No Eternal Partners, Only Eternal Interests

Donquixote Doflamingo asked Lin Yan with some curiosity.

The entity that rules this city.

He was the man known as the Gild Tesoro.

He is a user of the Logia Gold-Gold Fruit, whose ability is to control gold at will.

The gold dust floating in the air throughout the city was one of his most prized methods.

It is completely invisible to the naked eye.

Even powerful beings would find it difficult to discern this without careful observation, yet Lin Yan saw through it at a glance.

And what exactly is that strange cup?

Looking at Lin Yan in front of him, Donquixote Doflamingo was completely baffled, feeling that Lin Yan was becoming increasingly mysterious.

The mystery surrounding Lin Yan.

This began to make Donquixote Doflamingo sense a sense of danger.

At this moment, the attitude is naturally even more cautious.

"It's nothing, just a small prop. Besides, all this gold dust in the city is just too conspicuous for me, isn't it?"

Unfortunately, Lin Yan didn't offer any further explanation to Donquixote Doflamingo.

"In short, it's not convenient to talk here. If it were you, there should be a safe place, right?"

Lin Yan glanced casually at the ubiquitous gazes, which were mostly small Den Den Mushi, and quickly lost interest. She turned to Donquixote Doflamingo and asked...

"Friday, of course, come with me."

Donquixote Doflamingo did not deny it.

He simply smiled and nodded at Lin Yan, then turned around and led the way.

Without hesitation, the three followed Donquixote Doflamingo's lead.

Soon, they disappeared into the dark corners of the Gran Tesoro.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Gran Tesoro, the heart of the city.

"Sir, we've just discovered something strange."

At one point, a man dressed like a servant suddenly pushed open the door and entered, speaking respectfully to someone sitting in the main seat.

"Um?"

The man, who was admiring the Gold City under his rule, paused slightly, then turned his head with interest.

"An interesting guest has arrived?"

The man asked in an arrogant tone.

He is Gild Tesoro! The man known to the world as the Gild Tesoro, and the supreme ruler of this city beneath his feet.

I am also a top-tier artist, and I am currently here preparing for tonight's performance. I never expected to be disturbed by my subordinates at this time.

You should know that unless something serious happens, no one will bother you at this time.

Thinking of this, Gild Tesoro's eyes showed a look of great interest.

"You should already know what he looks like, right?"

"Yes..."

The attendant nodded immediately, then carefully took out a document from his pocket and handed it to Gild Tesoro. It contained photos of Lin Yan and the others.

"Oh?"

Even Gild Tesoro couldn't help but show a surprised expression when he looked at the photo in his hand.

"The Seventeenth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates? And this is... the Empress of Amazon Lily? What are they doing with that Donquixote Doflamingo guy?"

Gild Tesoro couldn't help but frown slightly.

Donquixote Doflamingo arrived here a few days ago, so he certainly knew about it; in a sense, the two were partners.

I never expected that he would have any connection with that famous Seventeenth Division Captain.

He truly deserves his reputation as one of the kings of the Underworld.

Where are they now?

Slowly putting down the photo in his hand, Gild Tesoro frowned and asked.

"This... I'm not aware of that. After all, he was Donquixote Doflamingo's guest, and we couldn't track him down."

Upon hearing this, Gild Tesoro nodded.

"That's normal. Remember to let me know when they reappear."

"Yes!"

Seeing that the Gild Tesoro Emperor had no intention of continuing and instead resumed preparations, the attendant wisely turned and left.

The notification has been delivered; now it's up to Gild Tesoro to decide what to do.

What the two were unaware of was...

Meanwhile, Lin Yan had already led the three girls to the secret location prepared by Donquixote Doflamingo.

Lin Yan glanced briefly at the Donquixote Family executives behind Donquixote Doflamingo, but showed no interest in them. She simply sat down opposite Donquixote Doflamingo with the three girls, maintaining a composed and dignified demeanor.

"It seems you have some connection with Gild Tesoro?"

Lin Yan asked with considerable interest.

"Well, it's understandable that someone like me would have a wide network of connections, right? That Gild Tesoro does indeed have some connection with me."

Donquixote Doflamingo made no attempt to deny it, and his attitude appeared quite candid.

He then began to explain to the three of them.

In fact, earlier on, Gild Tesoro, who now reigns supreme, was just an ordinary, unremarkable person.

The Gold-Gold Fruit that gave him power was originally an auction item from the Donquixote Family.

As a fruit of the Logia, it naturally attracts many competitors.

Even though the Gold-Gold Fruit isn't considered particularly powerful among the many strong Logia Devil Fruit.

As for how Gild Tesoro, as an ordinary person, ate the Gold-Gold Fruit and became the final victor, and how much suffering and danger he endured along the way...

That's something only he himself probably knows.

After Gild Tesoro went into hiding, Donquixote Doflamingo lost track of the Gold-Gold Fruit for a long time.

Then until one day...

The man brazenly came to their door, saying he wanted to pay off the debt Gold-Gold Fruit, and from then on, the two became business partners.

After explaining this series of causes and effects, Donquixote Doflamingo smiled and shrugged.

"That's all I know. Like I said before, Gild Tesoro is quite good at developing his Devil Fruit abilities. I don't usually want to fall out with him easily, so I'll have to rely on you, Captain Lin, from now on."

Donquixote Doflamingo smiled at Lin Yan.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan nodded slightly.

This version is pretty much the same as what I know.

However, Lin Yan's gaze towards Donquixote Doflamingo immediately became somewhat meaningful. After a moment of silence, she smiled and asked.

"Is it really okay to betray your partner for a little bit of Beli?"

"French french..."

However, Donquixote Doflamingo merely gave a dismissive chuckle.

"If this so-called 'little bit 'of Beli represents one-twenty-fifth of the world's Beli, even I couldn't resist the temptation."

"Besides, Captain Lin, there are only eternal interests, not eternal partners, aren't there?"