In Sea Circle Calendar 1505, three years had passed since the Ohara incident. The world remained in turmoil, with no signs of improvement. If anything, the pirate forces had grown more rampant, spreading chaos across the seas and leaving a trail of destruction and suffering.
Marine, despite conducting several rounds of conscription to bolster its ranks, struggled to cleanse the seas of the ever-growing number of pirates. At best, they were able to maintain a fragile sense of order.
Meanwhile, Claudius's CP-X had flourished. Under Stussy's management, Happy Street had become a dominant force in the dark world, recognized as the largest network of establishments for entertainment and intelligence. Branches had sprung up in key locations worldwide, with over 170 countries hosting strongholds. Even in territories difficult for the World Government to reach such as Charlotte Linlin's expanding Totto Land—Happy Street had its presence.
Doflamingo and Crocodile were thriving as well, both gaining notoriety as formidable pirates in the New World. Crocodile had assembled a powerful fleet, specializing in piracy, while Doflamingo balanced his pirate persona with his growing underground business. Known as the "Joker," he was gaining recognition as a middleman in the underworld, weaving connections with all sorts of shady players.
Umit, under Claudius's watchful eye, had expanded his shipping empire significantly. He now controlled nearly 40% of the world's smuggling operations and was well on his way to becoming the "King of Shipping." However, Claudius could sense that Umit's growing wealth was making him restless, chafing under the heavy tributes he had to pay. Claudius was biding his time, knowing that when the moment was right, Umit's fate would be sealed, and his empire absorbed.
Spandine, now part of CP-X, had proven to be a dependable subordinate. His experience was invaluable in developing Claudius's specialized espionage division. His long-term project involved infiltrating and subtly influencing the World Economy News Paper. Morgans, that audacious "birdman," would one day have to be put in his place.
And then there was the matter of Lancelot. Shortly after Claudius returned to Mariejois from Ohara, Doflamingo sent a "gift" from the New World. Claudius hadn't needed to open it to know that it was Lancelot's head. A man who once seemed like an insurmountable obstacle was now just another casualty, forgotten and irrelevant. The report labeled it a shipwreck, every last member of Lancelot's fleet perished, over two thousand men lost to the sea. No survivors.
With Lancelot's demise, Claudius had ascended to the position of "Patriarch of the Donquixote Family" without incident. Everything had fallen into place as expected.
Now, Claudius found himself in the first half of the Grand Line, near the waters surrounding Little Garden. He was on the Prometheus, heading for the prehistoric island out of simple curiosity. He wanted to see the ancient creatures dinosaurs and perhaps capture one as a pet.
Inside the grand library of the Prometheus, Claudius sat comfortably in a chair, holding an ancient history book about Alabasta. Tea and incense were set on a table nearby, adding to the calm atmosphere. The tranquility was interrupted by the sudden ringing of a Den Den Mushi on the table.
"So, where are you now?" came the voice of Dragon, sounding slightly amused.
Claudius sighed, flipping a page. "What do you need, Dragon? I'm on vacation."
Dragon chuckled softly. "You never really rest, do you? Let me guess you were part of the Ohara incident, weren't you?"
Claudius rolled his eyes, half-smiling. "I suppose you could say that."
"What does that even mean?" Dragon asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and exasperation.
"It means I was in Ohara at the time but wasn't exactly participating in the main event. Satisfied?" Claudius replied playfully.
"Close enough," Dragon said, pausing before getting to his point. "That means you had access to the books from the Tree of Knowledge. You took them, didn't you?"
"'Took them'? You make it sound so criminal. I preserved them for the sake of safeguarding the world's cultural heritage," Claudius shot back with mock indignation.
There was a silence on the other end, then Dragon sighed. "So, you do have them. Let's cut to the chase can I borrow some?"
Claudius looked puzzled for a moment. "Why? Planning to switch from leading a revolution to academia?" he asked, amused.
Dragon chuckled again, though this time there was an edge of seriousness. "I want to see if I can train scholars within my own ranks."
Claudius's expression darkened slightly. "So, you're hoping to decipher the ancient texts? Following in Ohara's footsteps, are you?"
"Your insight is as sharp as ever," Dragon admitted, a note of resignation in his voice. "Yes, knowing that history could be crucial to the Revolutionary Army."
"Why is everyone so obsessed with the past?" Claudius muttered, closing his book and rubbing his temple.
"'History is a mirror that reflects our mistakes and triumphs,'" Dragon said, quoting something Claudius had told him once.
Claudius sighed. "Alright. I'll let you make copies of whatever you need. But let me be clear, if you're hoping to recreate Ohara's success in decoding the ancient language, you're in for disappointment. The odds aren't in your favor."
Dragon's voice hardened, but he maintained his composure. "I'm aware. But I have to try."
Claudius hesitated, then added in a lighter tone, "I'll give you a tip Nico Olvia is still alive, imprisoned on the sixth level of Impel Down, Eternal Hell. She has the knowledge you're looking for. If you're serious, why not plan a prison break?"
Dragon scoffed. "If I had the manpower for that, I'd be storming Mariejois and setting your palace on fire."
Claudius laughed, the sound rich and unbothered. Before he could respond, Dragon cut him off. "And no, I'm not talking about breaking into Impel Down. I meant reading. I swear, Claudius, one of these days, you're going to drive me insane."
***
For every 500 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 40+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.