Inside Cudius's pace, he sat in his study, a calm and refimosphere enveloping the room. Two teacups were pced oable, and an expensive inse bureadily, its soothing fragrance aiding tration and tranquility.

  In his hand, Cudius held a book he had brought back from Fish-Man Isnd. It detailed the s and culture of the isnd, and at the moment, his attention was fixed on a se describing Fish-Man Street.

  Fish-Man Street's history was her too long nor too short. Years ago, it had already been the rgest and most chaotic area on Fish-Man Isnd, a pce crawling with troublemakers. At that time, it was barely under trol.

  A few years back, the royal pace u Kingdom attempted reforms, transf Fish-Man Street into the rgest orphanage on the isnd, hoping t order to the chaos.

  But corruption, as always, found its way. It wasn't uo the Wover—every anization and nation was vulnerable. Even the Revolutionary Army wasn't exempt from traitors.

  Due to misma and a ck of ht, the inal chaos of Fish-Man Street returned. However, this time, the situation worsened.

  When the orphans were relocated there, they became fresh recruits for the existing gangs and criminals, adding fuel to the fire. As a result, Fish-Man Street devolved into the most dangerous and anarchic p Fish-Man Isnd. Previously, it had been somewhat manageable; now, even the royal pace owerless against it.

  "Failed reforms ofteo greater chaos. I guess that principle holds true no matter the world," Cudius murmured as he flipped through the book.

  bining what he read with what he had observed firsthand, he came to a clusion. "The root of Fish-Man Isnd's problems is the absence of a strong leader. Without decisive leadership, situations like this are iable." He smiled faintly, his thoughts wandering.

  While Kiune u Pace was a good ruler who genuinely cared about his people, he cked the iron will necessary to deal with chaos. In such turbulent times, a strong hand was essential.

  Cudius thought about Hody Jones, a figure who would rise iure. Though Hody's goals were undeniably malicious, his methods were brutally effective. He captured pirates who dared to wreak havo Fish-Man Isnd and turhem into sves, asserting a twisted form of order.

  When Cudius pared uo someone like Hody, he couldn't help but shake his head. une, despite being born into royalty, almost had his reign ended by someone like Hody. If une had adopted even half of Hody's ruthlessness, Fish-Man Isnd wouldn't have suffered so muder the pirates' exploitation.

  But in the grand scheme of things, Cudius saw une's weakness as an advantage for his own pns. A weaker king made it easier for Cudius to maneuver. "I have no iion of edug une. As long as he follows my arras and helps me achieve my goals, that's enough. All I need is for Fish-Man Isnd to work under me."

  As these thoughts swirled in his mind, there was a knock at the study door. Cudius's butler, Nia, entered and bowed slightly. "Yhness, Fisher Tiger has been ed up. Should I bring him in to see you?"

  Cudius nodded casually. "Let him in."

  Nia nodded, stepped back, and moments ter, Fisher Tiger walked into the room.

  The t Fish-Man, his red skin covered in whip scars, looked physically stroe his weary expression. On his chest, the hateful symbol of a Celestial Dragon's hoof had been burned into his flesh. His eyes, filled with a mix of wariness and suppressed hatred, fixed on Cudius.

  Despite the hatred gleaming in his gaze, Tiger stopped just ihe room, bent his knees slightly, and prepared to kneel. He had been a sve long enough to know the rituals necessary to survive in the presence of a Celestial Dragon.

  Fisher Tiger was a man who could endure humiliatio served his purposes. If kneeling to Cudius could give him a ce, he wouldn't hesitate. But in his heart, he swore: If I get the ce, I'll burn Mariejois to the ground.

  Before his kouched the ground, he felt an invisible force stop him mid-motion. Surprised, he hesitated as Cudius spoke, his tone calm and posed.

  "There's no need for unnecessary gestures," Cudius said. "From the hatred in your eyes, I tell you're not someone who's willing to bow to me. Kneeling would be meaningless. Take a seat."

  If not for their opposing positions, Cudius would have admired Fisher Tiger. The man had the ce to set Mariejois abze and free tless sves, showiraordinary bravery and a sense of responsibility. That, in itself, was worthy of respect.

  However, Cudius was still a Celestial Dragon, and someone like Tiger, who sought to destroy his "hometown," was ultimately a threat to his is. Allowing Tiger's rebellion to flourish would disgrace the Celestial Dragons and the Wover, something Cudius would olerate.

  Even so, Cudius believed in giving respect where it was due. There was o humiliate a man like Tiger by f him to kneel.

  Fisher Tiger remained silent, his eyes now tinged with fusioudied Cudius for a moment before stepping forward and taking the seat across from him.

  Oable before him of tea. Without waiting for Cudius to say anything, Tiger picked it up and drank.

  "Although I don't know your iions, I'll thank you for removing my sve colr," Fisher Tiger said after setting the cup down.

  Cudius closed the book in his hands and smiled faintly. "I don't have a habit of putting colrs on people unless it's absolutely necessary."

  "That means, like the others, you keep sves," Fisher Tiger said quietly.

  Cudius didn't deny it. Although he rarely relied on sves, it was true that he owned some. However, uhers who ensved is, Cudius only kept criminals pirates and other scum under his trol.

  "Yes, I do. But not many. And those I keep are hardly i," Cudius replied holy.

  Fisher Tiger was silent for a moment before nodding slightly. "Thank you for your hoy."

  "Nothing to thank me for," Cudius said with a faint smile. After a brief pause, he added, "I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Donquixote Cudius, a Celestial Dragon here in Mariejois.

  "I don't know how long you've been a sve, but if it hasn't been too long, you might have heard of me."

  A sharp glint appeared in Fisher Tiger's eyes. Although he'd been given a bath and some clothes, this was the first time he learhe name of the man before him.

  He had heard of Donquixote Cudius, a Celestial Dragon unlike any other. Cudius's reputation had reached even the darkest ers of the sea. He was the mysterious leader of CP-X, a man whose name alone inspired fear and awe.

  "Donquixote Cudius," Fisher Tiger said softly, his tone heavy with meaning. "The legendary and elusive leader of CP-X. Your name is known across the seas, but your fao one ever sees it."

  Cudius smiled, pleased by the reition. "So, it seems my reputation precedes me?"

  "In our eyes," Fisher Tiger replied, his voice calm but cutting, "you're the Wover's most vicious dog. Now that I know you're a Celestial Dragon, the title suits you even more."