Chapter 78: Karl’s Envy, Four Great Dreams - One Piece: The Dragon Knight of the Grand Line - NovelsTime

One Piece: The Dragon Knight of the Grand Line

Chapter 78: Karl’s Envy, Four Great Dreams

Author: Kaizo26
updatedAt: 2025-10-08

CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: KARL’S ENVY, FOUR GREAT DREAMS

Gran Tesoro was a ship, an island, and a nation.

The world’s largest moving casino, one of the New World’s most famous resort paradises, and—besides the Sabaody Archipelago—the favorite playground of countless tycoons and the Celestial Dragons.

It was only ten thousand meters long, yet it was recognized by Mary Geoise as an independent nation and a demilitarized zone, an absolute sanctuary where even the Marines could not act at will.

Therefore,

even if Gran Tesoro’s master—known as the Emperor of Gold and the world’s richest man, Gild Tesoro—committed every villainy under the sun, he was still not a pirate.

He did pirate things, yet was more "legal" than a Warlord of the Sea.

What’s more, if anyone offended Tesoro or attacked Gran Tesoro, he could even call upon the power of Mary Geoise.

Thus Gran Tesoro, a demilitarized zone forbidden to maintain a large private army, was a place that few in the New World dared to provoke, ruled by a true underworld king who walked in both light and shadow.

The power of money.

"So spectacular—the world’s largest casino, the Gran Tesoro of legend?"

"All that glittering gold—is it all real?"

"If I could pry off a chunk from up there, wouldn’t I be rich?"

After several days, Karl’s crew finally found the golden ship that was always on the move, towed by an island turtle and constantly changing position upon the boundless sea.

Looking at that vessel which wasn’t huge in size yet dwarfed Thriller Bark in grandeur by tens of thousands of times, the two money-grubbers, Karina and Nami, could only gasp.

Even Karl, for the first time, looked at the golden ship with envy.

A moving island was one of his dreams.

For that reason alone, there was no reason to let Tesoro go.

Since he wasn’t a pirate but one of Mary Geoise’s lapdogs, Karl decided to realize one of his dreams today by using a pirate’s method.

Gran Tesoro was as good as his.

As for offending Mary Geoise by seizing the golden ship,

as a "great pirate" whose first bounty had already broken a billion, Karl didn’t mind offending them again.

"Karina, those passages are full of gold dust."

As the ship approached and they found one of the channels leading inside,

with Nami steering them into it, Karl warned Karina, "That gold dust is controllable by the Gold-Gold Fruit. Once we’re in, wrap Nami in a barrier and make sure none of you breathe the dust."

"No problem."

Karina nodded at once.

After ruffling Karina’s hair, Karl told Nami, "Nami, use your fruit to send the Golden Bell up into the sky."

"Why?"

Unlike obedient Karina, Nami asked outright.

"That Golden Bell will be my ’alarm clock’ from now on. It would be a shame to see a priceless treasure get melted down."

Karl gave a light reminder. "There’ll be a fight. It’s dangerous for the bell to stay with me."

"Got it."

Nami flashed an OK sign and pointed her finger skyward.

The bell she had already touched slipped the hold of gravity, lifted off from the deck, and drifted upward at a steady pace.

By then, the large three-master slid into the passage.

"Barrier Sphere!"

As darkness swallowed their view, Karina immediately used the Barrier-Barrier Fruit to produce a spherical shield that wrapped Nami and the others at her side.

Before long, gold dust fell like rain, dusting Karl and Little Dragon.

A dazzling light shone from the end of the passage and tore apart the darkness.

When sight returned, the crew found themselves amidst a storm of golden dust, even the seawater in the port gilded to gold—the Golden Harbor.

Gran Tesoro’s welcome ceremony was the height of luxury, laced with a hidden mortal threat.

Except for true powerhouses or those with special abilities, anyone who inhaled the dust unprepared lost the right to speak in front of the Emperor of Gold.

Thus,

even without a strong standing army, Tesoro alone could instantly cull the weak.

But that dust posed no threat to Karl and Little Dragon.

Even without turning to elements, a man and a dragon who commanded Life Return could easily expel any dust they inhaled.

The three-masted ship berthed at the Golden Harbor’s pier, and the crew descended the gangplank.

Because the Golden Bell had already flown thousands of meters up, their landing this time caused no commotion.

Even so, Gran Tesoro’s upper echelon was alerted.

"Lord Dragon Knight, welcome to Gran Tesoro."

No sooner had they set foot ashore than a beautiful woman approached.

With long wavy hair the color of pale rose and a black evening dress over a ripened figure—second only to Robin behind Karl and utterly eclipsing little sisters Karina, Nami, and Perona—

the great beauty stopped before them with a smiling face. "I am Gran Tesoro’s VIP hostess, the one who will be serving you from now on—Baccarat."

Yet Karl’s Observation Haki saw clearly.

While Baccarat introduced herself, her gaze flicked several times to the large three-master behind them.

When she saw no Golden Bell on the deck, a glint flashed in her eyes.

But with superb nerves and acting—and clear awareness of what Observation Haki could do—she reined in her thoughts so well that even her emotions betrayed no flaw.

No wonder Gild Tesoro trusted her—she wielded one of the "rule-type" abilities, the Goddess of Luck.

Seeing it all, Karl was ever more satisfied with this future crewmate.

Yes, a future crewmate.

Baccarat was the next recruit Karl had set his sights on.

And as Karina had said, she was a key link to realizing a dream.

When they first entered the Grand Line, Nami had asked Karl about his dreams.

Karl’s answer:

Taste the world’s cuisines.

Claim the title of the world’s strongest.

Find the legendary Pure Gold said to be able to buy the whole world and grant immortality.

Own a mobile island of his own.

Four dreams, none yet fulfilled.

This trip to Gran Tesoro was to realize the fourth, and to prepare for the third.

Baccarat’s luck could help find one of the steps toward the Lantern Fish.

Back to the scene.

Treating Baccarat as a "companion" in his heart, Karl gave her a gentle smile. "I’ll trouble you, then, Miss Baccarat."

"Lord Dragon Knight, just call me Baccarat."

She turned slightly and gestured invitingly. "Lord Dragon Knight, Miss Karina, Miss Robin, and you two lovely girls, please come with me. I’ll show you around Gran Tesoro."

"Alright."

Karl wasn’t in a hurry to act; with Little Dragon and Karina, he followed Baccarat to the parking area.

Yes, a parking area.

In this age of sails—yet riddled with astonishing technology—cars did exist in the pirate world, though they were rare.

And they weren’t like the cars from Karl’s previous life; their engines and power came from the specialties of this world.

On Skypiea there were Wavers powered by Wind Dials or Jet Dials.

In certain technologically advanced countries, the so-called cars were closer to weapons.

Gran Tesoro’s cars were powered by turtles with bulging muscles all over their bodies, vehicles called turtle-cars.

"These are Gran Tesoro’s dedicated VIP limousines. Please, everyone, get in."

Baccarat led them to an extended six-seater turtle-car and opened the door.

"As expected of the world’s biggest casino—there’s every kind of strange thing here."

Seated in the long car, Nami couldn’t help sighing.

"Indeed, Gran Tesoro has the largest and most entertainment facilities in the world."

Driving, Baccarat was anything but modest.

Hearing that only hardened Karl’s resolve to take the ship-island.

The turtle-car left the parking area, not heading straight for Tesoro’s golden hotel.

Baccarat first took them to tour the facilities.

They started with the largest and most famous Golden Arcade.

It too was fashioned from gold, right up to the giant chandelier on the ceiling.

Inside were all manner of games and amusements.

For gambling there were every kind of table, slot machines, an arena akin to Dressrosa’s colosseum, racing, and more.

Beyond gambling, there were cinemas, golf courses, amusement parks—facility upon facility.

So much entertainment, all on a ship-island only ten thousand meters long.

Most of the venues were built of gold, with sculptures of Gild Tesoro everywhere.

One had to admit, nowhere else on earth could match Gran Tesoro’s entertainment.

Even Crocodile’s Rain Dinners, and even Dressrosa’s casinos under Doflamingo, couldn’t hold a candle to this.

The world’s largest casino truly lived up to its name.

On their first visit, Karl’s crew were instantly captivated.

Not rushing to act, Karl accompanied Karina and the others through the Golden Arcade’s offerings under Baccarat’s guidance.

Thanks to Karl’s former title as the world’s number one bounty hunter and his current fame as a billion-berry pirate, there was no need to fetch money from the ship. Representing Gran Tesoro, Baccarat gifted them chips worth two hundred million.

Such generosity showed both Karl’s status and Tesoro’s goodwill.

For the Golden Bell, he’d gladly give not two hundred million but twenty billion or even two hundred billion belli.

"Lord Tesoro, I didn’t find the Golden Bell. Could it be hidden somewhere?"

While Karl’s party played, Baccarat slipped into an empty corner, took out a Den Den Mushi, and reported to Tesoro.

"No matter. Knowing the bell is in his hands is enough."

The Den Den Mushi mimicked Tesoro’s wary expression. "Baccarat, treat them well. Whatever they ask, you must satisfy it."

"If you get a chance, use your fruit to strip his luck. Best if he keeps losing more and more. Then keep giving him chips—however many he wants, give them."

"Remember: give, don’t lend."

The Den Den Mushi’s lips curled in amusement. "The more of my favors he takes, the greater my return when we talk business."

"I understand, Lord Tesoro." Baccarat smiled.

"If he gets blood-hot from losing, soothe him at once."

Tesoro’s final warning: "Don’t let any fools disturb him. That kid’s ability is one of the last I want to provoke."

Just as rubber insulates and counters lightning,

the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the Gold-Gold Fruit were the opposite match-up: the former absolutely countered the latter.

Gold’s conductivity ranked among the very top of all metals.

If Tesoro’s fruit were a Logia, perhaps he wouldn’t fear Karl.

But it wasn’t—it was a Paramecia without elementalization.

Thus, against Karl’s lightning, Tesoro’s gold could not block the attack, and would even accelerate the current’s damage to his body.

Even fruit awakening—a rarity in the New World—to coat himself in gold and become a giant like Douglas Bullet wouldn’t save him.

Karl only had to strike anywhere, and the current would ride the gold straight to Tesoro’s body.

Only Armament Haki covering his whole body could ignore the matchup for a short time.

But Haki capacity is limited: the bigger the coverage, the greater the drain.

So if he could avoid Karl, Tesoro certainly would.

Faced with a plague god of lightning like Karl, if not for the Golden Bell in the boy’s hands, Tesoro wouldn’t have bothered paying attention—he might have left Gran Tesoro altogether.

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