Chapter 237: Tangled Claudius

After confirming the plan, Sengoku stated that he would dispatch personnel to Water Seven as soon as possible to deliver the seastone environmental fusion technology to Tom. Tom would then collaborate with members of the Marine Science Division to develop a new generation of sea trains. The goal was to implement this project in the Calm Belt as quickly as possible.

The Aqua Laguna arrived two days earlier than usual this year. The heavy rain hadn't stopped, and the tsunami was already roaring. Standing in the tallest building in Water Seven, Claudius marveled at the massive waves generated by the Aqua Laguna.

What surprised him even more was the tsunami's peculiar behavior.

Instead of a single wave crashing head-on, it created a panoramic scene where huge waves rose all around the city, eventually converging in the heart of Water Seven.

"This is incredible," Claudius muttered in amazement. "For a city like Water Seven to withstand this year after year without sinking into the ocean, it's as if it's truly protected by the gods."

At first, Claudius thought the massive tsunamis would collide violently within Water Seven, but to his surprise, the city's intricate waterway system dramatically reduced the impact. By the time the waves reached the lower three levels of the city, most of their force had been dispersed. Instead of a catastrophic collision, the lower levels were merely submerged, with no significant destruction.

Claudius didn't understand the science behind it, but he couldn't help but feel impressed. "This is on another level. A city of water that has stood strong for centuries, it's unbelievable."

The tsunami flooded the lower three levels of Water Seven, and due to the rising sea levels during this period, the tides wouldn't recede until Aqua Laguna subsided completely in a few days. Aside from the breathtaking view of the initial tsunami, there wasn't much to see afterward.

Smaller waves would continue rolling in, but they posed no real danger. From his vantage point, Claudius could even spot thrill-seekers surfing amidst the choppy waters.

"This sea really is full of strange people," Claudius murmured to himself.

After lingering in Water Seven for a few more days, the Prometheus, a massive sailing warship, finally departed the city. Its next destination was the prehistoric island, Little Garden.

For some reason, the sailors couldn't shake off a strange feeling of familiarity about the route they were taking.

Sitting in the ship's spacious library, Claudius held an atlas filled with detailed information about ancient creatures, most notably dinosaurs. The book featured descriptions and stunning illustrations of various dinosaurs, even including photos taken on the prehistoric island.

However, Claudius seemed distracted. Though his eyes were fixed on the pages, he didn't flip to the next one for nearly half an hour. His thoughts clearly weren't on the book in front of him.

Robin, who had grown into a young woman by this time, was also in the library. She wore a lavender knit sweater, her figure already fully developed. She had added a pair of black-rimmed glasses to her usual attire, a simple combination of jeans and sneakers, perhaps to match her scholarly demeanor.

Her jet-black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, giving her a youthful yet composed appearance. There was a quiet elegance about her, enhanced by her faintly bookish aura.

Every time Robin visited a new island, she would buy as many books as she could find. Over the years, she had even enlisted the help of figures like Crocodile, Doflamingo, Enel, and Spandine to procure rare books from across the world.

While Robin didn't frequently appear in Claudius's inner circle, everyone on the Prometheus knew that she was one of his trusted confidants. She had a permanent residence aboard the ship, and Claudius never hid anything from her. It was clear to everyone that Robin, despite her quiet and introverted nature, was an indispensable part of Claudius's world.

Even Enel, known for his idiosyncratic nature, occasionally sent her journals and other writings he had "acquired" during his adventures. Of course, Enel didn't write them himself, he simply took them from others.

Claudius's wandering mind had dulled his senses to the point that he didn't notice an arm suddenly sprouting from his shoulder. The hand at the end of the arm opened to reveal an eye, peering intently at him. The sight was eerie, to say the least.

Robin had used her Devil Fruit power to create the eye, which now stared at the page Claudius had been stuck on, a picture of a triceratops.

Still puzzled by his lack of focus, Robin finally spoke from her perch on the library's third-floor balcony. "If you're this distracted, maybe you should take a walk and enjoy the sea view instead of wasting your time here."

Her voice startled Claudius back to reality. When he turned to look, his eyes fell on the extra hand and eye on his shoulder. Startled, his hand twitched, and the book nearly fell onto his lap in an unfortunate position.

Thankfully, his reflexes saved him in the nick of time. Annoyed, he complained, "Can you not do that without warning? Growing an extra hand out of nowhere is freaky!"

Robin's response was calm, as always. "You used to notice immediately. This time, you didn't even react for ages."

"I was just a little lost in thought," Claudius replied with a wry smile.

Closing the book, Robin looked at him curiously. "What's on your mind?"

Claudius paused before chuckling. "It's rare for you to take an interest in my thoughts."

Robin's expression stiffened slightly. Over the past few years, she had rarely left the Prometheus, preferring the quiet company of books to social interaction. Claudius's observation made her feel a little self-conscious.

Before Robin could figure out how to respond, Claudius stood and set the book aside. "I've been thinking about how to talk to my cousin."

"Doflamingo?" Robin asked, her brow furrowing. "Don't you two get along well? Did something happen?"

Claudius let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I just feel… a little guilty."

Robin tilted her head slightly, clearly intrigued, but before her curiosity could deepen, Claudius made up his mind. "Hesitating isn't like me. I'll just call him."

Though she was still curious about his cryptic words, Robin decided not to press further. Her momentary interest in his mood had already faded. She nodded and picked up the book Claudius had set down, retreating back to her reading.

Claudius, meanwhile, picked up his transponder snail and called Doflamingo.

Since the events on Minion Island, he had avoided contacting his younger cousin. Deep down, he didn't know how to face him.

Even though Claudius hadn't directly plotted against Doflamingo, he couldn't deny his role in Rosinante's death. He could have intervened and changed the outcome, but he had chosen not to.

The memory of Stussy telling him about how Doflamingo had cradled Rosinante's body and wept still lingered in his mind, filling him with an unshakable sense of guilt. Though Doflamingo likely had no idea about Claudius's involvement, the weight of it was something Claudius couldn't ignore.

When the call connected, Doflamingo's surprised voice came through. "Cousin?"

"It's me," Claudius said softly before forcing a more cheerful tone. "How have you been?"

Doflamingo chuckled. "Business is good, the crew is strong, and our influence in the underworld is growing steadily. Even the pirate business is booming."

"Good, good," Claudius said with a faint smile. He already knew all of this, having kept tabs on Doflamingo despite their lack of contact.

After a brief pause, Doflamingo added, "Cousin… were you worried about me?"

"…Yes," Claudius admitted after a moment's hesitation.

Doflamingo sighed, then let out a soft laugh. "It was hard at first, but I've moved on now."