One Piece: King of the World

At this moment Nusjuro was visibly in a much better mood. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Now this is what it means to have capable people on your side. Claudius' ability to deliver results at critical moments clearly set him apart. He was shaping up to be the most reliable Celestial Dragon of his generation, a rarity that Nusjuro couldn't help but appreciate.

Without even needing direct orders, Claudius had taken the initiative to address the Revolutionary Army issue. Unlike the CP agencies, who had spent years only managing to capture small-time players, Claudius' CP-X had managed to grab two cadres in a single operation. To Nusjuro, this demonstrated that CP-X was proving to be an extremely useful organization.

Meanwhile, Claudius was breathing a quiet sigh of relief. The operation had gone better than he could have hoped, and now he could take the credit while passing off the risks. Putting on a confident front, he said, "I've always kept the guidance of the Five Elders in mind, never daring to slack off. It's my responsibility to contribute to the World Government, and it's the very purpose of CP-X to solve problems for our cause."

Hearing this, Nusjuro's satisfaction grew even further. He nodded approvingly and said, "It's good to hear you think that way. Excellent work, Claudius."

Claudius nodded humbly and added, "Once Spandine escorts the captured Revolutionary Army operatives back to Mariejois, CP-X will transfer them to the CP agency for interrogation. I trust they'll yield results soon enough."

This was Claudius' way of skillfully passing the responsibility along. He knew very well that the operatives Dragon had handed over were likely expendable pawns. Even if they were cadres, Dragon would have thoroughly prepared them to give false leads or useless information. Anything gleaned from interrogating them would likely turn into traps for the World Government.

Claudius wasn't about to step on those landmines. His role was done, he had captured them and earned the credit. What happened next was someone else's problem.

Gis, however, wasn't privy to this subtext. Hearing Claudius' gesture, he was genuinely touched. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. Our CP agency will spare no effort in interrogating these operatives and securing actionable intelligence. We'll strive to neutralize the Revolutionary Army as soon as possible."

Claudius waved his hand in an almost magnanimous fashion and said, "Of course, of course. We're all part of the same family. It's only right to support one another."

The sense of satisfaction he felt at passing the responsibility while being thanked for it was almost addictive. Not bad. Not bad at all. Maybe I should 'help' like this more often, Claudius mused.

Unaware of Claudius' real intentions, both Gis and Nusjuro continued to regard him with approval. Nusjuro, in particular, was especially pleased with how Claudius had shared the credit so generously. "Look at Claudius' mindset and awareness," Nusjuro said, casting a critical glance at both Sengoku and Gis. "Now compare it to your agencies. Don't you feel ashamed? Both of you represent vital branches of the World Government, yet you can't cooperate sincerely. Why can't you work together more like this?"

After a few more words of reprimand, Nusjuro took a sip of tea to calm himself. Then, in a slightly more relaxed tone, he said, "In the end, I just want you all to focus on the bigger picture. Do your jobs, cooperate, and take a page from Claudius' book."

Setting down his teacup, Nusjuro turned back to Claudius. "Speaking of which, you've always shown a knack for flexibility and results. What's your take on this 'Pirate Emperor' situation? Any ideas on how we should handle it?"

Claudius froze for a moment. Is this what they call shooting yourself in the foot? I really was on vacation, I didn't give this matter a second thought!

Scratching his head in mild embarrassment, Claudius replied, "Well, regarding this 'Pirate Emperor' situation—specifically Whitebeard, I must admit that CP-X hasn't had the bandwidth to focus on it yet. My knowledge on the matter is limited, and I'd prefer not to speak out of turn. Perhaps I could learn from the perspectives of others here before offering my own thoughts?"

Nusjuro considered this for a moment. He nodded thoughtfully, reasoning that Claudius had indeed been occupied with Alabasta and the Revolutionary Army. While CP-X was proving to be an effective organization, it was still relatively new and lacked the resources and legacy of the older CP agencies. It was only natural that Claudius couldn't tackle everything at once.

"I see. That's understandable," Nusjuro said.

Claudius, sensing Nusjuro's leniency, quickly added, "However, once this meeting concludes, CP-X will begin looking into the matter. I assure you, we'll do everything we can to support the World Government on this issue."

"Heh, when you say that, Claudius, it really puts me at ease," Nusjuro said with a smile.

Satisfied for now, Nusjuro turned his attention to Sengoku. "Alright, Sengoku, what about Marine? Do you have any strategies or countermeasures?"

Sengoku resisted the urge to sigh. Can I say we have nothing? Keeping his expression composed, he answered, "From what I can see, the situation in the New World is relatively stable at the moment. While Marine has managed to plant a few footholds in the region, they're still new. Expanding Marine's influence in the New World to create an effective deterrent will take considerable time.

"As for the Whitebeard Pirates specifically, if it comes to a direct confrontation, Marine Headquarters is confident we can defeat them."

Nusjuro frowned slightly. Sengoku's response felt like empty words. If Marine can't even handle a single pirate crew, what good are they? But at the same time, Nusjuro knew the reality, mobilizing enough forces to take on Whitebeard directly would destabilize the entire region. It wasn't a question of whether Marine could win, it was a question of whether they could afford the consequences of such a fight.

I asked for ideas beyond brute force, Nusjuro thought with irritation. Instead, all I get is this pretense of readiness. Do they think I don't understand the stakes?

Still, Nusjuro chose not to escalate things further with Sengoku. He turned to Gis instead. "What about the CP agency? Any ideas?"

Gis hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. After a moment of thought, he said, "Our CP agency is exploring options to destabilize the Whitebeard Pirates from within. If we can sow discord and create internal divisions, that would be ideal."

Hearing this, Claudius nearly laughed out loud. Internal divisions? You're talking about Whitebeard's crew here, one of the most famously united groups in the New World! Their entire ethos is built around loyalty and family. Unless you somehow have the Dark-Dark Fruit and a line to Teach himself, good luck with that nonsense!

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