The Gale leapt across the corridor at the entrance and landed in the docking port inside the Golden City.
Within the luxurious harbor, everything that met the eye was golden. Everywhere exuded an overwhelming sense of wealth.
The people on the ship were once again dazzled by the extravagant sight before them, their eyes wandering uncontrollably in every direction.
Carmen poked her small head over the ship's rail and exclaimed in surprise,
"Everyone look! Even the water is golden!"
"This must be heaven. It has to be!"
The light of money burning in Nami's eyes became brighter than ever. Suddenly, she stretched out her hand and caught some of the glittering particles drifting down from the sky.
Then an incredulous voice escaped her lips.
"Oh my god, th-this is gold?!"
"It really is! That's way too extravagant. Just how much gold is this?!"
Chopper's eyes widened in shock.
He casually brushed the fur on his arm, and golden powder fell off in clumps.
Just how rich was the owner of this ship to be scattering gold so recklessly?
The others on the ship had clearly noticed the golden dust drifting through the air as well. Their expressions were filled with astonishment.
However, before they could finish marveling at the owner's generosity, a cannonball suddenly exploded beside the hull of the Gale.
"Boom!"
Golden waves surged as a curtain of golden rain filled the surrounding area.
A long and narrow pirate ship rushed out from a nearby gateway. The pirates on board glared at them with bloodshot eyes.
Their captain, wearing a pirate hat, raised a long blade and shouted arrogantly toward them.
"Wahahahaha!"
"We're the Long Chain Pirates! Hand over everything valuable you have! We lost all our money in the casino!"
"What the heck is wrong with these people?!"
Nami, whose mood had been ruined, frowned with dissatisfaction as she glared at the approaching pirate ship.
Didn't that idiot say the security here was pretty good? Why were pirates already trying to rob them the moment they arrived?
As the pirates prepared to fire another cannon, a pink figure flashed past. Kuina appeared at the bow of the ship.
Her thumb lightly flicked the guard of her blade, and Sakura Veil instantly sprang from its sheath.
"Clang!"
A massive pink blade aura sliced across the water and flew straight toward the distant pirate ship.
The cannonball that had just been fired, along with the entire ship, was split cleanly in two by the incoming slash.
The ferocious grins on the pirates' faces hadn't even lasted a second before a thunderous crash echoed out. Ship and crew alike plunged into the water.
Kuina sheathed her sword and stepped off the ship with the others. Those minor riffraff weren't even worth a second glance.
Nami stared at the golden buildings surrounding them and couldn't help reaching out to touch them.
After a while, she murmured in disbelief,
"They're really made entirely of gold... just how much wealth does that require?!"
She had seen the amount of gold stored in Leno's backpack before. She had thought that alone was shocking enough.
But compared to what stood before her now...
She looked up into the distance. Everywhere she looked were vast stretches of golden buildings. It was simply unbelievable.
This truly was a city of gold. Could the Gold-Gold Fruit really be that outrageous?
Just as she was completely immersed in the "Golden Paradise," Kuina, Hancock, and the others suddenly narrowed their eyes and looked forward sharply.
The originally smooth ground ahead rippled like water.
A big-headed child and a tall figure suddenly emerged from the ground.
When the tall man's gaze fell upon Leno, an immense look of delight instantly appeared in his eyes.
He quickly walked forward, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Mr. Leno, long time no see!"
Looking at Tesoro, who radiated the aura of money from head to toe, Leno couldn't help feeling a little sentimental.
In less than twenty years, that impoverished figure he had once glimpsed briefly had become a well-known powerhouse of the underground world.
From a penniless youth to a billionaire today, Tesoro's life was undoubtedly legendary.
Some people said the Gold-Gold Fruit had made Tesoro.
But Leno believed Tesoro was the one who had pushed the Gold-Gold Fruit to unprecedented heights in history.
"Long time no see. I should also thank you for your help back then."
"Oh no, no, Mr. Leno, you're too polite!"
Tesoro waved his hands repeatedly with a warm smile. Clearly, Leno's courtesy pleased him greatly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the pirates still struggling in the water. His gaze darkened slightly as he raised a finger and gently waved it.
The golden water in the harbor suddenly seemed to come alive.
It transformed into golden vines that tightly bound the pirates. In just a few moments, they were all turned into golden statues.
After finishing this, Tesoro slightly bowed to Leno and said apologetically,
"I sincerely apologize, Mr. Leno. You just arrived and already encountered something unpleasant."
"It's nothing."
Leno waved his hand dismissively. He truly hadn't taken the matter to heart.
At his current level, not just any random nobody could attract his attention.
Tesoro also understood this very well. Leno probably hadn't cared about those pirate scum at all.
But this was still his territory, and the proper attitude had to be shown.
Setting aside the fact that Leno was his benefactor, just Leno's status as the "Uncrowned King" meant Tesoro had to act carefully.
Soon afterward, under Tesoro's guidance, the group arrived at an extended pure-gold luxury car called the "Turtle-Rolls."
A voluptuous red-haired beauty was already waiting beside it. She was Bakara, whom they had met before.
"Welcome, Lord Leno, and everyone else."
She respectfully bowed to Leno, then opened the car door for everyone before taking the driver's seat.
Amid the astonished cries of the adventurer crew, the group rode this unbelievably luxurious car toward the inner city.
Along the way, Bakara gently introduced the street scenery they passed, while Tesoro in the passenger seat occasionally added a few remarks.
The attitude of the master and servant was extremely sincere, making the passengers in the back seat truly feel what it meant to be treated as honored guests.
When they finally arrived in the inner city, Bakara pointed toward the magnificent building ahead and proudly introduced it.
"Lord Leno, that ahead is the world's only eight-star hotel — the Golden King Hotel."
"Would you like to rest first, or explore the city?"
"Of course we explore first! Who wants to rest right now?"
Nami, Yamato, and the others had already been dazzled by the countless entertainment attractions and were eager to try them out.
Seeing the eager looks in their eyes, Leno could only nod helplessly.
After all, these people had stayed awake all night just for this.
With Leno's approval, everyone scattered in cheers.
Leno originally planned to tell Tesoro not to take special care of them or open any backdoors for them.
But after thinking about it, Tesoro was so rich that money was practically the only thing he had left. There was no need to say it.
Besides, that guy was probably very happy to let Leno and the others spend his money...
Accompanied by Tesoro, Leno was just about to step into the hotel when the corner of his eye caught several small figures standing beside the entrance.
His steps paused.
...
...