Cudius turned around and prepared to leave, deg it was best to distance himself from the se before things got worse. His group quickly followed him, while Rothschild, now left alone and leaderless, stood looking lost and fused.

  His "servants" were all knocked out cold from the earlier events. After seeing what had transpired, he finally uood there were people in this world who didn't care about his status as a Celestial Dragon. Fear crept into his heart. Realizing he'd be safer stig with Cudius, he shamelessly decided to tag along.

  "Wait for me! Cudius, wait up!" Rothschild yelled, waddling after them as fast as his short legs would allow.

  Cudius heard him, but he didn't bother to turn around or aowledge him. He couldn't care less. If Rothschild wao follow them, fine. One more didn't make a difference.

  The Sabaody Archipego wasn't far from Mariejois on the Red Line, and before long, Cudius and his crew arrived at the port of Mariejois.

  By this time, Rothschild seemed to have had a ge of heart. Not only was he no longer resentful over the sp Cudius had given him earlier, but he also stuck to Cudius like glue, pestering him with questions.

  "Is Devil Fruit delicious? You 't swim anymore, right? Doesn't that feel weird?"

  "I heard you just came back from Naval Headquarters! What were you doing there? Was it fun?"

  "Who were those pirates ba the isnd? Why weren't they afraid of us Celestial Dragons?"

  Cudius, preoccupied with his own thoughts, grew increasingly irritated by Rothschild's incessant chatter. Finally, he snapped.

  " you shut up for a sed, you idiot? Don't you have your own ship ba Sabaody? Your servants are still there, right? What are you doing following me?"

  Rothschild, seemingly oblivious to Cudius's growing annoyance, simply shrugged. It was as if the earlier sp had knocked some seo him or k out, perhaps. He certainly didn't seem to care about being insulted now.

  "Those guys are s. I only went to Sabaody because things were too dull here in Mariejois. But you seem to be having a lot more fun." Rothschild said casually.

  Cudius looked at him in disbelief. "I spped you, called you an idiot, and insulted you in front of everyone. Don't you feel the least bit angry? You're a Celestial Dragon, aren't you?"

  Rothschild rubbed his face, pting for a moment. "You know, my father never hit me, and no one's ever called me an idiot before. But maybe that's why I find you iing! You're not like the rest of us. I remember you being different before, too. I'm curious what happeo you?"

  Cudius stared at him in disbelief, thinking, Is this guy for real? Does he actually have Sto syndrome?

  With a sigh of frustration, Cudius shot Rothschild a disgusted look. " you just leave me alone? I'm not ied in talking to you."

  "Why not? Aren't we both Celestial Dragons?" Rothschild asked ily.

  "You're of no use to me. Unless you're willing to be my subordinate, I've got nothing to say to you," Cudius replied coldly.

  He figured that would be enough to get Rothschild off his back. After all, who in their right mind would willingly bee someone else's subordinate especially a fellow Celestial Dragon?

  But to his shock, Rothschild immediately responded, "Fine, I'll be your subordinate!"

  Cudius froze for a moment, utterly stunned. "Rothschild, you're more than ten years older than me, and you're a Celestial Dragon. Have some dignity!"

  There was no way Cudius could casually accept someone like Rothschild as his ckey. Not only was he a fellow Celestial Dragon, but Cudius was als to keep a low profile. Drawing unnecessary attention by taking in Rothschild as a subordinate would only create more problems back at Mariejois. He didn't he extra scrutiny right now.

  Moreover, Rothschild was a total liability. If Cudius accepted him, he'd likely have to up after Rothschild's messes, and the st thing he needed was to be dragged into even more trouble.

  Still, the situation wasn't without its advantages. Cudius realized that Rothschild might be useful ter. As he moved up the ranks within Mariejois, there would e a time when having someone like Rothschild in his er might prove beneficial. He just o bide his time.

  With that thought in mind, Cudius softened his tone slightly, no loreating Rothschild with the same disgust.

  Before long, their ship docked at the port of Mariejois. As they disembarked, Cudius noticed a otion nearby. A rge group of Celestial Dragons was arguing with a few lower-ranking officials.

  Cudius squinted, reizing one of the figures in the crowd. It was his cousin Dofmingo, whom he hadn't seen in three months.

  Ign Rothschild, who was still struggling to get off the ship, Cudius quickly made his way over to where the argument was taking pce.

  "You 't just e baow, Homing! You left for North Blue on your own. You've been stripped of your Celestial Dragon status!" one of the Celestial Dragons shouted angrily.

  Homing looked worn aed, his face lined with stress. "I uand that," he pleaded, "but at least let my two sons stay in Mariejois…"

  Standing beside him were Dofmingo and Rosinante, both of them dirty and disheveled. It was clear they hadn't had an easy time during their absence.

  Cudius couldn't spot Homing's wife anywhere. Perhaps she had passed away in North Blue, or maybe she was still on the ship. Either way, it didn't look good.

  The Celestial Dragons refused Homing's request. They weren't about to let Dofmingo and Rosiay, fearing that the boys would grow up harb rese for how their father had beeed.

  Just as the argument was reag a boiling point, Cudius finally arrived. "Doffy, why are you back?" he called out.

  At the sound of his voice, Dofmingo's aggressive demeanor crumbled. The moment he saw his cousin, tears welled up in his eyes. All the anger and frustration he had been holding back came rushing out.

  "Cousin!" Dofmingo cried, running toward Cudius with a loud wail. "I've had such a miserable time!"

  Without hesitation, Cudius embraced Dofmingo, allowing the boy to cry and wipe his tears on him. Despite the dirt and grime, Cudius didn't push him away. He listened as Dofmingo poured out his grievances how he had fallen from the privileged life of a Celestial Dragon to being persecuted and bullied by the very people he once looked down upon. He even shared how his mother had passed away due to the hardships they had endured.

  As Cudius listened, he began to uand the situation more clearly. During their jouro North Blue, Dofmingo's mother had fallen ill. After they settled down, their identity as former Celestial Dragons was exposed. The once "untouchable" masses had quickly turned into a vengeful mob, looting their wealth and tormenting them. Dofmingo's mother hadn't survived the ordeal.

  In the end, Homing had no choice but to return to Mariejois with his sons, abandoning their failed attempt at living outside the protected bubble of the Celestial Dragons.

  Cudius did some quick math. Ihree months sihey'd left, they had likely only spent about a week in North Blue before fleeing back. And in that short time, they had been utterly broken by the harsh realities of the outside world. It made Cudius rethink his own situation he o be cautious about any future steps.

  Cudius g Dofmingo and Rosinante, feeling a pang of sympathy for the two boys. Not only were they dealing with their mother's death and their father's failed ambitions, but now they had to carry the burden of his grand procmations as well.

  No wonder, iure, Celestial Dragons would still refuse to let Dofmingo and Rosiurn, even after Homing's death. Cudius had always wondered why the Donquixote family had been so thhly rejected. But now it made sense now, even if he died, the stigma he left behind would prevent Dofmingo and Rosinante from ever being accepted bato Mariejois.

  Homing, clearly overwhelmed by frustration, dragged his sons away without another word. As they passed by, he g Cudius, his expression filled with helplessness a. He tugged Dofmingo along, and the boy relutly let go of Cudius, his tear-streaked face still looking back at his cousin.

  Cudius sighed deeply as he watched them walk away. He quickly instructed his butler, Nia, to gather all the mohey had on hand. Stepping forward, he shoved the small pouch of Bailey into Dofmingo's arms.

  "Doffy, this is all I do for yht now. Use the moo take care of yourselves. I'll send someoo help you i ohings calm down. Just… live well, alright?"

  Dofmingo looked up at his cousin, his eyes filled with gratitude. He nodded, wanting to say something more, but before he could speak, Homing tugged him away again, pulling him and Rosinante back toward their ship.