In the restaurant, Claudius and Gion sat across from each other. Gion, once again dressed in her maid costume, silently picked at her lunch. Claudius, too, ate quietly. The air between them was awkward and heavy, as neither seemed willing to break the silence.
This had been the atmosphere for the past two days. Claudius wanted to say something to ease the tension, but every time he opened his mouth, the words just wouldn't come.
As Claudius cut into his steak, preparing to take a bite, Doflamingo's unmistakable figure strolled into the room, his signature swagger and flamboyant grin lighting up the space.
"Fufufufu… You've already started eating, huh?" Doflamingo greeted with a laugh.
Claudius smiled as he looked up, relieved at the interruption. At least the awkwardness was broken. "Doffy, it seems you've already met Charlotte Linlin?" he asked casually.
Doflamingo pulled out a chair and sat beside Claudius. "That's right," he said with a nod, reaching for a dessert on the table. He took a few bites before continuing, "It's the first time I've seen her in person, despite hearing about her for so many years."
"And?" Claudius asked, raising an eyebrow.
Doflamingo stroked his chin thoughtfully. "She's… terrifyingly powerful," he admitted after a moment.
"Ahahaha! Did she scare you?" Claudius teased, clearly amused.
"Fufufufu, not quite," Doflamingo replied with a smirk. "But she's certainly intimidating. Even though nothing happened between us, the sheer pressure she exudes… it's like being constantly watched by a predator. It felt as if she might eat me alive at any moment."
Claudius laughed. "Maybe she's into you. Fell for that handsome face of yours, huh?"
Doflamingo rolled his eyes. "Not that kind of eating," he retorted. "It's more like the appetite of a predator sizing up its prey. Her aura is suffocating, unlike anything I've ever felt. It's not just strength; it's the way she projects it, as if everyone is beneath her. It's… unsettling."
Claudius nodded thoughtfully. He had heard before that Charlotte Linlin's presence alone was enough to cow even the boldest individuals. Unlike Garp or Sengoku, who could suppress their power and seem approachable, Linlin's aura was overwhelming, constantly asserting her dominance.
"So, what do you think? Can you handle her?" Claudius asked with a sly grin.
Doflamingo snorted. "Corazon, you're joking, right? One-on-one? Absolutely not. If I could handle her alone, she wouldn't still be ruling Totto Land, would she? But if we're talking about our collective firepower in this operation… well, I think we stand a decent chance. With the right strategy, we can suppress her and maybe even kill her."
Claudius leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased with Doflamingo's confidence. "How does she compare to the Admirals, in your opinion?" he asked.
Doflamingo hesitated, giving the question some serious thought. "They're probably on the same level," he finally said. "I'd say Sakazuki could potentially pose a significant threat to her, but it wouldn't be easy. Kuzan… he's strong, but he might be a little outmatched. As for Borsalino… well, that guy's a mystery. Who knows what he's truly capable of?"
Claudius chuckled, nodding in agreement. Sakazuki's strength was widely regarded as the most formidable among the current Admirals. Kuzan, while immensely powerful, had always seemed just a hair weaker. The fact that he had lost his leg in his duel with Sakazuki only cemented that perception.
But Kizaru was an enigma. His laid-back demeanor masked an unpredictable and devastating power. His speed and laser-based attacks made him a wildcard in any fight. Even Sakazuki tended to avoid provoking him unnecessarily.
"No one's ever seen Borsalino truly pushed to his limits," Claudius mused aloud. "If he ever decided to go all out, I wouldn't be surprised if he could match—or even surpass—Kaido or Charlotte Linlin. Of course, that's just speculation. He'd never outright dominate them, but he could certainly hold his own."
Doflamingo nodded. "That's what makes him so dangerous. You can't predict what he's capable of."
Claudius smirked. "And what about me? Where do you think I stand?"
Doflamingo tilted his head, studying Claudius carefully. "Honestly? I can't say for sure," he admitted. "You're definitely stronger than me, that much is obvious. But whether you're at the level of the Admirals… it's hard to tell. You've never had a proper fight to show your full strength. The only time I've seen you in action was against the Red Count, and even then, I don't think you were trying your hardest."
Claudius grinned, clearly enjoying the flattery. "A top-tier fighter, for sure," he said confidently. "No question about that."
Then, turning to Gion, who had been silently eating her meal throughout the conversation, Claudius added with a mischievous smile, "After all, I've already conquered a Marine Admiral, haven't I?"
Gion froze mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air as her face turned crimson.
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow, a grin creeping across his face. "Fufufufu… Are you serious, Corazon? Conquering a Marine Admiral? That's a bold claim."
"Too bold, if you ask me," Gion muttered, glaring at Claudius.
Claudius leaned back, clearly unbothered. "Oh, come on, Doffy. You know I'm not one to exaggerate. If I say I can handle a Marine Admiral, I mean it."
Doflamingo chuckled. "Handle, sure. But you're talking about outright domination? Crushing someone like Kuzan or Sakazuki? That's a stretch, even for you."
Claudius smirked. "You're still young, Doffy. You'll understand someday."
Doflamingo's grin faltered as he glanced between Claudius and Gion. Something about their dynamic felt… off. The awkwardness in the air, the tension over the past two days—it suddenly clicked.
"Fufufufu… I was going to ask yesterday," Doflamingo said, his tone playful. "But I guess now's as good a time as any. What's going on between the two of you?"
The knife and fork in Gion's hands clattered onto the plate as she shot Doflamingo a withering glare. "Do you think you can beat me?" she asked coldly.
Doflamingo froze, the sharpness in her voice sending a chill down his spine. Probably not, he thought grimly. While Gion wasn't quite on the level of the Admirals, she was still an Admiral candidate, a powerhouse in her own right.
Claudius, meanwhile, simply grinned, enjoying the exchange far too much.
Realizing he'd hit a nerve, Doflamingo raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. No need to get worked up. We're all family here, aren't we?"
Gion opened her mouth to retort but stopped herself. She wanted to say, Who's family? But the words wouldn't come. Instead, she glanced at Claudius, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
The truth was, despite the distance they maintained during the day, things were different at night. Without fail, they ended up sharing the same bed, a tacit agreement neither of them addressed. And every morning, Gion woke up to find herself tangled with Claudius, her head on his chest or her arm draped over him.
This unspoken intimacy lingered between them, leaving Gion flustered and confused. She didn't know how to interpret it or how to stop it.
Meanwhile, Claudius leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased with himself.
***
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