Tesoro jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. As soon as he opened his eyes, he found Mr. Tanaka's face so close to his that it nearly startled him out of his skin.
"Boss! You're finally awake!"
Mr. Tanaka exclaimed with relief—he had fainted earlier after receiving a single glare from that swordsman.
After who knows how long, he had been rudely awakened by a kick, only to realize that his boss had also lost consciousness...
What happened here? Wasn't the boss supposed to unleash his full might and teach that swordsman a lesson? Why was he the one kicked awake by the swordsman?
Could it be... the boss was defeated?
That's impossible! This is the boss, practically the God of Gold himself!
And yet, as Mr. Tanaka thought about the sunglasses-wearing swordsman for a single second, his survival instincts kicked in, and he promptly decided to play it safe.
"Where's Vice Admiral Wright?"
Tesoro got to his feet, realizing they were now behind a rocky outcrop being battered by wind, but there was no sign of Vice Admiral Wright.
"Vice Admiral Wright?"
Mr. Tanaka looked baffled. "What Vice Admiral Wright? That swordsman, Blazer, has already left..."
Instinctively, Mr. Tanaka rubbed his abdomen, still aching from the kick, feeling somewhat aggrieved.
He was just an insignificant player—did the swordsman really have to kick him so hard?
"Before leaving, he told me to inform you to wait for him back at Gran Tesoro."
"..."
Tesoro steadied himself against the rocky outcrop, clenching his fists. He checked his body and found himself completely unscathed.
"Is this... Vice Admiral Wright's ability?"
His expression flickered uncertainly, until suddenly, his thoughts seized upon something.
"Tanaka! Show me—what's the condition of the scar on my back!"
"?"
Mr. Tanaka was utterly confused—his boss's star-shaped scar on his back was something Tesoro always considered a personal mark of pride.
Could it be that during the earlier fight, his back was struck?
Breaking into a sweat, Tesoro quickly removed his shirt. "Well? How does it look?"
Mr. Tanaka took one look at Tesoro's back and immediately paled.
"Bo—boss! Something's wrong!"
"Out with it!"
"Your... your scar is gone!"
"..."
What? How could a scar just disappear?
Tesoro ran his trembling hands over his back, feeling the smooth skin where the massive star-shaped scar had once been. It was as though the nightmare had never existed.
"Vice Admiral Wright..."
Tesoro let out a complicated sigh, put his shirt back on, and donned his sunglasses.
"Tanaka, we're heading back to Gran Tesoro!"
"Yes, boss!"
A few hours earlier, Wright had returned to Gran Tesoro. After stopping by CP1's room to deliver another "Confession" to the unlucky fellow there, he treated himself to a hearty meal at the restaurant.
After eating his fill and enjoying the entertainment, Wright sensed someone approaching.
"Excuse me, are you Lord Blazer?"
The visitor was a stunning beauty with long hair, crescent-moon-shaped gold earrings, a gleaming gold necklace, and black gloves. She wore an elegant black dress with white accents, her figure absolutely captivating.
"I am."
"Good day, Lord Blazer... I am Baccarat, Mr. Tesoro's secretary."
The long-haired beauty smiled. "Mr. Tesoro has invited you to the S-Class VIP Reception Room for a very important discussion."
"Oh? So, he's back already?"
Wright's words made Baccarat's pupils constrict. Tesoro had only just returned, urgently summoning her to personally deliver this invitation.
The S-Class VIP Reception Room... Even representatives of the World Government rarely had the privilege of using it.
Mr. Tanaka hadn't been forthcoming about what had transpired during their absence, but judging by the man in front of her, Wright was clearly not as amiable as he appeared.
"Yes, Lord Blazer. Mr. Tesoro specifically requested your presence."
"Very well. Lead the way."
"Ah... Certainly. Please follow me."
Wright rose and followed the slightly flustered Baccarat toward the S-Class VIP Reception Room.
Emerging from a golden wall, the large-headed Mr. Tanaka bowed to Wright.
"Allow me to escort you inside, sir. Please hold onto me."
Wright smiled faintly, placing a hand on Mr. Tanaka, with Baccarat doing the same.
Activating his ability—the Phase-Phase Fruit—Mr. Tanaka transported them through the thick golden wall and into the Reception Room.
This was evidently the only way to enter this highest-tier room.
Upon entering, Wright saw Tesoro rise to greet him.
"Lord Blazer has arrived, Mr. Tesoro. We shall take our leave now."
Even Mr. Tanaka and Baccarat lacked the clearance to stay in this room.
Tesoro nodded, and the two left through the wall.
"Vice Admiral Wright..."
Tesoro's expression was complex as he gestured for Wright to sit, pouring him a cup of aromatic tea.
"Mr. Tesoro, are you satisfied with my gift?"
Wright took a sip, savoring the tea. Hmm... far better than Sengoku's brew!
"Thank you, Vice Admiral Wright... I never imagined that mark could be removed."
"Even covering it with a larger mark was just self-deception. Every time the scar ached, I'd inevitably be dragged back into the nightmare of my past."
Tesoro let out a deep sigh. The brand of the "Soaring Dragon's Hoof" that marked him as a slave had been completely erased by Wright's ability. For Tesoro, it was as if his entire being had been purified.
Though still the Golden Emperor who wielded control over the power of gold, the madness, hatred, and cruelty that had once consumed him had nearly vanished. What remained was a resolute determination.
"It seems your perspective has shifted somewhat. Otherwise, you might have already unleashed the full might of Gran Tesoro against me," Wright remarked with a smile. "Failure can indeed be a powerful teacher."
"Even if I mobilized the entire power of Gran Tesoro, I doubt I could stop you, Vice Admiral Wright," Tesoro said bitterly. "Besides, I've come to understand what you said earlier—'This world has no need for self-proclaimed gods.'"
"My arrogance blinded me, bewitched by the power of gold—a power I once hated the most."
"Vice Admiral Wright, I can tell from your words and actions that your loyalty does not lie with the World Government or the Celestial Dragons."
Tesoro locked eyes with Wright. "A Vice Admiral blindly loyal to the World Government could never utter words like 'the world has no need for gods.'"
"And everything you've done so far only reinforces that statement!"
Clenching his fists, Tesoro continued, "I failed... A man nearly consumed by the power of gold no longer has the right to seek revenge."
"But you're different! You're steadily and decisively pursuing your version of justice!"
"Therefore, I wish to use my power over gold to assist you. The day you achieve your goal will also be the day my revenge is fulfilled!"
Wright sighed. Tesoro's mental state was crystal clear to him. His thoughts were completely transparent, unguarded—every word was spoken from the heart.
"You can arrange for your subordinates to maintain contact with me."
Tesoro spoke with conviction. "My past actions may not inspire trust, but my goal of revenge aligns perfectly with your ideals!"
"We can become partners. And as for the commercial reputation of my partnerships—when I, Gild Tesoro, say I'm second to none, no one dares claim first!"
"I swear it on the name of Stella!"
Wright was genuinely surprised. For Tesoro to invoke that name showed just how serious he was.
"Very well... From now on, we're partners."
Wright extended his hand toward Tesoro. "Perhaps, we can explore some new business ventures as well..."
Tesoro, gripping Wright's hand, hadn't even begun to celebrate when he heard something he never could have expected.
"How about working with Germa? What do you think?"
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