One Piece: King of the World

After hearing Claudius' words, Zoro fell silent for a moment.

He knew about the duel between Claudius and Mihawk in the back mountains of Shimotsuki Village. He often visited the site to study the traces left behind. And, of course, he knew Mihawk had lost.

However, he didn't know how Mihawk had been defeated. Mihawk certainly wouldn't publicize such a humiliating event, and Mr. Koshiro, being a man of integrity, never mentioned it to outsiders.

Claudius, for his part, hadn't gone around bragging either. Few people knew that Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, had once been defeated by Claudius.

Zoro knew Mihawk had lost, but assumed it had been through swordsmanship. It made sense to believe that Claudius might be even stronger than Mihawk.

Why hadn't Claudius claimed the title of "World's Greatest Swordsman"? Well, he was a Celestial Dragon. It wasn't surprising that he didn't care about such titles.

Despite his many victories against powerful opponents, Claudius didn't have a widely recognized reputation. Some people called him the "Tempest Swordmaster," but it was more rumor than fact most dismissed it as a joke.

After more than half a year in the Grand Line, Zoro realized how lacking his strength truly was. He'd heard of Haki, and Koshiro had mentioned it to him, but he hadn't taught him. Koshiro believed in practical training, one had to gain real-world experience before learning Haki. Zoro wasn't planning on returning home anytime soon.

As for finding another teacher, there were no strict rules against it. Koshiro ran a public dojo, not a sect with closed disciples. Besides, hadn't Kuina already been "stolen" by Claudius?

So, Zoro didn't feel guilty about the idea of learning from someone else. Still, he didn't particularly want Claudius to be his teacher.

After a long silence, Zoro asked, "Who would you recommend?"

Claudius laughed. "What about Mihawk? He's the world's greatest swordsman. Is that good enough for you?"

Mihawk's name held significant weight for Zoro. At this point, he wasn't fixated on becoming the greatest swordsman just yet, his primary goal was still to surpass Kuina.

"But," Claudius added with a chuckle, "Mihawk's a recluse. Train with him, and you'll probably spend three to five years in isolation. Train with me, though? You'll have more freedom."

Zoro opened his mouth to choose Mihawk. "I'll go wi—"

Claudius cut him off, laughing. "Oh, and if you stick with me, you'll have plenty of chances to see Kuina."

"Master!" Zoro immediately switched gears without hesitation.

Of course, that was just Zoro reacting impulsively. After a moment, his expression grew serious again. "What's the catch? What do I need to give in return?"

He didn't believe Claudius would offer to teach him out of the kindness of his heart. Claudius was a Celestial Dragon, a powerful, high-ranking one at that. Why would he care about a nobody like him? What was so special about Zoro? His talent?

Well, Claudius did value Zoro's potential. But he didn't bother saying it out loud. Instead, he smiled and said, "Join CP-X. That's the price."

Zoro frowned slightly. It seemed like a steep condition. But then he remembered who Claudius was: a Celestial Dragon, yes, but also the man who defeated Mihawk. Claudius didn't go around recruiting apprentices, either. The more he thought about it, the less unreasonable it seemed.

He had no concrete plans anyway. The bounty-hunting gig wasn't getting him anywhere, and wandering around the Grand Line aimlessly didn't feel right either. If joining CP-X got him closer to his goals, why not?

After mulling it over for a moment, Zoro nodded. "You have a deal."

"Ahahahaha! Great. Just head to Mariejois and find me," Claudius said with a laugh.

At that moment, Nami let out an exaggerated sigh. "Hey, Zoro... are you really going to abandon me? I'm just a weak woman. Without a strong partner like you, how am I supposed to survive in the Grand Line?"

Zoro's face tightened. He hadn't considered that. He was someone who valued loyalty and camaraderie. After traveling together for so long, he'd come to see Nami as a true companion. He felt guilty for nearly forgetting her.

Claudius heard the conversation through the Den Den Mushi and chuckled. "You know... I happen to need a navigator for my ship, Prometheus. Nami, interested?"

"Prometheus? You mean that ship?" Nami asked, eyes wide.

The Prometheus was the most impressive vessel she'd ever laid eyes on. The idea of being its navigator was beyond tempting.

"That's right," Claudius confirmed. "The Prometheus is the ultimate ship, strong enough to cross the most dangerous seas. If you really want to map the entire world, you'll need a ship like mine."

"Hmm... sounds like you need a great navigator like me, huh?" Nami teased.

"Of course."

"Can I grow oranges on board?" Nami asked after a moment of thought.

Claudius burst into laughter. "Hahaha! My ship is huge. If you want a whole orange grove, go right ahead. But I get first dibs on the harvest."

"Deal!" Nami agreed without hesitation.

With that, the situation was settled. Zoro and Nami were now Claudius' new recruits, one as his apprentice and the other as his navigator.

As for their companions, Johnny and Yosaku, Claudius didn't care much. They could join the crew as regular sailors or fishing hands if they wanted.

Once the call ended, Zoro and Nami sat there, struggling to believe what had just happened. In a single conversation, they'd become part of CP-X and joined Claudius' ranks.

Barry and the CP-X officer, who'd been listening the whole time, were equally stunned.

"Did we just witness the birth of Saint Claudius' new disciple and personal navigator?" the officer muttered.

Nami, always quick to think about practical matters, turned to Barry. "Barry, about that boat... forget it. Looks like I've got a better option now."

"Huh? How are you going to sail without a ship?" Zoro asked, frowning. "The one we've got won't last much longer."

Nami gave him a pitying look. "Seriously? Didn't you hear where Claudius told us to go? Mariejois! You think we'll need a ship for that?"

Zoro blinked in confusion. "Wait... we're going to sea, right? So how do we get there without a ship?"

"Ugh... can you stop swinging your swords for five seconds and pay attention to the world around you? Ever heard of a sea train?" Nami asked, exasperated.

"No."

Nami facepalmed. "Figures."

Barry laughed and clapped Zoro on the back. "The sea train? That's one of Water 7's greatest inventions! Let me tell you all about it."