Chapter 208: Gran Tesoro

After bidding farewell to the disheartened moss-head, Wright returned to the New World, armed with the great grade sword Second Generation Kitetsu, Nidai Kitetsu. He concealed his identity as he headed toward his destination.

Wright dyed his hair black and donned a cowboy hat. With some adjustments to his facial features using "Disguise" and a pair of black sunglasses, he looked like a completely different person.

He wore a black trench coat over a white shirt and black vest, paired with black trousers and boots. The Second Generation Kitetsu hung at his waist.

For extra caution, Wright even altered his height slightly, making himself appear a few centimeters shorter.

Thus debuted the freshly forged free swordsman—Blazer!

"Not bad," Wright muttered to himself, inspecting his reflection. After spending an afternoon fine-tuning his appearance, he was satisfied with the results. Drawing his blade, he observed the perfectly disguised Armament Haki that looked indistinguishable from that of an ordinary fighter.

"Alright then. Time to move. Next stop—Gran Tesoro!"

...

Morgans' intelligence was thorough, detailing not only Weevil's recent movements but also his current location.

Gran Tesoro was a newly established independent nation recognized by the World Government. Its king, Gild Tesoro—dubbed the "Golden Emperor"—was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user with the powers of the Goru Goru no Mi (Gold-Gold Fruit).

This casino king and unparalleled business genius had risen to become the richest man in the world in just six short years since wresting the Goru Goru no Mi from Doflamingo during an auction.

Tesoro's ability to cover his tracks was exceptional. It wasn't until Doflamingo ventured into the New World three years ago that he realized the now-renowned Tesoro was the same individual who had humiliated him at the auction.

After a year of conflict, during which Tesoro's strength grew formidable, the two chose to set aside their grudge and became business partners. A criminal mastermind and a financial genius—an undeniably effective combination.

With Doflamingo's covert control over Dressrosa and his partnership with Kaido, Tesoro's ventures flourished.

Finally, at the age of 35, Tesoro built Gran Tesoro, the world's largest entertainment city, hosted on an enormous ship. This floating metropolis commanded more than 15% of the world's wealth and was still growing.

With his financial influence, Tesoro could manipulate even the Celestial Dragons and leverage the World Government's resources.

Recognized by the World Government as a neutral territory, Gran Tesoro was a place where even Marines couldn't touch visiting pirates. Through his partnership with Doflamingo, Tesoro established himself as the "Golden Emperor" of the underworld, ruling through wealth.

The newly completed Gran Tesoro caused a global sensation. Morgans' World Economy News Paper devoted an entire issue to its coverage.

In this glittering city, money could buy any form of pleasure. It became a dream destination for gamblers, performers, hedonists, and opportunists.

But why was Weevil in Gran Tesoro?

The answer lay with his mother, Miss Buckin.

Miss Buckin was a woman consumed by greed. To amass wealth, she relentlessly drove Weevil to raid merchant ships, pirate crews, and even Marine vessels. Their small numbers made their operations difficult to track, until three years ago when they attacked a Marine training ship led by former Admiral Zephyr.

During the attack, Weevil severed Zephyr's right arm. Despite Wright joining the fray, Weevil managed to escape, thanks to Zephyr's insistence on protecting the cadets aboard the ship.

The incident highlighted Weevil's formidable strength, enough to justify his nomination as a Warlord of the Sea.

Miss Buckin, dazzled by the opulence of Gran Tesoro, was determined to visit. Bringing Weevil and their accumulated wealth, she indulged in luxury there—until the money ran out.

Enraged, Miss Buckin ramped up her schemes, pushing Weevil to plunder more aggressively. The pattern was clear: raid, return to Gran Tesoro, splurge, and repeat.

Such activity inevitably attracted the attention of the World Government.

Knowing Miss Buckin's obsession, Wright deduced that the best way to locate Weevil was to wait for him at Gran Tesoro.

"It won't be easy to enter the Golden City…"

After several days of travel, Wright approached the vicinity of Gran Tesoro.

As a massive ship spanning ten kilometers in length, Gran Tesoro operated independently, sourcing supplies from around the world. It didn't rely on island ports for replenishment, as its size rivaled entire towns.

Wright boarded a supply ship delivering beverages to the floating city, intending to infiltrate from within.

Why not enter as a regular visitor? It wasn't about money. Many Marines, especially intelligence officers, frequented Gran Tesoro. After all, where better to gather information than a hub of international activity?

However, Wright knew the hidden dangers of Gran Tesoro better than anyone.

The city's golden fountains and Tesoro's mastery of his awakened Devil Fruit made the ship an invincible fortress, one where the Golden Emperor ruled unchallenged.

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