"Alright, alright, calm down," Takero said, waving his hand helplessly at his number one subordinate, who looked so excited he was about to vibrate out of his own skin. "I brought this out for you to use, didn't I? Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"
But Tesoro's excitement was impossible to contain.
"No, Boss! You don't understand! You just don't get what this tiny capsule truly represents!" he exclaimed, waving his arms as his face flushed a deep crimson. "This isn't just about wealth! This is a tool powerful enough to shift the global balance, to challenge the World Government itself! This is…"
"Stop!" Takero cut him off before he could launch into a long-winded speech. "Don't say another word, or my head will start to hurt. I'll have Robin organize the technical data for you later. How you use it and how you make money is all up to you. Just go and do it."
This guy… when money is involved, he gets worked up like a madman, Takero grumbled to himself.
However, as he looked at Tesoro's fervent expression, a quiet thought surfaced in his mind. It seems I need to have Robin and the others speed up their search for those Poneglyphs.
He was becoming more and more convinced of his theory about this world being a reconstruction of the Dragon Ball world after some great destruction. He was also growing increasingly curious about what kind of cataclysm could have happened during the erased "Void Century." What could have caused a super-civilization, one that possessed advanced technology like anti-gravity vehicles and Capsules, to regress to this more primitive state of relying on sailing ships and fighting with swords and guns? The mystery lingered in his thoughts.
Pushing those questions to the back of his mind for now, he turned to Tesoro, who was still buzzing with excitement, to discuss another matter. "Oh, by the way, I have another idea."
"Boss, please tell me! Whatever it is, I will accomplish it for you!" Tesoro immediately snapped to attention, standing as straight as a soldier awaiting inspection.
Takero stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a true martial arts fanatic. "I want to host a… 'World Martial Arts Tournament' right here on this island!"
"...Huh?" The fanaticism on Tesoro's face froze. "A World... Martial... what tournament?"
"The 'World Martial Arts Tournament'," Takero explained, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "It's simple. We'll send out invitations to fighters all over the world—martial artists, swordsmen, anyone who's strong—and invite them here to compete in a ring. After a series of elimination rounds, a final champion will be crowned." He grinned, revealing his true motive. "...And that champion will earn the supreme honor of challenging me, the tournament's founder!"
Of course, to attract enough powerful contestants, Takero knew he had to be generous. "As for the prize money… we can make it substantial. A few hundred million Berries for the champion, plus a couple of rare Devil Fruits, should do the trick, right?"
The "small" rewards he casually mentioned made Tesoro's eyelids twitch. A few hundred million Berries?! And rare Devil Fruits on top of that?! Even an event organized by the World Government wouldn't be this extravagant.
However, after a brief moment of shock, Tesoro's mind, now supercharged with ambition, began to spin furiously once more. World Martial Arts Tournament… inviting the world's strongest fighters… crowning a champion… a challenge against the Boss… huge prizes… The keywords collided and combined in his thoughts until, suddenly, he looked up at Takero with an expression of pure worship.
"B-Boss!" he stammered. "As expected of you! To come up with such a brilliant, three-birds-with-one-stone, genius idea!"
"Hmm?" Takero gave him a puzzled look. I... I was just bored of fighting the same weaklings under my command every day. I wanted to have some fun and see if there were any other durable punching bags out there in the world, that's all. What is this guy imagining now?
Tesoro, however, was completely oblivious to his Boss's simple confusion. He was lost in admiration for what he perceived as Takero's "unfathomable wisdom" and "far-sighted planning." He was certain this was another test from his Boss—a test to see if he could grasp the grand, world-shaking scheme hidden behind the simple idea of a martial arts tournament.
Puffing out his chest, he began to present his "interpretation" with the confidence of a student who has discovered the perfect answer.
"I understand, Boss! The World Government is actively trying to suppress the news about you after the Buster Call incident! Even with Morgans's help, the buzz is slowly being diluted by their propaganda machine! So, you want to use this 'World Martial Arts Tournament' to slap them in the face and re-declare your existence and power to the entire world!"
Tesoro grew more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see the future unfolding. "Just imagine it! The top powerhouses from every corner of the globe gather on our island. After a series of fierce battles, one sole champion stands at the pinnacle! Then, with the whole world watching, this champion, covered in glory, challenges you! And the result… he can't even last a single move before you, the 'Final Boss,' effortlessly defeat him!"
"How... how earth-shattering would that be?! Not only would your prestige spread to every corner of the sea in the most direct, violent, and undeniable way, but we could also earn an unimaginable fortune! We could sell tickets, broadcasting rights, and boost our tourism and gambling industries! This is a brilliant plan that brings both fame and fortune!"
Finished, Tesoro looked at Takero again with that same gaze of infinite admiration. "Boss… your wisdom is truly as deep as the abyss!"
Takero listened to the entire explanation, completely dumbfounded. Is... is that right? he thought to himself. But as he considered it, he had to admit that Tesoro's version made his simple desire to "find someone to fight" sound much more profound.
He decided to just go with it.
Takero waved his hand indifferently. "Hmm, if you say so, then that's what it is."
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