In the Holy Land of Mariejois, inside the residence of the gods, Claudius sat comfortably in his study, leisurely reading a book.
Naturally, he was unaware that, thanks to Zephyr's remarks, he had gained quite a reputation within the Naval Headquarters.
The book Claudius held in his hands was one of many that Nia, had recently provided. It detailed the customs and governance of the world, specifically introducing the various national situations of the more than 170 countries allied with the World Government.
"Although slavery was officially abolished, it's not just the Celestial Dragons who blatantly disregard this decree. Even among the ordinary nobles, there are still slaves to be found..." Claudius murmured softly to himself as he read.
This was in line with his prior understanding. While Doflamingo was still just a child at this time, the infamous slave trade of the Sabaody Archipelago hadn't relied solely on his future influence to flourish.
The business was already thriving. Celestial Dragons often bought slaves when visiting the island, and when they weren't around, the nobles served as the primary clientele.
For the moment, Claudius had no particular interest in meddling with the slave trade. Even if he had the inclination to intervene, he lacked the power to do so. He wasn't some idealistic hero who could change things with mere words.
Aside from the slave trade operating in the shadows, most countries still operated under a feudal system. Kings ruled over their nations, and nobles were entrusted with the management of territories much like in the ancient times of his previous life. This brought Claudius to some deeper thoughts.
Just as he was contemplating these matters, a gentle knock sounded at the door of his study.
"Your Highness," Nia's soft voice called from outside.
Claudius snapped out of his thoughts and replied calmly, "Come in."
With his permission, Nia quietly opened the door and stepped into the study.
"Any news?" Claudius asked, still not turning away from the book in his hand.
"Yes, Your Highness," Nia replied with a nod, and before Claudius could prompt her further, she continued, "At Naval Headquarters, there is indeed a Vice Admiral by the name of Dragon. Although he hasn't been promoted yet, many within the Marine know that he is the son of Garp, the hero of the Marines."
"Just as I thought..." Claudius said with a small smile, muttering to himself.
Garp was indeed a Marine hero, a man who clearly despised the Celestial Dragons, but whose loyalty to the Marine and the World Government was beyond question. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked his life during the God Valley incident.
Even if Garp's loyalty was to a peace shaped by the World Government's control, it was still unwavering. At the very least, Garp had a deep love for the Marines.
As a hero, Garp naturally hoped his son would follow in his footsteps, and it seemed he had succeeded. Dragon was already a Vice Admiral a clear indication of his talent.
Judging by Dragon's age, he should be in his early twenties probably around twenty-three or twenty-four.
Even without Garp's influence, Dragon's position as Vice Admiral was well earned.
So Claudius wasn't particularly surprised by the news.
"Why does Your Highness have such interest in Garp's son?" Nia asked, a little puzzled.
Claudius chuckled and replied, "Because this man is rather interesting."
Nia still didn't fully understand. Despite her curiosity, she quickly suppressed it.
Ever since Saint Claudius had returned from his "trip" to the New World, there had been many changes. His attendants, including Nia, all noticed that his temper had significantly mellowed. The once irritable and troublesome noble, known for causing daily chaos, had become a quiet figure who rarely left his estate.
Naturally, Nia had noticed this transformation as well. Though she had her doubts, she rationalized it by assuming that Claudius had matured. Perhaps his experiences had calmed his mind, allowing him to adopt a more stable and level-headed approach to life.
But Claudius, deep down, knew the truth. It wasn't a mere change of mindset; it was a complete change of soul.
As for why he was so interested in Dragon, it was because Claudius knew the man would eventually become the greatest enemy of the Celestial Dragons.
He needed to find out more about Dragon's current situation. Had he already started to distance himself from his father's ideals? If Dragon had already begun to oppose the World Government, then Claudius had to act swiftly.
If Dragon had broken away from his father's beliefs and was preparing to go rogue, it would be disastrous for Claudius and the other Celestial Dragons.
That would mean Dragon had already undergone his transformation he had already set his revolutionary ambitions.
If that was the case, Claudius needed to eliminate Dragon immediately, before he grew into a greater threat.
Claudius wasn't the type to be sentimental. Even though Dragon had a legendary father in Garp, that didn't earn him any special treatment.
The saying "Your position determines your actions" applied here. Whatever role Claudius found himself in, he would act accordingly.
If he had been reincarnated as a pirate, he would've lived as a pirate raiding, plundering, pursuing the title of Pirate King without a second thought.
Had he been reborn as a Marine, he would've donned the cloak of justice, worked his way up to Admiral, and used the power of the Buster Call to annihilate anything he found displeasing.
And if he had been born in Dragon's time and ended up under his command, Claudius might've devoted himself to revolution, fighting to overthrow the corrupt powers of the old world.
But none of those scenarios had played out. Claudius had been born as a Celestial Dragon, with all the wealth, power, and privilege the world had to offer.
Thus, his role was clear: protect the Celestial Dragons and maintain the status quo. As long as the World Government stood strong, he could continue to enjoy the privileges that came with his title. The choice was simple. There was no need to hesitate.
That meant anyone who threatened the Celestial Dragon's way of life had to be dealt with no exceptions.
Claudius knew that while the Celestial Dragons were untouchable now, that might not be the case in twenty or thirty years. The winds of change would eventually sweep through, and whether the World Government could withstand the coming storm was uncertain.
If the World Government fell and the Celestial Dragons lost their power, everything Claudius enjoyed now would be taken away. Worse yet, in the aftermath of the revolution, the rulers of the old regime the Celestial Dragons would be hunted down.
The fate of Donquixote Homing and his family was a stark reminder. Even though they had voluntarily given up their Celestial Dragon status, they were still hated by the common people, who wanted nothing more than to see them dead.
If the World Government collapsed, Claudius could easily imagine what would happen to him and the rest of the Celestial Dragons.
This was why Claudius was determined to ensure the survival of the World Government and the Celestial Dragon's rule.
From his memories and understanding of the world, Claudius could identify several key factors that might lead to the downfall of the World Government.
At the top of the list was Garp and his family the Monkey family.
Their influence on the world was undeniable. Garp was a hero in the Marine, one of the strongest figures of the time.
His son, Dragon, although currently a Marine Vice Admiral, would eventually become the leader of the revolutionary army, waging war against the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
And then there was Garp's grandson Monkey D. Luffy, the future Pirate King. Though still unborn at this time, Luffy's fate was sealed. With his protagonist's luck, he was destined to become a major player in the world's future.
Between Garp, Dragon, and Luffy, the Monkey family had their hands in all three major power structures Marine, Revolutionaries, and Pirates. It was only a matter of time before they shook the very foundations of the world.
Of the three, Claudius wasn't too worried about Garp. By the time the revolution began in earnest, Garp would be old, likely retired. Having spent his entire life serving the Marines and the World Government, it was unlikely that Garp would suddenly become an enemy.
In fact, Garp could even be an ally, one of the few who could help hold the World Government together when the time came.
Dragon, on the other hand, was a different story. Once he fully embraced his revolutionary ideals, he would become a direct threat to the Celestial Dragons.
As for Luffy, Claudius had already made up his mind to stay out of the boy's way. The protagonist's aura was too strong, and getting involved with him would only invite trouble.
Still, if Luffy continued down the path to becoming the Pirate King, Claudius wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him before he could cause too much damage.
"But I'll have to give Garp some face," Claudius thought. "Once Luffy enters the New World, I'll have no choice but to deal with him. Whether it's in Alabasta or Enies Lobby... well, perhaps by that time, my actions might change his fate entirely."
"As for Dragon," Claudius mused. "Once he becomes a true threat, I'll have no choice but to deal with him decisively. If I can handle him before he establishes the Revolutionary Army, all the better."
For now, however, Dragon was still a Marine Vice Admiral. He was young, still bound by the ideals of justice instilled in him by his father. If Claudius played his cards right, perhaps he could even sway Dragon to his side, or at the very least, neutralize his ambitions before they fully developed.
"It's not like I can just kill him right now, though," Claudius thought. "He's still Garp's son, and Garp, despite his disdain for Celestial Dragons, is fiercely loyal to the Marines and the World Government. If I somehow managed to eliminate Dragon through underhanded means, Garp would no doubt lose his mind and come after me."
Claudius could already imagine the enraged Marine hero storming Mariejois, fists swinging, ready to punch him into oblivion.
"I need to be careful," Claudius thought, his expression growing serious. "But I also need to act before it's too late."
Thus, his plan began to take shape watch Dragon closely, steer him if possible, and if not, eliminate him before he could truly threaten the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
With his mind made up, Claudius let out a sigh, already feeling the weight of the decisions he would need to make in the future.