Baccarat, leading Elior to Tezoro, felt immense pressure.
She had tried to start conversations along the way, but Elior remained cold and dismissive.
At the moment, he simply had no patience for her.
Yes, she was beautiful—but Elior was not so desperate as to indulge in just anyone.
So Baccarat could only keep up her awkward chatter, ignored at every turn.
Tezoro's instructions had been clear: Elior must be treated with absolute respect, no matter what.
Therefore, Baccarat dared not neglect a single detail.
Riding in a carriage drawn by muscle turtles, they soon arrived at the Gran Tesoro Hotel.
From there, Tanaka, with his powers, transported Elior directly to Tezoro's location.
A lavish, private suite.
The moment Elior arrived, Tezoro, who had been waiting anxiously, stood to greet him.
"So this is the strongest man in the New World… that aura is overwhelming."
Even Tezoro was shaken.
Elior radiated a terrifying pressure that made others instinctively fearful, even submissive.
Baccarat and Tanaka, who had followed him in, felt it keenly.
It was the same whenever one stood before monsters like Big Mom or Kaido.
As a Yonko, Elior naturally carried this aura—one that inspired awe and demanded surrender.
Gion, Reiju, and Bonnie, however, were unaffected. Having been at his side for some time, they were already accustomed to it.
Tezoro, on the other hand, only grew more reverent.
"I have long heard of the name of the Yonko Elior. To see Your Excellency in person is an honor…"
After the usual pleasantries, Tezoro invited Elior to sit on a plush sofa.
He still didn't know why Elior had come. For his part, Tezoro only wished to build a relationship with this monster of the New World.
But before he could think further, Elior's eyes fixed on him—and his will surged forth.
An absolute command.
Though Tezoro's strength rivaled that of Doflamingo, he quickly fell under Elior's domination.
For a few seconds, he was dazed. Then, recovering, he returned to normal.
Neither Baccarat nor Tanaka noticed anything amiss. After greeting Tezoro, they promptly left the suite, closing the doors behind them.
Now, Tezoro was under control.
Elior was pleased. This ability made it easy to claim useful, capable subordinates.
"Will anyone important be coming to Gran Tesoro soon? From now on, you will address me as King. Understood?"
"Yes, my King. Four Celestial Dragons are arriving tonight."
"A Celestial Dragon…"
Elior frowned. More than anything, he despised them.
There were only two places the Celestial Dragons usually traveled for pleasure: the Sabaody Archipelago, and Gran Tesoro.
This floating city was recognized by the World Government largely because the Celestial Dragons favored it.
A paradise for the depraved.
"This afternoon, I will kill every Celestial Dragon that dares set foot in Gran Tesoro. You will announce that the Golden Emperor Tezoro has submitted to Yonko Elior. From now on, Gran Tesoro is my territory. Celestial Dragons are strictly forbidden to enter."
"Yes, my King!" Tezoro replied with deep respect.
"Also, Gran Tesoro belongs to me now. You are merely the steward who manages it."
"Everything by the King's will!"
"And another thing—I despise slavery. Release the slaves and ordinary debtors. As for the violent and criminal pirates, execute them all."
Gran Tesoro was filled with debtors enslaved by Tezoro's Golden Fruit powers, forced to labor like beasts of burden. Their lives were wretched.
Elior didn't pity them—he simply hated the very concept of slavery.
Those under his absolute control, like Doflamingo or Tezoro, he considered subordinates, not slaves. There was a difference.
Even Elior had principles and lines he refused to cross.
Tezoro himself despised the Celestial Dragons for his own reasons—once, in his youth, he had been their slave.
And yet, rather than eradicate slavery, he had gone to the opposite extreme—creating slaves of his own.
Gran Tesoro was filled with them.
Still, he bowed. "As you command, my King."
Satisfied, Elior rose to leave. Then, a thought struck him.
"By the way… have you ever heard of Pure Gold?"
In this world, there was a legendary substance known as Pure Gold—said to grant eternal youth.
Elior had been intrigued since learning of it.
"I've heard rumors, but I've never seen such a thing."
"Search for it. I want to see it with my own eyes."
Though he already had Bonney, whose Devil Fruit could extend life, Elior's curiosity lingered.
He wanted to see Pure Gold for himself.
Having given his orders, Elior left the Gran Tesoro Hotel.
Now, he waited for the Celestial Dragons to arrive.
By controlling Tezoro, Elior now effectively commanded 20% of the world's wealth.
Would the Gorosei sit idly by?
Elior scoffed. He did not fear them.If those cowardly old turtles dared move against him from Mariejois, he would crush them all the same.