One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 196: Charlotte Linlin Fell in Love with Tesoro?

Hearing Claudius's tone of surprise, Sengoku nodded helplessly and said, "As unbelievable as it sounds, there's truth to it. This is precisely why we don't categorize Kaido as simply a human being. We call him the 'strongest creature' because we still don't understand what's going on with his body."

"So, is he a Devil Fruit user? Or, as the rumors suggest, is he actually a dragon?" Claudius asked.

Sengoku shook his head this time and replied, "It's true that some animals have mistakenly consumed Devil Fruits, gaining special abilities and becoming intelligent, but Kaido is not one of them."

"So, what you're saying is that he's likely an Eudemons-type Devil Fruit user?" Claudius pressed.

"Presumably," Sengoku admitted, nodding slightly.

Claudius felt a twinge of confusion. Why is this still just a presumption? Couldn't they test it by submerging Kaido in water? But figuring there must be some kind of unusual complication, Claudius decided not to dwell on the matter.

"So, to sum up, Kaido is incredibly strong, impossible to kill, and impossible to detain for long?" Claudius asked.

"Precisely," Sengoku affirmed.

"Seems like you Marines are just letting him run amok," Claudius said with a teasing smile.

"We're not turning a blind eye," Sengoku said seriously. "Marine's long-term strategy with Kaido has always been to limit his power. No matter how strong his personal abilities are, no matter how unique his body may be, as long as we dismantle his forces, time will take care of the rest."

"Brilliant," Claudius quipped sarcastically, though there was a playful smirk on his face.

Sengoku gave a helpless smile before adding, "So, Your Highness, do you have any ideas for how to handle him?"

Claudius leaned back, contemplating the question. But even he couldn't think of an immediate solution. "I suppose all we can do is wait for time to provide an answer. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow or decades from now, we'll suddenly figure out a way to kill him."

"Exactly," Sengoku replied with a shrug. "For now, let's leave Kaido alone. There's no point stressing over the unkillable."

Sengoku noticed the subtle shift in Claudius's demeanor. Though he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed, his instincts told him that Claudius's mindset had shifted.

Before Sengoku could say anything, Claudius suddenly leaned forward, his tone brimming with energy. "Sengoku, you have my full support. If you want to take action against the Big Mom Pirates, CP-X will back you all the way. This sea has been plagued by scum like Charlotte Linlin for too long."

Sengoku was briefly taken aback by Claudius's sudden enthusiasm but quickly composed himself. "Your Highness, I don't mean to rush things. As I said, this is just an idea for now. It's not set in stone."

Claudius waved him off. "Come on now, Sengoku. Don't be so reserved. Tell me what sparked this idea of yours. What's changed?"

Sengoku hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well, the idea is partly tied to your man Tesoro."

"Tesoro? What's he got to do with this?" Claudius asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Didn't he tell you about the Big Mom Pirates' tea party invitation?" Sengoku asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Claudius replied, genuinely surprised. "He mentioned heading to the New World for business, but he didn't say anything about a tea party."

"Well, that explains it," Sengoku said thoughtfully. "Tesoro has only been active at sea for about half a year, hasn't he? It's possible he doesn't fully grasp what a tea party invitation from Charlotte Linlin entails."

Claudius's eyes narrowed as the pieces began to fall into place. "So that's it. Tesoro probably thinks it's just a routine business event. He has no idea what he's walking into."

"That seems likely. Tesoro's rise has been nothing short of remarkable, especially in the dark world. He's demonstrated exceptional business acumen and built strong connections with figures like Crocodile and Doflamingo. Naturally, someone like Charlotte Linlin would take notice," Sengoku explained.

"And now she wants to recruit him," Claudius concluded.

"Exactly. Given how rapidly the so-called 'Totto land' is expanding, Charlotte Linlin would undoubtedly see someone like Tesoro as a valuable asset," Sengoku said.

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