One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 198: The Seven Warlords of the Sea Summoning Order

In the Holy Land of Mariejois, within the headquarters of the World Government, the Five Elders were gathered, deep in discussion.

"Sengoku is making an effort to establish himself," said the bald elder softly.

"The plan he presented does seem feasible," added the elder with a long mustache.

After a brief exchange of opinions, the blond elder concluded, "Let them meet and refine the proposal further. If it holds up, we'll approve it. This could open a pathway for us into the New World."

With that, the Five Elders gave preliminary approval to Sengoku's plan to strengthen Marine operations. They also instructed Claudius to cooperate with the Marines when appropriate. The aim was to organize joint missions to counterbalance the growing chaos after the fall of Charlotte Linlin's Big Mom Pirates.

Following the directive from the Five Elders, Claudius issued the Seven Warlords of the Sea summoning order for the first time. This was an unprecedented move, calling together Doflamingo, Crocodile, Bartholomew Kuma, and Dracule Mihawk. Additionally, Enel and Tesoro were included as unofficial participants.

Though Charlotte Linlin's tea party invitations had already been sent out, the event itself was still months away, scheduled for the latter half of the year.

Claudius understood the importance of such events. The Big Mom Pirates weren't just inviting Tesoro; many influential figures in the underworld had also been called. Allowing enough time for everyone to prepare was both strategic and a show of respect. It was impossible to expect such prominent figures to drop everything and show up within days of receiving an invitation.

By giving everyone six months' notice, Charlotte Linlin was allowing them to adjust their schedules accordingly while also asserting her own influence.

For Claudius and Sengoku, this delay was advantageous. It gave them ample time to develop a comprehensive plan before making their move against Charlotte Linlin and her territories.

As the preparations continued, Crocodile, Doflamingo, and others began to arrive at Mariejois. Mihawk, who was already nearby, was the first to appear. Kuma didn't need to travel as he was stationed at Marineford. Enel's involvement was voluntary, as he wasn't officially part of the Seven Warlords system, but he chose to join the group for this mission.

The only one feeling awkward was Tesoro. His recent interactions with Claudius had been tense due to a misunderstanding. Tesoro, uncomfortable with some rumors, had repeatedly clarified to Claudius that he had no intention of becoming Charlotte Linlin's ally or potential son-in-law. Claudius, amused by the situation, assured Tesoro that he had never doubted him in the first place.

With the group assembled, Claudius led them, including Mihawk and Tesoro, to Marineford. Over the past months, Claudius had frequently traveled there and had grown accustomed to the route. Instead of taking a ship, they boarded the sea train, which was both faster and more efficient.

At this moment, Claudius stood outside a private compartment of the train, smiling as he spoke into a Den Den Mushi.

Inside the compartment, Doflamingo and Crocodile sat across from each other, playing chess. Although they didn't particularly like each other, their hostility hadn't reached the point of open conflict. Their chess game was evenly matched, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage.

Claudius laughed. "You're the one offering. I'm just giving you the opportunity. Take it or leave it."

"I'll think about it," Dragon replied cautiously, ending the conversation on a vague note.

Switching gears, Claudius asked, "Has Kuma provided any updates on the research?"

Dragon sighed. "Not much yet. Isn't it still too early to expect results? Be patient."

"You never know. If I don't ask, you might assume I've forgotten and leave me in the dark," Claudius said casually.

"Am I that unreliable?" Dragon retorted, clearly annoyed.

"A little," Claudius replied with a grin.

Dragon, ignoring the jab, shared what he knew. "Apparently, Marine's scientific division is working on some kind of advanced war weapon. I don't have the specifics yet. Give me more time."

"Weapons of mass destruction?" Claudius murmured, deep in thought.

"It doesn't sound very humane. You're not actually planning to use something like that, are you? Show some restraint," Dragon advised cautiously.

Claudius scoffed. "Restraint? If this kind of weapon is used against pirates, who cares about humanity?"

Dragon hesitated. "What exactly do you mean?"

"I'll be in Marineford soon. Once I meet with Sengoku, I'll dig a little deeper. If the Marines really have developed something like that, I'll make sure Charlotte Linlin is the first to feel its effects," Claudius said with a cold smile.

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