The idea of Laugh Tale's permanent Log Pose might sound unbelievable, but in reality, such an item did exist.
It was sothing the Roger Pirates had in their possession after reaching Laugh Tale. Whether they discovered it there or created it themselves using a stored magnetic field, no one knew for certain.
However, after departing from Laugh Tale, Gol D. Roger had tossed the Log Pose into the sea, where it was ultimately swallowed by a sea beast.
Because of this, even Rayleigh and the remaining mbers of Roger's crew had long forgotten about it, treating it as if it never existed.
After all, trying to retrieve sothing like that from the vast ocean, especially after over twenty years was as absurd as searching for Pure Gold.
But sohow, Bullet had learned of its existence.
He had never reached Laugh Tale himself, he had left the Roger Pirates long before they arrived.
And yet, of all people, it was him who managed to track down the permanent record pointer that Roger had discarded into the sea.
With it, he intended to orchestrate a massive pirate event, challenging the strongest in the world to battle him, so he could prove himself and stand at the top of the world.
However, Bullet didn't openly advertise that he had Laugh Tale's Log Pose.
Instead, he let rumors spread—whispers that there was a treasure from the Roger Pirates at stake.
His plan was simple:
"Whoever can defeat in this event will earn a special surprise reward, a treasure from Roger's era!"
In Bullet's mind, only soone strong enough to beat him would be worthy of claiming the prize.
Back at Marine Headquarters, Claudius snapped out of his thoughts.
"A very clever idea," Claudius muttered.
Gion smiled, but before anyone else could comnt, Sakazuki spoke up.
"The situation is already tense. Even if Bullet manages to organize this event, it's not guaranteed that the Four Emperors will actually show up."
Sengoku stroked his beard and nodded.
"Indeed. The chances of them appearing are quite low."
Claudius acknowledged their concerns and said,
"That's true… but if the bait is big enough, they will take it."
Sakazuki frowned slightly.
"Your Highness, what exactly do you an?"
Claudius didn't explain imdiately.
"First, I'll have soone verify this intel. In the anti, you should begin preparations."
At this stage, Claudius wasn't entirely sure if Bullet had actually secured the Log Pose yet.
A small shift in circumstances could an major changes—and that was sothing he had to be cautious about.
For now, he planned to have Spandine investigate Bullet's upcoming event.
If the rumors already included ntions of a treasure from Roger's era, then great, he would subtly amplify those whispers and leak information about the Laugh Tale Log Pose to lure in the big fish.
But if Bullet wasn't promoting such a treasure…
Then Claudius would take matters into his own hands, he would ignite the hype himself, ensuring that this event beca a legendary gathering of the world's most powerful pirates.
Because he did have sothing that could bait the Four Emperors.
Claudius' lips curled slightly.
He had two powerful lures in his hands.
The first was the Road Poneglyph that Big Mom had lost years ago.
That precious stone tablet, which contained a key piece of the map to Laugh Tale, had been retrieved by Dragon, who had opportunistically fished it out amid the chaos.
Later, out of "honor," Dragon had gifted it to Claudius, and it had remained secured aboard the Protheus ever since.
Both Kaido and Shiki would desperately want it.
As for Big Mom, she might not personally attend—but she certainly wouldn't allow such an important artifact to fall into soone else's hands.
Even if she didn't show up herself, she would likely send forces to retrieve it.
And if she didn't make a move?
It wouldn't matter. As long as Kaido and Shiki were there, and Marine Headquarters eliminated them, then Big Mom would be left isolated.
Without allies, she would be easy prey.
Even if she warned them that the Poneglyph was a trap, it wouldn't make much difference.
Because in the world of pirates, trust was scarce.
Would Kaido and Shiki really believe their competitor's "kind warning"?
No. If anything, they would suspect her of trying to trick them, to keep them away from the key to One Piece.
Right now, their so-called "alliance" was nothing more than a temporary truce, just enough to prevent Marine Headquarters from wiping them out individually.
But when it ca to personal ambition, when the throne of the Pirate King was at stake?
All loyalties would crumble.
The Road Poneglyph was the first layer of bait.
But it wasn't enough.
Claudius needed sothing more.
And so, he would use his second lure—Nico Olivia, Robin's mother.
Currently, few people knew that Robin could read Poneglyphs.
Perhaps Claudius himself was one of the very few who understood her importance.
Even his own subordinates weren't fully aware of Robin's abilities.
But Nico Olivia was different—she was publicly recognized as an Ohara scholar who could decipher ancient texts.
Anyone with basic knowledge of Ohara's destruction eighteen years ago could easily look up her na.
Several years ago, Olivia had been captured and imprisoned in Impel Down.
Most people assud she had been executed, but the truth was far more interesting.
And that was the key to Claudius' plan.
He would leak information that Nico Olivia had escaped during the Impel Down mass breakout.
Then, he would spread rumors that she would be present at Bullet's event.
Even if Bullet had no treasure or Log Pose, it wouldn't matter—because there would be a Road Poneglyph and a scholar who could read it.
Now, tell —would the Four Emperors ignore such an event?
Even if they suspected a trap, they couldn't afford to ignore it.
If Kaido hesitated, what if Shiki went instead?
If Shiki obtained the Poneglyph and an Ohara scholar, then wouldn't Kaido lose his chance at One Piece?
And if Kaido secretly tried to warn Shiki not to attend, would Shiki trust him?
No—he'd assu Kaido was trying to scare away the competition while he went after the prize himself.
This was the flaw in pirate alliances.
When it ca to personal ambition, trust was nonexistent.
And once they all took the bait…
That would be the mont for Marine Headquarters to strike.
"I'm sorry, Robin," Claudius muttered.
"But I'm just spreading a rumor. I don't actually need Olivia to appear. I'm just borrowing her na, I'm sure she won't mind, right?"
Although Sakazuki and the others weren't entirely sure what Claudius was planning, they didn't dare delay.
Since His Highness had given the order, they would begin preparations imdiately.
Especially since they had just been scolded, none of them wanted to push their luck.
(To be continued.)
***
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