Over the next several minutes, Tesoro recounted the full tragedy of his past—the desperate years of labor, his failed attempt to rescue Stella, and the brutal enslavement that followed. His voice grew raw with emotion as he described watching Fisher Tiger's liberation of Mariejois, knowing that Stella was already gone by then.
Jerry listened in silence, absorbing the details of Tesoro's transformation from hopeful young man to the obsessed Golden Emperor before him. The timeline made sense now—this version of Tesoro still retained some humanity, unlike the completely corrupted figure he would become in a few years.
Currently, his staff were legitimate employees rather than debt slaves. The casino operated fairly, without the rigged games and deliberate debt traps that would later become Tesoro's trademark methods of control. The seeds of that darkness were there, planted by years of trauma and hate, but they hadn't yet fully taken root.
"I understand your hatred," Jerry said finally, his voice carrying genuine sympathy. "And I can see why your perspective has become... complicated over the years."
Tesoro's golden eyes searched Jerry's face for any sign of mockery or dismissal, finding neither. "Then you'll consider my proposal?"
"Here's the thing," Jerry replied, leaning back in his chair. "I don't really need this kind of cooperation. But you might be right about one thing—it's entirely possible that I'll face those parasites directly someday."
The casual way Jerry referred to the Celestial Dragons as "parasites" sent a thrill through Tesoro. Here was someone who truly understood, who shared his contempt for the World Nobles without any of the fear that paralyzed most people.
"Ha ha ha ha! I knew I was right about you!" Tesoro laughed, his earlier despair transforming into manic excitement. "With my status as ruler of the world's largest entertainment city, I can provide you with incredible support!"
"But why don't you try to resist on your own?" Jerry asked, cutting through Tesoro's enthusiasm. "Don't you want to?"
The question hit like a physical blow. Tesoro's laughter died immediately, his expression shifting from joy to barely contained rage in an instant.
"No!" he snarled, his hands clenching into fists. "I think about it constantly! Every single day, I fantasize about killing them all!"
His voice dropped to a whisper, filled with bitter self-loathing. "But with my current abilities, I can't even imagine causing them significant damage, let alone actually defeating them. So for years, I've been trapped in my own golden cage, hating them but completely powerless to act."
Jerry watched Tesoro struggle with his internal demons, recognizing the psychological prison the man had constructed around himself. When Tesoro had regained some composure, Jerry stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"So what makes you think I can reach that level of power?"
"You can do it!" Tesoro declared with fervent conviction. "I trust my instincts, and you're the youngest, strongest person I've encountered in all these years..."
"And also the most handsome?" Jerry interrupted with a grin, unable to resist the obvious setup.
Tesoro paused, looking like he wanted to roll his eyes. "Yes... fine, and handsome too. The point is, you're the candidate who best fits all my criteria."
Jerry found himself oddly pleased by the assessment. Throughout his journey in this world, people seemed to instinctively recognize his potential, even when he wasn't actively trying to impress them. It was a pattern worth examining.
"You really think that highly of me?" Jerry asked.
"Absolutely! So what do you think of my proposal?"
After laying out his entire case, Tesoro still couldn't read Jerry's intentions clearly. The pirate remained frustratingly enigmatic.
Jerry considered his options carefully. "Cooperation might be too strong a word, but if you want to invest in us, you'll need to meet several conditions."
Seeing a glimmer of acceptance, Tesoro leaned forward eagerly. "What conditions?"
Jerry looked up at the ornate golden ceiling, gathering his thoughts before speaking with complete seriousness.
"If you choose to follow this path with me, I take the lead. No questions, no second-guessing. Can you accept that?"
He fixed Tesoro with an intense stare. "Think carefully before you answer. Once you agree, there won't be any easy way to back out."
Tesoro had anticipated this question from the beginning. His response came without hesitation: "If we share the same ultimate goal, then of course that's acceptable."
His expression hardened as he added, "However, I'll be watching your actions closely. If you give up halfway through or betray our cause, then we'll go down together. I have nothing left to lose."
Jerry recognized the all-or-nothing mentality of a desperate gambler. After losing everything that mattered to him, Tesoro had staked his entire remaining existence on the dream of revenge against the Celestial Dragons.
"Don't worry about me," Jerry said with a confident smile. "Just focus on your own obligations."
He leaned forward, his tone becoming businesslike. "Since you've investigated my background, you should understand what I am and what I despise. Don't try any underhanded schemes with me."
"Additionally, I want you to start monitoring the Revolutionary Army's activities discreetly. They've been working toward similar goals for years, but they're nowhere near ready for a decisive confrontation with the World Government. When they do eventually make their move to liberate countries, you should be prepared to offer assistance at the right moment. It doesn't have to be financial—sometimes the right connections are more valuable than money."
Jerry stood up, signaling that the meeting was concluding. "As for everything else, we can figure it out as we go. For now, focus on running this place properly and training your most trusted subordinates. I don't anticipate needing your support in the immediate future."
Tesoro rose as well, his excitement barely contained. "Understood completely! Then it's settled, Lord Jerry!"
"Hey," Jerry waved dismissively, "regardless of your age or status, just call me Jerry. And do your job well."
Jerry wasn't interested in formal titles or hierarchies. As long as Tesoro understood his role and responsibilities, that was sufficient.
Initially, Tesoro had harbored mixed feelings about Jerry. The pirate's casual attitude and seeming disrespect had been irritating. However, as their battle progressed and Jerry demonstrated his mastery of advanced Conqueror's Haki—a skill possessed by only the world's elite—Tesoro had begun to recognize Jerry's true strength.
But it was Jerry's fearless confrontation with the Celestial Dragon that had truly shattered Tesoro's defenses. In that moment, watching someone act with complete freedom in the face of his greatest nightmare, something fundamental had shifted in Tesoro's worldview. The suffocating shell of resignation that had encased his heart for years developed its first crack, allowing a sliver of hope to penetrate the darkness.
After considerable internal debate, he had decided to stake everything on this partnership.
Suddenly, Jerry slapped his forehead and turned toward the expensive couch where his crew had been sitting. Kotatsu was lying on the floor beside it, partially hidden by the armrest, with Carina still bound to his back.
"Wait a minute," Jerry said, pointing at their forgotten captive. "Seems like we have a witness to all this!"
Tesoro knew Carina by reputation—she was a talented performer and skilled thief who had only recently begun working in Gran Tesoro. They weren't yet the close partners they would become in the future. When he'd entered the office, his view had been blocked, and Jerry's presence had distracted him from taking a closer look at their bound prisoner.
"Oh no, Boss Jerry," Skull said with obvious embarrassment. "We completely forgot about her!"
"Jerry," Deuce added with concern, "is it really okay that she overheard everything we just discussed?"
All eyes in the room including Tesoro's turned to focus on Carina. Still bound with fishing line and gagged, she could only make muffled sounds of protest.
Jerry waved his hand casually, and the fishing line binding her mouth automatically loosened and fell away, responding to his water manipulation.
"Alright," Jerry said. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Ha!" Carina gasped, glaring at Jerry with indignation. "I didn't hear anything important!"
Jerry glanced at Deuce and Skull, who both gestured for him to handle the situation. He scratched his head thoughtfully before continuing.
"That statement suggests you heard everything perfectly clearly. Looks like you'll need to join our crew temporarily."
"What?!" Carina shouted in outrage. "You're the ones who dragged me here against my will! I never asked to be involved in any of this! Just let me go—I promise I won't say anything to anyone!"
Her expression suddenly shifted to a pitiful, innocent look as she seemed to remember something about manipulation tactics.
However, Jerry remained completely unmoved by her performance. After a moment of consideration, he smiled slightly.
"Answer one question for me, and I'll consider letting you go."
"Really?" Carina's mood instantly brightened. "What's the question? Ask me anything!"
Jerry adopted a completely serious expression, pointed directly at her, and spoke with deliberate slowness:
"What's one plus one?"
"Two!" Carina responded immediately, her face lighting up with hope. "I got it right, didn't I? Now you have to let me go!"
She was convinced that Jerry had asked such an obvious question because he genuinely intended to release her. Maybe this dangerous pirate had a soft side after all.
But Jerry nodded thoughtfully and delivered his verdict with a straight face: "Well, that confirms it. You definitely know too much."
Carina's expression transformed into one of absolute disbelief. She realized the bastard in front of her had been toying with her from the beginning.
"You'll be coming aboard our ship for now," Jerry announced with finality. "I'll consider setting you free later, once I'm satisfied you're not a security risk."
Jerry's knowledge of Carina was limited to vague memories of her being a money-obsessed trickster with flexible morals. If he released her immediately, there was a significant chance she would sell information about their meeting to the highest bidder. The safest approach was to keep her under observation until he could better assess her trustworthiness.
After hearing Jerry's decision, Carina's face fell dramatically. She stared at him with wide, worried eyes and asked in a trembling voice:
"Are you being serious right now?"