Having vaguely recovered from his psychological trauma, Tesoro followed the path parted by the crowd, leading his men all the way to the registration area.
Upon meeting, Tesoro immediately threw out more than a dozen gold bars, which jingled loudly on the registration table.
Looking at the gold in front of them, the girls at the registration desk exchanged glances.
"Uh, Gild Tesoro, hello, you're here to register for the competition, right?"
However, before you sign up, I must make it clear to you that as a user of the Gold-Gold Fruit, our club president has a special rule: you cannot use gold as gambling stakes!
Because we cannot guarantee whether your gold is real gold or gold that you assimilated after Awakening!
"What?!!"
Upon hearing this, the Gild Tesoro frowned.
"Iceburg actually left behind such a rule, damn it, hahaha!"
A mayor who's also a shipwright probably can't imagine what kind of life the world's richest man like me actually leads!
Assimilation? Would I use such a boring method as assimilation to wager a contest of money with him?
"Narrow-minded trash!"
At this point, the Gild Tesoro waved his hand.
"Gambling is a contest of luck, and as for the stakes, they are just like sunflowers that constantly change direction with the sun of luck!"
But luck has always been on my side. I'm never worried about losing. How could I possibly use assimilated gold to participate in a second-rate gambling competition organized by that third-rate merchant Iceburg!
The Gild Tesoro turned around and glanced at his subordinates behind him.
"Baccarat, open our cabins and let these country bumpkins from the backwaters of Sabaody and Water 7 know what real wealth is!"
Then, haha, you all should sign up! Let the whole world see that only Tesoro Entertainment Kingdom is the true New World of gambling where all the gambling masters gather!!!
With Tesoro's roar, the Golden Ship docked at the distant pier suddenly opened its hull.
Instantly, countless Beli banknotes fluttered in the wind!
The money fueled the already frenzied gold rush at the docks, and of the three Tree Island leased by Iceburg, the Tree Island where the Gild Tesoro landed was completely overrun!
Because countless betting participants poured out of their hotels and waiting areas, they all joined the money-making frenzy...
At the registration desk, seeing the banknotes fluttering in the air like snowflakes, even though they had prepared in advance for the Gild Tesoro to cause trouble.
But at this moment, they still couldn't hide the shock in their hearts!
Countless coins were swept up by the sea breeze, fluttering into the sky before scattering across the islands and the sea.
The more people encountered it, the more frenzied they became, with many even jumping into the sea to frantically scoop up the thick stacks of wet banknotes!
Noticing the incredulous expression on the receptionist's face, the Gild Tesoro smiled with immense satisfaction. Then, he casually reached behind him and took a wad of banknotes from Baccarat.
Holding the wad of banknotes, he held his hand up to the nearest receptionist.
Snap!
The banknotes were slapped across the young woman's face.
"Can I register now, woman?!"
As he asked the question, the Gild Tesoro casually tossed Beli into his arms, a move that left the receptionist completely stunned!
Seeing the young lady stunned on the spot, the Gild Tesoro laughed arrogantly. Then he took out a new banknote and slapped the young lady's face with it once again!
Slap! Slap!
Accompanied by the constant echoing sound of banknotes hitting cheeks.
Iceburg, who had just finished his opening speech and was walking towards the scene of the riot, had bloodshot eyes!
Meanwhile, from the panoramic viewpoint several kilometers away from the three Tree Island, Gawain saw that dazzling fireworks suddenly lit up in the distance.
When the fireworks lit up the sky, it marked the official opening of this World Gambling Tournament.
So, Rosward, who had been itching to make a move for hours, immediately spoke to Gawain.
"Haha, Chief Gawain, this means the betting competition has already begun."
So, does that mean I can join too?
Believe me, I'm really good at mahjong. I've been addicted to this game for a full forty years!
"Sure."
Gawain smiled and nodded.
"If you want to participate, no one will stop you, but there's one thing we need to agree on beforehand, Saint Rosward!"
"What is it?"
Rosward asked with a smile, while Gawain patted him on the shoulder seriously.
"I want you to be careful not to point your cannon at anyone during my betting period!"
"If we're going to play cards, then play them properly, understand?"
"Haha, of course I know, don't worry!"
Rosward simply took on everything.
"I won't get angry at those lowlifes during the betting season, especially since I'm counting on that lowlife mayor of Water 7 to build me a ship!"
Don't worry, don't worry, I won't kill for fun. Tens of thousands of people gathering together to play cards, isn't that much more interesting than killing? Haha!
And so, having kept his promise, Rosward excitedly led his men towards the distant competition venue.
After he left, Gawain looked at Charlos and Shalria.
After a moment's thought, Gawain gently raised his hand.
"Lucci, take Saint Charlos and the Shalria to our territory for a tour. You can show them around the betting venue and the Fishman Five Islands."
However, please note that everything must be done according to my rules. If Charlos does anything wrong, you can discipline him in my name!
You should know how to educate, right?
"Of course, my lord!"
Lucci nodded solemnly. If he hadn't spent three months with Gawain, he might not have dared to make such a promise.
However, Lucci now understands that there is a difference between Celestial Dragon and Celestial Dragon, and that difference is even greater than the difference between Celestial Dragon and the lower classes!
Just as Gawain gave his order, Charlos suddenly spoke to Gawain.
"Gawain, that..."
At this point, Charlos was timid and barely dared to speak.
Even a brat will get scared after being beaten up a lot!
He continued speaking timidly.
"I don't want to watch any gambling matches. How about my sister and I go play on your boat for a while?"
That soccer ball thing? Damn it! That lowlife with the pompadour the other day wouldn't even pass me the ball!
"Ha ha!"
Gawain smiled and nodded.
"Very well, then. You may board my ship, Lucci. Protect them."
"Yes, sir!"
Lucci nodded again, and then he led Charlos and Shalria away from the high platform.
No sooner had they left than Kalifa leaned over and whispered something in Gawain's ear.
"My lord, there is something I could not bring up with you while Saint Rosward was still alive."
I just received a call from Mr. Iceburg. That gambling king and entertainment king of the New World, Gild Tesoro, the Gild Tesoro, he actually came to cause trouble at our betting event!
"Oh?"
Gawain gave a cold laugh.
"Gild Tesoro, is he more like a golden pig? Tell me, how did he cause trouble?"
"Sir, at the Tree Island Pier No. 52 that we rented, the Gild Tesoro has turned the area around the pier into complete chaos by scattering gold and Beli."
Mr. Iceburg rushed over there after the opening ceremony, but he doesn't know what it's like there yet.
"Hehe."
Gawain smiled deeply upon hearing Kalifa's words.
"Sprinkling money, huh? That's really his favorite tactic. Since he likes to throw money around so much, let's just leave all his money here."
At this point, Gawain pondered for a moment.
"Here's what we'll do. Keep all the money he brought and use it to replenish Water 7's economic reserves. As for him... let him go back to his entertainment center in the New World and continue his work."
"This pig is too skinny right now; it doesn't inspire any interest in cutting it!"
"But, sir..."
Kalifa couldn't help but whisper her suggestion.
"We're short of funds lately, aren't we? I think even if the Gild Tesoro has already reached a certain level of cooperation with the World Government and the Five Elders thanks to his enormous wealth."
But if you want to get rid of him, the Five Elders will certainly not stop you and us.
He has been running Tesoro Entertainment City for seven years now. That huge entertainment ship, made entirely of gold, is worth far more than tens of trillions of dollars!
As long as we take him down with the first move, even the Five Elders won't be able to take away our right to share the lion's share!
With just this one wave, sir, I think we can completely and properly arrange all the expenses needed for the next three to five years!
Therefore, sir, I suggest we strike first!!!
As soon as she finished speaking, a golden light flashed from Kalifa's glasses, and Gion couldn't help but nod in agreement after hearing Kalifa's words.
"Yes, sir, I think Kalifa is right."
Although there are still two Admiral Borsalino and Kuzan, on Sabaody Island, if we make the first move, even if the World Government and the Navy combine their forces, they won't be able to take more than 50% of the profits.
Coincidentally, Tesoro is causing trouble at the docks, which just provides us with ample reason to use our knives.
As she spoke, Gion patted the hilt of her sword; she had long heard of the Gild Tesoro's reputation.
Being a Gold-Gold Devil Fruit User is one thing, but according to various rumors, his Gold-Gold Fruit has already Awakening!
Every Devil Fruit user who Awakening their powers on this vast ocean is no ordinary person. Faced with such opponents, Gion's fighting spirit is already stirring!
And Gawain.
Hearing Kalifa and Gion's unanimous suggestion, he smiled and shook his head.
"Listen to me."
Gawain said softly.
"If I were to kill the Gild Tesoro now, what would I get? Would I get about 50% of the wealth Gild Tesoro accumulated over the past seven years, as you say?"
But what else can I get besides this?
Do we have the capability to infiltrate the New World, take over, and continue to rely on the entertainment complex left behind by the Gild Tesoro to absorb the wealth of all the pirates and nobles of the New World Nations?
No!
Because even the Grand Line, which we had planned as our foundation, has only just begun to be developed!
If I were to take down the Gild Tesoro now, I could indeed share his inheritance with the Five Elders. But here's the problem: why should I share such a huge fortune with others?
Sorry, I want them all, including this golden pig!
Even if the other party is one of the Five Elders, I would never give up any part of this golden pig!
At this point, Gawain took a deep breath.
"Just as I just said, the Tesoro Entertainment City created by the Gild Tesoro has now become an integral part of the world's economic chain!"
Before that entertainment complex appeared, the New World had never had a money-devouring den and money-sucking place of such terrifying extent!
Tesoro, this golden pig, is no longer just his Gold-Gold Fruit and the wealth he has accumulated in the past.
The greatest significance of this golden pig now is that it has become the sum of all the wealth of pirates and nobles of the allied nations in the New World!
Most of the wealth that the great pirates of the New World try so hard to seize is spent on Tesoro Entertainment City, which is the most important significance of this golden pig!
So, until we have the ability to reach into the New World and completely inherit and manage everything about that entertainment city.
Not only will I not destroy the Gild Tesoro, I will also prevent him from being exploited by the Navy, the World Government, the Five Elders, or even by some hot-blooded pirates or the Four Emperors!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain looked up at the sky, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Red Line and seeing the Five Elders sitting Chamber of Authority.
He continued speaking.
"I think the Five Elders probably share the same goal as me."
With Tesoro Entertainment City, the Five Elders only need to keep a close eye on him and establish a so-called cooperation with him.
The Five Elders are essentially getting that "Heavenly Tribute" from the hands of the great pirates of the New World —a gold that the pirates would never pay, hehe!
Gawain's smile grew even deeper.
"Recently, Iceburg has established commercial partnerships with various forces regarding the situation on the Grand Line."
Water 7 Shipyard will take a slice of the Navy's wealth through its warship business.
The Celestial Dragon's wealth will be torn apart bit by bit by the Great Ship Project.
The wealth of the new generation of pirates in the Four Blues and the Grand Line, and the wealth of the nobles of many Affiliated Nation.
The Sabaody Gambling Islands, now situated at the entrance to the New World, are already enough to extract a great deal from them.
After all, with Saint Rosward involved, all we need to do is promote it a little, and our gambling islands will become places where even the Celestial Dragon have to sit down and play cards in peace!
This place will be highly sought after by the nobles of the allied nations.
As for the meager assets remaining in the hands of ordinary people across the Four Blues and the Grand Line, I will utilize the Sea Train that will be launched over the next few years to allow their assets to circulate and grow to a greater extent!
That will also be the key for me to win over the hearts and minds of people across the Four Blues and the Grand Line."
At this point, Gawain reached for a glass of wine and moistened his throat slightly.
Setting down his glass, Gawain smiled and continued speaking.
"Look, Iceburg is a smart man. He knows what we need right now, and he knows how much we need right now."
Tesoro's wealth is truly immense, but unfortunately, there's very little we can do about it right now.
The plan to expand the existing Sea Train railway line can be easily accomplished by the ship fare that Rosward is about to pay.
As for more new Sea Train, Franky needs to travel with us to the islands and investigate the hydrological patterns of different sea areas between the islands before he can produce design plans.
Even before we've finished the route map for the new Sea Train, what if we take Tesoro and split that huge sum of money with others?
On the one hand, it's killing the goose that lays the golden eggs; on the other hand, some of those eggs have to be shared with others.
Most importantly, even if we obtain the remaining eggs, we currently do not have the pot to cook these giant eggs!
At this point, Gawain stood up.
"So, hehe, kick this golden pig back to his den in the New World!"
Also, remind him to stay quietly in his bed and not to display his tempting scent unnecessarily!
Kalifa, send people to infiltrate Tesoro Entertainment City. Although I have no intention of taking advantage of him at this time, I'm worried that he might be exploited by other factions.
"Then we can take appropriate action to protect our little patch of chives before we finally harvest it!"
Gawain smiled and raised his glass, offering a toast to the Red Line.
After drinking the glass of wine, Gawain said one last thing to the three people beside him.
"About one to two years, or even longer, as our operations expand and we have more and more things to do and can do, our need for money will reach its peak."
Only when we eat Tesoro will we usher in the fastest and most comprehensive development!
Most importantly, I sincerely hope that in the future, only we ourselves will be the ones to consume this golden pig!
Because I think, by then...
War... is probably about to begin!
And when that day comes, while we and the World Government won't be enemies yet, we will at least be...
Competitors!
To all my friends taking the college entrance exam, can you feel the love that physics has for you?
Did you feel the love that half-dead person had for everyone?
Tickets, haha~~~.