One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 248: The Final Push for Marine Headquarters?!

In the lounge of the Gran Tesoro, Tesoro was discussing something with Claudius. Not far away, Stella and Nia were happily chatting. Meanwhile, Stussy was still wandering around the casino, clearly skilled and thoroughly enjoying herself.

"Your Highness, isn't this a bit too rushed? While Fujitora is strong, and the investigation shows no concerning background connections, this still feels a bit uncertain," Tesoro said hesitantly.

He rarely questioned Claudius's decisions, but this time, he couldn't help expressing his concerns.

Claudius, however, smiled confidently. When it came to Fujitora, it wasn't so much about trusting his strength or loyalty, that wasn't the point. What Claudius trusted was Fujitora's ideals and ambitions.

In Claudius's opinion, Fujitora was undoubtedly a man of lofty principles. From certain angles, the two of them were kindred spirits, as long as nothing went astray.

Fujitora's integrity and moral code wouldn't allow him to betray others, making that possibility extremely unlikely.

As for the role Fujitora would play, Claudius already had a plan.

His subordinates already included capable figures like Crocodile, Doflamingo, and Enel. Counting Tesoro, there were already enough people to handle the operational side of things.

There was no need to integrate Fujitora into that structure. At the same time, Claudius couldn't just leave him in a peripheral position or assign him to work under someone like Spandine.

Instead, Claudius's plan was to assign Fujitora to CP-X, where he could operate with relative freedom.

Fujitora had a penchant for gambling, and the CP-X organization would be set up under Tesoro's financial system. This structure was essential, Claudius's entire network of forces was interconnected through a robust financial system built on Tesoro's Golden Bank. This setup ensured that these otherwise disparate factions remained tightly bound together.

Given its importance, Tesoro needed protection. His personal strength wasn't particularly impressive—not weak, but far from extraordinary. In the absence of the Golden Fruit, he was merely average in combat.

Assigning Fujitora to act as a bodyguard was both logical and strategic.

"I've got a treasure hunter named Mad working on it," Tesoro said with a grin.

"Mad?" Claudius froze for a moment, then laughed. "What a name."

The name sounded oddly familiar, but Claudius couldn't immediately recall where he'd heard it before. Treasure hunter... Tesoro's contact... Could it be the guy who discovered pure gold?

"Is he a Devil Fruit user? Does he have a chain-related ability?" Claudius asked after a moment's thought.

Tesoro was surprised. "You know him, Your Highness? What an honor for him."

So it was him. Claudius felt a surge of nostalgia.

Tesoro continued, "He's excellent at locating treasures. He claims to have found a lead on the Gold Gold Fruit. I've arranged for him to collaborate with Doflamingo. With Doflamingo's resources and Dammit's knack for treasure hunting, we might locate the Golden Fruit soon."

Claudius nodded thoughtfully. Although the fruit hadn't been found yet, the pieces were falling into place. He was confident that no one would be able to take it from him.

However, this treasure hunter, Mad...

After thinking it over, Claudius said, "If he actually finds the Gold Gold Fruit, make sure to cultivate his loyalty. Someone like that could prove useful in the future."

Tesoro smiled. "If he earns your favor, Your Highness, it will be the greatest fortune of his life. Could it be that Your Highness is also interested in other treasures?"

Claudius laughed and said, "Why not? The Fountain of Youth, the Emerald Capital, the Sea of Jewels, Pure Gold... There are countless legendary treasures in the world. Who's to say some of them aren't destined for me?"

Tesoro took note of Claudius's interest and made a mental note to relay this to Mad. If the treasure hunter could deliver more surprises, it would undoubtedly please Claudius, strengthening Tesoro's own position in the process.

With that, their conversation wound down. Seeing that Stussy was still enjoying herself onboard the ship, Claudius decided to extend their stay for a few more days, allowing everyone to relax and enjoy their vacation to the fullest.