Inside the tavern, Tesoro returned to his subordinates' room with a flushed face.
"Tesoro! That guy Jake, did he do anything to you? Did he mention wanting to buy something from you? Or say anything about making you stay here forever?"
"What about us? Our gold? Did that Jake say anything about those things?"
Listening to his subordinates' concerns, Tesoro didn't say anything.
If this had been before meeting Stella, he would have been deeply saddened by these hollow expressions of care, thinking no one in this world truly cared about him anymore.
But now things were different.
Tesoro knew Stella was by his side—she had never left him.
There had always been someone in this world who cared for him wholeheartedly!
With her presence, the insincere concern of others no longer mattered.
Tesoro raised his hand, cutting off his subordinates' chatter.
Looking at the familiar faces around him, he spoke with unprecedented confidence:
"I've already reached an agreement with Jake-sama. Starting today, our Tesoro Family will pledge eternal loyalty to Jake-sama. Here, I'm giving you all a choice. Those willing to follow me in serving Jake-sama may stay and keep the gold I've given you. I'll continue to treat you as brothers.
Alternatively, you may leave now. I'll give you real Berries, but after this parting, we'll have no further ties—no contact ever again!"
At Tesoro's sudden declaration, silence fell over the room.
A few of his more loyal followers stepped forward, trying to lighten the mood with forced humor.
"Tesoro, what are you talking about? We're brothers and sisters who helped each other escape that hellhole. Talking about splitting up now? Whatever you want to do, we'll support you."
Tesoro's expression softened slightly as he looked at the speaker.
Addressing the tall, dark-skinned man, he said.
"Dubey, I believe you, but what I said earlier stands. From now on, anyone who wants to follow me must swear the same undying loyalty to Jake-sama as I have. If anyone can't commit to that, leave now. I'll give you enough Berries to live comfortably for the rest of your lives."
Tesoro repeated his declaration with even greater seriousness, making it clear this was no joke—he meant every word.
However, some who were accustomed to Tesoro's despondent demeanor still treated him with their usual casual attitude despite his firm stance.
"Hey, hey, hey! Tesoro, have you forgotten who helped you escape that damned slave pit when you were in trouble?"
Facing the bald man's accusation, Tesoro turned calmly to look at him.
"First, during our time in hell, I never asked any of you for help. From beginning to end, it was I who helped all of you. I won't tolerate this distortion of facts.
Second, the one who helped me escape was a fish-man named Fisher Tiger, who has nothing to do with you all. The guards were held off by a drunken swordsman, which also has nothing to do with you.
Third, the Gold-Gold Fruit was seized almost entirely by my own efforts. The only person who provided cover for me was Duke—again, none of you were involved.
Your only role was to follow me, forming a considerable force that made others believe we were united. But in truth, I know better than anyone how many of you only stuck around because of my Devil Fruit powers."
The bald man seemed stunned that Tesoro, usually so agreeable, would respond with such unyielding defiance.
After a moment of shock, fury surged from the depths of his heart, flushing his face crimson.
He drew a dagger from his waist and roared at Tesoro.
"You damn traitor! How dare you betray us!"
As he shouted, he brandished the dagger and charged toward Tesoro.
Tesoro merely watched him approach and replied calmly.
"We were never allies to begin with, so how can you call it betrayal? You've done nothing for me, while I've given you plenty of gold. By that logic, the one raising a blade against me now is the real traitor, wouldn't you agree?"
The bald man paid no heed to Tesoro's words.
His rationality had already been drowned by blind rage.
To him, Tesoro was nothing more than a puppet he could manipulate at will.
Now, this puppet had the audacity to humiliate him publicly, shattering his self-control completely.
Tesoro saw right through him.
Watching the charging figure, he let out a mocking laugh.
"We were both once slaves of the Celestial Dragons. We both claimed to despise slavery, vowing to abolish it from this world. But once we gained our freedom, you forgot your original ideals. You don't hate slavery—you just hate not being the master in that system."
"Shut your mouth, bastard! Give me back my Gold-Gold Fruit!"
"First, the Gold-Gold Fruit was mine by conquest. Second, you won't be leaving here alive today."
With a slight lift of Tesoro's left hand, streams of liquid gold instantly enveloped the man.
As Tesoro clenched his fist, the gold molded tightly against the man's skin, encasing him entirely in a golden prison.
"No! No! Please, spare me! Tesoro! We're brothers who escaped that hell together!"
The others, moved by the bald man's desperate pleas, hesitated—until they met Tesoro's icy gaze.
"The moment you drew your blade against me, we ceased being siblings. You wanted gold—did I not give you enough?"
As the gold completely encased the man's body, everyone present trembled and knelt in submission around Tesoro.
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