In the days leading up to Doflamingo's departure, Claudius had eased up on some of his strict routines. After all, once Doflamingo left, it was likely that their paths would diverge in ways that would be difficult to reconcile. Claudius couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental about it.
So, in the days that followed, whenever Doflamingo came to him, Claudius would accompany him, going out together as they had when they were younger.
It was early in 1491 of the Sea Circle Calendar, and Mariejois still enjoyed a mild climate. The weather that day was particularly pleasant ideal for travel.
At the port of Mariejois, several Celestial Dragons had gathered, Claudius among them. This wasn't some grand ceremony; the Donquixote family's Homing and his kin were preparing to leave Mariejois, renouncing their Celestial Dragon status to live as ordinary mortals in North Blue.
Homing was smiling, standing amidst an assortment of luggage that suggested he was more than ready for this transition. His two sons, Doflamingo and Rosinante, stood at either side of him, while his wife a quiet woman with a gentle smile stood behind, silently supporting her husband.
"Homing, are you absolutely sure about this?" an elderly Celestial Dragon, whose family Claudius couldn't quite place, asked Homing with visible irritation.
"I've thought long and hard about it, and yes, I'm sure," Homing replied with a calm smile.
"I have no idea what's going through your head! You're disgracing the Celestial Dragons! Why abandon our godly status to live like those lowly commoners?" the elder fumed, clearly upset.
But Homing remained composed. "What are you talking about? We're humans too, aren't we?"
The surrounding Celestial Dragons looked uncomfortable at this statement, their expressions twisting in displeasure.
"Homing, how dare you insult our bloodline? We're the descendants of the Creator, gods! We are not the same as those pitiful, filthy mortals!" the elder retorted furiously.
"I see no difference between us and them. Being a Celestial Dragon is just a title; at the core, we're all the same," Homing responded calmly, still smiling.
The elder's face turned an angry shade of red. "Fine, then! If you're so determined to go, so be it. But remember, once you leave Mariejois, you'll be stripped of your Celestial Dragon status. Don't come crawling back later!"
"I won't regret it," Homing said firmly.
Watching the exchange, Claudius couldn't help but shake his head. Homing really wasn't pulling any punches. If it had been Claudius in his place, he would have left quietly, without stirring up so much attention.
There was a better way to do it perhaps by framing it as a temporary experience of the mortal world, something that could be easily reversed if things didn't go as planned. That way, Homing could have kept a lower profile, and while there might still have been some gossip, no one would have labeled him a traitor.
But Claudius didn't feel inclined to intervene. He had enough on his plate without worrying about Homing's idealistic choices. Watching Homing argue with the enraged Celestial Dragons around him, Claudius almost found it amusing.
Beside him, Doflamingo appeared indifferent, blinking slowly as if none of this concerned him. Claudius's gaze shifted to Rosinante, standing quietly by Homing's other side.
Rosinante was Claudius's younger cousin, but unlike Doflamingo, he was a "good boy" who had inherited his father's innocence and kindness. Because of this, Claudius wasn't very close to him Rosinante's gentle nature simply didn't mesh with Claudius's previous self, who had been a selfish and reckless brat.
Looking at Rosinante now, Claudius couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental. If anyone in this world had what could be described as a "teammate curse," it was Rosinante. This kid had a knack for bringing disaster to anyone around him.
Just look at what happened to their family after they descended to the mortal world Rosinante's mother died of illness, his father was shot by none other than his brother, Doflamingo, and then the family was scattered to the winds. Later, Rosinante somehow ended up as an adopted son of Marine Admiral Sengoku, only to go undercover and nearly ruin Doflamingo's operations in North Blue. He also almost lost the Ope-Ope Fruit, which was a crucial asset.
And if that weren't enough, after betraying Doflamingo and helping Trafalgar Law escape, he inadvertently sabotaged Sengoku's mission, leading to the complete failure of the Marine's operation on the Island. Doflamingo escaped capture, and the valuable Ope-Ope Fruit was consumed by Law instead of being recovered by the Marines.
From the outside, Rosinante seemed to be acting on noble intentions, but from the perspective of those involved, he was an absolute disaster magnet.
Claudius had no doubt that if Rosinante hadn't died on the Island, Trafalgar Law's fate would have been similarly cursed by prolonged association with him.
And the root of it all, Claudius thought, was that Rosinante was too idealistic too much of a "saint." He meant well, but lacked the skill to back it up, constantly meddling in things beyond his control and dragging those around him into messes they didn't ask for.
With a sigh, Claudius averted his gaze from Rosinante. He had no intention of getting involved with him, not with the curse of misfortune that seemed to follow him everywhere. If Claudius wanted to avoid being dragged down, it was best to stay clear of Rosinante's troubles.
Feeling a pang of sympathy for Doflamingo, who would have to endure life in the mortal world alongside this "unlucky star," Claudius stepped forward and placed a hand on Doflamingo's shoulder.
"Doffy, take care of yourself out there," Claudius said, his tone genuine. "If I ever get the chance, I'll come visit you."
Doflamingo, still oblivious to the hardships that awaited him, smiled and nodded eagerly. "Cousin, when you come, make sure you bring something fun!"
"I will," Claudius replied with a smile. After a brief pause, he added softly, "And if you run into any trouble, find a way to reach out to me. I'll do whatever I can to help."
Doflamingo grinned, clearly appreciative of the gesture, and the two of them continued chatting for a while about trivial matters like the slaves Doflamingo had given Claudius the previous day.
Claudius had kept the two mermaids for himself, but the other slaves, which he found completely useless, had been sold off.
After some time, Homing exchanged a few words with the current Donquixote family head, Lancelot, and it was clear that the final farewells were being made.
Despite Homing's decision to renounce his Celestial Dragon status, Lancelot treated him with respect during this last moment, waving his hand generously to command the guards to ready a large ship to transport Huo Minggu and his family from Mariejois.
Watching them depart, Claudius couldn't help but wonder if Lancelot's actions were motivated by genuine goodwill or something more calculated. After all, the reason Doflamingo's family would face such misery in the future was largely due to their exposure as former Celestial Dragons, which had incited the anger of the common folk.
Was Lancelot being kind, or was this part of a subtle plan to betray them? It was hard to say.
In any case, it didn't really matter. Claudius had no intention of becoming enemies with Lancelot. If this was a scheme, he would simply be wary in future dealings with him.
As the ship sailed off into the distance, the other Celestial Dragons gradually dispersed. Some of them glanced at Claudius with odd expressions.
After all, Claudius had barely been seen in public over the past few months. While they had heard rumors about him acting strangely, their last impression of him had been that of an overweight, lazy fool.
Now, they were surprised to see how much he had changed. He looked taller, more refined, and his once soft, childish features had sharpened into something more mature. He no longer resembled the waste they remembered.
"Not bad. Maybe there's potential there. A future marriage prospect, perhaps?" some of the Celestial Dragons mused.
Though the Donquixote family had produced a few oddballs over the years, Claudius still bore the pure Celestial Dragon bloodline. Moreover, with his family's standing and the potential he now seemed to show, marriage might not be a bad idea.
But Claudius couldn't care less about their thoughts. Once Doflamingo had sailed away, he waved his hand and returned home. Now that Doflamingo's "distractions" were gone, Claudius could finally focus on his plans without interruption. Starting today, he could get back to fully concentrating on his own growth and preparations for the future.