Gild Tesoro's expression had been dark for some time.
He was a major figure in the New World, but he still fell a little short of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.
It wasn't Kaido's subordinates he feared. What truly frightened Gild Tesoro was the possibility that Kaido himself was on the Island.
Before long, Kaido's subordinates led Gild Tesoro to the Cave entrance.
The Cave was no longer as crude as before. The Kaido Pirates had installed two enormous metal doors and done up the interior, turning it into a base.
With Devil Fruit Users around, even the impossible became possible. In just four days, the Cave had been completely transformed.
Rumble. The two metal doors slowly swung open, revealing a pitch-black Cave.
Several figures of different heights were barely visible in the cavernous space. Some stood; others sat.
"Go in. Someone inside will receive you."
One of Kaido's subordinates gave Gild Tesoro a shove, then folded his arms and stayed where he was.
He wasn't alone. Over a hundred members of the Gifters stood around the entrance in a ring, cutting off Gild Tesoro's retreat.
Gild Tesoro had seen his share of dangerous situations, but for some reason, unease suddenly gripped him.
If even he felt that way, his two trusted aides, Mr. Nakata and the burly Dice, were in worse shape.
As for Carina, on whom he had pinned his hopes as a diplomat, she was already trembling. Never mind negotiating—whether she could speak clearly at all was in doubt.
The reason Gild Tesoro and his party were so shaken was the presence of several powerful auras inside the dark Cave.
All were strong, but two were especially chilling. One felt like a demon king wreathed in black smoke, savage and volatile.
The other felt even more