In the tranquil waters of the Grand Line's second half, a floating city moved steadily under the night sky.
Calling it a city might be misleading, as the ship carrying it was immense, pulled by two enormous sea king turtles along a predetermined route across the ocean.
This massive ship, the only one of its kind in the world, was none other than the world's largest entertainment city, Gran Tesoro, belonging to the Warlord of the Sea, Gild Tesoro.
This floating city was the ultimate money pit, offering every conceivable form of entertainment. From hotels, amusement parks, casinos, golf courses, to aquariums, the ship had it all. It also boasted gourmet food and beautiful women from around the world, providing the ultimate in luxury. Even the Celestial Dragons favored Gran Tesoro as their vacation destination.
Gran Tesoro was not just a ship but an independent sea kingdom, with Tesoro as its king. Due to its size, Gran Tesoro could only navigate the New World. Measuring an astounding ten thousand meters in length and housing a massive city, it couldn't use the Fish-Man Island route or traverse Mariejois via the World Government's route. Attempting to cross the Calm Belt would only lead to the North or West Blue adjacent to the New World. Traveling via Reverse Mountain was nearly impossible due to the upward currents and rocky walls, which could severely damage the colossal entertainment ship.
Aboard the ship, in a lavishly decorated room, Tesoro lay on a golden and gemstone-adorned couch, bare-chested. He was adorned with numerous gold accessories, including a gold necklace, gold earrings, and nine gold rings. These weren't just symbols of wealth but deadly weapons at his disposal.
Tesoro, known as the Golden Emperor, was a New World monster and the man who controlled the world's largest entertainment ship, spanning ten kilometers.
"Baccarat, your 'luck' hasn't been enough," Tesoro said, sipping wine and eyeing the red-haired woman in a revealing dress. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be seeing so many incidents on Gran Tesoro lately. Besides providing guests with hedonistic pleasures, we must ensure their safety. If our guests feel unsafe, even Gran Tesoro won't be enough."
"Indeed," Baccarat acknowledged with a calm smile. "But luck needs to be accumulated. The luck provided by the slaves on board is currently insufficient for Gran Tesoro's needs. The harsh New World environment also forced us to use much of our luck to avoid the 'White Dragon Current.' However, once the next batch of slaves arrives, this should no longer be an issue."
Tesoro silently swirled his wine. "Make it quick," he ordered, glancing at the opulent city outside. Gran Tesoro was still growing, and he couldn't yet afford to covertly steal luck from the guests. But once Gran Tesoro peaked, those concerns would vanish.
"Understood," Baccarat replied confidently.
Baccarat flashed a charming smile.
She was a Lucky-Lucky Fruit user, able to drain luck from others through touch. Those she drained became extremely unlucky, while she could convert the stolen luck into her own fortune. On the massive Gran Tesoro, her importance was second only to Gild Tesoro.
Suddenly, a short man, with his head covered by a black hood and dressed in a black security uniform with a green bow tie, emerged silently from the ground, standing before Tesoro and Baccarat. This man, undoubtedly, was also a Devil Fruit user.
"Mr. Tanaka?" Baccarat asked, puzzled by Tanaka's sudden appearance in the room.
While thousands worked for Gild Tesoro on Gran Tesoro, only three trusted cadres earned his confidence. Tanaka was one of them and had always been reliable. His dedication and adherence to rules had never let Tesoro down.
Tesoro glanced at Tanaka, a questioning look in his eyes. Typically, Tanaka wouldn't appear without being summoned, as his duties kept him busy ensuring the security of this floating city.
Standing straight, Tanaka reported, "Lord Tesoro, the Germa 66 fleet has appeared about ten nautical miles ahead on our course. We cannot accurately estimate the number of 'Warhouse Ships' in their fleet. Should we avoid them?"
"Germa 66 from the North Blue..." Tesoro murmured, placing his wine glass on the table. Despite Germa 66's notorious reputation, it was confined to the North Blue, which didn't concern him much.
Others might fear the malevolent Germa 66, but not Gild Tesoro. However, he did wonder, "Why is Germa 66 here? Doesn't Judge fear trouble from Kaido?"
Looking at Baccarat, he awaited her input. Apart from being the reception officer on Gran Tesoro, she also handled intelligence.
"Lord Tesoro, recent intelligence indicates Germa 66 has indeed left the North Blue and entered the New World. However, we cannot ascertain their purpose or why they do not fear the Beasts Pirates. Germa's system is too difficult to infiltrate for reliable information..." Baccarat reported.
Tesoro withdrew his gaze and stood up slowly. Baccarat and Tanaka quickly stepped forward and knelt before him.
"Maintain our course," Tesoro said casually, toying with a gold ring on his finger.
"Understood, Lord Tesoro," Tanaka acknowledged. "But I must remind you that if we continue, we will confront Germa 66 in three minutes and twelve seconds."
"So what?" Tesoro replied, a defiant smile spreading across his face. "They're just a pack of strays."
"Yes, Lord Tesoro!" Tanaka and looked at Tesoro with admiration.
In their hearts, Tesoro's strength was unquestionable. After all, building such a massive entertainment empire required immense power to protect it.