"Hahahaha! So that's how you people see me?" Claudius laughed, his voice hearty and unbothered. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised, but vicious dog? I suppose it fits in its own way."
Fisher Tiger watched Claudius, his sharp eyes flashing with curiosity. This man truly was unlike any other. Fisher Tiger had essentially insulted him, yet Claudius laughed it off as if it were nothing. It was clear that this Celestial Dragon operated on a completely different wavelength from the others.
After his laughter subsided, Claudius shifted his gaze back to Fisher Tiger and said, "Alright, enough with the idle talk. You must be wondering why I've brought you here."
Fisher Tiger was, indeed, puzzled. He didn't see himself as someone important. Sure, he was the leader of Fish-Man Street, but in the grand scheme of things, that title was meaningless. Claudius was a Celestial Dragon, and not just any Celestial Dragon—he was a powerful one. Why would someone of Claudius's stature bother with someone like him?
"Yes, I am quite curious," Fisher Tiger admitted, his tone calm but wary.
"Good." Claudius took a sip from his teacup, his demeanor casual yet deliberate. "Fisher Tiger, adventurer of some renown. Born in the chaos of Fish-Man Street, now its unofficial leader. And recently, you were captured and made a slave. Not many people know about that, do they? After all, you've been away from Fish-Man Island for years, off exploring the world."
Fisher Tiger frowned slightly, his confusion deepening. Claudius's knowledge of him was unsettlingly precise, as though he'd been keeping tabs on him.
Claudius smiled. "Tiger—can I call you that?"
Fisher Tiger didn't respond, simply waiting to see where this conversation was going.
"What do you think of Mariejois?" Claudius asked, his tone light, as though they were discussing the weather.
This time, Fisher Tiger didn't hesitate. "It's hell on earth. A cesspool of filth and cruelty."
Claudius nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the response. "You're right. For someone like you, it is a dark and evil place."
"And for someone like you, a Celestial Dragon, it's not, is it?" Fisher Tiger said, his tone bitter.
"Naturally," Claudius replied, his smile faint. "But you hate this place, don't you? You hate it so much you'd burn it to the ground if you could."
Fisher Tiger was silent for a moment before deciding there was no point in lying. "Yes. I'd burn it all to ash if I had the chance."
"Of course you would," Claudius said, nodding again. "But your hatred doesn't matter, Tiger. The world won't change just because one person hates something. After all, you're just… a small man, aren't you?"
Fisher Tiger had yet to escape from Mariejois. He had no way of knowing that one day he would succeed, that he would lead a rebellion, free countless slaves, and inspire a generation of revolutionaries. At this moment, Claudius's words stung because they rang true. He was just a single man, and his hatred alone couldn't shake the world.
"That's right," Fisher Tiger admitted softly, though there was a hint of defiance in his voice.
"But I'm different," Claudius said, his tone calm but firm.
The words were simple, but they carried a weight that Fisher Tiger couldn't ignore. Claudius wasn't wrong. Unlike him, Claudius had the power to effect real change. Even if that power wasn't absolute yet, it was undeniable.
Still, Fisher Tiger didn't understand what Claudius was getting at. Was this some philosophical discussion? A veiled threat?
Claudius reached for a stack of documents on the table and slid them across to Fisher Tiger. "I am working to change the world, Tiger. These are the results of my efforts so far. Take a look."
Frowning, Fisher Tiger picked up the documents and began reading.
What he saw left him stunned.
The papers detailed Claudius's initiatives: CP-X's crackdown on illegal slave traders targeting Fish-Man Island, the World Government's plan to establish a Marine base on the island to ensure its security, and even a program to liberate mermaid slaves from Mariejois.
There were also letters of cooperation signed by King Neptune and Princess Otohime, as well as a personal letter of thanks from Princess Otohime herself.
Fisher Tiger's mind reeled. He had noticed some changes during his time as a slave in Mariejois, but as a prisoner, he hadn't been able to piece together what was happening. Now, it all made sense. The curses and complaints he'd heard other Celestial Dragons muttering about Claudius were because of these reforms.
When he came across a section discussing plans to revitalize and develop Fish-Man Street, Fisher Tiger's eyes narrowed. He was beginning to understand why Claudius had sought him out.
After reading through the documents several times, Fisher Tiger placed them back on the table and looked at Claudius. This time, his tone was sincere. "Thank you, Your Highness Claudius. Thank you for everything you're doing for Fish-Man Island."
For the first time, Fisher Tiger used honorifics when addressing Claudius, a gesture that wasn't lost on the Celestial Dragon. Claudius smiled, clearly pleased.
With a wave of his hand, Claudius replied, "There's no need to thank me. It's just mutual benefit, after all."
"Many people have 'interests' in Fish-Man Island," Fisher Tiger said quietly. "But you're the only one who has approached it this way."
Indeed, over the years, many pirates, smugglers, and slavers had exploited the island for their own gain. But Claudius was the first to use a cooperative and relatively gentle approach, a stark contrast to the usual cruelty.
Claudius chuckled softly. "Well, I'm glad you noticed."
He leaned back slightly and asked, "Now that you've seen all this, do you understand why I brought you here?"
"I think I have an idea," Fisher Tiger said after a moment. "I don't know exactly what you stand to gain from developing Fish-Man Street, but it must be significant. Otherwise, you wouldn't waste your time on a slave like me."
Claudius nodded, acknowledging the truth in Tiger's words. "You're correct. There's a lot at stake here. I can't afford to fail."
According to Claudius's research, there were at least 100,000 people living in Fish-Man Street, with more orphans arriving each year. It was a chaotic and untapped resource. Fisher Tiger, as its de facto leader, was a key figure. A leader of 100,000 people, he might be a "small man" in the grand scheme of things, but in this context, he was indispensable.
These 100,000 residents represented an incredible labor force. With their natural physical strength, far greater than that of humans, they were ideal for Claudius's plans, which included developing the Calm Belt and establishing a foundation of trust between himself and Fish-Man Island.
Faced with the massive potential benefits, Claudius had no intention of taking shortcuts. He was determined to see this through properly.