[The Host observed the user of the Luck-Luck Fruit. Comprehended, the ability to absorb and store the luck of others.]
As Shirogai looked at Baccarat, the calm system prompt echoed in his mind.
"Heh, it's an honor to meet you, beautiful Baccarat San."
Shirogai's lips curved into a relaxed smile as he reached out and lightly took her extended hand.
"You flatter me, Shirogai San…"
The moment their hands met, Baccarat's eyes brightened, and the smile on her face deepened with barely concealed delight.
It was unbelievably fortunate.
She had directly made physical contact with the so called Fifth Emperor, whose true depth remained unknown.
Through that invisible connection, a massive surge of dense luck flowed into her body like a rising tide.
The sensation was intoxicating.
So this was the fortune carried by someone called an Emperor level figure.
Baccarat kept herself composed only because Shirogai stood right before her. Otherwise, she might have lost control of her reaction.
But what she did not know was that Shirogai himself was equally pleased.
The Lucky Fruit was now confirmed.
This ability was not something ordinary at all. It could silently destroy the foundation of countless Devil Fruit users without any direct confrontation.
Among conceptual type abilities, it easily stood beside powers such as the Ope Ope no Mi and the Hobby Hobby Fruit.
The effect of the Lucky Fruit was deceptively simple.
Anyone who was touched by its user would begin to lose their fortune. As their luck drained away, misfortune would slowly pile up upon them. Small accidents would grow into deadly disasters. In the end, death itself could arrive through something as trivial as choking on water or tripping on flat ground.
At the same time, the Lucky Fruit user would grow more and more fortunate by absorbing the stolen luck. Until that store was depleted, their life would seem blessed by fate itself.
If such a user harbored killing intent, then even something as insignificant as a falling leaf could trigger a fatal chain of coincidences that sealed an enemy's end.
After releasing her hand, Shirogai calmly looked at the alluring woman before him.
"It seems I was already on your radar the moment I entered Gran Tesoro."
Baccarat opened a delicate ledger that she retrieved from her chest and turned it to the first few pages.
"Shirogai sama, someone of your status is automatically listed as a top tier VIP. The moment your presence was confirmed, I was dispatched immediately to greet you."
Shirogai casually glanced at the contents.
The first page listed the Four Emperors.
On the second page, only one name appeared.
Navy Chief Instructor
Fifth Emperor
The Plunderer
Bounty: 5,000,000,000 Berries
Shirogai let out a faint laugh.
"Five billion Berries, that figure rose faster than I expected."
Baccarat closed the ledger and smoothly returned it to her cleavage as she smiled.
"Shirogai sama, the latest Marine bounty order states that you are to be captured alive. You are now officially regarded as a threat on the same level as the Four Emperors."
"Interesting," Shirogai replied lightly. "The World Government seems quite serious this time."
His calm reaction only caused Baccarat to hold him in even greater regard.
She bent slightly at the waist in a formal gesture.
"Tesoro sama is already waiting for you in the VIP room. He wished to greet you personally, but he did not want to draw excessive attention and disrupt your leisure. Thus, he instructed me to bring you directly."
At that moment, an enormous pure gold limousine rolled smoothly to a stop in front of them. Its door opened automatically, revealing a luxurious interior that gleamed under the lights.
"This is Tesoro sama's exclusive golden turtle vehicle for distinguished guests," Baccarat said, gesturing gracefully. "Please enter."
Under countless envious and astonished gazes from surrounding guests, Shirogai stepped into the vehicle.
The door closed behind him.
Baccarat took the seat beside him and smiled.
"Please enjoy the view. We will arrive shortly at the top floor of the world's only eight star hotel, the Golden King Hotel."
The driver was not a man, but a massive turtle.
"Move," Baccarat said calmly.
Electric light flickered across the turtle's shell and instantly spread through a network of power transmitting beasts within the car. The turtles began rotating the internal mechanisms at high speed. The golden vehicle accelerated smoothly, racing toward its destination.
Left behind, Anzi and Uncle Jim could only stare at the departing car in stunned silence.
…
At the very top floor of the Golden King Hotel, the music thundered like a storm.
In the luxurious hall filled with flashing lights, handsome men and beautiful women swayed wildly in a sea of indulgence.
At the highest platform, a tall man in extravagant golden clothes, wearing a pink hat with green hair spilling beneath it, sat in silence.
Gild Tesoro.
His expression remained cold and unreadable as he observed the dancers below.
Shirogai Yamikuro.
A pirate whose crew's overall strength rivaled, or perhaps even surpassed, the Four Emperors.
His sudden appearance in Gran Tesoro made no sense.
The Straw Hat Pirates had only recently caused chaos at Enies Lobby. By all logic, Shirogai should have been far across the seas.
Then why was he here?
Was he after the Gold Gold Fruit?
Tesoro narrowed his eyes.
He knew Shirogai possessed the mysterious Talent Fruit, a Devil Fruit said to allow him to learn and replicate the abilities of others.
That alone made Shirogai an enemy no one could take lightly.
"Pfft, hahahaha…"
Suddenly, loud drunken laughter erupted from below.
A foolish dancer had tripped over his own feet, and his companion burst into unrestrained laughter.
The surrounding dancers hurriedly retreated, terror spreading across their faces.
Tesoro slowly raised his head.
"Hey," he said flatly, staring at the laughing man. "Who gave you permission to laugh before I did?"
The man instantly sobered up, his face turning pale.
"T Tesoro sama, I was just careless…"
"Careless?" Tesoro chuckled darkly. "Then keep laughing. You will not get many more chances."
Panic seized the man. He turned and fled toward the exit.
"I was wrong, I will never dare again!"
"Only the dead never repeat mistakes," Tesoro replied lazily.
With a casual wave of his hand, molten gold surged out from the wall like a rising tide and wrapped around the fleeing man.
"No, please, save me…"
Before he could utter another word, the gold hardened instantly.
A golden statue was left standing in the hall, frozen in a posture of desperation.
The surrounding guests trembled in silence.
Only Tesoro clapped his hands in delight, laughing as if he had just witnessed a splendid performance.
"What a perfect expression," he said with satisfaction.
At that moment, a strange oversized head slowly emerged beside him.
"Tesoro sama, your distinguished guest has arrived. Please proceed to the VIP room."
Tesoro's smile slowly vanished.
"So," he muttered, rising from his seat, "the real reason for his visit is about to be revealed."
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