Marine Headquarters — Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, Garp stood before Sengoku and Kong, reporting last night's disastrous battle.
"Fifteen soldiers dead, thirty seriously injured, forty with minor wounds…"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "As for the enemy… Rayleigh and Malverick didn't take a single serious hit. Those two monsters he brought along—I don't even know what they are."
There was no denying it. The Navy's operation had been a complete failure — and a humiliating one at that.
Kong pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"So, you're telling me this Malverick gained two powerful subordinates from that slave prison?"
Like Rayleigh, Garp believed the giant warrior Susanoo and the monstrous dog Xiaobi were slaves Malverick had freed from the destroyed prison.
If the Celestial Dragons had created such abominations… well, that would almost make sense.
"These damn Celestial Dragons," Kong growled, "what the hell are they doing up there?"
He slammed a fist onto the desk. "They make a mess, we clean it up! I've had enough!"
Then he turned sharply to Garp.
"Keep searching. If you find Malverick again — capture him immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
"I'll assign Kuzan to assist you. Bogard stays on as your adjutant."
"Understood!"
Not long after, new bounty posters were issued across the seas—
"Dark King's Heir — Malverick."
Bounty: 600,000,000 Berries.
(An increase of 100 million.)
"Immortal Monster — Susanoo."
Bounty: 200,000,000 Berries.
"Hellhound — Xiaobi."
Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Yes — after leaving Thousand Peaks Island, Malverick had returned here.
Since Amazon Lily and the North Blue were in opposite directions, he'd dropped off Rayleigh first, then looped back.
But to his surprise, upon returning to the battlefield where he had fought Garp, Malverick found someone interesting.
A green-haired man was rummaging through the debris, searching for something.
"System, scan that man," Malverick ordered curiously.
He could tell just from the man's aura — this one wasn't ordinary.
[Ding! Target identified: Gild Tesoro. Strength Level: GOLD. Defeating him yields no points.]
"Gild Tesoro…?" Malverick blinked.
The Gild Tesoro?
The future Golden Emperor—the man who would one day control twenty percent of the world's wealth and amass five hundred billion berries?
That guy?
Of course, at this point in time, Tesoro wasn't even close to becoming that legendary "Golden Emperor."
After all, the Gold-Gold Fruit was currently sitting safely on a shelf inside Malverick's Dark Space.
A grin crept across his face.
Perfect.
A golden idea formed in his mind.
If I can recruit Tesoro now, I'll have the perfect man to control my economic empire in the future.
He descended silently, landing behind the green-haired man.
"What are you looking for?" Malverick asked with mild curiosity.
The man flinched violently, spinning around—
"You—! You're the Dark King's Heir, Malverick?!"
At first, Tesoro's eyes widened with fear… then suddenly, they lit up with hope.
He had come here precisely to find Malverick's trail!
He had searched this ruined battleground for hours, finding nothing.
And now — fate had literally dropped his target in front of him!
"Surprised to see me, Gild Tesoro?" Malverick smirked, folding his arms.
Tesoro froze.
He knows my name?!
Then Malverick's gaze shifted slightly — toward Tesoro's right shoulder.
The branded mark of a Celestial Dragon's slave was still burned into his flesh.
"Come with me," Malverick said simply.
A few minutes later, the two sat inside Shakky's bar.
Once Malverick confirmed they were alone, Tesoro dropped to his knees.
"Lord Malverick! Please — let me serve you!"
Malverick blinked.
Huh?
He'd planned to recruit Tesoro — but he hadn't expected the man to beg first!
Seeing Malverick hesitate, Tesoro quickly pressed his forehead to the floor.
"Please, my lord! I'll do anything!"
After a few moments, Malverick poured two glasses of wine, sliding one across the table.
"Drink. Then tell me — why do you want to follow me?"
Tesoro clenched the cup tightly, then began to speak.
He told of how he'd once dreamed of being a musician — only to be mocked and scorned.
Of how, at the slave auction, he met a woman who didn't look down on him — who gave him a reason to believe in himself again.
He worked tirelessly, saving every coin he could, just to buy her freedom.
But before he could, a Celestial Dragon bought her instead.
When he tried to resist, he was branded and enslaved himself.
From that moment on, hatred consumed him — hatred for the Celestial Dragons, and eventually, for the entire world that allowed them to exist.
"Lord Malverick," Tesoro said, trembling, "a few days ago I went to find the Sun Pirates. I thought Tiger could help me… but I never saw him. His men attacked and drove me off instead."
Both Malverick and Fisher Tiger had destroyed the slave prison — so Tesoro assumed they shared his hatred.
But between fish-men and humans, old grudges ran deep.
Left with no other choice, Tesoro had come seeking him.
Malverick listened silently, tapping his finger against the glass.
Then, quietly, he asked his system:
"System… is there a way to check his loyalty?"
[Ding! Scanning…]
[Gild Tesoro — Loyalty toward Host: 60%. Borderline acceptable. High risk of betrayal.]
[Scan cost: 100 points deducted.]
"ONE HUNDRED POINTS?!" Malverick nearly choked on his drink.
"I've only got eleven hundred left, damn it!"
After grumbling for a bit, he came to a decision.
Sixty percent loyalty wasn't good enough.
"System," he said grimly, "is there any kind of binding contract that forces absolute loyalty? No betrayal possible."
[Ding! 'Soul Contract' available. One use: 500 points.]
"Buy it. Now."
[Purchase complete.]
A scroll materialized in his hand, ancient and faintly glowing with mysterious runes.
He laid it flat on the table.
"Tesoro," Malverick said evenly, "I'll accept you as my subordinate — and grant you power far beyond your imagination. But in exchange…"
He pointed at the scroll.
"You'll sign your name here. Or press your blood on it."
Tesoro hesitated briefly. The markings were unreadable to him.
But it was only a signature — a small price to pay for the chance to rise again.
He nodded, pressing his bloodied palm onto the parchment.
The moment he did, the scroll glowed faintly… then dissolved into golden light.
A strange feeling rushed into Tesoro's mind — a single, absolute conviction:
He would never betray Malverick.
~~--------------------------
Patreon Advanced Chapters:
patreon.com/FrostWarden