One Piece: King of the World

At Mariejois' port, Lucci stood near the edge, as if waiting for someone.

If he hadn't been stationed at Claudius' palace, Dragon would have had a much harder time sneaking in.

Beside Lucci stood a somewhat wretched-looking figure.

Both were dressed in black suits, but their temperaments couldn't have been more different. Lucci was cold and composed, exuding a sense of authority, while the other man had an almost lackey-like demeanor.

That man was Spandam, the son of Spandine.

Years ago, Spandine had sent Spandam to serve under Claudius, initially as a lowly errand boy, fetching tea and running small tasks. After spending a few years by Claudius' side, he was later placed under Lucci's command, where he served as a secretary—a position that didn't really seem necessary for someone in Lucci's role.

Was it corruption? Possibly. But to Spandine, it was a solid arrangement, his son would have a stable future, a secure position, and, most importantly, he'd be safe.

Not long ago, Spandam had his first child, officially making Spandine a grandfather.

Having had a taste of parenthood, Spandam took his child's future very seriously. He was determined to train and groom him properly to make sure his son wouldn't grow up to be as incompetent as he had been.

Despite technically being Lucci's secretary, Spandam's true identity was still that of Spandine's son, someone personally valued by Claudius.

Because of that, Lucci never looked down on him.

After all, Spandine had done him a favor in the past, and in a way, there was a half-father-son dynamic between them.

So, while Lucci sometimes found Spandam annoying, he still looked after him like a younger brother.

Suddenly, Spandam's eyes lit up as he spotted a familiar figure stepping off a recently docked ship.

"Lucci, look! My father's here!" Spandam said excitedly.

Lucci simply nodded. "I see him."

A moment later, Spandine approached them.

His face had more wrinkles than before, his temples streaked with white, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.

Dressed in his black suit, he also wore a dark brown cloak over his shoulders, a gift from Claudius, one he treasured greatly.

Behind him followed several subordinates, also clad in black suits. He carried himself like a true boss, moving with confidence and authority, a stark contrast to the bootlicking lackey he had once been while serving Claudius directly.

Only when he reached Lucci and Spandam did his expression soften slightly, a small smile forming at the corners of his lips.

First, he nodded at Lucci, then turned to his son. His gaze held a mix of helplessness and fatherly warmth.

Spandam, still excited, said, "Father, it's been so long since you last came back!"

Spandine shook his head, reached out, and ruffled Spandam's hair. "I can tell just by looking—you still haven't improved much. Honestly, if it weren't for my relationship with His Highness, you'd probably be struggling just to get by. You should be grateful that you're being taken care of."

Spandam laughed awkwardly, not daring to argue.

His father was a seasoned intelligence officer, someone who had handled major, high-level cases. He had seen more than Spandam could even comprehend, there was no fooling him.

At that moment, Lucci interjected, "To be fair, he's made some progress. At least now he can read and process documents."

Spandine raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?" He nodded in slight relief.

Spandam, however, felt insulted. Do they really think I'm an idiot?

After a short pause, Spandine turned back to Lucci. "How's the situation?"

Lucci responded calmly, "Garp was at His Highness' palace earlier. I spoke with him. The Marines are officially on His Highness' side. Our odds of victory just went up significantly."

Hearing this, Spandine's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"I figured. His Highness never moves without certainty, there was no way the Marines could escape his grasp."

Lucci nodded. "Not that it matters. Even if they had refused, Lord Crocodile has already prepared an entire army. We have plenty of options."

Spandine chuckled. "His Highness is a man of wisdom and compassion. If he can accomplish this without bloodshed, he will. If things escalate to full-blown warfare, our losses will be greater. This peaceful approach is ideal."

Lucci smirked. "You and His Highness think exactly alike."

Spandine raised his eyebrows proudly. "Well, of course! I've been by His Highness' side for years. If I didn't understand his way of thinking by now, how could I serve him properly?"

Lucci shot him a flat look. "His Highness isn't even here right now. You don't have to try so hard to kiss up."

Spandine shrugged, unfazed. "That wasn't flattery, it was genuine respect. Now, let's not keep His Highness waiting."

With that, they began making their way toward Claudius' palace.

As they walked through Mariejois, Spandine took a moment to take in the scenery. The grand architecture, the high-ranking nobles bustling about…

For centuries, this place had remained unchanged.

Twenty years ago, Spandine never would have imagined that Mariejois—this so-called "sacred land"—would one day face the risk of being completely overturned.

But now, a beast had emerged from within the Holy Land itself.

A beast that was ready to swallow it whole and reshape the world.

Even more astonishing was the fact that he, Spandine, had become a key player in this grand event.

If Claudius succeeded, his role in history would be no less than that of the twenty kings who founded the World Government eight hundred years ago.

The thought made his blood race with excitement.

Still, years of experience had made him a cautious man. He quickly calmed himself and continued forward.

"Wait for it, Mariejois," he murmured under his breath.

Upon arriving at Claudius' palace, Spandine immediately heard booming laughter from inside.

His sharp ears instantly recognized the voices, one belonged to Garp, the other to His Highness, Claudius.

Stepping inside, his gaze quickly swept the room.

He saw Garp and Claudius sitting together, laughing over drinks.

But what caught his eye was the third figure sitting near the wine cabinet.

Dragon.

Spandine's eyebrows twitched slightly in surprise.

"Dragon? Looks like the Revolutionary Army has joined us too. I suppose I shouldn't even be surprised anymore, Your Highness."

After all, he had long known that Claudius had some level of involvement with the Revolutionary Army.

Seeing Dragon here only confirmed it.

Claudius, still joking with Garp, glanced over and saw Spandine enter.

The moment their eyes met, Spandine's entire demeanor changed.

He immediately straightened up, put on his best smile, and half-bowed as he jogged toward Claudius.

The once dignified leader of CP-X had suddenly transformed into a groveling subordinate.

"Your Highness! Spandine humbly greets you!" He smiled, his knees bending slightly as if preparing to kneel.

But before he could, an invisible force stopped him.

Claudius chuckled. "Come on, don't kneel. You're not getting any younger—you might throw out your back. You think you're as sturdy as Garp?"

Claudius withdrew his ability, allowing Spandine to stand properly again.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. How could I possibly compare myself to Vice Admiral Garp?" Spandine said with a smile.

Upon seeing Spandine, Garp also seemed quite pleased. It was clear that the two shared a good relationship. Shifting in his seat, he waved Spandine over.

"Come on, sit over here! Spandine, you didn't forget about that thing, did you?" Garp asked.

"Of course not, Vice Admiral Garp. Since I thought you were still in Marineford, I sent someone to deliver it to you directly," Spandine replied with a grin before taking a seat next to Garp.

It seemed like these two had some kind of private dealings, but Claudius didn't bother asking. Knowing Garp, he was probably up to something ridiculous again.

"It's good to have someone reliable handling things. If only my useless son could save me half as much trouble, I'd be satisfied…" Garp muttered in an exaggerated tone.

Hearing that, Dragon's grip on his wine glass tightened, looking like he was about to shatter it.

Meanwhile, Claudius and the others burst into laughter at the scene.

***

This book is complete. Support me on Patreon to read all advanced chapters: /Blownleaves.