OPKOTW: Chapter 396/400

Chapter 396: Imu the Ancestor of the Donquixote Family?

"You don't want to end up like us?" the curly-haired elder, who had always been the least talkative, murmured with emotion.

The expressions of the remaining four Elders were somewhat complicated.

"Five Elders"—what a prestigious title. As the highest authority in the World Government, countless people dreamed of sitting in their position.

But the burden that came with it was not light.

The so-called highest power of the World Government was nothing more than an illusion. They wielded immense authority, yes, but they were far from being the true rulers.

Before Lord Imu, they were nothing more than domesticated dogs. Even as the highest-ranking Celestial Dragons, they had to bow their heads and kneel before him.

This stark contrast between light and shadow was suffocating.

The longer they sat in power, the more unbearable it became. Imagine it, on a daily basis, the world treated them with the utmost respect. But when the time came to face that one person, they had to kneel and kowtow. How could anyone feel at ease with such a reality?

Especially when the world believed them to be the highest authority, yet deep down, they knew they were mere pawns. Over time, if one didn't develop inner turmoil from this, then something was truly wrong.

Since coming into this world, Claudius had enjoyed all the privileges of a Celestial Dragon. Perhaps he showed respect to the Five Elders and certain individuals when necessary, but he had never once bowed to anyone.

And most importantly, though he had become a Celestial Dragon later in life, over the past thirty years, he had cultivated his own arrogance. This was undeniable. Now, having reached the peak of his power, that arrogance had only solidified.

To ask him to become Lord Imu's lapdog now?

Sorry, but I'd rather die than submit.

"Yes, I, Claudius, may sound arrogant, but I do not believe myself inferior to anyone in this world. In other words, there may be those who kneel before me, but I will never kneel!" Claudius declared without hesitation.

"Claudius, he's incredibly powerful," the blond elder suddenly spoke softly.

Claudius grinned and asked, "And is Claudius weak?"

"He has lived for 800 years."

"You should know the legend of the Ope-Ope Fruit."

"That Devil Fruit holds the power to grant eternal life. Imu obtained that power over 800 years ago. For eight centuries, he has remained above the clouds, and who knows how many hidden cards he holds?"

"He has always been there, watching everything. Do you understand?" the bald elder, Nusjuro, added.

Claudius nodded and replied, "I understand completely. That's why I've made full preparations, Seven Warlords of the Sea, Marine Admirals, Marine heroes, the Fleet Admiral, and myself, along with the strongest CP agents."

"To be honest, I don't believe there's a single individual in this world who can stand against such overwhelming power alone."

"But if there is… then I will admit defeat."

The Five Elders listened to Claudius's words with increasingly complex emotions. His forces were indeed formidable. Even they, when comparing the power Claudius had assembled against Imu, felt that their so-called Lord had little chance of victory.

Claudius genuinely believed he had reached the ultimate peak. If he still lost despite everything.

"If Lord Imu is truly that invincible, then fine—I, Claudius, will surrender and bid farewell."

"The reason I came here today, first and foremost, is to speak with you all and reassure you. Although we were enemies before, you are still my elders, so please rest assured. That's my first point," Claudius said, pausing.

The bearded elder then followed up, "And the second point, you want more information about Lord Imu from us, don't you? That way, you'll be better prepared when facing him."

"But Claudius, think about it—Lord Imu has lived for 800 years. This isn't the first time someone has tried something like this. Do you really think he'd be unprepared? How much do you think we actually know? In the end, we're just his dogs," Nusjuro said suddenly, a trace of loneliness in his voice.

When he was young, he had been a swordsman who pursued strength with unwavering courage.

"If it's information you seek… perhaps there is one thing that may be of use to you," the blond elder said softly.

Claudius was momentarily stunned before replying, "Please, tell me."

"You certainly know how to show respect when you need something," the blond elder muttered, somewhat displeased.

Claudius chuckled awkwardly. But the elder was only complaining out of habit—he understood that Claudius was simply drawing a clear line between public and personal matters.

"Consider this a parting gift from us," the blond elder continued. "Imu is not his real name. No one knows when he started being called Lord Imu, but according to ancient records… his surname was likely Donquixote."

The moment Claudius heard this, his expression shifted slightly. But soon, realization dawned upon him.

First and foremost, Imu was certainly a Celestial Dragon. The Five Elders had confirmed that he had lived for 800 years, meaning he must have been one of the original twenty kings or at the very least, a direct descendant of the first generation of Celestial Dragons.

Among the twenty kings, only the Nefertari family had chosen not to reside in Mariejois. That left nineteen families.

Thus, Imu had to come from one of those nineteen bloodlines.

This much, Claudius had already speculated. But because he was too close to the matter, he had never considered his own family's connection.

Now that the blond elder had pointed it out, things became much clearer.

Among the nineteen Celestial Dragon families, the Donquixote lineage had always been the strangest. Every few generations, some eccentric figure would emerge and stir up chaos—Doflamingo, his father Homing…

And himself, Claudius.

The past fifty years alone had been particularly turbulent for their family.

Even Lancelot, whom Claudius had personally killed, must have inherited this strange bloodline. After all, he had dared to assassinate a Celestial Dragon was that not bizarre enough?

Claudius had never thought much about it before, but now, after hearing this revelation, he couldn't ignore it.

Eight hundred years ago, those twenty kings defeated their enemies and established the World Government. Regardless of their morals, their intelligence and ambition were undeniable. They couldn't have been fools, otherwise, their enemies wouldn't have lost.

At that time, the World Government had been filled with ambition and drive, not the corrupt system it had become today. The original kings must have been remarkable figures.

So why would they allow a single individual to rise above them and become a dictator?

Thinking about it this way, the most likely explanation was that Imu, like every eccentric Donquixote before and after had gone too far in his madness and took control for himself.

Claudius couldn't guess the specifics of how it had happened, but if it was attributed to the Donquixote bloodline, then… it made perfect sense.

"Why do I suddenly feel this inexplicable sense of shame? Is the Donquixote bloodline really this bizarre?" Claudius thought helplessly.

(To be continued.)

T/N: Don't forget this was written in 2020; a lot of this was just the author's speculation.
---

Chapter 397: Claudius – Are You Discriminating Against the Donquixote Name?

The Empty Throne, a symbol of equality and justice, was one of the defining emblems of the World Government. The hall where the throne was located wasn't far from Pangaea Castle.

At this moment, Claudius, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Crocodile, and the three Marine Admirals were all gathered near the entrance of this grand hall.

Mariejois was now under the control of the Marines and CP-X. A large number of Marine soldiers and CP-X agents stood guard in front of the hall, ensuring security.

The Reverie had been temporarily suspended for the day. The royal families from various nations had been escorted back to their designated residences in an orderly manner, with the meeting scheduled to resume the next day.

Unaware of Lord Imu's existence, they simply believed that the situation in Mariejois had stabilized after the earlier events.

With that in mind, Claudius was prepared to meet Imu face-to-face. Whatever moves Imu had planned on the surface, it was time to see them in action.

"The Five Elders didn't reveal any useful information?" Sengoku asked in a low voice as he walked beside Claudius.

Lord Imu was too mysterious, and with mystery came the unknown, and the unknown inevitably bred fear. Even as the Supreme Commander of the Marines, with an army of over a million at his command, Sengoku felt uneasy about facing Imu.

If, after all this, things still went sideways, it would be unacceptable.

Claudius glanced at him with a strange expression before clicking his tongue and saying, "What if I told you that Lord Imu might actually be an ancestor of my Donquixote family? Would you believe me?"

Sengoku froze for a moment, then looked at Claudius, then at Mariejois, rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and muttered, "Your Highness... to be honest, I actually might believe that."

Claudius's expression turned complicated. "Is it just because of my Donquixote surname?"

"Ahem," Sengoku coughed awkwardly, then quickly replied, "No, no, Your Highness, of course not."

But at that moment, Sengoku paused, choosing not to elaborate further.

Still, his meaning was obvious, Didn't Claudius already know the answer? Look at the mess he had caused. If this had happened 800 years ago, wouldn't it be exactly the same as what Imu had done back then?

Claudius was a Donquixote, after all. If Imu also carried that surname, would it really be surprising?

The Donquixote family had always been special, hadn't they?

Claudius eyed Sengoku once again before stating firmly, "I believe that a person's character is shaped by their environment. Talk of 'bloodlines' is meaningless. People shouldn't place so much faith in lineage, don't you think?"

Sengoku rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Instead, he simply nodded. "Yes, yes, Your Highness, whatever you say."

Claudius narrowed his eyes. "Why do I feel like you don't believe a word of that?"

"Impossible! Whatever you say, I shall believe it!" Sengoku said without hesitation.

Claudius stared at him in silence. After a long pause, he finally muttered, "You've changed."

"Hahaha," Sengoku laughed casually, choosing not to respond.

Claudius decided not to waste any more time on meaningless chatter. "As expected, there wasn't any useful information from the Five Elders. A bit disappointing, but not surprising."

In truth, Claudius never expected to extract any real secrets from them.

Fear breeds reverence, and reverence strengthens power.

The higher a person's status, the more they benefit from mystery. Someone like Imu, who stood at the very peak, had mastered the art of being untouchable.

After all, if the Five Elders knew every detail about Imu's daily life—what he ate for breakfast, how he spent his afternoons—would they still fear him as much? Of course not.

Sengoku sighed. "So it really turned out like that, huh?"

After a brief pause, he asked, "What about the Ancient Weapon?"

Claudius's expression darkened slightly. "According to the Five Elders, the Ancient Weapon, Uranus is indeed in Lord Imu's possession."

"As for what exactly Uranus is…"

Claudius stomped his foot against the ground, then continued, "Chances are, it's right beneath us—Mariejois itself."

Sengoku's eyes widened. "So that's it…"

"Don't overthink it," Claudius said nonchalantly. "An Ancient Weapon is still just that—a weapon. If it dares to stand in my way…"

He clenched his fist tightly.

"Then I'll crush Uranus into dust and turn it into nothing more than a forgotten legend."

Sengoku listened to Claudius's confident words and exhaled. True, an Ancient Weapon was a powerful threat, but it wasn't something that would make them hesitate or turn back now.

Before long, the group arrived at the Empty Throne's hall, where Spandine had been waiting.

"Your Highness, you're here," Spandine greeted Claudius with a bow.

Claudius nodded and got straight to the point. "Still no movement from inside?"

Spandine quickly replied, "That's correct. As per your orders, we haven't attempted to provoke any reaction."

"It's as still as stagnant water."

"Logically, even if we moved quickly to secure Mariejois, someone inside should have received word by now. But strangely, there's been absolutely no response at all."

Garp rubbed his chin, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Maybe Lord Imu went on a trip and just isn't home?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Sengoku, Crocodile, and the other high-ranking officers froze.

Damn it… that actually makes sense. I can't even refute that!

However, Claudius waved his hand dismissively. "No, the Five Elders saw Imu before the Reverie began. And from what they told me, he isn't the type to leave often, especially not during the Reverie."

"Really? I thought he might have gone sightseeing," Garp chuckled, unbothered.

"Then what's going on?" Crocodile muttered, biting down on his cigar with a frown.

Doflamingo pondered for a moment before smirking. "Well, there's only one way to find out, right? We just go in and see for ourselves."

Claudius laughed, nodding. "That's exactly right. Whatever he's doing, let's just go in and meet Lord Imu face-to-face."

Without hesitation, Claudius signaled for Spandine to open the doors.

Several CP-X agents stepped forward, pushing the grand doors open.

The hall was brightly lit, yet the eerie silence within was almost oppressive.

It felt as if a beast was lurking inside, waiting for prey. The entrance itself seemed less like a doorway and more like the gaping maw of a monster, eager to devour whoever stepped inside.

Even Claudius felt a twinge of tension. He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous.

But he quickly pushed down those emotions and stepped forward. Behind him, Sengoku, Doflamingo, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the three Marine Admirals followed.

"This feels like a raid boss fight, and I'm the captain leading the team," Claudius muttered internally.

The moment he stepped inside, he heard a soft sigh.

Then, a voice spoke.

"Donquixote Claudius?"

Claudius followed the voice and looked up, on the gigantic throne, surrounded by countless legendary swords, sat a shadowed figure.

"That's me," Claudius replied casually. Then, after a pause, he asked, "Lord Imu?"

The figure responded just as plainly, "That's me."

Then, before Claudius could say anything else—

"You stay. The rest leave."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 398: Imu – I Knew You Were Going to Cause Trouble Over a Decade Ago!

Although Imu spoke in a calm tone, there was an undeniable authority in his voice, one that allowed no resistance.

Claudius frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then said, "Do as he says."

Sengoku's expression changed slightly, and he hesitated. "Your Highness—"

"It's fine. No matter how strong he is, he won't be able to completely suppress me, right? Just wait for my signal outside," Claudius waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing how firm Claudius was, Sengoku remained silent for a moment before nodding. "If anything happens, I'll come for you immediately."

With that, he turned and left the hall with the others.

As soon as they exited, the grand doors of the throne room, which had been left open began to close on their own, though it was unclear by what mechanism.

Now, in the vast Void Throne chamber, only two figures remained—Claudius and Imu.

"The King Faces the King."

There is an old saying: "The king does not meet the king." It means that when two dominant forces in the same field cross paths, a clash is inevitable—one where only one can walk away.

At this moment, Claudius and Imu had reached the final stage. Between them, the battle for survival had already begun, whether through words or swords.

Yet, Claudius didn't move.

He remained still at first, then took two casual steps forward, his eyes scanning the Void Throne Hall from left to right.

He had heard much about this place but had never set foot in it before.

It was the highest symbol of power in the World Government. It also represented justice and equality.

The irony, however, was that for 800 years, no one was supposed to sit on the Empty Throne—and yet, here and now, a lone figure occupied that supposedly vacant seat.

Imu watched as Claudius actually dismissed his entourage. He remained calm, his gaze sweeping the room before finally landing on Claudius. There was a flicker of admiration in his eyes.

"Bold," he remarked.

Claudius smirked, turned his gaze to Imu, and said, "If I didn't have courage, how would I have come this far?"

Imu was silent for a moment before responding, "You're right."

From where he stood, Claudius couldn't see Imu's face clearly. Curiosity gnawed at him. But at this point, they were already enemies, there was no need for excessive politeness.

So, he strode forward fearlessly.

Without hesitation, he ascended the steps leading to the Void Throne. As he approached, Imu's appearance gradually became clearer.

He wasn't the ancient, imposing elder that Claudius had imagined.

But he wasn't young either.

Instead, Imu looked like a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.

His face was ordinary—perhaps even handsome in a subtle way. The majestic presence from his voice alone had made him seem larger than life, but up close, he lacked the overwhelming aura Claudius had anticipated.

Only his eyes held a distinct pressure—like a falcon, sharp yet restrained. Unlike Mihawk, whose gaze was piercing, Imu's seemed to hold everything back, keeping his true presence hidden.

He leaned back against the throne, his posture relaxed and casual. His clothing wasn't extravagant—simple, even.

But beside the Void Throne, a sword rested against the seat. Though it hadn't been drawn, it was clear at a glance, this was no ordinary blade.

It had to be a rare, legendary sword, likely one of the Supreme Grade Blades—one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords.

Claudius loved using swords, but he wasn't particularly knowledgeable about famous blades.

If not for Sengoku mentioning that Whitebeard's naginata, Murakumogiri, was one of the Supreme Grade weapons, he might have mistaken it for just a normal weapon.

As Claudius studied Imu, the latter remained silent, watching him with the same neutral gaze.

Even Imu had to admit, Claudius was undeniably impressive. He possessed both handsome features and an imposing presence, embodying the image of a true ruler.

This left Imu slightly puzzled. Instead of keeping his thoughts to himself, he chose to speak directly.

"Though we've never met before, Claudius, I've heard of you. If I recall correctly, you should be forty-two this year?" Imu asked.

His tone was calm, lacking the overwhelming authority from before.

Claudius nodded and smiled. "Yeah, that's correct."

Without waiting for Imu to continue, Claudius curiously asked, "How old are you?"

There wasn't a trace of respect in his tone, but Imu didn't seem to mind. He even answered casually.

"I don't remember exactly. Around 815 years old, I think?" Imu said after a moment of thought.

Claudius nodded.

He had finally confirmed it—Imu really was an ancient monster.

"Did you gain immortality from the Ope-Ope Fruit? Or did you drink from some kind of Fountain of Youth?" He asked.

Imu looked at him curiously.

Claudius waved a hand dismissively, then casually leaned against the railing. "No, I haven't done anything special."

"I know what you're wondering—'Why does my face look so young? I look like I'm in my twenties, right?' Honestly, I have no idea. Just chalk it up to a gift from time or something."

Imu wasn't particularly surprised. He was a bit curious but didn't press further. He simply nodded. "I see."

Then, Claudius suddenly asked, "By the way, I heard you're the ancestor of my Donquixote family?"

Imu didn't hide it. He seemed patient and interested in Claudius. He nodded and replied, "Yes. I officially became 'Imu' about five hundred years ago."

Claudius raised an eyebrow. "Then what was your name before that?"

Maybe he could even look him up in the family records later.

Imu was silent for a moment, then murmured as if recalling something.

"Before? My name was... Donquixote Nimugal."

"Nimu... Imu?" Claudius repeated in his mind.

He had actually seen that name before in the family's genealogy records.

As Claudius was lost in thought, Imu spoke again.

"So, have you taken down the Five Elders?" Imu asked.

Since Imu was being so straightforward, Claudius didn't bother lying.

"Yeah. Not just them—Mariejois itself is in my hands now."

"Not surprising," Imu responded calmly.

This time, Claudius frowned slightly. "You saw this coming?"

For the first time, Imu's neutral expression shifted slightly. The corners of his lips curled into a small smile.

"Yes. From the moment you first entered my sights."

Claudius was taken aback.

"Wait—surely you don't mean from the moment I was born? That would be a bit too much, wouldn't it?"

Imu chuckled. "I don't remember the exact time. But around a year before the Reverie, the Five Elders first told me about you. From then on, I've been watching you. It's been, what... over ten years now?"

Claudius's expression grew serious. "More than ten years? I was careful, I never slipped up, not even once."

Imu nodded. "You did cover your tracks perfectly. Even the Five Elders never suspected a thing."

"Then how did you know?" Claudius asked curiously.

Imu was silent for a moment before answering.

"Me?"

"Intuition."

Claudius blinked. "That's it?"

"Yes, that's it," Imu said with a smile. "And in the end, I was right, wasn't I?"

Then, in a voice tinged with nostalgia, he whispered.

"In you, I see myself."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 399: Claudius, Times Have Changed

Imu's words left Claudius surprised. In fact, from the moment he had stepped into this hall, Imu's attitude had been throwing him off.

He had come here to overthrow him, yet Imu was completely calm, as if he didn't care at all.

If he remembered correctly, the Five Elders had said that Imu admired him greatly—so much so that he had planned to meet him after the Reverie.

Claudius had assumed that meant Imu had been unaware of his true intentions, but looking at him now, it didn't seem like he was pretending at all.

And at his level, would he even need to play games like that? If he tried and got exposed, wouldn't that be embarrassing?

"You're confused, aren't you?" Imu asked softly.

Claudius didn't bother hiding it. He nodded and said, "I am. After all, as far as I know, you admire me a lot."

"I do admire you." Imu smiled, his tone carrying a trace of genuine amusement.

Claudius became even more confused. He frowned and asked, "Then… do you not know what I'm here to do?"

Imu smiled again, casually patting the armrest of his throne before replying, "You want to sit in this seat—you want the Void Throne, to become the so-called King of the World."

Claudius fell silent.

It was clear that Imu wasn't stupid. There was no way he wouldn't see through his intentions.

"And yet, you still admire me?" Claudius asked again.

Imu raised an eyebrow. "Is there a contradiction?"

Claudius was momentarily stunned. Then, after hesitating for a moment, he replied, "Isn't there?"

"Is there?" Imu chuckled, seemingly amused by Claudius's confused expression.

Claudius tried to follow his train of thought but quickly realized, he had been playing along with Imu's rhythm ever since he stepped into the room.

I came here to fight you, so why does it feel like I've been dragged into some kind of deep conversation?

And worse yet, this rhythm felt so natural that it didn't even seem wrong.

Should he be impressed? This guy really was an ancient monster who had lived for over 800 years.

"Maybe I should just listen and see where this goes," Claudius thought. After all, he was genuinely curious about Imu.

"Alright," Imu nodded, completely unbothered.

"So let me get this straight—you admire me, and you've known all along that I was planning to overthrow you… yet you still let me grow unchecked? Until I finally stood here before you?" Claudius asked.

Imu nodded again and added, "Not just until now—even now, I admire you."

"???"

Claudius was completely lost at this point.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he asked bluntly.

"No." Imu didn't seem offended at all. In fact, he answered honestly.

"Then what the hell do you mean?" Claudius pressed.

Imu glanced at him, then said softly.

"Claudius… times have changed."

Hearing these words, Claudius suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Usually, he was the one saying cool lines like that to others.

Now, hearing Imu say it to him… it was almost embarrassing.

"You're wondering—if I saw through your intentions early on, why did I still allow you to grow? Why did I even hint to the Five Elders to train you harder, to give you more opportunities and power?" Imu smiled as he asked.

Claudius listened and didn't deny anything. Instead, he nodded and said, "Yeah. Because in my mind, only an idiot would do that. And you are obviously not an idiot. So yeah—I've been wondering."

As he spoke, Claudius studied Imu's face carefully.

Could it be that people at the top just think differently?

After all, without him, Mihawk had been training Zoro, helping him grow into a swordsman strong enough to challenge him one day.

That whole idea seemed ridiculous to Claudius. Sure, it was grand and romantic, but he would never do something like that himself.

If Mihawk wanted to train an opponent, that was one thing—he was a sword fanatic. It made sense for him.

But for Imu to do something similar?

"That just doesn't feel right."

Imu, however, remained calm in the face of Claudius's skeptical tone.

"The reason you can't understand… is because we see the world from different perspectives, hold different positions, and think on different scales. That's all."

Claudius frowned and replied, "I don't want to sound arrogant, but I think my perspective is big enough."

"That's just what you think," Imu replied without missing a beat.

Claudius nearly choked on the response.

Damn it, I was just being polite! You were supposed to deny it!

But Imu ignored his reaction and continued.

"From the beginning, you've always seen me as an enemy. That alone proves your perspective is still limited."

Claudius blinked.

Wait… isn't that normal?

He had set out to dethrone Imu and take his seat. How else was he supposed to see him? As a friend? A mentor?

"So… we're not enemies?" Claudius asked after a brief silence.

"Perhaps in your eyes, we are," Imu said. "But tell me—when have I ever treated you as an enemy?"

Claudius was stunned again.

He suddenly realized, since the moment they met, Imu had never spoken with hostility.

"For me, this is simply a trial, a test." Imu continued.

At that moment, Claudius's mind suddenly clicked.

"Wait—you mean… everything I've done, in your eyes, has just been a way to prove myself?"

"That's right." Imu nodded.

"Prove what?" Claudius pressed.

"That you are worthy to sit in this throne."

Claudius's expression darkened slightly. "So you're telling me… that all this time, you've been cultivating me to take your place?"

From Imu's perspective, did that mean everything he had done was just… some grand test?

"Why be so angry?" Imu asked, amused. "Isn't that what you wanted too?"

"No, it's not the same." Claudius's voice grew cold. "Everything I've done, I did on my own. But the way you say it—it makes it sound like a gift, like you were handing it to me."

"Look at you," Imu chuckled. "This is what I meant by perspective. You're upset, but I never said I gave you anything. Nor have I ever denied your talent, ability, or achievements. You're the one making those assumptions. So tell me, Claudius—why are you angry?"

His tone was light—almost fatherly, like an elder speaking to a younger generation.

Claudius clenched his jaw.

He was good at arguing, but right now, it felt like he couldn't win against Imu.

Because technically, he wasn't wrong.

But even so…

"Do you really think everything will go as you planned?" Claudius asked through gritted teeth.

Imu shook his head. "Not necessarily. But in this matter… it already has. Tell me, Claudius, do you really have a choice?"

Claudius froze.

No.

There was no way back.

And the worst part?

He was the one who had cut off all his own escape routes—just so he could keep moving forward.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 400: I Thought You Were a Villain, but Didn’t Expect You to Be a Hero?

At this moment, there was no way to retreat. It was clear that Imu had never truly intended for him to succeed; he had only been grooming Claudius to take his place. Though Claudius hadn't known about Imu's plan before, he had been working toward this goal all along.

Outside the door, countless comrades had staked everything—their wealth, their lives—on him, Claudius.

Even if he felt aggrieved now, could he back down? How could he? Say he quit? Resign as the King of the World?

That would be an even bigger joke.

By all rights, the result should have been the same, Claudius sitting on this throne. But now, after hearing Imu's words, he felt as if he had been a fool all along, like everything had slipped right through his fingers in the face of this ancient monster.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"No, you're lying!" Claudius said.

"Why would I lie?" Imu asked calmly, unfazed.

The tone alone carried an air of absolute arrogance. And given Imu's status, there truly was no need for deception.

"As far as I know, before me, others have tried to overthrow you—but they all failed. Yet here you are, still sitting on the throne. Why?" Claudius asked in a deep voice.

Imu sneered. "Do you think they were worthy?"

It was an extremely arrogant statement, yet somehow, it felt entirely justified.

Before Claudius could respond, Imu continued, "In the past eight hundred years, three people have tried to do what you're attempting—to overthrow me and take the Empty Throne. You are the fourth. But before you, they were unworthy. They were nothing more than fleeting entertainment for me."

"Then why am I any different?" Claudius frowned.

"I already told you the answer, didn't I?" Imu responded with a slight smile.

Claudius was momentarily stunned. He touched his face and muttered, "Because I'm handsome?"

For the first time, Imu's ever-calm expression stiffened. After eight hundred years of existence, this was perhaps the most shameless thing he had ever encountered.

Seeing Imu's reaction, Claudius finally felt some relief. Hah! Got you there, old man.

Ignoring Claudius' nonsense, Imu continued, "Because you are very much like me. That is the first reason."

Imu saw a reflection of his former self in Claudius and had also discovered that Claudius was from the Donquixote family. These two factors played a crucial role.

Claudius' brows furrowed slightly, then he asked, "And the second reason? Is it because, as you said, times have changed?"

This reasoning felt grand enough, and it suited Imu's style. Indeed, times were changing. Even the Five Elders could see that the ship of the World Government was in trouble, yet all they could do was attempt to patch it up.

As much as he hated Imu, who always made him feel powerless, he couldn't deny that this man had ruled the world for eight hundred years. Compared to someone like Imu, Claudius knew he wasn't foolish enough to miss the bigger picture.

So, was it really just a matter of the changing times? Was Imu simply looking for someone to fix the ship and lighten the load?

Just as Claudius thought he had figured it out, Imu shook his head.

"Somewhat, but that's not the real reason," Imu said plainly. "Tell me, if I truly wished to lead the World Government through this storm, do you think I couldn't?"

The question was posed so casually, yet Claudius found himself unable to answer immediately.

After a long silence, he finally said, "Before I met you, I thought you were just an old man desperately clinging to power—stubborn, arrogant, and ignorant. But now…"

Now, he wasn't so sure.

Claudius had once believed that if Imu had the ability, he would have already purged the corrupt Celestial Dragons. If Imu wanted to repair the sinking ship of the World Government, he could have done it.

He had no concrete proof of this—just a gut feeling.

An instinct, much like Imu's own instincts.

And that instinct told him that Imu could do it.

For the first time, Claudius found himself feeling something unexpected—respect, even a hint of awe.

He quickly shook off the feeling. This old bastard has lived for eight centuries. It's only natural that he sees things differently.

Imu chuckled. "You are correct."

"The weaknesses of the World Government lie in three areas. One: the Celestial Dragons. Two: their reliance on military force to suppress and exploit nations. Three: corruption."

"If these three issues are resolved, the world will change—but the World Government will remain."

Claudius couldn't deny it. The old man had a terrifyingly clear understanding of the situation, unlike the Five Elders, who were capable of solving these problems but simply didn't care.

And yet…

"If you already understand all of this, and if you have the means to fix it, then why haven't you?" Claudius asked. "Why go through all this trouble and let me do it instead?"

In his mind, there had to be some deeper strategy, some grander vision behind this decision. Even Claudius had to admit that, compared to this ancient being, he was still lacking in experience and insight.

There was no shame in that.

Imu had lived for centuries longer than him, had seen more, and understood more.

Setting aside his earlier frustration, Claudius began to wonder—could it be that the so-called tyrannical dictator, Imu, was actually… a wise ruler?

But just as he expected a profound answer, Imu merely smiled.

"Because I'm tired."

Claudius was taken aback. "That's it?"

"That's it." Imu nodded with a smile.

"That's way too casual!" Claudius exclaimed.

"You might see it as casual, but in my view, I've dedicated eight hundred years to maintaining the rule of the World Government," Imu said. "During that time, I've extinguished countless lights—silencing voices that could threaten order. If you hadn't appeared, perhaps I would have continued. But seeing you… I feel satisfied. I see the future I sought. And so, I'm tired. Is that not natural?"

As he spoke, Imu added, "There are many heroes in this world, not just you. One of them intrigued me—I had wanted to see how far he could go. But then I realized… this might have been your arrangement all along. And that, Claudius, made me appreciate you even more."

"Dragon?" Claudius narrowed his eyes.

Imu nodded.

Claudius couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude. So I wasn't the only one being played like a fool. Dragon got caught up in this too? That made things feel a bit more fair.

"What about the pirates?" Claudius asked. "Was there never a hero among them? What about Gol D. Roger?"

Imu shook his head. "Perhaps he had his role to play, but in the end, he was still a pirate. Over eight centuries, there have been many like him. And what I've come to understand is this—no matter how dark an existing order may be, it is still preferable to chaos."

"Even a flawed World Government is better than a world ruled by pirates. The very nature of pirates means they will never be worthy of inheriting the world."

Claudius fell into deep thought.

As a pirate himself, he knew firsthand that when push came to shove, pirates would do anything to achieve their goals. They would rather throw the world into turmoil for decades if it meant they could succeed.

In that sense, the World Government, despite its corruption at least upheld some semblance of order.

And suddenly, Claudius understood.

He understood why Imu had once sought to erase Luffy, Shirahoshi, and the Nefertari family.

Because Imu had never trusted a pirate like Luffy.

Because the power Shirahoshi held, Poseidon was too dangerous in the hands of a pirate.

Because the Nefertari family, with their ties to the Straw Hats and the Ancient Weapons, could not be allowed to remain.

In contrast, Dragon had been left alone.

Perhaps, just as Imu said—he was letting it happen.