Holy Land, Mariejois – Inside the House of the Gods
The House of the Gods had essentially been taken over by Claudius, with only a few areas reserved for the Five Elders and their descendants.
Over the past two years, the vast estate had undergone significant renovations. The once-separate mansions of the Celestial Dragons had been merged into a single, unified structure. The estate now boasted an enormous artificial lake, beautifully designed gardens, and all the necessary luxuries.
Despite these grand changes, Claudius still preferred staying in his own palace, rarely taking the time to wander around.
At this moment, in the courtyard of his residence, Claudius was holding a pair of pruning shears, tending to an orange grove with a relaxed expression.
Not far from him, Nami had undergone quite the transformation. She had outgrown her slightly rustic appearance, now looking stylish and stunning. Her figure had become even more striking, and her short orange hair had grown into elegant waves.
She was carefully inspecting the oranges on the trees, occasionally picking off any that had been damaged by insects.
"If you ask me, wouldn't it be easier to just use some pesticide?" Claudius suggested with a smirk while trimming the branches.
Nami immediately put her hands on her hips, straightened her chest—causing an undeniable shake—and firmly declared, "Absolutely not! Using chemicals would ruin the flavor of the oranges! As an expert in this field, I'm telling you, the best fruit is the most natural!"
"You're the expert, so I'll take your word for it," Claudius replied with a smile.
Nami nodded in satisfaction and continued tending to her oranges. However, Claudius couldn't help but recall a certain memory, back on the Thousand Sunny, didn't Usopp spray their orange trees with pesticide all the time?
Was it just because they were at sea, and there was no other choice?
Shrugging off the thought, Claudius leisurely continued pruning the branches.
Over the past two years, he had been mentally exhausted, not physically, since his superhuman strength made such concerns irrelevant but the sheer weight of his responsibilities had been draining.
Step by step, he had to dismantle the corruption within the World Government, reform its administrative structure, rewrite laws, and coordinate the actions of various departments. The workload was staggering, and only recently had things finally started to settle into a manageable rhythm.
Although there was still a mountain of backlogged tasks, Claudius decided to grant himself a few days off.
After all, he didn't seize power just to become a slave to his work—his goal was to enjoy life.
This experience further reinforced an important realization: delegation was key, and an efficient system was crucial.
If he personally handled every single issue, he would likely wear himself out in the World Government's headquarters.
Thinking back, even the Five Elders had divided their workload among five people, despite working within an established system that had been running for 800 years. Even though that system had long since rotted, it had still been able to function autonomously.
With five people sharing the responsibility, it hadn't seemed too exhausting for them.
But when Claudius took over? It had been pure hell.
While physical exhaustion could be cured with rest and sleep, mental fatigue was different. Claudius had to rely on simple pleasures—fishing, gardening, and casual conversations with beauties like Nami—to relax.
After putting down his pruning shears, Claudius picked an orange, peeled it, and took a bite before casually asking, "Robin's still not back?"
Nami shot him a sharp look before deftly plucking a few yellowing leaves from a nearby branch. "Nope, not yet. It's been so long since the mother and daughter reunited, of course, they're going to spend time together."
"Then why didn't you go? Aren't you the navigator of the Prometheus?" Claudius asked with a grin.
Ever since he became the ruler of the world, Robin's mother, Nico Olvia, had naturally been freed from Impel Down. Robin, overjoyed by their reunion, had immediately taken her mother on a journey aboard Claudius' ship, the Prometheus.
Claudius didn't particularly mind, though he did miss Robin's presence.
"Me? I figured it'd be better not to intrude on their family time," Nami answered casually.
"Not intrude?" Claudius muttered, then chuckled. "I was actually thinking of calling Robin back in a few days."
"For what?"
Nami shot him a suspicious glance, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and pointed at him accusingly. "Wait—are you finally planning to make a move on Robin?! You already have the most beautiful woman in the world, not to mention Stussy and Nia! Isn't that enough?!"
"A true connoisseur wants everything. You wouldn't understand," Claudius shamelessly waved his hand.
Nami burst into laughter, then straightened her posture and teasingly asked, "What about me? Do I not even register on your radar? It almost feels like you're raising me to be some kind of pampered canary. I'm supposed to be your navigator, yet you keep me cooped up here in Mariejois instead of letting me sail. It feels like you're up to something."
"You?"
Claudius turned his gaze toward her, smirked mischievously, and deliberately clicked his tongue. "You're still just a kid."
"Kid?!"
Nami puffed up in outrage, crossing her arms beneath her ample chest—causing a very distracting bounce that nearly blinded Claudius.
"Want me to measure and confirm?" Claudius grinned wickedly.
Nami, who had been fuming, instantly flinched. Her bravado faded, and she muttered under her breath, "Pervert."
A faint blush crept up her face.
Truthfully, Nami hadn't had much experience with men—Zoro was one of the few she had close interactions with, along with those eccentric North Blue swordsmen.
But Zoro was completely obsessed with his swordsmanship and already had someone in his heart. Nami only saw him as a companion.
As for those other swordsmen? They were just rowdy little brothers to her.
Along her journey, she had come across all sorts of men, but none of them compared to Claudius.
He was, after all, perfect.
He had the looks, the strength, the intelligence, the charisma, and the sheer presence of the most powerful man in the world.
How could that not be attractive?
But love? That was a different story.
Nami wasn't quite there yet. However, if Claudius were to make a move… she wouldn't exactly be opposed to "trying things out."
As for his other women? Sure, she wasn't thrilled about sharing, but she could accept it. After all, who could possibly claim this man for themselves alone?
"Little troublemaker," Claudius laughed as he saw her reaction.
After a brief pause, he continued, "Originally, I wanted to call Robin back to have her work as my secretary. She'd be a great help in reducing my workload. But now that I think about it, she should spend more time with her mother first."
"Secretary? Pfft—yeah, sure. 'Help reduce your workload,' huh? More like 'secretary by day, stress relief by night,' am I right?" Nami arched an eyebrow.
Claudius glanced at her in amusement. "You're really letting your imagination run wild, huh? Be careful—you might get struck by lightning for thinking too many dirty thoughts."
Otherwise, why did Claudius never show up for the nightlife in Mariejois?
Nami, ever the free-spirited girl, simply shrugged. "Well, that's because you're too much of a playboy."
"Why don't you try being my secretary? Maybe you have hidden talents," Claudius mused.
Nami immediately took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest. "I highly suspect that's a trap."
Claudius sighed dramatically. The two of them exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
"Talking to you always lifts my spirits," Claudius admitted with a smile.
"You should cherish this rare gem of a beauty," Nami teased, waving him off.
(To be continued.)
***
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