Grand Tesoro, Top-Level VIP Suite.
Unlike the dazzling golden hues that permeated the entire city, the luxury here was subdued and oppressive.
Thick crimson carpets swallowed all footsteps, while the air hung heavy with the cloying mix of premium cigars and expensive perfumes.
Seated around the gambling table, four figures wearing glass helmets stood out starkly.
They were Celestial Dragons who had slipped away from Holy Land Mary Geoise: Saint Silos, Saint Ferrari , Saint Lamborghini, and Saint Liana.
Across from them, several underworld magnates—who typically wielded immense influence—now sat on edge, cold sweat trickling down their plump cheeks.
The loan shark tycoon, the arms dealer, the head of a human trafficking ring...
Any one of them could make a kingdom tremble with a single stomp.
But here, in the presence of the Celestial Dragons, they didn't dare even breathe heavily.
In their hearts, every one of them cursed Gild Tesoro's ancestors eighteen generations back.
That bastard actually arranged for them to be in this suite, playing cards with these living ancestors!
This wasn't gambling—it was gambling with their lives!
"All in!"
Silos didn't even glance at his cards, casually shoving the mountain of chips in front of him into the center.
His movements were rough, his eyes brimming with boredom and irritation.
The underworld magnates opposite him felt their hearts lurch.
Call or fold?
Follow, and what if we win? Would it anger this "god"?
Don't follow, and isn't that clearly showing disrespect?
After exchanging glances, the men tremblingly chose to fold.
"Folding again?"
Silos slammed the table with a heavy thud on the gold-crafted surface.
His distorted features behind the glass cover appeared even more ferocious.
"What do you lowly mortals mean by this?!"
His shrill voice echoed through the private room. "I summoned you here to entertain me! Not to watch you tremble!"
"Don't mind my status as a Celestial Dragon. Loosen up and play a few proper rounds with me!"
"As long as you keep me entertained, I'll spare your lives! Otherwise—"
Before he finished speaking, he drew an ornate gold-plated pistol studded with Diamonds from his waist.
"Bang!"
Flames spat from the barrel.
The arms dealer sitting on the far left swayed, then collapsed onto the carpet, silent.
Warm blood splattered onto the loan shark's trousers beside him.
He shuddered, a hot stream gushing from beneath him.
Silos leisurely blew the smoke from the barrel, holstered the gun at his waist, and said coldly.
"Otherwise, you'll end up just like him."
Dead silence filled the private room.
The three remaining underworld magnates turned as pale as paper, fear drowning them like icy seawater.
The next second, survival instinct overwhelmed everything.
"I call!"
"I call too! All in!"
The three frantically pushed all their chips forward, trembling like leaves in the wind.
"Brother, don't be too conspicuous."
Liana, who had been silent, tilted her head and softly reminded him, "If we have an accident here and can't return to the Holy Land on time, Doflamingo will surely seize the opportunity to cause trouble."
Hearing the name "Doflamingo," Saint Silos immediately flared up.
"Doflamingo? What is he? Just a stray commoner! If it weren't for Orion's favoritism, would he have his current status?"
"Complaining about this now is pointless." Liana waved her hand. "We've finally left the Holy Land. Let's just enjoy ourselves. Don't invite unnecessary trouble."
With that, she turned her gaze to the three terrified "mortals" opposite her, trying to sound gentle.
"Don't be afraid. Just play normally. Don't mind our status."
After a tacit glance at each other, the three suppressed their fear, composed themselves, and got into the game.
The card game resumed.
This time, the three underworld magnates no longer held back.
They were titans who had clawed their way up through treacherous, cutthroat environments—psychological games at the gambling table were second nature to them.
Soon, the mountains of chips piled before the four Celestial Dragons visibly dwindled, all flowing to the three men.
"All gone?"
Saint Silos stared at the empty table, his gambling fever still burning and he was still feeling unsatisfied.
He snapped his fingers, and a staff member waiting nearby immediately bowed and approached.
"Borrow another 500 million berries for me!"
No contract, no collateral—just a casual command.
The staff member smiled and brought a gilded IOU.
Saint Silos flamboyantly signed his name.
Five hundred million Berries worth of chips were quickly delivered.
However, within just half an hour, that new mountain of chips was cleared once again.
"Another loan!"
Unbeknownst to them, the four Celestial Dragons had already signed high-interest loan agreements totaling twenty billion Berries with this staff member.
"Let's call it a day."
Saint Ferarri stood up, preparing to leave in disappointment.
Though Saint Silos was unwilling to accept it, he knew continuing to gamble would only lead to more losses.
He stood up while cursing under his breath.
Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.
Gild Tesoro, with his signature smile, slowly walked in, surrounded by a group of black-suited bodyguards.
"Did you enjoy yourselves, esteemed guests?" he greeted warmly, as if reuniting with old friends.
"Bad luck," Saint Silos waved impatiently. "I'll pay back the money I owe you next time I come."
"Small matter, small matter," Tesoro's smile grew even brighter. "If you haven't had enough fun yet, I can personally provide five hundred million Berries for free."
He snapped his fingers.
Behind him, Baccarat swayed her alluring figure as she stepped forward, carrying a golden tray filled with five hundred million Berries worth of chips.
Tesoro said with a serious expression, "These five hundred million Berries in chips, win or lose, are on me! Consider it a small token of my respect for you esteemed guests!"
Upon hearing this, the impatience on Saint Silos's face vanished completely, and he sat back down at the gambling table.
Free money was not to be refused.
After a few rounds, the four Celestial Dragons, who went all-in every time, unsurprisingly lost all five hundred million Berries worth of chips.
Saint Silos, whose gambling addiction was now fully ignited, turned to Tesoro beside him and said in a low voice.
"Lend me another three billion!"
Soon, the three billion Berries in chips were also depleted.
Seeing the table cleared once again, Saint Silos rationality was completely replaced by the madness of a gambler blinded by losses.
He abruptly stood up, drew his golden pistol, and aimed it at the three underground tycoons across from him who had just won money and hadn't even had time to celebrate.
"Lowly commoners! How dare you cheat in front of me!"
"Go to hell!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Gunshots rang out one after another, and the three underground tycoons fell to the ground.
Tesoro stood to the side, his smile unchanged.
He didn't even try to stop it.
Because he had no intention of letting these people leave alive.
Just then, a staff member stumbled in, his voice distorted with fear.
"Lord Tesoro! S-something terrible has happened!"
After a slight pause, the staff member looked up at Tesoro and urgently reported.
"The training ship led by Fleet Admiral Orion is heading toward Grand Tesoro at full speed!"