OPKOTW: Chapter 381/385

Chapter 381: Want to Kill Mihawk?

Mihawk approached with his sword in hand, speaking in such an inexplicable manner that Claudius was momentarily dumbfounded. What was he even talking about? Could he at least be a little clearer?

Speaking of confessions, Claudius suddenly froze. In his memory, didn't Imu also have eyes like a hawk?

Thinking about Mihawk's mysterious background, how he seemingly emerged from an island that had long since fallen and rose rapidly to become the world's strongest swordsman, it all seemed rather suspicious.

In his past life, there had been rumors speculating that Mihawk had some kind of connection to Imu, but Claudius had never taken them seriously. However, now that Mihawk had suddenly appeared like this, Claudius couldn't help but be surprised.

Could it be…?

His expression darkened slightly at the thought. Mihawk noticed the change and became even more convinced, this bastard really was plotting against him!

Still, Claudius held onto a sliver of hope. Maybe this was all just a misunderstanding?

His expression softened, and he asked, "Did you misunderstand something?"

"Hmph, there's no misunderstanding. I heard everything just now!" Mihawk snorted coldly, his sharp gaze fixed on Claudius like a hawk hunting its prey.

"You heard everything?" Claudius raised an eyebrow, his tone growing serious.

The reason he had been speaking quietly in Mihawk's presence wasn't because he wanted to target him—it was just that Mihawk was there, so he was treated as part of the background, a mere bystander.

But somehow, despite all his calculations, Mihawk had still managed to overhear something? And now it seemed like he was really connected to Imu?

"Yes, I heard it all loud and clear. I thought we were friends, but I never expected you to treat me like this… plotting against me," Mihawk said coldly.

The sword aura in his hand surged, ready to strike at any moment.

The rest of the people in the room exchanged confused glances. They had no idea what Mihawk was talking about. What was this about targeting Mihawk? No one had even mentioned him! What exactly had he heard?

Just as the confusion deepened, Claudius stood up, looked at Mihawk, and said, "This is a bit unfortunate… but in that case, we are enemies."

"You overheard our plans, Mihawk. I can't let you leave now."

"If you want to blame someone, blame fate."

"I never expected you to be from Imu's side."

"Tell me, is he your father? Grandfather? Or ancestor?"

The moment Claudius finished speaking, Doflamingo and the others' expressions shifted dramatically. What the hell?! Mihawk is connected to Imu?!

Although they had no idea how Claudius had confirmed this, since he said it, they didn't question it. Their killing intent rose, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Doflamingo took a step to the left, while Crocodile's sand began to swirl ominously to the right, subtly positioning themselves to surround Mihawk.

Meanwhile, Mihawk himself was utterly bewildered. What the hell? Imu? What is this guy even talking about?!

"Aren't you guys plotting how to get rid of me, the only independent Warlord left?" Mihawk asked, genuinely confused, as he subtly adjusted his stance to avoid being boxed in by Crocodile and Doflamingo.

Claudius, who had been prepared to attack at any moment, suddenly hesitated. Wait… what?

Didn't this guy just say he "heard everything clearly"? Why was he now acting like he had no idea what Imu was?

Claudius frowned. If Mihawk had been afraid, he wouldn't have stepped forward so boldly in the first place.

Back in his past life, he had dismissed the rumors as nonsense. But Mihawk jumping out like this had made him reconsider. However, judging by Mihawk's expression now… could it really just be a misunderstanding?

Having been friends for so long, Claudius felt like he had a decent grasp of Mihawk's personality. He didn't seem like the type to fold under pressure so easily. If he were truly working for Imu, he wouldn't be acting like this.

Claudius raised a hand, signaling Doflamingo and the others to stop. Then he asked in a deep voice, "What exactly did you hear just now?"

"You're actually asking me that? You all excluded me and started talking about who you were going to kill. Who else could you have been talking about besides me?" Mihawk said bluntly.

Claudius was momentarily speechless.

Doflamingo, on the other hand, burst out laughing. Crocodile scoffed, clicking his tongue in annoyance. "Ridiculous."

Nevertheless, he withdrew his swirling sand. Enel, Kuma, Hancock, and the others also retracted their killing intent and settled back into their seats, all looking at Mihawk like he was an idiot.

The sudden shift in atmosphere left Mihawk feeling a bit lost. What the hell just happened?

Had he really misheard?

Thinking back carefully… no one had actually said his name.

And who the hell was this "Imu" anyway? Claudius and the others were treating this person like an absolute big shot, but Mihawk had never even heard of them before.

Claudius finally snapped out of his daze and laughed. "What were you thinking?"

He then mimicked Mihawk's earlier tone, deliberately saying, "I thought we were friends… but now I see, there's no trust between us at all. So this is what 'estrangement' feels like, huh?"

Mihawk was visibly embarrassed now. Judging from everyone's reaction, it really seemed like this had been a complete misunderstanding.

Lowering his sword slightly, he muttered, "Then what exactly are you guys planning? Why are you hiding things from me?"

"It's not that we're hiding it from you," Claudius replied, shaking his head. "I just didn't want to drag you into this mess."

"I'm a Warlord of the Sea. No matter how powerful this 'Imu' is, even if they're some terrifying pirate or ruler, it's still my duty to assist CP-X with operations. In other words, I'm already on your side. So why are you acting like I'm not involved? Besides… aren't we friends? If you're facing something this serious, why wouldn't I help?" Mihawk said, sheathing his sword this time.

"Damn, weren't you just talking about 'estrangement' a second ago?" Claudius teased. Then, after a brief pause, his expression turned serious. "Since you're asking sincerely, I'll tell you the truth."

With that, Claudius stopped keeping secrets from Mihawk and laid everything out for him.

Mihawk's expression shifted multiple times as he listened, his understanding of the world being shaken to its core.

A long silence followed.

Finally, Mihawk swallowed and asked, "...If I say I want to get off this boat now, is it too late?"

Claudius smiled kindly, patted Mihawk's shoulder, and said, "Come on, after I just shared such a huge secret with you, how could you walk away? Besides… didn't you just say we were friends?"

"I think a little estrangement would actually be good for our friendship," Mihawk said bitterly.

"Don't say that! I've always thought of you as a dear brother! Welcome aboard!" Claudius laughed, shutting down any chance of Mihawk escaping.

Initially, Claudius hadn't intended to drag Mihawk into this mess. But since Mihawk had thrown himself in, there was no helping it.

Doflamingo and the others, amused by Mihawk's misfortune, began clapping in mock celebration, officially welcoming him onto their sinking ship.

Meanwhile, Mihawk wanted nothing more than to slap himself.

Why? Why did I have to be so damn curious?

Was this what it felt like to jump straight into a pit?

Chapter 382: Enel Ransacked Mihawk?

Claudius slung an arm over Mihawk's shoulder, sitting down with a pleased expression. Gaining a powerful ally all of a sudden—it felt great!

Meanwhile, Mihawk wore a bitter expression as he sat beside Claudius. He grabbed a cup of tea from the table without a second thought, took a sip, and asked, "Everything you just said… it's true?"

"Would I lie?" Claudius nodded without hesitation.

"Even if this 'Lord Imu' exists, what does that have to do with you? Shouldn't you, of all people, be on his side? Why are you running around stirring up trouble? Do you seriously want to overthrow the Celestial Dragons' rule? You are a Celestial Dragon yourself," Mihawk said helplessly.

He really couldn't understand it. Was Claudius just bored? Did he have nothing better to do? After fighting Whitebeard, did he run out of challenges? Was his new hobby… causing trouble for his own kind?

"It's not about overthrowing, it's about cleansing." Claudius waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. Just think of me as a noble, ambitious, self-sacrificing man who wants to return the world to the people…"

Mihawk gave him a deadpan look, then shook his head. "Yeah, right. Like hell I'd believe that."

Claudius, unfazed by the sarcasm, simply grinned. With his thick skin, he immediately steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"Since you're here, I've got something you might be interested in," Claudius said with a smirk. "One of the Five Elders wields a sword. Not just any sword—the First Generation Kitetsu, one of the 12 Supreme Grade Blades. Normally, a penniless guy like you would never get a chance to meet someone like that. Even if you did, you wouldn't be able to do anything about it. But this? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Mihawk's eye twitched. "Penniless?" He straightened his posture and scoffed. "Pardon me, but I must introduce myself properly, I am Dracule Mihawk. An orthodox noble."

Claudius blinked, then looked at Mihawk, then at himself, before smirking. "Oh, my bad. Let me introduce myself, too.

I am Donquixote Claudius, World Government's CP-X Commander. One of the twenty royal bloodlines that created this world 800 years ago.

To me, anyone who isn't of noble blood like mine is just another commoner."

The moment Claudius finished speaking, the entire room erupted in laughter. Mihawk, though a little exasperated, didn't take it personally. He knew Claudius was joking, but if another Celestial Dragon had said this, it wouldn't have been a joke at all.

After all, to the Celestial Dragons, there were no "nobles" besides them.

If a king knelt before them, that wasn't considered an insult, it was just expected.

At that moment, Enel suddenly spoke up. "Wait, Mihawk, wasn't the Kingdom of Kuraigana destroyed in a civil war years ago? I went treasure-hunting there once. There was a really nice castle, filled with gold and silver… I cleaned it out and made a killing."

Silence.

Doflamingo turned to stare at Enel, eyes wide in surprise.

Crocodile gave him a look that screamed, You absolute madman.

Even Claudius was momentarily stunned. Damn, this guy really plays dirty.

Meanwhile, Mihawk, who had been calmly sipping his tea, suddenly froze. His expression darkened, his eye twitching violently. His voice came out in a low growl.

"…It was you. It was you, you bastard, who ransacked my home!"

Three years ago, Mihawk had been living on Kuraigana Island. Bored out of his mind, he decided to set sail for some excitement, nothing unusual. He did it all the time, sometimes disappearing for two or three years without returning home.

Kuraigana Island was a rundown, desolate place, home to a bunch of annoyingly strong Humandrill monkeys.

After the kingdom collapsed, trade routes to the island were abandoned. Nobody lived there except for Mihawk. There were no merchants, no civilians, no reason for pirates to visit—it was a ghost island.

So Mihawk had never worried about leaving his castle unattended. He would even stash away rare treasures and valuable items he collected at sea. Why not? It wasn't like he had to spend money on anything.

He wasn't a typical pirate. He had a refined, noble demeanor. He didn't go around robbing people for fun.

But three years ago, when he finally returned home…

His entire castle had been cleaned out.

Every last Berry, every single valuable, all of his carefully collected red wine—gone. Not even a single strand of hair left behind.

Mihawk had torn the entire island apart searching for clues, but he never found the culprit.

And in the end, what could he do? As a lone swordsman, even with the title of Warlord, there was no real way to track down an unknown thief at sea.

So he swallowed the loss, gritted his teeth, and moved on.

…Or rather, he spent the next few months venting his frustration by hunting down pirates, far exceeding his quota for the World Government's annual capture missions.

And now, after all these years, he had finally found the thief.

It was Enel.

One of his own colleagues.

Someone he had even worked with before.

Mihawk clenched his jaw so hard it was a miracle his teeth didn't crack.

Meanwhile, Enel, still completely oblivious, scratched his head in confusion. "Ransack…? What ransack?"

Doflamingo, barely holding back his laughter, quickly filled Enel in on Mihawk's tragic backstory.

Enel finally realized what had happened. He had assumed that the castle was abandoned. He had no idea it was Mihawk's home.

This was… very awkward.

Rubbing the back of his head, Enel muttered, "Oh. Yeah… uh… total misunderstanding. I thought it was an empty island. Didn't know it was your place."

Claudius, seeing the tension rising, quickly stepped in. "Alright, alright, let's chalk it up to a misunderstanding. We're all respectable men here, so let's not hold grudges. How about this—after the Reverie, Enel will take you to his home, and you can take whatever you want in return."

Mihawk knew it really was a misunderstanding. Enel wasn't a complicated man out of all the pirates out there, he actually found Enel to be one of the more tolerable ones.

Not to mention, since Whole Cake Island, they had worked together a few times and built some level of camaraderie.

So in the end, he sighed, waved his hand dismissively, and said, "Forget it. It's in the past."

"But—" His sharp gaze landed on Enel. "The wine. The collection passed down in my family for generations. That you will return to me. Every bottle you took."

Enel blinked. Then, hesitating, he slowly pointed at Claudius.

"I don't really drink, so I gave all of that to His Highness…"

Mihawk froze.

Then, slowly, his gaze turned to Claudius.

Claudius, also caught off guard, suddenly remembered all those "gifts" Enel had given him over the years. He had never questioned their origins.

A drop of cold sweat rolled down his temple.

Swallowing, he forced a stiff smile. "So, uh… you mean the ones in the black bottles? With the golden thread?"

Both Enel and Mihawk nodded.

Claudius let out an awkward chuckle.

"…Yeah, about that. Uh. I already drank them all."

Mihawk's face turned pitch black.

With a murderous glint in his eye, he reached for his sword.

Claudius panicked.

"Wait, wait! It's not my fault! I didn't even know! If you want revenge, I'll introduce you to the real culprit, and you can take it up with him!"

Mihawk's eye twitched.

"Fine. But first—I'M CUTTING YOU DOWN!"

Chapter 383: I Am Not the Second Child!

Claudius, seeing Mihawk's irritation after realizing his home had been ransacked, quickly calmed him down by promising to give him a collection of fine wines as compensation. That settled the matter.

For the next two days, nothing unusual happened. Mihawk, having fallen into the "trap," was now fully aboard their ship, figuratively speaking. Since he was now part of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, there was no need to keep secrets from him during discussions on strategy and tactics.

Although Mihawk acted reluctant, he was actually quite interested in being involved in such a major event.

Most of all, he was intrigued by the Five Elders who wielded a sword. Someone who could suppress the demonic aura of the First Generation Kitetsu had to be a formidable swordsman, right?

It had been far too long since he had encountered a true master of the sword. This was a rare opportunity to test himself against a warrior who wielded one of the strongest blades in the world!

Of course, Claudius reminded Mihawk that this particular Elder had shown him some kindness over the years and had taken care of him in the past. He hoped Mihawk wouldn't actually kill the old man.

Two Days Later – Mariejois Harbor

A Marine warship, led by Vice Admiral Momonga, and a pirate ship were moored side by side. Fortunately, several ships from Drum Kingdom were docked between them, preventing any immediate conflict.

Wapol, the current ruler of Drum Kingdom, was making waves back in his own country.

Despite his foolish appearance, he wasn't completely oblivious to the importance of the situation here in Mariejois.

Following behind Momonga, Wapol was escorted to Pangea Castle, where special residences had been prepared for the 220 royal families attending the Reverie.

As for Sabo, he hadn't interacted with Ace on the journey. It would have been inconvenient, after all, he was traveling under the guise of a Marine, and any unnecessary actions could have caused misunderstandings.

Now that they were in Mariejois, he remained even more low-key.

Ace was a well-known figure in Mariejois.

Even though he was officially labeled a pirate, he enjoyed treatment close to that of a Celestial Dragon.

After all, who didn't know that he was Claudius's illegitimate son?

The way some factions saw it, maybe one day His Highness Ace would be legitimized and fully acknowledged as a Celestial Dragon.

And as for being a pirate? To the Celestial Dragons, did that even matter? If one of them got bored and decided to play pirate for a while, was it really such a big deal?

Because of this, Momonga had arranged for Sabo to be discreetly stationed at the Marine base in Mariejois, where several high-ranking Revolutionary Army members were already present.

One of them was Belo Betty, one of the five Army Commanders of the Revolutionary Army.

She had arrived first—also disguised in Marine attire.

Whether it was her naturally wild demeanor or some sort of intentional exhibitionism, she was dressed in a way that made heads turn.

The way she wore that Marine uniform… well, let's just say it left little to the imagination.

It was almost like she was trying to cosplay as Smoker possessing Tashigi.

A cigarette dangling from her lips, she smirked when she saw Sabo approach.

"About time, Second Child."

Sabo's expression stiffened.

"Betty, please… stop calling me Second Child."

"Sure thing, Second Child," Betty replied without hesitation, clearly ignoring his request.

Sabo sighed in exasperation. He had long since given up trying to fight it.

"Who else is here?" he asked.

"Haku's already inside. Ivankov's here too. The others haven't arrived yet," Betty said casually, waving a hand.

"Really? I haven't seen Ivankov in a long time, I should go catch up," Sabo said quickly, eager to escape Betty's teasing.

Betty smirked. "Still so timid, huh? C'mon, Second Child, show some backbone!"


---

Mariejois – Pangaea Castle Social Square

By now, many royals had already arrived and were socializing—networking, showing off their wealth and status, and generally trying to outshine one another.

Meanwhile, Ace, along with Buggy and Koala, wandered through the square casually, completely ignoring the royals around them.

For Buggy, this was his first time in Mariejois, his first time stepping into the Social Square, and his first time witnessing such a massive gathering of princes and nobles.

Even though he was accompanying Ace, he still felt a little out of place.

And yet, despite his nervousness, his big red nose and clown-like attire made him stand out more than anyone else.

The trio had barely taken a few steps before they ran into an unpleasant sight—Wapol.

After Momonga had escorted him to Mariejois, Wapol had immediately rushed to the Social Square, eager to mingle with the other royals and show off.

After all, this was his first time attending the Reverie, having only recently inherited his throne.

Wapol's eyes landed on Buggy.

With an arrogant sneer, he pointed and said loudly, "Hey, you—Big Red Nose! Are you a clown? Are you here to perform? Entertain this king with a circus act!"

Buggy, hearing someone mock his nose, immediately exploded in anger.

"Who the hell just insulted my nose?! Come out here and say that again, you bastard!"

"You dare to insult me?!" Wapol roared, enraged. He was about to retaliate when Ace stepped forward.

"This is my crewmate," Ace said, standing protectively in front of Buggy. "Watch your tone."

Wapol hesitated.

His sense of superiority came from his status as a king. If Ace turned out to be another noble, causing trouble could backfire.

So, he asked, "I am King Wapol of the Drum Kingdom. And you? What noble family do you belong to?"

Ace paused for a moment, then grinned.

"Me? I'm the captain of the Spade Pirates. I'm not a noble."

That was true.

Even though Ace had connections in Mariejois, he held no actual noble title.

On paper, he was merely Claudius's illegitimate son.

If he had any noble status, it would be as a Celestial Dragon—but that wasn't something he ever cared about.

So, as far as he was concerned, his only real identity was pirate captain.

Wapol froze.

A pirate? Here? In Mariejois?!

"The hell?! You're a damn pirate?!" Wapol shouted in outrage. Regaining his senses, he waved his hand and ordered his guards, "Seize him at once!"

Ace, however, was used to being untouchable in Mariejois.

He wasn't about to let some random king order him around.

Without hesitation, he raised a hand and unleashed a miniature Fire Fist, surrounding Wapol and his men in flames, not enough to kill, but definitely enough to teach a lesson.

The sudden attack threw the entire square into chaos.

Panic spread as nobles screamed and fled in all directions.

As expected, within two minutes, a Mariejois security force arrived, led by a familiar figure—Spandine.

"Who dares cause trouble here?!" Spandine barked.

He had been busy overseeing CP-X's information network, only to be interrupted by reports of a disturbance.

Before Wapol could respond, Ace waved cheerfully.

"Uncle Spandine!"

Spandine's scowl instantly disappeared.

"Ah! Your Highness Ace! Why didn't you tell me you were back? I would've come to greet you!"

Wapol paled.

Spandine, without a second thought, ordered, "Arrest this bastard for raising his hand against His Highness Ace!"

As Wapol was dragged away, Buggy's eyes sparkled.

Ace wasn't just a big shot, he was the ultimate golden ticket!

Chapter 384: Conqueror’s Luck Man

Inside Claudius's palace, Ace was chatting with Claudius, both of them laughing and clearly enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile, Buggy sat stiffly on a nearby sofa, staring at the drinks and desserts in front of him but unable to relax. His hands and feet felt awkward, he didn't know where to place them.

It wasn't surprising. After all, Claudius's reputation was overwhelming, and it was only natural for Buggy to feel pressured in his presence.

More importantly, Buggy felt uneasy in his heart.

He was a former crew member of the Roger Pirates and now he was clinging to Ace's coattails. But Claudius, the man sitting before him, was the one who captured Roger back then.

Although Buggy knew that Roger had been terminally ill and that there was probably more to the story, he still couldn't help feeling anxious.

But at this point, it was too late to turn back.

This was a gamble.

If he bet on the right side, he'd gain wealth and glory. If he bet wrong… well, with Ace here, things wouldn't end too badly, right?

Ace and Claudius looked more like brothers than father and son, with barely any apparent age gap between them.

Of course, in reality, Claudius was more than twenty years older than Ace but for reasons no one quite understood, he still looked ridiculously young.

Ace didn't seem to care, though. He casually referred to Claudius as "Dad" over and over, making Claudius sound like an old man despite his youthful appearance.

But Claudius had indeed raised Ace as his own son, so he didn't mind.

After chatting for a while, Claudius asked, "Koala didn't come with you?"

After all, Koala was someone he had personally saved and raised—practically a half-daughter to him, just like Ace was a son.

"She came, but she said she had something to take care of and wouldn't be back until she was done," Ace replied casually.

Claudius didn't press further. The kids were all grown up now, so he didn't need to concern himself with every little detail. He simply nodded and let it go.

Suddenly, Ace changed the topic. "Oh yeah, Dad! I'm kind of a big deal now, you know? I've got Hachinosu Island as my base, and I control ten surrounding islands. My name—Fire Fist Ace—is pretty well-known in the New World. My strength isn't weak either, right?"

He raised his brows, giving Claudius a knowing look.

Claudius smirked and waved his hand. "Just spit it out already."

"Hehehe… Dad, I've built up my career, and I haven't embarrassed you, right? So, how about you give me the title of Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Ace grinned, clearly trying to butter him up.

Claudius chuckled. "I knew it. The moment you suddenly came back, I figured you were here to ask for something."

"What do you mean?! I missed you, of course! I was already nearby, so how could I not stop by? I was literally at the doorstep, of course I had to come see you!" Ace said, playing it up.

Claudius smirked. "You didn't learn much out there, but you sure got better at sweet-talking."

Ace just grinned and said nothing, waiting expectantly.

Claudius thought for a moment, rubbing his chin.

"Seven Warlords of the Sea, huh? Not a bad idea… You are qualified."

Purely based on merit, Ace did meet the requirements.

His strength, his reputation in the New World, and the territory he controlled, all of it justified his place among the Warlords.

Ace's eyes lit up. He looked genuinely excited.

In this timeline, the Seven Warlords of the Sea were different from their portrayal in the original story.

While Doflamingo, Crocodile, and Hancock were still Warlords, the title itself held much more weight.

Each Warlord was a true powerhouse.

Doflamingo and Hancock alone might not be able to match a Yonko, but if two Warlords worked together, they could definitely shake the balance of power.

And for Warlords like Mihawk, Enel, Crocodile, and Kuma, their personal combat ability was so strong that even against Shanks or Kaido, they wouldn't go down easily.

Simply put, this version of the Warlords was fearsome. They were genuine top-tier pirates, the only recognized group that could challenge the Yonko.

So naturally, Ace was very interested in joining.

But just as he was about to say something, Claudius shook his head.

"Not yet. After the World Summit is over, I'll name you a Warlord."

Ace frowned. "Why wait until after the World Summit?"

"Because right now, I don't have time to deal with small matters like you," Claudius said bluntly. "I also need a period of calm, I don't want any trouble before the summit."

He didn't elaborate, brushing Ace off casually.

Ace, stunned for a moment, suddenly had a realization. "Dad… you're about to do something big, aren't you?"

"More or less," Claudius said with a mysterious smile. "But it's none of your concern, kid."

"I'm not a kid, okay?! I'm the famous Fire Fist Ace of the New World!" Ace protested.

Claudius ignored him and instead turned his gaze toward Buggy.

The moment Buggy realized Claudius was looking at him, he immediately sat up straight, feeling nervous.

After a second, he considered standing up, but that felt awkward, too.

In the end, he awkwardly perched himself on the table in front of Claudius, mimicking Ace's casual posture.

Claudius chuckled and gestured with his hand. "Relax. No need for so much formality."

Ace grinned. "Don't worry, Buggy. My dad isn't stuck-up. You're my friend."

Claudius smirked. "No need to be so obvious about hinting at it. Since he's your friend, I'll look after him."

Buggy visibly relaxed—but deep down, he was still on edge.

Claudius studied Buggy for a moment, feeling a bit amused.

This was his first time meeting Buggy in person.

Back in Loguetown, when he had captured Roger, he had been too focused on the captain himself to pay attention to a mere cabin boy.

Originally, Claudius had assumed that, because of his interference, the timeline was too messed up for Buggy to ever cross paths with Luffy.

Without Luffy's influence, Buggy might have just remained stuck in East Blue forever.

But somehow… Buggy still managed to cling to a powerful ally.

Instead of Luffy, he had attached himself to Ace.

This guy really was a Conqueror's Luck man.

He always knew how to pick the strongest thigh to cling to.

Still, Claudius had no dislike for Buggy.

If anything, he found him amusing, someone who could bring entertainment just by being himself.

Since he had somehow become Ace's sworn brother, there was no reason to interfere.

"I heard about you from Roger," Claudius suddenly said. "Back when you were just a cabin boy on the Oro Jackson, right? You and Shanks were apprentice pirates together."

Buggy froze, his face stiffening.

Even Ace looked surprised, he hadn't introduced Buggy yet, so how did Claudius already know?

Buggy swallowed nervously and forced a smile. "Uh… yeah, that's right."

Claudius chuckled. "Relax. Since you and Ace are brothers, I won't cause you trouble. You already know about your captain's condition, don't you?"

He leaned back with a smirk.

"Oh, and if you have time, you should visit Rayleigh on Sabaody Archipelago. He's an old friend of mine."

Chapter 385: The Beginning of Change!

Claudius didn't have much to say about Buggy.

Since he had latched onto Ace, there was no need to worry about him.

Buggy's status as a former Roger Pirates crew member might be a big deal in other people's eyes, but to Claudius, it was nothing special.

He also knew that Ace had brought Buggy along this time specifically to smooth things over—to make sure Claudius would look after him and keep him out of trouble.

This was a trivial matter that Claudius had no reason to refuse.

If he could protect Rayleigh, then protecting Buggy was hardly an issue.

As long as Buggy didn't stir up trouble or make a mess, Claudius wouldn't do anything to him.

Knowing that Claudius was planning something big during the World Summit, Ace wasn't in a hurry to leave.

Instead, he spent his days wandering around Mariejois, ready to witness whatever major event was about to unfold.

As time passed, the World Summit drew closer.

One by one, royal families from across the world arrived at the Holy Land of Mariejois.

High-ranking Marine officers also began gathering, while Revolutionary Army commanders infiltrated Mariejois under various disguises.

That morning, Claudius was sitting in his palace's living room, casually sipping tea.

Soon, Doflamingo, Crocodile, and Hancock came downstairs.

Doflamingo glanced at Claudius, then smirked.

"Cousin, you're not coming with us?"

Today was the official start of the World Summit.

Some royals had already entered the massive conference hall.

Doflamingo, Crocodile, and Hancock were all participating as special cases.

Crocodile and Doflamingo had successfully taken over as kings of their respective nations—Alabasta and Dressrosa. Their positions were officially recognized by the World Government, allowing them to attend as royal representatives.

Hancock, meanwhile, had not yet been formally acknowledged as a royal, but this World Summit was expected to confirm Amazon Lily's status as a newly affiliated nation.

Since she was set to join the World Government, she was allowed to participate in the discussions.

The others, however, had no reason to attend.

Enel was too lazy to care.

Mihawk technically ruled Kuraigana Island, but the nation had long since fallen, meaning he wasn't qualified to represent it.

Bartholomew Kuma had been a royal in the past, but after his rebellion, the World Government had labeled him a "tyrant", leading him to secretly cooperate with Dragon and join the Revolutionary Army.

Claudius turned his head to look at them, then smiled.

"You all go ahead—I'll join later."

Doflamingo chuckled. "Ah, I see. The big shots always arrive last, huh?"

Claudius raised an eyebrow. "Glad you understand."

Crocodile scoffed. "Tch… how pointless."

But the moment he finished speaking, Hancock grabbed his ear, scolding him.

"You insolent brute! Show some respect when speaking to His Highness!"

Then, turning to Claudius, her expression softened.

"Your Highness, I will go ahead."

Claudius smiled. "Go on."

Crocodile, now thoroughly annoyed, knocked Hancock's hand away.

"If you weren't a woman, I'd bury you right now," he muttered coldly.

Before Hancock could retaliate, Crocodile looked back at Claudius.

"I'm heading out."

Doflamingo and Hancock said nothing more.

Doflamingo simply nodded before leaving, while Hancock followed after him.

After they were gone, Claudius took another sip of tea and continued waiting.


---

Not long after, Stussy entered.

She glanced around, then asked, "Your Highness, have they all left?"

"Everyone who needed to go is gone," Claudius replied casually.

"Good," Stussy said, walking behind him and massaging his shoulders.

"Morgans is ready. He won't report anything until he receives your orders.

We've also bribed, coerced, or eliminated all other major news outlets.

Once Mariejois's communications are cut, this place will become a complete information black hole during the World Summit.

No news will escape."

Claudius closed his eyes, enjoying the massage.

Hearing Stussy's words, he smirked.

"Nicely done. After this, Happy Street is yours to take over. Make sure you keep feeding false information to the outside world."

"Understood, Your Highness," Stussy replied softly.

Then, silence.

After a moment, Claudius suddenly asked, "Are you nervous? Afraid?"

Stussy's hands paused for a second before she smiled.

"Not afraid. But definitely nervous.

If we fail… we're all dead."

She hesitated, then asked, "Your Highness… did you really not leave yourself any escape route?"

Claudius laughed.

"For something like this? There's no room for retreat.

The fact that we can't back down is precisely why we have to move forward.

If we don't succeed, we die trying."

Stussy fell silent for a moment, then sighed.

"You're really going all in on this."

Claudius smirked. "That's the only way to win."


---

Shortly after, Nia entered the room with a freshly brewed pot of tea.

Although she was well aware of Claudius's plans, there wasn't much she could do to help.

So, she simply poured him a new cup and said, "Your Highness."

Claudius glanced up at her. "Hm?"

With a bright smile, Nia said, "May you always triumph in battle. May you remain undefeated."

Claudius chuckled. "Don't worry."

At that moment, Spandine entered.

Seeing Claudius, he paused, then grinned.

"Am I early?"

Claudius smirked. "Even you are trying to sound clever now?"

Spandine quickly straightened his posture, his tone turning serious.

"Your Highness, CP-X has finished preparations. Everything is in place.

Mariejois's entire communications network is under our control.

The moment you give the signal, we can shut it all down instantly."

Claudius nodded. "What about the port?"

Spandine's eyes darkened. "We can lock it down completely at any time."

Claudius took a sip of tea, then said, "Make sure the civilians are evacuated."

"Understood," Spandine nodded.

"Good." Claudius exhaled slowly. "Everyone, focus on your own tasks. I need to head to the World Summit now."

With that, he finished his tea in one gulp, then stood up.

From the shadows, Lucci stepped forward, holding a dark brown coat.

Without a word, he placed it over Claudius's shoulders.

Claudius took a deep breath, then stepped out of the palace.