One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: To Be the King's Vanguard - The Seven Warlords of the Sea!

During this period, much had changed across the seas.

First and foremost, Claudius' name had spread far and wide, becoming renowned across the world. He was now regarded as the "leader" of the younger generation. His reputation soared, and even the likes of Dracule Mihawk, who had been making waves as a swordsman, couldn't overshadow Claudius' achievements.

The reason for his meteoric rise was simple: the entire world now knew that a formidable figure had emerged from the ranks of the Celestial Dragons, someone who had captured the legendary Golden Lion, Shiki a feat that had shaken the world.

However, the story of Shiki's capture, as told by the World Government, had been heavily "refined" before it reached the public. The truth about Claudius and his crew stumbling upon Shiki by chance during a storm was conveniently omitted. Instead, the narrative highlighted Claudius as the mastermind behind a secretive and powerful new organization, CP-X, which was formed with the express purpose of neutralizing threats to the World Government.

The official reports portrayed CP-X as an elite unit, equal in status to the Marine Headquarters and the Cipher Pol organizations, but operating independently, answering only to the Five Elders. While the exact details remained a mystery, it was known that CP-X had been established over a year ago with the mission of taking down the world's most dangerous pirate factions, starting with the Flying Pirates.

Under this narrative, Shiki's capture was painted as a premeditated strike, led by CP-X, with support from the Marines. This version of events gave the impression that Shiki's downfall was the result of meticulous planning and strategic brilliance, rather than a lucky coincidence.

As a result, CP-X's reputation skyrocketed. Within just a few months, the organization became shrouded in mystery. People across the seas speculated about this shadowy group that seemed even more enigmatic and powerful than the notorious CP-9 or the Celestial Dragon guard unit, CP-0.

For a while, fear gripped the sea's most prominent factions. If CP-X could take down someone as powerful as the Golden Lion, then no one was safe. This fear caused many pirate crews to scale back their activities, uncertain if they were being watched by CP-X operatives lurking in the shadows.

The Marines took full advantage of this fear. With CP-X's looming presence backing them, they expanded their influence in the New World. Admiral Sengoku spearheaded the establishment of several key Marine bases, including the G-1 and G-5 branches. These bases planted the first seeds of Marine authority in the New World, making it easier for the Navy to enter and patrol the chaotic seas in the future.

While the Marines fortified their positions, the pirate world was in disarray. Shiki's arrest had left a power vacuum, and rival factions quickly moved in to claim his remaining territory. The Beasts Pirates, led by Kaido, and the Big Mom Pirates, under Charlotte Linlin, were the two biggest beneficiaries. They had devoured most of Shiki's resources and were now considered the dominant forces in the New World, second only to Whitebeard's crew.

Meanwhile, the Roger Pirates had been causing their own brand of chaos. While the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates were busy fighting over Shiki's legacy, Roger's crew managed to sneak into Big Mom's territory and steal the Road Poneglyph, a move that infuriated Charlotte Linlin to the point of near insanity. Now, the Big Mom Pirates were hunting the Roger Pirates across the seas, determined to recover the stolen artifact.

Claudius suspected that Roger had already copied the Poneglyph and would eventually toss the original to shake off Big Mom's pursuit. Either way, the New World had become a hotbed of chaos and power struggles, and Roger, ever the wild card, was stirring up even more trouble.

In the courtyard of his palace, Claudius lay in a sun-soaked rocking chair, leisurely flipping through a report from Stussy. It detailed the various upheavals in the New World, Charlotte Linlin eating one of her own children in a fit of madness, Beasts Pirates' quiet alliance with the closed-off country of Wano, and their silent consolidation of Shiki's former territories.

Claudius chuckled at the absurdity of it all. Stussy, who was from CP-0 and now ran the intelligence network known as Happy Street, had proven herself invaluable. Despite its name, Happy Street had become a powerful player in the underworld, and with Claudius' backing, it had secured a solid foothold in the dark world.

Meanwhile, Doflamingo, Claudius distant cousin, was making his own waves in North Blue. He had struck up an alliance with Germa 66, a military force specializing in war and advanced technology. With one hand selling war and the other selling arms, Doflamingo was profiting from both sides, growing his influence and enjoying his rise in power.

While CP-X was making waves and causing unease among the sea's most powerful figures, Claudius knew that the organization still lacked true substance. It seemed formidable on the surface, but it was still in its infancy, relying heavily on the momentum gained from Shiki's capture.

Still, the Five Elders were increasingly supportive of Claudius, seeing potential in him. They had even increased their financial support for CP-X, providing a stable flow of resources for its continued growth. Claudius knew it wasn't much, but every little bit helped.

Shiki, still in a coma, hadn't been sent to Impel Down, as many had expected. Instead, he was held in a special prison at Marineford, reserved for the most dangerous criminals. Though his hands and feet were bound with Seastone, the Marines were still attempting to "humanely" treat his injuries, as if there were any hope of reviving him.

"Your Highness, lunch is ready," came the soft voice of Nia approached Claudius with a polite smile.

Claudius snapped out of his thoughts and smiled back. "Alright."

Not far away, Enel was sparring with Crocodile under the hot sun. Over the past six months, Enel had grown noticeably stronger. His once-skinny frame had filled out, and his obsession with covering his body in strange things had only grown. He had embedded taiko drums into his back, giving him a distinctive and rather bizarre look.

He also had a strange fondness for gold, adorning himself with thick gold wristbands, chains, and wielding a gold staff that made him look like a gaudy, over-the-top noble. Despite his extravagant appearance, Enel proudly bore the emblem of the "Celestial Dragon's Hoof," the symbol of Claudius, engraved on his back.

Unlike Crocodile, who was indifferent to such displays, Enel embraced it with pride. To him, the emblem represented Claudius' trust and acknowledgment. In his eyes, that was all that mattered, being Claudius' loyal confidant.

"Hey, you two! Take a break and come have lunch," Claudius called out with a laugh.

Crocodile and Enel paused their sparring and joined Claudius for lunch. Meals like these, where there were no outsiders, had a relaxed and familial atmosphere. Over the past couple of years, Crocodile had come to understand Claudius' nature. Despite being technically labeled a "slave," Claudius never treated him that way. Instead, he was regarded as a trusted subordinate, someone worth investing in and developing.

Looking back at his time under Captain John, Crocodile couldn't help but scoff. That had been a miserable existence compared to what he had now.

Originally, Crocodile had planned to repay Claudius' kindness by defeating him, breaking free of his slave status, and resuming his life as a pirate. But over time, that plan had shifted. While he still wanted to prove himself by beating Claudius, he no longer intended to leave. Instead, he saw CP-X as a viable path for his future. Once he bested Claudius, he would formally join as a subordinate, shedding the slave label once and for all.

Claudius, for his part, noticed this change in Crocodile's attitude. Seeing that it was a positive development, he didn't press the issue.

As they enjoyed a lavish lunch together, Claudius suddenly remembered something. "Crocodile, in a year or two, when we reach the 1500s, I'm planning to let you loose."

Crocodile raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly. "What? Have you finally acknowledged my strength?"

Claudius smirked. "Not exactly. But you can't improve by staying cooped up here forever. You need to go out into the world, test yourself in real combat."

Crocodile nodded, but there was still a question lingering in his mind. "So, what's the catch? What do you want me to do?"

Claudius leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I want you to be a pirate," he said with a wicked smile. "Go out there and sail the seas."

Crocodile stared at him, puzzled. "Be a pirate? What kind of game are you playing, Claudius? Do you want me to cause trouble for the Marines?"

Claudius chuckled softly. "No, no. I'm not sending you out to create chaos... not immediately, at least. I want you to operate under the radar. You'll be an 'undercover pirate,' infiltrating the ranks of the pirate world. This will make it easier for you to gather intelligence and act when the time comes."

Crocodile narrowed his eyes, still not fully understanding Claudius' larger plan. "Infiltrate the pirates? And then what?"

Claudius leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I have a big plan in the works. Something that will take years, maybe even a decade or two to fully unfold. But if it succeeds, it will shatter the very foundation of pirate power in the world. Every major pirate force, now and in the future, will be reduced to nothing more than scattered dust."

Crocodile's interest was piqued. "What kind of plan are we talking about?"

Claudius' eyes gleamed with ambition. "For now, let's call it the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' project. A system where we handpick the most powerful pirates and turn them into our pawns. They'll work under the banner of the World Government, keeping the rest of the seas in check. And you, Crocodile, will be the vanguard of that system a king among pirates, a pioneer for this new world order."