Seeing Jerry approaching with obvious intent, Carina's composure finally cracked. Her theatrical bravado evaporated as she spun around and bolted for the building's entrance, fumbling with her keys in desperate haste.
Jerry watched the door slam shut behind her and dropped his exaggerated villain act, lowering his hands from their dramatic rubbing gesture. He stepped forward to examine the lock, already planning his next move.
"Ha... Boss Jerry! What's going on here?"
Skull's voice came from behind him, slightly breathless from the chase through Gran Tesoro's winding streets. The collector had finally caught up, along with Deuce and Kotatsu, and was taking in the scene with obvious confusion. They stood in what was clearly a residential district—far from the glittering entertainment areas tourists usually saw.
"She just ran inside," Jerry explained, nodding toward the closed door. "I was about to go in and drag her out. Want to come along?"
Through his Observation Haki, Jerry could sense Carina's frantic movements inside the building. She wasn't just hiding—she was actively trying to escape through what felt like a concealed passage or back exit. Her emotional state radiated panic and determination in equal measure.
Jerry stepped forward and grasped the door handle, extending his water manipulation abilities into the building itself. The moisture in the air responded to his call, condensing and flowing through the lock mechanism with precision that would have made any locksmith proud. With a soft click, the tumblers aligned and the door swung open.
"Now let's see..." Jerry muttered, reaching for his Supreme-Grade Fishing Rod. The System-granted weapon materialized in his hands, its length extending to full size with practiced ease.
Without hesitation, Jerry cast the line into the darkened room. But this wasn't ordinary fishing—the line moved with supernatural grace, twisting and coiling like a living serpent as Jerry used his enhanced control over water and air currents to guide it through the building's interior. The fishing line responded to his will as if it were an extension of his own body, seeking out its target with predatory intelligence.
"Ah! What is this thing?!"
Carina's scream echoed from somewhere inside the building, followed by the sounds of a struggle. Then, abruptly, silence—as if someone had clamped a hand over her mouth.
Jerry smiled with satisfaction as he felt the tension in his line change, indicating a successful catch. The fishing rod technique was something he'd been developing for a while now, inspired by his observations of Doflamingo's String-String Fruit abilities. While he couldn't create strings from nothing, his combination of the Supreme-Grade Fishing Rod and his water manipulation created similar results.
"Kotatsu, go in and bring out our thief and the bag," Jerry instructed, gesturing toward the open doorway. "I'd rather not barge into someone's private space uninvited."
The large lynx's eyes gleamed with understanding. Despite being the crew's mascot, Kotatsu was remarkably intelligent and had proven invaluable in situations requiring stealth or discretion. With a soft chirp of acknowledgment, the cat padded silently into the building.
Moments later, Kotatsu emerged carrying Carina in his mouth like an oversized kitten. The thief was thoroughly bound with fishing line, the nearly invisible strands wrapped around her body with professional efficiency. Her mouth was covered to prevent screaming, and she could only glare daggers at Jerry as she dangled helplessly from Kotatsu's jaws. Clutched in her bound hands was Skull's distinctive skull-emblazoned bag.
"My precious!" Skull exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he recognized his belongings. He rushed forward and carefully extracted the bag from Carina's grip, immediately opening it to check its contents. His relief was palpable as he confirmed that his beloved dagger was still safely nested among his other treasures.
The group was preparing to leave when a refined female voice called out from behind them.
"Excuse me, Mr. Leviathan."
They turned to see a tall, striking woman striding confidently toward them from the alley's entrance. Her vivid red hair flowed freely down her back, and she wore a backless black-and-white dress that clung elegantly to her figure. Black gloves covered her hands, hinting at both sophistication and hidden danger.
"I'm Baccarat," she said smoothly, her voice laced with charm and calculation. "We met briefly earlier—during your little exchange with Lord Tesoro."
Jerry studied her carefully. His knowledge of the original timeline reminded him that Baccarat possessed the Luck-Luck Fruit, allowing her to steal luck from others through touch. It was the kind of ability that made casual physical contact extremely dangerous.
"You're Tesoro's assistant, right?" Jerry confirmed, keeping his distance.
"That's correct. Lord Tesoro would like to request a private meeting in his office, if you're available." Her gaze shifted to Carina, who was still trussed up on Kotatsu's back. "Carina? What happened to her?"
"Nothing serious," Jerry replied with a shrug. "She took our stuff, so we took it back. Simple transaction."
"Let's not worry about her right now," Jerry continued, making a decision. "If Tesoro wants to meet, we might as well get it over with. It's been a long day, and we could all use some rest after this."
He patted Deuce and Skull on the shoulders, signaling for them to follow, then nodded to Baccarat. "Lead the way."
Baccarat gestured gracefully toward the alley's exit. "Of course. Please follow me."
A luxurious golden carriage waited at the intersection, its ornate design screaming of Tesoro's wealth and influence. The ride through Gran Tesoro's upper levels gave them a spectacular view of the entertainment city at night, with golden lights reflecting off every surface like captured starlight.
Soon they arrived at Tesoro's personal office, a vast space that epitomized ostentatious wealth. Every surface that could be made of gold was gold, from the massive desk to the intricate wall panels. Crystal chandeliers cast prismatic light across the room, and priceless artworks adorned the walls.
Tesoro himself was nowhere to be seen when they entered, leaving Baccarat to play hostess to Jerry's obviously overwhelmed crew members.
"Damn, there's gold everywhere!" Skull exclaimed, his collector's instincts going into overdrive. "Could I maybe have just a little piece?"
"Skull, you can't just ask for gold!" Deuce protested, though his own eyes were wide with wonder at their surroundings.
"Why not? I just want a small goldfish charm or something!"
"Oh sure, and I suppose I should ask for a gold skull mask while we're at it," Deuce replied sarcastically.
Jerry shook his head in mock disdain, as if he encountered such displays of wealth daily. "You guys act like you've never seen money before," he teased, though privately he was impressed by the sheer scale of Tesoro's wealth.
"Ahem. Leviathan, welcome to my private office."
Tesoro's voice interrupted their banter as the Golden Emperor entered the room. He had changed clothes since their earlier confrontation and showed no obvious signs of their battle, though Jerry's enhanced senses could detect the lingering traces of medical treatment.
"You're here," Jerry acknowledged with typical directness. "What did you want to discuss? Let's get straight to the point."
Tesoro glanced at Deuce and Skull, who had settled onto one of the room's expensive couches, then looked back at Jerry with obvious hesitation.
"Perhaps we could speak privately?"
"They're my crew," Jerry stated firmly. "There's nothing you could say to me that they can't hear."
Deuce and Skull immediately straightened, sensing the seriousness of the moment. "We'll keep everything confidential," Deuce assured him. "Whatever is discussed here stays here."
Skull nodded vigorously in agreement, his earlier excitement about the golden décor forgotten.
Tesoro studied them for a moment, then gestured for Baccarat to leave. Once his assistant had departed and closed the door behind her, he pulled up a chair and sat down facing Jerry directly.
"First," Tesoro began carefully, "I want to assure you that this room is completely secure. No surveillance, no recording devices of any kind. We can speak freely here."
"That last move... it was Advanced Armament Haki, wasn't it? You didn't just hit me—you sent the force inside, like my defenses weren't even there."
Jerry blinked, unsure where this conversation was heading. "Yeah, so what? Want to learn the technique? Too bad you don't have Conqueror's Haki."
"No," Tesoro shook his head. "I want to propose a partnership."
The word hung in the air between them, loaded with implications that Jerry was only beginning to grasp.
"I've seen how you regard the Celestial Dragons," Tesoro continued, his voice gaining intensity. "You don't fear them. More than that—you're willing to act against them directly. That takes a kind of courage I..." He trailed off, then seemed to steel himself. "A kind of courage I lost long ago."
Jerry raised an eyebrow. "Fear? What's there to be afraid of from those bubble-headed idiots?"
The simple question seemed to hit Tesoro like a physical blow. He began to laugh—first a chuckle, then building to full-throated laughter that bordered on hysteria. Tears streamed down his face as the laughter transformed into something that sounded more like sobbing.
Jerry remained silent, recognizing the signs of someone confronting long-suppressed trauma. His knowledge of Tesoro's past gave him some context, though he didn't know all the details of what the man had endured.
"So what exactly are you proposing?" Jerry asked once Tesoro had regained some composure.
"I want to bring down the Celestial Dragons!" Tesoro declared, his voice raw with emotion. "Every last one of them deserves to die!"
The naked hatred in his voice was startling in its intensity. Jerry could feel the years of suppressed rage radiating from the Golden Emperor like heat from a forge.
"Then why come to me?" Jerry asked pragmatically. "Why not approach the Revolutionary Army? They're already working toward that goal."
Tesoro shook his head dismissively. "The Revolutionary Army? Who knows if that group can actually succeed? They've been fighting the World Government for years with minimal results."
He leaned forward, his golden eyes burning with fierce determination. "But you're different. I've seen your inner contempt for the Celestial Dragons, and I've witnessed your potential firsthand. You have the power to actually make a difference."
Jerry tilted his head skeptically. "Even if I despise them, that doesn't necessarily mean I'll actively work to destroy them, does it?"
"But you will," Tesoro insisted, pounding his fist on the arm of his chair. "As long as you want to live freely, as long as you continue growing stronger, eventually you'll have no choice but to confront them directly."
He paused, then added with visible reluctance, "I should also apologize for investigating your background without permission. But the information I gathered only confirms my assessment."
Jerry gestured for him to continue, curious about what Tesoro had discovered.
"Since you began your pirate career, you've systematically destroyed slave trading operations across the Grand Line. Sabaody Archipelago, various islands in Paradise, and even during your time with the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World. Different times, different places, but always the same result—slave markets burned to the ground."
Tesoro's voice grew more passionate as he spoke. "Your actions show a deep disgust for slavery and human trafficking. As long as you continue on this path, as long as you keep growing stronger, you'll inevitably collide with the system that enables such atrocities. And at the top of that system sit the Celestial Dragons."
Jerry remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the analysis. It was uncomfortably accurate.
"I can provide you with resources," Tesoro continued urgently. "Manpower, materials, intelligence networks, unlimited funding—everything you need to wage war against the World Government's corruption."
His voice cracked with emotion as he continued. "All I want is to live to see the day when those monsters are brought to their knees! I want revenge for Stella!"
The name meant nothing to Jerry initially, but Tesoro's reaction made it clear this was someone extremely important to him.
"Stella," Tesoro whispered, his voice breaking. "She was the woman I loved most in this world..."