Not long after Germa 66's snail ship docked in the Golden City, Lucas's ship appeared in the distant sky.
After a few days of leisurely sailing, Lucas decided to speed things up using his Float-Float Fruit ability. The results spoke for themselves—air travel was, without a doubt, the fastest mode of transportation compared to sea and land.
Despite Germa 66 setting off more than a month earlier, Lucas still arrived at the Golden City at the same time as them.
The massive golden cruise ship slowly descended, landing gracefully in the harbor of the Golden City. As Lucas disembarked with the Charlotte sisters at his side, golden cannons fired in celebration.
Golden splashes burst into the sky, and shimmering gold dust rained down like a dream, painting the scene in surreal beauty.
"What a beautiful sight!"
The Charlotte sisters were mesmerized. They gazed at the golden sprays and the delicate flakes falling from the sky, their eyes sparkling with wonder.
In the Chat Group
The Gold Thief Woonan let out an annoyed groan.
Gold Thief Woonan: "Damn it! Is this spectacle all thanks to that Gold-Gold Fruit user?"
Pirate King Roger marveled,
Pirate King Roger: "It's incredibly luxurious! These young folks today sure know how to have fun. How much does this even cost?"
Golden Lion Shiki burst into laughter.
Golden Lion Shiki: "Shihahaha! Woonan, looks like you've been outdone by a junior. Even though you've got more gold than him, you definitely don't have his sense of flair."
Woonan shot back bitterly,
Gold Thief Woonan: "I'm nothing like him, okay? I hate people like this. No matter how much money I have, I'd never show off like this."
Despite his words, Woonan couldn't shake off the bitterness. He controlled a third of the world's gold, but to him, it felt like just a pile of useless metal.
But Tesoro? This man had transformed his gold into something grand, building a golden cruise ship the size of a small country. Just looking at it made Woonan feel a pang of frustration.
Fisher Tiger's voice cut in, filled with confusion.
Fisher Tiger: "Wait! What's going on over there? Pirates in captain hats, Marines in uniform, World Government officials, and even royalty—they're all mingling together like it's no big deal. How are they all getting along so well?"
Senju Hashirama added, equally puzzled, Senju Hashirama: "Yeah! Ordinary people aren't afraid of the pirates, and the pirates aren't afraid of the Marines? What's happening here?"
Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed in the chat.
Whitebeard: "Gurararara! Don't you get it? That's the power of money! Tesoro owns one-fifth of the world's money, and that kind of wealth lets him pull strings most people couldn't even dream of."
Woonan's interest piqued.
Gold Thief Woonan: "Go on, I'm starting to get curious about this junior of mine."
Whitebeard explained,
Whitebeard: "I heard Tesoro used his immense wealth to bribe the World Government and even the Celestial Dragons. His Golden City is officially recognized as a country by the World Government, making it an affiliated state."
Woonan scoffed.
Gold Thief Woonan: "Not surprising at all. When the World Government agents approached me, they offered something similar."
Golden Lion Shiki : "No way! But you didn't even have your own territory back then, right?"
Gold Thief Woonan: "True. But the World Government offered to help me seize a non-member nation, make me its king, and then have that country join the World Government."
Senju Tobirama: "That kind of operation is… shady, to say the least."
Lucas: "It's shady, but not surprising. The World Government has always targeted non-affiliated countries, treating them as easy pickings for manipulation and control."
Fisher Tiger: "But what about those peaceful pirates and Marines mingling together? What's the deal with that?"
Lucas: "Golden City is the largest entertainment hub in the world—it's all about business here. The last thing anyone wants is chaos. So, under Tesoro's financial influence, this place has become a globally recognized demilitarized zone."
Lucas: "Tesoro bought off the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. The World Government issued orders forbidding any fighting here. Marines, government officials, and royal families all comply because they have to save face. As for the pirates…"
Pirate King Roger: "I bet there's always someone who refuses to play by the rules, especially among pirates."
Whitebeard: "Gurararara! That's true. Pirates aren't exactly known for respecting the World Government's authority. But Tesoro found a solution—he bribed the Four Emperors."
Pirate King Roger: "Nani?"
Whitebeard: "You know the deterrent power the Pirate Emperors hold in the New World. The Marine and World Government can't protect every island, but the mere presence of a Pirate Emperor's flag guarantees safety. Tesoro used that influence to keep even the wildest pirates in check."
Golden Lion Shiki: "Wait a minute, Whitebeard… were you bribed too?"
Whitebeard : "I'd love to say no, but honestly… he gave too much."
Golden Lion Shiki: "Shihahaha….I didn't expect this from you, Whitebeard. I misjudged you."
Whitebeard : "Get over it! I've got a lot of sons to feed and a hometown to support. I need money, you understand?"
Lucas : "I get it! A penny can defeat a hero. Poverty is often the biggest enemy of even the greatest warriors."
As Lucas said this, he couldn't help but think of a certain hero who lost a battle—not to an enemy, but to hair loss and poverty.
Golden Lion Shiki : "What nonsense! I've never been stumped by money!"
Lucas : "That's because you're not a hero."
Golden Lion Shiki: "…
Whitebeard : "Gurararara! Well said, Lucas. Can't argue with that logic!"
Lucas : "Heroes have integrity and morals. You, Shiki, don't. That's why money never stumps you—you'll just steal whatever you need."
Golden Lion Shiki : "…You're right. I can't argue with that."
Lucas : But true heroes? They won't steal, even if they're starving. That's why being broke really hurts them."
Whitebeard :"Gurararara! That's exactly it. Tesoro gave me too much money, and I couldn't refuse it. So, I agreed to his request and lent him my flag to deter those unruly pirates."
Pirate King Roger: "Did the other Emperors lend him their flags too?"
Whitebeard:, "As far as I know, they all did. Even Red-Haired Shanks. He needs money too—you think he can throw all those parties without some serious funds? And Shanks isn't the type to steal either."
Roger laughed heartily. "That makes perfect sense!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Just as the chat group was buzzing with lively conversation, a sudden burst of gunfire echoed from the outside world.
In the Chat Group
Golden Lion Shiki : "Didn't they say there's no fighting allowed here? That's a slap in the face for Tesoro!"
The Gold Thief Woonan : "It's just two pirates fighting. One probably tried to snatch the other's treasure. The guy who lost everything in a gamble here probably went nuts. Once a pirate gets red-eyed with greed, they don't care about rules—or the World Government."
Whitebeard : "It'll be handled soon enough. This is Tesoro's last resort to maintain order. If neither the World Government nor the Pirate Emperors can keep the peace, anyone who stirs up trouble will be crushed by force."
Golden Lion Shiki : "Tesoro's strength must be pretty solid, right? If he's not strong enough, he's just a fat, golden target for other forces to feast on."
Lucas :He's strong enough. His combat power is no less than that of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and his Gold-Gold Fruit ability has reached the awakened stage."
Outside the Chat Group
A luxurious golden car pulled up next to Lucas and the Charlotte sisters, its polished surface gleaming under the sunlight. The car door swung open, and a bold, red-haired beauty stepped out, her attire as daring as her confident smile.
"Lord Lucas!" she greeted, her voice smooth and charming. "I'm Baccarat, your tour guide. I've been assigned to entertain you by order of Lord Tesoro."
She gave a polite bow before continuing, "Lord Tesoro is currently hosting the Celestial Dragons and doesn't have time to meet with you personally. He hopes you don't mind."
Lucas's smile didn't quite reach his eyes as he spoke, his tone laced with amusement. "Oh? Is Tesoro trying to show off his connections with the Celestial Dragons to intimidate me?"
As Lucas's invisible pressure—his Conqueror's Haki—settled over Baccarat, her confident demeanor faltered. Her face went pale, and her smile became strained under the overwhelming force of his presence.
Baccarat struggled to keep her composure. "N-no, of course not! You're overthinking it. The Celestial Dragons visit frequently, and Lord Tesoro always hosts them personally. It's just routine. There's no hidden meaning, I assure you."
Lucas withdrew his Haki, his expression returning to one of indifference. "Good. I'd hate for this to turn ugly." He glanced around before adding, "Since Tesoro's too busy, I'll wait. In the meantime, you're the tour guide, right? Show me around."
Baccarat nodded quickly, pushing down her fear as she led Lucas and the Charlotte sisters through the dazzling city. Any lingering thoughts of trying to outsmart Lucas were quickly dismissed—his overwhelming presence had made it clear just how insignificant she was in comparison.
At the Top Floor of the Golden City
In a lavish, gold-adorned room, Gild Tesoro stared at a live video feed of Lucas, his brows furrowed in frustration.
"He insists on seeing me? Damn it, what does this guy want?"
Tesoro wasn't eager to face Lucas. The rumors about Lucas's strength weren't just hearsay—he was far stronger than Tesoro, and even Kaido of the Beasts, hailed as the strongest creature in the world, couldn't match him. If Lucas decided to attack, Tesoro knew he wouldn't even have a chance to escape.
"Maybe he'll change his mind," Tesoro muttered to himself. "He might get distracted, have some fun, and forget about meeting me."
Then a thought struck him. "Wait… Germa 66!"
His eyes lit up as he connected the dots. "Germa 66 was involved in an incident with Lucas. Maybe Lucas is here for them and not me."
Tesoro felt a surge of relief. "Yeah, that makes sense. He probably wants to settle the score with them. And since I've got strict no-fighting rules in the Golden City, he needs my permission."
A sly grin spread across Tesoro's face. "Mr. Lucas, you're too kind. You don't need my permission—feel free to handle it yourself!"
Feeling more confident, Tesoro called over one of his subordinates. "Cooperate with Lucas. Let him deal with Germa 66. If he takes them out, it's no skin off my back."
But Tesoro wasn't done scheming. Just in case things didn't go according to plan, he decided to take extra precautions.
"Call the Marines," he ordered. "Tell them to send troops to protect the Celestial Dragons here."
Of course, Tesoro didn't care about the Celestial Dragons' safety—he was worried about his own. But by framing the request as a security measure for the Celestial Dragons, he knew the World Government would respond swiftly.
"If the Marines show up, they'll probably send an Admiral. Maybe even two."
Tesoro chuckled to himself. "If Lucas is really here for Germa 66, then great—I'll help him out, even if it damages my reputation a little."
"But if Lucas is after me…" Tesoro's grin faded slightly. "…well, with Marine Admirals here, I'll be protected."
He leaned back in his chair, feeling a little more at ease. After all, he was a major taxpayer for the World Government. As long as he didn't do anything stupid, they wouldn't let anything happen to him.
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