One Piece: King of the World

For a moment, Claudius didn't understand what Kuzan meant, so he instinctively replied, "I just have something to talk to you about. This actually works out."

As soon as Claudius finished speaking, Gion snorted heavily, clearly displeased.

Nia smiled, and Kuina, standing near the doorway, shook her head at Claudius in exasperation.

This left Claudius confused, but it didn't take him long to realize what was happening. After all, he wasn't an idiot. He glanced at Gion, feeling a little awkward.

But since he had already said it, taking it back now would only make things more embarrassing.

So, he had no choice but to push forward. He looked at Kuzan and said, "You know the G-1 branch well. You lead the way."

Kuzan gave Claudius a look full of disappointment, as if scolding him for wasting an opportunity.

"I'm not familiar with it," Kuzan replied.

"No, you are," Claudius insisted.

"I'm really not…" Kuzan sighed. He used to be familiar with it, but after the major renovations, he hadn't been back.

"Alright, alright, I'll lead the way," Borsalino cut in, not wanting to watch them bicker any longer.

Claudius shot Kuzan a glare. Kuzan rolled his eyes in response, thinking, How is this my fault? I gave you a chance, and you wasted it.

In the end, Claudius followed Borsalino out, looking somewhat defeated, while Nia and Kuina stayed behind, smiling knowingly.

Gion, meanwhile, turned her attention to Nia.

"It's been a while, Gion. You've become even more beautiful," Nia said with a warm smile.

Gion had a good impression of Nia, even though she was well aware that someone as stunning as Nia likely had a not-so-innocent relationship with Claudius.

Gion smiled and said, "Nia, you have to share Stussy's secret skincare formula with me this time."

"I want in on this too! I've always heard that Stussy has eternal youth. People say she found the Fountain of Youth as a child true or false?" Kuina chimed in with curiosity.

With that, the group split up.

Meanwhile, Claudius quickly realized that Borsalino had no idea where to find a decent bar in the G-1 Marine base. He had just been pretending to act knowledgeable.

In the end, Claudius had no choice but to sigh and lead the two Admirals back to Prometheus.

If the G-1 base doesn't have what we need, my ship certainly does!

Unlike most Celestial Dragons, Claudius wasn't overly extravagant, he could blend in with both high society and more casual settings without any issues.

So, the three of them, all old men in their forties or older, settled down for drinks. No fancy setups—just a simple, comfortable atmosphere.

They sat in the ship's Ocean Restaurant as the sky darkened. The warm glow of the lights set a pleasant mood, making the place feel rather elegant.

It was a shame they didn't indulge in anything gourmet. Instead, they simply had the chef grill some skewers and grabbed a few bottles of the most common beer. With that, they drank happily.

After clinking glasses, Claudius sighed, "We've known each other for so many years, yet this is the first time we've had a drink together like this, isn't it?"

Borsalino chuckled softly. "It does seem that way."

Kuzan stroked his chin and mused, "Well, everyone's always been busy."

Claudius gave Borsalino a long look, making the latter feel awkward.

Borsalino frowned. "What's with that look, Your Highness? I am busy, you know. You're not looking down on a Marine Admiral, are you?"

"Hahahaha, busy? Yeah, sure, you're really busy," Claudius laughed.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere became much more relaxed. Kuzan finally asked, "So? I went out of my way to create such a good opportunity for you, yet you insisted on coming with us for drinks. What was it you wanted to talk about?"

By this point, Kuzan had dropped the formalities—no more "Your Highness" or "Saint Claudius."

Claudius didn't mind. He took a bite of grilled meat, washed it down with beer, and let out a satisfied sigh before finally saying, "I've been feeling a little bored lately."

Kuzan paused, instantly realizing that Claudius was leading into something serious.

Taking a sip of his drink, Kuzan sighed and admitted, "Yeah… me too."

"You and Sakazuki really can't get along?" Claudius asked.

Kuzan went silent for a moment before giving Claudius a complicated look. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You chose him."

"Why do you look like I'm breaking up with you?" Claudius muttered helplessly.

"Well, I was the first one to meet you on that island, wasn't I?" Kuzan grumbled.

Claudius cringed at his tone and said, "I haven't even had that much to drink yet, and you're already making me nauseous. Cut it out."

"Hahahaha," Kuzan laughed, dropping the act. "But honestly, Sakazuki might be more suited for the position than I am."

"What made you think I picked him?" Claudius asked curiously.

"If you had chosen me, you wouldn't be bringing this up," Kuzan replied matter-of-factly.

He knew that if he became Fleet Admiral, Claudius wouldn't even need to consult Sakazuki. Sakazuki would have no choice but to accept it and keep doing his job, even if it meant swallowing his pride.

But for Kuzan, it was different. It wasn't about pride.

If he stayed in the Marines under Sakazuki's leadership, it wouldn't just be difficult, it would create problems.

That was the real reason Kuzan was considering leaving. It wasn't that he was petty or unwilling to lose; it was that his ideology simply clashed with Sakazuki's.

At that moment, Borsalino, who had been sipping his drink quietly, suddenly spoke up.

"You guys never considered me?"

Both Claudius and Kuzan froze.

Claudius, especially, looked genuinely surprised. "Wait… Borsalino, you wanted to be Fleet Admiral?"

Borsalino's expression darkened. "I wasn't planning to fight for it, but the fact that you both completely ignored me kinda stings, you know."

Kuzan hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly muttered, "Uh… sorry?"

"You picking a fight with me, old man?" Borsalino's face twitched.

But the tension quickly dissolved into laughter.

Claudius took another sip of his drink and smiled. "You know, upholding justice and maintaining peace aren't things that can only be done in the Marines. Sometimes, a change of scenery, a fresh perspective can be a good thing. You might even find new opportunities, Kuzan."

Kuzan smirked. "Why do I feel like you're trying to push me into retirement?"

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head with a wry smile.