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Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Claudius: Sengoku, Are You Pitting Me?

His expression darkened as he said in a low voice, "I don\'t care how complicated the situation is. We must come up with a plan today. That plan will be implemented, regardless of whether it works or not. We cannot sit idle. If we do nothing, where is the majesty of the World Government?"

At those words, the room fell silent. Everyone present knew how difficult it was to deal with Whitebeard, and no one wanted to be the first to speak.

Claudius leaned back in his chair, his thoughts churning. Dealing with Newgate was no simple matter, but if someone could figure out a way to eliminate him, it would be beneficial, even for Claudius. Whitebeard was a giant of an era, suppressing chaos and maintaining a delicate balance. If he were to fall, the sea would plunge into further turmoil.

From Claudius\' perspective, a chaotic sea would serve his larger plans. A more unstable world would give him greater opportunities to strengthen CP-X and extend his influence. Whitebeard, on the other hand, was a symbol of stability in his own way, even if it wasn\'t the kind of stability the World Government liked.

But after a moment\'s thought, Claudius frowned. If Whitebeard were so easy to deal with, someone would\'ve taken him out long ago. The only scenario I can think of where he\'d fall would be something on the scale of the Summit War years down the line. Even then, it wasn\'t like Whitebeard would go down easily.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Sengoku suddenly broke the silence. "It\'s not entirely hopeless. There may be a possible breakthrough."

The room\'s attention shifted to him immediately. Claudius, surprised, thought, You don\'t get called The Resourceful Admiral for nothing, do you?

Gis and even Nusjuro turned their focus to Sengoku, waiting for him to elaborate.

After a brief pause, Sengoku continued, "That said, it won\'t be easy."

"Speak your mind," Nusjuro said, his tone slightly more even.

Sengoku nodded and said, "Currently, Whitebeard\'s banner flies over Fish-Man Island. Fish-Man Island, as you all know, is a legitimate member of the World Government. If we could remove Whitebeard\'s pirate flag from Ryugu Palace, it would deal a serious blow to his prestige and influence."

Nusjuro frowned at this suggestion. His initial frustration with Whitebeard\'s influence stemmed from the exact issue Sengoku had pointed out: a World Government member state, Fish-Man Island, sought security under Whitebeard\'s flag rather than the Government\'s. The mere sight of that flag spoke volumes about the World Government\'s failure to protect its own.

But the problem wasn\'t as simple as Sengoku made it sound. Fish-Man Island\'s unique history made it a deeply complicated matter.

Nusjuro sighed and said, "Sengoku, you\'re aware of the... factors that have driven Fish-Man Island to this point, aren\'t you?"

Sengoku was silent for a moment before nodding. "I am."

"Then do you think your suggestion is feasible?" Nusjuro pressed.

Sengoku hesitated before replying, "It won\'t be easy, but we have to start somewhere. We\'d need to create an opening, a shift in their trust."

Nusjuro shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a note of resignation. "It\'s not just difficult, it\'s near impossible."

The situation with Fish-Man Island was far from straightforward. While it had long been a member of the World Government, its relationship with Mariejois was strained due to the enduring issue of slavery.

Officially, slavery had been outlawed by the World Government decades ago, yet the practice persisted openly in Mariejois, especially among the Celestial Dragons. Fish-Men and Merfolk were particularly valued as slaves, which only exacerbated the racism and exploitation faced by Fish-Man Island\'s people.

This historical mistreatment had left the island\'s rulers deeply distrustful of the World Government. Turning to Whitebeard for protection wasn\'t a choice they made lightly, it was one born of desperation.

If the World Government wanted to replace Whitebeard\'s flag with their own, they would need to rebuild trust with Fish-Man Island. But that would require addressing the root of the problem: the institution of slavery in Mariejois.

And that was no small task. Even the Five Elders, who personally disliked the slave trade, knew how entrenched the practice was among the Celestial Dragons. Changing that would be akin to trying to uproot a mountain.

The room grew tense as the implications of Sengoku\'s suggestion sank in. It wasn\'t just about removing a flag, it was about confronting a deeply ingrained system.

Just as Claudius was considering how to stay out of this mess, Sengoku\'s next words sent a chill down his spine.

"But," Sengoku continued, his tone shifting, "if there\'s anyone who could take the first step, it might be His Highness Claudius."

Claudius froze. What the hell, Sengoku? Why are you dragging me into this?

Hearing Sengoku\'s suggestion, Nusjuro turned his attention to Claudius. His expression was one of intrigue, as if he were seriously considering the idea.

Claudius, suppressing the urge to glare at Sengoku, forced a polite smile and said, "What do you mean by that, Sengoku? Are you suggesting I take responsibility for the slavery issue in Mariejois?"

"Not all of it," Sengoku replied with an awkward smile. "Just the issue of slaves from Fish-Man Island. It\'s a more contained problem, and if addressed, it could serve as a gesture of goodwill toward Ryugu Palace. That, in turn, might lead to progress on the flag issue."

Claudius narrowed his eyes slightly, realizing Sengoku was deliberately throwing him under the bus. But Sengoku wasn\'t entirely wrong, compared to dismantling the entire slave system, focusing on Fish-Man Island\'s specific grievances was more manageable. Still, it wasn\'t a task Claudius wanted to take on lightly.

Before Claudius could respond, Nusjuro leaned forward slightly, his interest clearly piqued. "Claudius, this might actually work. You\'ve always been bold and unorthodox, traits that could make a difference here. After all, your reputation in Mariejois is... unique. You have room to maneuver in ways others don\'t."

Claudius sighed inwardly. By \'unique,\' you mean I\'m seen as a troublemaker, don\'t you? But he knew better than to argue with Nusjuro in this setting.

Leaning toward Sengoku, Claudius whispered in a low, irritated voice, "Sengoku, are you trying to set me up?"

Sengoku, trying to look as innocent as possible, replied just as quietly, "Help me out here, Your Highness, or they\'ll tear into me even harder."

Claudius sighed again, this time more audibly. "After this meeting, you\'d better give me a damn good explanation."

"I promise, Your Highness, you won\'t be disappointed," Sengoku said quickly.

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