Gran Tesoro
New World, a certain sea area
The sea breeze swept across the deck, carrying the scent of gunpowder and blood.
The wrecked Pirate ship slowly sank in the distance, its mast broken, its sails charred, and seagulls circling low around the floating corpse.
In the center of the deck, Luo slowly sheathed his sword. Bloodstains still clung to the blade, dripping onto the deck and splashing up dark red droplets.
The Pirate captain, who had just been killed by him in one move, had a bounty of 200 million Beli and had been running rampant in this sea for years, but now he had fallen to the hands of the unassuming "Surgeon of Death".
Roy stood to the side, watching Roy's retreating figure, a smile playing on his lips, "Your strength has improved quite a bit in the past six months."
Luo frowned slightly and replied in a low voice, "I don't want to fall too far behind them."
His gaze drifted to the distant horizon, where he seemed to see Ace, Luffy, Zoro, and the others training.
That was the direction that every comrade-in-arms was striving towards.
For the past six months, Roy and Law have been sweeping through the Pirate forces along the New World coastline. As a form of "practical training," Roy has almost never intervened, except for a very few enemies that Law could not handle alone.
"You can't live under someone else's protection forever." This is a phrase Roy said most often.
And Luo responded to this Trust with one brilliant and decisive battle after another.
His control over the "ROOM" space is almost instinctive; he can even instantly Cut and reassemble the structure of an entire enemy ship, turning it from a warship into a pile of scrap metal in a second.
Every cry of alarm and despair from the enemy was a step forward for him.
Roy looked at the boy before him, who had once been somewhat gloomy but was now increasingly composed and resolute, gently patted his shoulder, and smiled, "Don't worry, everyone is moving forward well."
Luo did not respond immediately, but an unwavering will burned in his deep eyes.
"... Not enough."
"To catch up with those monsters, I must become stronger."
He looked up at Roy, his gaze cold and resolute. "Shall we go back to headquarters next?"
Roy stood on the ship's railing, his back to the churning sea in the afterglow, holding a copy of the latest edition of the World Economy News Paper.
He didn't answer immediately, but stared at the headline of the newspaper, a meaningful smile slowly spreading across his lips.
"--No." He spoke softly, but his tone was firm.
"Pass the word, we're going to 'Paradise'."
Upon hearing this, Luo was slightly taken aback, raised an eyebrow, and subconsciously turned his gaze to the newspaper.
In the front-page photo, Gilles Tesoro, dressed in a gold-trimmed suit, stands in front of the glittering entrance to a giant casino, arms outstretched, a confident and radiant smile on his face.
The enormous city behind him was magnificent and resplendent, its neon lights shimmering like a reflection of the Milky Way in the sky.
The headline boldly proclaims: [Gild Tesoro Tesoro 'Grand Tesoro, the world's largest entertainment city'! Open to the world!]
Luo frowned and said in a deep voice, "Tesoro? That 'Gild Tesoro' who has recently become famous?"
He wasn't unfamiliar with the name—a rising star who had made a name for himself in recent years, operating between the underworld and legitimate society, controlling countless gold mines and the economy of the gambling city, and known for his extravagant luxury and extreme control.
And now, they've announced the construction of the world's largest entertainment metropolis?
Roy chuckled softly, tapping the newspaper headline lightly with his fingertips, a long-lost sharpness flashing in his eyes. "Yes... an old friend."
The sea breeze blows again, the newspaper pages turn, and the old images of an era flash by.
Paradise ·Gran· Tesoro
Sunlight streamed onto the golden dome of the city, reflecting a dazzling brilliance.
The entire city seemed to be cast in gold, with towering towers and wide streets, every corner flaunting the power of money and the extravagance of desire.
Roy and Roy quietly entered this "Paradise," dressed casually, indistinguishable from the other tourists.
With Roy's Teleportation ability, they traveled from the Battlefield of the New World to this floating island empire made of gold in just one day.
The Warships were stationed on a nearby uninhabited island and disappeared without a trace.
The streets were bustling with people, tourists of all kinds, and casinos, opera houses, luxury shopping districts and slave auction houses complemented each other, with neon lights and Flame outlining an extremely luxurious and dreamlike picture.
Luo looked at the bustling scene before him with slight shock, but as a doctor, he could keenly perceive the inconsistency beneath the surface.
His gaze swept over each pedestrian, and something "unusual" in the air made him frown slightly. "Something's not right in the air..."
He squinted, gazing intently at the barely perceptible golden light in the sunlight—it floated slowly like dust, yet could never get any closer to him and Roy.
"Roy, this dust..." he whispered, his expression tense.
Upon hearing this, Roy's lips curled into a slight smile, "As expected of you, you noticed so quickly."
He gently raised his hand, his index finger drawing an arc in the air. An invisible Spatial Barrier unfolded, easily keeping the golden dust out and preventing it from getting even an inch closer.
"Just a little trick by Tesoro," Roy said calmly, but his eyes were cold and sharp. "These dust particles may seem harmless, but they actually contain trace amounts of Gold Element."
"If the inhaler's willpower is weak, they will gradually be influenced by his abilities and eventually become a puppet under his control."
Luo's eyes turned cold. "So, everyone in this city could be unknowingly controlled by him?"
Roy chuckled softly, hands in his pockets. "That's why I said he's a dangerous old friend."
The two continued their stroll through the streets. Although they were in a bustling metropolis, their footsteps seemed to tread on the edge of an abyss.
Tesoro's lust for gold turned the entire city into a "golden trial."
Luo observed the residents and tourists on the street without showing any emotion. Some people were laughing enthusiastically, and some were gambling wildly, but the more enthusiastic they were, the more unsettling the "controlled calm" seemed.
Just then, Roy suddenly stopped and calmly looked at a blank paving stone in front of him.
Luo immediately became alert, standing right behind Roy, his Right Hand already on the hilt of the "Kikoku" sword, ready to draw it at any moment.
The next moment--
"Whoosh~"
A figure emerged silently from the ground, impeccably dressed in a suit, with a respectful expression. It was none other than Tesoro's capable butler, Mr. Tanaka.
He bowed deeply to the two men, his tone polite and formulaic. "Mr. Roy, Lord Tesoro has been informed of your arrival and invites you to the 'Golden Palace' for a discussion."
Roy nodded, his tone nonchalant. "Lead the way."
Mr. Tanaka smiled slightly and gestured, "Please follow me."
Led by him, the two passed through a metal facade at the end of the street and entered a passageway where light shimmered.
The roadside was lined with gilded walls and diamond-encrusted floor tiles, showcasing the "Gild Tesoro's" ultimate taste and ostentatious desire.
Soon, they arrived at an extremely magnificent palace.
Unlike the bustling city, this place is filled with an oppressive solemnity and luxury.
A huge golden chandelier hangs from the towering arched ceiling, its dazzling light spilling onto the deep red and gold carpet on the floor.
The waiters stood in neat rows on both sides, uniformly dressed, moving mechanically, with empty eyes—without exception, they were all "golden puppets."
At the top of the steps sat a man dressed in a white robe trimmed with gold.
He leaned back on the golden Throne, gently swirling a glass of red wine in his hand, his smile confident and radiant, as if he were the king of the entire world.
"Roy--! Oh my, what a rare guest!"
Gild Tesoro Tesoro.
Roy stood lazily on the red carpet, looking at his old acquaintance, and raised an eyebrow. "Your place... is as 'dazzling' as ever."
Tesoro threw his head back and laughed, the amber liquid in his wine glass swirling slightly. "Haha! Money, you know, has to be spent in a memorable way, right?"
His gaze suddenly fell on Law, his eyes narrowing, a hint of assessment and amusement flashing in them. "This is 'Surgeon of Death,' Trafalgar Law?"
"One of the legendary 'young naval monsters'? He's certainly young and promising!"
Luo met his gaze coldly, his eyes sharp as knives, and nodded slightly, but did not speak.