Even now, Tesoro still felt that everything was surreal.
The moment he woke up in a certain hospital room in the Calamity City, his heart was filled with intense dread, terrified that everything he had experienced might just be a beautiful dream.
But it wasn't.
Thankfully, it wasn't.
Tesoro later learned from the medical robot that changed his dressings that not only was he alive, but he had been brought to the headquarters of the Calamity Company, the true city in the clouds, the Calamity City, floating in the sky!
So, everything was real!
It was real that he had personally killed Saint Charlos.
It was real that Lord Roa had destroyed Mariejois.
And it was even more real that the tyrannical Celestial Dragons had suffered a devastating catastrophe!
It was also real that he had miraculously survived the battlefield of monsters by exhausting all his strength.
After realizing these things, Tesoro stared blankly for five minutes.
In those five minutes, he thought about nothing, yet he seemed to have thought about many things.
Finally, only one thought surfaced in his mind.
It's over.
The eighteen years of long waiting, today, it was finally over.
He felt somewhat relieved, but also a little lost and confused.
Then.
Tesoro cried.
This man, who had been a slave in Mariejois for eighteen years, endured countless tortures yet stubbornly survived, and never chose to give up—this man with a heart of steel—cried.
At first, he merely shed silent tears. Then his shoulders began to tremble. Finally, he threw his head back and sobbed hysterically.
"Stella! Did you see it in heaven? The Celestial Dragons who killed you have suffered a devastating catastrophe!"
Tesoro met the love of his life at a young and destitute age.
When his mother drove him out of the house and he was left homeless, he met Stella, who was about to be auctioned as a slave.
She was the only person who appreciated his singing. She talked with him about music, the past, and the future. Tesoro had never experienced such wonderful times in his life before.
But Tesoro had no money. He couldn't rescue the woman he loved from the slave market.
He could only watch helplessly as Stella was bought by a Celestial Dragon. Even he himself was captured and made a slave for attacking a Celestial Dragon.
After that, Tesoro never saw Stella again. He only heard the news of her death.
From that day on, the former Tesoro had died.
What remained was merely an empty shell focused on revenge.
For a long time, Tesoro believed that with enough money, he could control everything.
But during his long slavery, he realized that mere money was utterly worthless.
Among the slaves, there was never a shortage of great magnates, and Royalty from certain countries was not uncommon.
Money or status was utterly insignificant to the Celestial Dragons.
No one in the world was richer than them, and no one had a higher status.
Only power. Only power could determine everything.
So, Tesoro began to accumulate power.
But it was too difficult.
As a slave, it was truly too difficult to accumulate enough power to rebel against the Celestial Dragons.
Thankfully, Lord Roa appeared.
Without this great lord, Tesoro truly didn't know how much longer he could have held on.
And now, it was finally over. Everything was finally over.
But, Stella, I can barely remember your face anymore!
Tesoro cried for a long time that day.
After crying, Tesoro requested to see Lord Roa. Whether Lord Roa needed it or not, he had to express his gratitude.
There were no more regrets in his life. He only needed to thank Lord Roa... and then, Stella...
But the reply he received was that Lord Roa hadn't returned yet.
So, he sincerely requested that his wish be conveyed to Lord Roa upon his return.
Then, today, as he was diligently rehabilitating, a small robot quickly approached him.
"The Boss wants to see you."
Tesoro instantly looked up, an uncontrollable smile of surprise blooming on his ugly, ferocious face.
He's finally back?
"Please, quickly take me there!"
Having lived in the Calamity City for several days, Tesoro had gained some understanding of these small robots.
Although they were robots, they actually possessed human emotions, but their intelligence level was much lower than that of normal people, roughly at the level of a child.
However, this was only concerning intelligence.
It was said that their creator had injected a vast amount of knowledge into their brains through some special machinery, allowing them to simultaneously carry out various duties.
Medical care, construction, maintenance... they were extremely versatile.
Therefore, Tesoro felt that treating them like children was always the right way to interact.
The small robot then guided Tesoro to the central area of the massive floating city, to the palace where Lord Roa resided.
As he stepped into the palace, Tesoro saw Lord Roa instructing a green-haired woman.
"Toki, I'm entrusting this child to you."
Roa pointed to the little mermaid princess, who was sitting shyly with her tail coiled, not even daring to glance at her surroundings.
"Take good care of her. Protect her safety, even if it means sacrificing your own life."
"Yes."
Kozuki Toki nodded calmly, not finding anything wrong with Roa's words.
Roa then looked at the timid little princess and spoke with a smile, "Shirahoshi, from today on, you are a major executive of the Calamity Company. If you have any problems, just find Toki. She will help you resolve them."
The little princess quickly raised her head, looked at Roa, then glanced at Toki from the corner of her eye, and immediately lowered her head again. Her timid demeanor was exactly like a little hamster that had just arrived in a new environment.
She softly murmured a "Mhm."
"And there are some other fish-men as well. Look into arranging them."
Roa continued.
The local specialties brought back from Fish-Man Island this time were quite numerous.
After giving his instructions, Roa finally turned around and looked at the excited Tesoro.
"Remarkable, Tesoro,"
Roa said with a smile, "Just being able to stand before me alive is enough to be called great."
The Gild Tesoro before him was not the Gold Emperor from the original movie.
He did not possess the awakened Gold-Gold Fruit, nor the highly refined Haki. Even his body was tattered, having constantly been injured over the past ten years.
He could only be said to have some strength, but not much.
In Mariejois, which was a gathering of monsters at the time, calling him cannon fodder wouldn't be an exaggeration. The shockwaves from the monsters' battles alone were enough to kill him.
Under such circumstances, the fact that he was able to hold on until Donquixote Doflamingo packed everyone into Capone Bege's belly could only mean that fate was truly favoring him.
"You flatter me!"
Hearing Roa's praise, a hint of surprise appeared on Tesoro's ferocious face.
Then, he suddenly knelt down toward Roa, "Lord Roa, thank you so much!"
Thank you for saving me, thank you for coming to Mariejois, and thank you for slaughtering so many Celestial Dragons!
For everything, thank you so much!
Roa's lips curled up slightly as he looked down at him. "Tesoro, would you like to join my Calamity Company?"
"Lord Roa?"
Tesoro suddenly lifted his head, his face full of astonishment, "Me?"
Did someone like him have the qualifications to join the Calamity Company, where everyone was a monster?
"Mhm."
Roa smiled and said, "I have a liking for you. What do you say, will you refuse?"
Tesoro looked at Roa blankly.
He had originally prepared himself to die.
His life's goal had been achieved. Living held no further interest for him. He only wanted to quickly join the woman he deeply loved.
But.
Forgive me, Stella, Lord Roa said he has a liking for me!
"Yes!"
Tesoro's forehead heavily touched the ground in a humble dogeza. "If you require my insignificant strength, then I shall devote my utmost effort!"
Since Lord Roa needed him, then, Stella, wait a little longer!
"Very well."
Roa nodded in satisfaction. "Then here is your first command: strive to become stronger, Tesoro."
"The war is not over. In fact, it has just begun! The Celestial Dragons are still our greatest enemies. If you wish for further vengeance, then go and become even mightier."
Tesoro felt his heart skip a beat, then begin to thump with unprecedented intensity.
A surge of power suddenly rose from the deepest part of his heart, making him speak involuntarily, "Yes! Boss!"
That's right!
Although the Celestial Dragons were now less than one in ten, many still survived. Those Celestial Dragons who truly dominated this world and truly brought about so much tragedy were still alive!
They must die, too!
If I could kill them with my own hands!!
Become stronger!
He, too, must become stronger so that he could assist the Boss in the long tug-of-war ahead and kill those Celestial Dragons with his own hands!
"Mhm, good."
Watching Tesoro's surging emotions, Roa couldn't help but nod slightly.
His troops were usable.
Tesoro was inherently talented. Combined with his current heart, which was far tougher and his will far more determined than in the original work, given time, he would certainly not be weak.
When Shiki and the others arrived, they saw a man respectfully kneeling before Roa.
Shiki merely glanced at Tesoro, completely uninterested in the man.
He spoke, "You brat are finally back. So, are we launching a full-scale attack on the West Blue and North Blue next?"
The monsters all arrived together.
Everyone had been gathered in the Calamity City, as the current situation was perilous.
If Imu had a change of heart and descended from the Red Line, and they were scattered, a single exposure of their whereabouts could lead to their annihilation.
Thus, everyone simply concentrated their forces.
"Why not?"
Roa chuckled. "The West Blue and North Blue have seen a massive destruction of Marine bases and a slaughter of many affiliated Royal families. Those two seas have become completely chaotic. It's the perfect time."
"But Roa,"
Katakuri spoke, "Let alone attacking the West Blue and North Blue simultaneously, even if we just choose one of the seas as our target, our available forces are completely insufficient."
Dylan interjected promptly, "Boss, we have 150,000 clone soldiers under our command. Including members of the former Teach Pirates and the Giant Warrior Pirates, Mink Tribe assassins, and Demon Giants, the total number is nearly 170,000."
"All the pirate crews under the Flying Pirates combined total just over 200,000. The total military strength of the Beasts Pirates and the Charlotte Family is around 150,000 each."
"Which means,"
Roa stroked his chin, "Even with the Fish-Man troops, the total number is only about 700,000?"
Jinbe brought over 30,000 members of the former Deep Sea Logistics Company, now the Fish-Man troops, from Fish-Man Island.
Of course, there were also over a thousand trained Sea Beasts.
However, even if these Sea Beasts were worth a hundred each, equating to a total of 100,000, this force was still too small.
Alabasta's standing army alone was a full 600,000.
During the Marineford War, the Marines were even able to field a 100,000-man force composed entirely of officers!
"And, we can't send all of them to the West Blue and North Blue,"
Dylan added, "The New World also requires sufficient forces to maintain order."
Roa glanced disdainfully at his allies. "You guys are really disappointing, aren't you? Is this all the reserves you managed to accumulate after all these years?"
"Stop your nonsense!"
Shiki scoffed impatiently. "My forces are the most numerous of everyone's!"
Kaido also said with a look of displeasure, "What's the point of having more weaklings?"
"That's true, we'll make do,"
Roa shrugged. "Anyway, their main purpose is just occupation. We don't need them for the real fighting and conquest."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Without mentioning anything else, the numerous Flying Ships that were still floating over the West Blue and North Blue were enough to destroy any country.
Not to mention the destructive weapons carried on those large ships. Just the Calamity-level experts deployed with the ships, any one of whom possessed the power to single-handedly crush a nation.
On the contrary, these ordinary fleets were simply not very useful.
Their only use was for truly occupying those countries and achieving a conquest in the true sense.
"But what about the Holy Knights?"
Charlotte Linlin said, "Roa, that Imu guy won't just let things go!"
"Exactly!"
Kaido also said with an annoyed expression, "Those scumbags are utterly disgusting! They're not very strong, but even I can't kill them! And they can summon each other!"
"Roa,"
Shiki said with interest, "Why don't you make a few more trips and take out the Holy Knights scattered throughout those two seas!"
"No."
If it wasn't a battle he liked, he'd refuse outright.
Roa shook his head without hesitation. "If I appear before the Holy Knights, Imu's true body will probably descend immediately."
Everyone's expressions subtly changed.
That sounded absolutely right.
"Then what do we do about those Holy Knights?"
Katakuri frowned. "We can't just let them run rampant, can we? Then what's the point of conquest!"
"That's true."
Roa nodded in deep agreement. "From this perspective, the research into the new Conqueror's Haki energy is a matter of utmost urgency!"
"Huh?"
Katakuri was stunned. "New... energy? What are you talking about?"
"Conqueror's Haki can be stored through a certain technology!"
Roa said earnestly, "In that case, as long as I store my Conqueror's Haki and use it at a critical moment, the Holy Knights will have no choice but to be slaughtered!"
"Eh? Is that kind of thing even possible?"
Charlotte Linlin looked bewildered.
"That is the power of science!"
Roa grinned.
Joy Boy left a rope knot storing his Conqueror's Haki inside that giant robot.
If he could do it, there was no reason why Roa couldn't.
The key lay in that rope knot.
From its observable form, it was somewhat similar to the rope knots on Weatheria that could summon wind.
He could start research from this angle. After all, the scholars from Weatheria were now all in the Calamity City.
"But, this so-called research will take time."
Shiki said, "What should we do before the research is complete? We can't constantly avoid confrontation with the Holy Knights, can we? Then what's the point of conquest!"
"It doesn't matter!"
Roa chuckled. "We have new external support!"
"External support?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
Roa slightly turned around, revealing Shirahoshi behind him. "Let me introduce you. This is Princess Shirahoshi from Fish-Man Island."
"Ah? The Mermaid Princess?"
Everyone was surprised. Was he showcasing a new collectible now?
Shiki assumed he understood and said, "Are you talking about the Fish-Man troops?"
He had already seen Jinbe standing quietly off to the side.
Shiki was, of course, quite familiar with this Warlord.
It was only natural. Roa had made a special trip to Fish-Man Island. It would be strange if he hadn't successfully acquired the Fish-Man troops he desired.
"No, no, no,"
Roa waved his hands repeatedly. "It's the Sea Kings, though."
"Sea Kings?"
Shiki was taken aback.
The others were also surprised.
What did that mean?
"Every few hundred years, a special Mermaid Princess is born on Fish-Man Island,"
Roa said leisurely, "They are naturally capable of communicating with the Sea Kings. No, I shouldn't say communicate! They are born with the ability to command the Sea Kings!"
"What?"
Kaido cried out in disbelief, instinctively looking at the timid little princess.
Command Sea Kings?
"Over eight hundred years ago, the Mermaid Princess of that era gained a title,"
Roa said with a smile, "Because she was the King of the Sea Kings, and the Sea Kings are the rulers of the deep sea, people called her the King of the Sea,"
"The Sea God, Poseidon!"
"..."
At this, even Shiki was so astonished that his mouth couldn't close. The cigar in his mouth unconsciously dropped to the floor.
"Ehhh!!!"
Everyone couldn't help but gasp in shock.
"So, this girl is one of the Ancient Weapons, the Sea God?"
Even Shiki, who was usually careful about maintaining his composure in front of Roa, almost had his eyes pop out.
The Sea God?
Was it acquired so easily?
Regardless, the armies of the Pirate Alliance were deployed.
On the sea surface were a motley collection of ships. After mixing multiple pirate crews together, the style could only be described as a chaotic mess.
But beneath the sea, giant Sea Beasts towed massive ships close behind. Surrounding them were enormous Sea Kings providing escort.
Once they rendezvoused with the Sky-Air Battleships in the West Blue and North Blue, it would be a true all-out warfare system: the sky, the sea surface, and the deep sea—like a vast, seamless net, enveloping the entire North Blue.
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