Chapter 720: The Deceived Are Simply Losers
Chapter 720: The Deceived Are Simply Losers
The three of them simply stared, their combined gaze exerting immense pressure.
Bartolo took half a step back, his signature smile vanishing.
Tanaka glanced left and right, cold sweat pouring down his face.
Gran Tesoro’s intelligence network was formidable—naturally, given its ties to the World Government and world nobles. They were privy to countless secrets.
As Tezoro’s trusted aide and secretary, Bartolo himself knew plenty of sensitive information.
These three were genuine Admiral candidates!
If all three moved against them simultaneously…
“Officer Tezoro,” Bartolo murmured anxiously, glancing toward the man.
Tezoro’s blue veins bulged as he gritted his teeth, glaring at the three Navy officers on the staircase. Each of them wore a smirk, looking down at him with mocking amusement.
“I don’t care how you govern your territory—I’m just here for information. As a nation recognized by the World Government, cooperation should be simple enough, right? Naturally, I’ll ensure no conflicts occur within your territory.”
Kuro remarked, “This shouldn’t be difficult for you, Tezoro.”
Giving information—certainly not hard.
Bartolo agreed it was simple.
Though this place was a so-called neutral zone, true neutrality was impossible when facing overwhelming power.
The three before them were that overwhelming power!
“Officer Tezoro, I think—”
“Don’t smile.”
As Bartolo leaned closer to whisper in Tezoro’s ear, the latter hissed through clenched teeth:
“Don’T Smile!!”
His voice rang out again, firmer this time.
Unbidden, his mind flashed to a certain figure with a bubbly helmet, laughing softly, and another—a green-haired youth bearing the Celestial Dragon’s hoofprint on his bare chest.
That same smug, upturned grin!
Tezoro roared upward, “Don’T Dare Look AT ME With That Smug Expression!!”
Boom!!
The golden decorations on the ceiling melted into liquid gold, reforming into a colossal golden fist that smashed toward the three.
Bang!!
One punch shattered the staircase into dust.
Of course, no one was hit.
“Feeling generous?”
Kuro, Zoro, and Kaku landed on the plaza below. Kuro gripped his sword hilt, eyes locked on Tezoro. “May I interpret this as provocation, Golden Lion?”
“Hahahaha!”
Tezoro burst into laughter. “What are you talking about, Golden Lion? That was just an accident! I apologize—how about ten million Beri each for emotional distress? Seems I’ve damaged this ceiling.”
Suddenly, he’d regained his composure.
“As for the information you seek… of course. Come, gamble with me. I’ve got more money than I can spend. Win every last coin from me, and I’ll give you the information, Diez.”
Tezoro spread his arms, shrugging with a grin. “A person stripped of everything becomes most vulnerable. They’ll trade anything they possess. My ‘everything’ is wealth. Win all my money, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Thud!
A massive figure suddenly dropped from above, landing heavily before the Bell.
He cradled two enormous iron dice, chewed gum, wore a headband, and sported an emerald necklace. Tilting his head, he smirked arrogantly.
Tezoro grinned. “Diez—once an undefeated champion in the Death Matches of the Darkness World, now the house here. He’ll roll the dice. Bets are one hundred million Beri each. If I lose, you get tenfold. If you lose, I just collect the original stake.”
“Hmm!!”
No sooner had Tezoro finished speaking than Diez hurled the two giant dice upward. They clattered into the inverted Bell. He clasped the Bell tightly, slammed it down, and a resonant chime echoed as the Bell landed upright.
“The rules are simple: Guess Big or Small.”
Tezoro’s malicious grin widened. “I’ll take Big. Let’s roll!”
Kuro stared at him, then abruptly turned away. As he did, a wisp of black light flared, followed by a black-gold Haki slash streaking along the dark beam, cleaving straight through the Bell.
Boom!
The Haki slash reduced the Bell—and the dice inside—to dust.
“I choose Small. No points showing means Small. Ten billion Beri—deliver it to my ship. Since you, Golden Emperor, refuse to share information, I won’t press you. The Navy isn’t so desperate as to force someone into compliance. Someone arrange the payment. I’m here for fun.”
“Ahhh, what a thrilling game! No problem—ten billion Beri. But please, enjoy yourself here.”
Tezoro bowed deeply, then straightened to fix Kuro with a stare. “It’s rare for a few Vice Admirals to visit. I’ll cover your expenses today.”
Kuro ignored him, striding outside.
The venue had doors—exiting wasn’t impossible. He’d just taken the more convenient path earlier.
Outside the Vip area, Kaku asked, “That’s it?”
“We’re new arrivals. Let’s confirm we’re enjoying ourselves properly first. Pirates won’t escape.”
Kuro exhaled a stream of smoke, voice indifferent. “Tezoro’s determined to protect them. Those people must’ve been recruited by him. As for that man… we can’t afford to clash openly.”
Truthfully, if the man refused to yield, they had no recourse.
Sometimes one had to admit—wealth was a form of power. Especially for Navy officers bound by rules, money was power.
Tezoro’s entire demeanor dared them to provoke a crisis.
That attitude reminded him of unpleasant memories.
They had no evidence to arrest him. The man wasn’t a pirate anymore—he was a nation legally recognized by the World Government, a legitimate “King.”
Besides, Kuro had no interest in arresting him. He simply wanted to resolve his own troubles without unnecessary tension.
“You’ve got a plan, right, Junior Kuro?” Zoro teased beside him.
“Don’t be absurd. What methods could a Navy officer possibly have?”
Kuro shook his head, pausing. “But that Sigg’s aura? I’ve memorized it. Capturing someone isn’t complicated. Isn’t there a saying? ‘In Gran Tesoro’s absolute rules, the deceived are simply losers.’”
He glanced back at the Vip room. “Since they’ve set this rule… let’s see who deceives whom.”
He’d memorized that long-jawed man’s aura. Finding him would be easy.
This place was vast, but his Observation Haki spanned ten kilometers. Sweeping the area, he’d track the aura’s interactions. Then a sudden raid would settle it—alongside whatever else.
Kuro glanced at the city’s golden neon-lit skyline, murmuring, “When there’s a Big Wave, I usually don’t cheat people.”
Tezoro’s ability could be nullified by seawater.
Those here might’ve been dusted with Golden Powder, but a splash of seawater would resolve that.
The deceived are simply losers?
Such rhetoric was nothing more than a loser’s self-defeating excuse!
(End of Chapter)
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