"Lord Tesoro, someone is causing trouble!"

The voice of Tanaka came through the earpiece of Gild Tesoro.

"Oh? That ship…"

Tesoro's gaze fell on the Nine Dragons. "Just some nameless little pirate crew… Their lives will be the perfect way to give my audience a little entertainment. Why not?"

Snap!

With a light laugh, Tesoro snapped his fingers. Instantly, the giant screens behind him lit up, showing a live image of the Nine Dragons.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, several more cannonballs came roaring toward the Nine Dragons. But before they could even reach the ship, they were intercepted and exploded in midair, scattering golden water everywhere.

"Hehehe… don't any of you dare fight me for this! I'll rob them all and win back the money I lost!"

"You bastards dare to compete with me? Get lost, or I'll kill you all!"

"It's just a little ship! How much treasure could it even have? Out of my way!"

"Hahaha… Leave all the valuables behind!"

"Look up there—three gorgeous women! You guys can have the treasure, the beauties are mine! Hahahaha—"

From every channel, pirate ships poured out, each flying its own flag, firing one barrage after another at the Nine Dragons. Their plan was simple: sink it, and plunder everything!

The spectators erupted with excitement, blood boiling as they screamed: "Kill them!" "Spill their blood!" They wanted nothing more than to see death, to see the golden pool drenched in crimson.

"These bastards dare to target my man's ship? I'll never forgive them!"

Baby-5's temper flared as she prepared to rush out and fight.

"Enough, Baby-5. Ten seconds."

Lance's cold voice rang out.

Behind him, five IBMs manifested, their towering forms wrapped in bandages. With a single command, they scattered, leaping through the air and crashing down onto the pirate ships attacking the Nine Dragons.

"What the hell is that?!"

"Some kind of monster wrapped in bandages?!"

"Doesn't matter what it is—shoot it down!"

The pirates opened fire immediately. Muskets, Gatling guns, sniper rifles—every weapon roared at once, bullets raining in a dense web of fire.

But compared to the speed of the IBMs, the bullets were laughably slow.

In just the blink of an eye, the IBMs crossed the distance, looming over the terrified pirates. From above, their bandaged claws came slashing down.

Squelch!

Rip!

Tear!

It was like a vision of hell. Pirates were torn apart without the slightest chance to resist. Some were cut clean in half, others had their heads ripped from their shoulders, still others had their hearts gouged out.

"Five seconds."

Lance continued his countdown.

"D-devils! They're devils! Run!!"

"Jump into the sea! Hurry!!"

"Ahhh! It followed me into the water! Captain, save me! Save—"

No matter where they ran—sky or sea—there was no escape from the IBMs.

The slaughter was merciless. The IBMs cut through flesh as easily as tofu, harvesting lives like wheat before a sickle.

"Time's up."

As Lance spoke, the five IBMs immediately ceased their massacre. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—they returned to his side, standing respectfully behind him.

And at that moment, the five pirate ships that had been firing relentlessly just seconds before now fell silent. The decks were littered with mangled corpses, blood soaking every surface. Not a single pirate remained alive.

"Wooooooaaaahhhhhh!!!!"

The audience went wild, ecstatic at the blood-soaked carnage. Their cheers shook the entire golden city.

"Lord Tesoro, it seems they have some strength after all," Tanaka reported in his earpiece.

"A crew so small, not even recorded on our lists… and yet they wiped out five well-known pirate crews in an instant?" Tesoro laughed, amused. "Now this is interesting."

He broke into a flamboyant dance once more, entertaining the audience with his golden show, even as his eyes gleamed with intrigue.

Meanwhile, Lance and his group sailed smoothly into port and set foot on land.

Everywhere they looked, the streets were paved with gold—majestic, dazzling, and utterly luxurious.

"It's so beautiful!"

Rebecca's eyes shone with stars, and Baby-5's reaction wasn't much different. Women all over the world were powerless against glittering gold.

Monet, however, remained calm, walking behind Lance with the quiet poise of a loyal partner.

"Wow… incredible!"

"Honored guests, welcome to the Gran Tesoro, the greatest entertainment city in the world!"

A woman approached them, her long crimson hair flowing, dressed in a black gown that revealed her long legs and perfect figure. Her angelic face hid a devilish charm.

"My name is Baccarat, your exclusive VIP hostess."

But Lance's gaze narrowed on the black watch strapped to her wrist. He remembered well—this woman was no ordinary hostess. She was a Devil Fruit user. The Luck-Luck Fruit. A dangerous ability that allowed her to steal the fortune of others and twist it into their misfortune.

"VIP hostess? So, you know who we are?" Monet asked sharply, suspicion in her eyes.

"I apologize. I should have been better prepared. But truly, I found no information on you anywhere." Baccarat smiled sweetly. "For such powerful individuals to not appear on our VIP list… how very strange indeed."

"If you don't know, then there's no need to know. Just take us inside."

Lance's tone was flat.

"Of course, sir. Such a distinguished man deserves a distinguished name, does he not?"

"…White."

"Ah! So it's White-sama. At last, your name is revealed! Please, allow me to escort you in our most famous Turtle Car, for a grand tour of the city!"

With a snap of her fingers, a massive turtle-shaped vehicle rolled forward.

"Wow! It's so cute!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

Rebecca and Baby-5's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Then let us depart!" Baccarat smiled, as the Turtle Car shot forward like lightning, carrying them into the dazzling heart of the golden city.

(End of Chapter)

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