Those Without Money Get Nothing
Without a doubt.
A man named Gilder Gild Tesoro.
He has an extremely tragic past.
Through Gild Tesoro's slow narration, Lin Yan and Ain learned the whole story.
The story begins more than a decade ago.
At that time, Gild Tesoro, who had just been kicked out of his home, was disheartened and had no idea where his life was headed.
Then, almost without surprise, he followed in his father's footsteps.
He made a group of bad friends.
Then he became addicted to gambling.
After losing all his money, his so-called friends didn't hesitate to beat him up. Gild Tesoro barely escaped that time, fighting with all his might.
Covered in wounds, he stumbled into the theater and there he met a beautiful young woman.
The girl's name was Stella.
Two equally desperate people looked at each other, then leaned against opposite ends of the Birdcage and began to pour out their misfortunes to one another.
From that day on, Gild Tesoro's life began to find some redemption.
The girl was the first to praise her own dream.
He was also the first person who didn't look down on himself at all.
From that day on, Gild Tesoro's life changed for the first time, and he had a goal to strive for.
Stella was a slave in the theater.
At the time, if Gild Tesoro wanted to redeem Stella, he would need at least 500,000 Beli; human slaves were the least valuable thing.
The number is not small, but it is by no means out of reach.
Gild Tesoro still remembers that day when he passionately spoke to the girl about his ideals and promised to give her freedom.
For the next period of time, Gild Tesoro worked tirelessly.
He worked almost non-stop, just to bring his beloved home.
Yes, there is no doubt that the two love each other.
However, Gild Tesoro was ultimately too late, no matter how much he worked day and night or squeezed every last drop of his time out of himself.
Just as Gild Tesoro was about to raise the 500,000 ransom.
Despair descended.
The vile Celestial Dragons bought Stella before him.
A mere 500,000 Beli.
To the Celestial Dragons rule the entire world, this was utterly insignificant. Gild Tesoro was so enraged that he went mad and even drew his sword at one of the Celestial Dragons.
Ultimately, however, it was all in vain.
Stella knew what she was about to face, so in the end, all she could do was put on a bittersweet smile of happiness.
This is Gild Tesoro's last memory of his beloved.
What happened next was pretty much predictable.
Gild Tesoro was enslaved after being branded with the Celestial Dragon's Hoof Celestial Dragons daring to defy them, thus beginning his miserable life.
Life was hard for slaves.
But the thought that Stella was still waiting for him somewhere filled Gild Tesoro with strength. As mentioned before, humanity is a being that constantly pursues small hopes.
Then, not long after, he learned of Stella's death.
Watching the vile Celestial Dragons laugh maniacally before him, trampling on his last remaining hope, the man named Gild Tesoro died on that day.
Several years later.
Fisher Tiger Fish-Men hero, freed the slaves, and Gild Tesoro was also freed.
He harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Celestial Dragons.
He secretly gathered a group of people and accidentally learned that Donquixote Doflamingo's Donquixote Family was auctioning off the Gold-Gold Fruit.
Gild Tesoro resorted to any means necessary, setting fire to the entire city, and ultimately emerged victorious.
Then, step by step, he became the Gild Tesoro he is today.
Because of his tragic past, he used every means to amass wealth, gradually becoming the man who now owns one-fifth of the world's Beli.
He became the wealthy, powerful people he once despised.
Until Lin Yan arrived.
After slowly recounting the first half of his life in a low voice, Gild Tesoro sighed softly.
"Perhaps I understood from that day on."
"Those without money will ultimately get nothing, they don't deserve love, they don't deserve dreams. Money... is everything."
Gild Tesoro's tone was somewhat somber.
This is only natural.
For Gild Tesoro, recalling his past is tantamount to reopening old wounds.
Despite having become the lofty and unapproachable Gild Tesoro.
But whenever his heart, which had long been empty, was touched, Gild Tesoro would still feel a dull ache.
"It turns out..."
As mentioned before, girls are probably all more emotional.
After hearing Gild Tesoro's tragic past, even Ain couldn't help but feel sympathy in her eyes.
Such a story was incredibly impactful for her, as a girl.
Ain instinctively grabbed Lin Yan's sleeve.
Lin Yan gently patted Ain's head with a hint of pity, then looked at Gild Tesoro in front of her, her eyes slowly turning sharp.
"Gild Tesoro, you've made two mistakes."
Lin Yan spoke softly.
Gild Tesoro was taken aback, then gave a wry smile.
"Would you like to hear the details?"
"First, you were weak. You were too weak back then, you didn't even have the ability to fight back. Weakness is the root cause of all this, isn't it?"
Lin Yan spoke softly.
The weak inevitably suffer despair; this is to be expected on this inherently unfair sea.
"..."
Gild Tesoro was speechless, and after a long silence, he nodded slightly.
"And what about the second mistake?"
"Well, after hearing your story, I can tentatively understand your obsession with money, but Gild Tesoro, money is ultimately an illusion..."
As she spoke, Lin Yan paused slightly.
Seeing the change in Ain's expression, he suddenly drew his Holy Sword and pointed it directly at the somewhat bewildered Gild Tesoro.
"Power is everything!"
The dazzling Holy Sword shimmered with golden light, its awe-inspiring power far surpassing the countless gold pieces behind Gild Tesoro.
This sword itself is a miracle and power!
Then, facing Gild Tesoro whose expression began to change, Lin Yan smiled and spoke.
"Don't be so nervous, I won't do anything to you. After all, I don't consider myself to be on the same side as those disgusting Celestial Dragons. To be honest, I personally dislike taking things by force."
As she spoke, Lin Yan paused slightly.
"Gild Tesoro, would you be willing to make a deal with me?"
"Trade?"
Gild Tesoro asked, somewhat puzzled.
Lin Yan nodded gently.
"Once this war ends, and you surrender all your current wealth, you will go from being an emperor who owns one-fifth of the world's Beli to a pauper once again."
Lin Yan stared sharply at Gild Tesoro in front of her, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"And then, relatively speaking."
"I will give you a chance to save Stella's life!"