A Man Can't Take This Lying Down

This kind of thing is absolutely intolerable to any man with blood in his veins! Even if it's just a vague, ambiguous hint or metaphor... Gilde Gild Tesoro's deep, abyss-like eyes were fixed on Moke, as if trying to see right through him. However, in the end, he only managed to squeeze out a chilling, sinister sentence through gritted teeth. "Have fun, and I hope you enjoy it." As soon as he finished speaking, Gilde Gild Tesoro abruptly turned around, no longer glancing at Moke, and walked straight towards Baccarat, coldly saying, "Let's go."

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Seeing this scene, Moke couldn't help but let out a strange and grating laugh. Then, he lowered his head, his gaze falling on the delicate and charming Carina in his arms, a malicious smile appearing on his lips, and asked softly, "My dear little cutie, didn't you just say you wanted to go somewhere to play? Why are you suddenly silent now?"

Just then, Carina suddenly realized, as if waking from a dream, that she had probably inadvertently provoked an extremely fierce and troublesome person today. Even the usually arrogant and domineering Gild Tesoro had actually been humiliated and suffered a great loss in front of this man. Thinking of this, Carina felt her throat go dry and involuntarily swallowed a large mouthful of saliva. At the same time, her heart was pounding with nervousness, and her palms were uncontrollably covered in a fine layer of sweat.

He then took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the surrounding air into his lungs to calm his restless heart. After a while, he managed to regain some composure and slowly said, "What I mean is, how about we go to that bustling casino and have some fun?" After saying this, Moke reached out and gently patted Carina's pert, round buttocks.

Carina gave a coquettish pout and rolled her eyes at Moke with a charming glare, but still nodded in agreement. Moke's lips curled into a mischievous grin, and with a flourish, he declared, "In that case, let's set off..." However, he abruptly changed the subject, his gaze fixed on Carina, a sly glint in his eyes, and slowly continued, "By the way, my ship happens to be short of a secretary! My dear Miss Carina, I wonder if you'd be interested in joining us?"

Hearing this, Carina was taken aback, asking with a puzzled expression, "A secretary?" She couldn't understand why a pirate crew needed a secretary. In her mind, only large, reputable companies or wealthy tycoons had secretaries. And most importantly, these so-called secretaries were usually not very proper. Most of the time, it was as the widely circulated saying described—"The secretary does the work when there's work, and does the work when there's nothing to do." Thinking of this, Carina seemed to instantly understand something, her cheeks turning as red as ripe apples, even her ears blushing. At the same time, a hint of shyness unconsciously appeared in her eyes, but a nameless anger rose uncontrollably deep within her heart.

Without a doubt, she was an extremely intelligent and resourceful person. However, at this moment, she clearly realized a cruel reality—from the moment Moke focused his gaze on her, the power to determine her own fate had quietly slipped from her hands. Unless she could find an excellent opportunity to escape and successfully flee this place, the only fate awaiting her was to be manipulated and exploited by others! Thinking of this, she couldn't help but clench her fists tightly... Her thoughts raced through her mind like lightning.

Meanwhile, Moke, as if able to read every thought in her heart, sneered and said, "Let me tell you the truth, in terms of looks and charm, you are in no way inferior to that Baccarat. But what's lamentable is that she is one of the most powerful figures in this world, wielding endless wealth and power... In contrast, you can only rely on your beauty to steal a few insignificant possessions to make ends meet. Are you really willing to do this?" After saying this, Moke's sharp eyes stared directly at her, then his tone suddenly changed. "If I were to give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform yourself into someone as powerful as Baccarat, would you seize this opportunity without hesitation?"

Before the words were finished, a sharp "smack" rang out. Moke, without any mercy, raised his hand and landed heavily on her Fudō. As he spoke, Moke gave Carina a meaningful look, a look that seemed to contain a thousand words, but whose meaning could only be understood by the two of them. Carina understood immediately. Although her heart was filled with turmoil and struggle, she immediately became docile and obedient, silently walking ahead to lead the way for Moke.

Meanwhile, Carina's heart was churning like a stormy sea, unable to find peace for a long time. She knew that Moke's actions had essentially placed the choice in her hands. If she sincerely led Moke to his side, it might mean that she had completely sided with Moke; but if she secretly used some tricks, she might be able to escape her current predicament. However, no matter what choice she made, it was fraught with unknown risks and challenges.

Just then, Baccarat, her face contorted with rage, shouted indignantly at Gild Tesoro, "Gild Tesoro, that despicable guy has gone too far! Are we just going to let him get away with this so easily?"

Gild Tesoro narrowed his eyes slightly, a sinister smile creeping across his lips, and slowly said, "Hmph, how could that be? Anyone who dares to provoke me will pay a heavy price!" With that, he unhesitatingly pulled out a delicate little Den Den Mushi and quickly dialed a number.

A deep, steady voice came from the other end of the phone. "This is Gild Tesoro!"

The other party responded, "I know... May I ask what brings you here to discuss this matter?"

Gild Tesoro's face was ashen as he coldly said, "The newly appointed Shichibukai, Mok, is currently causing trouble on my territory with his gang! I hope you can send your forces as soon as possible to eliminate him and his accomplices in one fell swoop."

"The newly appointed Shichibukai, Moke?" Upon hearing the name, the other party's tone clearly showed a hint of surprise. He then pressed, "Has this Mr. Moke inadvertently offended you?" The sudden, powerful blow landed on his rounded buttocks. As he spoke, Moke slightly tilted his head, conveying an unspoken message to Karina with his eyes. It was a meaningful look, as if hiding countless unspoken words. Karina understood, and although her heart was filled with conflict and struggle, she obediently stepped forward, preparing to lead Moke to their destination.

At the same time, Carina's heart was in turmoil, as if swept by a storm. She knew that Moke's actions were essentially handing the choice to her. This decision was crucial to her; the slightest misstep could lead to unpredictable consequences. However, facing Moke's firm and unwavering gaze, she felt an invisible pressure forcing her to comply.

Just then, Baccarat could no longer contain her dissatisfaction and angrily shouted at Gild Tesoro, "Gild Tesoro, this guy is going too far! Are we just going to let him go so easily?" Baccarat's voice revealed intense anger and resentment.

Gild Tesoro narrowed his long, narrow eyes slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips. He snorted and said, "Hmph, how could that be? How dare he provoke me? He will pay a heavy price for it." Before he finished speaking, he swiftly pulled out a uniquely shaped Den Den Mushi and skillfully dialed a number.

A moment later, a response came from the other end of the phone. "This is Gild Tesoro!" The tone was calm but carried a hint of authority.

The person on the other end didn't seem surprised to receive Gild Tesoro's call and asked directly, "I know... So, what is it you want to discuss with me this time?"

Gild Tesoro took a deep breath and then slowly said, "The new Shichibukai, Mok, is currently on my territory with his crew. I hope you can send men to deal with them as soon as possible."

Upon hearing the name "the new Shichibukai, Mok," there was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, clearly indicating surprise. After a moment, the other party spoke again, "The new Shichibukai, Mok? That guy who's recently risen to fame?" This triggered a surge of emotions. Poor Karina, caught completely off guard, was struck by this blow and was immediately terrified, instinctively covering her back with her hand and letting out a horrified scream. Fortunately, she soon realized that Mok had released his hold on her.

Moke stood there silently, his gaze like two deep, icy pools, fixed on Carina before him. A slight upturn to his sharply defined lips formed an enigmatic, ambiguous smile. After a moment of silence, Moke finally opened his lips, his voice low and magnetic. "I advise you to calm down and think things through carefully before making a decision." He then winked at Carina and gently raised his head, gesturing for her to lead the way.

Carina appeared somewhat uneasy under Moke's gaze, but quickly recovered and turned to lead the way. However, her mind was in turmoil. She knew that Moke's actions had essentially placed the choice in her own hands, putting her in a dilemma. On one hand, she feared that going against Moke's wishes would bring her trouble; on the other hand, she felt apprehensive and worried about the unknown situation ahead.

Just then, Baccarat, unable to contain her dissatisfaction and anger any longer, raised her eyebrows and questioned Gild Tesoro with a furious expression, "Gild Tesoro, that wretched fellow is so arrogant and domineering, are we just going to let him off so easily?" Hearing Baccarat's question, Gild Tesoro's narrow eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a cold glint. Then, he let out a cold snort and laughed disdainfully, "Hmph, how could I? How dare he challenge my authority, he will surely pay a heavy price!" With that, he unhesitatingly pulled out a uniquely designed Den Den Mushi and quickly dialed a number.

A response came quickly from the other end of the phone. "This is Tesoro!" Gild Tesoro's face was ashen, and his tone was icy as he said, "The new Shichibukai, Mok, and his crew are currently causing trouble on my territory. I expect you to send men over immediately to eliminate them completely."

"The new Shichibukai, Mokomoko?" Upon hearing this name, a clear look of surprise appeared on the other person's face. His wide eyes and slightly open mouth seemed to indicate disbelief. But he quickly recovered and eagerly pressed on, "How did he offend you?"

Gild Tesoro frowned, his displeasure growing stronger. He gritted his teeth and forced out a single sentence. "Stop talking nonsense! I'm just asking you, can you help me get rid of this guy?"

Upon hearing this, the other party first let out a series of strange "tsk tsk" laughs, seemingly amused by Gild Tesoro's eagerness. Then, he replied unhurriedly, "Heh heh, with my current power and status, as long as you offer enough Berries, I can eliminate anyone for you, except for those four emperors of the sea." However, just as Gild Tesoro was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the other party suddenly changed the subject, saying, "However... not yet. Because this guy named Mokomoko is still somewhat useful to us for now. So, I have to wait until things are settled with the Navy before I can find a way to spare his life and give it to you."

Gild Tesoro's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this. His rise to such a high position wasn't solely due to his Devil Fruit abilities. His keen intuition, honed over years of experience in the underworld, told him that some hidden secret must be at play. So, he tentatively asked, "Could it be that the Navy is about to make a big move?"

Faced with Gild Tezzolo's question, the other party remained silent for a moment, but ultimately chose to avoid the topic. "These are not things you should worry about. You just need to know one thing—as long as your Berry arrives in full and on time, the issue of this Mokmok will naturally be properly resolved."

After hearing these words, Gilde Gild Tesoro said nothing more. He stood quietly, lost in deep thought. Time passed slowly, and the surrounding air seemed to grow heavy. After an unknown amount of time, Gilde Gild Tesoro suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, a sharp glint in them. Clearly, he had already devised a solution.

If he remembered correctly, the renowned Fire Fist Ace of the Might-Shaker Whitebeard Pirates, who was famous Four Seas, had actually been captured by the Navy. Thinking of this, Gild Tesoro's face revealed a sly smile, and he muttered to himself, "That makes sense..." Because this series of events, including the powerful Navy, Ace's imprisonment, and the mysterious Shichibukai, all pointed to only one fact— the Marine Headquarters was about to launch an unprecedented annihilation operation against the Whitebeard Pirates.

If things were to develop as he predicted, then one person would inevitably head to Marine Headquarters. That person would be Moke, one of the Shichibukai, a figure feared by all. And for Gild Tesoro, this would undoubtedly be an excellent opportunity.

He abruptly turned his head, his gaze sharp as he stared at Baccarat beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Baccarat, use our old channels to send 100 million Beli immediately..." Before he could finish speaking, he focused his attention back on the Den Den Mushi he was holding, and said viciously to the person on the other end, "I want to see Moke's head laid out before me after this world-shaking Summit War is over."

However, the response from the Den Den Mushi made Gild Tesoro pause slightly. The other party said coldly, "He's a dignified Shichibukai, his strength is unfathomable, and as far as I know, he maintains a fairly good relationship with the Marines. So, if you want to eliminate him, less than 1 billion Beli probably won't suffice. You'll have to deal with this troublesome fellow yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Gild Tesoro's previously composed face instantly darkened, as if shrouded in a thick, ominous cloud, making him almost unbearable to look at. However, after a moment of internal struggle and weighing the pros and cons, he finally nodded helplessly in agreement, saying, "Alright, I can give you a billion Beli, but... my demands have changed. Now I want more than just that guy Moke's head."

Hearing this, the mysterious man opposite him curled his lips into a sly smile and replied, "Hehe, you can rest assured. After this matter is over, Moke and his crew will completely disappear from this world and never appear before you again." Then, as if feeling that such a promise wasn't enough, the mysterious man added, "Moreover, considering how generously you've given so Beli, I will do everything I can to get Moke out of your place as soon as possible, to prevent him from causing you any more unexpected trouble."

Having received this assurance, Gild Tesoro finally felt a little relieved, a satisfied look appearing on his face. He thanked the mysterious man again, saying, "Thank you so much!"

Meanwhile, on the other side, Moke, following Carina's lead, sped towards the largest casino in the entertainment complex. Just as they were getting closer to their destination and about to step into the casino, a crisp, melodious telephone ring suddenly came from Moke's arms at an inopportune moment.

Moke frowned slightly and subconsciously reached into his pocket. When he touched the Den Den Mushi that was vibrating and ringing incessantly, his expression changed slightly. After all, receiving a call at such a crucial moment was quite unexpected. This sudden situation also made him involuntarily have some unpleasant suspicions.

As expected, when Moke quickly answered the phone, the voice on the other end delivered extremely bad news, just as he had anticipated...

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku's slightly angry voice rang out instantly. "Moke, didn't I clearly instruct you to come to Marine Headquarters? Why are you at Gild Tesoro's place now? Get over here immediately..."

Upon hearing this, Moke's pupils involuntarily contracted slightly, and he muttered to himself, "Just as I expected, it was this guy who was behind this. I never imagined that his power was so vast and his information network so extensive. He truly has connections everywhere!" However, the more he thought about it, the stronger Moke's desire to find out the truth and investigate the reasons behind it became.

Immediately afterward, Moke, with a nonchalant expression, replied unhurriedly, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, please don't be so quick to anger... Rest assured, I will definitely arrive at Marine Headquarters on time as agreed. However, before that, I plan to relax and have some fun here. You don't need to worry about that..."

After hearing Moke's words, Sengoku frowned slightly, his eyes deep and solemn, and remained silent for a moment. Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and the entire room was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere.

However, this silence didn't last long. Soon, Sengoku's expression suddenly changed. His previously tense face instantly became serious, his clenched teeth revealing a resolute air, and his tone abruptly changed, booming like thunder, shouting with an unusually firm and unquestionable tone, "No, I said, you must come immediately! There is no room for negotiation."

Moke on the other end of the phone was clearly enraged by this sudden hardline attitude. His voice rose eight octaves, filled with anger and dissatisfaction. "Sengoku, you need to understand. I'm not your subordinate, and I won't let you manipulate me! I'll go to the Marine Headquarters, of course, but my affairs are none of your business to dictate or interfere with!"

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp "snap" was heard, and Moke slammed down the phone without hesitation.

Sengoku stood in the center of his spacious office, clutching the Den Den Mushi that had ended its call tightly, his face terrifyingly grim. At the same time, another Den Den Mushi beside him remained connected, emitting eerie laughter.

"Hahahaha... How about it, Sengoku? I told you long ago that this Moke is an untamed wild horse, completely out of control! Now you should believe me, right?" The mysterious person hiding behind the Den Den Mushi mocked Sengoku's helplessness.