Chapter 184: That Easy?

In the Isshin Dojo, Claudius and Koshiro sat opposite each other, a tea tray with an elegant tea set placed between them. Koshiro was demonstrating his tea-making skills.

Meanwhile, Mihawk sat in a dark corner of the dojo, his black sword resting by his side. The faint light of the evening illuminated his face as he appeared deep in thought, occasionally frowning and making slight gestures with his hands, as if trying to grasp something intangible.

To be honest, after Claudius fought Mihawk, his impression of the man took a bit of a hit. Perhaps it was because Mihawk had yet to earn the title of the world's greatest swordsman, and therefore lacked the sharp aura and dominant presence that came with such a title.

At the moment, Mihawk seemed more like a sword-obsessed man than a true master. While he possessed an aristocratic bearing, it wasn't the kind of grandeur Claudius had expected.

Especially after their battle, Claudius felt that Mihawk hadn't yet achieved the level of mastery that would command the utmost respect. Perhaps, in a few years, when Mihawk truly became the strongest swordsman in the world, Claudius would see him in a different light.

Claudius had originally planned to recruit Mihawk into the Seven Warlords of the Sea program, but Mihawk's elusive nature had always made him difficult to track down. This encounter in Shimotsuki Village had been entirely coincidental.

However, since fate had brought them together, Claudius intended to bring up the idea, though it didn't feel like the right time just yet. Mihawk, after their duel, seemed to have gained some new insight and needed time to process it. Claudius decided not to disturb him for now.

Koshiro elegantly performed a series of moves as he brewed the tea. Finally, he poured a cup for Claudius and smiled. "Your Highness, would you care to taste it?"

Claudius picked up the teacup, his curiosity piqued. He took a sip, expecting something remarkable, but found it to be quite ordinary. He frowned slightly and took another sip, trying to discern any hidden depth in the flavor, but it was still just... average.

After a moment of silence, Claudius put the teacup down and said sincerely, "I must admit, Mr. Koshiro, perhaps because I lack a refined palate, I don't taste anything special in this tea."

Koshiro froze for a moment, then scratched his head awkwardly and laughed. "Hehe, well, the truth is, Your Highness, I only started learning tea-making two days ago."

Claudius blinked in surprise, stunned by the revelation. He thought to himself: Are you seriously showing off your tea-making skills after just two days of practice? Do you think I, as a Celestial Dragon, am this easily impressed?

The two of them exchanged awkward glances, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Claudius cleared his throat and broke the silence. "Ahem, let's forget about that. Speaking of which, I've heard of you, Mr. Koshiro."

Koshiro quickly seized the opportunity to move past the embarrassing moment. "And I've heard of you, Your Highness. A friend of mine often mentions you, though I didn't recognize you at first."

"Hahaha, really? Then we must be talking about the same friend," Claudius said with a laugh.

Though Claudius had known of Koshiro's existence for a while, it was Dorag who had mentioned him during a conversation over the Den Den Mushi.

Similarly, Koshiro had heard of Claudius, albeit through Dorag's stories about the unusual Celestial Dragon.

Thanks to their mutual connection with Dorag, the conversation flowed more naturally.

They began discussing kendo.

Claudius, however, wasn't particularly invested in the topic. His swordsmanship was largely self-taught, with the basics learned from the sword-wielding slaves under his command. After that, his progress was fueled by natural talent and a unique fighting style that incorporated his Devil Fruit abilities. He was far from a pure swordsman.

He listened to Koshiro's theories about concepts like "cutting iron" and "cutting paper" but couldn't relate much. However, he did admire the passion Koshiro showed as he explained these ideas.

At the same time, Claudius couldn't help but acknowledge Mihawk's potential. Despite their earlier duel, Mihawk's single-minded dedication to kendo was something Claudius lacked. It was no wonder Mihawk would one day claim the title of the world's greatest swordsman.

After some more discussion, Koshiro asked with a smile, "By the way, Your Highness, what brings you to East Blue this time?"

That was a good question. Claudius couldn't help but want to give Koshiro a thumbs-up for his timing.

"Ah, nothing too pressing," Claudius replied casually. "Perhaps you've heard about the Seven Warlords of the Sea program? It's been in effect for a while now. So far, we've only managed to recruit one member—Crocodile, the sand crocodile but that's not nearly enough."

"I see," Koshiro said, nodding. "And do you have anyone else in mind?"

"Actually, yes," Claudius replied. "One of them is Bartholomew Kuma. I believe his strength and reputation make him an excellent fit."

Koshiro poured another cup of tea for Claudius and asked, "And the second?"

Claudius glanced toward Mihawk, who was still sitting in the corner, and said, "I hadn't thought of two before, but now that you mention it… what do you think of Mihawk?"

Koshiro raised his eyebrows in surprise but nodded. "Him? He's an excellent choice."

Hearing his name, Mihawk looked up, frowning slightly. "What are you two talking about? Is it something about me?"

"It's nothing. Just keep working on your kendo," Claudius said, waving him off. "I'll talk to you privately later."

Though curious, Mihawk didn't press further. He went back to his thoughts, still immersed in his world of swords.

Claudius turned back to Koshiro and changed the subject. "Actually, I'm also looking for a Devil Fruit—a Logia fruit, the Mera Mera no Mi. I heard it might be in East Blue. As the local authority, do you have any leads on its whereabouts?"

Koshiro's expression turned thoughtful. As the de facto leader of Shimotsuki Village, he was well-connected and had the resources to assist the Revolutionary Army discreetly. After a moment, he nodded. "Yes, I do know where it is."

Claudius was pleasantly surprised. "Really? That's fantastic! Mr. Koshiro, could you tell me where it is? I'd owe you a great debt of gratitude!"

Koshiro hesitated, scratching his head awkwardly. "Well, it's actually in my storeroom."

Claudius was dumbfounded, staring blankly at Koshiro. It took him a moment to process the information. The Mera Mera no Mi was just sitting in Koshiro's storeroom? How did that even happen?

But Claudius quickly recovered and said, "Would you be willing to part with it? I'd be happy to pay handsomely for it."

Koshiro smiled. "As it happens, I was already planning to sell it. There's no market for it here in East Blue, and I'd been thinking of giving it to a friend."

In the original timeline, without Claudius, Koshiro would indeed have sold the fruit to support the Revolutionary Army or fund the expansion of the Isshin Dojo. Though not a revolutionary himself, Koshiro was a close ally of Dragon and supported his ideals.

"Haha, what great luck for me!" Claudius exclaimed. "Name your price, Mr. Koshiro. Let's strike a deal, money for the fruit. We'll do business the proper way."

Koshiro named a price of 300 million berries. Claudius, however, didn't want to shortchange him. The Mera Mera no Mi was worth far more, especially in the New World, where it could fetch a billion berries if sold to the Marines.

After some negotiation, they settled on 500 million berries, a fair price for both sides. Claudius paid without hesitation and successfully acquired the Mera Mera no Mi. The transaction had been so smooth it felt almost surreal to him.

Was it really this easy? Claudius thought to himself, still a little incredulous. But after considering the circumstances, he realized it truly had been that simple.