A Gold Card Among the Slaves

"Aunt Shakky!"

At the entrance to Fish-Man Island, sixteen-year-old Boa Hancock threw herself into Shakky's arms, dragging her two younger sisters along with her. Tears streamed down their faces as they broke into sobs.

Shakky looked at the three girls with aching tenderness. Wrapped in rags, dirty-faced, and filled with wariness and fear, they looked utterly pitiful.

"It's all right now. It's all right. We'll be home soon."

"Mm!"

Hancock nodded hard, burying her face in Shakky's embrace. Though she did not want to, her tears and snot had already soaked a patch of Shakky's clothes.

Shakky did not mind in the slightest. She simply patted the three girls' backs slowly while humming a nursery rhyme from Kuja Island.

Once, she too had nearly become a slave of the Celestial Dragons. If she had not met her Rayleigh...

Tiger moved quickly. He first gathered a large number of fish-men from the Fish-Man District to put out to sea, then Neptune provided ships. In just a few days, they brought the slaves once trapped in Mary Geoise back to Fish-Man Island.

Quite a few ships were gathered outside now, all carrying slaves. Tiger personally led the operation, while Jinbe arrived with Neptune's Army as well.

Neptune himself and Otohime had both come forward, while Whitebeard and the Whitebeard Pirates were also present.

One gaunt slave after another was led down from the decks, then supported toward temporary accommodations.

Mermaids rode in atop sea beasts, bringing all kinds of food—seaweed, shellfish, shrimp, crabs, and, most importantly, staple foods like rice and noodles.

Because Sun Tree Eve brought sunlight, there were still fields for growing food crops even ten thousand meters beneath the sea.

With both Tiger and Neptune stepping forward, neither the mermaids nor the fish-men had much objection to the slaves arriving on Fish-Man Island.

Perhaps some did, but they would not bring it up at a time like this.

Mobius was also there, studying the slaves before him. Those faces that had nearly lost all color stabbed into his eyes, making his heart tremble instinctively.

Anyone with even a shred of conscience would feel sorrow upon seeing fellow humans reduced to slavery and stripped of all spirit.

This was the most basic form of empathy. Mobius did not lack it, and it only strengthened his resolve.

Perhaps the World Government's existence did more good than harm, but he could do better.

Suppressing his unpleasant feelings, Mobius began thinking instinctively again.

To put it bluntly, anyone who could become a Celestial Dragon's slave and still survive until now either possessed a unique talent or had an exceptionally strong body or mind. All of them were valuable people.

Neptune had already set aside an area specifically to settle them, opened the royal treasury, distributed food, and provided medical treatment until they recovered.

When Fish-Man Island surfaced in the future, these people would all become precious assets.

With that thought in mind, Mobius walked over to Neptune and spoke slowly.

"Neptune, next, we can conduct a simple census of these slaves—their names, where they lived, and any skills they possess."

"That way, we can manage them better. This approach could even be extended to all of Fish-Man Island."

"The Fish-Man District needs a population census too."

As a nation, conducting periodic censuses of the population was quite necessary.

Though Neptune was only of average ability, he trusted Mobius greatly now and granted permission immediately.

"Then we'll do as you say, National Adviser."

A few days later, the slaves had been fully settled. There were only a few thousand of them in total, a drop in the ocean for the Ryugu Kingdom's population of five million.

During this time, Neptune also carried out a simple census according to Mobius's suggestion.

Slaves with special skills were selected and prepared for placement in factories across Fish-Man Island. Those in better physical condition were already able to work.

Some of the slaves had once been pirates and had nowhere to go, so Whitebeard waved a hand and took them in after laying out the rules.

For Whitebeard, this trip to Fish-Man Island had been an enormous profit. Not only had he met Tiger and learned information about Kozuki Oden, but he had also taken in quite a few youngsters.

Whitebeard, who had roamed the seas for many years, understood that people who had experienced hell possessed an incredibly strong desire to change, simply so they would never return to it.

Shakky also kept her word. She took in a few homeless female warriors and prepared to bring them back to Kuja, though there were not many of them.

Now, aside from the Whitebeard Pirates, large numbers of unfamiliar faces had appeared on the streets of Fish-Man Island. It seemed as though something had changed in this nation that had long hidden in the deep sea.

Inside Ryugu Palace, Mobius stayed in his room while Shyarly sat nearby, reading by herself.

Mobius had already asked Tiger's opinion regarding this gifted fortune-teller. Once Tiger learned that Shyarly was willing, he agreed immediately.

Arlong could do nothing about it. On top of that, Tiger had been running himself ragged over the human slaves these past few days, so Arlong could only temporarily set aside the prejudice in his heart.

Yet within Ryugu Palace, a pair of hate-filled eyes still watched Mobius, as well as Tiger, Neptune, and Otohime.

After completing the slave census, Neptune had the results delivered to Mobius immediately because it had been Mobius's request.

Mobius was flipping through them now, wondering if he might pull gold from a single draw and get a pleasant surprise.

When he casually set down another report and picked up a new one, Mobius froze. A playful glint appeared in his eyes.

[Name: Gild Tesoro]

[Gender: Male]

[Age: 26]

[Specialty: Working, making money]

It was an extremely simple report, no different from the others, but Mobius recognized the name.

A movie character, the future wielder of the Gold-Gold Fruit—the Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro, who controlled twenty percent of the world's Beli.

He had indeed escaped Mary Geoise because of Tiger's uprising. Mobius had not expected him to reach Fish-Man Island as well.

Mobius smiled. Since he was here, Mobius could not let him slip away.

"Shyarly."

"Hmm? What is it?"

The oversized little shark girl looked up, her face full of curiosity.

"Help me divine this name. I have a feeling that he is destined for greatness."

Mobius handed Tesoro's report to her with a smile.

"Oh~"

Shyarly nodded obediently without asking questions. She directly picked up her crystal ball and began divining.

Ever since Tiger had permitted Shyarly to follow Mobius, she had become like this—very obedient, and often coming to his room.

As the crystal ball lit up, images of the future appeared before Shyarly's eyes.

Two giant turtles, a golden ship, a casino, a place of luxury and indulgence...

Shyarly opened her eyes, her little mouth slightly agape. Then she could not help but sigh. "My National Adviser, you've found another remarkable person."

"Looks like my luck is pretty good." Mobius smiled and rose to his feet.

"Come on. Let's go see this Tesoro."

"Okay~"

In the temporary lodgings, Tesoro sat motionless on his bed like a statue.

The woman he loved was dead, and he was nearly dead too. He knew only one thing now: only money could decide everything, only money could control everything!

He needed to make money! He wanted wealth!

Though he had eaten and drunk for free for several days, Tesoro did not feel saved in the slightest. He only felt miserable staying here like some useless freeloader.

If this place would not accept him, if he was still merely left here...

Then he might as well leave.

Knowing that the specialty he had written down was too broad and empty, Tesoro had already made plans. Just as he was considering how to prepare travel expenses—

"Tesoro? Gild Tesoro? The National Adviser wants to see you!"

The National Adviser!?

Confusion appeared in Tesoro's eyes. Who was that?

Soon, Tesoro stepped outside and saw a tall, handsome man, along with an oversized shark girl.

Seeing that familiar green hair, Mobius nodded happily.

"I value your talent, Tesoro. Do you want to work for me?"

The words were direct, but Tesoro clenched his fists in secret.

Good. This would be the beginning of his wealth.