After receiving Cudius's promise, Fisher Tiger accepted his offer. He agreed to work for Cudius, help restore order to Fish-Man Street, and assist in his pns. In essence, he would act as a "bor leader," or more only, a tractor.

  Following this, Fisher Tiger was escorted by Nya, Cudius's butler, to rest. Once Cudius finished handling affairs in Mariejois, he would return to Fish-Man Isnd, apanied by tless freed patriots of Tiger.

  By all rights, Cudius could have taken a darker route. He could have entirely subjugated Fisher Tiger, branded him with the Donquixote family's Celestial Dragon hoof, and ensured his obediehrough force.

  But Cudius didn't.

  "Despicable is the pass of the despicable; noble is the epitaph of the noble," Cudius murmured to himself as he sipped his tea, gazing out the window. A self-depreg ugh followed.

  He never sidered himself noble. In truth, "despicable" might have suited him better, and he wasn't ashamed to admit it. But in the presence of someone like Fisher Tiger, a man of unshakable principles and a noble soul, he couldn't help but feel a bit unworthy. Perhaps that was why he held back.

  Although Cudius had already po liberate the Fish-Man sves in Mariejois, that had been driven by practical is. But this time, when he promised Fisher Tiger, there was no ulterior motive. He had been moved, and even if there was no be to be gained, he would still honor his word.

  For all his pragmatism, Cudius didn't want to appear petty in the presence of someone like Fisher Tiger. In that brief moment of self-refle, he found himself striving, if only slightly, to rise above his baser instincts.

  As he stared out the window, deep in thought, the door to the study opened quietly. Stussy entered, her heels clig softly on the polished floor. She observed Cudius's back for a moment, noting the unusual stillness in his demeanor.

  "Yhness," Stussy said gently, breaking the silence. "Spandine is here with Rob Lucci. They're waiting in the living room. Do you wish to see them?"

  Cudius turned, his usual warm smile ba his face. "Yes, let's go."

  He followed Stussy toward the living room, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly paused. Stussy stopped as well, turning to him with a puzzled expression.

  "Stussy," Cudius began, his tone lighter than before, "if you had to choose one word to describe me—'vile' or 'noble'—which would it be?"

  Stussy blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard. After a brief pause, she scratched her head awkwardly. "Yhness… that's a difficult question."

  "Hahahaha! You wouussy!" Cudius ughed, though his tone carried a teasing edge. "I thought you'd call me hout a sed thought."

  Stussy smiled, stepping closer and taking his arm in hers. "Perhaps I 't speak for everyone, Yhness. But to me, you are noble. And I believe Nia would say the same. Crocodile, Enel, even Dofmingo—they might all agree."

  Cudius's expression softened as he listeo her words. "Really?" he murmured.

  For a brief moment, he allowed himself to bask in the warmth of her affirmation. This is enough, he thought silently. This is enough.

  Cudius had asked the question on a whim, perhaps seeking a small measure of reassurance. But as the thought passed, he pushed the matter aside. Noble or despicable, he was Cudius, and he had o justify his as to ahe noble is me, and the despicable is me.

  When they arrived in the living room, Cudius saw Spandine and a young Rob Lucci seated on the sofa.

  The moment Spaiced Cudius, he shot up from his seat, his face eager and respectful. "Greetings, Yhness!" he said, his tone dripping with reverence.

  Lucci quickly followed suit, standing and bowing deeply. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at Cudius.

  Lucci had been an orphan, recruited into the CP anization by the Wover and trained as a CP-9 operative. While the Marine Corps preached the value of justice, ofteing in ideological divides and fas, the CP anization was different.

  The CP operatives were brainwashed from the start to be utterly loyal to the Wover—and, by extension, the Celestial Dragons. For them, obedience wasn't just expected; it was ingrained.

  Lucci, however, had been pulled out of CP-9 midway through his training and pced under Spandane's wing in CP-X. There, he'd met Cudius several times, and Spandine had begun grooming him to be loyal to Cudius specifically.

  Spandine himself erhaps the most devoted subordinate Cudius had. His loyalty surpassed even that of Crocodile, whose pride often led him to challenge Cudius in subtle ways. Spandine, oher hand, had fully itted himself to Cudius, prioritizing him above even the Wover. Under such guida was no surprise that Lucci had been molded into aaunch follower of Cudius.

  Cudius smiled as he approached the pair, taking a seat on the sofa. "They didn't give you too much trouble, did they?" he asked casually.

  Spandine immediately leapt to pour tea for Cudius, his ingratiating manner almost ical. "Not at all, Yhness! Just as you predicted, they treated Lucci like royalty once I brought your approval letter. It was like a vacation for him! This is all thanks to your unmatched prestige."

  "Really?" Cudius chuckled, turning his attention to Lucci. "Good. I would have been upset if they'd made things difficult."

  "Thank you for your , Yhness!" Spandine said, never missing an opportunity to ftter.

  Cudius hen leaned back slightly. "It's good that you've returned. I have an important task for you two. It requires absolute loyalty and discretion."

  "Yhness, it's an honor to serve you. Isn't that right, Lucci?" Spandine said, nudging the boy.

  Lucci, who looked no older than thirteen or fourteen, nodded early. "Yes, Yhness. It is our honor to serve you."

  Unlike Spandane, Lucci wasn't particurly skilled in fttery. His loyalty was straightforward and unembellished, which Cudius didn't mind. In fact, he found it refreshing.

  "Very good," Cudius said with a small smile. "This mission is highly cssified. I need you both to ha with care."

  "What would you have us do, Yhness?" Spandine asked eagerly.

  Cudius's smile widened slightly. "We're w in cooperation with Naval Headquarters on this ohe mission will take you to Skypiea."

  "Skypiea?" Spandine's eyes widened, and he visibly swallowed. The idea of traveling to the Sky Isnd clearly uled him. "Yhness… what business could we possibly have up there? It's just a pce filled with poor, stubborn people!"

  Cudius chuckled. "Enel has found the legendary City of Gold. Your task will be to go there with the Marines, secure the gold, and ehe operation remains pletely fidential."