The Five Elders let out cold snorts, shifting their gazes away from Claudius and turning them toward the gathered royalty.
Under the immense pressure, none of the kings dared to speak or even look in Claudius's direction.
Claudius, however, acted as if he noticed nothing at all. He smirked and casually said,
"The Heavenly Tribute, as a representation of the World Government's legal authority, naturally cannot be completely abolished, otherwise, our prestige would be lost.
No matter how you look at it, I am still a Celestial Dragon. I can't be the one to set that precedent..."
Hearing him say this, the Five Elders were furious.
So you do remember that you're a Celestial Dragon?!
"But in the end," Claudius continued, "the Heavenly Tribute is just a symbol of Celestial Dragon dignity.
It was never meant to be an economic burden on the world.
Over the past 800 years, however, it has evolved into a heavy financial strain on every nation.
So, I propose that we restore the original system from 800 years ago.
The Heavenly Tribute should be purely symbolic—a representation of honor, not a tool for oppression.
Every year, the 173 member nations will contribute a symbolic 100 million Berries to the World Government and Celestial Dragons.
This way, Celestial Dragon dignity is maintained, while we also demonstrate the generosity and magnanimity of both the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
What do you all think?"
Claudius grinned as he spoke, his tone playful yet unwavering.
100 million Berries per year was still a significant sum, but compared to the astronomical tribute currently demanded, it was an insignificant fraction.
For most nations, 100 million Berries was easily manageable.
Right now, the World Government demanded 10 billion Berries in tribute per nation, per year.
That meant a total of 1.73 trillion Berries annually.
Even in times of peace, this was an unbearable burden.
And in an era as chaotic as this one?
It was bleeding nations dry.
For the past eighteen years, the Great Pirate Era had put immense strain on economies worldwide.
Even the strongest nations were starting to crumble.
Yet, the World Government still demanded the same staggering amount, year after year.
Even worse, not all of it even went to the Celestial Dragons.
Where was all that money going?
Taking Claudius as an example.
As an Upper Celestial Dragon, he received 10 billion Berries per year.
A Median Celestial Dragon received 2 billion Berries per year.
A Lower Celestial Dragon received 500 million Berries per year.
Currently, Mariejois housed three Upper Celestial Dragons.
Even if you accounted for every Median and Lower Celestial Dragon, their total share was less than a third of the entire Heavenly Tribute.
The rest of the money?
It never reached the Celestial Dragons at all.
Instead, the World Government took the lion's share, using it to fund its own expenses and deficits.
Claudius wasn't blind to this fact.
But unlike the current World Government, Claudius didn't need to rely on the Heavenly Tribute for funding.
He had other means of balancing the economy—ways that would not crush the member nations.
Besides, he knew that a government budget wasn't supposed to be in permanent surplus.
Fluctuations were normal. A government should spend money, not hoard it.
Simply put—
Claudius wasn't desperate for the Heavenly Tribute.
So he could afford to make bold moves.
While most of the kings remained silent, Doflamingo and the others did not.
They openly discussed and refined the proposal, acting as if the Five Elders did not exist.
The Five Elders' faces twitched in rage.
Before long, Claudius spoke again.
"Then, as agreed in this World Summit.
The final ruling reduces the Heavenly Tribute to a purely symbolic amount, maintaining Celestial Dragon dignity while removing its burden on the member nations."
BANG!
Nusjuro slammed his fist onto the table.
"Absurd!" he roared.
"Claudius, you are far too reckless!
Do you realize how much Celestial Dragons spend each year?!
Do you know how much of the tribute goes to you alone?!"
Claudius chuckled.
"Ah, of course I know.
I alone receive 10 billion Berries per year.
My Donquixote family consists of two Median Celestial Dragons and six Lower Celestial Dragons.
A relatively small family, wouldn't you say?
Even so, we receive 17 billion Berries annually."
He was clearly unfazed by Nusjuro's anger.
The Five Elders knew this wasn't the full truth.
Claudius wasn't just realizing this now—he had planned this all along.
And sure enough, he shifted gears immediately.
"Ah, but I seem to have overlooked something.
The Five Elders have reminded me, there are 18 other Celestial Dragon families, each with significantly more members than my own."
Nusjuro's expression darkened.
He hesitated before speaking, choosing his words carefully.
"You yourself admit that your Donquixote family requires 17 billion Berries per year…
Do you realize how much is needed for the rest?"
Of course Claudius knew.
But he played along, feigning sudden realization.
"Ah… You're right! 17 billion would barely be enough for my family alone."
At this, the Five Elders' faces fell.
They weren't fooled.
Claudius was leading the conversation.
And then—
Claudius delivered the final blow.
"But the thing is…
This proposal has already passed.
According to the World Summit's laws, once a proposal is approved, it holds the highest legal authority.
If anyone wants to change it, they'll have to wait…
Four years.
What happens now, my lords?"
Silence.
Then—
Crocodile chuckled darkly.
"In that case, we need a compromise," he said.
"Doflamingo suggested reducing the number of Celestial Dragons earlier.
If there are fewer Celestial Dragons, then won't the tribute be enough?"
Doflamingo let out his signature laugh.
"Fufufufu… Claudius is right.
If the Donquixote family was the only Celestial Dragon clan left… wouldn't that solve the problem?"
Claudius grinned.
"But we'd still be 300 million Berries short…" he mused.
"Fufufu, cousin," Doflamingo smirked,
"I'm a generous man.
Why don't we reinstate my Celestial Dragon status?
I can pay 200 million Berries annually.
That leaves just 100 million—easy, right?"
Claudius laughed heartily.
"That actually makes perfect sense!"
BANG!
Nusjuro slammed the table again, his voice shaking with fury.
"Claudius—WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?!"
Claudius's smile vanished.
His voice turned cold and sharp.
"What do I want?
Heh…
As Donquixote Claudius, a High Celestial Dragon…
I propose the abolition of the Celestial Dragons!"
As soon as his words fell—
Boa Hancock smiled.
"In the name of Amazon Lily, this Empress agrees!"
"OUTRAGEOUS!!!" Nusjuro bellowed.
"MARINES—ARREST CLAUDIUS AT ONCE!!!"
But—
Sengoku simply took another sip of tea.
"The weather's nice today, don't you think, Garp?"
Garp, munching on senbei, grinned.
"Ahahahaha! Indeed!"
T/N: Some chunks of the latter part of this chapter were missing, and I couldn't find them; however, here is basically what happened, pieced together from the missing parts.
["Obviously, this is the tea just now.
And the reason why Mihawk complains to Claudius is because he originally said that he would give him the swordsman in Five Elders, but you secretly poisoned them? How can this be played?." ]
So from this basically Claudius poisoned them or something.