One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Authorizing CP-X to Oversee the Seven Warlords of the Sea Project

Claudius nodded and said, "Yes, it's pretty much what Sengoku laid out."

Without waiting for any responses, he tapped the ash from his cigarette and continued, "The reason I'm calling this the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' project is that I want CP-X to gain control over seven powerful pirates. Think of them as knights under a king—warriors who clear the path for their liege. That's the role I envision for the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

This time, Nusjuro was the first to react, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "The theory sounds reasonable. What exactly do you have in mind?"

Claudius grinned. "Well, what I've just described is the concept. The actual plan is much more complex. I estimate that it will take at least ten, perhaps even twenty years to see it fully realized. But despite the long timeline, if we succeed, it will have a massive impact. I believe it's worth the investment."

"Alright then," Nusjuro said with a nod, indicating a measure of approval. "If the end result is worthwhile, let's hear the details."

His words set the tone for the meeting, signaling that the Five Elders were tentatively in favor of the idea. After all, even if Claudius hadn't proposed it now, the World Government would eventually come up with its own version of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. However, that approach would likely result in a situation where the warlords were only "controllable" in name, while in reality, they remained self-serving pirates. Claudius's method, on the other hand, seemed far more promising.

"The first point," Claudius began, "is that we can't reveal their affiliation just yet. For now, they should continue to operate as pirates. Take Crocodile and Doflamingo, for example. What we need to do is provide them with some breathing room. CP should immediately halt any assassination plans against them, and the Marines should ease up on their efforts to hunt them down."

There was no hesitation in Claudius's voice. Gis, despite his high rank, was ultimately a servant to the Celestial Dragons. He bowed respectfully and replied, "As you command."

After a moment of silence, Sengoku gave a reluctant nod. "The Marines will loosen their pursuit."

Claudius's smile widened as he continued, "Next, we need to expand our roster of candidates. Currently, I only have two promising options—Crocodile and my cousin. But I plan to scout for more candidates over time. For instance, there's a young talent named Enel under my care. He possesses the Thunder Fruit and shows great potential. I'll send him out to sea to start building his reputation as a pirate, as a preliminary step towards becoming one of the Seven Warlords."

Nusjuro nodded. "Indeed, selecting the right individuals is crucial. In just half a year, you've already cultivated two prospects. The era of the great pirates could last for quite some time, so you've got plenty of time to get this right. Don't rush."

Even Nusjuro, with all his influence, understood that such things couldn't be rushed.

Claudius agreed. "The third point is that both the CP agency and the Marines should offer these prospects some 'support.' By backing them discreetly, we can not only eliminate less desirable, uncontrollable pirates but also help our chosen candidates establish a reputation. It's a win-win."

Sengoku considered Claudius's suggestion and, after a brief hesitation, nodded. "If done correctly, we could make it work."

In fact, Sengoku was already thinking ahead, considering whether the Marines should also cultivate their own pirates as spies. For example, Whitebeard had a penchant for adopting sons. If they could place a couple of agents in his crew, they might be able to deliver a critical blow or gather crucial information when the time was right. It was a tactic Sengoku would indeed pursue in the future—like with Drake, who was trained as a Marine spy and later infiltrated Kaido's ranks.

"That's the general framework of the plan," Claudius said, wrapping up his proposal. "If there are no objections, I'll submit a formal report to you five shortly."

There was no need to rush into legalizing piracy just yet. Once the Seven Warlords were fully established, they could solidify their roles as 'allies' of the World Government all at once.

Nusjuro exhaled a cloud of smoke, a contemplative look on his face. "Your CP-X certainly knows how to deliver unexpected strategies. First, there was Golden Lion and Roger, and now, you're presenting a practical response to the age of piracy."

He paused, then nodded approvingly. "I'm inclined to authorize this project in principle, pending the others' agreement. Soon, CP-X will have the mandate to take charge of the Seven Warlords of the Sea initiative."

Claudius's face lit up with a broad smile. "I'm grateful, my lords!"

Nusjuro glanced around the room. "Does anyone else have anything to add?"

Seeing no further objections, he concluded, "Very well. Let's all get back to our respective duties and proceed according to the decisions reached in this meeting."

With that, he stood and left the room. Sengoku nodded at Claudius before departing, his mind already busy with the implications of this "pirate management" strategy.

Claudius wasn't bothered by Sengoku's silence. He simply acknowledged the Admiral with a smile, then turned to the CP agents and asked, "Is Spandine here?"

A man standing at the back of the CP group quickly stepped forward, removing his mask. "Yes, Your Highness Claudius, I'm here!"

"Good. Stay behind for a moment; I have a few words for you," Claudius instructed.

Spandine's superior, Gis, chimed in, "Spandine, don't let His Highness down."

Once everyone else had filed out, Claudius grinned at the subservient Spandine. "I hear you've recently gotten your hands on some promising recruits in CP-9?"

Spandine, bent at the waist in a humble bow, responded enthusiastically, "Well, our CP-9 can't compare to the caliber of candidates Your Highness is raising. Enel is truly an exceptional talent, put him in the Marines, and he could be an Admiral someday!"

Claudius chuckled. "Your flattery skills are improving."

"I live to please, Your Highness," Spandine replied with a broad smile.

Claudius's expression turned thoughtful. "There's someone named Rob Lucci, right?"

Spandine paused before quickly replying, "Yes, we have a young recruit by that name who's still in training."

"Good. Keep training him for now. I'm interested in this kid. Once his training is complete, send him to me. No problem with that, is there?" Claudius said, patting Spandine on the shoulder.

"No problem at all, Your Highness! If you're interested, we'd be honored to send him to you. Even if you wanted all of CP-9, it would be our privilege," Spandine answered eagerly.

Claudius chuckled again. "You've got a good attitude, I'll give you that. If you ever need a favor, let Stussy know. As long as it's nothing too outrageous, I'll see what I can do."

With that, he left the meeting room, still smiling.

Spandine remained behind, bowing repeatedly. "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

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