novelnext Chapter 182 Kanna, go have some fun!
Chapter 182 Kanna, go have some fun!
Chapter 182 Kanna, go have some fun!
The top tailors moved with fluid grace, their fingers flying across the fabric as they measured Bai Yu and his group, transforming rare materials into luxurious garments that fit their figures perfectly.
Uchiha Shiraha changed into a black robe with dark gold patterns, the hem of which fell to his ankles. The gold threads outlined intricate yet understated patterns, making his already cold and handsome face even more profound. The faint aura of power emanating from him blended with the luxurious attire.
Matsumoto Rangiku chose a wine-red off-shoulder dress, the hem of which was adorned with tiny gold pearls that shimmered as she moved. Her languid charm was further enhanced by the dress. She casually tossed the hem of her dress, smiling as she praised the softness of the fabric, her heart already filled with anticipation for the fine wine and delicacies outside the palace.
Unohana Retsu wore a light blue cloud silk satin dress, the hem of which was embroidered with pale gold exotic flowers and plants. Her gentle temperament complemented her attire perfectly, and her eyes still held that calm and serene expression.
Artoria chose a blue and gold outfit that accentuated her tall and slender figure. A gold belt inlaid with sapphires cinched her waist, and when she gripped the sword hilt, the heroic aura of a knight king was palpable.
Kanna Robin also put on clothes that fit her well.
After everyone had changed into their costumes, the attendants bowed once again and led the way through layers of golden corridors, finally entering the main palace at the heart of the Tesoro.
This palace is the pinnacle of extravagance in the new world. Its dome is tens of feet high and inlaid with countless colored gems and luminous pearls, which gather to form the shape of a sky full of stars. The ground is made of high-purity warm jade and gold, which feels warm and slightly cool to the touch.
In the very center stood a long golden table, dozens of meters long, laden with delicacies from all over the world—meat of deep-sea sea kings, rare spiritual fruits, fine wines exclusively for the Celestial Dragons, and countless desserts and dishes served in golden vessels. The aroma permeated the entire palace, tempting everyone's mouths.
Seated at the head of the table, Gild Tesoro, dressed in a magnificent gold robe, had already risen to await them. Tall and handsome, with meticulously combed golden hair, he exuded an aura of domineering power and wealth. His Observation Haki subtly emanated from him, only to recede upon touching Shiraha. Seeing the group enter the palace, Tesoro's face immediately broke into an extremely enthusiastic smile. He strode forward, extending his hand to shake Shiraha's, his tone full of respect and admiration: "Uchiha Shiraha! I've long admired your name! Your feat of annihilating Big Mom on Whole Cake Island has already spread to every corner of the New World. I, Gild Tesoro, have the utmost respect for your strength! It is truly an honor to have you aboard today!"
Uchiha Hakuba merely glanced at him indifferently, quickly withdrew his handshake, and remained calm and composed.
Tesoro wasn't embarrassed. He withdrew his hand and led everyone to the long golden table to sit down. He personally poured Bai Yu a cup of gilded wine, raised it, and said, "You've all had a long journey. This cup is a toast to you all!"
Matsumoto Rangiku was the first to raise her glass, downing it in one gulp, her eyes gleaming: "Excellent sake! Even more mellow than the spirits I've been hoarding. Golden Emperor certainly has excellent taste!"
Unohana Retsu took a small sip and nodded slightly, while Artoria only took a small sip and then stopped, her eyes constantly scanning the palace with vigilance.
Upon seeing this, Tesoro burst into laughter and waved for all the servants to leave, leaving only him and Bai Yu's group in the hall. The atmosphere gradually shifted from polite to somber.
He picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. The precious wine slid down his throat, but he couldn't suppress the hatred and sorrow surging deep in his eyes. His originally warm smile slowly faded, replaced by a pain and resentment etched into his very bones.
"Baiyu-kun, you may only know that I am the Golden Emperor who controls 20 percent of the New World's Berries, and who owns this golden city that never sleeps on the sea, enjoying boundless glory—but no one knows that I was once just a slave trampled underfoot by the Celestial Dragons, unable to even protect the woman I loved."
Tesoro spoke candidly about his past with someone he was meeting for the first time, which greatly surprised Bai Yu, who didn't think Tesoro was that kind of person.
Tesoro's voice deepened, becoming thick and hoarse. He gazed at the swirling golden liquid in his glass, his eyes drifting to the distant past, slowly recounting that long-buried history: "When I was young, I grew up in the slums, so poor I couldn't even afford a full meal. Then I met her, Stella. She was the purest, gentlest girl I'd ever met. Even when we were both in the mud, she always gave me hope with a smile. I vowed to earn money, to buy her freedom, and to give her the best life. But fate played the cruelest joke on me—the Celestial Dragons, those high and mighty scum, took a liking to Stella, kidnapped her, and bought her life. And I could only watch helplessly, because I had no money, no power, not even the right to approach them!"
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, the golden aura around him trembling slightly, the power of the Gold-Gold Fruit overflowing uncontrollably, causing the golden patterns on the ground to glow faintly: "I was captured and enslaved, tortured in the Celestial Dragons' castle, watching Stella suffer humiliation in their hands, and finally—"
"I died there, and I hated it! I hated those Celestial Dragons who treated human life like dirt, I hated my own weakness. So after I escaped, I worked myself to the bone to make money. By chance, I obtained and ate the Gold-Gold Fruit from the Donquixote Family, built this Golden Empire, and controlled the lifeline of wealth in the New World. I possessed countless gold and a power that even the Navy feared. I thought I finally had the means to take revenge on the Celestial Dragons!"
Tesoro abruptly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Uchiha Shiraha. His voice was filled with utmost longing and pleading: "Shiraha-kun, your strength is unparalleled in the New World. You even annihilated the Three Emperors. You are the only one who has ever stood against the Celestial Dragons! I have money, I have countless riches. I can provide you with all the resources to build the most powerful fleet and buy off forces worldwide. Let's join forces to overthrow the Celestial Dragons' rule and avenge myself and all those who have been harmed by them. I only beg you, help me kill those scum who killed Stella!"
His voice trembled, and he leaned forward slightly from excitement, his eyes filled with a desperate determination. In his eyes, wealth was everything, and Bai Yu's power was the key to unlocking the door to revenge.
Uchiha Hakuha lightly tapped his fingertips on the golden tabletop, his dark eyes calmly fixed on Tesoro without the slightest emotion. After a while, he slowly spoke, his voice cold and resolute: "I refuse."
Those three simple words, like ice, instantly extinguished all the fervor and hope in Tesoro's eyes.
Tesoro abruptly stood up, staring at Bai Yu in disbelief: "Why?! I have wealth and power, you have strength. If we join forces, we'll be invincible! Overthrowing the Celestial Dragons will be just around the corner. Don't you want to overthrow this corrupt world?"
"Tezzolo, you're wrong."
Uchiha Hakuba raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the golden dome of the palace, as if looking towards the Celestial Dragons' sacred land standing on the Red Line.
"Wealth has never been the key to overthrowing the Celestial Dragons. You think that by controlling 20 percent of the Berries in the New World, you have the capital to fight against them? But you forget that the World Government, the Navy, and all legitimate forces are essentially dependent on the rule of the Celestial Dragons. Your money can buy you off temporarily, but it can't buy people's hearts, much less shake their foundations that have been established for hundreds of years."
He paused, his tone growing increasingly indifferent: "Now is not the time to wage a full-scale war against the Celestial Dragons. The time is not right; rashly taking action will only result in more losses than gains."
Tesoro was unwilling to give up and stepped forward, still trying to persuade him: "But I can't wait any longer! Every day I think about Stella's death, every day I want to tear the Celestial Dragons to pieces! I have gold, I can build an invincible army—"
"Your gold is worthless in the face of absolute power."
Uchiha Hakuha interrupted him.
"I will overthrow the Celestial Dragons, but not now, and I have no need to cooperate with you. Your obsession will only be a burden on my path of revenge, not an aid."
Tesoro stood frozen in place, his face drained of color. He clenched his fists, and the golden power surged wildly. The golden tables, chairs, and utensils in the hall began to twist and deform, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.
Looking at the calm and composed young man in front of him, he felt a mix of resentment and anger, as well as a hint of dissatisfaction. He possessed endless wealth and the powerful strength of the Gold-Gold Fruit, and believed that his strength had already reached the top of the New World. However, in Bai Yu's eyes, he didn't even have the right to cooperate.
"Good! Well done, no need for cooperation!" Tesoro took a deep breath, a stubborn fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
"Uchiha Hakuha, I know you are powerful, but I also want to know just how strong your so-called absolute power really is! I want to fight you and see if my Golden Power has any hope of avenging the Celestial Dragons. Even if I only take a few of your moves, I will be willing!"
He wanted to prove himself, to prove that his strength was not useless, and to prove that he was qualified to stand on the battlefield of revenge.
Uchiha Hakuba looked at the battle-ready Tesoro with a faint smile. He naturally wouldn't personally deal with Tesoro; such strength was not worth his attention. Hakuba turned his head slightly to look at the small figure who was quietly munching on a dessert.
Kanna's mouth was stuffed full of sweet cake, her little face puffed up like an adorable little hamster. Noticing that everyone seemed to be looking at her, she looked up, blinked her round, purple eyes, and replied in a childish voice, "Brother Baiyu?"
"Kanna, are you full? Go play with this Golden Emperor, but don't kill him. Just keep it simple."
.
Uchiha Shiraha spoke calmly, as if he were simply asking Kanna to play a simple game.
Upon hearing this, the entire palace fell into a deathly silence.
Tesoro's fighting spirit froze instantly. His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the exquisitely beautiful little girl who appeared to be only a few years old, then at Uchiha Shiroha, thinking he had misheard: "You—"
"What did you say? You want this little girl to fight me?! Uchiha Hakuha, are you trying to humiliate me?!"
He's the Golden Emperor, the underground emperor of the New World who controls the Gold-Gold Fruit. He dares to fight even against agents of the World Government. Now, Bai Yu is sending a little girl who can't even walk properly to deal with him? This is an utter disgrace!
Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, while Artoria nodded slightly. She knew all too well just how terrifying Kanna's power was, and that the Golden Emperor before her was no match for Kanna at all.
Kanna swallowed the cake in her mouth, clapped her little hands, jumped off the chair, and walked step by step to the center of the palace. She looked up at Tesoro, who was much taller than her, and still had that innocent and cute look on her face. She said in a childish voice, "Big brother, are we going to fight? Kanna will be gentle, okay?"
Tesoro trembled with rage, his Haki erupting and sweeping across the entire palace. The gold on the ground bulged up, transforming into countless sharp golden spikes that pointed directly at Kanna: "Little brat, don't fool around here!"
"My opponent, Gild Tesoro, is Uchiha Hakuha! Not you, you snot-nosed brat! You'd better step aside immediately, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
He prided himself on his status and refused to lay a hand on a little girl, but the sense of humiliation in his heart grew stronger and stronger, and he felt that Bai Yu was completely trampling on his dignity.
"If big brother doesn't do it, Kanna will."
Kanna tilted her head, completely ignoring Tesoro's burst of domineering aura. Her small body crouched slightly, then she leaped up suddenly. The seemingly light jump caused the entire golden palace to tremble slightly, and several cracks instantly appeared in the golden patterns on the ground.
Tesoro's pupils contracted sharply. He could clearly sense that the power emanating from this little girl's leaps far exceeded his imagination! She was no ordinary child!
"The Golden Cage!"
Tesoro dared not be careless and immediately activated his Devil Fruit power, slamming his hands on the ground. Countless gold spewed out from the ground, transforming into a huge golden cage that trapped Kanna inside. The inner walls of the cage were covered with sharp golden spikes, ready to pierce any creature trapped inside.
"In my golden empire, I am God! All the gold is under my command!"
Tesoro roared and manipulated the golden cage to shrink continuously, its spikes stabbing fiercely towards Kanna!
But the next second, a scene that left him dumbfounded unfolded—Kanna simply stretched out her small palm and gently pushed, and the indestructible golden cage, which even cannonballs couldn't break, shattered like paper! Golden fragments scattered all over the ground, without even leaving a scratch on Kanna's body.
"How is this possible?!" Tesoro exclaimed in disbelief.
"My golden cage, how could you, a mere girl, possibly shatter it so easily?!"
Unconvinced, he activated his power again, waving his hands. All the gold within the palace surged wildly, transforming into a gigantic golden hand that swept towards Kanna. The giant hand was covered in Armament Haki, amplifying its power, enough to flatten a small mountain: "Golden Giant Hand!"