Although the Five Elders only wanted Claudius to ensure that the Nefertari royal family in Alabasta would be more cooperative, Claudius's ambitions went further. He aimed to eventually bring Alabasta entirely under his control. As for the Nefertari royals, they would just have to step aside. If he was feeling particularly magnanimous, Claudius might even escort them to Mariejois and compel them to join the Celestial Dragons.
However, for the past 800 years, the Nefertari family had ruled Alabasta with fairness and dignity. Their reputation was deeply rooted among the people, so Claudius knew that taking over couldn't be done with sheer force. It required a subtler approach—a "boil the frog slowly" strategy that would gradually weaken their influence and allow him to assume control without sparking rebellion.
If Claudius succeeded in taking over Alabasta, he would gain significant military power, which would undoubtedly prove advantageous in the future.
To execute this plan, Claudius decided to place Crocodile in charge. In the original story, Crocodile had orchestrated a masterful scheme that brought the Nefertari family to the brink of collapse. If not for the sudden appearance of the Straw Hat Pirates disrupting everything, Crocodile might have become like Doflamingo, a pirate ruler of a kingdom affiliated with the World Government.
As for the "unexpected factor" of the Straw Hat Pirates, Claudius was not concerned. As long as Crocodile maintained his focus and determination, defeating that fledgling crew should be easy. And if Luffy did indeed make a move on Alabasta, Claudius wouldn't hesitate to stop him. Alabasta could very well be the end of Luffy's pirate journey, with Impel Down as his next destination.
Before Crocodile could make his move, preparations were being set in motion on all fronts. Claudius was finalizing plans for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a strategy that was nearly complete. The first candidate he intended to recommend was Crocodile.
Only two steps remained.
The first step was for the World Government to officially announce the implementation of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system. It would be presented as a strategy to control piracy by recruiting formidable pirates, granting them the right to plunder under the condition that they would curb the activities of other pirates and, when needed, respond to the government's summons to assist in various operations.
The World Government had already agreed to Claudius's plan years ago, but the conditions hadn't been right for its execution until now. The world's growing unrest had reached a level where even solutions that resembled "drinking poison to quench thirst" were acceptable. The criteria set for the Seven Warlords of the Sea plan had finally been met.
The second step required Crocodile to make a bold move to shake the seas. This would not only demonstrate his loyalty to the World Government but would also prove his power and influence.
Originally, Crocodile had proposed challenging the Whitebeard Pirates. Claudius had considered the idea and, while he knew Crocodile would almost certainly lose, he saw the potential benefits. If Crocodile could survive the encounter, his reputation would skyrocket, making his promotion to Warlord justifiable.
Of course, the risk was high. If Whitebeard's temper flared and Crocodile was killed, Claudius's plans would be in ruins. But since it was Crocodile's choice, Claudius chose to respect it.
However, the situation had changed. With Douglas Bullet and Byrnndi World making their moves, Claudius persuaded Crocodile to delay his challenge to Whitebeard. There would be opportunities later, once Crocodile's strength grew.
Crocodile ultimately agreed with Claudius. He knew he wasn't yet a match for Whitebeard, let alone for Claudius himself. But as the "Strongest Man in the World," Whitebeard was a target everyone wanted to test themselves against. Even Claudius felt the urge from time to time.
For now, the plan was for Crocodile to join Claudius and the Marine forces on Cyborila Island, take down Douglas Bullet and Byrnndi World, and use their defeat as a stepping stone. The World Government would then spread word of Crocodile's triumph, elevating his reputation and positioning him as the first Warlord.
With Crocodile established as one of the Seven Warlords, he would have the legitimacy to infiltrate Alabasta. Once his plan succeeded, Claudius would have completed his mission. Officially, the World Government would have control over Alabasta, but in reality, the power would be in Claudius's hands, benefiting both sides.
True to Garp's words, his modified warship moved like an unleashed beast, cutting through the sea at breakneck speed.
Claudius knew the story behind it. Garp had originally modified this ship to hunt down the Roger Pirates, but by the time it was completed, the age of Roger had already ended, and the ship's intended purpose had never been realized.
On the sixth day, Garp and Claudius caught up with Sengoku's fleet.
Sengoku's warship was a scene of high activity, with notable figures gathered to finalize battle plans.
"If we're going to catch them both, we need to split our forces into two groups. But the team handling Douglas Bullet shouldn't be overwhelmingly powerful," Sengoku said, pausing before adding with a smile, "although that's easier said than done."
As the dominant force at sea, Sengoku had complete faith in the strength of the Marines.
Just as Claudius had thought their lineup was impressive, Sengoku shared the sentiment. If they truly threw their full strength at Douglas Bullet, the battle could be over in half a day, with little left but dust and echoes. Such overwhelming force could crush Bullet's fighting spirit entirely.
But to lure Byrnndi World into the trap, they needed to create the illusion of a protracted fight—a stalemate.
Sengoku continued, "So for the team handling Douglas Bullet, it'll be me, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Gion."
He paused, feeling that the lineup might still be too strong. If they weren't careful, they'd overpower the enemy too quickly. "On second thought, Sakazuki should stay on standby," Sengoku decided.
Claudius couldn't help but chuckle at that. "A problem of being too strong, huh?"
The room erupted in laughter. Yes, it was true. Being too powerful really was a unique kind of problem.
***
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