After hearing Bright's words, Ashiya's entire face went blank. Cold sweat uncontrollably seeped from his forehead, soaking through his filthy clothes.
"Hahaha! Just as expected of you, Bright!"
Tesoro laughed heartily, utterly unsurprised. "If you want to do something, just go and do it! That's the composure of the strong!"
Bright ignored him. He simply swam forward while watching Ashiya, waiting for his response.
Olga noticed the shift in atmosphere as well. She looked at Bright, then at her bastard father, and pursed her lips.
"What is it?"
Seeing that Ashiya still had not reacted, Bright urged him, "Mr. Ashiya, is this some impossible request?"
"I'd advise you not to refuse Bright's request."
Tesoro maliciously fanned the flames. "This guy always repays every grievance in kind. No one who has offended him has ever ended well."
Ashiya's plump body immediately trembled, as though he had envisioned some dreadful future.
"Just agree to it, bastard father!"
Olga angrily spoke up. "Bright is our lifesaver! What's so great about Pure Gold anyway!"
"But—"
The old father finally stammered, "Pure Gold always brings disaster."
"By disaster, do you mean that Lanternfish?" Tesoro chuckled. "That thing hardly counts as a disaster."
Ashiya choked on his words.
"Even if Lord Lanternfish's threat is nothing, Pure Gold itself will attract countless people seeking to claim it. Perhaps..." He paused. "Even the World Government might make a move."
"Then there's even less to worry about."
Tesoro waved a hand with a smile. "Bright is already the World Government's number one enemy. One more crime won't make any difference."
"Huh?"
Ashiya blinked.
Was the World Government Mr. Tesoro spoke of really the same organization he remembered?
Two hundred years ago, the World Government had ruled the entire world. It was unquestionably the overlord of the seas.
"Don't worry,