"Captain! You bastards, what are you trying to do to the captain?"
Seeing their captain dragged away, the members of the Lone Wolf Pirates immediately sprang into action. One of them, wielding a Gatling gun, began spraying bullets wildly. The sudden barrage caught many off guard, and while the stronger or more alert individuals managed to evade, numerous others were shredded by the hail of bullets.
Even in the New World, not everyone could shrug off the damage caused by firearms—let alone the fact that many among the guests here were ordinary civilians.
The Gran Tesoro was the largest den of debauchery and entertainment in the world, attracting not just Celestial Dragons and pirates, but also a vast number of wealthy and powerful individuals. However, while entry was relatively open, leaving unscathed was an entirely different matter. Much like the chaotic battles that characterized the Sabaody Archipelago, the Gran Tesoro was no safer, especially now that a significant number of bounty hunters had shifted their operations here.
Although Tesoro's forces maintained some semblance of order, the sheer size of the city and various other factors meant that true safety was only guaranteed in a few select areas. Elsewhere, survival was entirely up to the individual.
Boom!
As the Lone Wolf Pirates caused chaos in the casino, forcing guests to scatter in panic, a hulking figure suddenly descended from above, carrying an unstoppable momentum. The figure hurtled straight toward the pirate wielding the Gatling gun. With a thunderous crash, the pirate was flattened into a bloody pulp, reduced to nothing more than a lifeless smear under the weight of the descending figure.
The assailant was none other than Dice, one of Tesoro's high-ranking officers. Once the undefeated champion of the Gran Tesoro's gladiatorial arena, Dice had caught Tesoro's attention and been recruited into his inner circle as a core subordinate.
The Gran Tesoro hosted a combat arena reminiscent of Doflamingo's colosseum in Dressrosa. Every day, a diverse array of fighters—pirates, bounty hunters, wandering swordsmen, martial artists—engaged in brutal duels to the death. Dice had been a towering presence in this arena, and when no one dared challenge him any longer, Tesoro brought him into the fold.
Dice was a towering sadomasochist, a fact that Daniel found somewhat amusing. In addition to his undeniable strength, it was likely Dice's masochistic tendencies that discouraged challengers in the arena—fighting someone who relished pain was unnerving, to say the least.
Despite the Lone Wolf Pirates boasting a decent number of officers, they were pitifully outmatched against Dice. He quickly dismantled their resistance, leaving the floor littered with their unconscious or lifeless bodies. Cleanup crews arrived promptly, and within ten minutes, the scene of carnage was entirely restored. If not for having witnessed the battle firsthand, one might never have believed such a violent clash had just taken place.
This was the Gran Tesoro, a place where slaughter and death were so routine that no one batted an eye. The dead were simply considered unlucky or unworthy.
"Quite a few familiar faces here."
The commotion provided Daniel an opportunity to spot several familiar figures. While most people scrambled to avoid being caught in the crossfire, a handful stood calmly on the sidelines, their detachment making them stand out.
Roughly twenty meters to Daniel's left stood Trafalgar Law and a few of his subordinates. Most eye-catching among them was, of course, Bepo, the white bear Mink.
Not far to Law's left was another Supernova, Eustass Kid, along with his crew. Other notable Supernovas present included Urouge, Capone Bege, Basil Hawkins, and even Cavendish, the "White Horse," from the previous generation of Supernovas.
Cavendish was the only surviving member of his generation of Supernovas who still remained active. The others had either perished or disappeared into obscurity. At this moment, Cavendish seemed entirely oblivious to the earlier bloodshed, instead delighting in the company of nearly a dozen beautiful women who surrounded him.
In addition to the Supernovas, Daniel also noticed some members of the Whitebeard Pirates—though they appeared to be from one of the allied crews rather than Whitebeard's main force. Their presence mirrored the structure of many Four Emperor crews, which operated similarly to the Marine Headquarters and its branch divisions.
For pirates who had entered the New World, a visit to the Gran Tesoro was almost inevitable. Whether for entertainment, resupplying resources, or simply curiosity, the city was a magnet for those seeking excitement.
Apart from pirates, there were also several Marines mingling in the crowd. Seeing Marines and pirates gambling at the same table might seem unthinkable elsewhere, but on the Gran Tesoro, it was a common sight. This only underscored the pervasive corruption within the Navy. Many of these Marines, despite their blatant misconduct, were untouchable—even by Fleet Admiral Sengoku—because of their ties to World Government-affiliated nations.
The Navy, after all, was made up of people, and people came from countries. For example, Garp hailed from the Goa Kingdom. Unlike others, Garp's sense of justice and disdain for Goa's aristocracy ensured he never gave them special treatment. However, many other Marines weren't so impartial. Some were even nobles themselves, using their positions to further their own interests.
The Navy branches scattered across the seas were rife with such individuals. Most of the corrupt branch commanders Luffy encountered on his journey were cut from this cloth.
"Divination versus the Luck-Luck Fruit… now that's an intriguing match-up."
While some pirates, like Trafalgar Law, showed little interest in gambling, others were deeply engrossed, especially Hawkins. Using his unique divination abilities, Hawkins had been winning large sums of money. For pirates, wealth was a necessity, and Hawkins saw no reason to pass up the opportunity to earn it.
However, the tides shifted when Tesoro's subordinate, Baccarat, entered the scene. Facing Baccarat, Hawkins finally furrowed his brows. His divination had always been highly accurate, but against the Luck-Luck Fruit, its reliability began to waver.
Luck was an irrational force, and figures like Buggy and Usopp were living testaments to its absurd power. Thanks to Daniel's manipulation involving the Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale, Buggy had become the target of countless pursuers. Yet, against all odds, no one had managed to capture him.
In the end, Hawkins conceded defeat and left the table.
"Not a bad day for luck. Time to make my move."
After winning some money at the casino without using any of his abilities, Daniel was in high spirits. While the winnings themselves meant little to him, the satisfaction of earning them through gambling was a unique pleasure.
Tanaka, one of Tesoro's key subordinates, had his own office in the Gran Tesoro's largest casino. His office was located just below the top floor, where Tesoro himself resided.
"Who are you?"
When Tanaka saw Daniel suddenly appear in his office, his heart skipped a beat. He instinctively prepared to activate his Warp-Warp Fruit to escape. Like many pirates who had survived in the New World, Tanaka didn't rely solely on his Devil Fruit; his Observation Haki was also quite proficient.
Bang!
Before Tanaka could merge into the floor, a ten-hand truncheon pierced through his shoulder and pinned him to the wall behind him. The weapon, infused with Daniel's freezing qi, prevented any blood from spilling despite the grievous wound.
"Sea prism stone…" Tanaka groaned in pain as he realized what the weapon was made of. The Warp-Warp Fruit allowed its user to phase through all non-living matter, granting an ability akin to Kamui. However, sea prism stone was an exception—it nullified the powers of Devil Fruit users.
"Impressive." Daniel nodded lightly, his figure appearing before Tanaka in an instant. Fortunately, the luxurious golden walls of the casino tower had excellent soundproofing, a result of Tesoro's extravagant design choices. Otherwise, Tanaka's earlier cry of pain might have alerted others.
Daniel wasn't concerned about Tesoro himself. Even if Tesoro's Gold-Gold Fruit had awakened, he wasn't a threat. However, this wasn't the right time to deal with Tesoro.
"Hmm, someone's coming… and it's her."
Just as Daniel was about to speak, he noticed someone approaching the office. Using Observation Haki, he quickly identified the visitor and decided to step into the Mirror Dimension, dragging Tanaka with him.
Moments later, the door to the office opened, revealing a beautiful woman with short purple hair, long slender legs, and a curvaceous figure. It was none other than Karina, the renowned songstress of the Gran Tesoro and Nami's companion and mentor.
Karina's initial behavior seemed normal, but once she confirmed the room was empty, her movements became swift and precise. She carefully searched the office, restoring everything to its original state after inspecting it. Her efficiency and professionalism marked her as an experienced operative—practically a master spy.
"Her position must be quite high."
Having accessed Tanaka's memories, Daniel learned that Tanaka was akin to Nami within the Tesoro Pirates—second-in-command and the one who managed the crew's finances. This included not only the Gran Tesoro's income but also the taxes collected from the subordinate pirate crews under Tesoro's command.
Unlike Luffy's Straw Hat Grand Fleet, the subordinate crews of the Four Emperors were bound by obligations, including taxation. Joining a Four Emperor crew wasn't a simple matter of pledging allegiance; it came with responsibilities.
"A revolutionary spy
, huh? Lucky for me."
Daniel couldn't help but speculate about Karina's motives. If the Revolutionaries had agents within the Gran Tesoro, it wouldn't be surprising. Such a massive repository of the world's wealth couldn't be ignored, and both Revolutionary spies and CP agents frequently infiltrated the city.
Fortunately for Daniel, he'd arrived just in time. According to Tanaka's memories, the World Government had concocted a plan to use a captured Revolutionary spy to lure other high-ranking Revolutionaries into a trap.
"Sabo and Koala are here as well… good thing I came. Otherwise, they might've gotten themselves into trouble."
From Tanaka's memories, Daniel learned of the trap set by CP0, who intended to ambush the Revolutionaries when they came to rescue their captured comrade.
"Let's lend them a hand."
Having made his decision, Daniel swiftly killed Tanaka and claimed his Devil Fruit. He then infiltrated the holding area where the Revolutionary spy was being kept, knocked the spy unconscious, and carried them out.
"Who's there?"
At a small, nondescript courtyard, Sabo and Koala were discussing their next move when Sabo suddenly stood up. Motioning for Koala to stay alert, he dashed into the yard to confront the intruder.
"Among the three brothers, Sabo really is the strongest right now."
Daniel smirked as he tossed the unconscious spy into the courtyard. Watching Sabo spring into action, he gave a small nod of approval before disappearing into the shadows. As he left, he called out a warning: "CP0 is onto you. Leave immediately."
"Disappointing, Ace… really disappointing."
Back in his room, Daniel shook his head in mild frustration.
Among the three sworn brothers, Luffy was training diligently, and Sabo was actively fighting on behalf of the Revolutionary Army. But Ace, despite Daniel's earlier warnings, had yet to fully awaken to his responsibilities. While he had begun training, his progress lagged far behind that of Luffy and Sabo.
As a child, Ace had been the most diligent in his training. However, after joining the Whitebeard Pirates, he seemed to have grown complacent under Whitebeard's protection. His lack of effort in mastering Haki was a glaring weakness—despite the destructive power of a Logia Devil Fruit, Haki remained an indispensable tool for survival in the New World.
Of course, this complacency wasn't entirely Ace's fault. The pirate lifestyle prioritized freedom, camaraderie, and celebration over rigorous discipline. Training was far from a priority for most pirates.
The Marines, by contrast, were far more structured. Their strict routines and daily drills ensured a higher level of discipline—something that was virtually impossible to impose on pirates.
"One against three… as expected of Sabo."
Having secured the Warp-Warp Fruit, Daniel was preparing to leave when a fierce battle broke out near the Gran Tesoro's shoreline.
When Daniel arrived at the scene, he saw Sabo wielding a metal pipe against three white-robed figures wearing peculiar masks—agents of CP0.
Meanwhile, Koala was preparing to evacuate the injured spy onto a ship.
The sudden clash between the Revolutionary Army's chief of staff and CP0 immediately drew the attention of the Gran Tesoro's denizens. However, none dared to intervene. For pirates, both factions were enemies.
While Sabo was undoubtedly strong, the three CP0 agents were no pushovers. All three were masters of physical combat, with none relying on Devil Fruits. The battle showed no signs of ending quickly.
If the fight dragged on, Sabo would be in grave danger. The Revolutionaries had limited forces in the area, whereas the World Government's influence was far stronger.
"Such elite fighters… the World Government must have only a few of them. Let's even the odds."
With that thought, Daniel decided to act.
Just as Sabo used his Dragon Claw Fist to repel one of the CP0 agents, attempting to press his advantage, the other two moved to block him. Suddenly, a figure clad in black with a mask on their face appeared behind the repelled CP0 agent.
Daniel's strike was swift and precise. With a series of devastating punches, he shattered the agent's Armament Haki defense and crushed their heart, killing them instantly.
The sudden turn of events left Sabo and the remaining two CP0 agents momentarily stunned. However, Sabo quickly regained his composure.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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