Chapter 242: A Smile Is a Like-Minded Person?

When two massive ships like the Prometheus and the Gran Tesoro come close together, it can easily draw unnecessary attention, especially with the flamboyant flag flying on the Prometheus. To avoid complications, Claudius and his group used a smaller boat to make their way over to the Tesoro, accompanied by Stussy and others.

Though Claudius's face was somewhat known across the seas, there was a significant difference between the way he looked in photographs and his natural appearance. Unless someone was paying close attention, it was unlikely he'd be recognized.

Inside the Gran Tesoro's surveillance room, Claudius was watching one of the screens intently. The monitor displayed a middle-aged man in his forties with a somewhat bloated build.

The man stood out among the gamblers around him. His clothes were plain and shabby, resembling a ronin's attire, but he carried himself with an air of confidence. He was betting extravagantly, tossing chips onto the table in large handfuls like a seasoned gambler.

But something about him seemed off to Claudius, who rubbed his chin and murmured, "No way… isn't he supposed to be blind?"

Tesoro, who stood beside Claudius, had been incredibly busy lately. He was managing the resale of minerals from the Calm Belt, a business venture that even Doflamingo and Crocodile couldn't handle entirely on their own. In addition to overseeing operations on Fish-Man Island, Tesoro also had to manage his gambling ship and the maritime shipping business he'd inherited from Umit.

Fortunately, Tesoro had built a capable team to help him manage these ventures, allowing him to focus on the bigger picture. Among his plans was a grand project called "Golden City," intended to legitimize some of the more elusive aspects of his business empire. Claudius fully supported the project, though it was still missing a critical component: the Gold-Gold Fruit. Claudius had yet to hear any news about its whereabouts.

"Your Highness, we've been looking for this so-called blind man for ages, but we couldn't find him anywhere," Tesoro said softly, a hint of complaint in his tone. "And now, by sheer coincidence, he shows up here. Who gave you such bad intel and said he was blind in the first place?"

Claudius felt a twinge of embarrassment. In his memories, Fujitora had blinded himself as an act of penance, and Claudius had assumed he had always been that way. This led him to order his men to search for a blind swordsman, which might have caused them to overlook him before.

To hide his mistake, Claudius cleared his throat and said nonchalantly, "Ahem, whoever provided that misinformation is long gone. Let's not dwell on the details, it's good that we found him."

Tesoro silently cursed the so-called informant in his heart. "Good riddance," he thought. Anyone who dared mislead His Highness deserved to be dealt with harshly.

Then, shifting his tone, Tesoro added, "Though I haven't tested him personally, I can tell just by looking, this guy is definitely a master."

"Yes, he is indeed a master," Claudius confirmed with a faint smile.

Tesoro raised an eyebrow. "How strong do you think he is, Your Highness?"

After some thought, Claudius replied, "He shouldn't be any weaker than Kuzan or Sakazuki."

This declaration stunned Tesoro, Stussy, and the others present. For a moment, they were speechless. Someone comparable to a Marine Admiral?

Tesoro quickly composed himself. Considering Claudius's high standards, it wasn't entirely surprising. However, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about the source of this information. Was Claudius being misled again?

"Are you sure about this, Your Highness?" Tesoro asked cautiously.

"If we recruit him, we'll find out soon enough," Claudius replied with a chuckle.

Tesoro nodded, realizing that the man's strength would be evident soon enough. Even if he wasn't as powerful as Claudius claimed, he was clearly no ordinary individual, and any investment in him would likely pay off.

Claudius had a favorable impression of Fujitora. The man reminded him of Kuzan in some ways, though with key differences. Kuzan was a veteran Marine, deeply embedded in the institution and its values. While he harbored doubts, his loyalty to the Marines often outweighed his personal misgivings.

Fujitora, on the other hand, was entirely different. He had no ties to Marine tradition or its political constraints. This lack of institutional baggage allowed him to act on his convictions without concern for preserving Marine "face."

As a result, Fujitora's actions sometimes seemed abrupt or even reckless. Yet, his sense of justice was undeniable. He openly opposed corrupt systems and advocated for reform, aligning closely with Claudius's own vision for change.

One of Fujitora's most notable accomplishments in the future would be his successful abolition of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system. Using his position as a Marine Admiral, he gained the support of several royal families at the World Summit, effectively dismantling the institution.

This combination of idealism and decisive action made Fujitora a valuable ally in Claudius's eyes. If recruited, Fujitora could eventually be integrated into CP-X and later positioned within the Marines. Should he one day rise to the rank of Admiral, it would give Claudius yet another strong ally within the Marine hierarchy.

As Claudius continued to observe Fujitora on the surveillance monitor, he couldn't help but smile. The man seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself at the gambling table, but his dwindling pile of chips suggested his luck was abysmal.

With a lighthearted chuckle, Claudius said, "We're not going to learn much just by watching. I'll go talk to him myself."

He stood up, stretched his shoulders, and began walking toward the door.

Tesoro turned to one of his subordinates and said, "Go with His Highness. Prepare some chips for him and make sure he has a good time."