Dragon left Alabasta shortly after, wasting no time lingering. It seemed he truly had no intention of involving himself in Claudius' affairs.
As for his mention of heading to East Blue to meet a friend, Claudius could only speculate. If his guess was correct, it was most likely Koshiro from Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village.
After all, in Claudius' memory, Koshiro seemed to have subtle ties to the Revolutionary Army, often supplying them with essentials like food and other resources. His dojo could even be considered an unofficial safe house for the Revolutionary Army in East Blue.
Speaking of Koshiro, Claudius couldn't help but muse over the man's origins. There was something distinct about him that hinted he might hail from Wano Country. The clues were numerous: his name was uniquely Wano-esque, his village bore the name Shimotsuki, and he possessed the sword Wado Ichimonji one of the most famous blades crafted by Shimotsuki Kozaburo, a legendary swordsmith who had fled Wano decades ago.
Kozaburo, renowned for forging both Wado Ichimonji and Enma, was a pivotal figure in Wano's history. The latter blade had belonged to Kozuki Oden, while Wado Ichimonji now rested with Koshiro. Everything about Koshiro from his name to his sword to the name of his village hinted strongly at his Wano heritage.
"Koshiro… Kuina should've been born by now, right? I wonder if Roronoa Zoro, that directionally challenged fool, has stumbled his way to that village yet. No… it's probably still too early for that," Claudius muttered to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Zoro was undeniably a rare talent one destined to ascend to the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Claudius wouldn't deny being interested in him, but raising a child from scratch wasn't something he had any patience for. He was content to let Koshiro handle Zoro's training and perhaps revisit the matter once Zoro had fully matured as a swordsman.
Kuina, on the other hand, intrigued Claudius even more. In his eyes, her talent may have surpassed Zoro's, but her only perceived "flaw" was that she was a girl.
Koshiro, being from Wano, likely carried some of its deeply ingrained patriarchal values. In Wano, samurai were almost exclusively male, and the idea of a powerful female swordsman was nearly unheard of. It was no surprise that Koshiro doubted Kuina could ever reach the summit of swordsmanship.
But Claudius didn't share that belief.
The world had no shortage of women who stood at its apex. From Charlotte Linlin to Boa Hancock, to Admiral candidate Gion and Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, and even Stussy, one of the underworld's queens, all of them were powerful figures who had carved out their place in the world. If these women could dominate in their respective fields, why couldn't a female swordsman stand at the pinnacle of kendo?
Especially Gion her abilities as a top-tier swordsman were unquestionable, even without relying on her "Bunny Knight" combat style.
Claudius didn't buy into Koshiro's belief that women couldn't excel in swordsmanship.
The real tragedy of Kuina's story, in his opinion, was her untimely death a vivid reminder of how fragile humans truly were. Despite her relentless efforts and immense potential, a single accident had claimed her life.
"Maybe when the time is right, I should make a trip to East Blue myself," Claudius murmured.
He firmly believed that Kuina was destined to become a great swordsman. If he could intervene and save her from her fate, she might one day grow into the world's strongest female swordsman. Such a figure would undoubtedly be a valuable asset. If the opportunity arose, he wouldn't mind recruiting her into CP-X as one of his trump cards.
After Dragon's departure, Claudius spent a few more days discussing plans with Crocodile. Their conversations revolved around the core strategy for taking control of Alabasta. While the broader outline was set, Crocodile would need to fine-tune the details over time.
Once everything was settled, Claudius saw no reason to linger in Alabasta any longer. Robin, however, seemed especially curious about the kingdom after hearing its rich history and ties to the Void Century.
Before leaving, Claudius asked Robin if she wanted to stay in Alabasta. He assured her that if she chose to stay, Crocodile could look after her temporarily.
Though tempted, Robin ultimately shook her head. "No, I'll stay with you for now," she said.
Her decision wasn't based on logic but rather a lingering sense of insecurity. For Robin, the Prometheus felt like a piece of Ohara a living remnant of her home and Claudius, who had been entrusted to protect her by her mother and Professor Clover, was her anchor of trust. As long as she remained on the ship or by his side, she felt safe.
The thought of staying in Alabasta, even temporarily, filled her with anxiety.
"I'll come back and explore Alabasta when I'm older," Robin added softly.
Claudius didn't press the issue. He had no desire to leave his "librarian" behind in the desert anyway.
After bidding farewell to Crocodile, Claudius set sail from the Port. His next destination was Little Garden, where he hoped to capture a dinosaur as a pet.
The voyage to Little Garden was long, and midway through the journey, Claudius received a call from Stussy.
"Stussy! It's been a while. Where are you now? Have you missed me?" Claudius asked with a grin.
Stussy's lips curled into a smile as she replied, "Of course I miss you, Your Highness. But I know you're not a fan of pretty ornaments without value, so I've been working hard to stay useful. Otherwise, what if you decide to throw me away one day?"
"Throw you away? Do I seem like such a heartless man?" Claudius said with mock indignation.
"All men are the same," Stussy quipped before continuing in a more serious tone. "By the way, Your Highness, something big has happened on my end recently."
"Oh? Where are you right now?" Claudius asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm in the New World, near the seas around Wano," Stussy replied.
Before Claudius could respond, Stussy added, "Gecko Moria and his crew have been wiped out."
Claudius paused, momentarily taken aback. Then, with a hint of amusement, he scratched his head and asked, "Let me guess he went to Wano to pick a fight with Kaido?"
"Pretty much," Stussy said with a laugh. "I think he got inspired by all the commotion lately. Doflamingo clashing with the Red Count, Crocodile creating waves with Bullet and making a name for himself, it must've lit a fire under Moria. So, he decided to take his shot at Kaido. Well… it didn't end well. His entire crew was annihilated."
"And Moria himself? Is he dead?" Claudius asked, still smiling.
"No confirmed reports of his death, but it seems he managed to escape. His abilities are quite impressive, after all," Stussy noted.
"True, the Shadow-Shadow Fruit is a powerful ability," Claudius admitted.
He had always thought Moria's fruit was incredibly versatile, especially its "Shadow Clone" ability, which created a duplicate nearly equal to the original in strength. The ability to control someone's life and death by stealing their shadow was also immensely dangerous.
Unfortunately, Moria had squandered such potential. Instead of maximizing its power, he had turned it into a tool for cheap tricks, hiding behind hordes of zombies while cackling in the shadows. What a waste.
***
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