Chapter 224 Red-Haired Pays a Visit
In Sea Circle Calendar year 1514, if future people were asked what impressions they had of this year, perhaps there would be two answers.
The first was that the Revolutionary Army finally began to act. They consecutively overthrew several nations' governments, shocking the World Government and its member nations.
The second, of course, was the World's Greatest Audition held by superstar Tesoro in partnership with the World Economic News Agency.
Many people in the future would call this the dawn of the world's entertainment era.
A man named Tesoro first brought the concept of auditions to this world and cultivated a group of superstars whose fame would later echo throughout the world.
The songstress Uta was the most famous among them, but not the only one.
The vigorous grand audition was still underway.
The human competition zone's preliminary broadcasts had temporarily concluded. Next came the Mink Tribe's turn.
This was another huge explosive point.
For people across the seas, the Mink race was far too mysterious.
Before this audition, even the vast majority of people at sea knew nothing about this race—they didn't even know of their existence.
And now, Tesoro and the World Economic News Agency had brought this group before everyone, unveiling their mysterious veil.
Getting to the back of Zunesha to film was quite difficult, so Tesoro had long ago discussed this with the Mink Tribe's two kings, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi.
He would provide remote guidance, while other preliminary audition preparation matters would be handled by the Minks themselves.
So when that day's broadcast began, everyone felt the style had dramatically changed.
"This is Zou. Welcome to the Mink Tribe."
When the host's appearance emerged on the screen, Brett watching the broadcast couldn't help but smile.
It was Pedro.
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi really had some ideas—making such a serious man the host.
Pedro was a tough, iron-blooded man. His face showed obviously awkward expressions.
"Anyway, Zou's preliminaries begin now."
And so it started.
The Mink Tribe's preliminaries emphasized joy.
Probably because the judges and contestants were all acquaintances, everyone was smiling. The atmosphere was extremely harmonious, with everyone talking and laughing loudly. It looked as lively as a marketplace.
The contestants' talent displays were even more diverse and peculiar.
Probably the Minks didn't understand what kind of people Tesoro wanted. What they considered talent displays was showing off their advantages as much as possible.
So—
"I'm performing one-handed apple peeling!"
"I'll perform smoking with my nose!"
"I'm going to eat while doing a handstand!"
Brett's expression was quite subtle.
These skills were certainly impressive, but whether they fit this program was somewhat questionable.
Fortunately, the Mink Tribe wasn't lacking in genuinely multi-talented individuals.
Excellent singers, outstanding dancers, exceptional musicians took the stage in succession, ensuring this audition that the Minks had worked hard on didn't become a farce.
It even generated good reception because of its uniqueness.
Many people appreciated the Minks' joyful and distinctive style.
The following two days featured the truly grand finale—the giants and Tontatta taking the stage.
The reason these two races were placed last was because of their striking contrast. One was the giants, one was the Tontatta—their alternating appearances should create good program effects.
Facts proved Tesoro's small calculation was quite correct.
Whether the bold and powerful giants or the petite and delicate Tontatta, when they appeared in the broadcast, they amazed the entire world.
As said before, people understood too little about races like giants and Tontatta.
Mystery—this word was like a potion that bewitched hearts.
Though of course, the newspaper headlines were still dominated by that songstress.
Though her appearance was fleeting as a flash in the pan, her heavenly voice still remained unforgettable to the entire world.
In any case, preliminaries everywhere proceeded in an orderly fashion. As time passed, the audition's excitement grew higher and higher, with more and more people paying attention to this activity.
After the giants and Tontatta broadcasts concluded, it was Fish-Man Island's turn again.
People across the seas grew excited once more.
Other races certainly felt fresh to them, but when it came to attraction, naturally it had to be the mermaid ladies.
The entire world was in an uproar because of this activity Tesoro had organized on a whim.
In Dressrosa—
At the top of the tower standing in the city, Tesoro stood before massive floor-to-ceiling windows, smugly surveying the city below.
Since the auditions began, this nation had become increasingly lively. People from surrounding seas had started gathering here.
As the headquarters of Tesoro's company, Dressrosa was naturally one of the human competition zone's registration points. Moreover, because Tesoro himself was stationed here, this nation had the most registrants.
Probably people all felt Mr. Tesoro would be lenient toward locals.
"Hahahaha!" Tesoro suddenly laughed wildly.
He felt he could truly pioneer a brand new era—an entertainment era.
People in this world truly lived very hard lives, so they were probably quite obsessed with things that could let them temporarily enjoy some spiritual pleasure.
Tesoro felt truly smug.
The Pirate King pioneered the Great Pirate Era. His Great Entertainment Era didn't sound inferior at all.
Then—
"Lord Tesoro!" Suddenly, from the floor behind him, the big-headed doll Tanaka emerged from nowhere.
His expression was extremely strange, his forehead already covered in sweat.
"What is it, Tanaka?" Tesoro noticed his old subordinate's emotional distress and turned around with some surprise.
"Well—" Tanaka's face showed undisguisable panic. "There's a man who wants to see you."
"See me? Tell him to get lost!" Tesoro raised his eyebrows with some surprise. "Didn't you tell him he needs an appointment to see me?"
President Tesoro was usually extremely busy. Not everyone who wanted to see him could do so.
Even prominent figures in the New World needed to make appointments in advance to see him.
"But, Lord Tesoro," Mr. Tanaka's face showed a smile uglier than crying. "I think you should meet him, because this man who wants to see you is rather special."
"Special?"
Shortly after, Tesoro understood why Tanaka said "special."
"Pardon my sudden visit. Please don't mind, President Tesoro."
The red-haired man sat on the soft sofa in Tesoro's office with a brilliant smile.
"You—" Tesoro was truly astounded.
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