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Everyone was stunned. What had just happened? Who was this lunatic who had appeared out of nowhere? How did he dare to lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon?
Weren't Celestial Dragons supposed to be the descendants of the world's creators, gods walking among mortals? So why was one of them now sprawled on the ground like a dead dog? Everything had happened too quickly and too suddenly. The violent turn of events left everyone's minds blank, filled with nothing but a deep, bone-chilling shock.
But even if the situation was confusing, one thing was perfectly clear. "Run! The Admiral is coming!!!" someone in the crowd shrieked, snapping everyone back to reality. Panic spread like a plague as the crowd screamed, pushed, and fled for their lives. In an instant, the entire slave market erupted into chaos. People were trampling each other in a desperate stampede. Even the chained slaves were struggling against their shackles, trying to break free in the confusion.
Amidst the chaos, only one person didn't run. Tesoro, dragging his battered body, carefully helped Stella to her feet. He then walked step-by-step until he was in front of Takero. His face was a mess of blood and dust, but his expression was one of pure relief and excitement. He bowed deeply. "Boss! Thank you for saving my life!"
Even though Takero looked younger than him, Tesoro's tone and posture were filled with genuine respect. In his deepest moment of despair, he had prayed to a god that didn't exist, but this mysterious and powerful young man was the one who answered. At this moment, Takero was the only god in his heart.
"Huh? Who are you?" Takero asked, looking at the bruised, green-haired kid with confusion. What was this guy's problem? Was he trying to scam him?
Tesoro quickly explained, "Boss, my name is Gild Tesoro, and this is my beloved, Stella. What happened was..."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Takero interrupted, getting a headache just from the introduction. "Keep it under thirty words! I don't want to be accused of padding the word count!"
"Uh..." Tesoro choked for a second before quickly organizing his thoughts. "In short, Stella and I were about to be taken as slaves, and you saved us! I want to repay you!"
"Oh, I see," Takero nodded, finally understanding. This unlucky green-haired kid had gotten himself beaten up trying to save his slave girlfriend, and he might have even been cuckolded by that Celestial Dragon guy later on. Since Takero had stopped all of that, it was only natural they saw him as their savior. It seemed he had accidentally done a good deed.
"Alright, I'll take you as my subordinate," Takero said, waving his hand indifferently. There was no harm in having an extra follower. While he didn't particularly want subordinates, there was no reason to refuse help when it was offered. He couldn't help but glance at Tesoro's striking green hair again. "Speaking of which, you have such bad luck, I suspect it's your hair's fault. I suggest you change the color."
Tesoro touched his hair, confused. What was wrong with it? He thought green was a pretty nice, natural color. But the Boss had spoken, so Tesoro had no objections. "No problem, Boss! I'll dye this thing yellow later!"
"Hmmā¦ green hair to yellow hair," Takero stroked his chin thoughtfully. "In some stories, that might lead directly to a 404."
Though Tesoro had no idea what "404" meant, he immediately put on a respectful smile. The smile pulled at his injuries, however, making him grimace in pain as blood seeped from the corner of his mouth again.
"Tesoro! Are you alright!" Stella cried, frantically supporting him.
"Coughā¦ I'm fineā¦" Tesoro forced himself to say, but his pale face and shaky body betrayed his weakness. He was just a teenager who had been severely beaten by a group of grown men.
Takero found it annoying. He casually pulled a bean from his pocket and threw it to him. "Eat it."
Tesoro caught the plain-looking green bean. Despite his doubts, he put it in his mouth without hesitation. Within a few seconds, an indescribable warm current swept through his entire body. His broken bones began to heal, his torn muscles regenerated, and the bruises and swelling visibly faded. All the intense pain receded like a tide.
"Thisā¦ what is this?!" Tesoro stood up straight, moving his limbs in disbelief. His eyes were wide with shock. He had never seen such a miracle in his life. One bean had instantly healed all of his severe injuries.
"Those are Senzu Beans. As long as you're still breathing, eating one will have you jumping around like new," Takero explained lightly.
His words, however, hit Tesoro like a clap of thunder. Having struggled at the bottom his whole life, he knew that a severe injury was often a death sentence for the poor. He had already planned on using all the money he'd saved for Stella to pay for his medical treatment. An object that could save a life like this... how much was it worth? Tesoro couldn't even begin to imagine. And the Boss had just casually given it to him, a person he had just met.
"Bossā¦ this is too preciousā¦" Tesoro's voice trembled, overwhelmed with gratitude. He wanted to bow again. "Such a great kindnessā¦ I have no way to repay it. I am willing to be your ox or horse!"
"Stop!" Takero said, getting goosebumps from his intense gaze. "Hey, hey! Don't look at me with such disgusting eyes, alright!"
Tesoro immediately shut up, but the resolve to follow him for the rest of his life had already been forged in his heart.
By now, the market was mostly empty, leaving only the three of them and the unconscious Celestial Dragon on the ground. "Boss," Tesoro said, his expression grave, "The Marines must have gotten the news by now. We should leave quickly, too!" As he spoke, he gave the unconscious Rosward a kick.
"Leave?" Takero said, as if he'd just heard a joke. "My goal hasn't been achieved yet. Why would I leave?"
Tesoro froze, his voice changing pitch. "Boss! Youā¦ you're not really planning to wait for the Admiral, are you?!" When he saw Takero's "what-else-would-I-do" expression, Tesoro grew anxious. "That's an Admiral! The Marines' highest combat power! The World Government's strongest spear!!"
"Highest combat power?" Takero's eyes lit up instantly, and a wild, unrestrained smile spread across his lips. "I'm going to fight the highest combat power!" He had learned on Shanks's ship that an Admiral was the officially recognized "top-tier experience pack" of this world. He wasn't about to miss an opportunity to fight such a strong opponent.
Seeing that Takero was determined to stay, Tesoro gritted his teeth. "Stella, you go first!" He then turned to Takero, his eyes resolute. "Boss, I'll stay with you! This life was given to me by you!"
"No! I'll stay too!" Stella said, shaking her head and clutching Tesoro's arm tightly.
"Listen to me, you need to leave quickly!" Tesoro insisted, and the two began to argue.
"Enough!" Takero snapped, his head starting to ache. "Are you two putting on a life-and-death farewell drama here? Both of you, get out!"
Tesoro still wanted to insist. "Boss, I..."
"Shut up!" Takero waved impatiently. "What can you two weaklings do here besides holding me back? When the fight starts, I won't have time to look after you!"
"Weaklings," "holding me back"ā¦ each word was like a needle piercing Tesoro's heart. His face paled as a huge sense of frustration and powerlessness washed over him. He was right. He was too weakā¦ he didn't even have the right to stand by his Boss's side.
'Get stronger!' he thought, clenching his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. 'I must get stronger as soon as possible! I must never hold the Boss back again!'
"Yesā¦ Boss!" Tesoro said no more. He gave Takero a deep look, then pulled Stella along as they quickly disappeared around the corner.
Finally, the stage was clear. Takero looked around the empty auction house with satisfaction. He stretched his limbs, his tail wagging excitedly behind him. He fixed his gaze in the direction of the port, as if he were waiting for a grand performance to begin.
"The stage is setā¦ don't disappoint me, Admiral!"
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