The next day, Tesoro went to work at the shipyard in high spirits. Although his face was bruised, he was still full of enthusiasm. Even his coworkers couldn't understand why he was so happy.
However, those people were not very familiar with Tesoro. His past experiences had taught him an important lesson: money can buy friends, but it can also lose them. That's why he was working so hard to save money.
He never attended any social gatherings or parties with his coworkers, so naturally, he had little emotional connection with them.
In the evening, he eagerly collected his wages from his boss and immediately ran towards the No. 1 Red Tree, the site of the human auction house and human market.
In the cage, a blonde woman with a metal collar around her neck was looking into the distance. She was Stella, Tesoro's greatest emotional support, and she was also waiting for him.
Tesoro's time was tight because he had to make money, but every few days he would come to visit Stella and share with her what he had seen and heard, confiding in each other.
"Stella! I've saved enough money!"
Gasping for breath, Tesoro excitedly shared his accomplishments with Stella as soon as he reached her.
"Tomorrow, as soon as this place opens, I'll be able to set you free!"
"Your face... What happened to you?" Hearing that Tesoro had saved enough money, Stella was excited too, but she was more concerned about why he was injured.
"It's nothing, just got into a fight with a trafficker. I met a particularly interesting girl; let me tell you..."
Tesoro recounted his encounter with Yamato to Stella, omitting the danger he faced. Then, he quietly unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the belly hidden inside.
6 million Belly, that was Stella's price and the result of Tesoro's three years of hard work. His job was tough, and although he wanted to save money, he had to also take care of his health because if he fell, it would all be over.
So over the three years, he had some expenses, but most of it was saved.
"She's a good girl. You must properly thank her in the future."
"Yes, once we repay the money, we'll go to the West Sea. I've heard there's an island there..."
The lights of the human shop illuminated the night as Stella and Tesoro stayed awake, dreaming of the future. But when the next day came, the boss of that place was late.
Today was the day of the auction, so he had gone there to prepare. As soon as he returned, Tesoro ran up to him.
"I want to buy her!"
There were red streaks in Tesoro's eyes, his fingers trembling slightly as he pointed at Stella, his voice full of excitement. He then handed over the six million to the man.
"Did you really save up that much money?"
The shop owner looked at Tesoro in disbelief, not expecting this man to actually save enough money. He often saw him chatting with Stella at the shop's entrance and was naturally aware of his presence.
He thought Tesoro was just a delusional loser, not expecting that he would actually accomplish this.
"Too bad, if you had come a few days earlier, there wouldn't be all this trouble. Arrest him!" After taking the money, the boss suddenly turned on him, ordering his men to capture Tesoro.
"What are you doing?!"
"What am I doing? You stole my money, so of course, I have to arrest you."
"What nonsense! That's the money I saved over three years, you bastard!"
Tesoro tried to rush forward in fury, but he was no match for the two guards and was swiftly pinned to the ground.
The earlier reason was merely an excuse for those watching. Even though this was an unlawful area, as a boss, he still had to act with some semblance of justification to sustain his business.
Then he squatted down and said to Tesoro, "I know full well that you saved that money over three years. It's precisely because you're a nobody without power or money that I dare to do this. Too bad, if you had come half a month earlier, I could have sold her to you. But she's already been reserved by the Heavenly Celestial Dragon."
Stella was a very special commodity there. Six million Belly could buy a woman as beautiful and talented as her.
He set such a high price to deter people from casually buying her; it was his advertisement, making others think he had many high-quality goods.
Ordinary people couldn't afford it, and those who could wouldn't want to be suckers, but Tesoro turned out to be an anomaly.
As he said, under normal circumstances he would have sold Stella to him to maintain his integrity, but just recently, an attendant of the Heavenly Celestial Dragon came to reserve Stella, stating that they would come to retrieve her next month.
The Heavenly Celestial Dragon had a hobby of personally collecting their purchases, but since they didn't have time to come now, there was nothing he could do; he wouldn't dare to defy the Heavenly Celestial Dragon.
The reason for capturing Tesoro was because he couldn't bear to part with the six million Belly.
"You bastard! Bastard!"
Tesoro struggled to stand up, but he couldn't resist the strength of the two guards.
"Stop resisting, kid. It's not your fault you're not part of the World Nobility. Accept your fate, boy."
If only he had more money, higher status, or more power...
Yesterday's scene replayed in his mind—Yamato casually pulling out tens of thousands of Belly, effortlessly defeating enemies; he couldn't forget any of it.
Money, power, status, he craved for those beyond his reach, but now he was helpless.
"Put a collar on him." At his words, his men pulled out an explosive collar and intended to clasp it around Tesoro's neck. Tesoro tried to fight back, but it was futile.
"Damn it..."
"Tesoro! What are you doing?!" Stella in the iron cage couldn't comprehend why this was happening, bound by her cage and powerless. She had no idea she had been reserved.
"Let him go!!"
At this moment, a crisp shout came from the side, and Yamato stood there, face full of anger.
Today was the day the auction began, so Yamato and the others had naturally come and witnessed this scene.
The boss wouldn't listen to a child, but the Hundred Beasts crew looked numerous and intimidating, so they couldn't treat them like Tesoro.
However, given he had the power to run the human market at the No. 1 Red Tree, he obviously had his own backing and wasn't afraid.
"What am I doing? Catching a thief doesn't concern you, kid. Mind your own business."
"He's not a thief! Some of the money was lent by me!"
"You say it's yours because you lent it? Did you write your name on the money?" The boss of the market sneered, not intending to give up the money. However, Yamato's response surprised him.
"I did write it! If you don't believe me, check the money; there are thirty bills with my name on them!"
To assert ownership of her pocket money, Yamato had Smeargle mark them. It was a unique design, one of a kind. The market boss didn't expect this twist and was momentarily speechless.
But then he realized, why was he explaining to a kid?
"Whether he's a thief isn't for you to decide. Here, I call the shots. Go home quickly."
The commotion drew out several security personnel from the human trafficking market. They weren't ordinary traffickers; their refined armor and weaponry made them formidable foes. Yamato felt uncertain about a confrontation.
"Father, can you help me?"
"You can help others within your capacity, but what you're trying to do now exceeds your ability, which would inconvenience others. Unless you have a valid reason, I won't help you."
Yamato was somewhat innocent. He didn't mind her being a good person, but there needed to be a boundary. She shouldn't harm her family's interests unconditionally for others.
"Um... He owes me three hundred thousand. If he gets captured, there's no one to repay it."
"The reason is mediocre but barely acceptable. Shaina, bring the person back."