Cudius hadn't seen Sakazuki in quite some time. When he finally did, he couldn't help but feel amused.

  The st time they had worked together was ba Whole Cake Isnd. Back then, Sakazuki had charged in like a ragi, directly fag off against Big Mom, a true dispy of uing aggression.

  Though he had suffered severe injuries in the end, there was no denying that Sakazuki had pyed the role of a frontliank perfectly. He was fearless, unyielding, and never backed down.

  Of course, Cudius liked people like that.

  Why?

  Because now, they were about to go up against Whitebeard, the stro man in the world, an eveer threat than Charlotte Linlin.

  In terms of sheer durability, Charlotte Linlin was likely superior to Whitebeard.

  But when it came to raw offensive power, there was no parison, Whitebeard was on airely different level.

  Now, as they prepared to ehis high-damage boss, what was Marine missing?

  A tank, of course.

  And who better for the role than Sakazuki?

  ---

  Cudius took a sip of tea, then smiled as he addressed him.

  "Sakazuki, it's been a while.

  How have you been?

  We're about to go to war with Whitebeard and the entire Whitebeard Pirates.

  You're one of the Marine Admirals, you'll be a key pyer in this battle.

  Make sure you're in peak dition. If you o delegate more tasks to your subordinates, do it.

  You o be at your absolute best."

  There was no way for Sakazuki to know just houtive Cudius was being.

  He was tohtforward, too direct.

  So, to him, this simply sounded like genuine from an old rade.

  The usually grim-faced Admiral even attempted a stiff smile, though it looked more like he was in pain than anything else.

  With a nod, he responded, "I appreciate your , Yhness. Rest assured, I'm in top dition. I'm ready to head to the battlefield at any time!"

  "Ahahahaha! That's the spirit!" Cudius ughed.

  "This is what I expect from a Marine Admiral, fierce, determined, never promising, always striking evil down with full force!"

  Sakazuki nodded solemnly, his sense of duty unwavering.

  "A soldier's duty is to protect the seas and eradicate evil. That is my lifelong mission!"

  Cudius smirked. "I like that attitude.

  Sengoku is getting older. In a few years, he'll probably retire.

  Wheime es, I think you have the best ce of succeeding him.

  So, keep w hard—make sure you prove yourself!"

  Sakazuki's expression became serious. He didn't bother hiding his ambition.

  Across the room, Sengoku let out a long sigh.

  "Seriously, Yhness? Kong hasn't eveired yet, and you're already calling me old?"

  Siaking on the role of Fleet Admiral, Sengoku had worked closely with Cudius, and Marine Headquarters had grown strohan ever.

  His leadership, bined with the overwhelming support Cudius provided, had increased his prestige signifitly.

  He had personally led the takedown of Charlotte Linlin, further solidifying his reputation.

  Within this timeline, Marine Headquarters had undergone drastic ges.

  In the past, due to the chaotic state of the seas and the ajor victories, Marine influence had remained retively weak.

  This had resulted in deep internal divisions, fas stantly at odds, each pushing their own vision of justice.

  Sakazuki and Kuzan had been the most divided, with their ideologies g openly.

  But now, things were different.

  With a clear leadership structure and a rapidly expanding force, there was no time for infighting.

  Though Sakazuki and Kuzan still held different views, they were no longer bitter rivals.

  The once-divisive struggles for trol had settled, and the unity within Marine Headquarters had solidified under Sengoku's and.

  Because of this, when Cudius made his pyful remark about Sakazuki's future promotion, Sengoku didn't feel offended, he simply saw it as friendly teasing.

  ---

  Kong chuckled. "Well, well, looks like my wings have gotten old, huh?

  Tell you what, if you actually mao take down Whitebeard this time, I will retire and hand you my position as Supreme ander!"

  Sengoku waved his hand dismissively. "No thanks, I'm not that ambitious."

  Meanwhile, a different figure sat silently in the room—Gis.

  The masked CP official remained quiet, but under his mask, his expression was shifting rapidly.

  "ander-in-Chief of the entire military… that's the position I want."

  But seeing how Marine Headquarters was dominating the discussion, he realized just how mufluence Cudius had given them.

  The odds of him seg that position… were shrinking.

  ---

  Cudius shifted the versation.

  "Alright, enough about that.

  Let's talk about e.

  They call him the Stro Man in the World.

  His strength must be something else, huh?

  I've never fought him myself, but Marine Headquarters must have experieh him."

  After a brief pause, Cudius turo Sakazuki with a grin.

  "Marine Admirals represent the highest bat power of the Wover.

  Sakazuki, what's your assessment of Whitebeard?

  Think you take him?"

  Sakazuki furrowed his brows slightly.

  As an Admiral, he had absolute fiden his strength.

  But he wasn't arrogant enough to cim he was the stro in the world.

  So, after a moment of thought, he replied,

  "I'd say… we're about even."

  Cudius blinked.

  Something about that answer felt oddly familiar...

  "Is he seriously pulling a 'We go 50-50' line right now?"

  He almost expected Sakazuki to follow up with "But he's often single-killed by me."

  Feigning relief, Cudius nodded.

  "Ah, so you handle him.

  That puts my mind at ease.

  I'll leave the main assault to you, then.

  We'll back you up, let's take him down in one go!"

  Sakazuki's blood boiled at the thought.

  He didn't care if there was some hidden cat Cudius' words.

  Even if Cudius hadn't assigned him the role, he would have thrown himself into the front lines anyway.

  There was no way he could stand by and do nothing while Whitebeard stood before him!

  So, the moment Cudius finished speaking, Sakazuki straightened his bad decred,

  "Yhness, you have my word, I will bring you Whitebeard's head!"

  Cudius burst into ughter.

  "Hahahaha! That's the kind of talk I like to hear!"

  Across the table, Sengoku shook his head helplessly.

  "Sakazuki is still too young. And Cudius… he's pletely shameless."

  Was he seriously just baiting Sakazuki into rushing headfirst into battle?

  It was a cssic case of manipution, encing the hotheaded Admiral to volunteer for the most dangerous role.

  But then again, Sengoku couldn't say anything.

  After all, Sakazuki would charge in regardless.

  And if he wao be at the front lines… well, why stop him?

  ---

  As they tinued chatting, Stussy quietly checked her pocket watch.

  Then, leaning close to Cudius, she whispered, "Yhness, it's almost time."

  Cudius raised an eyebrow.

  Sure enough, he soon heard footsteps approag from the hallway.

  Moments ter, the doors swung open.

  The Five Elders had arrived.

  As silence filled the room, even Garp put away his senbei, his usual carefree attitude repced with formality.

  Nusjuro entered alone.

  Upon seeing Cudius, he smiled.

  "It's been a while. What have you been up to?"

  Cudius smirked.

  "Naturally, I've been busy w toward world peace."

  Nusjuro chuckled.

  "You always have a way with words."

  Then, taking his seat, he knocked oable and said,

  "Alright, everyone's here. Let's skip the nonsense.

  The meeting on the Whitebeard Pirates' crusade pn begins now."