Chapter 91: Subtle Hint

Claudius had been living in Mariejois with little Ace for two months.

During this time, his frustrations had been building up, not because of Ace, but because of the gossip that seemed to follow him everywhere. Every time he stepped outside, there would be whispers among the other Celestial Dragons, snide remarks and fingers pointing behind his back. People claimed that he'd been off galivanting around the world, and Ace was the result of some "illegitimate affair."

It was the kind of rumor that was impossible to squash, so Claudius could only bottle up his irritation and stew about it in private.

In his quiet study, a thick, luxurious carpet covered the floor, and little Ace was happily crawling around on it, bursting with energy far beyond that of a typical baby. Incense burned faintly on the desk, releasing a delicate fragrance meant to calm the mind, but today it seemed to be having little effect on Claudius. With an exasperated sigh, he threw his book onto the desk and rubbed his temples.

Just then Nia, entered the room with a glass of milk. "Your Highness, perhaps a glass of milk to help settle your nerves?" he suggested gently.

Claudius nodded and took the glass, while Nia glanced at Ace, who was busily crawling across the floor. With a smile, Nia remarked, "The young master certainly has a lot of energy."

"This kid's a real handful," Claudius muttered, shaking his head in frustration.

As if on cue, Ace let out a mischievous giggle and, to Claudius's horror, proceeded to relieve himself right there on the carpet.

Claudius nearly spat out his milk in shock. "You little brat!" he cursed, glaring down at Ace.

Nia chuckled, unfazed. "I'll get someone to replace the carpet," he said calmly, as if it were a minor inconvenience.

"Is raising a child always this much trouble?" Claudius groaned. "And that's with an army of staff to help out. I don't know how people manage it."

Meanwhile, at the World Government headquarters, not too far from Claudius's residence, the Five Elders had gathered for a meeting of their own. The bearded elder held a map, with an island circled in the New World, not far from the Red Line.

"Is the information reliable?" asked the blond elder.

"Yes, the agents from CP-0 verified it. That man is indeed on this island," the bearded elder replied.

"A man like that, roaming free, is a serious threat. We can't let this opportunity slip by," murmured the bald elder.

"Patrick Redfield," added the elder with the sword, his tone somber. "To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with monsters like Roger, Whitebeard, and Shiki all on his own it's no small feat."

"True. But it's also because he operates alone that he might be easier to deal with," the elder with curly hair remarked thoughtfully.

"He's notoriously slippery. Every time the Marines have tried to corner him, he seems to know in advance and escapes without a trace. There's something… unusual going on," said the bearded elder.

"You think he has informants within the Marines?" asked the bald elder.

"It's possible," the bearded elder replied, "though it could also be his Observation Haki. He's rumored to be able to 'hear' people's hearts."

"A dangerous ability indeed. Which is all the more reason he must be captured and locked away," said the bald elder, frowning.

"Then let's take a different approach this time. We'll send Marshal Kong himself and keep the entire operation secret within the Marines," the bearded elder suggested.

The Five Elders had come to realize that tracking down the so-called "Red Count," Patrick Redfield, would require an unconventional strategy. If Redfield truly had a source within the Marines or was using his extraordinary Haki to anticipate their moves, then only a surprise maneuver would have any chance of success. Having the Marine Marshal personally take command would be an unexpected move; after all, Kong almost never left Marineford.

"Using Kong makes sense, but I don't think the Marines alone will be enough. We should involve the Cipher Pol forces as well…" The bald elder paused, then suggested, "Why not call in CP-X for this operation?"

The other elders exchanged glances before the bearded one finally cracked a small smile. "Claudius? I've heard he's been the center of attention here in Mariejois lately."

"Haha, enjoying the 'passions of youth,' is he?" said the blond elder with a chuckle.

"Ah, yes, the rumors," the bearded elder laughed. "They say he left a 'little legacy' out there and has now brought it back with him."

"These are his personal affairs; we don't need to concern ourselves with such trivial matters. The boy's… spirited, I'll give him that," the bald elder said, shaking his head with a bemused smile.

The blond elder nodded. "Yes, young people are bound to make a few mistakes here and there. It's only natural."

"Still, CP-X has proven capable, and Claudius himself is quite reliable. Let's have CP-X collaborate with the Marines on this one," the bearded elder said thoughtfully.

"Capturing both Shiki and Roger was no small feat. Let's see if Claudius can pull off another miracle and bring down the elusive Redfield," the bald elder said with a grin.

"If he succeeds, how should we reward him?" the bearded elder asked, smiling faintly. After a moment's pause, he continued, "This boy has almost everything already—power, fame, status, wealth. What could we possibly give him?"

The bald elder chuckled and quipped, "Why don't you retire and let him take your seat?"

The bearded elder laughed, firing back, "I think you're the one who should consider retirement!"

"All right, enough with the jokes," the blond elder interrupted. "We don't even know if this mission will succeed yet. But if we're talking about rewards… what about the title of Donquixote family patriarch?"

The room fell silent. After a moment, the bearded elder frowned slightly. "What about Lancelot?"

The blond elder sneered, "Lancelot? Don't forget, he and Claudius have… history. Though it's curious, Claudius hasn't made a move against him. Perhaps he's been waiting, biding his time so as not to upset the balance with us?"

When Claudius had come under their notice, the Five Elders had, of course, reviewed his background. They knew of his complex family dynamics, how he'd once clashed with his own bloodline to secure his position. Some of the Elders found it distasteful, especially as their admiration for Claudius grew. His unwillingness to take action against Lancelot had initially been perplexing, but now, the elders saw an opportunity.

In the grand scheme, figures like Lancelot were hardly significant to them. Dealing with him was a trivial matter, should they choose to allow it.

"Then it's settled. If Claudius succeeds in this mission, we'll give him a subtle hint. Let him know that we won't interfere in his dealings with Lancelot… he's free to handle it as he sees fit," said the bald elder, his tone firm as he leaned back, crossing his arms with a satisfied nod.