Cudius and his group returo their pace, and from a distahey could already see Stussy waiting for them.

  Walking up with a smile, Cudius asked, "Is everythiled?"

  Stussy nodded and handed him a stack of dots. "All the authorizations are here. From today on, the Wover has officially established a new anization called 'CP-X.'"

  She paused for a moment before adding with a smile, "I have to say, Yhness, you really have a way with things. The Five Elders authorized CP-X as a pletely new department, indepe of both Naval Headquarters and the CP anization. Though it carries the 'ame, it's outside the authority of both the d the military high and. You report directly to the Five Elders."

  Her smile widened. "This essentially means, Yhness, that you now hold a power on par with Naval Headquarters itself. It's really remarkable... Is this the influence of the Celestial Dragons?"

  Cudius didn't seem particurly surprised, because this was exactly what he had requested from the Five Elders. He had known this was ing for a while now, so why act shocked?

  Although Stussy had emphasized how powerful this new anization could be, Cudius knew better. Right now, CP-X was just ay shell with no manpower or resources. No matter how much potential it had, without people to fill the ranks, it was meaningless.

  The real challenge would be turning this potential into reality. If he could build CP-X into a strong and effit force, then its creation would truly be something worth celebrating. Until then, there was no reason to get too excited.

  That didn't stop Cudius from boasting a little. "What did you expect? I'm the Celestial Dragon most favored by the Five Elders. Naturally, I hold siderable power."

  Stussy, knowing how Cudius liked to show off, didn't tease him. Instead, she pyed along, smiling as she said, "The more capable Yhness is, the happier I'll be. After all, I've now been transferred from CP-0 to bee the chief officer of CP-X."

  Even though Cudius had requested a seemingly enormous power, the fact was that he currently had no oo fill the ranks of this new anization. The only people he could trust were Stussy and Nia. But Nia, while petent in her role, had no bat ability whatsoever and was mainly responsible for managing Cudius' daily affairs. She couldn't be expected to run CP-X. That left only Stussy, who was more than capable of taking on such a role.

  Cudius patted Stussy on the shoulder. "Do your best. You'll find that this anization will offer you a much wider ptform to show your talents than CP-0 ever could."

  "I trust you pletely, Yhness," Stussy responded without hesitation.

  Regardless of whether CP-X would succeed or fail, as long as she stayed close to Cudius, a Celestial Dragon favored by the Five Elders, Stussy knew she had everything to gain. And it didn't hurt that Cudius admired her abilities as well.

  Loyalty to a strong and iial person, coupled with the promise of a bright future, made Stussy's choice clear.

  Turning her gaze to Crocodile, who was sitting at the table dev the food meant for Cudius, Stussy asked curiously, "It seems like you've already tamed that tough one?"

  Crocodile, who no longer wore a sve colr, was eating like a starving man, with no sense of shame. Naturally, Stussy assumed Cudius had ma him under trol.

  Cudius g Crocodile, who seemed pletely absorbed in the feast, and said, "Of course. I just had to shake my sleeve a little, and he came around. He's on our side now. Though he's still somewhat weak at the moment, his potential is good. I'll give him some time to grow stronger. Maybe one day he'll be able to handle something more important."

  Crocodile grunted in dissatisfa at Cudius' words but didn't argue.

  Seeing this, Stussy didn't pursue the topic further. Instead, she shifted the versation. "So, Yhness, what's our step with CP-X? The Five Elders have already given us a start-up capital of 500 million Berries."

  her Stussy nor Nia, who had been with Cudius for a while noarticurly impressed by the amount. In their world, such a sum wasn't anything special. However, Crocodile, who had known poverty, couldn't help but react.

  "Five hundred million? That's a lot of money!" Crocodile excimed.

  Nia shot him a disdainful look. "Five hundred million is nothing. His Highness' swords are worth 800 million each."

  Crocodile looked at the two swords hanging from Cudius' waist in astonishment.

  Cudius chuckled at Crocodile's awe and teased him, "What? Are you tempted by them?"

  Crocodile hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "As valuable as they are, I don't know how to use a sword. It'd just be a waste in my hands."

  "At least you know your limits. Don't worry stick with His Highness, and you won't be g in opportunities down the line," Nia said sharply.

  Crocodile shot her a gre but quickly dismissed it, realizing there was no point iing angry at someone who was essentially harmless.

  Cudius ughed at the exge. "Five hundred million, huh? It seems like the Five Elders don't have high hopes for me. Givihat amount... it's almost like they're tellio just have fun with it."

  Before Stussy could respond, Cudius tinued, "It's fihough. I've been h my own private funds over the years, and some of the gifts people have given me in the hopes of currying favor have been sold off. I've accumuted quite a bit. The only thing I ow is people I rely on."

  "Do you wao go out and find some capable individuals?" Stussy asked, already knowing that Cudius wasn't keen on recruiting from within the Wover.

  Cudius shook his head. "No need for now. You have the CP anization keep an eye on the seas for me. If anyone I've been ied in pops up, let me know. I'm not eager to wahe vast os, only to risk running into another Buster Call."

  Stussy nodded. "Uood, Yhness."

  After a moment of thought, Cudius asked, "Nia, I remember that before we left Mariejois, a businessman named Umit gave me a sizable amount of moo curry favor. Do you remember that?"

  Nia thought for a moment before replying, "Yes, Yhness. Umit gave us one billion Berries as a 'donation,' hoping for prote for his business in Mariejois."

  "What's his business again?" Cudius raised an eyebrow.

  Niya, who had an excellent memory, immediately answered, "He's in the shipping industry. He wants to establish a foothold in Mariejois because, without Fishman Isnd, Mariejois is the major transit poiween the Grand Line and the New World. trolling the shipping routes here means trolling the flow of goods between both seas."

  Cudius remembered now. Umit the name sounded familiar because, iure, this man would bee the king of shipping in the dark underworld, a very powerful figure. But at the moment, Umit was still trying to gain a foothold and hadn't secured the es he needed.

  "Seems like he might be a useful guy. At the very least, he could make some money for me. After all, if I want tthen CP-X, I'll need a lot of funds. And while I'm ly short of money, more is always better. Get in touch with Umit for me when you . I want to have a versation with him."

  Cudius smiled, then added, "Oh, and tell him t another billion as a meeting gift. I'm not the same person I was before."

  Back then, Cudius had been just another Celestial Dragon with no real power. But now, things had ged. He was no lo the bottom of the hierarchy. He had the favor of the Five Elders, and that meant Umit o pay double if he wao secure Cudius' prote.

  "Don't worry, Yhness," Nia replied. "Even if you asked for two billion more, I'm sure Umit would gdly bring it."

  Cudius smiled and said, "Alright, enough about that. Since I'm on the rise, I don't io let my cousin in the North Blue struggle alone. Go fetch my phone snail. I'm going to reach out to him. It's about time someone up top looked out for him."

  Cudius grinned, clearly thinking highly of himself. "I've always got Doffy's back, haven't I? Let's reserve a high-ranking spot in CP-X for him, just in case."

  As Nia went to get the phone, Cudius turned back to Stussy and said, "Stussy, you're a very capable woman. Keeping you by my side for all these years has held you ba some ways, hasn't it?"

  Stussy looked surprised, then quickly responded, "It's an honor to serve you, Yhness. How could there be any pints?"

  Cudius smiled and waved his hand. "Alright, alright. I know you're loyal to me, but that's not an excuse to keep you tied down. Stussy, I've built a much broader ptform now, and I think it's time to let you stretch your wings and show what you're truly capable of. You've got strategy and talent, more than enough to handle greater responsibilities."

  ********

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