Tesoro's Swelling Ego (Willful, Bonus Chapter!)

Near the special pier for the gambling competition, Aokiji, who had been approaching all along, was planning to go ashore.

Result...

Aokiji happened to spot some familiar-looking people near another shipyard in the distance!

Aokiji frowned.

"Jinbe, Hancock, and Bartholomew Kuma."

He tilted his head.

Why were they waiting there with that Mermaid Princess?

Aokiji already knew that Jinbe and Jinbe others were following Gawain. Vice Admiral Momonga had even played with Gawain's group before, so this basic information had naturally been passed on long ago.

The Cipher Pol might have some information about the date of the Fish-Man's landing, but the Navy doesn't know anything about it.

Now that Aokiji sees Jinbe near the docks in this Lawless Zone, he naturally has some doubts.

As for Aokiji's personality, if you have any doubts, then investigate it yourself.

As for the orders conveyed by the Five Elders —whether it was to guard Tesoro to prevent him from absconding with the funds, or to protect Gawain and Rosward's group of Celestial Dragon —it doesn't matter.

Anyway, Tesoro has already landed, and Borsalino is still with the Celestial Dragon.

Therefore, Aokiji decisively decided to turn his bicycle around.

Just then, he suddenly heard Tesoro's incredibly arrogant voice coming from behind him.

So he turned and looked at Tesoro.

After hearing Tesoro's declaration about becoming the world's richest man, Aokiji lost interest in listening.

He just pursed his lips, tilted his head, and lazily muttered something.

"They really don't know their own limitations."

As soon as he finished speaking, Aokiji adjusted his blindfold and then pedaled his bike toward the Lawless Zone dockyard.

There were hardly any people around the shipyard in the Lawless Zone.

After all, today is the opening day of the betting tournament, and most of the residents of Sabaody Island have gone to the island leased by Iceburg.

So the group of people standing by the dock easily spotted Aokiji riding his bicycle over.

Shirahoshi was lying in the sea, anxiously waiting for her compatriots.

But after she saw Aokiji.

"Wow, someone can actually ride a bicycle on the sea! How cool!!!"

Shirahoshi rested her chin on her hands, her eyes shining brightly. Seeing Shirahoshi's expression, Jinbe helplessly pursed his lips.

"Princess Shirahoshi, that's Marine Admiral. You must maintain proper etiquette."

"Ah, oh, oh."

Shirahoshi nodded, then her eyes continued to shine.

Meanwhile, Aokiji had already reached the dock. As he rode, the ice beneath his wheels carried him across the height difference between the dock and the sea, allowing him to stop easily in front of Jinbe and his group.

After parking the car and adjusting his blindfold, Aokiji turned around and waved to everyone with a deadpan expression and a lazy demeanor.

"Long time no see, everyone. What a coincidence to see the three of you here. Is Saint Gawain planning to take control of the entire Shichibukai?"

"Snort!"

As soon as Aokiji finished speaking, Hancock snorted in dissatisfaction.

"It's not your place to question the lord's decision, Aokiji. If you have any complaints, you should report them to the Five Elders and let them communicate with the lord himself!"

"Well..."

After being sprayed by Hancock, Aokiji innocently shrugged.

"No, I didn't mean that. You can tell, right? I'm very tired. I just walked a long way."

The reason I came over was simply to say hello.

In the past, although we knew each other, even after you became the Shichibukai, we weren't considered friends.

But now that you've followed Saint Gawain, that's quite interesting."

At this point, Aokiji leaned back on his bicycle and yawned leisurely before continuing.

"After all, this makes me feel like we're no longer enemies."

I actually admire Saint Gawain for this, because you guys aren't the kind of people who can just follow others!

"Hehe, there's no need for Admiral Aokiji to concern himself with what kind of people we are!"

Jinbe grinned and said politely.

"Also, is there anything else, Admiral Aokiji? If not, please leave!"

"Ha, Admiral Aokiji, that's quite a cold way to address me. You can just call me Kuzan."

Gion is with you guys too, and we're really good friends, so if it's not too much trouble, could you let me stay for a little while?

"Just for Gion's sake, I guess."

Aokiji smiled and said to Jinbe.

Seeing Aokiji so lazy, Jinbe frowned. He was about to say something when Kuma suddenly reached out and stopped Jinbe.

Kuma glanced at his notebook and then spoke seriously.

"As the saying goes, 'A single punch can prevent a hundred more.' The landing of the Fish-Man must be made official enough in front of the whole world!"

Since we're in front of the whole world, Admiral Kuzan isn't an exception. If even he has objections to the Fish-Man landing, then we might as well throw a punch at the Admiral!

As soon as he finished speaking, Kuma closed his notebook and then looked coldly at Aokiji.

Aokiji simply shrugged innocently.

"Alright, it seems I was mistaken. I thought the three of you Shichibukai were here to pick up some troublesome guy like Doflamingo or Crocodile, so I came to check it out."

So you're here to pick up the Fish-Man are coming to land!

Sorry, sorry, haha, since it's Princess Shirahoshi picking up her family, it would be really presumptuous of me to get involved.

"Well then, as compensation for my presumption, I can join you in welcoming and protecting the Fish-Man, but I don't know if you'll actually need it."

At this point, Aokiji waved his hand lazily and then gave everyone a smile.

Looking at Aokiji's expression, Hancock frowned and snorted.

"What a lazy fellow! He seems completely unmotivated. How could someone like you become Admiral!"

"Ah, Hancock, that probably has something to do with his Devil Fruit."

As a user of the Hie Hie no Mi, it's only natural that he lacks motivation or enthusiasm.

Jinbe gave a comment, then smiled thoughtfully.

"Aokiji, since you want to stay, then stay!"

With adults around, you shouldn't be a problem for us!

"Yes."

Aokiji tilted his head.

"I've said it before, we're not enemies. In the future... we might have frequent contact, who knows?"

To be honest, I'm very interested in your attitudes as adults. Sometimes I wonder what your views are on pirates?

But seeing you all makes me feel much more at ease. Someone who can accept you all shouldn't be as extreme and stubborn as Sakazuki, right?

At this point, Aokiji smiled slightly at everyone.

"In short, since I have come uninvited, I will fulfill my duty as a guard to atone for my presumptuous act."

I only hope that if I can help you, you will pass on a message to your superiors for me.

"I'd like to invite Saint Gawain to sit for a while, and I hope he can spare some time for me, haha."

On the other hand, near the special dock of the gambling competition, the Gild Tesoro's golden ship slowly docked.

Amidst the shouts of countless people calling for the Gild Tesoro, Tesoro stood at the bow of the ship, smiling with satisfaction.

Then, he suddenly waved his hand.

With his movement, the gold on his ship suddenly shattered into dust, scattering it towards the countless people around the dock.

The onlookers stared wide-eyed in disbelief as the golden rain fell from the sky, covering an extremely wide area.

"This is gold, real gold!!!"

"Is this the Gild Tesoro? He's actually raining down gold!"

"Hurry up and pick them up! We'll have enough for gambling for the next week!"

In an instant, the rain of gold was met with a frenzy of grabbing by the surrounding crowd. Many people were not even satisfied with catching the gold falling from the sky; they simply knelt on the ground and frantically collected the gold nuggets that had fallen to the ground.

When Tesoro saw this insane scene, he immediately revealed a satisfied, cold smile.

"What a bunch of utterly destitute trash! They were so easily controlled by me. That's the allure of money, the allure of gold! Haha!"

Amidst loud laughter, the Gild Tesoro strode confidently toward the dock, but no sooner had he taken a step than a violent tremor erupted nearby!

Snap!

Tesoro grabbed the gunwale of his boat and nervously looked around.

Countless shadows now appeared beneath the surface of the sea around his ship, and then, those shadows instantly broke through the surface, accompanied by violent waves, and a huge whale, along with hundreds of ships, rose to the surface!

The simultaneous emergence of hundreds of ships created enormous waves, which rocked the Gild Tesoro's ship violently. As he swayed with his Golden Ship, he glared angrily at the suddenly appearing giant whale!

On the whale, King Neptune had his tail wrapped around Mjosgard, who was dressed in a formal suit. The two of them looked around with rather strange expressions.

Neptune muttered to himself, puzzled.

"Wasn't it said that we'd appear near the large golden ship and then see the people who would pick us up?"

But... here... huh?

Why is it raining gold here? Is this also part of Gawain's welcoming ceremony?

At this point, Neptune scratched his head, puzzled.

"But gold is so boring; it's nothing compared to the jewels of the sea."

"Regardless, I appreciate your kind intentions!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Neptune looked around. Huh?

Where's Shirahoshi? Wasn't she supposed to be waiting at the dock? There are dwarfs all around, and Shirahoshi is so big and cute, how could she not see her?

For a moment, Neptune was lost in confusion.

Mjosgard, on the other hand, looked around and saw not only Tesoro's Golden Ship, but also various plaques and banners in the distance of the dock.

So he quickly patted Neptune's tail.

"Neptune, Gawain was talking about the dock where black and gold ships docked, right? This one looks like Pure Gold?"

"Oh?"

Neptune was taken aback; he examined Tesoro's Golden Ship closely.

"Okay, it seems I was mistaken..."

As he spoke, Neptune looked helplessly at the large golden ship not far away. This ship was so flashy that even he was bewitched.

On Tesoro's Golden Ship, the moment Tesoro saw Mjosgard, he froze completely.

"Why... why is Celestial Dragon appearing next to me?!"

And there's an ambush all around!!!

For Tesoro, he was suddenly surrounded by hundreds of ships that rose from the seabed – wasn't this an ambush?

How could Tesoro possibly calm down like this!

Just then, Mjosgard happened to shout something to Tesoro.

"Friend, haha, I'm so sorry, did our sudden surfacing scare you?"

We're so sorry, we'll be leaving now. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

As soon as he finished speaking, Mjosgard quickly patted Neptune's tail.

"There's a mistake. This is where Gawain holds his gambling tournament. That Golden Ship looks like it's here for gambling."

There are too many people here. Let's not cause trouble for Gawain. Let's turn around and head to Tree Island over there, number twenty-something."

Upon hearing Mjosgard's words, Neptune raised his Trident, led his fleet to turn around, and quickly left the gambling docks.

Even after Mjosgard left, the people on the docks, blinded by money, did not kneel down to Mjosgard.

All they could see were the gold fluttering and flying around them.

As for the strange sight of the ships surfacing, and the sudden appearance of Fish-Man?

Does having money matter?

After Mjosgard left, the Golden Ship...

Tesoro looked blankly at his hands.

"Hehe, haha, ahahaha!"

He suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.

"Even the Celestial Dragon are being so friendly to me!"

Even the Celestial Dragon treat me with utmost respect!

Those scumbags actually apologized to me, and he even asked me to forgive them!!!

At this point, Tesoro raised his hand sharply and slapped his own large ship.

Suddenly, the rain of gold from the sky intensified, and the people scrambling for the gold became even more agitated.

In this increasingly heated and almost uncontrollable environment, Tesoro first laughed maniacally, then clutched his head, his expression instantly turning sorrowful.

"This is the power of money, this is the power of gold. With enough money, even the Celestial Dragon have to treat me with utmost respect!"

But my money came too late, it really came far too late!

Why not sooner? If I had all this sooner, then... then...

Aaaaaah!!!

With a furious roar, Tesoro shook his head frantically, then waved his hand lightly, and gold instantly created a passageway leading to the dock in front of him.

As he walked toward the dock, Tesoro took a deep breath, reverting to his usual nouveau riche demeanor. Then, he raised his hands high and waved them around, sending a deluge of gold rushing towards his sides.

"Get out of my way, you trash! Go fight over the bones I'm feeding you!"

Poor wretches like you are born to be dominated by the rich, while I happen to be the richest person in the world, ha ha ha!

As he spoke, and seeing the significantly larger gold particles scattered to both sides, the crowd erupted in uproar and rushed to either side.

As for Tesoro, when he saw the thick crowd before him parting like Moses parting the Sea to create a passage.

He laughed heartily, then strode forward.

As he walked, Tesoro straightened his back more and more!

It's ironic that he once worried about the Celestial Dragon and the World Government, and that he used to feel uneasy about the wealth he possessed.

He never imagined that all his unease was just his overthinking!

He had just witnessed it with his own eyes; even the Celestial Dragon treated him with utmost respect and courtesy!

When have those trashy Descendants of God ever shown any kindness to anyone other than Him?

In an instant, Tesoro's confidence soared!

The shadow that had been hanging over him regarding the words "Celestial Dragon" and "slaves" had unknowingly vanished completely!

Keep up the good work, students taking the college entrance exam!

Learning may not be able to defy fate, but it can certainly change one's destiny.

Come on!!!