It had been some time since Roger decred himself the Pirate King on the Grand Line. Sihe disba of the Roger Pirates, the Wover had been scrambling to track him down. They had no idea that Roger was nearing the end of his life.

  In their eyes, Roger's disappearance was the prelude to some grand spiracy, a tig time bomb. They believed he was hiding, biding his time for something massive, so every sed ted. They couldn't afford to give him any breathing room.

  As a result, Marine Headquarters was in overdrive. Admirals and officers were stantly on the move, being deployed to iigate any disturbano matter how small.

  The CP agencies weren't any different. They, too, were spread thin, tasked with hunting due schors and other potential threats. Ironically, their workload was so heavy that they had eased up oaiions, giving some of these sore time to escape unnoticed.

  In the Holy Land of Mariejois, in front of the t Wover headquarters, Stussy stood quietly, waiting for someohe soft wind rustled through her hair, brushing against her face as she gazed down the long road leading to the building.

  As officials passed by, many of them greeted Stussy warmly. It wasn't just because of her strikiy though that certainly helped, but also because of who she represented. Stussy was known to be Cudius' right-hand woman, and Cudius himself was a rising star in the eyes of the Five Elders.

  The more perceptive officials had already started to treat Stussy as if she were more than just an aide. They whispered that she might be Cudius' lover, not just his subordinate. After all, how could someone as charming and iial as Stussy be just a colleague to someone like Cudius?

  Stussy was well aware of the rumors, but she didn't bother correg them. She khe power of perception and how dangerous it could be, especially among the Celestial Dragons. Being misinterpreted as Cudius' woman was far safer than drawing the unwatention of other ambitious or lecherous nobles.

  Still, there were moments like this where she couldn't help but notice the way the world seemed to shift arouhe wind picked up, tangling the strands of her hair slightly. Stussy murmured to herself, "The wind today is a bit noisy…"

  No sooner had the words left her lips than Cudius' voice called out behind her.

  "Since when did you start waxing poetic?" Cudius asked with an amused expression, walking up to her.

  Startled, Stussy turned around, embarrassed that she hadn't noticed him approach. She smiled awkwardly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Yhness, you've beeing quieter. I didn't even hear you ing…"

  Cudius let out a booming ugh. "Hahahaha! Well, I've had to get stronger. In this era, those who 't protect themselves will get swept aside."

  "Surely Yhness has o worry about that," Stussy teased lightly. "You've already got more than enough strength to protect yourself."

  Cudius shook his head, a serious look crossing his face. "It's not enough, Stussy. My goal isn't just to protect myself. I want to lead this era."

  Stussy smiled knowingly. "That sounds more like the Cudius I know."

  Cudius gave a satisfied nod and motioned for her to follow. "e on, the meeting's doime to head out."

  As they walked, Stussy g him. "What did the Five Elders have to say?"

  Cudius grinned, his tone brimming with pride. "What could they say? When someone like me makes a move, they have no choice but to agree. As long as I bring in Roger, they've promised to promote me to the rank of Upper Celestial Dragon."

  "The Five Elders must be very nervous aber if they're you that," Stussy remarked thoughtfully.

  "Of course they are," Cudius said, nodding. "They've heard rumors that Roger knows some dangerous secrets. That only makes this better for me. The more of a threat he is, the more valuable it is when I capture him. A promotion to Upper Celestial Dragon isn't just a symbolic title it's a huge step forward in power."

  Stussy's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Who would've thought? Just a few years ago, you were one of the lowest-rankiial Dragons, and now you're on the verge of joining the elites."

  "And this is just the beginning," Cudius said with fidehere are still plenty more surprises to e."

  The two shared a few more casual remarks as they approached the port. There, a rge ship bearing the Wover fg awaited them. On its deck stood Crocodile and Enel, both looking expet.

  At the bottom of the b ramp, the ever-loyal butler Nia waited patiently, ready to assist her master.

  As Cudius approached, Nia held out a thick mink coat with a respectful bow. She used to help Cudius put it on herself, but now that he had grown, it was a task she could no longer easily manage due to her height.

  "Yhness, the sea breeze is quite cold once we set sail. Please, wear this," Nia said softly.

  Cudius smiled and draped the coat over his shoulders. "Thank you, Nia. Let's board, then. It's time to set sail."

  As the ship began to pull away from the dock, Crocodile, leaning against the railing, gnced over at Cudius. "So, are you going to tell us where we're headed now?"

  Cudius chuckled. "What's the rush? We're headed to South Blue this time. There's plenty of fun to be had there."

  "South Blue?" Crocodile raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were going after Roger. Doesn't that mean going to the New World?"

  Cudius shrugged dismissively. "Who says Roger has to be in the New World? He could be anywhere. Even South Blue."

  "But for pirates, the New World is the safest pce to hide. It makes more sense for him to be there," Crocodile replied, sounding exasperated.

  Cudius waved his hand, clearly not ed. "Rex. We're just taking a little detour. What could possibly g in South Blue? Besides, Nia, you checked the almanac, right?"

  Nia, alrepared, nodded. "Yes, Yhness. It's an auspicious day for travel."

  Cudius ughed heartily. "See? o worry. All is well. Set sail, men! South Blue awaits! Let's call this a 'mission vacation!'"