Preparation

On the plaza outside Anchorage Base, passenger planes arriving from afar kept landing at the airfield, unloading reporters from major news outlets, newspapers, and television stations around the world.

The plaza was packed, with countless cameras set up one by one. From time to time, heated, astonished gazes turned toward He-El, lying outside the dome and basking in the sun.

"He's living every man's dream."

Jupiter's cameraman looked at He-El lying outside the dome, his eyes filled with envy.

Jupiter had shoulder-length blonde hair, a lovely face, red-framed glasses, and a slim figure beneath her tailored skirt suit. Following her cameraman's gaze, she looked toward the faintly glowing figure under the sunlight. Something unusual flickered in her bright eyes, and a confident, meaningful smile curled her lips. "Is that so?"

"What's that helicopter doing?" The many staff members on the plaza, busy arranging and moving cameras, occasionally looked toward the outside of the dome. They happened to see a helicopter flying directly toward the alien sunbathing outside.

Given the alien's sensitivity and unpredictable temper during this period, no media outlet had been brazen enough to approach him for an interview beforehand. Especially after the United Nations issued warnings forbidding anyone from disturbing the alien, every outlet had quietly waited for February 29 to arrive.

But with so many humans, there would always be people who didn't know their place and thought too highly of themselves.

"Guys, do you see this? This is the closest the Space Alien Support Association has ever gotten to him. We're the only support group that can get close."

The rotors churned up a tremendous roar in the sky. The helicopter door opened, and an excited young man with flaxen hair aimed his livestream camera at the sunbathing He-El, crying out in amazement.

Comments flooded the livestream at breakneck speed.

"Oh my God! He's so handsome!"

"He's perfect."

"He's practically a god."

"Wright, get closer! I want to say hello to him."

"Won't this make him angry?"

"No. We're his supporters."

"Exactly."

"Why would a god be angry at his believers?"

"He needs us!"

"Go over there!"

Wright was so excited that his face had flushed red. He desperately urged the helicopter to move closer to He-El, then took out a Loudspeaker from the back seat and shouted into it, "Hi, hi, how are you? We're your—"

He-El's eyes began to glow crimson. Wright's excited face instantly turned pale as he cried in terror, "No, no, no, no—"

Two scorching beams of heat vision struck the helicopter. The entire aircraft exploded in midair, bursting into a cloud of black smoke as the wreckage, tangled with the rotors, fell toward the coast.

In the livestream, the last thing visible was the red glow in the eyes of the god they supported. The screen was instantly flooded with crimson light before going black.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Is the feast starting?"

The sudden change in the sky sent the plaza into an uproar.

It had happened too fast.

Just like that, a helicopter was gone.

The wreckage that had fallen onto the coast, still belching black smoke, served as a warning that this alien was not so easy to get along with.

The strange gleam in Jupiter's eyes deepened. Calmly withdrawing her gaze from He-El, she headed into Anchorage Base.

"Still want to?" she asked.

The cameraman's expression tightened. His hands and feet trembled slightly, but his heart burned even hotter. Now, he envied He-El even more.

A little while later.

Stacker opened the rooftop door and walked straight outside the dome. Squinting at the sun, he turned and headed toward He-El.

He had not come to deal with the aftermath of the helicopter incident. He-El did not care.

The United Nations had issued overwhelming reminders and warnings not to approach or disturb He-El, but there were always people lacking in IQ. What could they do?

For the moment, they could not completely seal off Anchorage's airspace. If one or two stragglers slipped through like this, there was little they could do. They were truly afraid that He-El would take his anger out on them.

But Stacker knew that He-El did not care. He had always been very tolerant of the dead.

"The United Nations sent people over. They want to talk to you."

Stacker squinted under the sunlight and looked at He-El lying there.

"There's no need. It'll be announced at the press conference in two days," He-El said lazily. Ever since he had finished coding Dawn, he had been lying outside the dome, basking in the sun.

As every last ray of sunlight was absorbed, the gradual sensation of growing stronger made him unable to stop.

He even felt like he could keep sunbathing forever and not bother ruling Earth.

Stacker's already dark face looked especially unpleasant. Of course he knew what He-El intended to announce, but no matter what, the United Nations would not simply surrender.

Earth had already suffered an invasion by alien monsters, and now it was about to fight another alien war. This time, it might very well be a war over the transfer of Earth's ownership. Stacker was powerless to stop it, and the anguish tormented him.

"We're short-handed. You may need a secretary." Stacker spoke as calmly as he could.

"That's fine. Let her come. Any of your relatives or friends, or anyone whose talents have gone unrecognized, anyone frustrated by unfulfilled ambitions, anyone toiling away from nine to five—even someone who has lost all hope in this world and become a beggar—so long as they are willing to serve under my command, they may come." He-El basked in the sunlight, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

No matter what kind of person they were—ambitious, steadfast in desirelessness, eager for appreciation, underappreciated, capable, or incapable—he could control them all.

Among Earth's 7,351,264,524 people, no one could think faster than him, and no one was stronger than him.

He had long since instructed Dawn to seek out a group of talented people, enough to replace the rulers of every major city. Whether they were loyal or not, they would have to fight the old vested-interest classes, and they would have to rely on him.

Ruling the world.

Was a very simple matter.

"I understand. I'll make the arrangements," Stacker said with a nod after looking deeply at He-El. Then he turned and left, shutting the rooftop door behind him.

He returned to the base.

When Jupiter saw him return, a smile appeared on her confident face.

"You succeeded, Jupe. You were right, but you're making a deal with a tiger."

Stacker looked deeply dissatisfied.

This reporter, who had once made him owe her his life, had come knocking at such a time. She was undoubtedly gambling with her life.

She wanted to become He-El's secretary and handle every matter for him.

"No, Stacker. We're all engaged in a great undertaking," Jupiter said with a smile.

Time gradually reached February 29.