After two days of drifting through the vast expanse of the White Sea, the Marine warship finally arrived at a Sky Island known as Birka.
"This wasn't our original first stop, but we made an exception to accommodate you, Your Highness," Tsuru said with a smile as she stood on the deck beside Claudius.
Back in her youth, Tsuru had been known as one of the most beautiful women in the Marines. Claudius figured even now, old man Sengoku probably still harbored a soft spot for her.
But time spares no one, and the beauty of youth had given way to the marks of age. Tsuru's face was now lined with wrinkles, yet her aura of wisdom remained undiminished. If anything, it had only deepened with time, making her presence feel like that of a wise elder.
"Hahaha, I really appreciate it, Sister Tsuru," Claudius replied with a grin.
Despite the age difference, Gion and Tsuru had a close relationship, often referring to each other as sisters. Claudius, not wanting to be left behind in terms of seniority, had shamelessly adopted the same habit, calling Tsuru "Sister" as well.
Though it might have seemed cheeky, Tsuru appeared pleased with the title, her gaze toward Claudius becoming softer and more affectionate.
"If you're really thankful, Your Highness, how about sharing the secret of the Thunder Fruit with me?" Tsuru teased, her eyes twinkling.
Claudius laughed and shook his head. "Ah, I'm afraid not. I'm quite the miser when it comes to that. The Thunder Fruit is crucial to CP-X's future, so I can't just hand that secret over, even to you, Sister Tsuru. Besides, doesn't the Marine already have enough on its plate? Why steal this from me?"
Tsuru chuckled at his response, shaking her head. "Sengoku and Zephyr always say how generous you are, but it turns out you're quite stingy."
"Well, if you're interested, I do have a Marsh-Marsh Fruit on hand. It's a Logia fruit too. How about I offer that to you?" Claudius offered playfully, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Tsuru waved him off with a laugh. "No thanks, that fruit's a bit too... unsightly. Besides, I was just joking. No one here would dare compete with a Celestial Dragon for anything."
With the conversation drifting to lighter banter, Claudius and the rest of the group disembarked from the warship.
Birka's port wasn't anything special, a rather ordinary and quiet place. It was clear that the island wasn't particularly prosperous, and the locals weren't exactly rolling out the red carpet for the Marines. In fact, they seemed indifferent to their arrival, perhaps because they'd seen the Marines before or had long been aware of their existence.
Tsuru mentioned she was going to meet the island's leader, known here as the "god." Unlike the rest of the world, where leaders were called kings or rulers, on Sky Island, the title "god" was reserved for those in charge.
"God? If they don't change that title, I doubt they'll be joining the World Government anytime soon," Claudius muttered. "While I couldn't care less, my people the Celestial Dragons are very particular about that name. In this world, only a Celestial Dragon can be called a god."
Tsuru sighed, clearly sharing the sentiment. "Yes, that's been a major sticking point in our negotiations. The path to Sky Island is dangerous, and the World Government has considered wiping out these self-proclaimed gods more than once."
Claudius nodded. "Still, we're here now. Let's hope they're a bit more reasonable this time around."
The conversation turned to lighter matters, but Claudius remained focused on his primary goal: finding the Thunder Fruit. He knew it was somewhere on Birka, but he didn't have any concrete leads.
"Could it be that Enel has already eaten it?" Claudius mused to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
In his memories, Enel destroyed Birka around 1504 and went on to rule Angel Island. Given the timing, it seemed likely that Enel had already acquired the Thunder Fruit before his conquest of Birka. After all, how else would he have had the strength to wipe out an entire island?
As these thoughts swirled in Claudius's mind, the group ventured deeper into Birka. Both Crocodile and Gion, who were visiting Sky Island for the first time, were fascinated by the people with wings, asking questions about the locals' origins and customs.
Claudius, however, wasn't interested in providing a history lesson. He knew most Sky Islanders were descendants of the Lunarians, but that wasn't what concerned him. His thoughts were still preoccupied with how to locate the Thunder Fruit.
"If worse comes to worst, I'll just turn this whole island upside down," Claudius thought to himself. Birka wasn't that large—it wouldn't take too long to search the entire place.
Just then, a sharp cry broke through the air. Claudius and his companions turned to see a priest or what passed for one on Sky Island whipping a small, frail figure in the distance. The boy, no older than seven or eight, was covered in bruises and blood, his bare feet slipping in the dirt as he struggled to stay upright.
"You worthless wingless brat!" the priest spat, cracking the whip again. "Weren't you acting all high and mighty before? Now look at you powerless! Filthy creatures like you should learn their place as slaves!"
"What's a wingless man?" Crocodile asked, glancing at Claudius. However, he quickly noticed that Claudius's gaze was locked onto the child, his eyes glowing with sudden intensity.
Tsuru, sensing the tension, answered, "Wingless men are those without the characteristic wings of Sky Islanders. They might be the descendants of outsiders who found their way here, or even people like us who came from Blue Sea. They're treated as inferiors, little more than slaves."
"So, they look down on us too, huh?" Crocodile frowned.
"Yes," Tsuru replied, her tone resigned. "I've visited Sky Island four times, and each time they made it clear how little they think of us."
"Then why bother negotiating with them? Doesn't seem like they'd ever agree to join the World Government," Crocodile remarked.
"You try diplomacy first," Tsuru said with a sigh. "And if that fails... well, there are always other methods."
Crocodile chuckled dryly. "Looks like even the Marines don't have it easy."
But before he could say more, Claudius suddenly shouted, his voice ringing out across the square.
"Stop! He's still a child!" Claudius roared.
Before anyone could react, Claudius raised his hand. The priest who had been whipping the boy suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if something had struck him. With a loud thud, the priest was flung backward, crashing into the wall behind him.
Everyone froze in shock. Crocodile's jaw dropped. Even the Marines who had accompanied them were left speechless. Since when did a Celestial Dragon care so much about a random child? Weren't they the ones usually causing trouble, not stopping it?
But Claudius wasn't paying attention to their reactions. His heart was racing. He recognized that child. Those long earlobes, that wingless body—it was unmistakable. This kid was none other than Enel!
And from what the priest had said, "You can't use your power," Claudius realized something even more important. Enel was wearing seastone shackles around his ankles. That meant he had already eaten the Thunder Fruit but hadn't yet mastered its full potential.
"Enel's already eaten the Thunder Fruit... and he's just a kid?" Claudius thought, his mind racing. Enel was currently nothing more than a slave on Birka, but he would eventually break free and return with a vengeance, destroying the island. That act of destruction had seemed so out of character, but now Claudius understood. This kid had suffered immensely, and when he gained the power to fight back, he unleashed all his pent-up rage on those who had wronged him.
But now that Claudius had found Enel, he wasn't going to let him slip through his fingers. He had no intention of walking away from Sky Island empty-handed. If Enel already had the Thunder Fruit, then Claudius would just take the boy himself.
Yes, Enel had the potential to be a powerful ally. His natural Observation Haki was exceptional, and with the Thunder Fruit, he could monitor entire islands. His arrogance in the future would be his downfall, but Claudius could see how to mold him. Trained properly, with the right guidance, Enel could easily reach an Admiral-level of strength, perhaps even more.
Best of all, Enel was still young. There was plenty of time to shape him into something formidable. The Sky Islanders had no idea what a treasure they had in their midst, and that ignorance would be their undoing.
"I didn't expect to find you like this, but no matter.
Without wasting a moment, Claudius rushed forward, catching the stumbling Enel before he fell to the ground.
Gently, Claudius supported the young Enel, his voice soft and comforting as he spoke. "Are you alright? These bastards are truly despicable, treating a child like this. Don't worry, from now on, I'll take care of you. No one will ever lay a hand on you again."
Enel, still in shock, blinked up at Claudius, utterly confused by the sudden turn of events. He had no idea why this man, a complete stranger, was helping him, but for the first time in a long while, it felt like someone was on his side.
Just as Claudius finished speaking, the priest who had been whipping Enel managed to stagger to his feet. His face contorted with rage as he snarled, "Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you interfere in Birka's affairs? I serve directly under the god of this island! And you, a filthy wingless outsider, dare to strike me?"
Before he could finish his tirade, Claudius's expression darkened. His gaze sharpened, and his voice turned cold. "Strike you? No, I'll do more than that. And remember this well your executioner is none other than Donquixote Claudius, one of the most noble Celestial Dragons in the world. Don't forget that name as you descend into hell."
As Claudius spoke, a burst of white vapor erupted from his body, swiftly enveloping the priest. In an instant, the vapor solidified, encasing the man in a deadly frost. The priest, now frozen from head to toe, stood rigid, his body locked in a fatal embrace with death. With a light tap, his ice-covered form shattered into pieces, leaving nothing but frozen remnants behind. Of course, Claudius had no intention of leaving that guy intact. After freezing him into an ice sculpture, Claudius casually tapped his scabbard against the man's chest. A crisp *crack* echoed, and in an instant, the guy shattered into countless pieces. The ground was covered in broken shards, and not a single drop of blood could be seen.
Seeing this, Gion was visibly surprised and muttered, "Ice powers? Is this like Kuzan's ice?"
Kuzan, the wielder of the Logia-type Frozen Fruit, was well-known for his ice abilities. Watching Claudius freeze a man to pieces with just a gesture, Gion couldn't help but be taken aback.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, however, narrowed her eyes and studied the remains. "No, this isn't Kuzan's ice. Kuzan's power freezes people solid, but this... this is far more lethal. His ability seems different from Kuzan's, but I'm not sure how."
Though Tsuru didn't fully understand it, she was right. Kuzan's ability freezes the exterior, encasing people in ice, but it doesn't usually kill them instantly—strong individuals like Whitebeard or Doflamingo could even break free from it.
Claudius's freezing power, on the other hand, worked differently. His liquid nitrogen froze from the inside out, rapidly absorbing all the surrounding heat, making it far more deadly. The result? A person reduced to fragile shards with no chance of survival.
However, while Claudius's ability was more lethal, it had its limitations. His freezing wasn't as fast as Kuzan's. Kuzan could freeze an entire sea in the blink of an eye, while Claudius couldn't. Kuzan could also control the degree of freezing, even leaving someone alive after being encased in ice. Claudius's liquid nitrogen had no such control—once it was used, the damage was irreversible, with no possibility of melting someone back to life.
As the realization of what had just happened settled in, panic spread among the remaining people of Birka. One woman, her voice trembling with fear, screamed, "Demons! These wingless people are demons! They killed the envoy! Somebody, kill them!"
Claudius stood there, holding the boy Enel in one hand, his expression thoughtful. He murmured, "It's true... no snowflake in an avalanche feels responsible."
If Enel had experienced even a sliver of warmth or kindness during the darkest moments of his life, perhaps he wouldn't grow up to resent and destroy all of Birka in the future. But the cruelty of the priests and the onlookers had darkened his heart beyond repair.
Before Claudius could dwell further on his thoughts, a few of the remaining priests reacted, their anger boiling over. One of them, face twisted with fury, raised his hand and fired a shot at Claudius.
"No! Protect His Highness!" Tsuru's voice rang out sharply.
The bullet passed right through Claudius, leaving him unharmed thanks to his elementalized body. But now, this situation was no longer just a case of casual retaliation, it had escalated into something far more serious.
"Damn it," Tsuru muttered, knowing exactly what this meant. Marines quickly moved to form a protective circle around Claudius.
Claudius glanced at the bullet hole left in the wall behind him, a wicked smile creeping across his face. "Vice Admiral Tsuru, what do you think?"
Though Tsuru's expression remained one of frustration, she couldn't ignore the shift in tone. Claudius had stopped calling her "Sister Tsuru" and had reverted to her formal title of "Vice Admiral." She understood immediately what that meant.
With a sigh, Tsuru nodded. "These fools dared to attack a Celestial Dragon. That's a crime punishable by death."
Claudius smirked. Tsuru's words gave him the justification he needed. Even if what he had done earlier was seen as protecting himself, shooting at a Celestial Dragon—no matter the outcome was an unforgivable offense.
"Hmph, exactly. These bastards had the audacity to shoot at me. In the name of Claudius, I condemn them to death!" Claudius declared coldly.
Before anyone could react, Claudius's voice boomed across the crowd. "I am Donquixote Claudius, the noblest of Celestial Dragons, a descendant of the Creator, a god among men. You wretched fools dared to slander me, call me a 'wingless demon,' and even fired upon me. There is no forgiveness. In my name, I sentence all of Birka to death!"
The people of Birka stared at him, confused. While they had some knowledge of the world below, they had little understanding of what it meant to defy a Celestial Dragon. But they were about to learn the hard way.
Tsuru's expression shifted, but in the end, she said nothing. Claudius had given them no choice. These people had brought this upon themselves when they cursed and attacked him. There was no turning back now.
Claudius raised his arm, stretching it toward the sky, and quietly muttered, "Death Field—God's Punishment."
As his words echoed in the air, Tsuru couldn't see any visible change, though she felt a strange gust of wind pass by. More importantly, she sensed an overwhelming surge of energy radiating from Claudius.
"What kind of power is this?" Tsuru muttered, frowning.
Before she could figure it out, the people standing five meters beyond the Marines began clutching their throats, gasping for air. Their faces flushed red as they struggled to breathe, collapsing to the ground in agony.
This invisible force spread outward in waves, sweeping across the city. Ten meters, fifty meters, a hundred meters... No one could escape. The panic spread, but it was futile. The people who tried to run away fell just as quickly as those who stood frozen in fear, their bodies writhing as the life was choked out of them.
Gion, watching in horror, muttered, "What... what is this power?"
Even the birds in the sky were not spared. One by one, they dropped like stones, as if death itself had taken hold of everything in the area.
Crocodile, who had been observing from the side, glanced at Claudius. "God's punishment, huh?"
Indeed, this was Claudius's ultimate move his version of an island-destroying technique. As a Logia user, he had to have an attack on par with the destructive powers of other top-tier Logia users like Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Kizaru. While their powers were flashy and devastating, Claudius's approach was more subtle, yet equally deadly. His attack suffocated everything in its path, draining the air and life from any living being that relied on oxygen.
Within moments, the once-bustling city of Birka was deathly silent. No birds chirped, no animals stirred. The people, animals, and even insects had been wiped out by suffocation. The entire island had fallen under the weight of Claudius's power.
While Tsuru felt a pang of guilt for the lives lost, she couldn't say she objected. Defending Celestial Dragons was one of the Marines' highest responsibilities. Birka had made itself an enemy of the World Government, and in that context, they had done what was necessary.
Besides, she thought, Marines have done worse with Buster Calls.
"Your Highness," Tsuru began hesitantly, "now that the city is gone, I suppose our mission is a failure."
Claudius, glancing at the lifeless island, shrugged. "Maybe, but I have a feeling that when we reach the next island, they'll be more willing to talk. Especially after hearing about what happened to Birka."
Tsuru couldn't argue with that logic. What was done was done.
"Oh, by the way," Claudius added with a sly grin, "I'm sure Birka has some valuable resources lying around. It would be a shame to leave it all behind. Let's nationalize it, shall we? Hahaha!"
Crocodile shot Claudius a sideways glance. "You sound more like a pirate than a noble."
Claudius laughed. "What? If they hadn't provoked me, I wouldn't have bothered with them. Consider this the price they paid for their arrogance. Besides, if we take their resources, it strengthens us and helps protect the seas. It's all in the name of peace, after all."
To say something so self-serving right after wiping out an island... Only someone as brazen as Claudius could do that with a straight face.
Tsuru smiled wryly. "His Highness has a point. Originally, we came to explore Sky Island technology. Let's not waste the opportunity. Gion, search the temple."
"Understood!" Gion replied, immediately heading off to follow Claudius's orders.
Before she left, though, she hesitated and asked, "It's safe to go out now, right?"
Claudius chuckled. "Don't worry. My power's dissipated, but the air might still be a little thin for a bit. Give it some time, and everything will return to normal."
With that reassurance, Gion left to carry out the search.
Claudius turned his attention to the young boy still in his arms, smiling gently. "So, kid, what's your name?"
The boy, Enel, looked up at him with wide eyes. Though he didn't fully understand what had happened, one thing was clear—this man had saved him from the people who had tormented him his entire life. To others, Claudius might have seemed like a demon, but to Enel, he was an angel sent from the gods to deliver him from his suffering.
"My name is Enel," the boy whispered, his voice barely audible.
Claudius smiled warmly. "Enel, huh? A strong name. Well, Enel, you're with me now." Sailing on the seas can be incredibly time-consuming. After Claudius and his crew took a warship to the West Blue and then made their way from there to the White Sea above the sky, several months had already passed. In that time, they had visited several other Sky Islands.
By the end of 1497 on the Sea Circle Calendar, the Sky Island expedition of Claudius and his group was finally coming to an end.
Getting to Sky Island had been difficult, but descending was much easier. Using a balloon octopus, they wrapped the ship, and much like a hot air balloon, they "jumped" down from the sky safely into the Blue Sea.
Aboard the warship, Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed with some regret. "In the end, the mission failed. I was prepared for it, but it's still disappointing."
That was right. After they annihilated Birka, Vice Admiral Tsuru had led the group to visit a few more Sky Islands. Claudius had been particularly curious about Angel Island, but they failed to reach it. The other Sky Islands they visited were also unwilling to join the World Government, despite their fear of what had happened to Birka.
While Tsuru regretted the outcome, Claudius wasn't particularly surprised. To be fair, Sky Island was somewhat of a "paradise." Whatever happened down below didn't affect them much.
Why would they join the World Government? Seek protection? From what? They had no enemies, and the Marines couldn't exactly send a lot of forces up there to protect them if something did happen.
It would just feel like they were paying a pointless protection fee. Joining the World Government wouldn't give them any benefits, only the obligation to pay taxes. Why would they want that?
Claudius smiled and turned to Tsuru. "Still, it wasn't a wasted trip. We managed to gather some of Birka's Sky Island technologies, right? Though we only have enough special shells to arm a small unit for now, it's a start."
Tsuru nodded. "Yes, but it's a pity we only brought one warship. If we had an entire fleet, we could have evacuated all of Birka's resources and created a fully armed special unit."
Claudius laughed. "Imagine what we could've done if we had more ships. Those power shells would be invaluable for naval battles, especially when boarding enemy ships or landing on beaches."
Tsuru smiled but quickly caught herself. "I almost forgot we're Marines. For a moment, I felt like a pirate thinking that way."
"Hahaha! Didn't it sound like that?" Claudius joked.
They exchanged a few more words before Tsuru's expression shifted to something more serious. "But I think the greatest gain from this trip wasn't technology. It was that boy, Enel. I didn't expect Your Highness to have such a kind moment, rescuing a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, no less. And he turned out to be the wielder of the Thunder Fruit. If I'd known that, I would've acted first!"
Tsuru, who had been with Claudius the entire time, knew full well that he had no reason to know that the boy had such a powerful fruit ability when he saved him. She assumed Claudius had just been feeling particularly generous at that moment, and by sheer luck, he had stumbled upon a treasure.
Little did she know that Claudius, with his knowledge of the future, had specifically targeted Enel. If it had been anyone else, Claudius likely wouldn't have bothered. After all, he wasn't someone who went around saving everyone.
But that wasn't something he could explain, so Claudius just smirked and said, "Ah, see? Good deeds are rewarded! It looks like I'll need to do more in the future. Do a good deed, and you're bound to gain something from it!"
Tsuru chuckled but couldn't help thinking to herself, "If 'good deeds' for Claudius involve wiping out entire islands, the sea might not survive another year of him."
After a moment, Tsuru's expression turned serious again. "Your Highness, this Enel boy is still young. Perhaps it would be best to send him to Marine training. I can guarantee that we'd use the best resources to train him. With his abilities, he could easily become an Admiral one day. It's a bright and promising future for him."
Claudius immediately waved her off, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Sister Tsuru, stop trying to steal my treasure. That's not happening."
He then grinned mischievously. "The whole reason I took the risk of going to Sky Island was to find the Thunder Fruit. I didn't find the fruit, but I found the boy who possesses it, so my goal is achieved. Enel will be a great asset to me. I know what resources Marine can offer him, but don't worry, my CP-X will provide just as much, if not more. He'll be one of my trump cards in the future, so I'm not handing him over to you."
Tsuru's expression showed clear frustration. The Thunder Fruit was one of the strongest Logia-type fruits, and Enel was still a blank slate. If they trained him within Marine, he would become a powerful and loyal force for the government.
"Your Highness," Tsuru said, trying again, "as a Celestial Dragon, don't you think that by entrusting Enel to Marine, you'd be serving your own interests as well? Marine is here to serve you, after all. With him on our side, we could stabilize the seas more effectively. Surely we can discuss this?"
But Claudius shook his head again, still grinning. "Nope. This is non-negotiable. Besides, you've seen how close Enel is to me. He wouldn't want to join Marine anyway. Forcing him would be pointless."
"Who cares if it's not sweet? It'll still quench the thirst," Tsuru muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed.
But seeing how adamant Claudius was, she finally gave up. With anyone else, she might have been more forceful, but Claudius was Celestial Dragon royalty. Who would dare take something from him?
"It's a shame," Tsuru sighed. "Both you and Enel would be great assets to Marine. If only you were on our side, the seas would be much safer."
Just as Tsuru lamented the situation, Gion approached. "Vice Admiral Tsuru, we're approaching the edge of the White Sea."
"Good. Let's prepare for the descent," Tsuru nodded. "According to the map, the New World waters should be below us. It's not too far from the Red Line, so this is the quickest route back to Mariejois."
While they had ascended to Sky Island from the West Blue, they were now descending into the New World.
Claudius left the preparations to the professionals. He had little experience with sailing and no expertise in navigation. This was a job best left to the Marines.
Soon enough, the warship was securely wrapped in the balloon octopus, and they began their descent from the White Sea. Claudius couldn't help but feel the rush of excitement as they plunged through the sky.
"When we get back to Mariejois, the first thing I'm doing is soaking in a nice, hot bath," Claudius said, his voice a little shaky from the adrenaline.
Tsuru, standing next to him, was about to respond when she noticed something strange. Following Claudius's gaze, her eyes widened in horror.
It wasn't just her—Gion, too, was frozen in place, her face pale with fear. Panic quickly spread throughout the warship.
A massive storm was forming in the sky, not far from their position. Worse yet, it was moving directly toward them.
"Are you kidding me?!" Claudius cursed. "I made a joke about taking a bath, and now this storm shows up like a death flag?!"
Encountering a storm in the New World was dangerous enough, but to hit one in the air was practically a death sentence.
Claudius couldn't help but feel cursed. His past experiences in the New World hadn't exactly been smooth. The first time, he'd been shipwrecked and killed in a conspiracy, only to be revived in this new body. The second time, he had eaten his way into trouble during a Buster Call mission. And now, the third time he came to the New World, he was staring down a giant storm while still mid-air.
"Does the New World just hate me?" Claudius muttered.
Tsuru, too, was stunned. She had descended from Sky Island four or five times before and had never encountered a storm in this area. This region, surrounded by Spring Islands, was known for its stable climate. How could they have been so unlucky?
The storm grew fiercer, and the balloon octopus began to wobble, the air inside it swirling violently. It even started to shrink a bit.
"Shouldn't it be expanding in the storm?" Claudius grumbled, then quickly took action. Raising his hand, he unleashed a surge of nitrogen, filling the balloon octopus to stabilize it.
"If this keeps up, the storm's going to tear the warship apart!" Tsuru shouted, quickly assessing the situation. Desperate, she turned to Crocodile. "Crocodile, use your sand to encase the entire ship and create a protective wall. It's our only shot!"
At this point, it wasn't about strength—it was about survival. Tsuru, being a Paramecia user, couldn't do much against a storm of this magnitude, but Crocodile's abilities could provide some protection.
Without hesitation, Crocodile activated his powers. Yellow sand poured from his body, wrapping around the entire warship. In moments, the ship was encased in a thick protective barrier of sand.
From the outside, it looked like the balloon octopus was floating through the sky, carrying a massive sandball.
Not long after Crocodile's sand enveloped the ship, the storm fully hit them. The warship shook violently, the fierce winds trying to tear it apart. If Crocodile hadn't anchored the balloon octopus to the ship with his sand, it would've been blown away by now.
Inside the sand shell, Tsuru breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her expression remained grim. "This storm is only going to get worse. Even if we survive it, we have no idea where it will take us."
Claudius could do nothing but shake his head, resigned to the situation. "At this point, it's all up to fate."
What Claudius didn't know was that this storm was steering their warship, which was already on the brink of destruction, toward a mysterious and unexpected location: the sea of Edd War. At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, inside Kong's office, Garp was currently enduring one of his lectures.
"The intelligence has been confirmed: The Golden Lion Shiki ambushed the Roger Pirates near the waters of Edd War. Given the timeline, they're probably already fighting as we speak. This isn't the time to sit around talking. We need to head to the New World immediately. That's all."
Garp, who was picking at his ear, responded uncomfortably.
"The Roger Pirates and Shiki's Flying Pirates don't get along. The two groups are bound to wear each other down. While it's unlikely the Marines can intervene in the middle of their battle, we still need to make our way to the New World. We don't know how this fight will end. Shiki may be powerful, but Roger is no pushover. If Shiki loses, we might be able to swoop in and deal with the aftermath, just like we did with the last major pirates Ochoku and John."
Kong understood the rationale and didn't argue further on the topic. Instead, he switched gears and said, "Sengoku has already been dispatched to deal with Shiki and Roger. Garp, we need to talk about you."
Garp immediately began to zone out.
"Zephyr has stepped down as Marine Admiral, leaving Sengoku as the sole Admiral. This has left a significant gap in our top command structure. You need to step up, Garp. The Marines need the full power of all three Admirals. When will you take responsibility and accept the promotion to Admiral?"
Before Kong could finish his sentence, Garp stood up, waved dismissively, and walked out of the office, grinning carelessly. "I didn't make Zephyr step down, so why are you telling me all this? I'm not going to be an Admiral."
"Hey! Garp! You bastard, get back here! I haven't finished talking!" Kong shouted angrily, but Garp just laughed as he shut the door behind him.
"Hahaha! Even though you didn't finish, I already heard enough!" Garp yelled back with a big smile.
"That damn bastard..." Kong cursed under his breath before laughing helplessly. There was nothing he could do about Garp. The man was just too stubborn. Hitting him wouldn't work—he was too strong. And scolding him? Garp's skin was thicker than the walls of Marineford.
After leaving the office, Garp began preparing to head for the New World to see what would happen at Edd War. Kuzan and the others, who had been waiting outside, followed him. Kuzan, smiling, said, "Hey, Mr. Garp, that was pretty cool of you to reject Fleet Admiral Kong's promotion order like that."
"Hahaha! Becoming an Admiral would just tie me down. I don't want to lose my freedom. Besides, we don't have time for that nonsense right now. If we don't hurry, Sengoku will have already taken care of everything!" Garp laughed.
At the same time, Vice Admiral Saul, a giant of Marine Headquarters, yawned. "Can't this sea take a break? I just got back from a mission."
Kuzan looked over at Saul, asking curiously, "By the way, I heard you've been working with CP-9 lately. Is that true?"
Saul nodded. "Yeah, I caught a group of scholars. Those guys had nothing better to do than study ancient texts. Don't they realize that's a crime punishable by death? It's hard to understand why they'd risk their lives over something like that."
At this point in time, Saul had not yet met Robin's mother, Nico Olvia, so he hadn't begun to question the justice of the World Government. He simply followed orders, believing in their righteousness. After all, the World Government had repeatedly emphasized the prohibition of studying ancient texts. From a legal standpoint, these scholars were criminals, and it was Marine's duty to arrest criminals. Saul didn't think twice about it.
As they chatted, Garp and the others arrived at the port. There, they saw Sengoku already on board a warship with Borsalino and the rest of his unit, ready to set sail.
Leaning against the railing on the deck, Sengoku noticed Garp and his crew approaching. His casual expression shifted into a frown. "Garp, wasn't Kong talking to you? Shiki's already my responsibility. Don't meddle."
Garp waved dismissively. "Ah, don't worry. I'm just here to join the fun. I'll leave the credit to you."
"Damn it, Garp, you know that's not what I meant!" Sengoku grumbled.
The two of them often bantered like this. If Vice Admiral Tsuru were present, Garp would have probably hitched a ride on her ship, but since she wasn't around, he boarded his own ship with Kuzan and the others, setting off to join Sengoku's fleet in the New World.
Meanwhile, in the waters of Edd War, the Oro Jackson, flagship of the Roger Pirates, found itself surrounded by Shiki's fleet of flying ships.
"This is really bad. Shiki isn't someone who can be reasoned with, and now we're blocked right when we got a lead on the Poneglyphs," Rayleigh said with a sigh, standing on the deck as he looked up at the massive flying ships overhead.
Over ten years ago, Roger's crew had discovered the pseudo-final island, Lodestar Island, where they learned that another island Raftel was the true final destination. To reach Raftel, they needed four Road Poneglyphs. Ever since, Roger's crew had been scouring the world for the Road Poneglyphs, but most of what they found were only historical Poneglyphs, which, while valuable, didn't help in their quest.
This time, they had learned that Charlotte Linlin Big Mom possessed one of the Road Poneglyphs, and Roger was planning to steal it. Yes, steal it, not fight for it. It wasn't that Roger was afraid of Big Mom; he just didn't see the point in wasting time. Time, for Roger, was incredibly precious. His plan was to sneak in, steal the Poneglyph, and get out.
But before they could even set sail for Totto Land, Shiki had shown up with his fleet. The timing couldn't have been worse. If they couldn't avoid this fight, they might not survive to continue their quest for Raftel.
Shiki's reasons for confronting Roger were simple. Since the Battle of God Valley, Shiki had admired Roger, believing him to be someone capable of achieving great things. For years, Shiki had persistently tried to persuade Roger to join forces with him. Despite Shiki's pride, he was willing to lower himself, not to ask for Roger's surrender, but to propose an equal partnership.
But Roger was as elusive as ever. The Marines couldn't catch him, and neither could Shiki. This time, however, Shiki had Roger cornered, and he wasn't planning to leave without an answer. If Roger refused to cooperate, Shiki intended to eliminate him once and for all.
Shiki had also recently learned something crucial: the Roger Pirates had uncovered the whereabouts of an Ancient Weapon. This information wasn't false. Over the years, the Roger Pirates had gathered countless historical texts, even visiting Sky Island. They had come across many hidden secrets from the Void Century, including information about the Ancient Weapons.
Roger, however, had no interest in using the Ancient Weapons. His only goal was to explore the world and find Raftel before his time ran out. But Shiki wasn't so passive. He was a conqueror with grand ambitions. If he knew the location of an Ancient Weapon, he'd seize it and use it to dominate the world.
Shiki wrongly assumed that Roger's scattered, small crew meant they were after the Ancient Weapons. He believed Roger was quietly gathering power. So when he stopped Roger's ship this time, he had two plans in mind.
Plan A: Roger would agree to cooperate. With Roger's knowledge of the Ancient Weapons and Shiki's military might, they would conquer the world together. Shiki was even willing to share power equally with Roger no tricks, no deception. He admired Roger that much.
Plan B: If Roger refused, Shiki would bury the Roger Pirates at Edd War, eliminating the one man who could stand in his way.
As Shiki looked at the Roger Pirates, surrounded by his fleet, he let out a hearty laugh. "Jihahahaha! Roger, it's been a while. Finally, I've caught up with you!"
Roger, unfazed, laughed back. "Ahahahaha! Shiki! Good to see you. What happened to your face? Don't tell me you let a Celestial Dragon take you down."
Shiki's expression darkened at the mention of his old wound. The incident had been a stain on his pride, and he didn't appreciate Roger bringing it up.
With a snort, Shiki responded, "Enough with the jokes, Roger. You know why I'm here."
"Yeah, it's about your ridiculous ambitions, isn't it?" Roger said bluntly.
"That's right," Shiki confirmed. "I know you have the knowledge of the Ancient Weapons. So, I'm going to ask you one last time: Will you join forces with me? With your brains and my military power, the world will be ours in no time. I swear on my name, Golden Lion, that I'll share the world equally with you!"
Shiki's offer was made with absolute sincerity.
But before Roger could respond, Shiki's tone shifted, becoming cold and threatening. "Of course, if you refuse... then Edd War will become the graveyard of the Roger Pirates. What do you say, Roger?"
Before Roger could even respond, Buggy, the trainee idol, blurted out in panic, "Captain Roger, why don't we just agree to his terms for now? It's a huge gamble, but we can always look for a chance to escape later!"
"Hahahaha, Buggy, are you scared?" Shanks teased with a laugh.
Both Shanks and Buggy were interns aboard Roger's ship. Unlike the overly cautious Buggy, Shanks had an adventurous spirit and welcomed any opportunity for excitement. Even with Shiki showing up at their doorstep, he wasn't afraid in the slightest.
"Shanks, that's the Golden Lion Shiki we're talking about! That guy's ruthless; he'd even kill his own men if it suited him. We don't have as many people as he does, so help me convince the captain!" Buggy urged, his voice trembling.
"What's there to be afraid of? It's not like you're gonna get hacked to pieces," Shanks replied nonchalantly.
"You bastard! Who do you think caused me to end up like this in the first place?!" Buggy snapped, momentarily forgetting about Shiki as his rage at Shanks took over. The two immediately began bickering, paying no mind to the imminent danger.
Seeing his young apprentices' spirited behavior, Roger couldn't help but laugh heartily. Then, turning to Shiki, he shouted, "Listen up, Shiki! I, Gol D. Roger, have never done anything that goes against my principles or makes me regret in my entire life. Your ambitions, as grand as they may be, seem utterly boring to me. So, I'm turning you down!"
As soon as Roger finished speaking, Shiki's eyes narrowed, and his presence became overwhelming. The aura of the Golden Lion, with all its arrogant majesty, began to spill out. He bit down on his cigar and spoke in a menacing tone, "So, you've made your choice. Are you saying I should kill you right here and now?"
Roger's lips curled into a grin as he shook his head. He drew his saber from his waist, letting out a bold laugh. "No, Shiki. I'm saying I'm going to crush you here and now!"
Shiki's expression darkened. He sighed, almost as if he felt sorry for Roger's decision. Then, putting away his thoughts of recruiting talent, he unsheathed his own blade, Oto and Kogarashi, and pointed them at Roger. "Fine then. Let's settle this once and for all, Roger!"
"Just what I wanted, Shiki!" Roger bellowed back.
In an instant, the two unleashed their Conqueror's Haki, the powerful clash tearing through the calm sea. The ocean churned violently, and the sky itself seemed to crack open, as if the very world was splitting apart.
The previously tranquil waters around Edd War erupted into a scene of chaos, a battlefield befitting demons.
Shiki's vast fleet opened fire, unleashing a barrage of cannon fire in an attempt to sink Roger's ship. Swordsmen and devil fruit users began launching attacks from the decks.
Not one to back down, Roger stepped forward and raised his saber. Infusing it with powerful Armament Haki, he unleashed a devastating slash, shouting, "Divine Departure!"
Shiki's eyes gleamed with a fierce light, and he immediately coated his blade in Haki, turning it into a 'black blade.' Without retreating, he swung back to meet Roger's strike, roaring, "Lion's Threat!"
The two legendary strikes collided with such force that the air itself seemed to fracture, leaving cracks in the sky. The impact of their blows signaled the start of the Battle of Edd War, a fight that would shape the course of history on the seas.
Meanwhile, aboard a Marine ship caught in the storm's fury, Claudius was vomiting uncontrollably for the third time. He wasn't alone; for hours now, everyone on the ship had been sick, even Gion, the beautiful swordswoman, who clung to the deck's railing while repeatedly retching.
Many of the crew were already at their limit, barely holding on amidst the constant dizziness and lurching of the ship. The only thing keeping the situation from being even more disgusting was Crocodile's ability to sweep away the mess with his sand powers. Even so, his face had turned pale—not just from vomiting himself, but from the strain of continuously fortifying the sand barrier against the storm's relentless assault.
As a Logia user, Crocodile had a vast reserve of stamina. Though he couldn't match monsters like Kuzan and Sakazuki, who could fight for days on end, he was still determined to grit his teeth and hold on for as long as it took.
Claudius gripped the mast with one hand and said weakly, "If this keeps up, we're all dead. We need to lower our altitude. If we can make it down to sea level, we'll stand a better chance."
"Lower the altitude? How are we supposed to do that?" Gion asked, her voice trembling as she held on to the railing.
"We need more weight! Crocodile, can you add more sand?" Claudius asked urgently.
Crocodile paused, seemingly calculating the risks. After a moment, he responded, "I can do it, but the time I can maintain this barrier will be cut short. If I run out of strength before we reach the surface, we're definitely done for."
"If we keep floating like this, who knows how many days it'll be before the storm dies down? We won't last that long. It's better to take a gamble now. If we can force a landing, we'll have a much better chance," Claudius said, clenching his teeth.
Though hesitant, Crocodile saw the logic in Claudius's plan. On the other hand, Vice Admiral Tsuru, looking equally pale, chimed in, "His Highness is right. If we continue as we are, we'll just be prolonging our deaths. We have to take a chance!"
The young Enel, clutching Claudius's leg, was utterly despairing. He had finally escaped from Birka only to face death again in this brutal storm, without ever getting to see the wider world Claudius had spoken of.
With most of the crew in agreement, Crocodile steeled himself and shouted, "Fine, then! If we're going down, let's go down swinging! I refuse to be outdone by you stubborn bastards! If I'm going to die alongside you damned Celestial Dragons, then so be it!"
As Crocodile increased the flow of sand, the balloon octopus keeping the ship aloft started to struggle. Gradually, the vessel began its slow descent. The tension was palpable as Claudius and the others clung to the hope that they could make it.
An hour passed, then two. With every effort from Crocodile, the ship drew closer to the turbulent sea below. His face grew paler by the minute, his strength almost completely drained.
"I can't keep this up for much longer. We didn't make it all the way down. Prepare yourselves to be torn apart by the storm!" Crocodile shouted, his voice filled with frustration. "Damn it! To think I, Crocodile, will die here before even making a name for myself. What a joke!"
Claudius leaned against the mast, despair etched on his face. "Damn it all! I haven't even begun to carve my name into history! I haven't seen any of the great heroes of this era yet... I can't die here!"
"Do you really want to be the strongest?" Gion asked with a faint smile as she clung to the railing.
"On these seas, isn't that what every man should aspire to? What's wrong with wanting to be the strongest?" Claudius answered, his smile bitter.
"Nothing at all," she replied. "It's just odd to hear it coming from a Celestial Dragon. I never thought I'd end up dying alongside one of you."
Claudius chuckled. "What's there to complain about? I'm a Celestial Dragon; plenty of people would kill for the chance to be buried with me. But, I have to admit, having a beauty like you for company on the way to the underworld isn't the worst way to go."
Meanwhile, out over the storm-tossed waters of Edd War, Shiki hovered in disbelief, grumbling to himself. "What the hell? Didn't they say there wouldn't be any storms for the next few days? Those damn weather forecasters...!"
Before confronting Roger, Shiki had ensured his meteorologists had checked the weather forecasts thoroughly. Yet here they were, right in the middle of a fierce storm. It was as if fate was mocking him, undermining all the effort he had put in to corner Roger.
"Damn it all!" he shouted in frustration. "Roger, you're not getting away that easily! Storm or not, I won't let anyone take victory from the Golden Lion—not the weather, not the sea!"
But Roger was already taking advantage of the chaos. With the storm giving him cover, his ship, the Oro Jackson, tore through the encirclement. Seeing his opportunity, Roger laughed heartily. "Ahahahahahaha Shiki, fate seems to be on my side today. If you don't withdraw now, it'll be too late!"
Despite their strength, naval battles were not Roger's forte compared to men like Whitebeard or Shiki, especially since Shiki's mobility in battle was unparalleled. Roger knew they might withstand a fight for a few days, but in the end, defeat was inevitable. Yet fate had other plans. Just hours into the confrontation, the sudden appearance of a storm had turned the tide. Roger couldn't help but feel that destiny was favoring him today.
Shiki, seeing Roger's smug expression, was furious. But before he could give the order to retreat, a massive ball of sand appeared in the storm, seemingly out of nowhere, hurtling straight toward his fleet.
"What the hell is this?!" Shiki shouted, bewildered and alarmed.
"Could this be some kind of divine punishment?" he thought for a split second as the massive sand ball barreled towards his ship.
In the next moment, the enormous mass of sand smashed directly into Shiki's gigantic flying vessel, causing chaos to erupt throughout his fleet. The violent collision and the storm's fury tore apart Shiki's massive flagship in an instant. The rudder on the deck was also shattered, as if by fate itself. With a fierce impact, it slammed into Shiki's head.
In the chaos, Shiki didn't immediately realize what had happened. All he felt was a sharp pain in his head, and blood began streaming down, turning his once golden mane into a blood-soaked mess.
Before he could make sense of it, the shattered debris and sand engulfed him. In his daze, Shiki thought he saw the remnants of a broken warship?
Meanwhile, Claudius and his crew, trapped inside a ball of sand, couldn't see the outside. Based on their calculations, they hadn't fallen all the way to sea level yet, but the sudden jolt from a violent impact left them rattled.
"Did we crash into a mountain? If that's the case, we might still be alive," Claudius thought briefly.
As the thought crossed his mind, another powerful impact sent him flying. The sturdy warship they'd been on was instantly shattered.
The sand cocoon burst apart, and Claudius regained his vision. To his surprise, they hadn't hit a mountain, they'd crashed into a ship.
Swept along with the yellow sand, Claudius felt himself propelled towards a familiar figure. But everything was happening too fast; he couldn't immediately recognize who it was.
In the next second, he and the sand buried the figure on the deck. A fierce gust of wind followed, sweeping away all the sand.
Only then did Claudius notice that his hand was pressing down on something round and sticky.
"Wait a minute, did I just land on a girl? That'd be awkwardly exciting. Is it Gion? But it doesn't feel right, it's too hard, and... kind of gross?" Claudius thought to himself with a hint of dirtiness.
He shook his head sharply, trying to clear the dizziness. When he opened his eyes, he realized his hand was pressing down on the head of someone whose face was smeared with blood. The worst part? It was a man.
"What the hell? It's a dude's head? I was hoping for something better..." Claudius muttered in disappointment.
Still feeling woozy, Claudius was about to move when he suddenly heard an enraged voice from beneath him: "Claudius, it's you!!!?"
Startled by the familiar voice, Claudius snapped out of his dizziness and looked closely. No way, it was Shiki! How did this guy end up here? Could it be... did we crash into his ship?
But wait — what's up with the rudder on his head? Did we hit it? Is that why it's stuck there?
"Shi—" Claudius began to speak, but a wave of nausea hit him hard. It was as if he was drunk; there was no stopping it. Without warning, he vomited all the leftovers in his stomach straight onto Shiki's head.
Shiki was already having a bad day with the rudder lodged in his skull. Recognizing his enemy, Claudius, on top of him only made things worse. And just as he was about to lash out, Claudius spewed vomit all over his face.
For a split second, Shiki nearly passed out from sheer disgust. The Golden Lion — a man whose reputation shook the world, who commanded respect even from his enemies had never been treated like this. Yet today, here he was, drenched in vomit.
He instinctively opened his mouth to curse Claudius, but thankfully stopped himself at the last moment. If he opened his mouth now, wouldn't he swallow all that disgusting stuff?
After Claudius finished emptying his stomach, the dizziness eased, and he started regaining his senses. Then it hit him: "Oh, crap! Did I just throw up all over the infamous Golden Lion Shiki?"
As that realization sank in, Claudius felt even more shocked. Not only had he puked on Shiki's head, but he was actually pinning him down!
"This has got to be a once-in-a-lifetime chance!" Claudius thought, exhilarated.
Without hesitation, he pressed Shiki's head harder and started pounding it with his fist, landing blow after blow. At the same time, the power of his Logia Nitrogen-Nitrogen Fruit surged to life. Claudius gritted his teeth and shouted, "Death's Choke!"
Shiki felt an unbearable suffocation washing over him. He opened his mouth in desperation, trying to gulp down air, but instead got a mouthful of Claudius' vomit, nearly choking him to death.
Struggling, Shiki grabbed Claudius by the neck. With great effort, he finally managed to summon some of his Haki. Although he had healed somewhat, he was nowhere near his peak strength. Still, he cursed Claudius in his heart. "If it weren't for this bastard crashing into my ship, I wouldn't be in this mess!"
Of course, Shiki had no idea that, even without Claudius, his fate was pretty much sealed once that rudder hit him.
Claudius, meanwhile, kept squeezing Shiki's throat, cutting off his air. Shiki responded in kind, tightening his grip on Claudius' neck. Both men were now red-faced, gasping for air, locked in a ridiculous struggle.
Here they were, the legendary Golden Lion and one of the world's most privileged Celestial Dragons, reduced to a petty street brawl, strangling each other without any grace or dignity.
Claudius' hand fumbled for the short sword at his waist. "If I can just get my hands on Shinsō, I can finish this guy off!"
Just as he reached for it, a strong gust of wind from the storm suddenly blew them both apart. The wind scattered Claudius' nitrogen power, allowing Shiki to breathe again, but Shiki couldn't maintain his grip on Claudius either.
Claudius, blown backwards, smashed his head against the cabin wall, his forehead bleeding profusely before he could activate his Logia powers.
Still, he was in better shape than Shiki. In this chaotic environment, Shiki's powers were severely restricted. Claudius grabbed onto the crushed wall for support and pulled out Shinsō from his waist.
He was about to say "Shoot him," but just then, Crocodile came flying through the air, swept up by the same wind, and crashed directly into Claudius.
"Cough," Crocodile spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale. But Claudius couldn't worry about him now. If Shiki recovered, none of them would stand a chance.
Pushing Crocodile aside, Claudius pointed Shinsō at Shiki, and growled, "Shoot him, Shins—"
Before he could finish the command, the storm surged, slamming the broken ship into the sea with a force that completely destroyed what was left of it.
The impact sent Shinsō flying from Claudius' hand. He lost his balance and was thrown into the air once again, landing right back where Shiki was.
This time, Claudius was ready. He grabbed Shiki's arm as they collided, pinning them together, and pressed Shinsō against Shiki's abdomen.
"Shoot him, Shinsō!" Claudius roared with all his strength.
At such close range, Shiki had no chance to dodge. Pain exploded in his gut as Shinsō stabbed into him, and his injuries compounded, leaving him in utter despair.
"Die, you brat!" Shiki managed to summon enough strength to grab his saber, and with a bit of Haki, he slashed at Claudius' side.
The searing pain nearly made Claudius let go, but instead it only triggered the viciousness deep inside him. He wasn't about to let go now. Not after coming this far.
The King Engine kicked into high gear, his heartbeat thundering in his chest. Amidst the storm's noise, Shiki could clearly hear the rapid thumping, and for the first time, he felt a pang of panic.
Claudius didn't care about honor or fairness at this point. He released Shinsō, leaving it lodged in Shiki's body, and with his free hand, he grabbed the rudder stuck in Shiki's head.
He pulled. Hard.
A sharp, searing pain shot through Shiki's head. He struggled, trying to push Claudius away, but with the King Engine boosting his power, Claudius held on tight, refusing to let go.
"I'm gonna turn you into a dead lion today!" Claudius growled through gritted teeth. He yanked the rudder again, harder this time.
Shiki's eyes rolled back, and before he could stab Claudius again, everything went dark, and he passed out cold.
Feeling Shiki go limp, Claudius relaxed a little, thinking, "Did I kill him? Man, this rudder really is dangerous. It's been jammed in his head this whole time."
But sensing that Shiki was still alive, Claudius realized he'd only knocked him out.
"Damn, that was rough," Claudius muttered. One hand held onto Shiki's lifeless body, while the other pressed against his own waist, trying to stem the bleeding. Blood flowed freely from between his fingers.
"Still, this is a win, right?" Claudius thought triumphantly. "First thing CP-0 and Naval Headquarters will do is scramble to capture the great pirate Golden Lion Shiki. Bringing him to justice..." Claudius thought joyfully.
But before he could bask in his victory, the storm showed no mercy, the ship beneath them still creaking and groaning. He held onto Shiki's limp form, blood still pouring from his own wounds. Shiki's unconscious body was barely hanging on, and Claudius himself wasn't in much better shape. The storm came fast and left just as quickly. Using the remnants of the shattered ship to stay afloat, Claudius and the others weathered a few more waves. The sky slowly began to clear, with the storm seemingly chasing after Roger's group.
Lying on the wreckage of the deck, Claudius glanced over at the unconscious Golden Lion, Shiki. He didn't have any Seastone handcuffs to properly restrain him. The knife still stuck in Shiki's abdomen meant pulling it out could cause even more blood loss. Claudius briefly wondered if the infamous pirate would bleed to death before he did.
Summoning what little strength he had left, Claudius grabbed a piece of hemp rope from a broken barrel and tied it around Shiki's waist. Then, with a swift kick, he sent Shiki's body into the sea, leaving most of it submerged. It wasn't as effective as Seastone, but it was better than nothing.
After doing all that, Claudius finally allowed himself a moment to relax. He leaned against the remains of the mast, breathing heavily. Time passed slowly. Claudius had no idea what fate had in store for them, whether another storm would come and finish them off, or if, by some miracle, they'd drift to an island and survive.
As for everyone else, he didn't care much. He only knew that Crocodile had been lucky enough to crash near him and hadn't died. He'd passed out after falling into the cabin. Probably overexerted himself, as usual.
"If I make it back to Mariejois alive, I'll buy you a whole box of tonics," Claudius muttered with a weak smile.
The sea eventually calmed down, and a few survivors both Marines and pirates could be seen clinging to floating debris, just hoping to stay alive. At this point, it didn't matter who was who. Everyone was just trying to survive.
Just when Claudius thought he might actually bleed out, a figure leapt from the broken half of the ship in the distance, landing with impressive power.
"Bunny girl?" Claudius managed a faint, blood-stained smile.
Gion froze for a moment, stunned by the sight before her.
She, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and the others had been relatively lucky. They hadn't suffered as much damage, and once the storm subsided, they immediately began searching for Claudius. After all, losing a Celestial Dragon of his status was unacceptable, and they were friends.
Now, seeing Claudius in such a miserable state, Gion didn't know what to say.
Snapping out of it, she tore a strip of cloth from her tattered justice cloak and hurried over to Claudius.
As she approached, her eyes fell on the knife stuck in his side. "Looks like your highness was rather unlucky, running straight into a blade. But don't worry it doesn't seem to have hit any vital organs. I'll stop the bleeding for you."
"Ran into a blade?" Claudius paused. "I'm a Logia user, remember?" Then he gave a weak, bitter laugh. "If only that were the worst of it... you have no idea what I've just been through."
Gion blinked, confused, and asked, "What exactly did you go through, your highness?"
Just as Claudius was about to brag that he'd taken down the legendary Golden Lion, a sharp pain shot through his waist, cutting him off. Gion, by accident, had yanked the knife from his side.
"Uh... maybe be a little more gentle next time?" Claudius gasped, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Ignoring his comment, Gion quickly bandaged him up, then studied the knife more closely. "This knife... I feel like I've seen it before."
As one of the top swordswomen of the Marine, Gion was familiar with many famous blades. This one seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she'd seen it.
Claudius weakly pointed toward the nearby hemp rope and said, "The owner of that knife is tied up over there. If it feels familiar, why not take a look?"
Gion turned to where Claudius was pointing, and her eyes widened in shock. "Golden Lion? Is that... Shiki?! No wonder—this is Yubashiri!"
In a flash, Gion rushed over to Shiki's limp body. A knife was lodged in his abdomen probably Claudius' work and there was a rudder embedded in his head. Half of his body was submerged in the sea, with a rope tied around his waist. He looked completely pathetic.
Realizing that Claudius had managed to subdue and restrain the infamous pirate, Gion felt a wave of disbelief. "Wait, we were just on the same warship, and somehow during all this chaos... you took down the Golden Lion?"
"Your highness! You actually captured Shiki, the Golden Lion? But how... how did this even happen?" Gion hurried back to Claudius, completely flustered, unsure of what to say.
Claudius coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, then smiled weakly. "Just lucky, I guess. Shiki must've gotten caught in the same storm. You know, his abilities are pretty much useless in these conditions. Especially with that rudder stuck in his head, he couldn't even use Haki properly. He was practically powerless..."
Seeing Claudius trying to keep talking, Gion gently interrupted him, "Your highness, maybe you should save your strength and stop talking."
"Did you find everyone else? What about Enel?" Claudius asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Although capturing Shiki was a huge success, Enel was the main reason for this mission. If Enel had been lost in the storm, it would've been a major setback.
Gion quickly reassured him, "Enel's fine. He passed out, but Vice Admiral Tsuru has him. We haven't found Crocodile yet, though. He might've..."
Her voice trailed off, sadness filling her eyes. After all, if not for Crocodile, they might not have survived the storm. He'd overexerted himself, and now he was missing. Since Crocodile was a Devil Fruit user, if they couldn't find him soon, it was very likely he had already drowned.
Claudius let out a sigh of relief when he heard Enel was safe. Then he gestured toward the broken cabin. "As for Crocodile, I tossed that bastard into the cabin earlier. He's probably still unconscious. Go check on him."
Gion's eyes brightened. She nodded and quickly disappeared into the cabin. Moments later, she emerged, dragging the unconscious Crocodile behind her. "He's fine just passed out."
After ensuring Crocodile was safe, Gion took out a flare gun from her belt and fired it into the air. The bright flare signaled to the other Marines and confirmed to Vice Admiral Tsuru that the important individuals, Claudius and Crocodile, were still alive.
As for the pirates? Well, saving them wasn't a priority. They were left to their own fate.
"Do you think we'll make it back alive?" Claudius asked weakly, slumped against the mast.
Gion glanced at him, and for a moment, it seemed like the usual strength and pride in Claudius' eyes had been replaced by a hint of vulnerability. Her heart unexpectedly skipped a beat.
Without thinking, she reached out and smoothed Claudius' messy, wet blonde hair. A gentle smile appeared on her lips as she said softly, "We'll definitely make it back alive, so don't worry. Vice Admiral Tsuru has a distress signal transmitter. Once it's activated, any nearby World Government ships or allied forces will come to rescue us as quickly as possible."
"Really? I guess I'll live to fight another day..." Claudius murmured, a faint smile on his lips.
Exhausted, his body finally gave in to fatigue. After fighting Shiki and surviving the storm, his adrenaline was wearing off. As he whispered a few more words, he slowly closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep.
Listening to the soft sound of his breathing, Gion glanced down at him. Claudius was curled up against the broken mast, his body battered and bruised, his once-pristine appearance contrasting sharply with the wreckage around him. There was something oddly beautiful about the scene a kind of fragile strength.
Gion's heart stirred once more. For a brief moment, she felt her heartbeat skip again.
After collecting herself, Gion gently stroked Claudius' wet hair and whispered, "Sleep well, your highness. I'll protect you."
This time, it had nothing to do with her duties as a Marine or her mission. Gion simply wanted to protect this unique Celestial Dragon—this proud, strong, yet unexpectedly vulnerable Claudius.
Hours passed, and as night began to fall, a large sailing ship finally appeared on the horizon. It was from a nearby nation that had received the distress signal and hurried to the rescue.
Still unconscious, Claudius was carried aboard the ship by Gion, who cradled him in her arms like a princess. They had survived the ordeal, but at great cost.
Nearly half of the Marine soldiers had been lost in the shipwreck. Their bodies hadn't been recovered, so they were presumed dead. Yet despite the heavy losses, they'd gained something monumental.
Tsuru Vice Admiral looked at the unconscious Golden Lion, Shiki, lying on the deck, feeling as though she were living in a dream. Somehow, amidst all the chaos, Shiki had fallen from the skies, been caught in a storm, and ended up as their prisoner. The infamous Golden Lion, captured alive? It seemed unbelievable.
"His highness Claudius... I can't tell if he's the luckiest or the unluckiest man alive. But thanks to him, the whole world is about to be shaken. The Golden Lion, Shiki, who once ruled the seas, has been captured. And in the strangest way possible," Tsuru muttered to herself with a helpless smile.
She quickly relayed all the details of their encounter and the capture to Marine Headquarters. When Marine's Fleet Admiral Kong received the news, he was left in utter disbelief.
"What? Sengoku and the others just set sail for the New World, and now you're telling me Claudius has already captured the Golden Lion? Are you kidding me?"
As the photos and reports reached Marineford, shockwaves spread through the ranks. The entire Marine force was buzzing with disbelief and amazement. The legendary pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, had been captured alive?! In the New World waters, aboard the flagship of a fleet of five massive warships, Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Sengoku, Rear Admiral Kuzan, Rear Admiral Borsalino, and others were gathered around Gion and Vice Admiral Tsuru, bombarding them with questions. They were all eager to know the details of how the Golden Lion, Shiki, had been captured.
"A storm? You mean to tell me you guys got lucky and just crashed into Shiki's damn ship?" Vice Admiral Garp asked, his expression incredulous.
"Lucky? Garp, we almost died. If you think that's luck, why don't you pick a nice day and try jumping off Sky Island yourself!" Vice Admiral Tsuru shot Garp a sharp glare, clearly annoyed by his casual attitude.
"You know I didn't mean it like that, Tsuru..." Garp quickly backpedaled.
Admiral Sengoku, more serious than Garp, pressed for specifics, "What exactly happened? All I know is that His Highness Claudius took down Shiki, but what was the process?"
"We don't know the full details ourselves. We were separated during the impact. Only Crocodile was with His Highness at the time, but he was so exhausted that he passed out. He doesn't remember anything either," Gion explained, shaking her head.
"By the way, you mentioned that Shiki had started a naval battle in the waters of Edd War?" Vice Admiral Tsuru asked.
"Yes," Gion confirmed. "He was trying to ambush the Roger Pirates, but it seems fate wasn't on his side. He ran straight into the storm, and the Roger Pirates disappeared. What's even worse for him was that we ended up capturing him."
Sengoku chuckled, shaking his head, "Shiki sure had rotten luck."
Three days had passed since the Battle of Edd War. Sengoku and the others had rushed to the scene, gathering Tsuru and the rest of the survivors aboard their warships. Crocodile and Enel had regained consciousness, but Claudius was still out cold.
Thankfully, his injuries had stabilized, and the medical team assured them he'd wake up once his body had fully recovered. Shiki, on the other hand... things didn't look so promising.
The military doctors suspected Shiki's brain had been damaged during his battle with Claudius. So far, there had been no response from him.
"The doctors say Shiki might've become brain dead," Tsuru said with a heavy sigh.
No one knew if or when Shiki would ever wake up. With both Claudius and Shiki out of commission, Sengoku and the others were still in the dark about the finer details of the battle.
"We're lucky His Highness is recovering well. Even though we caught Shiki, if something had happened to Claudius, we'd all be in for a world of trouble," Vice Admiral Tsuru noted.
"I hope he wakes up soon. Those Five Elders seem pretty pleased with him. Not even half a year after injuring Shiki, and now he's captured him alive? Claudius might end up creating a powerful new division within the World Government," Sengoku said with a smile.
Garp, who had been more or less ignoring the political talk, asked, "What new division? And what exactly did Claudius promise those Five Elders?"
Sengoku shot Garp a stern look. "Show some respect, Garp. Claudius isn't like the other Celestial Dragons you've dealt with. Haven't I told you that a thousand times?"
Garp blinked, then chuckled, "Alright, alright, Saint Claudius. So what's the deal?"
"Over half a year ago, the Five Elders summoned His Highness Claudius and, after a lengthy discussion, authorized him to form a new organization: CP-X. At the time, we all thought it was nothing more than an empty title, something symbolic. No one took it seriously," Sengoku explained.
"Yeah, I remember that. His Highness said CP-X was supposed to handle problems neither the Marines nor the CP agencies could solve," Garp remarked.
"Exactly. Back then, we all thought Claudius was just being a bit overconfident. After all, he's a Celestial Dragon, so he's got a certain pride and youthful arrogance. But, even if this was just a coincidence, we have to admit, he managed to solve a problem both the Marines and the CP couldn't: the Golden Lion, Shiki," Sengoku said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Luck is a kind of strength too," Garp mused. "If Roger wasn't so damn lucky, I'd have caught him long ago."
As Garp and Sengoku noted, no matter how many coincidences played into the capture, the fact remained that Shiki had been caught. Even the most powerful people could be brought down by a stroke of bad luck. The world was full of such unpredictable forces.
"Shiki's fall really marks the end of an era," Tsuru added.
"When we return to Mariejois, CP-X's name will probably start making waves. Who knows? It might actually become an organization on par with the Marine Headquarters, just like His Highness envisioned," Sengoku said thoughtfully.
"That won't be easy. But if Claudius keeps being this lucky, well, maybe I'll take back my doubts," Garp joked.
Just as they were talking, a Marine Colonel rushed into the room and reported, "Sir! Saint Claudius has woken up!"
Before anyone else could react, Gion shot up from her seat, her long legs carrying her out of the room in a flash.
The others were left blinking in surprise. Rear Admiral Kuzan chuckled, "Ara ra, it seems His Highness Claudius has gained more than just Shiki from this mission."
"Poor guy. If he knew what was waiting for him, he'd probably freak out," Rear Admiral Borsalino quipped in his usual laid-back tone.
"I thought Gion had her sights set too high to ever settle down. Guess I was wrong," Garp said with a grin.
Before he could say anything more, Tsuru hurled a teacup at his head, smacking him squarely on the forehead. Garp, not wanting to anger her further, simply laughed awkwardly.
Sengoku stepped in to defuse the situation, "Alright, enough fooling around. Let's go check on His Highness and see how he's doing."
By the time they reached Claudius' room, he was already sitting up in bed, looking around. The young Enel sat beside him, having stayed by his side the entire time, which warmed Claudius' heart.
"How long have I been out? And where are we? This looks like a warship," Claudius asked groggily.
Enel, visibly excited, responded, "You've been asleep for three days, Your Highness. We're on a Marine warship. I don't really get all the details, but I heard Admiral Sengoku came to escort us. We're heading back to... uh, what's it called again? Marie-something."
"Mariejois," Claudius corrected, smiling slightly. "That's where my home is."
Just then, the door opened, and Gion entered in a rush. But as she stepped inside, she seemed to realize how hasty she'd been and froze for a moment. Claudius noticed a slight flush on her face but didn't comment on it.
Gion collected herself and stepped forward, asking, "Your Highness, how are you feeling? Any pain or discomfort?"
Claudius winced, "Well, I got stabbed, so yeah, it hurts. But I don't think it's anything too serious. I just hope Shiki didn't mess up my kidney... that's about where he stabbed me, right?"
Gion's expression shifted, a mix of embarrassment and amusement flashing across her face. Her eyes darted away for a moment, and Claudius panicked slightly, clutching his side, "Wait, don't tell me... did that bastard actually ruin my kidney?"
Shiki's capture was one thing, but losing an organ over it? That would be an insult Claudius couldn't bear.
Seeing his panic, Gion laughed, "Relax, Your Highness. I'm just teasing you. You're fine. The blade missed all your vital organs."
Claudius sighed in relief but shot her a disapproving look, "Don't scare me like that!"
"It's just too fun teasing you, Your Highness," Gion said with a playful smile.
At that moment, Sengoku and the rest of the group entered the room.
Sengoku approached first, shaking Claudius' hand with genuine relief, "It's good to see you awake, Your Highness. We were worried."
As Claudius shook hands with the old admiral, he couldn't help but think, "Why's this old man so enthusiastic? Can't he let Gion handle this? What's he doing holding my hand like this?"
After exchanging pleasantries, they got down to business. Claudius didn't hold anything back and recounted the events that led to Shiki's capture. As he finished, Admiral Sengoku and the others sat in stunned silence, processing the chain of coincidences and pure luck that had led to Shiki's downfall.
"So in the end, it really was just luck. That rudder did half the work before you even fought him," Sengoku finished, shaking his head in disbelief. "I didn't expect Shiki to be half-defeated before you even laid a hand on him."
"Yeah, it was a lucky break, but luck's still a kind of strength, right?" Claudius grinned, trying to downplay the severity of the fight. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. But if I'm being honest, I didn't expect it to turn out like this either."
"Regardless, Your Highness, this is a huge achievement," Sengoku said seriously. "However, we've kept the news contained for now. Something this important needs careful handling. Once word gets out that Shiki has been captured, the whole world will react. We need to be prepared for the fallout."
Claudius nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. It's better to wait until everything is in place. We don't want Shiki's allies or the other pirates in the New World making any sudden moves while we're still recovering."
"Exactly," Sengoku agreed. "We're planning to use this opportunity to strengthen our position in the New World. This could give us the leverage we need to establish a solid foothold there."
Claudius chuckled. "Well, when you Marines start carving up the New World, don't forget to throw CP-X a bone. We're all part of the same team, after all."
Garp suddenly burst out laughing, "UhaHaHahaha! Don't worry, kid! We'll save you a nice piece of the action!"
The room fell silent, and everyone turned to Garp with exasperated expressions. His loud and carefree attitude never failed to break the mood.
Claudius laughed along, not minding the remark. "Thanks, Garp. I'll hold you to that."
Holy Land—Mariejois. It had been over six months since Claudius captured the Golden Lion, Shiki, and the year had now reached Sea Circle Calendar 1498.
Claudius couldn't help but feel a sense of unease about the New World. He knew that going head-to-head with the likes of Whitebeard wouldn't result in the same luck he had with Shiki. Jokingly, Claudius even sought out a few fortune-tellers to try and crack his "fate," but their vague predictions only flattered his status as a Celestial Dragon, leaving him bored and disinterested in their abilities.
During this period, much had changed across the seas.
First and foremost, Claudius' name had spread far and wide, becoming renowned across the world. He was now regarded as the "leader" of the younger generation. His reputation soared, and even the likes of Dracule Mihawk, who had been making waves as a swordsman, couldn't overshadow Claudius' achievements.
The reason for his meteoric rise was simple: the entire world now knew that a formidable figure had emerged from the ranks of the Celestial Dragons, someone who had captured the legendary Golden Lion, Shiki a feat that had shaken the world.
However, the story of Shiki's capture, as told by the World Government, had been heavily "refined" before it reached the public. The truth about Claudius and his crew stumbling upon Shiki by chance during a storm was conveniently omitted. Instead, the narrative highlighted Claudius as the mastermind behind a secretive and powerful new organization, CP-X, which was formed with the express purpose of neutralizing threats to the World Government.
The official reports portrayed CP-X as an elite unit, equal in status to the Marine Headquarters and the Cipher Pol organizations, but operating independently, answering only to the Five Elders. While the exact details remained a mystery, it was known that CP-X had been established over a year ago with the mission of taking down the world's most dangerous pirate factions, starting with the Flying Pirates.
Under this narrative, Shiki's capture was painted as a premeditated strike, led by CP-X, with support from the Marines. This version of events gave the impression that Shiki's downfall was the result of meticulous planning and strategic brilliance, rather than a lucky coincidence.
As a result, CP-X's reputation skyrocketed. Within just a few months, the organization became shrouded in mystery. People across the seas speculated about this shadowy group that seemed even more enigmatic and powerful than the notorious CP-9 or the Celestial Dragon guard unit, CP-0.
For a while, fear gripped the sea's most prominent factions. If CP-X could take down someone as powerful as the Golden Lion, then no one was safe. This fear caused many pirate crews to scale back their activities, uncertain if they were being watched by CP-X operatives lurking in the shadows.
The Marines took full advantage of this fear. With CP-X's looming presence backing them, they expanded their influence in the New World. Admiral Sengoku spearheaded the establishment of several key Marine bases, including the G-1 and G-5 branches. These bases planted the first seeds of Marine authority in the New World, making it easier for the Navy to enter and patrol the chaotic seas in the future.
While the Marines fortified their positions, the pirate world was in disarray. Shiki's arrest had left a power vacuum, and rival factions quickly moved in to claim his remaining territory. The Beasts Pirates, led by Kaido, and the Big Mom Pirates, under Charlotte Linlin, were the two biggest beneficiaries. They had devoured most of Shiki's resources and were now considered the dominant forces in the New World, second only to Whitebeard's crew.
Meanwhile, the Roger Pirates had been causing their own brand of chaos. While the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates were busy fighting over Shiki's legacy, Roger's crew managed to sneak into Big Mom's territory and steal the Road Poneglyph, a move that infuriated Charlotte Linlin to the point of near insanity. Now, the Big Mom Pirates were hunting the Roger Pirates across the seas, determined to recover the stolen artifact.
Claudius suspected that Roger had already copied the Poneglyph and would eventually toss the original to shake off Big Mom's pursuit. Either way, the New World had become a hotbed of chaos and power struggles, and Roger, ever the wild card, was stirring up even more trouble.
In the courtyard of his palace, Claudius lay in a sun-soaked rocking chair, leisurely flipping through a report from Stussy. It detailed the various upheavals in the New World, Charlotte Linlin eating one of her own children in a fit of madness, Beasts Pirates' quiet alliance with the closed-off country of Wano, and their silent consolidation of Shiki's former territories.
Claudius chuckled at the absurdity of it all. Stussy, who was from CP-0 and now ran the intelligence network known as Happy Street, had proven herself invaluable. Despite its name, Happy Street had become a powerful player in the underworld, and with Claudius' backing, it had secured a solid foothold in the dark world.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo, Claudius distant cousin, was making his own waves in North Blue. He had struck up an alliance with Germa 66, a military force specializing in war and advanced technology. With one hand selling war and the other selling arms, Doflamingo was profiting from both sides, growing his influence and enjoying his rise in power.
While CP-X was making waves and causing unease among the sea's most powerful figures, Claudius knew that the organization still lacked true substance. It seemed formidable on the surface, but it was still in its infancy, relying heavily on the momentum gained from Shiki's capture.
Still, the Five Elders were increasingly supportive of Claudius, seeing potential in him. They had even increased their financial support for CP-X, providing a stable flow of resources for its continued growth. Claudius knew it wasn't much, but every little bit helped.
Shiki, still in a coma, hadn't been sent to Impel Down, as many had expected. Instead, he was held in a special prison at Marineford, reserved for the most dangerous criminals. Though his hands and feet were bound with Seastone, the Marines were still attempting to "humanely" treat his injuries, as if there were any hope of reviving him.
"Your Highness, lunch is ready," came the soft voice of Nia approached Claudius with a polite smile.
Claudius snapped out of his thoughts and smiled back. "Alright."
Not far away, Enel was sparring with Crocodile under the hot sun. Over the past six months, Enel had grown noticeably stronger. His once-skinny frame had filled out, and his obsession with covering his body in strange things had only grown. He had embedded taiko drums into his back, giving him a distinctive and rather bizarre look.
He also had a strange fondness for gold, adorning himself with thick gold wristbands, chains, and wielding a gold staff that made him look like a gaudy, over-the-top noble. Despite his extravagant appearance, Enel proudly bore the emblem of the "Celestial Dragon's Hoof," the symbol of Claudius, engraved on his back.
Unlike Crocodile, who was indifferent to such displays, Enel embraced it with pride. To him, the emblem represented Claudius' trust and acknowledgment. In his eyes, that was all that mattered, being Claudius' loyal confidant.
"Hey, you two! Take a break and come have lunch," Claudius called out with a laugh.
Crocodile and Enel paused their sparring and joined Claudius for lunch. Meals like these, where there were no outsiders, had a relaxed and familial atmosphere. Over the past couple of years, Crocodile had come to understand Claudius' nature. Despite being technically labeled a "slave," Claudius never treated him that way. Instead, he was regarded as a trusted subordinate, someone worth investing in and developing.
Looking back at his time under Captain John, Crocodile couldn't help but scoff. That had been a miserable existence compared to what he had now.
Originally, Crocodile had planned to repay Claudius' kindness by defeating him, breaking free of his slave status, and resuming his life as a pirate. But over time, that plan had shifted. While he still wanted to prove himself by beating Claudius, he no longer intended to leave. Instead, he saw CP-X as a viable path for his future. Once he bested Claudius, he would formally join as a subordinate, shedding the slave label once and for all.
Claudius, for his part, noticed this change in Crocodile's attitude. Seeing that it was a positive development, he didn't press the issue.
As they enjoyed a lavish lunch together, Claudius suddenly remembered something. "Crocodile, in a year or two, when we reach the 1500s, I'm planning to let you loose."
Crocodile raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly. "What? Have you finally acknowledged my strength?"
Claudius smirked. "Not exactly. But you can't improve by staying cooped up here forever. You need to go out into the world, test yourself in real combat."
Crocodile nodded, but there was still a question lingering in his mind. "So, what's the catch? What do you want me to do?"
Claudius leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I want you to be a pirate," he said with a wicked smile. "Go out there and sail the seas."
Crocodile stared at him, puzzled. "Be a pirate? What kind of game are you playing, Claudius? Do you want me to cause trouble for the Marines?"
Claudius chuckled softly. "No, no. I'm not sending you out to create chaos... not immediately, at least. I want you to operate under the radar. You'll be an 'undercover pirate,' infiltrating the ranks of the pirate world. This will make it easier for you to gather intelligence and act when the time comes."
Crocodile narrowed his eyes, still not fully understanding Claudius' larger plan. "Infiltrate the pirates? And then what?"
Claudius leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I have a big plan in the works. Something that will take years, maybe even a decade or two to fully unfold. But if it succeeds, it will shatter the very foundation of pirate power in the world. Every major pirate force, now and in the future, will be reduced to nothing more than scattered dust."
Crocodile's interest was piqued. "What kind of plan are we talking about?"
Claudius' eyes gleamed with ambition. "For now, let's call it the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' project. A system where we handpick the most powerful pirates and turn them into our pawns. They'll work under the banner of the World Government, keeping the rest of the seas in check. And you, Crocodile, will be the vanguard of that system a king among pirates, a pioneer for this new world order."