With Shiki, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido all dead, Bullet nowhere to be seen, and Shanks having left early, there was no longer any real "threat" left in this part of the sea.
Crocodile, Enel, and the others had gone to finish off the remaining enemies. While the main threats had been dealt with, so powerful pirates still remained—figures like the Three Calamities and Katakuri.
Claudius, however, paid them no mind. He found a block of ice, sat down, lit another cigar, and gazed into the distance at Kaido's corpse, the blood pooling beneath it gradually staining the battlefield red. A sense of finality settled over him.
Since seizing control of the World Governnt at Mariejois more than two years ago, he had finally, completely, achieved his goal.
The Great Pirate Era was over.
Dawn was approaching.
Claudius reflected on how this desire had taken root in him. At first, he rely wanted to repair the World Governnt's failing ship and leave his mark in history.
But along the way, his goal had changed.
"Did the tis create the heroes, or did the heroes create the tis?" Claudius muttered.
"It should be that when the ti cos, the world moves as one, and even heroes are bound by fate," ca a voice from behind him.
Claudius turned slightly, finding Hancock standing there. He hadn't noticed when she arrived.
She had changed into a fresh Kuja cheongsam, her makeup neatly retouched, exuding beauty and elegance as always.
Claudius looked at her in mild surprise before chuckling.
"That phrase sounds familiar. Don't tell you've developed an interest in the poetry and culture of Wano?"
"Not really," Hancock replied with a smile. "I only rember it because Your Highness said those words a few years ago."
Claudius raised an eyebrow. Had he said that before? He might have just borrowed it from so ancient philosopher.
As he mused, his gaze drifted back to Kaido's corpse. He thought of Shiki's tragic downfall, of how the legends of this era had all t their end.
With a sigh, he murmured, "Yes… even heroes are bound by fate."
Whether it was Kaido, Whitebeard, Shiki, or Charlotte Linlin—they were all pirates. While Claudius had never viewed them as his equals, he couldn't deny their strength. They might not have been true "heroes," but they were undoubtedly figures who had shaped history.
The Great Pirate Era had been ignited by Gol D. Roger, but these figures were the ones who truly defined it.
They brought chaos, destruction, and anarchy, but at the sa ti, they left behind legends that would never be forgotten.
Heroes create the tis.
But when the tis shift, even heroes must fall.
Still, Claudius didn't dwell too long on such sentintal thoughts.
After all, he was still alive.
And it was his enemies who had perished.
There was no reason to mourn. If anything, he should be celebrating.
Now, all that remained was for the Marines to flood the New World, bringing it under control with the help of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Once that was done, the Great Pirate Era would naturally fade into history.
With the pirate threat eliminated and the Revolutionary Army under his control, the World Governnt was secure.
All Claudius needed to do now was continue executing his vision, building a better future step by step.
And when the day ca that ruling the world beca too tireso…
He'd simply walk away and hand over the reins.
Maybe he'd go out and find Imu, that old relic. See what he was up to. Maybe even check if he'd finished that "book" he had promised to write.
If not, Claudius would make sure to remind him.
And what should the title be?
Lost in his thoughts, Claudius suddenly snapped back to reality and smacked his forehead.
"Right… I still have to deal with those two bastards who ran off earlier. And Lucci—where the hell did he disappear to?"
As he muttered, he patted himself down, searching for his Den Den Mushi, only to pause in confusion.
"Looking for this?"
Hancock smiled, holding out a Den Den Mushi.
Claudius chuckled as he took it.
"How'd it end up with you?"
"You must have dropped it," Hancock replied smoothly. "I picked it up earlier."
"Is that so?" Claudius didn't dwell on it, imdiately dialing a number.
After a few rings, the line connected.
Without hesitation, Claudius asked, "Dragon, you bastard, are you trying to take all the credit? Kaido's already dead over here, but you still haven't shown up. Where the hell are you?"
A chuckle ca from the other end.
"I was just about to call you," Dragon replied. "With your intelligence, I figured you wouldn't have guessed the… unexpected situation over here."
Claudius smirked. "What, you an things went too smoothly, and now there's so fool trying to stir up trouble?"
Dragon laughed.
"Douglas Bullet, right?"
"Glad you caught on."
At that mont, Dragon was standing on an island near Delta, its once lush landscape now barren and devastated from battle.
In the distance, glaciers stretched across the sea.
Behind Dragon, a massive, collapsed monstrosity—a fusion of tal, stone, and debris—lay in ruins.
Bartholow Kuma and Rob Lucci, both battered and bloodied, were sifting through the wreckage, searching for sothing.
"I originally planned to head for Kaido first," Dragon explained. "After all, I've got my 'dragon-slaying' technique. But I had no idea where he was hiding.
Instead, I ran into Bullet and Lucci in an underground base on this island.
The fight broke out imdiately, and then Kuma showed up.
Bullet was trying to activate his Devil Fruit ability to assimilate the entire island.
To keep him from interfering with your battle, we worked together to take him down.
And with Kuma's help, we managed to contain him and drag him off the island."
Dragon's tone was lighthearted as he added, "So, Kaido's head has already hit the ground, huh? Guess things went smoothly on your end too."
"Thanks to you, yes," Claudius replied coolly. "Kaido, Shiki, and Charlotte Linlin—all dead."
"Three of the Four Emperors… gone?" Dragon echoed. "What about Red-Haired Shanks?"
"Mihawk let him go," Claudius answered bluntly.
"Oh? That so?" Dragon wasn't surprised. It was in line with their original plan—Mihawk hadn't let anyone escape without permission, and Claudius never had any real interest in killing Shanks.
To Claudius, Shanks was just an overly idealistic busybody.
Even if he reached Laugh Tale and beca the next Pirate King, it wouldn't matter.
What could he possibly do? Overthrow the world?
Not a chance.
For Rayleigh's sake, Claudius let him go.
"And you?" Claudius asked. "If you've got ti to answer my call, that ans you're almost finished, right?"
"Obviously," Dragon replied. "The three of us working together, how could things go wrong? Bullet was tough, but we got the job done.
Lucci and Kuma are digging through the ruins now, looking for Bullet's body. Not sure if he's actually dead, though."
Dragon spoke casually, but his left arm hung limply at his side, bone exposed through the torn flesh.
Even for him, this battle had been far from easy.
Claudius fell silent for a mont.
Then he said, "Get back here soon."
"Got it. See you soon."
Just then, background voices crackled through the Den Den Mushi, causing Dragon to smirk.
"Sounds like you've got company," he remarked.
"I'll hang up now."
(To be continued.)
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