Chapter 98: Celestial Dragons, the Most Important Thing is to Stick Together!

As usual, the Five Elders started off by speaking with Kong, reviewing the details of the recent mission. Claudius, who had been through this process several times before, was completely at ease. As a Celestial Dragon, he was well-aware of the high level of trust these Elders had in him. They appreciated those who were competent and obedient, rewarding them with privileges and resources that few others could imagine.

Meanwhile, Claudius had wandered over to the wine cabinet against the wall, rubbing his chin as he carefully inspected the selection without a word to the Five Elders. His casual, almost mischievous attitude didn't seem to bother the Elders one bit—in fact, they seemed to tolerate it with amused smiles.

Claudius eventually picked out a bottle from the bottom shelf, his eyes lighting up. "Sfindax 1450, a true classic… out-of-print, aged over fifty years," he murmured. Not bothering to ask permission, he uncorked the bottle, poured himself a glass, and leaned back against the wall, savoring the taste.

The Five Elders glanced at each other, their smiles turning wry as they watched him. Claudius's easy-going style and confidence only seemed to make them like him more.

After some time, Kong finished his report, and the Five Elders took a moment to reflect on the information.

"So… Doflamingo?" one of the Elders murmured.

Claudius took a sip from his glass, swallowed, and then spoke up. "That's right. Doffy has always wanted to return to Mariejois, but I know that doesn't align with protocol, so I convinced him to be patient. I told him that as long as he serves the World Government well, the five of you would surely recognize his efforts. And maybe, when the time is right, he could return."

The bearded Elder chuckled. "Yes, we recall the matter from back then. Returning to Mariejois isn't something to be taken lightly, but… rules are made by people, after all. If Doflamingo can truly prove his value, we'd be open to having another capable Celestial Dragon among our ranks."

"I'll pass that along to Doffy," Claudius said with a slight smile. "I'm sure he'll be even more motivated to serve."

With that settled, the topic shifted back to the recent mission. The bald Elder spoke up. "Redfield… has he been secured?"

"Yes," Kong replied, nodding. "Garp has personally escorted him to Impel Down, where he'll be placed in Eternal Hell. Given the timing, he should be safely locked away by now."

"Good. You did an excellent job," the bald Elder said approvingly. Then, after a brief pause, he turned to Kong and asked, "What do you think of the position of Commander-in-Chief? Are you interested?"

Kong was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly nodded. "Of course. As a soldier, there's no greater honor than reaching that rank."

"Hahaha, well said," the Elder chuckled.

Before Kong could continue, the Elder went on, "We do consider you the ideal candidate for the position. After all these years of service to the Marines and the World Government, your achievements certainly qualify you. But… the timing isn't right."

Kong nodded thoughtfully, understanding the unspoken context.

"It seems you're already aware," the Elder continued, "but Marine Headquarters isn't in the best position right now. If you were to leave, it would throw the organization into a leadership vacuum. Sengoku is ready to take over as Fleet Admiral, but the Admirals' positions would be left unfilled. Kuzan, Borsalino, and Sakazuki may be strong, but they still lack some of the experience and maturity required for the role. They'll need a few more years to grow into their potential."

"Exactly," Kong agreed. "For now, I have no intention of leaving the Marines."

"Good. We're glad you understand the importance of this. But know that when the time is right, the role of Commander-in-Chief will be yours. Until then, we'll hold the position open for you," the bald Elder said calmly.

Kong smiled, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you, honored Elders."

With Kong's future settled, the Elders gave him some additional instructions before dismissing him. Understanding that a more private conversation was about to begin, Kong wisely excused himself, leaving Claudius alone with the Five Elders.

The bearded Elder turned to Claudius, grinning. "How's the wine?"

"It's fantastic. Probably the best I've had in years," Claudius replied with a grin, holding up his half-empty glass. "I might just take the rest of this bottle home with me."

"You're getting more and more comfortable around here, aren't you?" the bald Elder chuckled. "But it's fine. We appreciate your… unique style."

The bald Elder, his smile turning thoughtful, continued, "You handled this mission well. I'll admit, Kong was nearly at his limit. You really saved us from a close call."

"Just doing my job," Claudius replied with a modest shrug. "After all, CP-X was created to handle the world's more… complicated issues."

"Well said," the curly-haired Elder remarked, nodding approvingly. "You've earned quite a reputation, along with power, status, and wealth. We almost don't know what to offer you as a reward. So, tell us—what do you want this time?"

Claudius rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then shook his head. "Honestly, I don't need anything at the moment."

The bald Elder chuckled, as if he'd expected that answer. Then he leaned forward slightly, his tone turning casual but probing. "By the way, Claudius, I heard you've had a bit of trouble with Lancelot in the past?"

Claudius raised an eyebrow, then replied calmly, "It wasn't much. He tried to start something with me, but I'm not particularly interested in him."

"Good, good. It's important that Celestial Dragons look out for one another," the blond Elder said with a smile. "If any of us were to cause trouble within our own ranks, well… that wouldn't be tolerated."

Claudius nodded, though he sensed a subtle implication in their words. Were they telling him not to bother with Lancelot? Or was there an underlying message of support?

As he pondered this, the bald Elder cleared his throat and continued, "On the third day of next month, we'll be sending the head of the Donquixote family to Dressrosa to pay a diplomatic visit to the Riku royal family. I believe Lancelot will be traveling to the New World around that time… but of course, this isn't of any concern to you, right?"

A slow, wicked smile spread across Claudius's face. The message was clear: the Elders were giving him free rein to handle Lancelot as he saw fit, even in New World territory.

"Yes, of course. I'm not interested in that at all," Claudius replied, his eyes glinting with a scarlet light.

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