One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 174: Claudius: Sengoku, You’ve Changed—You’re No Longer Simple

Three days after the Neptune family from Fish-Man Island arrived in Mariejois, Master Tom also made his appearance.

The first generation of sea trains had already been completed, with a route that connected Mariejois to several key locations. Starting from Water 7, the train traveled to Enies Lobby, then to Marine Headquarters in Marineford, and finally reached the Holy Land of Mariejois.

Though the route itself wasn't overly complex, its significance was immense.

The sea train symbolized a new era for the World Government, representing another major step toward dominating the seas.

Previously, a journey from Water 7 to Mariejois by ship could take up to two months of nonstop sailing at full speed. With the sea train, that same journey could now be completed in just three to five days.

The implications were extraordinary. The transportation of goods, resources, and even troops would become far more efficient. Should this technology become widely adopted, it was clear it would drastically reshape the world.

In the grand conference hall, the fifty kings of the participating nations were seated, alongside representatives from the World Government and Marine Headquarters. Five seats at the front of the room remained empty—reserved for the Five Elders, who had yet to arrive.

Claudius sat comfortably in his chair, leaning back lazily and yawning every now and then. Unlike the other royals, who appeared stiff and on edge, Claudius showed no concern for decorum. After all, until the Five Elders arrived, he held the highest rank in the room. Even if he had fallen asleep, no one would have dared to say anything.

Beside him was Stussy, her posture poised and elegant. Nearby sat the representatives of Fish-Man Island, including King Neptune and his family. Tom representing Water 7, technically didn't qualify for a seat at the table, but his association with Claudius and his ties to Fish-Man Island earned him a spot alongside Neptune.

On Claudius's other side sat Sengoku, the Marine representative. With Fleet Admiral Kong nearing retirement, Sengoku had already begun taking over most of the responsibilities of the position. It was clear he would officially assume the role of Fleet Admiral soon.

Claudius stretched lazily, smacked his lips, and muttered, "Why are those five old men taking so long to get here?"

Sengoku chuckled at the question. "Your Highness, it's your first time participating in the World Summit, so you might not be familiar with the process. Before the meeting begins, each participating nation submits its intentions in written form. The Five Elders review these documents beforehand, which is why they're usually late."

Claudius blinked in surprise and asked, "Wait, do I need to submit one of those too?"

"Of course," Sengoku replied matter-of-factly.

"Seriously? No one told me about this! I didn't submit anything!" Claudius exclaimed, clearly caught off guard.

"If I can earn this much gold by flattering you, I'll head back to Marineford and establish a dedicated 'flattery unit' to follow you around," Sengoku joked, laughing.

"If it were that profitable, do you think I'd let anyone else take the job? I'd be doing it myself," Claudius quipped, grinning.

Their lighthearted exchange continued until Sengoku shifted the conversation. "By the way, Your Highness, what about our Calm Belt project?"

"Don't worry," Claudius assured him. "I've already handled everything. As of this World Summit, I can say confidently that there are no more Fish-Man slaves in Mariejois."

He added, "I discussed it with King Neptune and Queen Otohime a couple of days ago. We've assigned someone to oversee the cleanup of Fish-Man Street. Once the summit ends, we should be ready to move forward. When the time comes, we'll begin the experiments in the Calm Belt."

"Good. We'll do the experiments!" Sengoku said with visible excitement.

As their conversation wrapped up, the Five Elders finally entered the conference hall.

The sight of the Five Elders immediately silenced the room. Claudius and Sengoku ended their discussion, and the other royals quickly ceased their chatter. The grand hall became utterly still.

In Claudius's memory, the World Summit wasn't usually presided over by the Five Elders. Typically, the host duties rotated among the fifty participating nations. However, Claudius wasn't entirely sure of the details nor did he particularly care.

As the Five Elders took their seats, one of them glanced in Claudius's direction and offered him a slight smile.

Claudius nodded politely in return but couldn't help feeling that there was something oddly meaningful about the gesture.

What Claudius didn't know was that, just a few days earlier, the Five Elders had met with Imu. During that meeting, Imu had inquired about Mariejois, and Claudius had been mentioned.

Although Claudius was nothing more than a "small figure" in Imu's eyes, the praise he received for his actions had pleased the Five Elders, as they had been responsible for cultivating his talents. This approval from Imu left them viewing Claudius in a more favorable light.

As Claudius pondered the smile, the Five Elders began speaking. Their opening remarks were the usual pleasantries, welcoming the royal families and expressing hope for a productive summit.

With the formalities complete, the World Summit officially began.