Chapter 494: Chapter 494: Pirate King: Golden City (11)

"Honestly..."

"Just dealing with that Straw Hat brat’s crew ended up dragging me into such a dangerous situation."

Thinking about how a single gamble had almost caused decades of his hard work to go up in smoke, once he came back to his senses, Tesoro couldn’t help but feel a trace of regret.

Make Orin lose?

How had he been arrogant enough to think like that back then?

Sitting on the luxurious sofa, Tesoro frowned deeply as he pondered. Those who run casinos understand gamblers’ psychological weaknesses better than anyone—this is an aspect of human nature that can never be erased.

Of course, Tesoro himself was no exception.

After all, in a sense, the Tesoro who had chosen this path in the first place was the biggest gambler of all.

But there was no road back for him anymore.

As long as he could defeat the Straw Hat crew, he wouldn’t have to lose his wealth, and he could continue maintaining that life above everyone else together with Stella.

So he absolutely could not lose!!!

As for how to deal with the Straw Hat crew, he already had some ideas. He absolutely couldn’t just guard the black box and wait for them to come—he had to take the initiative.

Just as Tesoro was thinking, the large doors slowly opened.

"Who is it!!!"

"I told you, no one is allowed to come in!!!"

Tesoro was holding the black box in his hands, already tense and on edge. Sensing someone approaching, his face immediately darkened—but the instant he saw who it was, his expression changed from gloom to relief.

"Tesoro, I brought you some food."

Holding a luxurious golden, jewel-encrusted lunch box, Stella covered her stomach and spoke gently.

"Stella..."

Tesoro was momentarily dazed.

"Didn’t I already tell you? Don’t worry about me. Your main task right now is to rest properly."

Even as he said that, Tesoro still stood up, manipulating the gold beneath Stella’s feet to move carefully, gently guiding her over to the sofa.

"I heard that something major happened recently on the Gran Tesoro, and now this tower too..."

Stella was a little worried. She knew that such a huge commotion had to mean something serious had happened.

"It’s nothing..."

Tesoro didn’t want Stella to worry along with him. He was confident he could toy with the Straw Hat crew just like he had played with those great pirates of the sea in the past.

"We’re a couple personally married by Orin-sama himself. Is there really anything I’m not allowed to know?!"

Perhaps because she was in the middle of her pregnancy, or perhaps because of her feelings for Tesoro, Stella urgently wanted to know everything. Seeing how agitated she was, a helpless Tesoro pressed his fingers to his brow and finally told her what had happened.

"It’s a bet. Something Orin-san said—I have to defeat Straw Hat Luffy..."

Tesoro relayed it, though not perfectly.

When he told Stella, the price became "if I lose, I’ll lose the Golden City and all my wealth."

Hearing this, Stella froze for a moment.

If we lose... will we become penniless?

"Don’t worry. I’ve already infiltrated the Straw Hat crew with gold dust. They can’t escape the palm of my hand. Right now, it’s just like a cat playing with a mouse..."

Tesoro spoke arrogantly.

But Stella was somewhat lost in thought, her mind drifting back to more than ten years ago.

Back then, Tesoro had accepted the seed money provided by Orin-sama: a Gold-Gold Fruit.

He then struggled alone on the seas, all for the sake of scraping together that enormous sum of Belly to redeem Stella from Orin’s hands.

When he had finally gathered enough money, Tesoro followed the agreement and took her away from the Sabaody Archipelago.

At that time, after paying the ransom, Tesoro could be said to have had almost nothing left. He could only sneak around digging up gold mines, each time managing to accumulate just a small amount of gold.

Life back then wasn’t as extravagant or carefree as it was now, but it was the most beautiful period of Stella’s life.

"Look, look! A gold necklace~ Stella!!!"

Back then, the young Tesoro—whose appearance closely resembled Ace or Shanks—had smiled and said that to her.

"It’s so pretty!!! But you’ve just started your business. You should use the gold for something important instead~"

"It’s fine~ I’ll put it on you."

"It’s a bit tough right now, but in the future I’ll become the richest man in the world. Stella, no matter what you want, I’ll be able to buy it for you!!!"

That young man had once made her such a promise.

But the Tesoro of today...

He regarded money as power, as honor, as the meaning of existence itself.

He was obsessed with draining everyone who entered Gran Tesoro dry. Those who lost their money and fell into massive debt could only become eternal slaves aboard the Gran Tesoro.

Stella didn’t want to see Tesoro like this.

She slowly lowered her head, shadows covering her face so her expression could no longer be seen...

...

"Carina, is what you said really true?!"

Elsewhere,

The Straw Hat crew, having temporarily escaped Tesoro’s surveillance, encountered Carina—the cadre who had been lying low by Tesoro’s side—in the restaurant.

"That’s right~"

"The black box that symbolizes victory and defeat has been hidden by Tesoro in a room on the second floor of the golden tower forged by Orin-sama, and I’ve already stolen the key!!!"

Franky was somewhat suspicious of her offer to cooperate.

"Why are you telling us this? You’re on Tesoro’s side, aren’t you?"

"Because if you win, Tesoro will lose the Gran Tesoro. When that happens, I, as a cadre, can directly take part in operating the ship. Maybe I can even get in touch with Orin-sama..."

Carina’s words carried a certain degree of credibility.

Backstabbing someone—very much in line with the Orin faction’s style.

"Then if you achieve your goal, our Straw Hat Pirates get one ton of gold!!!"

Nami took the opportunity to raise the price on the spot and demand benefits. Carina immediately protested.

"This is already to help you, okay?! And the crucial intelligence was provided by me!!!"

"But clearly, there are more of us taking action, right?!"

And so, Carina formulated the plan to steal the black box, and the Straw Hat crew began to move.

...

Outside the Gran Tesoro as well, many people were watching every move closely.

As for Tesoro bribing the Celestial Dragons to expand his business and influence, the Revolutionary Army had already set their sights on them.

"What a once-in-a-century gamble... It’s even more outrageous than the 200 billion Belly gamble between Orin and Crocodile more than twenty years ago... Also, your younger brother is here too~"

After intercepting the information, Koala turned and spoke to Ace and Sabo, who were resting.

"And... CP0 is very likely to come soon."

"Huh? Is that so..."

...

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"Why do I have to send ten warships to help Tesoro, Orin’s subordinate?!

The Doflamingo incident has already made the Marines lose all face!!!"

Lucci, dressed in a white CP robe, responded coldly to Sakazuki.

"Shut up. You just need to dispatch the warships."