Morgans followed Stussy and arrived behind Claudius. As he looked around, his gaze suddenly sharpened, he had spotted something remarkable.
It was a massive naginata, one so famous that anyone could recognize it at a glance.
It was the weapon once wielded by the Strongest Man in the World—Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate.
One of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, a peerless weapon—Murakumogiri.
Yet now, it was casually leaning against a tree nearby, as if someone had simply tossed it there after losing interest.
This nonchalant display only added to Morgans' unease. It reminded him once again of the terrifying reality, the man sitting before him, with just his back visible, had utterly destroyed the once-mighty Whitebeard Pirates.
Indeed, Murakumogiri was now Claudius' trophy.
Originally, it was highly likely that Shanks would have taken the naginata and placed it in front of Whitebeard's grave as a memorial.
But this time, Claudius hadn't given Shanks any face, he had forced him to leave in disgrace, so naturally, Murakumogiri never ended up in Shanks' hands.
As for Whitebeard's burial, the World Government had initially planned to use his severed head as a warning to the New World. However, they were too preoccupied dealing with their own internal chaos to follow through.
Instead, Claudius personally chose a prime location for Whitebeard's grave, ensuring he received a proper burial.
It wasn't Whitebeard's identity as a pirate that Claudius respected—after all, he had no respect for pirates.
What he respected was Whitebeard's strength and his title as the Strongest Man in the World.
And so, Murakumogiri remained in Claudius' possession.
He had no interest in using it, he wasn't fond of large weapons but as one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, it was an excellent collector's item.
Just a few days ago, Zoro had taken it out to "play with", but after messing around for a bit, he had left it there and never bothered to put it back.
---
"Your Highness, Morgans has arrived," Stussy said softly as she approached Claudius.
Claudius didn't respond, his gaze remained fixed on his fishing rod, looking somewhat frustrated.
"Have these fish gotten smarter?" he wondered.
Lately, it had been incredibly difficult for him to catch anything in this pond.
Unbeknownst to him, Nami had been secretly feeding the fish every day, making them completely uninterested in bait.
As soon as Stussy finished speaking, Morgans didn't dare delay.
Here in the Domain of the Gods, he might be able to rely on Stussy's protection to avoid bowing to other Celestial Dragons, but when it came to Claudius, there was no room for hesitation.
Without a moment's pause, Morgans immediately dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead against the ground.
In a deep voice, he declared, "Morgans greets Saint Claudius!"
"You can get up," Claudius said, still not turning around.
At least he didn't torment Morgans.
Had it been Teach, he probably would've forced him to kneel for a long time.
Come to think of it… Claudius did feel a little nostalgic about that fool.
A clever, loyal lapdog, beaten to death by Sakazuki…
It was almost a shame.
After hearing Claudius' command, Morgans didn't hesitate, he immediately stood up.
This wasn't the time to play games.
This Highness was known for his decisiveness, and the last thing Morgans wanted was to annoy him by trying to act humble.
As soon as he got up, Stussy gave him a brief nod before turning and leaving.
Meanwhile, Claudius remained motionless, still sitting calmly by the pond, not speaking a word.
Morgans didn't dare utter a sound, standing there as silent as a quail.
The pond's surface was still, and no fish took the bait.
Just as Morgans' legs were starting to get sore, Claudius finally broke the silence.
"Stussy mentioned that you're a Devil Fruit user?" Claudius asked casually, still not looking back.
Morgans immediately answered, "Yes, Your Highness. I possess a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Albatross."
"Ah… so it's true," Claudius muttered.
Then, he chuckled and added, "You know, at first, I thought you were some kind of mutated Mink."
"Stussy had to correct me and let me tell you, she laughed at me for ages."
Morgans smiled awkwardly.
"Your Highness, you are all-knowing, surely you don't have time to care about trivial gossip like this?" Morgans said, his tone flattering.
"If I had a choice, I'd have reincarnated differently… not as a birdman, but as a being who could stand in your presence without kneeling."
His flattery was loud and clear, but Claudius was amused rather than annoyed.
"Hahahaha!" Claudius burst into laughter.
"You really know how to talk."
"Your praise is an honor," Morgans responded quickly.
"How's the World Economy News Paper doing these days?" Claudius asked.
Morgans immediately replied, "Thanks to Your Highness, business has been booming! The sea has been full of major events, and our sales have been excellent. There's no need for you to worry!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Claudius said.
"Got any interesting news for me?"
Morgans didn't dare disappoint. He immediately shared several intriguing stories not about major figures, but entertaining tales filled with rumors and sea legends.
Claudius listened with interest, occasionally commenting.
At one point, he laughed out loud.
"Hahaha! That brat Ace is really making a mess, huh? So desperate to prove himself?"
Ace had been rampaging in the New World, wiping out numerous rival pirate crews who had tried to seize power.
His reputation was growing rapidly.
Some rumors even claimed that Portgas D. Ace was actually the illegitimate son of Saint Claudius…
Though the rumor hadn't spread far beyond Mariejois, many dismissed it as nonsense.
But Morgans knew better.
He didn't know if the "illegitimate child" part was true, but he was certain that Ace had a deep connection to the Highness before him.
"His Highness Ace is smart, strong, and bears some resemblance to you," Morgans said carefully.
"Yeah, that brat's got potential," Claudius chuckled.
"Takes after his old man."
Morgans assumed Claudius was joking and didn't dwell on it.
But Claudius himself was deep in thought.
One day, he would take control of the World Government. And when that day came, he would still need pirates.
"A Pirate King of my own making… one under my control… that might not be a bad idea."
Among all the candidates he had considered—Enel, Crocodile, Doflamingo, Hancock—none were quite right.
But Ace?
He might just be the perfect choice.
***
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