In the Holy Land of Mariejois, Cudius felt more than familiar with his surroundings. After all, this was where he lived. But despite having passed by the Wover's headquarters tless times, he had never set foot inside, let alone visited the top floor, where the Five Elders those who held the highest authority in the world had their office. The entire floor beloo them, spacious and prestigious.

  Born into the Celestial Dragons, Cudius, even in his previous life, had never had the privilege of meeting the Five Elders. He was, after all, part of the lowest rung of the Celestial Dragons hierarchy. But beside him now was Admiral Sengoku, who walked these halls with familiarity. It was clear this wasn't his first time meeting with the Five Elders.

  Walking behind Sengoku, Cudius couldn't help but think about how this man was likely the Five Elders' chosen didate for the Marine Fleet Admiral. It made sense. If Cudius were in their position, he'd likely favor Sengoku as well. Not only was Sengoku incredibly powerful and intelligent known as "The Resourceful General" but more importantly, he was obedient. Among all the high-ranking Marines, Sengoku had the closest ties to the Wover and followed its orders without question.

  Despite his strength and intelligence, Sengoku had always been the most loyal to the Wover, even to the point of carrying out a Buster Call on Ohara, destroying the isnd without hesitation. For him, following orders was Marine's ultimate duty.

  It was only ter in life, when Sengoku neared retirement, that he started to question these views and began to favor Kuzan for the role of Fleet Admiral. Unfortunately for him, the Wover had other pns, supp Sakazuki instead. But all that was still iure. Right now, Sengoku was the model of a Marine officer someohe Five Elders trusted implicitly and likely inteo pce at the top of Marine's and.

  As they approached the top floor, Sengoku hesitated outside the door of the Five Elders' office. Turning to Cudius, he asked, "Have you met the Five Elders before, Yhness?"

  Cudius blihen smiled and shook his head. "No, I'm just a minure among the Celestial Dragons. How could I have met them?"

  "Really?" Sengoku chuckled lightly. "They're not as intimidating as they seem. They're actually quite approachable."

  Cudius gave a polite nod, but in his mind, he disagreed. They're only approachable because they like you, Sengoku. They see you as one of their own. Try telling that to Sakazuki when he's being cold-shouldered iure.

  Sengoku knocked on the door, and after receiving permission to ehe two walked in. As expected, all five of the world's most powerful figures were present.

  It was Cudius' first time seeing them in person. While they were already old, they appeared youhan he had imagined from his memories of the future. Despite their age, they radiated a powerful aura that instantly made Cudius feel a little tense, as if standing in front of them made lying impossible.

  These me like the other Celestial Dragons, Cudius thought to himself. They exude real authority. They feel like true rulers.

  The Five Elders didn't spend much time addressing Cudius. They focused mostly on Sengoku, who provided a cise report o events. His report wasn't exaggerated or filled with unnecessary praise for Cudius, but it also didn't downpy the tributions Cudius had made, keeping things fair and banced.

  Cudius didn't mind. After Sengoku fihe Five Elders turheir attention to him. Cudius couldn't shake the feeling that there was something like relief in their eyes, though he couldn't quite pce why.

  "Donquixote Cudius, correct?" asked the bald elder who held a sword. He didn't bother introdug himself; it seemed he expected Cudius to know who they were.

  Cudius, ever respectful, nodded and replied, "Yes, that's correct."

  "Antonio's son?" the other bald elder inquired, as if recalling a distant memory.

  Cudius' father, Antonio, had passed away from illness long ago, but it seemed he had made quite an impression on the Five Elders during his time.

  "Yes, Antonio is my father," Cudius firmed.

  "Ah, I thought I remembered correctly," the elder said with a nostalgic smile. "It feels like just yesterday you were a child, and now look at you."

  "Thank you for remembering, it's an honor," Cudius replied politely.

  One of the other elders, a bearded man, studied Cudius for a moment before speaking. "Courteous and respectful. It seems you're quite capable, given how Sengoku speaks of you. It's rare to see a youial Dragon like you. Usually, all we see are those troublemaking brats who embarrass us with their behavior."

  Cudius managed a modest smile at the pliment, but inside he rocessing the situation. It was true many of the Celestial Dragons were arrogant and reckless, relyiirely on their bloodlio act above the w. Clearly, the Five Elders had little patience for such behavior.

  The elder tinued, "It's good to see a promising member from the Donquixote family for once. Your family has produced more than its fair share of... oddballs." He chuckled slightly, clearly thinking of Donquixote Homing, who had forsaken his Celestial Dragon status and goo live as a oner.

  Cudius chuckled politely but said nothing. He was fully aware of his family's strange history.

  After some pleasahe Five Elders shifted to more serious matters. Despite their apparent satisfa with Cudius, they o measure the depth of his uanding and ambitions.

  Without much preamble, the elder with the sword asked, "Cudius, as someone of your status, you must know why it's important to strive for strength. Is it because you're afraid we 't protect you?"

  Cudius paused for a moment, sidering his response. He decided that hoy would serve him best here. "Yes and no," he said.

  The elder raised an eyebrow. "Expin."

  Cudius took a deep breath. "You may not be fully aware, but about six years ago, I had an act. I ended up stranded on a deserted isnd in the New World. It was only thanks to Zephyr Admiral that I was rescued."

  The Five Elders exged looks but didn't interrupt.

  "Before that act," Cudius tinued, "I was like many of my fellow Celestial Dragons living without a care in the world, assuming my status was enough to shield me from anything. But that experieaught me an important lesson."

  "And what lesson is that?" the bald elder asked, clearly intrigued.

  "In this world, everything you have without strength is just an illusion. It may seem grand and secure, but it all be taken away in an instant. If you don't have power, thehing you possess status, wealth, even your life is at the mercy of others. So, I believe a person must rely on themselves above all else."

  As soon as Cudius finished speaking, the elder with the swhed heartily. "Well said, boy! You're absolutely right. In this world, strength is everything!"

  Cudius nodded. "That's why I seek strength. On the one hand, I trust that you protect me, but oher hand, I want to be strong enough to protect myself. That's why I've been w to grow stronger."

  The Five Elders exged approving ghe elder with the beard spoke , his tohoughtful. "You've got ambition, and that's a good thing. But what are your thoughts oure? How do you see the world, and more importantly, how do you see our Wover?"

  Cudius felt a slight chill at this question. They're testing me, he realized. He couldn't reveal his true thoughts, his desire for power and trol over the wover itself. If they sensed even a hint of disloyalty, they could crush him on the spot.

  Carefully choosing his words, Cudius replied, "I believe the world as it is today is stable, but that stability won't st forever. There are forces in the world, like the Golden Lion Shiki and others, who seek to challenge our rule. Careerists, like them, want to overturn the Wover and seize trol. While our strength is undeniable for now, the future is uain."

  His words were cautious, but they were enough to make the Five Elders take notice. For someone so young, Cudius already had a clear grasp of the global situation, and more importantly, he wasn't naive about the future.

  "And what do you think of our Wover?" the bald elder asked again, pressing the issue.

  Cudius khis was a trap. Critig the Wover would be foolish, but blind praise would be equally unwise. So, he opted for loyalty.

  "The Wover is the foundation upon which my identity as a Celestial Dragon stands," Cudius said firmly. "Anyone who threatens the Wover is my enemy because I uand that my power and status e from the stability and authority of the gover. We are inseparable."

  The Five Elders smiled, clearly pleased with his answer. Cudius had passed their test.