Tesoro and Stella

"An appointment? I don't remember this place offering reservations for purchases."

Ross asked calmly. What right did slaves have to choose for themselves?

Either this woman had truly been reserved by some important figure, or she was too naive, naive enough to believe the slave shop would easily sell her.

Those displayed in the windows were basically the slave shop's non-sale items. The price tag was merely for show.

"Tesoro said three years ago that he would buy me. He should be able to save enough money in the next few days."

After speaking, the woman seemed to feel as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Tesoro..."

A flicker of understanding passed through Ross's eyes. He knew who this woman was.

Gild Tesoro, the future owner of the Gold-Gold Fruit and the future Gild Tesoro, was the richest man in the world aside from the World Government.

His rise to power had been rather dramatic. Originally a thug who stole money and gambled, he encountered his Moonlight at the Slave Market and was moved by her, turning over a new leaf. He worked desperately to earn money solely so Moonlight could gain her freedom.

Unfortunately, just as he was about to save enough money to buy Moonlight, a Celestial Dragon appeared and easily bought his Moonlight away.

After that, Tesoro fell into darkness. He came to believe money could buy everything, seized Doflamingo's Gold-Gold Fruit, and eventually became the future Gild Tesoro step by step.

The real tragedy was that even after Tesoro became Gild Tesoro, one of the richest men in the world, he still could not buy vengeance against the Celestial Dragons.

If nothing unexpected happened, the beautiful blonde before him was Stella, Tesoro's Moonlight in the story.

"She really is beautiful."

To be worth fighting over by both a future powerhouse and a Celestial Dragon, Stella truly had her own unique charm.

Aside from her outrageously ample chest, her soft golden hair, snow-white skin, and delicate aura all made people want to possess her.

No wonder a woman like her could become the centerpiece of this slave shop, standing on display for three years just to draw in customers.

"Customer, what did you say?"

Stella had not heard Ross clearly, but both his attire and bearing, as well as the attendants following beside him, made it clear that he was a guest who had to be treated respectfully.

"Nothing. I just want to make a bet with you."

"Customer, what kind of bet do you wish to make?"

Meeting Ross's faintly smiling gaze, Stella could not help but feel a chill rise within her.

But he was an honored guest, so Stella had to serve him with a smile.

"Let's bet on whether Tesoro can buy you, shall we?" Ross said with a smile.

"Customer, please, you must not make things difficult for him. I'm willing to go with you!"

Stella's expression changed drastically. Without time to think, she completely misunderstood what Ross meant.

To her, Ross's words sounded like he was using Tesoro's life to threaten her into going with him.

"No, no. Whether he is involved or not, you're coming with me today. But before we leave, I want you to watch a good show."

"If the Tesoro you spoke of can successfully buy you with money, and the slave shop does not interfere, then I'll snatch you from him and teach him an unforgettable lesson."

"If Tesoro cannot buy you even with money, then you'll leave with me right in front of him. Better yet, give him an unforgettable memory. How about it?"

Hearing Ross's words, Stella fell silent.

She ignored the part about him forcibly taking her away. She had heard such things far too many times.

And precisely because she had heard them so often, she seemed to have overlooked many details before.

Three years. She had spent a full three years in this slave shop.

Over those three years, countless people had been drawn to her beauty and charm, including powerful pirates and wealthy merchants.

Yet not a single one of them had been able to take her away.

Did they lack money? Or were they not strong enough?

Since neither was the case, the problem could only be with her.

Perhaps the slave shop had never intended to sell her at all.

"Why..."

After realizing all this, Stella's face was filled with pain.

Why was it not enough that she had been captured, made into a slave, and forced to leave her homeland?

Why was there bottomless despair behind that so-called hope?

Who would... set her free...

At that moment, even though Tesoro had not yet arrived with the money, she already knew the answer.

Just as Ross had said, even if Tesoro saved enough money, he would still have no way to take her away.

From the very beginning, she had never been ordinary merchandise.

At this moment, Stella hated her own appearance a little. If she had not had this face, perhaps the traffickers would never have targeted her in the first place.

"Yo, Saint Ross?"

At that moment, a lazy voice came from nearby.

Ross? Was that his name? Stella's heart stirred.

But why did it have the word "Saint" attached to it?

Before Stella could fully understand, she raised her head and saw a scene that left her frozen.

The once bustling street had fallen completely silent. A Celestial Dragon in an isolation suit walked down the street, while people all around him knelt on the ground.

In the entire area, aside from that noble Celestial Dragon, only she, Ross, and Ross's attendants remained standing.

And that voice had come from the Celestial Dragon.

"Saint..."

Stella seemed to realize something. Her breathing quickened, and the way she looked at Ross turned terrified.

The guest who had just been speaking with her was actually a Celestial Dragon!

Thinking of the Celestial Dragons' notorious reputation, along with Ross's unquestionable tone just now, Stella's mind descended into complete chaos.

"Saint Filimon."

Facing the newcomer, Ross merely nodded slightly in greeting.

Topman Filimon was the sort of Celestial Dragon caught between idly eating and waiting to die and being an elite. He was neither here nor there. If not for his grandfather being Saint Topman Warcury of the Five Elders, he would not have been much different from Saint Rosward.

The former Ross had basically been on the same level as him.

Saint Topman Filimon

Overall Rating: A

"Saint Rosward mentioned you just now. I'll be going ahead. Once you return to the Holy Land, let's fight slaves together. I hope you pick some good slaves this time."

Filimon laughed heartily. He only glanced at Stella before withdrawing his gaze and continuing deeper into the Slave Market.

Though Stella's appearance and temperament stirred his interest, he was a noble Celestial Dragon and a descendant of one of the Five Elders. How could he publicly compete with another Celestial Dragon for a female slave?

She was merely a female slave. She was not worth too much effort.

After Filimon walked away, the entire street remained deathly silent.

One Celestial Dragon had left, but there was still another Celestial Dragon here.

"So I'm not the blond bastard."

Ross withdrew his gaze with some disappointment. He had thought he was the blond Celestial Dragon in Tesoro's story, but it turned out there was someone else.

Then again, it made sense. If Ross had not awakened his memories, he would never have come to the Sabaody Archipelago so soon.

"Honored sir..."

Stella looked at Ross cautiously. Before a Celestial Dragon, she barely even dared to breathe, much less behave as naturally as she had just moments ago.

"Just keep the same attitude you had before. Otherwise, I'll kill you."

Ross came back to himself, raised an eyebrow slightly, and gave Stella a meaningful look.

"Ah... yes, customer!"

Stella immediately sat up straight, kneeling on the display platform with her body tense. Clearly, no matter how hard she tried to relax, she could no longer act as naturally as she had at first.