Chapter 358: The Seven Warlords of the Sea Are Actually My Family's Business
Upon seeing the system's prompt, Eric froze for a moment. Did they really count Tesoro's assets as mine?
However, Tesoro didn't notice Eric 's expression. His heart was already filled with excitement and joy.
During the thousands of sleepless nights, Tesoro would hide in his room, seething with hatred toward the Celestial Dragons, all while being embraced by the darkness.
Just when his mental state was about to collapse, the stories of Eric 's brutal killing of the Celestial Dragons reached him.
Eric and Esdeath immediately became his guiding lights.
Using his exceptional business acumen, he worked tirelessly to strengthen himself and his influence, hoping that when Eric entered the New World, he could offer his wealth and power to help Eric while seeking his own revenge.
Finally, he had this opportunity. How could he not be happy?
"The giant ship and the entertainment city still need to be built," Eric gave Tesoro a command, "But have you thought about how to handle the Four Emperors and the World Government?"
"All we can do is pay enough tribute each year as protection money," Tesoro said with a bitter smile. "Right now, all I have is money."
'That sentence sounded like you're so poor you only have money left. How annoying.'
Seeing Eric 's face suddenly darken, Tesoro became flustered, "Eric -sama, did I do something wrong?"
"It's not your fault," Eric threw out a suggestion, "Now, there's a good opportunity just waiting for you to seize."
"Good opportunity?" Tesoro was confused, "Eric -sama, what do you mean?"
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea," Eric explained, "You once worked with Doflamingo, and you should be well aware that the reason he could operate both in the underworld and on the surface is because of his position as a Warlord of the Sea."
"The World Government ignored all of Doflamingo's criminal activities, and many pirate crews needed him as a middleman, which is why his business ran smoothly."
"And now that Doflamingo and his Donquixote family have collapsed months ago, the New World is in need of a new intermediary..."
"B-but I'm not a pirate."
"You don't need to be a pirate," Eric mused, "All you need to do is capture one or two pirates worth billions and hand them over to the Navy Headquarters, proving that you have enough strength. Then, with some money to apply pressure on the World Government, you should be able to easily become a Warlord of the Sea."
"That's quite the coincidence…" Eric chuckled, "The position of Warlord of the Sea is just now open."
Eric looked Tesoro up and down, "You must have decent strength, otherwise Doflamingo wouldn't have let go of his grudge and become business partners with you. He probably would have devoured you alive."
"Yes," Tesoro nodded, "I've awakened my Devil Fruit powers."
"Oh?" Esdeath's interest was piqued, "Your Devil Fruit ability has awakened?"
"Yes," Tesoro respectfully replied, "I am a user of the Golden-Golden Fruit. The more I desire money, the stronger the power of my Devil Fruit becomes."
"Heh, that Kaku guy must also be very suited for this ability."
"Kaku?" Tesoro asked in confusion, "Is he the subordinate of the 'Seven Warlords' Ulquiorra Cifer?"
"…" The group fell silent.
"Step out," Esdeath twirled her wrist, "I want to test your strength."
Kurumi sighed, "You just want to fight, don't you?"
"I just want to test how strong the power is after the enhancement."
"It's the sea here. It's not convenient for a fight. We'll do it when we reach land."
"Not convenient for a fight?" Esdeath lightly laughed, "Then I'll freeze a patch of land."
"Esdeath, are you planning to…"
Esdeath opened the meeting room door and stepped out first.
Eric could only say to Tesoro, "Use your full strength. If Esdeath is in a good mood, she might even catch a Celestial Dragon for you."
"Alright!" Tesoro said, brimming with energy.
...
Esdeath stretched her fair hand toward the sea, "The mere sea water, freeze before me!"
"Crack, crack, crack!"
Surging cold air burst out, and as the moving seawater touched the freezing air, it instantly formed a solid, thick ice layer that rapidly spread out, freezing the Fearless ship and Tesoro's sailboat into the ice.
"!!" Tesoro's subordinates' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"How, how amazing!" Yoshino, being a spirit who controls ice and water, understood just how difficult this feat was.
"Hurry up and come down!" Esdeath stood on the ice layer, calling out as she stamped her foot, "Let me test your level."
Tesoro leaped out from the ship's side and landed on the thick ice layer.
"When the power of the Superhuman-type Devil Fruit 'awakens,' it can affect things outside the user," Esdeath pointed at the ice surface, "You didn't bring a lot of gold with you, did you? You can turn the ice into gold. Don't worry, the ice layer is very thick."
"Then I won't be polite." Tesoro raised his hand and lightly swiped the hard ice. In an instant, the solidified ice turned into liquid gold. The golden liquid flowed like water across the ice, and more glaciers were transformed into gold.
"Oh~" Esdeath watched Tesoro's preparations with interest.
In less than a minute, Tesoro had turned a large portion of the ice into liquid gold.
Now standing on a wave of gold, the golden liquid rushed toward Esdeath like a tsunami.
"No need for a test," Esdeath nimbly jumped up, easily dodging the flood of gold coming toward her.
Perona's eyes had turned to gold, her hands clasped together in front of her meager chest. "Once the fight is over, I'll collect all this gold."
"Once this assimilated gold touches the sea, it will revert to its original form," Eric instantly shattered her fantasy.
"Good!" Under Tesoro's focused control, a massive amount of golden liquid gathered toward him, and more gold liquid was produced as Tesoro entered his awakened state.
The tidal wave of golden giant waves came from all directions, completely submerging Tesoro in a sea of gold.
The endless gold surrounded his body, and in an instant, a giant golden figure over thirty meters tall formed, shining with dazzling golden light under the bright sunlight.
Eric couldn't help but mutter, "Now this is what I call the 'nouveau riche gold.'"
Esdeath waved her hand from the other side, "Come."
"Be careful!" The golden giant pulled back its right arm, and the huge fist created a vortex. Tesoro didn't use [Golden Inferno]; instead, he armored the golden giant's fist because he was worried it might hurt Esdeath.
The massive fist, accompanied by a whooshing sound, was aimed at the still-standing Esdeath.
(END CHAPTER)
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