Two months passed quickly, and by now, Claudius had made his way to the Prometheus, currently anchored in East Blue.
Stussy lately, had grown increasingly restless. While she continued to manage operations on Happy Street, most of her work had shifted to "remote control," allowing her to remain by Claudius's side almost constantly. Like a devoted companion, she rarely left him, the dynamic between them increasingly intimate.
Their relationship had already reached its natural peak, and Claudius, who always held the upper hand, made sure Stussy was fully obedient to him.
On the deck of the Prometheus, Stussy was lounging in a bikini, relaxing in the swimming pool and playfully splashing water with Nia.
Nearby, Ace was engaged in a spirited game of badminton with Koala. The two had grown close over time, their bond resembling that of childhood friends.
Although Claudius had previously arranged for several other companions to accompany Ace, the boy showed little interest in them. Ace seemed to only enjoy spending time with Koala, who, as a genius in her own right, could match Ace's energy and intelligence. Their connection seemed to come from mutual understanding, making them the perfect pair of companions.
Seeing Ace's indifference toward his other friends, Claudius had those children sent home. Before arriving in East Blue, he even arranged for Koala and Ace to visit Foolshout Island to reconnect with Koala's family.
When Koala's parents learned that their daughter was now friends with the "son of a Celestial Dragon," their emotions were a whirlwind of pride and anxiety. They urged Koala repeatedly to take good care of Ace and maintain their relationship.
Meanwhile, Claudius was reclining on a sun lounger on the deck, dressed casually in black sunglasses, a cigar in one hand, and a glass of juice resting on the small table beside him. A phone snail sat nearby as he chatted with someone on the line.
"I saw the report," Claudius said with a smile. "The World Government is condemning you fiercely for this 'rebellious act.' But don't worry—they won't take any serious action against you. Just hold on to the Heavenly Tribute for now. You need to act convincingly, after all. Once the timing is right, I'll send Spandane to wrap things up, and then you'll officially become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
On the other end of the line, Doflamingo was in North Blue, having successfully intercepted the final shipment of Heavenly Tribute. While the World Government was, of course, aware of what had happened, they also knew it was part of Claudius's arrangements. Given the potential benefits, they had no reason to object.
"North Blue is in chaos right now, cousin," Doflamingo said with a chuckle. "You're ruthless. Did you really have to destroy Flevance in one stroke?"
"Flevance…" Claudius murmured, touching his chin thoughtfully. His tone carried a tinge of emotion.
The disaster at Flevance, caused by the outbreak of Amber-lead disease, was a stain that the World Government could not escape. The government had been complicit from the start, profiting massively from the platinum-lead trade.
For over a century, the rare and luxurious material had been a highly lucrative business. The World Government had made more than 100 billion berries from the venture, all while concealing the hidden dangers of platinum-lead mining.
The material, harmless in its processed form, became deadly during mining as it released harmful radiation into the air. Over time, this radiation caused the devastating and hereditary illness known as "Amber-lead disease."
In the end, it was this disease that led to Flevance's destruction.
"Brutal as it may seem, I didn't have a hand in this one," Claudius said with a smile. "Don't pin blame on me for no reason."
"Even if you didn't, you're complicit," Doflamingo said with a sly laugh.
"If that's the case, then everyone is an accomplice," Claudius muttered. "Greed is what caused this mess in the first place."
He paused, his thoughts drifting. Now that Doflamingo was operating in North Blue, there was a chance Trafalgar Law might cross paths with him. If so, Law might seek to join the Donquixote family. Claudius couldn't help but think of the larger implications of this scenario, the involvement of Rosinante, the tragic fallout, and the looming significance of the Ope-Ope Fruit.
The Ope-Ope Fruit was a dangerous wildcard. While it held immense potential, Claudius had no desire to handle something so volatile while being a member of the World Government. It was a fruit that couldn't be ignored, yet couldn't be kept without inviting immense risk.
As for Trafalgar Law, Claudius considered him a talented individual, but one whose presence might bring unnecessary complications. He decided it would be best to keep his distance from Law for now. Perhaps the boy could be used as a pawn in the future, but for now, he could play freely without interference.
The situation with Rosinante also concerned him. Claudius realized that Rosinante's actions would likely cause significant problems for Sengoku and the World Government. If Rosinante truly cut ties with Doflamingo, the entire situation might serve as an opportunity to remove this "nail" from Doflamingo's organization.
"By the way, cousin," Doflamingo said, interrupting Claudius's thoughts. "What's your business in East Blue? Did something catch your eye, or is this really just a vacation?"
"Vacation…" Claudius chuckled. "You know me too well. Everyone always teases me about that. Every time I take a 'vacation,' it seems to bring trouble."
"So, it's not a vacation?" Doflamingo asked with a grin.
"No, I'm here for business," Claudius said. "I told you before to help me keep an eye on the Mera-Mera Fruit, but you didn't find much. Spandine, however, did. He tracked its presence to East Blue, so I'm here to look for it myself."
"Ah, you've got the advantage, cousin," Doflamingo said with a laugh. "You've got an entire organization working for you, while I have to handle everything on my own."
"Hahaha, well, you're doing fine," Claudius replied. "Just remember, while I'm handling the Mera-Mera Fruit, you'd better not drop the ball on the Gold Gold Fruit. That one is critical for us."
"I'll do my best, but what if someone else claims it first?" Doflamingo asked.
"Whoever gets it, I'll take it from them," Claudius said firmly. "That fruit is non-negotiable."
"What if it's Whitebeard?" Doflamingo teased.
"Then I'll make plans to send him to the West sooner than expected," Claudius said, laughing.
The Gold Gold Fruit was too important to Claudius's plans. It was essential for Tesoro's development, which in turn was vital to Claudius's future economic framework. Allowing it to fall into the wrong hands would be a disaster.
After exchanging a few more words with Doflamingo, Claudius ended the call. His gaze shifted to the two women in the pool, a faint smile of amusement tugging at his lips.
"Your Highness," Stussy called, waving at him. "Why don't you come join us?"
Claudius raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to provoke me, Stussy? You know I'm a Devil Fruit user."
"If you come down, I'll show you this!" Stussy teased, tugging at her bikini for a split second, offering the barest hint of skin. Claudius nearly choked on his cigar, coughing in disbelief.
Shaking his head, he replied, "No thanks. Besides, if I'm right, it should be about time now."
"Time for what?" Stussy asked, feigning disinterest. "Are you afraid I'll get even with you in the water for last night?"
Claudius smirked. "After the way I treated you last night, who knows what kind of revenge you'd have planned?"
Stussy blushed but huffed in protest. "Your Highness, how can you say such things out loud?"
"You've been far bolder than me," Claudius retorted with a grin.
Scoffing, Stussy turned back to Nia, dismissing him with a flick of her hand.
Turning to the map of East Blue spread out on his table, Claudius's smile faded into a more focused expression. His next destination was Shimotsuki Village.