Claudius finished pouring his wine. Doflamingo took a sip, then murmured, "Conqueror's Haki… you think Kong has it too?"
"What, is that surprising?" Claudius replied with a grin.
"Well," Doflamingo began, "I've always thought of Marines as subservient to the World Government, especially the higher-ups like the Fleet Admiral. How could someone who 'follows orders' have the spirit of a conqueror?"
Claudius chuckled. "Conqueror's Haki isn't some mystical power that's only reserved for kings and tyrants. It's about having an unbreakable will, a refusal to bend, even if you work within a hierarchy. Conqueror's Haki is about ruling yourself, being the king of your own heart."
He took a thoughtful sip, "Think about it Sengoku, the future Marine Fleet Admiral, has Conqueror's Haki. Ace, who was once just a son under Whitebeard, had it too. Rayleigh was Roger's right-hand man, yet he possessed it. Even Katakuri, who never led the Big Mom Pirates, has it. Conqueror's Haki isn't about rank. It's about your heart's refusal to submit."
Doflamingo looked at him with genuine surprise. "Cousin, you've clearly put a lot of thought into this. Do you… have it too?"
Claudius's face went a bit red, and he waved a dismissive hand. "Who, me? No, I just understand it a bit. Conqueror's Haki… yeah, that's one thing I haven't awakened."
Doflamingo burst into laughter. "Fufufufufu! After all these years, I finally have something over you, cousin!"
Claudius shot him an irritated look. "You smug bastard! Of all the things you could bring up, you had to pick my one weakness?"
Doflamingo just grinned, then added with a mischievous glint in his eye, "Don't worry, cousin. I'm sure you'll awaken it eventually. I believe in you."
"Sure you do," Claudius replied, rolling his eyes. They both shared a laugh, the tension between them easing.
Doflamingo's expression then shifted to curiosity. "So, what's the plan? Are we really just here to 'get some experience,' like you said? Are we really just going to sit back and watch the show as the Fleet Admiral delivers justice to the infamous Red Earl?"
"That's the idea. But…" Claudius took a slow sip from his glass. "My gut tells me things won't go that smoothly."
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "You think Kong might… lose?"
Claudius smirked, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Exactly."
A wicked smile spread across Doflamingo's face. "Now that's something I'd like to see, the 'justice' of the Marines crushed by 'evil.'"
Claudius gave him a pat on the shoulder. "But remember, justice always wins in the end."
Doflamingo studied him thoughtfully. "So, you're saying you're waiting for Kong to falter… so you can jump in and finish the job?"
"Pretty much," Claudius replied, swirling his drink. "But keep in mind, he's still the Fleet Admiral. If he fails, it'll be a blow to the World Government. I can't just sit by and let him lose face completely. When the moment's right, I'll step in. And that's where you come in, too."
Doflamingo nodded, taking his cousin's words to heart. "Understood. I'll be ready."
The battle between Kong and Redfield was brutal, shaking the entire island. The town was devastated by the shockwaves of their clash. Buildings crumbled, and residents lay unconscious in the streets, felled by the sheer force of Conqueror's Haki that radiated from both combatants. Garp, stationed at the port, was busy pulling civilians out of the rubble, while Claudius and Doflamingo's tavern remained standing, thanks to Trebol and the others shielding it from the worst of the aftermath.
As the day turned to dusk, Claudius glanced out the window, noting the darkening sky. "It's about time for him to show signs of wear. He's almost seventy, after all," he murmured.
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed. "So… should we make our move now?"
Claudius grinned, his voice low and menacing. "The night is perfect."
The two of them stepped out of the tavern together. The once lively port town lay in ruins, debris scattered everywhere. Claudius rolled his shoulders, looking toward the mountain where the clash was taking place. The ground shook as powerful waves of energy rippled through the air.
"Doffy, help seal off the island. There may only be one port, but we can't risk Redfield escaping by any means. We need to cut off all exits," Claudius instructed.
Doflamingo's lips curled into a smirk. "Perfect timing. I've just developed a new technique I call the Birdcage."
Without another word, Doflamingo raised his hand, his Devil Fruit powers stirring. Thin, nearly invisible threads spread out from his fingers, weaving together in the sky to create an immense cage that began to descend over the island, trapping everyone within its razor-sharp walls.
Claudius watched for a moment, nodding approvingly. "Impressive," he said. "I'm heading in."
Before Doflamingo could reply, Claudius unleashed a burst of wind, propelling himself forward. His figure blurred, disappearing into the shadows as he soared toward the mountain.
Watching his cousin vanish, Doflamingo muttered to himself, "Looks like I'm not the only one who can fly. Maybe I should work on that, too."
As Claudius approached the battlefield, he took in the scene. Fleet Admiral Kong was clearly struggling, his chest bore a deep slash, blood seeping from the wound. His left eye was swollen shut, blood dripping down his face from a particularly brutal cut. Meanwhile, Redfield was also injured; his chest was visibly dented, likely from one of Kong's powerful punches, and his once-neat hair was now disheveled. Still, he appeared to be holding up better than Kong.
"Invisible…" Claudius whispered, activating one of his newest abilities.
In an instant, his body began to blend with the air around him, becoming completely invisible. It was a technique he'd developed from his Nitrogen-Nitrogen Fruit abilities, using nitrogen's colorless properties to mask his presence entirely.
"Move with the wind…" Claudius murmured as he drifted forward, blending seamlessly into the night air.
He knew Redfield's Observation Haki was exceptional, and that it wouldn't take long before the Red Count sensed his presence. But he needed to get as close as possible before making his move.
On the battlefield, Redfield smirked at his wounded opponent. "Kong, you should've known better than to come here alone. Today, I'll add the head of a Marine Fleet Admiral to my legacy!"
Kong ignored the taunt, gritting his teeth as he steadied himself. With a powerful stomp, he launched himself forward, muscles bulging, his fist crackling with Armament Haki. "Justice will never fall to the likes of you, Redfield!"
He threw a massive punch, the air itself splitting under its force. "Fist of Justice!"
Redfield's eyes narrowed, and he raised his sword, prepared to counter. "Your justice ends here!" He swung his blade, unleashing a slicing wave of energy aimed directly at Kong's chest.
But suddenly, Redfield's expression shifted. Sensing a new presence closing in fast, he tried to pull his sword back to defend himself, but it was too late.
Claudius materialized in midair, his sword Shindō drawn and ready. With a fierce cry, he unleashed his attack. "Death is like the wind, always by my side! One-Sword Style—Secret Art: Blizzard!"
A blinding white slash burst from Claudius's blade, a concentrated line of compressed air that shot straight toward Redfield.
Redfield, acting on instinct, managed to raise his sword horizontally, preparing to intercept the strike. The two attacks collided in a storm of raw energy, sending shockwaves rippling across the mountainside.