This man was really hard to deal with!
"If you're interested, I can let you take a look.
This list records figures from the World Government, high-ranking Marine officers, and famous pirates. You could say it's an essential handbook for our VIP reception staff…"
Baccarat forced a smile as she handed over the list.
She then watched Ren take it, flipping through the contents as if casually reading.
All she could do was maintain an awkward smile while waiting on the side, subtly signaling President Zans to leave.
After a short while,
Ren closed the list. Ignoring Baccarat's outstretched hand, he tossed it directly onto the weather ship.
"Proceed according to plan."
"Understood."
Sas caught the list and, without the slightest hesitation, activated the weather ship.
Amid the stunned gazes of the crowd, the ship rose into the sky.
All that remained on the spot was Vivi, standing behind Ren, coldly staring at Baccarat.
"Aren't you supposed to provide VIP reception? Lead the way, then. I just saw my own name on that list—'extremely dangerous' isn't a bad evaluation.
I'm just wondering whether this ten-kilometer-long ship of yours has anything fun enough to entertain me."
Ren urged coldly.
Vivi stood beside him with a stiff expression, like a bodyguard, though her eyes never left Baccarat.
At the same time, she secretly sized up Baccarat's outfit.
Ren's gaze had lingered on it for quite a while just now—so he probably liked that style…
Well, she could accept that style too.
So—better not let Baccarat look at her instead!
Vivi's inner thoughts went unnoticed, and no one paid attention to her expression.
Even Baccarat, perceptive as she was, felt a flicker of anger—but she still maintained a cordial smile on the surface.
"Of course. Gran Tesoro is the world's largest entertainment city.
Dining, entertainment, casinos—there's even the world's only eight-star hotel.
No matter what kind of fun you're looking for, you'll find it here.
If you need anything at all, just let me know."
Baccarat tossed him a flirtatious wink, her gaze silky as it rested on Ren.
But inwardly, it was a completely different story.
Bastard. Just wait until the golden spray erupts and you breathe in that gold dust—then I'll deal with you idiots properly.
You even took my list—that intelligence cost Lord Tesoro a fortune!
I'll have no idea how to explain this later. This time, I have to take both of you down and let Lord Tesoro enjoy a proper game!
Once you fall into Lord Tesoro's game, it's either death—or becoming a lifelong slave because of debt.
If you don't want to die, then obediently endure my humiliation when the time comes.
Even that strange ship you arrived on—and its crew—won't escape.
Every last one of you will become my slaves!
Baccarat's heart was icy cold as she calculated how to kill these two intruders.
But first—
She had to wait for the golden spray to erupt, letting countless particles of gold descend upon the city.
At that moment, whether they lived or died would be entirely up to Lord Tesoro.
With that thought, Baccarat steadied herself.
Then—
"Can we meet Tesoro?"
Ren asked bluntly.
The sudden question caught Baccarat off guard. She reflexively put on her professional smile.
"Of course. Lord Tesoro would never ignore a hero of your caliber.
However, he's very busy. If you'd like to meet him, the casino would be the best place—I can help you make an appointment."
As she spoke, Baccarat immediately changed the subject and pointed beyond the open terrace.
"Now then, let's set off—let's go!"
Leaving the terrace, they were greeted by a vehicle shaped like a car.
Its power source, however, consisted of palm-sized turtles with boundless strength.
According to Baccarat, the turtles here were different from those outside—a social species with their own system.
Much like Den Den Mushi, they had formed a cooperative relationship with humans, though not for communication.
Amid the conversation, the turtle car sped away from the terrace district at high speed.
"Phew—good thing I reacted fast!"
Back on the terrace, Zans wiped cold sweat from his brow, congratulating himself on his quick thinking.
"Haha, Zans, why do you look so miserable? You got beaten up and still had to cry injustice for the other guy?"
A fellow merchant president who came over to gawk laughed loudly at Zans's earlier performance.
"You don't know a damn thing!"
Zans couldn't be bothered to respond and hurriedly left the terrace.
These bastards were just enjoying his embarrassment—some of them had even wanted Tanaka to get him killed earlier.
In that situation, if the two sides had fought, Zans had no idea who would've won.
But from what he'd experienced after taking that one step back, he knew one thing—
Once a fight broke out, he would definitely die.
Pirates with bounties in the hundreds of millions were monsters among monsters.
And that one was Demon Ren—the very pirate who'd just made the World Economic News.
Even a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral wasn't his match, and he'd caused destruction on Jaya comparable to an earthquake.
At that distance,
Even the slightest hostility would mean certain death.
What use was all his money if he died?
The greatest tragedy in life was dying before spending it all.
But once I put some distance between us, that's where my stage begins!
Zans sat in a turtle car with a cold expression, rapidly finalizing his plan.
That bastard who nearly killed me definitely doesn't know the truth about Gran Tesoro.
Baccarat—that honey-tongued, vicious woman—has probably already taken them to see the golden spray.
Although no one can avoid it, we at least have contracts.
Gran Tesoro is a massive casino, so it follows Tesoro's rules.
After the golden spray, no matter how strong he is, he won't have a chance to turn things around.
Otherwise, the only ending is becoming a gold statue.
And he already offended Baccarat—Tesoro definitely won't let him off either.
In that case, I'll get involved myself.
Baccarat will definitely pull some tricks. As long as that idiot can't pay his debts and becomes a slave, I can buy him!
Then I'll hand him over to the Donquixote Family and reap massive benefits!
With that in mind, Zans drove the turtle car at full speed through the streets.
Just then, a thunderous boom echoed through the air.
A dazzling, massive spray of golden liquid filled one corner of the sky.
The spray burst and fell, accompanied by countless particles of golden dust drifting down.
Newly arrived tourists cried out in shock.
Because that was real gold.
Zans knew that not only were the particles pure gold—the golden spray itself was real.
Or rather, Gran Tesoro contained immeasurable amounts of gold.
It was as if a sea of gold flowed here.
But—
Anyone who understood the truth, even the most money-obsessed lunatic, would fear those falling golden particles.
A substance that controls people… that's a Devil Fruit ability.
With deep apprehension, Zans pressed a button.
A transparent glass dome rose over his modified turtle car.
Meanwhile—
Vivi gasped, her eyes dull as she stared toward where the golden spray had dissipated.
She'd already seen the massive golden bell beam on Skypiea, but she never expected to witness an even larger scale of gold elsewhere.
"Yes, this is Gran Tesoro.
Lord Tesoro purchased vast quantities of gold from around the world to create this miracle-like city."
Baccarat introduced it proudly, her gaze subtly flicking toward the two of them.
When she saw that neither of them took any precautions—completely ignoring the gold dust touching their skin and entering their lungs—
She finally relaxed.
As expected—
These two idiots had no idea they were already fish on the chopping board!
"It is impressive. A ship ten kilometers long—it's practically an island.
I'm curious what kind of power system can support such a massive vessel."
Ren's eyes glimmered with curiosity.
"What power system?
Gran Tesoro relies on two giant seafaring turtles for propulsion. It isn't affected by ocean currents or wind direction."
Baccarat looked at him oddly.
Was this something he didn't understand—or something that couldn't be said?
Ren didn't respond, instead turning his gaze to the city flashing past.
Beyond its dazzling gold, it even had skyscrapers reminiscent of his previous life.
Ten kilometers was merely the length of Gran Tesoro.
Its width was at least five or six kilometers.
What did that mean?
Roughly half the urban area of an average county city from his past life.
And the materials used to build such a ship undoubtedly included massive quantities of gold.
That weight, floating atop the sea, required not only extraordinary shipbuilding techniques—but indispensable power.
If I think carefully, every time Tesoro uses his ability, blue lightning-like energy erupts.
He also has techniques involving temperature, like golden divine fire.
From this, he should be able to control the aggregation and transformation of gold, and command the energy that reshapes it.
That explains how the several-hundred-meter-tall giant in the original story could move—and the patterns on its body.
Tesoro also wields abilities related to electricity, but those are byproducts of manipulating gold.
They can't compare to Nami's lightning, let alone my Thunder Spear.
Just by observing and combining it with original-story information,
Ren had already roughly grasped Tesoro's capabilities.
In that case, Gran Tesoro is essentially his main battlefield.
Like Crocodile standing in the desert… things are going to get troublesome.
Without question,
The upcoming meeting would not be pleasant.
Because Gran Tesoro was, for first-time visitors, an enormous trap.
As for why—
That depended on the woman beside him.
Luck Fruit, huh.
Ren closed his eyes indifferently.
Baccarat, who had been continuously explaining things, could only fall silent.
At that moment, the turtle car passed through the outer city and entered the ring-shaped inner city.
At its center stood a towering spire reaching into the heavens, its entire body gleaming gold as if cast from the metal itself.
In truth—
It was a tower made of gold.
"Look—that's Gran Tesoro's pride and joy: the Golden King Hotel, the world's only eight-star hotel!"
Baccarat introduced it with immense pride.
(End of Chapter)