OPKOTW: Chapter 365/370

Chapter 366: Beat Morgans!

After a brief pause, Claudius said, "What do you think about making Ace the Pirate King?"

Morgans was stunned. Damn, who do you think you are to decide the Pirate King? Do you even acknowledge Shanks? Do you even consider Kaido of the Beasts?

But then he thought about it, Claudius had even taken down Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world. If he dared to talk about the Pirate King so casually, it actually seemed reasonable.

Thinking about Ace's identity again, Morgans couldn't shake the feeling that there was something deeper behind this…

However, he couldn't quite grasp it at the moment. But that didn't matter, his best response in this situation was simple: just go along with it.

After all, Morgans wouldn't dare to say anything discouraging here.

As soon as Claudius finished speaking, Morgans immediately followed up, "I think Young Master Ace is talented and remarkable. If he truly wants to make a name for himself in the world of piracy, then becoming the Pirate King in the future isn't out of the question. After all, he has Your Highness backing him."

"Hahahahaha!" Claudius burst into laughter.

After laughing, he continued, "Then let's give it a try. Morgans, take care of that kid too."

"Rest assured, Your Highness," Morgans replied quickly.

Take care? How? It was simple—he'd just hype him up. Morgans had managed to elevate Luffy to the status of the Fifth Emperor with sheer publicity. As long as Ace didn't screw up and kept up the momentum, Morgans could push him forward without any pressure.

Who knows? Maybe, with enough hype, Ace really could become the Pirate King.

Claudius nodded, then placed his fishing rod on the rack, seemingly losing interest. He stood up, stretched, and for the first time, turned to look directly at Morgans.

Then, he smiled and said, "I think we can have a proper conversation. Care to join me for some tea?"

Morgans didn't hesitate for a second. "It would be my honor to have tea with Your Highness. I'll have to brag about this when I return."

"Hahaha." Claudius chuckled noncommittally, then turned and walked into the palace.

Morgans followed him inside.

Although their conversation had been lighthearted, Morgans felt an increasing pressure from Saint Claudius. It was as if he had no choice but to agree with whatever the prince said.

"Isn't he angry? A high-ranking Celestial Dragon?" Morgans wondered to himself.

As they entered the palace, the faint aroma of incense refreshed Morgans' spirit.

He was familiar with this scent, he occasionally used it at home.

This kind of incense was extremely expensive.

Usually, he only lit it when he was stuck at a creative bottleneck and needed to clear his mind.

But here, in Claudius' palace, it seemed like this scent was present at all times.

Claudius casually led Morgans to the sofa and sat down.

"Sit," Claudius waved his hand.

Morgans immediately took his seat across from him.

Soon, Nia approached with two cups of tea, handing one each to Claudius and Morgans.

Taking a sip of tea, Claudius looked at Morgans and asked, "As a major news figure, you should have a solid understanding of the world's trends, right?"

Morgans didn't dare to boast and responded humbly, "I wouldn't dare compare myself to Your Highness, but I do have some insights."

"Good," Claudius said. "Then what do you think the future holds?"

Morgans pondered for a moment before replying, "I believe we are in a period of turmoil before stability."

"What do you mean?" Claudius asked casually.

"The Great Pirate Era has been raging for eighteen years.

I wouldn't dare to make any bold claims, but one thing is certain both Your Highness and the Navy have been preparing for these eighteen years.

Last November, the Whitebeard Pirates were wiped out.

Marine Headquarters—Marineford—if you ask me, I'd say that marked the beginning of the end of the Great Pirate Era.

I can only assume that neither Your Highness nor the Navy will continue to let the New World run unchecked, correct?

And when you mentioned Ace and the Pirate King earlier, it further confirmed my belief."

Morgans spoke seriously.

Claudius laughed, nodded, and said, "You do see things clearly. No, we're not going to let the New World run wild any longer. I do intend to bring an end to the chaos of the Great Pirate Era and usher in a bright future for the world…"

"Your Highness has great ambition. I admire that," Morgans quickly added.

"But tell me," Claudius said with a smile, "do you really believe I can bring this Great Pirate Era to an end?"

Morgans nodded and spoke softly, "Because Your Highness has never failed."

"Well said," Claudius acknowledged with confidence.

Then, gazing out the window, he murmured, "Tell me, what do you think I'll do after the Great Pirate Era is over?"

"The Revolutionary Army?" Morgans frowned slightly, uncertain.

"They're nothing more than a minor nuisance," Claudius waved dismissively.

Morgans was genuinely surprised. Normally, the World Government viewed pirates as a nuisance and the Revolutionary Army as the real threat. But here, Claudius was treating the Revolutionary Army as nothing more than a trivial issue?

He didn't fully understand, but then again, he wasn't a ruler, his business was news. He couldn't be expected to think that far ahead.

"In that case, I wouldn't dare to speculate. Your Highness' vision is beyond my grasp," Morgans replied humbly.

"I want to repair the ship," Claudius sighed.

Morgans was confused at first, but then his expression turned serious.

"This era moves in waves, forty years ago, it was the era of Rocks. Then came the era of the Golden Lion, followed by Roger's era, and more recently, Whitebeard's era. Now, a new era has begun.

I believe this is the Era of Claudius…" Claudius said softly, with deep emotion.

Morgans spoke sincerely, "Except for Rocks, didn't the other three fall at your hands? I'd say this era already belongs to you, Your Highness."

As soon as Claudius finished speaking, Morgans panicked. His hands trembled as he hurriedly placed his teacup on the table. Then, without hesitation, he knelt on the floor, pressing his forehead against the soft carpet.

Claudius paid no attention to him.

Instead, he continued, "The power of public opinion… As a leading journalist, I don't need to explain that to you, do I? It's a sword hanging over everyone's head.

And you are the one holding the sword.

Although people say public opinion serves as a check and balance, it's not something you can just wield recklessly.

The influence of your World Economy News Paper has already reached a level I can barely tolerate. If you publish a lie, you could topple entire nations. Do you really not see how dangerous that is, Morgans?"

Claudius was speaking nothing but the truth.

In the original timeline, the World Economy News Paper once published fake news claiming Doflamingo had been stripped of his Warlord status, and the entire world fell into chaos.

And that was over something that wasn't even real.

Their influence was already terrifying.

At this moment, Morgans knelt on the ground, trembling.

"Your Highness, I would never dare… I truly wouldn't dare…"

Glancing at Morgans, Claudius took another sip of tea before finally saying, "Get up."

Hearing this, Morgans shakily got to his feet, but he no longer dared to sit down. Instead, he stood stiffly before Claudius, full of fear.

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Chapter 367: Stop Talking, Just Kneel and Call Me Boss

Seeing Morgans' frightened expression, Claudius sighed, shook his head, and said, "Your World Economy News Paper never listens to orders.

You, Morgans, are a journalist with integrity.

I admire your courage to tell the truth. But admiration is one thing.

Sometimes, the damage caused by the truth is far greater than that of a lie.

Let me ask you, if two armies are locked in a stalemate, with no reinforcements on either side, and one general declares that backup is on the way while the other admits he is alone and helpless—who do you think will win?"

Morgans didn't dare to hesitate and immediately answered, "The one who claims he has reinforcements will win."

"Exactly. This is one of the powers of lies. Those in power must always consider the bigger picture. It may seem ruthless, but it is necessary. If given a choice, no one wants to distort truth and reality, but if there is no choice, one must be ruthless. Would you agree?" Claudius asked again.

"Your Highness is absolutely right," Morgans replied, not daring to contradict him.

Claudius took another sip of tea, glanced at Morgans, and said, "This isn't the first time you've gone against the World Government, is it? Do you need me to list all your offenses?"

Cold sweat dripped down Morgans' back. He shook his head but remained silent, terrified that saying the wrong thing would lead to immediate execution.

"To avoid trouble, you keep your World Economy News Paper headquarters floating in the sky, constantly changing locations every minute, every second," Claudius mused.

Morgans quickly explained, "Your Highness, it's to better capture global events while avoiding chaotic forces that wish to exploit our news organization."

"Perhaps," Claudius responded indifferently.

Then, in a low voice, he said, "Stussy…"

At his call, Stussy walked over, holding a stack of documents.

"Show him," Claudius instructed, nodding toward Morgans.

Stussy handed Morgans the documents. A bead of sweat formed at the corner of his brow as he opened them with trembling hands.

Inside were detailed records of every major and minor action of the World Economy News Paper—where they had resupplied, where they had stationed their airborne headquarters, what news they had received… even the precise locations of Morgans' so-called "hidden" floating headquarters. Everything was under CP-X's surveillance.

"Hmph. You understand what this means, don't you? I don't need to spell it out for you," Claudius said coldly.

Morgans swallowed hard, looking at Claudius with growing fear. He dared not utter a word.

Satisfied that the intimidation had sunk in, Claudius placed his teacup down and said, "Morgans, do you have a powerhouse like the Golden Lion under your command?"

"No…"

"What about Roger?"

"No."

"Newgate?"

"Not at all."

"Then do you think you can hide from me? Do you think you can stand against me?" Claudius asked, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Morgans trembled all over, his teeth chattering. "I can't hide from Your Highness… and I can't fight Your Highness either…"

"As long as you understand that," Claudius nodded.

After a brief pause, he said, "Sit down."

Morgans sat down hesitantly, his body still shaking from fear.

"I didn't call you here today to settle old scores, nor do I have the time to dwell on them," Claudius said softly.

Hearing this, Morgans secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still on edge. This man was too powerful. Morgans had interviewed countless major figures before—Newgate, Charlotte Linlin, even Kaido.

But none of them had ever made him feel this terrified, especially when Claudius hadn't even laid a hand on him. It was just the sheer pressure he exuded.

"In the past, I was too lazy to deal with you. But soon, I will start handling things myself.

I need someone who listens to me.

If I say east, he dares not say west.

If I say a lion is a tiger, he must accept that as truth.

A mouthpiece for public opinion… Morgans, do you understand what I mean?"

Though Claudius' tone was light, his words struck Morgans' heart like a hammer.

Morgans' lips trembled as he nodded. "I understand, Your Highness."

"You're a smart man, so I won't bother making threats. But you should know, if I wanted to destroy you, I could do so with a flick of my wrist," Claudius continued.

Morgans immediately nodded, "Yes, Your Highness, I understand."

Claudius, appearing satisfied with his compliance, softened his tone slightly and said, "That said, as I mentioned earlier, I do admire you, Morgans. You started from nothing, even when faced with bankruptcy, and built the World Economy News Paper into what it is today. That proves you are capable, intelligent, and know how to read the situation.

I like people like that."

Before Morgans could respond, Claudius continued, "The World Economy News Paper is impressive, but it's still missing something. I plan to have Spandine assist you. No objections, I assume?"

Morgans didn't dare to say a word out of line. He knew exactly what this meant.

Spandine—the most loyal hound at Claudius' feet, the ruthless leader of CP-X, a man who obeyed orders without question.

On the surface, it sounded like Spandine was being sent to "help," but in reality, wasn't this just the complete nationalization of the World Economy News Paper?

Bitter as it was, Morgans had no choice but to swallow it.

"Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for your consideration. I will cooperate fully with Lord Spandine," Morgans said quickly.

Claudius nodded again. "Spandine is a busy man. He won't have time to micromanage you. You'll continue your usual work, but when I need you."

"I will immediately follow Your Highness' orders and do whatever you ask," Morgans interrupted, his voice full of obedience.

"Good. You're catching on quickly," Claudius said approvingly.

After a short pause, he continued, "Your current title sounds grand—the so-called 'Emperor of the Underworld.' But in reality, you're just a newspaper vendor.

Up until now, you've been free to move as you please.

Now, you work for me.

Shouldn't I at least give you a formal status? Stussy, go to the CP-X archives and create a file for Morgans. From today onward, he is one of us."

Hearing this, Morgans finally relaxed a little.

It seemed His Highness had no intention of killing him. This was, in a way, a form of reassurance.

Though the "recruitment" process had been rather forceful, there was no room for negotiation. Claudius had simply decided, and that was that.

But did Morgans dare to refuse?

Of course not.

In fact, there was even a strange sense of relief. He had just secured a powerful backer.

Sure, his newspaper was no longer truly independent, but at least he was still alive. Just moments ago, he had thought he was doomed—now, he had a way forward.

His reaction was swift. As soon as Stussy turned to handle the paperwork, Morgans dropped to his knees again and said sincerely, "Thank you for Your Highness' grace. I am honored."

"Do your job well.

In the future, the World Government may establish an official press and propaganda department. If that happens, you could become its minister.

Wouldn't that be better than just running a newspaper?"

Claudius waved him up as he spoke.

Carrot and stick—Claudius was no miser. As long as Morgans didn't step out of line, he was more than willing to give the man a future.

But if he ever tried to pull any tricks, Claudius would make sure Morgans understood what true terror was.

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Chapter 368: The King of the Desert

Grand Line—Santin Island, Alabasta.

At this moment, in the capital of this ancient kingdom with a history spanning thousands of years, a chaotic war had just ended.

The royal army, 600,000 strong, had been defeated by the rebel forces, leading to the fall of the capital. The Nefertari royal family had met misfortune as a result.

In the rebel camp, Crocodile sat calmly.

Some of his top officers were present as well.

MR. 3 stood behind Crocodile, trembling. His awe toward his boss had only grown stronger.

Following Crocodile, he had witnessed Alabasta, once peaceful, descend into chaos. The once-prestigious Nefertari royal family had been completely disgraced.

All of this—this grand spectacle—had been orchestrated entirely by his boss. And now, the final act had concluded.

Crocodile seemed to be waiting for something. He sat in the camp, a cigar clenched between his teeth, exhaling puffs of smoke from time to time. His eyes were closed slightly, as if resting.

Before long, the tent's entrance was pulled open, and Crocodile's most trusted subordinate, MR. 1—Daz Bones—walked in.

A trace of blood still lingered on his hands, but his eyes were calm, his expression indifferent.

Upon entering, Crocodile opened his eyes and asked softly, "How is it?"

Hearing his boss' words, Daz Bones answered in an even tone, "I've executed Koza and the others."

Crocodile nodded at his response, then stood up.

Koza—the leader of the rebel army, said to be childhood friends with Princess Vivi of the Nefertari family.

Yet, as Crocodile stirred up conflict and sowed discord in this nation, these once-close companions had become mortal enemies.

With Crocodile's secret support, Koza had expanded his rebel forces, ultimately sweeping across the country and toppling Alubarna, the capital defended by the 600,000-strong royal army.

But just now, Daz Bones had quietly eliminated Koza and the other rebel leaders.

For years, Crocodile had been secretly backing the rebels. Naturally, he had also planted many of his own people among them.

Now, with the true rebel leadership dead, the entire rebellion was under Crocodile's control.

At this moment, in Alabasta, apart from the Nefertari royal family, Crocodile was the most powerful figure.

The Nefertari royal family was now trapped in Alabasta's palace, like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

In this kingdom, Crocodile had become the supreme ruler.

"Announce that Koza and the others perished in the Battle of Alubarna. At the same time, as Sir Crocodile, the national hero, declare that we have ended the war and taken control of the rebel forces." Crocodile spoke calmly.

Hearing this, Daz Bones and the others immediately responded, "Understood, boss."

"Seize all the royal army's weapons and temporarily enforce martial law over Alubarna.

Once I've dealt with the Nefertari family, I will officially take control of all Alabasta.

At that point, whether it's the rebels or the royal army, they will all be mine."

Crocodile's voice was deep and commanding.

"Understood," Daz Bones replied without hesitation.

"Then, let's go meet His Majesty Cobra. I hope he has enough sense to willingly cede the throne to me, so I won't have to kill anyone else."

A sinister smile curled at the corners of Crocodile's mouth, his eyes gleaming with malice as he spoke softly.

—

Before long, Crocodile arrived at the grand and ancient Alubarna Palace.

At this moment, inside the palace…

Nefertari Cobra—the king who had once stood in Mariejois, daring to challenge the greed of the World Government, a man who had even defied the Celestial Dragons.

Now sat on his throne, looking utterly exhausted.

His once-dark hair had begun to turn gray. His gaze was dull, his aura filled with despair.

Beside him stood a young girl with long blue hair. Her face was filled with confusion and worry, but she had no idea what to do.

This girl was none other than Princess Vivi of the Nefertari family.

Among the current Nefertari bloodline, only the two of them remained.

The massive doors of the throne room slowly swung open.

Hearing the sound, Cobra lifted his weary gaze toward the entrance.

Footsteps echoed as Crocodile's figure gradually came into view.

The moment he saw Crocodile, Cobra let out a bitter laugh, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

"So, it was you after all… The rebels, the public outcry… You incited it all, didn't you, Sir Crocodile?" Cobra murmured.

Crocodile bit down on his cigar, striding toward the throne step by step.

He nodded and replied calmly, "Yes, Your Majesty Cobra. It was me."

Before Cobra could speak, Vivi shouted angrily, "Why?! Why would you do this to Alabasta?! Weren't you supposed to be our national hero?!

My father treated you well, he gave you nobility, he gave you reputation and status!"

"Don't be so agitated, Princess Vivi. Those weren't gifts from your father. I earned them myself," Crocodile said dismissively.

"As for why I did this… Let's just say it couldn't be helped, I was merely following orders."

"Following orders?" Cobra's eyes flickered slightly.

Then, he laughed again, a laugh of resignation, as if none of it mattered anymore.

"So, you're an agent of the World Government?"

Crocodile nodded casually and replied, "Under CP-X."

"I see… So, you serve him. The World Government truly intends to erase the Nefertari bloodline," Cobra said, his voice filled with sorrow.

"Perhaps," Crocodile responded indifferently.

He didn't bother explaining further.

The World Government had merely wanted to punish the Nefertari family as a warning.

The one who truly desired Alabasta's destruction was Claudius.

But of course, Crocodile wouldn't say any of that. Let the World Government take the blame.

Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a document and handed it to Cobra.

"This is the reality of the situation.

I believe Your Majesty Cobra understands that the Nefertari family's reign has come to an end.

Now, sign this document and officially surrender Alabasta's throne to me."

Hearing this, Vivi yelled angrily, "Never! You traitor!"

"It's not impossible," Crocodile replied with a cruel glint in his eyes. "I'm just trying to make this transition a bit more peaceful."

Cobra gently grabbed Vivi, his voice quiet.

"If I sign this document… will Vivi be spared?"

"Father!" Vivi clutched his arm in a panic.

Crocodile smiled and said, "As long as Your Majesty Cobra follows my arrangements, neither you nor Princess Vivi will be in any danger."

"What arrangements?" Cobra's gaze darkened.

"Saint Claudius has prepared a large estate for you both in West Blue. You can live out the rest of your days there in peace," Crocodile answered frankly.

"Peace…?" Cobra murmured, repeating the word.

"Yes. Peace," Crocodile confirmed.

The implication was clear, so long as Cobra and Vivi didn't cause trouble, they could live a life of luxury.

But if they did try anything… then there would be no mercy.

"The Nefertari family seized the Alabasta throne over 800 years ago… and now, it will fall at my hands," Cobra muttered sorrowfully.

Then, he let out a bitter smile.

"Perhaps… our ancestors should have remained in Mariejois back then…"

Crocodile said nothing.

He knew it was pointless.

Claudius was going to cleanse everything, whether they were Celestial Dragons or not, their fate would have been the same.

Cobra didn't expect a response.

He silently picked up the pen, signed his name on the document, and looked at Crocodile.

"From now on… you are the King of the Desert."

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Chapter 369: Tesoro—Is Crocodile Showing Off to Me?

On Alabasta's throne, Crocodile sat comfortably, a Den Den Mushi in hand, speaking to someone.

"I currently have 700,000 troops at my command.

Once everything stabilizes, that number will grow.

In the end, I should be able to reach a standing force of one million.

But a million troops, all elites—if they remain confined to Alabasta, they'll be useless.

I need to send them out.

These people need to eat. Ships need maintenance. Everything costs money.

Even with Alabasta's resources, I can only sustain them for about two years at most.

And that's after tapping into the wealth the royal family has accumulated over centuries.

Beyond the military, I also need to restore the country's economy.

Alabasta isn't like Dressrosa, it's a massive nation.

Everything costs money!"

Crocodile spoke into the Den Den Mushi, his tone firm.

"Why do I feel like taking Alabasta isn't much of a gain? It sounds like you're just bleeding money," Tesoro complained on the other end.

"You've got nothing but money on your mind, huh?" Crocodile scoffed.

"Alabasta's forces will become a critical asset when we seize supreme power over the World Government.

Its influence will spread across dozens of surrounding islands and nations, reinforcing our rule.

If we act quickly, we might even—ah, forget it.

It's pointless explaining finances to you.

Claudius has already approved my plan. You just need to provide the funds.

If you have a problem with it, go talk to him," Crocodile said, clearly annoyed.

Originally, Crocodile took Alabasta as a contingency plan.

If the Marines ultimately sided with the World Government, Claudius would still have a military force independent from them.

In that scenario, Alabasta's forces could unite with the Revolutionary Army, escalating into a full-scale war to seize power.

Of course, this was a last resort. The losses would be immense, and even then, Alabasta's army might not be enough to stand against the Marines.

But Claudius never gambled everything on a single option.

At the time, he was uncertain about the Marines' final allegiance, so he diversified his strategies, ensuring he wouldn't be left without options.

Now, the best-case scenario had come to pass: the Marines were on their side.

As a result, Alabasta's role had diminished somewhat.

However, its formidable military still provided stable support, helping maintain order in the first half of the Grand Line.

It also gave the new regime an additional powerful force beyond the Marines, ensuring control over many nations.

And if the Marines' battles in the New World became too overwhelming, Alabasta's military could serve as reinforcements.

Lastly, Alabasta's strategic location at the entrance to the Grand Line made it the perfect place to begin eliminating piracy at its source.

When the time came to end the Great Pirate Era, Alabasta could once again prove its worth.

After hearing Crocodile's reasoning, Tesoro sighed heavily and grumbled, "Fine, fine. His Highness approved it, so what else can I say? How much Berries do you need?"

"200 billion Berries—for now. More may be required later.

I'll also need substantial investments. You should take the lead on that," Crocodile replied calmly.

Tesoro felt a pang in his chest.

200 billion Berries, he could afford it, of course. Compared to his total fortune, it wasn't a staggering amount.

But it still hurt.

As for the investments, that wasn't a problem.

Alabasta had great potential.

The country had just undergone a regime change, and the initial chaos was settling.

It was the perfect time to invest, and many people would be interested.

"Fine, fine. I'll send someone over soon," Tesoro grumbled.

"Also, I need to build a lot of shipyards.

You have a broad network, find me some good shipbuilders," Crocodile added.

Tesoro gritted his teeth and snapped, "Do you really think I'm your personal assistant?

Why don't you just contact Water 7 directly for this?

Coincidentally, I spoke with Tom recently, he mentioned plans to expand his shipyard operations to other islands.

I think you two would have a lot to discuss."

"Tom wants to open a branch?" Crocodile ignored the complaints and focused on the important part.

"Yes! You brute—your world revolves around fighting and war. You're completely out of touch with the business world," Tesoro scoffed.

He then continued, "With sea train technology continuing to advance, there's been a massive increase in demand.

Water 7 has to undergo some industrial restructuring to expand sea train production.

But they can't just abandon their existing shipbuilding business, right?

So Tom is considering relocating part of his warship production elsewhere.

Water 7 is a small island—its production capacity is already maxed out.

With more funding pouring in, the demand for warships is skyrocketing, and Water 7 alone can't keep up anymore."

Crocodile frowned. "So what does that mean? Explain it simply."

Though he ran casinos and had a hand in military manufacturing with Doflamingo, large-scale industrial logistics weren't his expertise.

"To put it simply—Water 7's system can't keep up with Claudius' ambitions.

In the future, His Highness will massively expand Marine development.

Water 7 alone won't be enough.

They need a mature military production infrastructure, something that you can provide.

That's why moving warship production to Alabasta is the best option.

It'll stimulate Alabasta's economy, create millions of jobs, and—best of all—it gives you the ability to secretly build ships for your own forces.

It's a win-win situation," Tesoro explained.

Crocodile smirked. "So basically, I get to steal Water 7's shipbuilding business? Sounds perfect."

"More or less. Anyway, I don't have time for your nonsense, I'm busy," Tesoro said impatiently.

"What are you so busy with? The Calm Belt project? Golden City? I heard you were hosting a concert, maybe you're busy writing songs?" Crocodile teased.

Tesoro clicked his tongue. "Don't underestimate me. I'm drafting financial plans for His Highness.

Based on this year's World Government tax revenue and the economic conditions of over 100 affiliated nations, I'm calculating a reasonable tax reduction policy.

There are also welfare policies to implement, so that once His Highness seizes absolute power, everything can be put into place quickly and smoothly.

And now, you've robbed me of 200 billion Berries, which will definitely mess up my budget," Tesoro said, clearly annoyed.

"Is that so? Then I won't bother you.

Besides, I'm busy too—after all, over 40 million people in Alabasta are depending on me now.

I am the King of the Desert, after all," Crocodile said smugly.

Then, he hung up the Den Den Mushi.

—

Meanwhile, in the Golden City, Tesoro stared at the silent Den Den Mushi on his desk.

He rubbed his chin in amusement before glancing at Baccarat, the Goddess of Luck.

"Was it just my imagination, or was that damn crocodile showing off to me?"

Baccarat chuckled and replied, "Master Crocodile has been planning this for years.

Now that he's won a decisive victory, it makes sense that he'd want to boast a little."

"Just as His Highness said… that sand crocodile is such a damn tsundere.

His personality is so twisted," Tesoro said with a smirk.

Then, he turned his attention back to his reports, fully immersed in calculating the new regime's financial plans.

As he had said—he was really busy.

After all, Claudius had already decided, once everything was in place, Tesoro would become the Finance Minister of the new world order.

And then, he'd be even busier.

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Chapter 370: The Strongest Country in the World—Elbaf

Holy Land, Mariejois—inside Claudius' palace, he sat in his study, reading.

In his hands was a book titled Information About the Kingdom of Giants, detailing the history and structure of the Giant Kingdom.

As the most powerful country in the world, Elbaf possessed an overwhelming military force.

Every giant, upon reaching adulthood, could easily attain the combat strength of a Marine Vice Admiral with only minimal training though, of course, they would be at the entry-level of Vice Admirals.

But with sheer numbers alone, this became a terrifying force.

Elbaf boasted tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of adult giants.

Converted into combat strength, this meant they could field hundreds of thousands of Vice Admiral-level warriors at once.

And among them, the truly exceptional individuals could grow even stronger, which was not unusual at all.

This was the core reason why Elbaf remained firmly seated as the world's strongest nation.

Their warriors were powerful. Their numbers were immense.

When quantity reached a certain level, it naturally led to qualitative superiority.

Their solution to any opposition? Overwhelming force.

The entire nation of Elbaf was divided into two major factions.

One faction was wild and aggressive, known to the world as the Barbaric Giants.

The other was more composed and polite, commonly referred to as the Moderates.

The Barbaric Giants were warriors at heart, wherever they went, they inevitably became pirates or mercenaries.

The Moderates, on the other hand, had agreements with the World Government. Many of them, upon reaching adulthood, would choose to enlist in the Marines, becoming Vice Admirals.

The Marines even had specialized giant combat units.

Regardless of faction, the giants were a force to be reckoned with.

Claudius was reading this book because CP-X had recently established contact with Elbaf, beginning friendly cooperation.

Not all giants were warriors—some aspired to be cooks, adventurers, or simply wished to live peaceful lives.

Diversity was the foundation of any nation's society.

However, due to their massive size, the giants had struggled to integrate with other countries.

Not because they were warlike, but for a far simpler reason—logistics.

Elbaf's infrastructure was built on a completely different scale.

Their goods had no market elsewhere.

Conversely, the things they needed from the outside world were prohibitively expensive.

Take something as simple as a drinking cup.

A single giant-sized cup cost dozens, even hundreds of times more to produce than a regular human cup.

Yet, the currency value remained the same, everyone used Berries.

If a regular human could buy a cup for 1,000 Berries, a giant would have to pay 30,000 or 50,000 just to get one.

Who would sell to them under such conditions?

Factor in transportation costs, and the trade simply wasn't worth it.

As a result, Elbaf had little economic interaction with other nations.

Simply put, their economy was incompatible with the outside world.

—

Now, with the Calm Belt development entering a new phase, there was a greater need for labor and resources.

But Fish-Man Island's workforce was limited.

If they couldn't supply enough labor, they wouldn't be able to extract enough resources from the islands.

This was when Claudius set his sights on Elbaf.

Although Elbaf had some existing cooperation with the World Government such as their Vice Admirals, they were militarily self-sufficient.

As the strongest nation, even though they were located in the New World, they didn't need the World Government's protection.

They could defend themselves.

Moreover, due to their economic isolation, they remained self-sustaining in a tribal system, never progressing beyond a primary societal structure.

Despite their immense strength, they were not a wealthy nation.

From the perspective of giants—who could live 300 to even 500 years—800 years of World Government rule wasn't that impressive.

For younger giants today, the World Government was simply something from "my grandfather's generation."

"Our Elbaf has existed for thousands of years. Why should we submit to you?"

For over 800 years, the World Government had tried and failed to integrate Elbaf into its system.

For humans, spending centuries on diplomacy was an eternity.

For giants, it was merely a long discussion.

A failed deal in one generation? Just wait a few hundred years and try again.

This was why nothing had changed.

—

Claudius, however, had his own plans.

If he was going to establish a new regime, then naturally, he wanted Elbaf's participation as well.

But rather than force the issue, he decided to take a gradual approach.

Step one: Cooperation.

Rather than discussing military alliances, he would start with something non-combative.

He would show Elbaf what benefits they could gain by cooperating.

Just like Fish-Man Island, he would begin by hiring giant laborers.

—

There were several favorable conditions for this.

First, giants weren't entirely foreign to mixed societies.

Fish-Man Island had giant-sized merfolk and fish-men, such as Shirahoshi and King Neptune.

For thousands of years, they had already established a social system accommodating individuals ranging from merely large to massive.

This meant that the infrastructure that worked for Fish-Man Island could seamlessly adapt to Elbaf.

Integration wouldn't be an issue.

Second, Claudius could pay the giants based on actual labor output, rather than setting fixed wages.

Compared to regular humans, giants consumed nearly 100 times more resources.

But in terms of physical labor, they were worth just as much—if not more.

Of course, intellectual labor wasn't their strength. But for physical work, they were unmatched.

Claudius planned to send them to the Calm Belt for mining.

A single giant could easily outperform three to five hundred regular humans.

Even compared to Fish-Men, their productivity was 30 to 50 times greater.

This meant their economic value would scale exponentially.

By generating far more profit, Claudius could afford to pay them equally high wages.

In the end, it was a win-win.

Claudius' Calm Belt projects would progress at an accelerated pace.

Elbaf would gain an enormous economic boost.

And through Fish-Man Island's existing economic framework, Elbaf would finally integrate into the global economy.

It was the perfect arrangement.

—

Once enough trust was built, Claudius intended to officially incorporate Elbaf into the World Government's system.

When the strongest nation joined, the legitimacy of the new government would become undeniable.

Thus, during this period, Claudius had already made preparations.

He simply waited for the upcoming Reverie, where he would personally meet Elbaf's representatives, ensuring they wouldn't be caught off guard.

"Prince Loki, huh?" Claudius murmured, spotting the name in his book.

"This guy's taste is almost as bad as Robin's… Later on, didn't he fall for one of Charlotte Linlin's ugly daughters?"

He chuckled to himself.

—

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

"Enter," Claudius responded.

Nia, stepped in, holding a gilded document.

"Your Highness, this was sent by the Five Elders," Nia said, handing him the document.

Claudius nodded, opened it, and smirked.

"It's settled."

This document was the official recognition from the World Government, Crocodile was now the King of Alabasta.

All of the Nefertari family's privileges within the World Government would be transferred to him.

Alabasta would remain a member nation.

Of course, this didn't come without a price.

Normally, Claudius could have handled this directly, as he did with Dressrosa, just a few words, and it was done.

But the Nefertari family was special.

As descendants of the original twenty kings, their transition required formalities within the World Government.

So, after a few days of bureaucratic delays, Alabasta was now firmly under Claudius' control.

Crocodile—once a mere pirate—had become a king.