One Piece: King of the World-Chapter 353: Hold High the Banner of Justice!

For the first time, Sengoku took the initiative to bring up this matter, showing his willingness to help and making his stance clear.

Claudius chuckled at his words and asked, "Fleet Admiral, have you thought it through? Are you ready to stand on my side?"

Sengoku didn't bother with the dust and debris around them, he simply pushed aside some rubble and sat down beside Claudius.

Then, he stretched out his hand, gesturing for a cigar.

"Heh… Didn't expect you to have a taste for this," Claudius remarked as he handed one over.

"Just barely," Sengoku replied, waving his hand dismissively.

After a brief pause, Sengoku sighed and said helplessly, "That question should be for you, Your Highness. Have you really made up your mind? This is the path you're choosing."

"You don't understand, do you?" Claudius asked with a grin.

"Who could understand?" Sengoku shook his head. "Your Highness, as a high-ranking Celestial Dragon, you're still young. Meanwhile, the Five Elders are aging, and your future is bright.

If you just wait a few years, you might even take one of their seats. Wealth, power, everything in this world is already in your hands. So why do this? Why take such a risk?"

Sengoku truly didn't understand what Saint Claudius was thinking.

Claudius smiled, patted Sengoku's shoulder, and said, "A man needs something to strive for. At my level, what else is there to pursue?"

Sengoku was taken aback for a moment. Was Claudius some kind of aimless drifter? Obviously not—otherwise, wouldn't he have just lived the easy life of a Celestial Dragon?

From the moment Claudius started stirring up trouble, forming CP-X and putting his own plans into motion, Sengoku had known this prince wasn't simple. He was a man with ideals, with ambition.

And such people always have something they're chasing.

That realization suddenly made everything click in Sengoku's mind.

At Claudius's level, power, wealth, status, none of it mattered anymore. The only thing left to chase… was the pinnacle.

"…Such a simple reason," Sengoku finally said with a wry smile.

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"So, have you made up your mind?" Claudius asked with a smirk.

"What's there to think about? The Marines don't have a choice in this.

Worst case, there's a change in Fleet Admiral and Admirals.

But as long as the structure remains intact, the Marines will still be the Marines.

I'm the one who's different.

Right now, I'm practically tied to you.

If I were to go to Mariejois right now and report to the Five Elders about the Calm Belt experiments, saying it was just a scientific project and had nothing to do with Your Highness… do you think they'd believe me?" Sengoku scoffed.

"Hahahaha! Of course not!" Claudius laughed.

"Exactly. So I have no choice but to follow Your Highness down this road, no turning back.

Right now, as Fleet Admiral, with the Marines under my command, I can provide you with a great deal of support in this power struggle.

But if I step down, if you stumble, if you lose Marine support and the plan collapses… then I'll end up in Impel Down right alongside you," Sengoku said seriously.

"As expected of the Resourceful General," Claudius praised.

Sengoku didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he turned to him and said, "Since I've already made my decision, I need to be fully prepared. If you have a plan, why not lay it out for me?"

"What do you want to know?" Claudius asked.

"Your Highness, how certain are you of victory?" Sengoku asked softly.

"There's no such thing as absolute certainty in these matters," Claudius admitted. "But if the enemy is caught off guard, if we strike suddenly with overwhelming force, our chances of winning increase significantly."

Claudius was preparing for a coup, and the World Government was completely unaware. That was a massive advantage, they would be caught entirely off guard.

On top of that, while Claudius didn't know the full extent of Imu's power, he was well aware of the capabilities of the Five Elders.

They weren't weak, especially the bald swordsman, who was quite formidable but that was about it.

Think about it, how much time could the Five Elders possibly have to train and strengthen themselves when they were busy running the entire World Government?

Without any real opponents to sharpen their skills, they lacked true battle experience. Their strength might seem impressive, but in reality, it was mostly for show.

So in terms of raw combat ability, the Five Elders weren't much of a threat. If there was anyone worth worrying about, it was Imu.

Which meant that if they launched a surprise attack, there wasn't much else to consider, except for the CP agencies. If necessary, they would have to be taken down as well.

Looking at the situation, Claudius had already made his preparations, CP-X was ready to move, and Marine Headquarters was essentially under his control.

Now, with Fleet Admiral Sengoku openly siding with him, what was left to worry about?

If the Revolutionary Army joined the fight as well, what could possibly stop him?

At this point, if a full-force blitz still didn't work… then fine, he'd admit defeat. Maybe he'd just take off and move to the moon instead.

Sengoku nodded but didn't press further. Instead, he asked, "Aside from the Marines, do you have any other allies?"

"To seize absolute power, I need to reshape the world in my own image.

First and foremost, I intend to bring an end to the Great Pirate Era.

To maintain stability, reduce class conflicts, continue the rule of the World Government, restore order, and fix this broken system.

The first step is to purge corruption from within. That's where the Marines come in, cleaning up the Great Pirate Era.

And the second step…" Claudius paused here, locking eyes with Sengoku.

Sengoku's eyes widened slightly as a thought crossed his mind.

"Would the Revolutionary Army count as allies?" Claudius grinned wickedly.

"Dragon!?" Sengoku was startled. "Wait… are you saying the Revolutionary Army has been one of your hidden pieces all this time?"

"I'm not that capable," Claudius replied casually. "But Dragon has been in contact with me for years. If not, CP-X would've crushed the Revolutionary Army a long time ago."

"Your Highness…" Sengoku was at a loss for words.

A Celestial Dragon-led Revolutionary Army? A revolution secretly backed by a Celestial Dragon? What kind of absurd twist was this?

"Even if their ideology is a bit extreme, they're young. They haven't been shackled by 800 years of rigid thinking. They can be guided, refined, and redirected, don't you think?" Claudius said nonchalantly.

Sengoku still seemed somewhat dazed, so Claudius patted his shoulder again and said, "Don't overthink it.

Dragon still hasn't given me a definite answer. If he insists on revolution, then… well, I'll have to apologize to Vice Admiral Garp.

But Sengoku, whether or not the Revolutionary Army is involved, my plan remains the same."

For years, the World Government had been trying to do the very things Claudius intended, ending the Great Pirate Era, maintaining stability, and reducing class conflicts.

But the Five Elders were too bound by their own constraints, too hesitant, too cautious. Claudius, being young, wasn't shackled by those burdens.

In comparing the two, Sengoku saw something in Claudius—hope. A future.

"…Is this justice?" Sengoku murmured.

"No. I'm not a villain, but I wouldn't call myself justice, either.

This is simply the method I'll use to solidify my rule.

Don't put some lofty title on it," Claudius said, waving his hand dismissively.

Then, leaning in close to Sengoku's ear, he whispered with a smirk, "Of course, that's just between us.

To the outside world, I'll be raising the banner of justice."