If there's ever been a vilin who embraced his ambition, Spandiainly fit the bill. Ever since aligning himself with Cudius, his fiden his position had grown immensely. It wasn't unon for him to csh with other members of the Cipher Panization, flicts were practically routine.

  However, with Cudius bag him, Spandine was untouchable. The Cipher Pol agencies had tried pining to Cudius several times, only to receive nothing more than a ugh in response.

  Punishment? Out of the question. This was his loyal dog, someoh sharp instincts and an excellent ability to execute tasks. As long as Spandine didn't cross an irreparable line, Cudius would up any mess he made.

  Spandine, as Cudius's first and most devoted subordinate, was a master at reading his superior's preferences. For instance, sihe Marieo py by the rules and had cooperative retionships with Cudius, Spaen directed credit for achievements their way. This habit won him favor within the Marines, who frequently reported to Cudius how petent and dependable Spandine was.

  As for the Cipher Pol agencies? Spandine had long uood that Cudius held a certain disdain and suspi toward them, especially the older fas. Knowing this, Spandine showed no mercy to the "old guard" within Cipher Pol, ofteing them harshly and keeping them on edge.

  He had learhat as long as he didn't overstep and avoided disrupting Cudius's pns, the Cipher Pol agencies could pin all they wanted. Cudius wouldn't bat an eye, and Spandine would remain untouchable.

  With a satisfied smile, Spa away the Den Den Mushi and g Lucci. "You heard His Highness's orders, didn't you?"

  This time, Lucci responded directly, his cold voice devoid of emotion. "Of course."

  "Good. Just follow the instrus. This never happened. Make sure Tom is protected and eliminate any loose ends or potential leaks. Got it?" Spaone was sharp and anding.

  Lucci remained posed. Clearly, this wasn't the first time they'd handled such delicate tasks. "Uood. But… what are you so happy about?" Lucci asked, his cold demeaniving way to a hint of curiosity as he observed Spandine's unusually cheerful mood.

  Though Lucci typically maintained a detached and stoic personality, he had a fairly close retionship with Spandine, who had mentored him and treated him as a protégé. Spandine's pn to groom Lucci as a potential successor had fostered a level of camaraderie between them.

  Spandine's grin widened. "Didn't you hear? His Highness said he'll have my son serve him! Isn't that incredible?"

  Lucci raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "That's what you're so excited about? You call that a 'high-end profession'? 't you have a little more ambition?"

  "You don't get it," Spandine said with a smug expression. "Haven't you heard the saying, 'A servant of a duke is greater than a vist'? Now imagine being a servant to His Highness! Sure, serving tea may seem trivial, but it's all about who you're serving. Take Butler Nia, for example, she's just a maid, right? But eve Admiral Sengoku greets her with a smile and respect!"

  Lucci thought about it for a moment and begrudgingly aowledged the point. When he saw Nia, he always nodded politely out of respect, even if it felt odd.

  After a moment of refle, Lucci said with a sharp tone, "If you want your son to be like Nia, you'd better start by making him a woman."

  Spandine was taken aback, momentarily speechless. He quickly recovered aed, "What does that even have to do with anything? I think you're just jealous."

  After a brief pause, Spandine looked at Lucci with an uncharacteristically seal gaze. "Sometimes, I think… if only you were my son, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

  Lucci shivered and replied in disgust, "Don't look at me like that. It's revolting."

  Spandine blinked, stunned by Lucci's bluntness. Quickly brushing off the awkward moment, he waved his hand dismissively. "Enough of this nonsense. Back to business. His Highness wants us to shift the A on narrative toward Abasta. That's your job."

  Spandine uood that Abasta art of Cudius's pns. Crocodile had retly gained a foothold there, being a noble, and the nation's internal situation had grown increasingly unstable ever since. While Spandine didn't know the full details, he trusted that Cudius had his reasons. His only responsibility was to execute the task fwlessly.

  Cudius had mentiohe possibility of A oed rumors in Abasta, so Spandine khey needed pusible evideo back it up. If no evideed, they'd simply manufacture it. That part, he left to Lucci.

  Luodded, fully grasping the objective. The task was to frame the ari royal family by spreading false rumors. A simple enough job. "sider it done," he said.

  Haviled the matter, Spandine wasted no time calling his son. He instructed him to start learning proper etiquette and even suggested he take lessons in tea preparation. "If that boy 't even serve tea properly, I'll skin him alive!" Spatered to himself.

  ---

  Meanwhile, aboard the Prometheus, Cudius sat deep in thought about the A ons.

  It hadn't been long since he'd left Water 7, where he'd built a close retionship with Tom. On several occasions, Cudius had noticed that Tom seemed to have something important to say but always hesitated t it up.

  Cudius guessed that Tom likely possessed the blueprints for Pluton, the A on. However, Tom's kied nature would make him relut to reveal them, as he uood the devastating potential of such a on.

  Cudius respected that se and wasn't in a hurry to force the issue. Besides, even if he acquired the blueprints now, it wasn't the right time to act. If he tried to struct Pluton i, the Wover would almost certainly find out. At best, they'd fiscate the pns; at worst, it could jeopardize the fragile trust between Cudius and the Five Elders.

  For now, Cudius o maintain that trust. He was still assessing whether the Five Elders were worthy of his tinued alliance, or if they were better off discarded iure.

  As for Pluton, Cudius knew he'd o solidify his trol over the Marines first before even sidering any a. There was o rush.

  Tom still had an important role to py in the meantime specifically, building the sea train proje the Calm Belt.

  "Pluton," Cudius murmured under his breath.

  "Yhness, do you pn to return to Water 7?" Nia asked, having overheard Cudius's earlier versation with Spandine.

  Cudius raised an eyebrow at her question. "Why would I do that?"

  "For the A on," Nia said hesitantly.

  Cudius chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "What's the big deal? It's just a ship, after all."