Grand Line. Some no-name island.
Luxury entertainment complex—
Music pounding. Beauties flooding the dance floor. Pirates, merchants, gang members—all drawn in, throwing themselves into the chaos.
Above the floor, a young man with slicked-back green hair in a golden suit swirled expensive wine in a crystal glass.
Extravagant as hell. Look close—those gold decorations on his clothes? Actual gold. Confident, flamboyant smile radiating off him.
Burly guards and a red-haired beauty flanked him respectfully.
He didn't join the party below. Just fingered the golden ring on his hand. Eyes distant. Like no amount of beauty could catch his attention.
Raised the glass. Drained it.
On the floor before him, a big-headed figure suddenly emerged from the ground.
"Lord Tesoro, you truly are the Gold-Gold Fruit's destined master!"
Mr. Tanaka—ability to phase through inorganic matter, the one who'd brought Tesoro the Gold-Gold Fruit—bowed respectfully, hands clasped behind his back.
He was pleased. Tesoro was worth following.
Short time, already unleashing the fruit's potential. Not to mention those connections.
Tesoro's lips curved.
He'd tasted wealthy happiness. Using the Gold-Gold Fruit's power made controlling island supply chains easy.
Hit some bumps. Overcame them all.
Money made the world spin.
His rapid capital accumulation? Inseparable from the Gold-Gold Fruit.
"You deserve credit, Mr. Tanaka. The Gold-Gold Fruit's decisive for business expansion."
"No... Lord Tesoro, this isn't entirely my doing."
Tanaka's face went serious. Mind flashing back to that moment. His successful escape—someone had let him go.
Sabaody Archipelago had become the underworld's headquarters.
Plenty of Haki masters stationed at key spots. Auction houses...
After Tanaka succeeded, barely any two-color Haki experts chased him. Suspicious.
"Felt like someone deliberately let me take it. Didn't face real resistance."
"Is that so..."
Tesoro extended his hand. Golden ring flowing, swimming across his palm. Slowly formed a delicate long-haired figure.
"I figured it out not long after. That big shot just wants me making money for him. But doesn't matter. Long as Stella returns to my side, even becoming his dog is fine."
Tanaka frowned.
"Lord Tesoro, you mean the underworld's greatest broker—Donquixote Doflamingo? Forgive me, but at your growth rate, you'll soon not need to fear—"
They'd "stolen" the Gold-Gold Fruit from Doflamingo. Tanaka naturally thought of him first.
He admitted Doflamingo was strong, influential among rising figures. But not unstoppable.
Bowing like this? He wasn't willing.
"No. Someone even stronger."
Tesoro smiled bitterly. Slowly raised his arm, displaying the miniature golden figure.
Seeing its face—whether Tanaka, Baccarat, or the others—their calm expressions shattered.
Horror flooding in.
Impossible!
Rumor said that person didn't manage underworld affairs directly.
If it was that Black Emperor—
Being a dog...
Actually didn't sound bad.
They stared at Tesoro. Eyes saying, What are you humble-bragging about?
So many wanted to be Lord Aus's dog. Didn't have the qualifications.
"Anyway, gather the money by morning. Not a small sum, but shouldn't be hard. Worst case, I'll lead a team to mine gold."
With the Gold-Gold Fruit, making money wasn't difficult anymore.
Meanwhile—
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
"...That's the situation, Lord Doflamingo. The Gold-Gold Fruit's been taken by Tesoro's crew. Hello? Lord Doflamingo?"
The Donquixote Family subordinate on the Den Den Mushi reported respectfully. They'd completed the task.
But Doflamingo, though he'd answered, wasn't listening.
"I know."
Click.
Hung up. The flamingo sat in dejected silence. Completely out of sync with the lively kings and nobles around him.
What a joke!
Damn Five Elders!
Back then he'd committed patricide—ultimate taboo—carried his father's head to the Holy Land. Got chased back to North Blue in disgrace.
Aus, an outsider without a drop of Celestial Dragon blood, barely spent two days here before they rushed to give him Celestial Dragon status.
Afraid he wouldn't become one of them?
Such blatant favoritism made Doffy question reality again.
So...
Not being accepted was just about not being strong enough?
Five Elders should've said so earlier. He'd have found ways to get stronger. Why kill his father?
Dad died for nothing!
Seeing the guy's shattered spirit, Aus passed him a wine bottle.
"Lord... Saint Aus."
Doffy muttered, face blank. Wanted to smile. Couldn't.
All in the wine.
Glug glug glug...
Chugging like a madman. Red liquid spilling from his mouth, soaking his clothes. Didn't care. Truly heartbroken.
"Drop the 'Saint.' Sounds weird."
Aus patted his shoulder. Could only console:
"Don't lose heart, Doffy. Opportunities will come."
"Actually, this status doesn't mean much to me. Can't pass it to descendants anyway. Don't have real Celestial Dragon blood."
Hearing this, Doflamingo froze mid-drink.
Turned to look at Aus. Mind racing. An idea clicked.
"Lord Aus, as long as it's your child and has Celestial Dragon blood, that works, right?"
"Well... theoretically."
Aus rubbed his chin. Some Celestial Dragon girls had just told him that.
"Fufufufu... Bloodline?"
"I just happen to have that!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (40+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!