One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Sengoku: Is Your CP-X Really This Good?

For centuries, three legendary treasures have been whispered about across the seas. And now, with the addition of Roger's "One Piece," there are four ultimate treasures in existence.

Unlike the mystery surrounding Roger's legendary treasure, the other three—Golden City, Emerald City, and the Sea of Gems are ancient legends passed down since time immemorial. Each one is cloaked in mystery, with a history stretching back hundreds of years.

The Sea of Gems is rumored to exist somewhere within the Grand Line. The entire sea is said to glitter with precious gems, but no one knows exactly where it is. There are no clear records, and Claudius himself isn't sure whether it's real or just a fanciful tale.

The Emerald City is said to have been a city built entirely from priceless jade. The legend dates back more than 800 years, long before the World Government came into existence. Like the Sea of Gems, its existence remains unproven, though that hasn't stopped countless treasure hunters from seeking it.

Compared to these two enigmatic legends, the Golden City feels more grounded in reality, though its origin is still shrouded in the past. It all began more than 400 years ago with an expedition launched by the North Blue kingdom of Lvneel.

Though it was described as an "expedition," it was actually a treasure-hunting mission led by the infamous "Liar" Mont Blanc Noland. According to the story, Noland discovered the ancient civilization of Shandora on what is now known as Jaya Island. The people of Shandora were said to be prosperous, building their city with gold and living in unimaginable wealth.

Upon returning to the Lvneel Kingdom, Noland shared his discovery with the king, who was so enticed by the thought of golden riches that he sent a fleet back to Jaya to claim it. However, when Noland returned, the civilization of Shandora had mysteriously disappeared.

Branded as a fraud and traitor for leading the king on a fruitless expedition, Noland was executed in disgrace. His name became a mockery, and the legend of the Golden City was written off as nothing more than a fanciful tale.

However, not everyone on the seas dismissed the legend. Over the last four centuries, countless adventurers and treasure hunters have searched for the Golden City, though none have succeeded. Even Noland's descendants have dedicated their lives to clearing his name, hoping to find the elusive city of gold.

Unlike those countless failures, Claudius now knew the truth. Thanks to Enel, he was certain the Golden City existed hidden high above in the sky on Skypiea. The sheer wealth contained within the city was incalculable. At a conservative estimate, it was worth at least tens of billions of Berries. And at its peak? Who knew where the numbers would stop?

Even just scratching the surface of that wealth had netted Luffy's crew hundreds of millions of Berries in gold. How much would it amount to if Claudius managed to bring down the entire city?

But there was a problem. Claudius knew he couldn't claim all that gold for himself, it was simply too vast. Even with his connections, manpower, and resources, moving that much gold alone would be impossible.

When he had visited Skypiea years ago, Claudius had briefly considered searching for the Golden City but ultimately abandoned the idea. At the time, his fleet was small, and transporting the gold was a logistical nightmare. Now, however, he had more options at his disposal, especially with Enel on his side.

Still, the operation would require careful planning. For one, transporting the treasure would require a massive fleet. Claudius had the fleet, but there was another challenge, getting the fleet to Skypiea.

There were two known ways to reach Skypiea.

The first was the Knock-Up Stream, a natural phenomenon that shoots ships into the sky. While it was possible for a single ship to survive the stream, sending an entire fleet through would be impossible. Not only was the stream unpredictable, but there was no guarantee the ships wouldn't be destroyed mid-ascent.

The second route was the "High West Path," the route Claudius had taken on his initial trip to Skypiea. While safer, this route required experienced navigators to guide the fleet through treacherous waters and up the sky currents. Unfortunately, Claudius didn't have anyone in his crew with that expertise.

However, he knew someone who did, Marine Headquarters. Specifically, Vice Admiral Tsuru, who had decades of experience navigating tricky waters. If Claudius wanted to pull this off, he would need to partner with the Marines.

Sharing the profits with Marine might sting, but the potential payout was worth it. Besides, forming a deeper alliance with Sengoku and the Marines would benefit Claudius's long-term plans, especially with his Calm Belt projects underway.

With this plan in mind, Claudius made his way to Sengoku, who was currently occupying himself in the Prometheus library.

"Your Highness, Admiral Sengoku is in the library," the butler Nia informed him.

Claudius chuckled. "Hahaha, The Resourceful General indulging in some light reading? Let's go see what he's up to."

When Claudius arrived, he found Sengoku seated on one of the library steps, engrossed in a book. His glasses reflected the warm library light as he carefully flipped through the pages, clearly immersed in his study.

Hearing footsteps, Sengoku glanced up and smiled. "Your collection here is incredible, Your Highness. I must admit I'm a little envious."

Claudius laughed. "Well, a good chunk of it is thanks to you. Without Ohara, I wouldn't have been able to gather such a collection."

Sengoku sighed, a trace of regret crossing his features. "I didn't want that outcome either. Ohara was a cultural treasure. But as Marine Admiral, I had to make tough choices. It wasn't a decision I made lightly."

Claudius nodded but didn't push the conversation further. Instead, he gestured to a nearby slab of stone—the Poneglyph Robin had brought aboard.

"Ah, so you've noticed the historical text? I thought it would pique your interest," Claudius said.

Sengoku adjusted his glasses. "I was curious. Collecting something like this... Your Highness truly has a unique sense of curiosity."

"Haha, it's indestructible, isn't it? Fire, water, blades, it survives them all. I thought it was fascinating, so I brought it aboard to study."

Sengoku didn't press further. As a Celestial Dragon, Claudius's actions were beyond reproach. Instead, the two chatted for a bit before Claudius finally broached the topic of his grand plan.

"Sengoku," Claudius began with a sly smile, "I've got a business proposal for you. Something big. Are you interested?"

Sengoku raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A business proposal? How big are we talking, Your Highness?"

Claudius grinned. "Let's just say... hundreds of millions, at the very least."

Sengoku leaned back, crossing his arms. "Alright, you've got my attention. What exactly is this proposal?"

Claudius's eyes gleamed as he leaned forward. "Golden City, Admiral. What would Marine think if CP-X found the legendary Golden City?"

Sengoku's expression shifted, his gaze sharpening. "Are you saying... you've found it?"

Claudius's grin widened. "I'm saying we might have a very profitable opportunity on our hands, Admiral. But to make it work, we'll need Marine's help."

***

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