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426 Roger Pirates Apprentice
🕑 Added 2025-12-30 06:11:06 +0000 UTCLong before arriving, he had actually already heard part of the story.
From a poor boy, turning around and transforming into a man who controlled twenty percent of the world's Belly, someone to whom even the World Government often had to show respect,
Tesoro had become a little carried away.
Wearing lavish golden ornaments, aboard the Gran Tesoro, a ship forged entirely of gold, Tesoro was the god who controlled everything, to the point that if someone laughed before he did, it would be seen as a provocation against him.
Casually deciding the life and death of others, accepting the flattery of so-called high society, Tesoro gradually became willful and violent, tossing out a single golden ring at random was enough to turn it into a killing weapon; he liked to suffocate people alive with gold…
And after it was over, he would even find it amusing.
Stella was a gentle woman, and she also sensed the change in Tesoro's mindset, but although Tesoro was still very good to her, he clearly no longer listened to what she said.
And Orin could help him wake up a bit.
On this island-ship made of gold, Tesoro was used to being like a god, manipulating gold at will, and in such an environment, Tesoro's own strength was not weak—at the very least, he had the power of a Yonko commander, a top executive level.
It was just that he relied too much on his Devil Fruit, once there was no gold for him to control, even an ordinary Vice Admiral could probably solo-kill Tesoro.
"Da…"
"Da…"
Amid a bizarre yet cheerful atmosphere, clusters of flowing gold converged, transforming into a golden staff that Orin grasped in his hand, gold paved the path beneath his feet, stretching all the way to the center of the stage.
This man was like an emperor, walking along a grand thoroughfare, with the masses kneeling to the ground,
Orin was very interested in this legend of the Golden Emperor he had heard about long ago, and immediately wanted to imitate it for a try, only to see an endless ocean of gold surge out, transforming into a sea of golden flowers and auspicious signs, surrounding Orin, black-and-red lightning began to rage wildly from his body, the man leaning on the golden staff walked at an unhurried pace.
"That silhouette is…"
"No way?!!!"
"Could it be that one from the Summit War!!!"
Among the crowd, those with sharp eyes strained with all their might to lift their heads, seeing that godlike and demonic figure,
"Boom boom boom!!!"
"Crack—!!!"
Black-and-red thunderbolts spread outward from beneath his feet, raging through the sky, statues formed of gold knelt in worship, as if welcoming the arrival of a king.
This soul-shaking scene was deeply etched into everyone's hearts; golden light and black-red lightning intertwined, making it impossible to see his appearance clearly,
"This is…"
"A god?"
Only the restrained Tesoro knew that the only one capable of doing this was that man,
"Orin… sir…"
His eyes bloodshot, the always high-and-mighty Tesoro was dazed for a moment at this sight, followed by unwillingness, why was he so powerless…
Clearly I am the richest person in the world!!!
"Tesoro…"
That figure finally walked up to Tesoro, and as he took those last steps forward, everyone present fell unconscious in extreme terror,
"You seem somewhat unwilling?"
"If you're placing your hopes on these people, then you'd better give up early."
With a snap of his fingers, rows upon rows of corpses appeared on the spot, every single one of them had once been a renowned powerhouse of the seas, some with strength reaching the level of a Yonko's right-hand man, and yet now they were dead without making the slightest sound.
Tesoro's pupils shrank abruptly, watching those bodyguards he had hired at great expense die so silently, a trace of fear appeared in his heart, then was magnified infinitely.
"Orin sir, I'm sorry…"
Blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth; under immense pressure, Tesoro wanted to submit, but his body couldn't even manage to kneel.
The gold that once obeyed his every command like extensions of his limbs was now like a betrayed young wife, easily seized by Orin, binding him firmly in place.
"You respect me a great deal, and you've never refused to pay up—that makes me very happy~"
"But you're far too arrogant, wanting to set up your own faction—that makes me very unhappy."
Orin patted his shoulder,
"However, I once gave Doflamingo an opportunity, and he satisfied me greatly, so I'll also give you an opportunity, Tesoro…"
Orin's gaze grew deep and cold,
"If you disappoint me again, it won't just be Stella—your Gold-Gold Fruit, your wealth, your status, your protection… everything I can give you, I can naturally take back as well."
"You're a smart man. Calm down and you'll understand."
Tesoro's confidence was completely shattered, and he could only stare blankly as Orin left.
...
Orin spent a period of indulgent, decadent living in the Golden City.
And at the same time,
Duramos Island welcomed an uninvited guest.
"What a truly scenic little island this is~"
By the shore, a white-haired old man, soaked from head to toe, stepped onto land,
then immediately headed toward the direction of the royal palace.
"Stop right there!!!"
Before he could even get close to the palace interior, many figures emerged from the corners, blocking Rayleigh's path,
"You are…"
Some of the guards felt Rayleigh looked very familiar, while Rayleigh simply laughed heartily,
"You're Orin's subordinates, right? Specifically sent to protect Keek?"
"I'm Rayleigh. Orin and I are old acquaintances."
"Rayleigh-san…"
The guards, dressed in black suits and all Haki experts, hesitated at the sight, but in the end still let him through, because they indeed knew that Rayleigh managed the grounds at the Sabaody Archipelago and had a very good relationship with Orin—one of their own.
With no other choice, the guards could only lead Rayleigh inside,
"By the way, Rayleigh-san, how did you end up like this?"
"Well… my ship was destroyed by a storm halfway here. No choice but to swim all the way over."
Rayleigh wrung the water out of his clothes, his tone lighthearted, as if swimming freely through the New World were a perfectly ordinary thing.
"This…"
The guards were also at a loss for words. After letting Rayleigh into the palace, they returned to hiding and resumed their security duties.
At this moment, in the palace's rear courtyard,
Luffy was receiving instruction from the "renowned master" Keek. The latter was about to teach him how to learn Haki. Rayleigh curled his lips into a smile and hid in the shadows to watch, interrupting a lesson wouldn't be very polite, so he decided to wait until it was over before showing himself.
With his arms crossed, Rayleigh also wanted to hear what Keek, this not-so-strong relic of the old era, could possibly teach, could it really be better than what he himself could offer?
He only heard the little old man standing before Luffy, hands clasped behind his back, his expression extremely serious,
"Kid, Haki training is absolutely not some gentle exercise to condition the body. It's through constant life-and-death battles that one gradually draws out the body's latent potential…"
"Judging from Orin's experience of growing stronger through battle, those who take one year or even two years just to train someone into possessing basic Haki foundations are the ones who are truly leading the young astray!!!"
