Tesoro's idea was simple—to lend King Riku at exorbitant interest rates!
In addition to information that King Riku was unaware of, Tesoro knew that the New World was something the World Government would eventually abandon...
His goal was to exploit this information gap and the exorbitant interest rates that King Riku couldn't repay in order to seize control of Dressrosa.
However, Sig clearly did not think so. Directly lending money to King Riku would indeed bring these benefits, but it would not be enough. If King Riku bore most of the "costs" that the World Government suddenly increased, and the people further sided with the Riku Royal Family, then Tesoro's so-called "rule" would be nothing but a pipe dream.
Tesoro is too superstitious about the power of money... Crocodile in the original work knew that by winning people's hearts in Alabasta and causing the reputation of the Nefertari royal family to decline, he gradually brought Alabasta under his control.
Tesoro wanted to "feed" King Riku in order to seize power—indeed, even the "Dark Gold King" Du Feld wouldn't do such a losing business, except for Tesoro.
However, Sig's suggestion was to first let the World Government's pressure overwhelm King Riku, forcing him to continue passing the pressure down to his people. Once the people also shared the pressure of the World Government's "tax increase," Tesoro could then lend money in both directions!
Not only should loans be provided to King Riku, but loans should also be directly provided to the citizens of Dressrosa...
"King Riku can use his royal power as collateral, but what use is lending money at exorbitant interest rates to ordinary citizens? I'm not just looking to make a fortune." Tesoro still didn't understand Sig's meaning.
"I'm not asking you to engage in usury. In critical moments, you can reduce or waive some of the repayments. King Riku can break the contract with you at any time, but when he can't protect the people, the hearts of the people you can hold in your hands are very real," Sig explained.
"Heh, didn't you say money isn't everything? Now you're going to use money to buy people's hearts again?" Tesoro didn't miss any opportunity to mock Sig.
"No, it's not about using money directly, but about the panic of not being able to repay the debt, and the joy and gratitude of surviving a disaster," Sig corrected.
Paying 10,000 yuan directly to buy gratitude and support, versus waiving 10,000 yuan in debt at a crucial moment, is not only a difference in mindset, but more importantly, the former may attract more people who are simply driven by profit, while the latter truly offers help in times of need.
"Is that all? That's it?" Tesoro said with a disdainful look.
However, Sig could tell that Tesoro was already pondering this matter, but he would never admit it to his face...
"Okay, let's talk about something more practical. I think you haven't forgotten that I saved you five years ago... well, okay, okay... if you've forgotten, you've forgotten. But as your friend, I think you shouldn't mind letting me get to know your body, wait... I mean..."
Before Sig could finish speaking, Tesoro distanced himself and tried to shoo him away, until Sig explained himself clearly.
"Now you should understand, right?" Sig used "Shadow Bind Cage" to immobilize the golden Tesoro in place, then touched his golden abs.
"Awakening Golden Fruit ... Hmm, I suspect there must be some kind of limitation?" Sig said, turning his attention to the golden objects around him.
If this is truly gold, Sig has no doubt that Tesoro could completely collapse the gold standard in this world within a month.
Sig lifted a section of the floor, which had turned to gold, and then gently broke it—it deformed, but remained gold.
But after Sig forcefully bound it with Armament Haki, the floor turned back into wood...
Armament Haki can bind to external objects, but usually these "external objects" do not include other living things. When a Devil Fruit user Awakening their Devil Fruit ability and causes other objects to become altered, in a sense, the altered objects become part of themselves.
Just like Katakuri's "arms" that extend from other objects after using a donut, when covered in Armament Haki, it's "hardening" rather than "entanglement".
Now, when Sig forcibly wraps himself around the gold-plated object, the gold-plating effect disappears... Doesn't that sound reasonable?
However, in contrast, after the Katakuri Devil Fruit Awakening, it can transform other objects into glutinous rice, which is actually edible and will remain in the form of glutinous rice afterward!
"Gold is different, of course. Otherwise, why would even the Celestial Dragons like it?" Tesoro said arrogantly, though bound by shadows.
"So when will they fail?" Sig ignored Tesoro's tone, convinced that the gold was definitely "fake."
After a moment of silence, Tesoro said, "The mutated gold can't get too far away from me... Let me go! You damned Fish-Man!"
Sig, being magnanimous, didn't stoop to his level. After releasing him, he asked, "But there are exceptions, aren't there?"
Sig noticed that Tesoro hadn't finished his sentence.
Tesoro glared at Sig with displeasure. "What an obnoxious ability." But he continued, "Yes, there is one exception!"
As Tesoro spoke, he grabbed Sig's arm and pulled him in front of him—right in front of Tesoro's eyes were the Seastone Handcuffs on Sig's wrists.
Under Tesoro's gaze, the Siegfried handcuffs gradually gleamed with gold...
However, even though Tesoro was sweating profusely, the Seastone Handcuffs only looked like they were rusted, with a few the Star of gold on the surface, which looked like they could be removed with a little polishing!
"Gold formed from the transformation of Seastone will exist forever." Tesoro didn't push himself too hard; he simply demonstrated it once and then gave up.
Sig didn't ask Tesoro how he discovered it, but it's easy to guess... This is probably why Doflamingo was pecked in the eye by a sparrow in the first place!
Tesoro's Golden Fruit was stolen from Doflamingo's Auction House. The reason Doflamingo failed to immediately punish this relatively weak "thief" was because he underestimated Tesoro's obsession with money, the resulting synergy with the Golden Fruit, and... some of the unique characteristics of the Golden Fruit.
Direct contact with the Seastone Handcuffs would indeed render Tesoro powerless and restrict his abilities.
However, even without direct contact, Tesoro can gradually transform Seastone, making him more difficult to imprison and guard than ordinary Devil Fruit ability.
Furthermore, Doflamingo may have initially wanted to capture Tesoro alive and then subdue him, since killing him directly would most likely not allow him to reclaim the Golden Fruit. As a result, there was a high probability that Tesoro would escape. Eventually Doflamingo could no longer do anything to Tesoro and had no choice but to cooperate.
As for why it's Seastone?
Sig, recalling the Celestial Dragons' thirst for gold and the gold-based energy technology of Sky Island, began to form a vague suspicion...
Dongdong: I didn't eat anything yesterday and relied on IV drips to get through it. I finally ate some noodle soup at noon today and feel like I'm recovering... But I'll only be posting two updates today.