Chapter 447: Dragon—Why Do I Feel a Bit Off?

At the Ministry of Civil Affairs within the World Government headquarters, Dragon was sorting through some documents on his desk. Sabo, formerly the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, now held the same position in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

"Take these documents and head to the New World," Dragon instructed, handing over a stack of papers to Sabo.

Sabo accepted the documents and asked, "The archives?"

"Yeah, categorize them properly so we can find them later," Dragon nodded.

Speaking of the New World, Sabo asked curiously, "Aren't you coming with us, Mr. Dragon?"

"I still have some work to finish here. No rush for now—just follow Claudius," Dragon replied without looking up.

"His Highness is going too? I thought he'd stay in Mariejois," Sabo said in surprise.

"I didn't ask him, but do you really think he'd sit this one out? He'll definitely oversee it personally, maybe even get involved himself. Sigh... I really don't want to go. I've already become a civil servant, so why do I still get missions like this?" Dragon grumbled.

"Hahaha! Well, this is important. Ending the Great Pirate Era and bringing stability to the New World is just as crucial as our administrative work, isn't it?" Sabo said with a smile.

Dragon chuckled and replied, "Yeah, that's exactly why I agreed to go. I haven't stretched my legs in a while, so I might as well check it out."

After a short pause, Dragon murmured with a hint of emotion, "Quelling the Great Pirate Era is indeed crucial. If we succeed, the world will become more peaceful and stable. At that point, we can truly focus on our vision, utilizing our talents to create a better future for the people."

"Exactly," Sabo nodded before adding with a grin, "But who knows? Maybe this won't be a serious battle at all. What if it's just for fun? Kaido and the others might not even be there."

"Hahaha! That's not entirely impossible," Dragon laughed.

Then, gathering some more documents from his desk, he said, "Let's head out together."

"Huh? Changed your mind? Are you coming to the New World with us?" Sabo asked in surprise.

"No, I meant let's leave this office together. These documents require Claudius's signature, so I'm heading upstairs to see him," Dragon clarified with a smile.

With that, he and Sabo left the Ministry of Civil Affairs office. At the corridor's entrance, they prepared to go their separate ways—one heading up, the other down.

"I really need to talk to Claudius about this, this headquarters building is outdated. It's time we install an elevator," Dragon complained, dreading the long climb.

"Agreed! Fortunately, I'm heading downstairs, so it's not my problem," Sabo joked, holding the files.

"Alright, we'll part ways here. See you in the New World," Dragon said with a nod.

"Are you sure we shouldn't wait for you?" Sabo teased.

"No need. Why, don't you trust me?" Dragon asked with mock annoyance.

"Hahahaha!" Sabo laughed as they finally separated.

Dragon then began his ascent to the top floor. Though his strength made physical exertion a non-issue, there was something oddly exhausting about climbing stairs. It was almost like a strange curse—as if no matter how strong you were, climbing beyond six floors would tire you out.

Panting slightly, he finally reached the door of Claudius's office. He knocked twice, and before long, the door opened. It was Nia. Claudius and the others had already relocated from the palace and were inside, briefing Doflamingo on certain matters.

"Mr. Dragon, you're here," Nia greeted him with a smile.

Dragon nodded and grumbled, "Seriously, listen to me—install an elevator in this headquarters."

Nia chuckled, "I completely agree."

As Dragon stepped into the office, he saw Claudius seated at his desk, a document in hand, looking somewhat hesitant.

Doflamingo stood beside him, pointing at the document as if offering advice. Meanwhile, Stussy was lounging on the sofa, a wine glass in hand, appearing completely relaxed.

Looking at Claudius and Doflamingo standing together, Dragon felt an odd sense of discomfort—something about the scene felt unnatural, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Something feels... off," Dragon muttered to himself before stepping forward and dropping his stack of documents onto Claudius's desk.

"These need your signature—various policies concerning our Ministry of Civil Affairs, including refugee matters. I think—" Dragon began, only to be interrupted by the puzzled expression on Claudius's face.

Even though all the nations under the World Government belonged to the same faction, conflicts and wars still broke out due to national interests and royal feuds.

The World Government generally did not interfere in these disputes, as each country had its own sovereignty. However, if a nation was unable to handle a crisis on its own, it could request assistance from the World Government, which would then intervene to mediate and maintain order.

Losers had to accept their fate—land concessions and reparations were common outcomes. But victors couldn't go too far either—massacres and complete annihilation of nations were unacceptable. Everything had to remain within a controlled framework.

In such conflicts, refugee crises often arose. In the past, the World Government didn't bother dealing with them—refugees were left to fend for themselves or seek aid from their own nobility.

But now, under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, new policies had been introduced. Refugees would be relocated and provided with opportunities to work—whether it was mining in the Calm Belt or participating in infrastructure projects. Jobs came with five insurances and one pension, ensuring a stable livelihood.

Though these might not be glamorous jobs, they were a lifeline for refugees who had lost everything. Wasn't it enough to provide them with stable employment? What more could they expect—royal treatment?

Of course, participation wasn't mandatory. Once a refugee saved up enough money to restart their life, they'd be free to leave, with a government-provided ferry ticket to ensure a smooth transition.

Seeing Claudius's confused expression, Dragon asked, "Why are you looking at me like that? Wasn't this your own plan? I think it's quite solid."

Claudius hesitated before asking, "I just sign here?"

Dragon frowned. "What's with your voice? It sounds hoarse."

Claudius coughed lightly and replied, "I've been a bit under the weather lately."

"Really?" Dragon didn't think much of it and nodded. "Yeah, just sign it. I've already handled all the arrangements—this is just the final approval."

Once the paperwork was sorted, Dragon asked, "So when are you leaving for the New World? I'll be going with you."

Claudius froze for a moment before hesitantly replying, "I'm not going. This time, I'll be staying in Mariejois."

"You're not going?" Dragon asked in shock. He never expected Claudius to willingly sit out a major event like this.

Just then, Doflamingo grinned and said, "Furafurfur... Dragon, I'll be heading to the New World this time. If you don't mind, how about traveling together?"

Although something still felt off about Claudius, Doflamingo himself seemed normal enough, so Dragon wasn't particularly surprised.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Dragon glanced at Doflamingo and said, "Since You're offering, I'd be happy to."

Still, Dragon couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. He and Doflamingo weren't exactly close—Doflamingo was usually indifferent toward him. Why the sudden warmth? Was something going on?

However, since Doflamingo was Claudius's cousin and a trusted figure, Dragon decided not to overthink it. If Doflamingo wanted to foster closer ties, there was no reason to refuse.

(To be continued.)

***

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