In the first half of the Grand Lihe Prometheus sailed steadily across a calm stretch of water.

  On the deck, a golden birdcage with a diameter of more than three meters sat promily. Inside, a small dinosaur, about oer ih, paced around. This was the Microraptor that Nia and Stussy had captured during their time on the prehistorid of Little Garden.

  At first gnce, without prior knowledge, one might mistake the creature for aic bird. Its body was covered in vibrant, multicolored feathers, giving it a striking aiful appeara didn't look particurly threatening, on the trary, it was quite elegant.

  Cudius, Nia, and Stussy gathered around the cage. Nia held a small box in her hand, which tained freshly caught fish from the sea.

  "That's right, Microraptors eat fish," Cudius ented, amused. "They've got pretty uastes, don't they?"

  "Let me try feeding it!" Stussy said enthusiastically as Nia tossed a fish into the cage.

  Cudius chimed in, "I want to try feeding it too!"

  Stussy gave him a pyful look and said, "Yhness, why don't you go feed the Tyrannosaurus? This little guy isn't really your style." She snatched another fish and tossed it into the birdcage without hesitation.

  "Tyrannosaurus…" Cudius muttered softly.

  The group had indeed entered Tyrannosauruses on Little Garden, but these creatures were far too wild and aggressive to tame. Cudius had tried several times but eventually gave up.

  In the end, the Tyrannosaurus became a barbecue. Cudius had to admit, the meat was excellent—tender yet chewy, and surprisingly fvorful.

  Of course, this also marked the end of Cudius's dream of raising a dinosaur.

  "I'll figure something out ime," Cudius grumbled. "Maybe I'll catch Kaido and keep him as a pet instead. Let's see if anyone dares to pin about feeding him!"

  "Don't worry, none of us would be ied in feeding that guy," Stussy replied without missing a beat.

  Not far away, Robin spoke up. "You e and feed my Pachycephalosaurus. It eats fruit and leaves, and it has such a gentle personality."

  Cudius gnced over and saw Robin holding an iron . At the other end of the was a juvenile Pachycephalosaurus, about two meters ih.

  When fully grown, Pachycephalosauruses could reach up to five meters. This particur one was still a juvenile and was retively docile, at least pared to other dinosaurs. Being a herbivore, it seemed much easier to care for.

  But as Cudius looked at its bald head and the tumors c its scalp, he quickly lost i. He waved dismissively. "You feed it. I'm not ied."

  Robin, who had beeedly showing off her "pet," immediately bristled at his response. "Hey are you discriminating against it?"

  Cudius didn't hold back. "You're absolutely right. I am discriminating against it."

  "A tumor is cute! How you discriminate against something so adorable?" Robin excimed indignantly.

  "With all due respect," Cudius retorted, "I don't see how it's cute at all. A tumor is a tumor."

  "Hmph! Just look at its smooth, bald head and those little bumps! Isn't that adorable?" Robin argued, pointing at the Pachycephalosaurus.

  Cudius crossed his arms and scrutihe dinosaur for a moment. Then he said, "You know what?"

  Robin's eyes lit up in anticipation. "What? You think it's cute now?"

  Cudius shook his head with a grin. "'s even uglier than I thought."

  Robi out an angry huff. "You're hopeless!" she surning her ba him.

  "You need help," Cudius said, shaking his head in mock pity. "Once we get baariejois, I'm taking you to see a therapist."

  Robin shot him a gre. "You're the one who needs help! e on, Swolle's go!"

  With that, she climbed onto the back of the Pachycephalosaurus in one swift motion, gripping the iron tightly as she rode away.

  Cudius blinked in surprise. "Wait… is this seriously happening? Did she just bee a Dragon Knight?"

  At that moment, Ace, who had been perched atop the ship's mast, called out, "I see it! It's Tesoro!"

  Aow a young man, had grown siderably stronger siing the Mera-Mera Fruit. His abilities had developed rapidly, and he had even awakened queror's Haki at an early age. Cudius couldn't deny the strength er's bloodline.

  Life, however, wasn't always fair. Ace, through sheer luck of birth, had ied Roger's lineage. Now, with Cudius as his guardian, Ace's bag only seemed to grow stronger.

  pared to Ace, Dofmingo was truly unfortunate in the "father lottery," having beerayed by his own family ao fend for himself.

  The Gran Tesoro came into view. A massive ship, it rivaled the Prometheus in size. In fact, it appeared to be even rger.

  Cudius took a telescope from Nia and examihe ship. Clig his tongue, he said, "Still a bit small, but it's just getting started. I 't pin."

  The Prometheus was roughly the size of a small isnd, about a third of Water Seven. While the Gran Tesoro appeared rger, it was still far from the enormous o ship it would ter bee, one capable of housing three or four Water Sevens.

  As Cudius said, though, the ship was still in its early stages. Tesoro was already w on building an even rger vessel, which would surely make waves onpleted.

  The Gran Tesoro currently served as a grand gambling ship and cruise liner, attrag high rollers from across the world. However, Cudius's visit had nothing to do with gambling. Unlike Crocodile, he wasn't addicted to games of ce. If not for business, he wouldn't have e at all.

  Tesoro had tacted him about a peculiar guest aboard the ship, someone Cudius had been seeking for some time.

  That guest was Fujitora.

  Fujitora was a folk master—a wandering swordsman and a notorious gambler. The world was vast, filled with hidden masters and powerful individuals, particurly in the New World. Some rivaled everength of Marine vice admirals.

  Many of these masters worked as bounty hunters, assassins, or freencers in the shadows. Others, like Fujitora, remained retively unknowe their extraordinary strength.

  Fujitora had no hometown to speak of. Born on a ship in the New World, he had lived as a ronin, wandering aimlessly. Orpha a young age, he grew up enduring the harsh realities of life at sea. Over the years, he worked odd jobs to survive—dod, borer, shipwright—barely scraping by.

  Along the way, he developed a strong gambling habit, which eventually led him to the Gran Tesoro.

  Tesoro, notig Fujitora's immeential, had alerted Cudius. It was this discovery that brought Cudius to the ship.

  ***

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