One Piece: King of the World

After receiving Claudius's promise, Fisher Tiger accepted his offer. He agreed to work for Claudius, help restore order to Fish-Man Street, and assist in his plans. In essence, he would act as a "labor leader," or more commonly, a contractor.

Following this, Fisher Tiger was escorted by Nya, Claudius's butler, to rest. Once Claudius finished handling affairs in Mariejois, he would return to Fish-Man Island, accompanied by countless freed compatriots of Tiger.

By all rights, Claudius could have taken a darker route. He could have entirely subjugated Fisher Tiger, branded him with the Donquixote family's Celestial Dragon hoof, and ensured his obedience through force.

But Claudius didn't.

"Despicable is the pass of the despicable; noble is the epitaph of the noble," Claudius murmured to himself as he sipped his tea, gazing out the window. A self-deprecating laugh followed.

He never considered himself noble. In truth, "despicable" might have suited him better, and he wasn't ashamed to admit it. But in the presence of someone like Fisher Tiger, a man of unshakable principles and a noble soul, he couldn't help but feel a bit unworthy. Perhaps that was why he held back.

Although Claudius had already planned to liberate the Fish-Man slaves in Mariejois, that had been driven by practical interests. But this time, when he promised Fisher Tiger, there was no ulterior motive. He had been moved, and even if there was no benefit to be gained, he would still honor his word.

For all his pragmatism, Claudius didn't want to appear petty in the presence of someone like Fisher Tiger. In that brief moment of self-reflection, he found himself striving, if only slightly, to rise above his baser instincts.

As he stared out the window, deep in thought, the door to the study opened quietly. Stussy entered, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor. She observed Claudius's back for a moment, noting the unusual stillness in his demeanor.

"Your Highness," Stussy said gently, breaking the silence. "Spandine is here with Rob Lucci. They're waiting in the living room. Do you wish to see them?"

Claudius turned, his usual warm smile back on his face. "Yes, let's go."

He followed Stussy toward the living room, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly paused. Stussy stopped as well, turning to him with a puzzled expression.

"Stussy," Claudius began, his tone lighter than before, "if you had to choose one word to describe me—'vile' or 'noble'—which would it be?"

Stussy blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard. After a brief pause, she scratched her head awkwardly. "Your Highness… that's a difficult question."

"Hahahaha! You wound me, Stussy!" Claudius laughed, though his tone carried a teasing edge. "I thought you'd call me noble without a second thought."

Stussy smiled, stepping closer and taking his arm in hers. "Perhaps I can't speak for everyone, Your Highness. But to me, you are noble. And I believe Nia would say the same. Crocodile, Enel, even Doflamingo—they might all agree."

Claudius's expression softened as he listened to her words. "Really?" he murmured.

For a brief moment, he allowed himself to bask in the warmth of her affirmation. This is enough, he thought silently. This is enough.

Claudius had asked the question on a whim, perhaps seeking a small measure of reassurance. But as the thought passed, he pushed the matter aside. Noble or despicable, he was Claudius, and he had no need to justify his actions to anyone. The noble is me, and the despicable is me.

When they arrived in the living room, Claudius saw Spandine and a young Rob Lucci seated on the sofa.

The moment Spandine noticed Claudius, he shot up from his seat, his face eager and respectful. "Greetings, Your Highness!" he said, his tone dripping with reverence.

Lucci quickly followed suit, standing and bowing deeply. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at Claudius.

Lucci had been an orphan, recruited into the CP organization by the World Government and trained as a CP-9 operative. While the Marine Corps preached the value of justice, often resulting in ideological divides and factions, the CP organization was different.

The CP operatives were brainwashed from the start to be utterly loyal to the World Government—and, by extension, the Celestial Dragons. For them, obedience wasn't just expected; it was ingrained.

Lucci, however, had been pulled out of CP-9 midway through his training and placed under Spandane's wing in CP-X. There, he'd met Claudius several times, and Spandine had begun grooming him to be loyal to Claudius specifically.

Spandine himself was perhaps the most devoted subordinate Claudius had. His loyalty surpassed even that of Crocodile, whose pride often led him to challenge Claudius in subtle ways. Spandine, on the other hand, had fully committed himself to Claudius, prioritizing him above even the World Government. Under such guidance, it was no surprise that Lucci had been molded into another staunch follower of Claudius.

Claudius smiled as he approached the pair, taking a seat on the sofa. "They didn't give you too much trouble, did they?" he asked casually.

Spandine immediately leapt to pour tea for Claudius, his ingratiating manner almost comical. "Not at all, Your Highness! Just as you predicted, they treated Lucci like royalty once I brought your approval letter. It was like a vacation for him! This is all thanks to your unmatched prestige."

"Really?" Claudius chuckled, turning his attention to Lucci. "Good. I would have been upset if they'd made things difficult."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness!" Spandine said, never missing an opportunity to flatter.

Claudius nodded, then leaned back slightly. "It's good that you've returned. I have an important task for you two. It requires absolute loyalty and discretion."

"Your Highness, it's an honor to serve you. Isn't that right, Lucci?" Spandine said, nudging the boy.

Lucci, who looked no older than thirteen or fourteen, nodded earnestly. "Yes, Your Highness. It is our honor to serve you."

Unlike Spandane, Lucci wasn't particularly skilled in flattery. His loyalty was straightforward and unembellished, which Claudius didn't mind. In fact, he found it refreshing.

"Very good," Claudius said with a small smile. "This mission is highly classified. I need you both to handle it with care."

"What would you have us do, Your Highness?" Spandine asked eagerly.

Claudius's smile widened slightly. "We're working in cooperation with Naval Headquarters on this one. The mission will take you to Skypiea."

"Skypiea?" Spandine's eyes widened, and he visibly swallowed. The idea of traveling to the Sky Island clearly unsettled him. "Your Highness… what business could we possibly have up there? It's just a place filled with poor, stubborn people!"

Claudius chuckled. "Enel has found the legendary City of Gold. Your task will be to go there with the Marines, secure the gold, and ensure the operation remains completely confidential."

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