<h4>Chapter 106: Naval Headquarters Request for Assistance?</h4>


    "Hahahaha, don''t get so worked up. If you end up dead, this world would be a lot less interesting," udiusughed as he spoke.


    Dragon muttered a few curses on the other end before saying, "Alright, enough. Can we get back to the main point now? Where exactly are you?"


    "Prehistoric ind, Little Garden. I''m almost there," udius said, smiling.


    "Little Garden?" Dragon''s voice carried a hint of surprise. "What are you going there for? There''s nothing there but giant beasts."


    "I told you, it''s a vacation. Why do you care so much? Is it so strange that I''d want to catch a couple of dinosaurs as pets?" udius replied, feigning annoyance.


    "Thest time you said you were on ''vacation,'' you ended up capturing Gol D. Roger. I''m not buying it!" Dragon retorted without hesitation.


    "This time, I swear it''s just a vacation," udius said, slightly embarrassed.


    "Alright, whatever you say. I''m not too far from there myself, so I''ll send someone your way soon," Dragon said after a brief pause.


    "If there''s nothing else, I''m going to hang up now. I''m trying to read, you know. Books are thedder to human progress. Are you deliberately trying to hold me back? Is my being too powerful troubling you?" udius teased.


    Dragon sighed, as if resisting the urge to snap back. Finally, he said, "Actually, there''s one more thing I need your help with."


    "Oh?" udius raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"


    "Ahem, well, let me start with some good news. I have a son," Dragon said, his tone revealing a rare hint of joy.


    udius paused for a moment, doing the mental math. It did seem about the right time. "Congrattions," he said dryly. "But what does that have to do with me?"


    "Hahaha, well, I''m quite busy with my duties, and I don''t have time to look after him. I thought that if you, my dear brother, could spare the time, you could help take care of him. Maybe even be his godfather?" Dragon said, chuckling.


    "No way. I''m not interested. Goodbye," udius said tly, hanging up the phone without hesitation.


    On the deck of his ship, Dragon stared at the Den Den Mushi in disbelief. "Is he serious? Is babysitting that much trouble?" he muttered, venting his frustration at udius. After a moment of silent deliberation, he sighed, resigned, and picked up the phone again. This time, he dialed a number that stirred up memories and emotions.


    The voice on the other end was as gruff as ever. "Dragon? You scoundrel! Do you know what you''re doing? Starting a Revolutionary Army? That''s treason!"


    Dragon pulled the phone away slightly, sighing. "I have news, old man. You have a grandson."


    "What did you just say?" Garp''s voice lost all its usual bluster. "Repeat that!"


    "I said, you have a grandson," Dragon replied, this time with a smile.


    Meanwhile, back on the Prometheus, udius put down the phone and muttered a few choice words. "Do they both think I''m running a daycare or something?" It was almostical how simr Garp and Dragon were in that regard—both thinking udius would drop everything to y caretaker.


    "Monkey D. Luffy," udius murmured, shaking his head with a half-smile. Taking care of Ace was already enough of a challenge; he didn''t need to add Luffy to the mix, especially considering Luffy''s future. The kid was a walking ma for chaos, and udius didn''t want to deal with that.


    If he got involved now, what would happen when Luffy inevitably became a pirate? How would udius handle that situation? The thought alone made his head ache. It was better to stay detached, so that if the time came, he could act decisively. He''d spare him for Garp''s and Dragon''s sake, maybe even lock him up in Impel Down to keep him out of trouble. But for now, he''d rather not get involved.


    With his reading interrupted by Dragon, udius''s interest in his book waned. Looking around, his eyes fell on the little girl sitting on the steps of the library.


    It was Nico Robin. In the three years since the fall of Ohara, Robin had begun to heal, at least outwardly. She wasn''t as haunted by sadness as she had been when she first came aboard. Now, she sat leaning on the handrail, engrossed in a book.


    During these years, Robin had rarely left the Prometheus, even when they docked at Mariejois. She preferred the sce of the ship''s grand library. It was so well-stocked that one could spend a lifetime reading without running out of material.


    "What are you reading, Robin?" udius asked with a smile.


    Robin looked up at him, her dark eyes calm. "The history of basta," she replied.


    "Really? Looks like we''re on the same page," udius said, surprised.


    "You have the first volume, right? I finished that one a few days ago. I''m reading the second volume now," Robin said softly.


    In these years, Robin had essentially be a walking index for the Prometheus library. If udius ever needed a specific book, she could locate it in no time.


    Robin didn''t hate udius, per se. She understood that he hadn''t been responsible for Ohara''s destruction; he had only sought to preserve its knowledge. But she held a deep-seated resentment for the World Government, which inevitably colored her feelings toward him.


    udius could sense her conflicted emotions, but he never tried to exin himself. What would be the point? Telling her he was a reformer at heart would sound hollow. Time would be the ultimate judge of his intentions.


    Before udius could continue the conversation, his personal Den Den Mushi rang again. ncing at it, he saw it was from Spandane.


    "Odd timing," udius muttered before answering.


    "Your Highness udius," Spandine''s voice came through, dripping with his usual obsequiousness.


    udius chuckled. "What''s the matter, Spandine?"


    "We''ve located Dous Bullet, Your Highness. CP-X agents and Marine intelligence have pinpointed his position. It seems Marine is preparing to make a move as well. Should we join in?" Spandine asked.


    Before udius could answer, Nia entered holding the World Government''s official phone. "Your Highness, Marine Fleet Admiral Kong is on the line. They''re requesting CP-X''s assistance in a covert operation, with authorization from the Five Elders."


    udius sighed, realizing he couldn''t avoid this one. "Looks like I don''t have a choice, Spandine. Get ready."


    "Yes, Your Highness!" Spandine replied eagerly.


    With a smile, udius put down the phone. "Just when I thought I''d have a quiet day."


    ***


    Bonus Chapter.


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