Fujitora smiled in surprise, exg aloud as reition dawned on him. Meanwhile, Cudius remained calm, smiling as he nodded and said, "It seems you've heard of me?"

  CP-X—an infamous and mysterious anization.

  The anization's enigmatic reputation had grown signifitly over the past decade sis creation by the Wover. Uhe leadership of Donquixote Cudius, CP-X had carried out numerous high-profile operations. Yet, much of their work remained shrouded in secrecy, leaving the wuessing about their true scope and objectives.

  Although the exact membership of CP-X was unknown, several peripheral agents had been apprehended over the years. However, interrogations rarely yielded useful information. Many of those captured weren't even aware they were part of CP-X, whily added to the anization's mystique.

  One individual only associated with CP-X, though, was Dofmingo.

  There was good reason for this assumption. Dofmingo had worked with CP-X on multiple occasions and shared the Donquixote surh Cudius. While it wasn't unusual for people in the world to share surhe e seemed too tal to ignore. Some specuted that Cudius had personally grahe Donquixote o Dofmingo, reinf his legitimacy.

  After all, the Donquixote name beloo the Celestial Dragons.

  In a world where Dofmingo wasn't aligned with Cudius, no one would ever have suspected that he was once a Celestial Dragon. Who could imagihat a member of the "gods" had beerayed by his father, thrown out of Mariejois, aually turo piracy?

  But with Dofmingo's close ties to Cudius, the majority of the world believed there was an 80% ce that he was a ember of CP-X.

  Still, her Cudius nor Dofmingo had ever firmed or dehe rumors, leaving the world uain. Some eveed that the e was a deliberate misdire. After all, would such a secretive anization make su obvious mistake?

  In the past two years, following the events surrounding Totto Land and Cake Isnd, Cudius's identity had beore promi. As a result, hearing his name immediately triggered Fujitora's thoughts, prompting his excmation.

  Though a powerful warrior in his ht, Fujitora couldn't help but feel small in parison to Cudius. Cudius wasn't just a Celestial Dragon; he was also one of the stro individuals in the world. The image of Cudius overp Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin—was still fresh in the minds of many.

  Strength aside, their statuses couldn't be more different. Fujitora was a wandering ronin, likely dismissed from his st fishing job, while Cudius was a world-renowned powerhouse.

  Fujitora adjusted his posture and posed himself, saying, "CP-X is very well-known, and your strength is unparalleled. Of course, I've heard of you."

  Cudius smiled faintly. "Is that so?" He took a sip of tea, his demeanor rexed and ued.

  Setting down the cup, Cudius asked, "So, what's yame? What do you like to py?"

  Fujitora's shoulders rexed at the mention of gambling, and he chuckled. "I enjoy simple games, betting big or small. Nothing plicated."

  Cudius's smile widened. "What a ce. I also enjoy straightfames like that."

  He tapped the bell oable lightly, and the door opened moments ter. Nia stepped ih a calm demeanor.

  Cudius raised an eyebrow. "What's this? Are you moonlighting as a croupier now?"

  "Nia, why aren't you with Stussy and the others?" Cudius asked curiously.

  Nia smiled and replied, "I figured you might want to have a private versation with this gentleman. It's better to avoid having an outsider in the room, don't you think?"

  Cudius nodded, realizing her reasoning. "That's a good point. I didn't think of that. You're as reliable as ever, always c for me."

  "That's my job," Nia said with a light smile.

  In truth, Nia had a valid . If a regur croupier had bee, they might overhear somethiive. Even if they worked for Tesoro, it wasn't worth risking a potential leak. Cudius wasn't the type to recklessly endanger i lives, so Nia's decision to step in was both practical and siderate.

  Nia took charge of the dice clock as Fujitora and Cudius pced their bets. The game began, interspersed with casual versation.

  Despite his sharp senses, Cudius cked any real gambling skills. Listening for dice rolls or other tricks wasn't his forte. Fujitora, oher hand, had terrible luck but refused to cheat, believing that the thrill of gambling y in the uability of winning and losing.

  As a result, the two traded wins and losses, making for an even match.

  After a few rounds, Cudius suddenly asked, "From orong man to another, I tell you're very powerful. Where did you learn your skills?"

  Fujitora hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "I'm just a drifter with no real home. I've done odd jobs here and there, worked at a fishery retly, though I'm probably fired by now."

  Cudius raised an eyebrow and called out, "Big!"

  Fujitrinned. "Small!"

  Nia opehe dice clock to reveal the result. Cudius ughed. "It seems luck isn't on your side this time. You've got great strength, but if you have no pce to go, why not sider joining CP-X?"

  Fujitora paused, his smile faltering slightly as he mulled over the proposition. The idea was undeniably tempting. CP-X was a mysterious and powerful anization, opportunities he wouldn't find elsewhere.

  As a strong fighter, Fujitora had many options. He could join the Marines, ally with the Revolutionary Army, or even bee a pirate. His strength alone would earn him resped a high rank anywhere he went.

  Even if he boarded Whitebeard's ship, he could likely bee a division ander. And when Whitebeard iably passed, he could pete for the position of captain.

  This was the privilege of strength: endless possibilities.

  Still, Fujitora leaoward the Wover's side. Though he had his grievances with their policies, his exteravels had shown him the y of order. While the Wover was fwed, its presence maintaiability. Without it, the world would desd into true chaos, a hellish ndscape far worse than the current state of affairs.

  Fujitora had also observed that many of the Wover's failures stemmed from poor execution rather than malicious i. Corruption among lower-ranking officials and nobles often exacerbated the public's suffering. The core policies themselves wereirely irredeemable.

  His thoughts turo Cudius. "Even among the Celestial Dragons, there are people like him," Fujitora mused. "It seems I've been too quick to judge."

  Fujitora believed that reform ossible within the Wover. However, he reized that starting from the bottom would be an uphill battle. For now, he had been waiting for an opportunity, a moment to rise to a position where he could truly make a difference.

  Unbeknownst to him, that moment was still a decade away. In ten years, Fujitora would soar to the heights of Marine Admiral and py a pivotal role in abolishing the Seven Warlords of the Sea.