Chapter 67: Encountering Bartholomew Kuma

In the South Blue, a small cruise ship drifted leisurely across the vast sea.

Though the ship was small, it had all the comforts of a luxury yacht. On the deck, Claudius lay back on a sun lounger, a glass of freshly squeezed juice in one hand and a book in the other. His entire demeanor radiated laziness as he soaked up the sun.

Not far from him, Crocodile and Enel sat at the edge of the deck, each holding a fishing rod, seemingly focused on catching something. Both of them were far more relaxed than usual.

Stussy and Nia were nearby, both dressed in bikinis, exuding elegance and beauty. Nia was busy cutting fruit, while Stussy leaned casually against a cannon, holding a Den Den Mushi, presumably giving instructions to her subordinates on Happy Street.

The whole atmosphere on the ship was incredibly laid-back, no one would guess they were supposedly on a mission to track down Roger. It looked more like a vacation than anything else, and no one could argue otherwise.

"Lift the rod, you idiot!" Crocodile barked, knocking Enel on the head before raising his own fishing rod.

A massive fish dangled from the end of Crocodile's line. Enel's eyes lit up with excitement. "I did it! Lunch is here!"

"Hmph, if I hadn't helped you, that fish would've gotten away," Crocodile scoffed, grinning slightly.

Enel glared at him. "I could've caught it on my own without your help!"

The two started bickering, as they often did, and Claudius chuckled at the sight. He closed his book and looked up just in time to see Nia place a plate of freshly cut fruit on the small table beside him.

"Your Highness," Niya asked softly, "are those two fools interrupting your reading? I can make them quiet down if you'd like."

Claudius waved his hand, still smiling. "No, no, let them be. It's all in good fun."

He gazed out at the seemingly endless expanse of the ocean and sighed contentedly. "What a beautiful view. No matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of it. There really is something magical about the sea."

Stussy, having finished her conversation on the Den Den Mushi, walked over with a smile. "Maybe it's because your heart is as vast as the sea, Your Highness?"

Claudius chuckled. "Stussy, your flattery is getting better and better."

He paused before adding, "But I have to admit, I like it! Hahaha!"

As they laughed and chatted, Stussy's eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on the horizon. "Your Highness, it seems we have a visitor."

Claudius, noticing the distant silhouette of a small boat approaching, grinned. "Well, well… I didn't expect to run into *him* here. It's been years."

A small sampan was making its way toward their ship, carrying two figures, one ordinary in size, the other towering and imposing.

As the boat drew closer, a familiar voice called out. "An old friend's come to visit. Won't you let down the ladder and invite us up, Your Highness?"

Claudius remained in his lounger, his smile widening. "You've gotten cheekier since you revealed your true identity."

In a flash, one of the figures appeared beside Claudius, it was Dragon, the man Claudius hadn't seen in years.

"It's a bit surprising to hear someone like you talk about 'cheekiness,' Claudius," Dragon said with a smirk.

A moment later, the other figure landed heavily on the deck, his presence imposing Bartholomew Kuma. Claudius recognized him immediately. Kuma, the future revolutionary and infiltrator of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, known to many as "Tyrant Kuma."

Dragon, now fully relaxed, smiled as he spoke. "I just came to South Blue for some business and got wind that you were hanging around here. I decided to swing by, and lucky me, here you are."

Nia hurried over, placing another sun lounger beside Claudius. Dragon, without any hesitation, plopped down into it.

"I have to say, Claudius, you Celestial Dragons really know how to live. Meanwhile, I've been busting my ass trying to build something from scratch these past few years. It's rough out there."

Dragon leaned back, looking at the clear blue sky. "What about you? What are you doing in South Blue? Are you on vacation? Because it sure looks like you're on vacation."

Claudius couldn't help but laugh. "Which one of your eyes thinks I'm on vacation?"

"Both," Dragon shot back with a grin.

"You're seeing things," Claudius replied. "I'm actually on a very important mission."

Dragon raised an eyebrow. "A mission? Is this that so-called 'amazing CP-X' I've been hearing about? Come on, how did you manage to catch Shiki? Did the Marines give you credit for something they did?"

Claudius sat up and looked at him seriously. "Do you really think I'd take credit for something I didn't do? No, I caught Shiki with my own hands. As for CP-X, it's still pretty new, nothing impressive yet. Honestly, it's like your revolutionary army at the moment, just a bunch of rookies trying to find their footing."

Dragon laughed. "Hey, don't lump us in with that! Our revolutionary army is coming along nicely. By the way, do you know who this is?"

Dragon gestured toward Bartholomew Kuma, who had been silently observing the interaction from a distance.

Claudius chuckled. "Do you take me for a fool? Of course, I know who he is. Bartholomew Kuma, former king of the Sorbet Kingdom. After offending the World Government, he was overthrown, and now he's known as 'Tyrant Kuma.'"

Dragon was taken aback. "You really are well-informed, Claudius."

"Who do you think I am? I'm the head of CP-X," Claudius said smugly.

Kuma, who had remained silent until now, eyed Claudius with a hint of suspicion. Claudius noticed the cautious look in his eyes, Kuma clearly wasn't thrilled to see a Celestial Dragon, and he seemed puzzled as to why Dragon would associate with someone like Claudius.

"Dragon, aren't you going to introduce me to Mr. Kuma?" Claudius asked with a smirk.

Dragon grinned back. "I was just talking to Kuma about a few things. He's recently joined our revolutionary army. I hadn't mentioned much about you yet, but now's as good a time as any. Better to clear up any misunderstandings."

He turned to Kuma and pointed at Claudius. "Kuma, this is someone you need to know. Let me introduce you properly."

Kuma's eyes narrowed, his voice low but steady. "I already know who he is—Donquixote Claudius, the man who's made waves across the seas these past two years. Leader of the mysterious CP-X."

Dragon nodded. "Yes, that's true. But there's more to him than just the titles you've heard. Let me explain…"