Two months passed quickly, and by now, Cudius had made his way to the Prometheus, currently anchored i Blue.

  Stussy tely, had grown increasingly restless. While she tio manage operations on Happy Street, most of her work had shifted to "remote trol," allowio remain by Cudius's side almost stantly. Like a devoted panion, she rarely left him, the dynamic between them increasingly intimate.

  Their retionship had already reached its natural peak, and Cudius, who always held the upper hand, made sure Stussy was fully obedient to him.

  On the deck of the Prometheus, Stussy was lounging in a bikini, rexing in the swimming pool and pyfully spshing water with Nia.

  Nearby, Ace was engaged in a spirited game of badminton with Koa. The two had grown close over time, their bond resembling that of childhood friends.

  Although Cudius had previously arranged for several other panions to apany Ace, the boy showed little i in them. Ace seemed to only enjoy spending time with Koa, who, as a genius in her ht, could match Ace's energy and intelligeheir e seemed to e from mutual uanding, making them the perfect pair of panions.

  Seeing Ace's indiffereoward his other friends, Cudius had those childre home. Before arriving i Blue, he even arranged for Koa and Ace to visit Foolshout Isnd to reect with Koa's family.

  When Koa's parents learhat their daughter was now friends with the "son of a Celestial Dragon," their emotions were a whirlwind of pride and ay. They urged Koa repeatedly to take good care of Ad maintain their retionship.

  Meanwhile, Cudius was reing on a sun lounger on the deck, dressed casually in bck sungsses, a cigar in one hand, and a gss of juice resting on the small table beside him. A phone snail sat nearby as he chatted with someone on the line.

  "I saw the report," Cudius said with a smile. "The Wover is ning you fiercely for this 'rebellious act.' But don't worry—they won't take any serious a against you. Just hold on to the Heavenly Tribute for now. You o act vingly, after all. Ohe timing is right, I'll send Spao things up, and then you'll officially bee one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

  Oher end of the line, Dofmingo was in North Blue, having successfully intercepted the final shipment of Heavenly Tribute. While the Wover was, of course, aware of what had happehey also k art of Cudius's arras. Giveential bes, they had no reason to object.

  "North Blue is in chaht now, cousin," Dofmingo said with a chuckle. "You're ruthless. Did you really have to destroy Flevan oroke?"

  "Flevance…" Cudius murmured, toug his thoughtfully. His tone carried a tinge of emotion.

  The disaster at Flevance, caused by the outbreak of Amber-lead disease, was a stain that the Wover could not escape. The gover had been plicit from the start, profiting massively from the ptinum-lead trade.

  For over a tury, the rare and luxurious material had been a highly lucrative business. The Wover had made more than 100 billion berries from the venture, all while cealing the hidden dangers of ptinum-lead mining.

  The material, harmless in its processed form, became deadly during mining as it released harmful radiation into the air. Over time, this radiation caused the devastating and hereditary illness known as "Amber-lead disease."

  In the end, it was this disease that led to Flevance's destru.

  "Brutal as it may seem, I didn't have a hand in this one," Cudius said with a smile. "Don't pin bme on me for no reason."

  "Even if you didn't, you're plicit," Dofmingo said with a sly ugh.

  "If that's the case, then everyone is an aplice," Cudius muttered. "Greed is what caused this mess in the first pce."

  He paused, his thoughts drifting. Now that Dofmingo erating in North Blue, there was a ce Trafalgar Law might cross paths with him. If so, Law might seek to join the Donquixote family. Cudius couldn't help but think of the rger implications of this sario, the involvement of Rosihe tragic fallout, and the looming significe of the Ope-Ope Fruit.

  The Ope-Ope Fruit was a dangerous wildcard. While it held immeential, Cudius had no desire to handle something so votile while being a member of the Wover. It was a fruit that couldn't be ignored, yet couldn't be kept without inviting immense risk.

  As for Trafalgar Law, Cudius sidered him a talented individual, but one whose presence might bring unnecessary plications. He decided it would be best to keep his distance from Law for now. Perhaps the boy could be used as a pawn iure, but for now, he could py freely without interference.

  The situation with Rosinante also ed him. Cudius realized that Rosinante's as would likely cause signifit problems for Sengoku and the Wover. If Rosiruly cut ties with Dofmingo, the euation might serve as an opportunity to remove this "nail" from Dofmingo's anization.

  "By the way, cousin," Dofmingo said, interrupting Cudius's thoughts. "What's your business i Blue? Did something catch your eye, or is this really just a vacation?"

  "Vacation…" Cudius chuckled. "You know me too well. Everyone always teases me about that. Every time I take a 'vacation,' it seems t trouble."

  "So, it's not a vacation?" Dofmingo asked with a grin.

  "No, I'm here for business," Cudius said. "I told you before to help me keep an eye on the Mera-Mera Fruit, but you didn't find much. Spandine, however, did. He tracked its preseo East Blue, so I'm here to look for it myself."

  "Ah, you've got the advantage, cousin," Dofmingo said with a ugh. "You've got aire anization w for you, while I have to handle everything on my own."

  "Hahaha, well, you're doing fine," Cudius replied. "Just remember, while I'm handling the Mera-Mera Fruit, you'd better not drop the ball on the Gold Gold Fruit. That one is critical for us."

  "I'll do my best, but what if someone else cims it first?" Dofmingo asked.

  "Whets it, I'll take it from them," Cudius said firmly. "That fruit is noiable."

  "What if it's Whitebeard?" Dofmingo teased.

  "Then I'll make pns to send him to the West soohan expected," Cudius said, ughing.

  The Gold Gold Fruit was too important to Cudius's pns. It was essential for Tesoro's development, whi turn was vital to Cudius's future eic framework. Allowing it to fall into the wrong hands would be a disaster.

  After exging a few more words with Dofmingo, Cudius ehe call. His gaze shifted to the two women in the pool, a faint smile of amusement tugging at his lips.

  "Yhness," Stussy called, waving at him. "Why don't you e join us?"

  Cudius raised an eyebrow. "Are y to provoke me, Stussy? You know I'm a Devil Fruit user."

  "If you e down, I'll show you this!" Stussy teased, tugging at her bikini for a split sed, the barest hint of skin. Cudius nearly choked on his cigar, coughing in disbelief.

  Shaking his head, he replied, "No thanks. Besides, if I'm right, it should be about time now."

  "Time for what?" Stussy asked, feigning disi. "Are you afraid I'll get even with you ier for st night?"

  Cudius smirked. "After the way I treated you st night, who knows what kind of revenge you'd have pnned?"

  Stussy blushed but huffed in protest. "Yhness, how you say such things out loud?"

  "You've been far bolder than me," Cudius retorted with a grin.

  Scoffing, Stussy turned back to Nia, dismissing him with a flick of her hand.

  Turning to the map of East Blue spread out on his table, Cudius's smile faded into a more focused expression. His destination was Shimotsuki Vilge.

  AnnouChey new books:

  ☆DC: Rise Of The Kryptonian Tyrant

  ☆GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond the Ice

  ☆Drift Of The Multiverse

  Check my profile, under Series.

  Junkdog