Chapter 290: I Had a Choice Before, But Now I Don’t!

Fortunately, Sengoku wasn't alone in this predicament. He knew that most of the Marine higher-ups, like himself, were siding with Claudius. While they didn't think too deeply about it, at least he wasn't a commander without support.

When it came to "conspiracies," Sengoku truly believed that if this situation played out seriously, Claudius actually had a strong chance of winning perhaps even a very high one!?

Just as Sengoku was lost in these thoughts, Claudius took a sip of tea and casually said, "By the way, Sengoku, do you know what the Five Elders told me after the meeting?"

Sengoku raised an eyebrow at that, then chuckled and shook his head. "How would I know?"

Claudius smiled faintly and spoke softly, "They said that after dealing with Newgate, they would introduce me to a very important figure."

"Ahahahaha! A big shot? Is there anyone more important than the Five Elders? Or bigger than you?" Sengoku laughed.

But as he laughed, his expression gradually stiffened, because he realized Claudius wasn't joking.

After a brief silence, Sengoku's face darkened slightly. He took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness… this…"

"Oh, you've heard of the legend of the Empty Throne, right?" Claudius suddenly sighed and asked.

Sengoku's expression changed slightly. Something flashed in his mind, and his face twitched before he replied in a deep voice, "Of course I have."

Eight hundred years ago, twenty kings came together to establish the World Government. They raised the throne high above the void, proclaiming it a symbol of equality.

No one was allowed to sit on the Empty Throne. It represented a principle the World Government had upheld for eight centuries.

Claudius nodded. "Yes, I used to believe that too until I discovered a certain secret."

"What secret?" Sengoku asked, his gaze sharpening.

"There is, in fact, someone sitting on the Empty Throne," Claudius said with a calm smile.

As soon as he said this, Sengoku's expression became complicated. He hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "Your Highness… please don't joke about something like that."

"I'd like to think of it as a joke too," Claudius replied, reaching out to pat Sengoku on the shoulder.

The Marines had always upheld the banner of justice. Although people often mocked them as nothing more than the World Government's enforcers, attack dogs used to maintain their rule, Sengoku had always believed in his heart that they stood for justice.

Even if they were maintaining the World Government's rule, it was for the sake of global stability, for the protection of nations.

But now, Claudius was telling him that someone actually sat on the Empty Throne…

Did that mean the Marines were nothing more than tools used to maintain a dictatorship?

Undoubtedly, this left an uncomfortable feeling in Sengoku's heart.

"Ahahaha, though I don't think I'm joking, I don't have any concrete evidence in my hands," Claudius suddenly laughed. "It's just speculation based on various clues. But after hearing what the Five Elders told me, I made some deductions."

He looked at Sengoku and continued, "Think of it as just a story I'm telling you Sengoku, no need to take it so seriously."

Sengoku's mind was racing, but in the end, he forced a smile and said, "Your Highness, you can't go around making baseless claims without proof."

"Yes, yes, I understand," Claudius nodded.

This kind of thing was enough to bring up, but Claudius knew it wouldn't be enough to completely turn the tide. There was no way Marine would immediately jump to his side just because of this revelation. That would be ridiculous.

To put it bluntly, this was just a way to plant the idea—an excuse, a reason. A grand banner needed to be raised. Interests alone weren't enough; there had to be a lofty ideal behind it. This was just an excuse for Sengoku to convince himself: I am not fighting for personal gain, I am fighting for justice for the truth of the world.

And when framed that way, it certainly seemed to elevate the cause beyond mere self-interest.

"Well, let's not talk about such rumors anymore," Claudius suddenly changed the topic with a smile. "Tomorrow, the World Economy News will publish the announcement about the expansion of the Reverie. That means the Marines can start taking action."

Sengoku, who didn't want to dwell on the previous discussion, nodded and said, "Understood. If the summit is doubling in scale, we Marines will begin preparations in advance. It makes sense for us to carry out the so-called 'security mission.'"

He smirked slightly and continued, "Even though the CP agencies don't get along with us, in situations like this, they wouldn't dare interfere too much. They'll do their best to cover our actions."

After saying this, Sengoku paused for a moment before asking with a smile, "Your Highness, when do you plan on summoning the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

"Hahaha, no rush. We'll wait until you Marines are ready," Claudius laughed.

"Can you really take down Newgate?" Sengoku asked with an expectant smile.

"Don't worry, we won't lose," Claudius said confidently. "And this is only the beginning. The real work still lies ahead."

Sengoku lowered his gaze slightly and murmured, "Yes… this is just the beginning. Your Highness, with you leading the way… we will bring an end to this Great Pirate Era, won't we?"

Claudius smiled and looked at Sengoku. "Of course. I promise you, Marine will be the one to bring this era of piracy to an end."

"Then, Your Highness, I'll be counting on you," Sengoku said with a smile.

Although neither of them explicitly stated it, both men were intelligent enough to understand what the other meant.

It was clear now, Sengoku had no choice but to stand with Claudius. And Claudius had provided enough incentives to solidify that alliance.

The promise he had made was simple: Support me, and I will ensure Marine has the power to end the Great Pirate Era.

It sounded straightforward, but in practice, it was a major commitment. After all, wasn't this essentially a blank check, one that guaranteed more resources, influence, and authority for the Marines?

This was exactly what Marine Headquarters wanted. As long as Claudius could deliver on this promise, it would be enough.

With that, Sengoku didn't linger much longer. He had only come to get a feel for the situation, and now that the Marines were about to go up against the Whitebeard Pirates, he had plenty of work to do.

After obtaining the "direction" he was looking for, Sengoku took his leave.

Claudius personally saw him out of the palace.

As Sengoku disappeared from view, Stussy, who had been standing beside Claudius, asked softly, "Your Highness, do you think Sengoku will truly stand with us?"

Claudius smiled knowingly and said, "The Marines might still have options, but Sengoku doesn't. He's already been marked as part of my faction. If we fail, do you think he'll have a good ending? He has no choice but to stand with us."

The Marines had a safety net, even if Claudius failed, the World Government would never completely dismantle Marine Headquarters. At most, there would be a purge or restructuring.

But Sengoku? He had no such guarantee.

Luckily, as Fleet Admiral, he still held full control over Marine Headquarters. At least for now, before any fallout occurred, he had the ability to steer the Marines' direction.

This was precisely why Claudius had invested so much effort in winning him over back when he was still just an admiral.

"Looks like Sengoku was tricked by Your Highness," Stussy chuckled playfully.

"Hahahaha, what trick? It's mutually beneficial. He can't expect to take my resources for free, can he?" Claudius laughed.