."

Before the attack could engulf them, Mitarashi teleported both of them into space.

Together, they watched as the dying world crumbled into dust.

Within less than a minute, the planet was gone.

It was a grim sight—one that demonstrated the terrifying extent of a God of Destruction's power.

Meanwhile, on the Supreme Kai's world, Zamasu immediately felt the disappearance of a planet within the universe.

A short while later, Tatsu arrived with reports of what had occurred.

Rather than panic, Zamasu simply smiled.

Standing with his hands behind his back, he gazed across the endless green plains surrounding his dwelling.

"He has finally begun," he murmured.

His smile faded slightly.

"Now let's see whether he destroyed the correct ones. If not, we'll have to restore them."

Tatsu looked concerned, but nodded.

"Yes, Supreme Kai."

Over the following hours, Mitarashi and Goku Black traveled from world to world.

One planet after another fell beneath his judgment.

True to her word, Mitarashi allowed him to personally execute the inhabitants of worlds he deemed irredeemable before he erased the planets themselves with Hakai.

By the end of the day, Goku Black was covered in blood.

Satisfied with his work, he ordered Mitarashi to return them home so he could clean himself up.

Once back on his planet, she bathed him and washed his clothes.

Now dressed in a fresh robe, Goku Black sat upon his throne with a cup of tea in hand, quietly admiring the day's accomplishments.

Mitarashi approached with a wooden tray filled with snacks.

"You see?" Goku Black said proudly. "I destroyed forty-nine planets, and every single one of them was evil. Imagine a universe where—"

The front door slammed open.

"YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT!"

The furious scream echoed throughout the mansion.

A few seconds later, Zamasu stormed into the living room.

Behind him, Tatsu desperately attempted to pull him back and calm him down.

Instead, Zamasu dragged his assistant across the floor like a sack of rice.

"Supreme Kai Zamasu!"

Mitarashi immediately raised her right hand and performed a respectful bow.

"What are you doing here, Zamasu?" Goku Black asked calmly as he placed his tea cup onto the side table.

"WHAT AM I DOING HERE?!"

Veins bulged across Zamasu's forehead.

His face was twisted with equal parts anger and disbelief.

"YOU DESTROYED FORTY-NINE PLANETS!"

He pointed directly at Goku Black.

"AND TWENTY-THREE OF THEM DIDN'T DESERVE IT!"

Goku Black immediately rose from his throne.

"How would you know?!"

"Because I checked them!"

"They were all evil in my eyes!"

Zamasu let out an exasperated groan and held out his hand.

Tatsu immediately placed a large scroll into it.

Without hesitation, Zamasu hurled the scroll at Goku Black.

The destroyer caught it effortlessly.

Before opening it himself, he handed it to Mitarashi.

"What does it say?" he asked.

Mitarashi unrolled the document and calmly skimmed through its contents.

"It confirms that twenty-three of the planets you destroyed were peaceful civilizations."

Her golden eyes remained fixed on the scroll.

"They were thriving worlds filled with innocent people."

She flipped to another page.

"It seems you focused solely on their flaws and ignored the greater picture."

A dangerous silence settled over the room.

Then Goku Black slowly turned toward her.

"You..."

His voice trembled.

"YOU KNEW ALL ALONG?!"

"Yes, my lord."

She rolled the scroll closed.

"I knew."

His composure shattered.

"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP ME?!"

The room trembled under his rage.

For a brief moment, it looked as though he might strike her.

Yet Mitarashi simply met his gaze.

Unmoving.

Unafraid.

Then she asked a single question.

"Which one of us is the God of Destruction?"

Silence.

Goku Black froze.

His eyes widened.

The fist he had unconsciously clenched loosened.

His shoulders sagged.

Even Zamasu and Tatsu stood speechless.

Because she was right.

The responsibility had always been his.

Not hers.

Not Zamasu's.

His.

At last, the lesson he had ignored all day crashed down upon him.

This was exactly what Mitarashi had warned him about.

He had rushed to judgment.

He had allowed pride and ego to dictate his actions.

He had destroyed worlds without truly understanding them.

And innocent people had paid the price.

What separated him now from the genocidal fanatic he once was?

The answer was becoming painfully difficult to find.

Breathing heavily, Goku Black slowly collapsed back into his throne.

His body slumped.

His arms hung lifelessly over the armrests.

His face darkened with shame.

For the first time since becoming a God of Destruction, he looked defeated.

Unable to meet Zamasu's eyes, he spoke quietly.

"Go fix my mistakes."

The words felt heavy.

"Zamasu... I'll do my best not to repeat what I did today."

The Supreme Kai blinked.

His anger visibly faltered.

For a moment, he simply stared.

Then his expression softened slightly.

Only slightly.

"You'd better not destroy any more planets without properly investigating them first!"

Despite the lingering anger in his voice, the fury from earlier was gone.

With one final glare, Zamasu spun on his heel and marched toward the door.

Tatsu quickly bowed apologetically toward Goku Black before following after his master.

The door closed behind them.

Silence returned to the mansion.

Goku Black remained slumped in his throne.

For the first time since receiving the title of God of Destruction, victory tasted bitter.

And for the first time in a very long while...

He felt ashamed.

Mitarashi quietly approached her master and knelt before him.

She lowered her gaze to the carpet beneath her knees.

"My lord, if you believe what I did was wrong, you may punish me. I have nothing to say in my defense."

Her voice echoed softly through the now-silent living room.

Goku Black lifted his head.

He adjusted his posture, placing both hands upon his lap and straightening himself in the throne before leaning forward slightly.

"No..." he said at last. "I underestimated everything."

The seriousness in his voice made Mitarashi raise her chin.

She looked directly at him.

For once, there was no arrogance on his face.

No smugness.

No pride.

Only sincerity.

Goku Black leaned back again, crossing his arms and resting one leg over the other.

"Even Zamasu..." he began quietly. "The very person who stood beside me during the Zero Mortals Plan realized how much trouble my actions caused."

His gaze drifted upward toward the ceiling.

"I went too far."

The admission left his lips heavily.

"I need to fix this."

A pause.

"I want to fix this."

His voice grew softer.

"But I don't even know where to start."

He refused to look at her.

The shame was still fresh.

He had barely held his position as a God of Destruction for more than a day and had already committed a catastrophic mistake.

After a long silence, he took a deep breath and released it slowly.

"Get up."

Mitarashi immediately obeyed.

"Prepare something for me to eat."

He leaned his head back against the throne's headrest.

"And tomorrow, we'll return to the cosmos."

His voice sounded exhausted, as though all the energy had drained from his body.

Mitarashi gave a short bow.

"As you wish, my lord."

She turned and left to prepare his meal.

Once she was gone, Goku Black allowed himself to sink deeper into the throne.

The weight of his past actions—and the mistakes he had made only yesterday—pressed heavily upon his shoulders.

For the first time in centuries, he felt the burden of responsibility.

The following morning, Goku Black sat at the dining table while Mitarashi served breakfast.

The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the room.

As she set another dish before him, he finally spoke.

"Did Zamasu restore the planets I destroyed?"

His voice was noticeably quieter than usual.

Mitarashi nodded.

"I asked Tatsu earlier."

She placed another plate upon the table before refilling his tea with hot water.

"Supreme Kai Zamasu successfully restored all twenty-three planets."

Goku Black lowered his eyes.

A wave of relief washed over him.

But it was quickly replaced by guilt.

"He also told me," Mitarashi continued gently, "that Supreme Kai Zamasu collapsed from exhaustion afterward and lost consciousness."

The chopsticks in Goku Black's hand paused.

His shoulders stiffened.

"What a mess..."

He lowered his head further.

The embarrassment was impossible to hide now.

"What a shame that I put him through that."

He resumed eating, taking smaller bites than usual.

For a while, only the faint sounds of dishes and tea cups filled the room.

Mitarashi studied him quietly.

"Would you still like to visit more planets today, my lord?" she asked. "You do not seem well after yesterday's events."

Goku Black immediately frowned.

"I am fine."

The response came a little too quickly.

"And yes, I will continue visiting planets."

His annoyance was directed more at himself than at her concern.

"I need to see them for myself."

Mitarashi smiled faintly.

"As you wish."

After breakfast, Goku Black prepared for another journey through the cosmos.

As Mitarashi moved toward the front door, he suddenly stopped.

"What is the closest inhabited world to my planet?"

Mitarashi turned toward him.

"Planet Nyan-Qing, my lord."

"The origin of your tea cup?"

"Yes."

Goku Black nodded thoughtfully.

"Then that's where we're going."

He stepped beside her and rested his right hand upon her shoulder.

Mitarashi crossed her arms over her chest.

"Planet Nyan-Qing it is."

A moment later, both figures vanished from the mansion.

Only a ripple of divine energy remained behind.

Then even that disappeared into the silence.

Upon arriving on Planet Nyan-Qing, they were immediately greeted by the sounds of celebration. Red confetti made from thin strips of paper drifted through the air, while giant trees were adorned with countless red and golden lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. The lively music of drums, stringed instruments, and brass horns echoed throughout the city. Children ran through the streets, laughing as they played with colorful kites and paper dolls attached to wooden sticks.

Men and women gathered beneath decorated pavilions, enjoying tea served in cups identical to the one Mitarashi had gifted Goku Black. Both he and Mitarashi looked around with quiet awe at the vibrant atmosphere. The inhabitants resembled humans but possessed feline ears and tails, along with cat-like mannerisms. They could walk upright on two legs yet occasionally ran on all fours.

The women wore elaborate fan-shaped hairstyles rising behind their feline ears, decorated with silver and gold ornaments shaped like flowers and birds. Silk tassels and beads dangled elegantly from their hairpieces. Their layered silk dresses featured intricate embroidery, and they wore platform shoes supported by cylindrical bases that added several inches to their height. Most carried embroidered handkerchiefs or folding fans, which they used to partially conceal their faces while conversing.

The men dressed in simpler but equally refined embroidered coats. Their hair was often braided into long tails tied with decorative tassels. Perfume sachets hung from their leather belts, and polished black platform shoes completed their attire.

The air was filled with the pleasant scents of incense, perfume, and freshly cooked food freely offered by homeowners to visitors. It quickly became apparent that they had arrived in the capital city during a major festival.

Several locals noticed the pair's unusual appearance. An elderly woman approached them with curiosity.

"Hello, dears. You don't seem to be from around here. Are you looking for someone?"

Mitarashi smiled politely.

"Good day, ma'am. My name is Mitarashi, and this man beside me is the God of Destruction of our universe, Goku Black."

The elderly woman's eyes widened. The moment she heard the title "God of Destruction," she immediately dropped to her knees and kowtowed.

"We welcome you to our planet, my lord! May ten thousand years of fortune bless your path!"

As her forehead touched the ground, the surrounding citizens followed suit, kneeling and bowing before the god.

Goku Black blinked in surprise. Unlike many civilizations he had encountered in the past, these mortals welcomed him with respect rather than fear.

"Everyone, rise," he commanded. "I came here to speak with your leader. King, governor, emperor—whoever rules this planet."

"The person you're looking for is the Emperor, my lord," Mitarashi informed him.

"Then take us to your Emperor."

Meanwhile, within the imperial palace, Emperor Loong Mao was enjoying a grand banquet celebrating the Spring Festival. Dressed in a magnificent golden robe embroidered with dragons and wearing a red ceremonial hat adorned with tassels, he dined alongside the Empress, his consorts, princes, and princesses.

Suddenly, a eunuch approached from behind and whispered urgent news into his ear.

A powerful visitor had arrived in the capital.

The Emperor's expression stiffened. He immediately ordered additional food and refreshments to be prepared for the unexpected guest.

Looking around the banquet hall, he noticed one of his daughters was absent.

"Where is the princess?" he asked the Empress.

The Empress merely shrugged.

"I do not know. She's likely in the kitchens again, trying to create a new dish to impress you."

Moments later, the massive palace doors swung open.

A eunuch standing at the entrance announced loudly:

"His Divine Excellency, the God of Destruction, Goku Black, has arrived!"

Shock spread throughout the hall.

Every noble, servant, prince, and princess immediately rose from their seats.

The Emperor's anxiety intensified. He had expected an influential visitor—but certainly not the God of Destruction himself.

Goku Black entered with Mitarashi following closely behind him. The pair walked toward the center of the grand hall as hundreds of eyes fixed upon them. The silence became almost deafening.

Determined not to offend such a powerful being, Emperor Loong Mao hurried down from his elevated throne. Removing his ceremonial hat, he dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.

The entire hall followed his example.

"Welcome to Planet Nyan-Qing!" the Emperor proclaimed. "May ten thousand years of fortune accompany your path, my lord!"

His forehead touched the carpet mere inches from Goku Black's pristine white boots.

"You are the Emperor who governs this world?" Goku Black asked, his hands folded behind his back.

"Y-Yes, my lord!" the Emperor stammered. "I am Loong Mao, the six hundred and twenty-fifth Emperor of Planet Nyan-Qing!"

"You may rise. I wish to speak with you privately, Emperor Loong Mao."

"As you command, my lord."

The Emperor rose and nervously led them through the palace corridors.

Along the way, Goku Black passed tranquil lotus ponds, carefully cultivated bonsai gardens, and elegant stone pathways bordered by immaculate brick walls. The entire palace radiated peace and refinement.

Eventually, they arrived at a private reception chamber.

A large table awaited them, already covered with steaming dishes. Fragrant vegetables, roasted meats, soups, stir-fries, and delicacies of every kind filled the room with enticing aromas.

As Mitarashi helped her master into his seat, a servant stepped forward and offered him a cup of rice wine.

Goku Black declined with a slight wave of his hand.

"Tea," he said simply.

The servant immediately bowed and hurried away to prepare it.

The Emperor, visibly sweating from anxiety, sat at the corner of the room and cautiously addressed the god.

"My lord, what is it that you wish to ask of me?"

"Take a seat and eat with me," Goku Black replied, looking directly into the Emperor's eyes.

The servants immediately obeyed, bringing a chair for their ruler and placing an empty bowl, chopsticks, and a spoon before him. The Emperor sat quietly.

Goku Black reached for a bowl of steaming soup and took a sip.

His eyes widened slightly.

The flavor was extraordinary.

For a brief moment, he was taken aback. It was even better than Mitarashi's cooking.

He turned toward her.

"This soup is excellent. Why don't you taste everything here and join us?"

The servants quickly provided Mitarashi with a seat and utensils. She thanked them politely before taking her place.

Goku Black set down his spoon and focused his attention on the Emperor.

"Tell me," he began, "how did your civilization thrive to become what it is today?"

The Emperor straightened his posture.

"My lord, my ancestors experienced both peace and war. Some of their decisions succeeded, while others failed. Through every triumph and hardship, they recorded everything. Nothing was erased."

He spoke passionately.

"We believe that our mistakes should remain preserved so future generations may learn from them and become better than those who came before."

Goku Black listened carefully.

"And how do you maintain peace on this planet?"

"My forefathers established laws, regulations, and memorandums that are revised by every Emperor who inherits the throne. My late grandfather often said that war is a waste of both life and resources—that no one truly wins."

The Emperor smiled proudly.

"Those words have been carved into stone for centuries. Because of that philosophy, our planet has remained free from war for over seven hundred years."

Goku Black briefly glanced at Mitarashi.

She was happily enjoying her meal, even slurping noodles from a bowl beside her, yet she remained attentive to every word.

Turning back to the Emperor, he continued.

"What about your justice system?"

The Emperor's eyes lit up instantly.

It was as though he had been waiting his entire life to answer that question.

"My lord, we have some of the strictest laws in our world. We ensure that justice remains untarnished."

His voice became firm.

"Those who manipulate the truth are sentenced to death. Those accused without sufficient evidence are protected by the Imperial Constitution and released."

His expression hardened.

"What angers me most are those who believe justice can be purchased with wealth. Not while I sit upon the throne."

Goku Black's eyes widened.

Slowly, a smile appeared on his face.

Not a sinister grin.

Not a cruel smirk.

A genuine smile of admiration.

Mitarashi froze mid-bite.

Her chopsticks nearly slipped from her fingers.

For a brief moment, she remembered someone from her distant past who smiled exactly the same way.

"My lord...?" she whispered softly.

"Emperor..." Goku Black said, his voice filled with approval.

"I quite like your sense of justice."

The Emperor nearly fainted from relief.

"However," Goku Black continued, collecting himself, "I have one final question."

"Anything, my lord."

Goku Black extended his hand, palm upward.

His sharp gaze seemed capable of peering directly into the Emperor's soul.

"Proof."

The atmosphere instantly changed.

The servants tightened their grip on their trays.

Guards stiffened.

Several attendants swallowed nervously.

Yet the Emperor remained calm.

Without hesitation, he beckoned a eunuch closer.

"Bring me the box."

The eunuch bowed and hurried away.

Goku Black leaned back and crossed his arms while he waited.

Trying to ease the tension, Mitarashi spoke up.

"Your Majesty, these noodles are wonderful. The chili oil is equally delicious and spicy."

The Emperor managed a small smile.

"I'm pleased to hear that, Miss...?"

"Mitarashi, Your Majesty."

"Miss Mitarashi, I hope you are enjoying our hospitality."

"I certainly am. In fact, I hope your Imperial Chef might teach me these recipes so I can prepare similar dishes for my lord."

The Emperor chuckled nervously.

"Of course. I would be honored to introduce you after our discussion."

A few moments later, two eunuchs returned carrying a large black chest.

Judging by their strained expressions, it was extremely heavy.

They carefully placed it beside the Emperor.

The Emperor rose, unlocked the chest, and withdrew several scrolls.

Mitarashi stood and accepted one of them.

Opening it, she carefully examined its contents.

After a moment, she turned to Goku Black.

"My lord, based on records dating back more than three hundred years, the Emperor speaks truthfully."

Another scroll was handed to her.

She opened it and continued reading.

"This document records one of their foundational judicial laws from approximately two hundred and seventy years ago."

She cleared her throat.

"It states that if an innocent man is falsely accused of murder, declared guilty, and later proven innocent, he shall be granted a position within the local government as compensation. Furthermore, his family shall receive five hundred taels of silver."

She continued reviewing scroll after scroll.

Each document confirmed the Emperor's claims.

The records were thorough.

Consistent.

Transparent.

By the time she finished, Goku Black sat speechless.

For perhaps the first time in his existence, he had encountered a mortal civilization that genuinely understood governance, justice, and accountability.

Meanwhile, Mitarashi helped the eunuchs reorganize the scrolls despite the Emperor's insistence that his servants handle it.

Once finished, she returned to Goku Black's side.

"My lord, is something troubling you?"

"Don't you dare remind me about our deal."

"I wasn't going to," she replied with a small laugh.

"You're the one reminding yourself."

Goku Black felt defeated for the second time in as many days.

He slammed both fists onto the table.

The impact startled the Emperor and every servant in the room.

Then he lifted his head and looked directly at the ruler.

"Emperor."

The room fell silent.

"You're fortunate."

He folded his arms.

"I will spare your planet from destruction."

The Emperor nearly collapsed from relief.

"But if you fail your people..." Goku Black continued through gritted teeth.

"You know exactly what will happen."

The Emperor immediately dropped to his knees and bowed three times.

"Thank you for your mercy, my lord! I swear I shall never disappoint you!"

Mitarashi smiled.

"I'm glad my lord has finally chosen to spare a planet."

Then she tilted her head.

"Though I am curious."

"Curious about what?" Goku Black asked.

She gestured toward the black chest.

"Why does Your Majesty keep so many important records in a single box? Isn't that dangerous?"

The Emperor nodded slowly.

"Ah. That is actually because of a lesson my family learned long ago."

He sat down once more.

"When I was still a young prince, the previous God of Destruction visited this planet."

Both Goku Black and Mitarashi listened closely.

"He asked my father many questions. My father answered honestly and confidently."

The Emperor's expression darkened.

"But eventually, the god demanded proof."

The room grew quiet.

"My father ordered every minister and eunuch to gather the necessary records."

His hands trembled slightly.

"Unfortunately, they could not locate a single accounting scroll from two years before his reign."

The Emperor lowered his gaze.

"My father never imagined that one missing scroll would lead to tragedy."

Goku Black frowned.

"The God of Destruction became furious. He accused my father of lying."

The Emperor's voice cracked.

"He was so enraged that he slaughtered half of our population."

Silence.

"The god's companion never stopped him despite our pleas."

His eyes filled with tears.

"My mother... the Empress at the time... was among those killed."

"Because of a missing scroll?" Goku Black muttered, his brows furrowing as he sipped his tea.

"How shallow."

Mitarashi exchanged a glance with him.

"There may have been another reason," she said carefully. "What happened before that?"

The Emperor inhaled deeply.

"The scroll was only part of it."

His voice lowered.

"There was another question he asked earlier that day..."

And for the first time, he began revealing the full truth.

“The God of Destruction of that era asked my father if we would join him in a war…” the emperor began.

“A war…?” Goku Black paused mid-sip and turned toward him.

“Yes. There was some kind of universal war. I never learned the full details of it, but my father refused. He believed war was nothing more than a waste of lives and resources. After that, the subject was never brought up again…” the emperor explained.

Mitarashi lowered her gaze in thought.

“I've never heard of a universal war led by a God of Destruction,” she murmured quietly enough for only Goku Black to hear. “A multiversal conflict, perhaps, but not a universal one.”

The gears in Goku Black’s mind began to turn. Questions surfaced, but he chose not to pursue them for now.

Instead, he set down his teacup and addressed the emperor.

“As your current God of Destruction, I have no intention of dragging your world into any war. Nor do I intend to interfere with your civilization without reason.” His crimson eyes narrowed slightly. “The judgment of whether a world deserves destruction belongs to me alone.”

The emperor's eyes filled with tears.

Overwhelmed with relief, he immediately dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, my lord! Thank you for your mercy!” he exclaimed.

Goku Black watched him silently. For the first time since arriving on Nyan-Qing, he felt something unfamiliar.

The emperor was not pleading for his life out of selfishness or cowardice. He was doing it for his people.

A ruler willing to humble himself before a god to protect his civilization.

The thought lingered in Goku Black's mind.

Beside him, Mitarashi noticed the contemplative look in his eyes and smiled faintly, though she said nothing.

For once, there was no need to remind him of their deal.

The lesson had already begun to sink in.