March 27
"Boss, we've got someone who wants to talk to you," Zed called out.
Kong let out a long yawn as he continued his set of sit-ups, each one forcing his muscles to strain under the crushing weight. Beside him, Enel and Beru trained in silence, all three of them enduring the island's gravity as they pushed their bodies past every known limit.
"Who is it?" Kong shouted back, not bothering to pause his workout.
Zed stood just outside the gravity field, safely out of its oppressive reach. He held up the Den Den Mushi, speaking on Kong's behalf since the captain refused to stop training even for a conversation.
Of course, Kong had never forgotten about the thousands of pirates who followed him. Just because they couldn't be part of his core crew didn't mean they were useless.
He mostly used them as an information network, scattered across the seas to keep tabs on everything worth knowing. The only issue now was funding—he was running low on money to keep them all paid and loyal.
"The richest man in the world… Gild Tesoro," the pirate on the line said, with Zed repeating his words loud enough for Kong to hear… just for him to freeze when he heard what he just said.
Instantly, the air went still. Everyone froze—everyone except Beru and Enel, who remained unfazed. They need to be told how much weight that name carried. But the others, those who understood the world's power structure, knew exactly what kind of power Gild Tesoro held.
"We managed to dig up something about Gild," the pirate said, his voice serious. "Turns out his girl was once a slave—bought by a World Noble."
He paused for just a second before dropping the real bombshell. "You want to know what's even more shocking? He was a slave too. Gild Tesoro used to belong to the World Nobles."
The weight of those words hit hard—heaven-shattering news thrown out like it was nothing.
"How do you know that?" Kong demanded, suddenly appearing in front of the Den Den Mushi. The crushing gravity of the island didn't slow him down in the slightest.
"Someone with that kind of money doesn't just let information like that slip." His voice was sharp, eyes locked on the snail.
"We got the information from an unknown source," the pirate said awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable. "They told us if we didn't deliver it to you, they would. We tried to track down who it was… but nothing, we had leads at all."
Kong didn't even flinch. He already knew these pirates weren't sharp enough to uncover something that deep. As far as he was concerned, they were just lucky messengers—nothing more.
"We figured you'd want to speak with him," the pirate continued. "So we arranged a meeting… but a World Noble is going to Gran Tesoro. We can reschedule if you want—"
Before the sentence could fully land, a dark grin began spreading across Kong's face.
"A World Noble is heading there?" Kong repeated, his grin widening. "That's perfect… In fact, have everyone keep an eye out for World Nobles. Wherever they appear, I want their locations reported to me."
The way he said it—low and cold—sent chills through the air. It was so sinister that even the Den Den Mushi began to tremble, its shell quivering as it struggled to transfer Kong's words. The sheer pressure behind his look was too much for the snail to handle.
Gran Tesoro—a massive ship turned floating metropolis—was known across the seas as the largest entertainment city in the world. Ruled by Gild Tesoro himself, the ship had earned recognition from the World Government as an independent state, thanks entirely to Tesoro's immense wealth.
It was officially labeled a demilitarized zone and referred to as the "moving country of dreams." Still, even a place like Gran Tesoro wasn't exempt from the World Government's grip. To maintain its special status, it was required to pay the Heavenly Tribute—just like any other affiliated nation.
Aboard the Maxim—well, the newly rebuilt Maxim, to be exact—the ship had been upgraded and refined. Though smaller than the original, it was perfectly suited as a support vessel, designed to launch from the massive mothership when needed.
Now, that very ship approached the dazzling glow of Gran Tesoro. Only two figures stood at its helm: Kong and Zed.
Beru and Enel had stayed behind, continuing their brutal training. Neither of them wanted to fall too far behind Kong, knowing how quickly the gap could widen. Ain and the others chose the same path, pushing themselves harder rather than wasting time. So in the end, only Kong and Zed came to meet with Gild Tesoro.
"They're here…" Inside Gild Tesoro, a beautiful red-haired woman spoke softly as she lowered the Den Den Mushi. Her eyes shifted to Gild Tesoro, who stood nearby—his expression tight with unease.
"Yeah…" he muttered. "Do you think I could defeat him?"
The question hung in the air. The redhead fell silent.
Not long ago, she had been a slave—just another forgotten soul about to fall into the hands of the World Nobles. It was Gild who had shattered her chains and given her freedom. The man standing before her now wasn't quite the same kind soul he once was… but still, she owed him everything. And because of that, she had stayed by his side ever since.
"Most likely not," she said softly.
Gild gave a small nod. He had expected that answer. After all, he had thought the same thing. He took a deep breath, straightened his coat, and began walking—making his way to the meeting point. It didn't take long.
Before long, he stood at the edge of the harbor, just as the Maxim arrived. Kong and Zed stepped out, their eyes scanning the golden city before them. Streets paved with gold stretched far into the distance, and from above, flecks of gold drifted gently down from the sky like rain.
"Not bad," Kong said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I almost feel like exploring… but let's talk before the World Nobles show up."
Gild nodded in silence and motioned toward a nearby car—sleek, polished, and unlike anything Kong had seen before in this world.
"First time seeing a car?" the redhead asked with a smile. "Not surprising. It's one of Vegapunk's latest creations. He says it'll be the future of transportation—something that'll make walking obsolete."
"Nice…" Kong muttered, eyeing the vehicle with interest. Then his gaze shifted, locking onto her.
"Oh, and who are you?" he asked, his tone casual and curious as he sized her up without hiding it. She was truly a beauty, although not as beautiful as Bao; she wasn't too far off.
"I'm Baccarat," she said with a graceful bow and a charming smile. "It's a pleasure to meet the brightest star of the World Generation."
"Worst Generation?" Kong asked, blinking in confusion. He tilted his head slightly, clearly unsure if he'd misheard. Why would she be cursing him? But that sounded like a title.
"It's a term referring to infamous pirates who emerged not too long ago," Zed explained, stepping in calmly. "Pretty much the next generation of big-name pirates. There are thirteen in total—you're at the top of the list. Luffy's on there too."
Kong clicked his tongue in annoyance. His bounty had stayed the same for far too long. He hadn't made a major move in a while—at least, not one the world knew about. His battle with Big Mom… his control over her territory—none of that had been made public. If it had, his bounty would be far higher by now.
Anyway, they got into the car, where Kong took the opportunity to scan the city in full. It was exactly what he expected—a city of gold, shining from every corner.
But with his Observation Haki, he saw more than just the surface. His senses reached into the shadows, into the dark corners of Gran Tesoro where the shine didn't reach. The truth beneath the glitter was laid bare to him.
"You know firsthand what it's like to be a slave," Kong said, turning toward Gild with a mocking smirk. "And yet, here you are… with a hand in the slave trade. Funny, isn't it?"
Gild's expression tightened. He frowned slightly,
"They're not slaves," Gild said firmly, trying to defend himself. "They're simply paying off debt. That's not the same as slavery."
"Oh, my bad," Kong replied with a slow nod, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Who knew forcing kids to pay off their parents' debt—or letting them starve—was somehow better than calling them slaves."
Gild's jaw clenched. He gritted his teeth, but no words came. There was no comeback.
"Already, I'm thinking about just killing you." The words hit like ice. A chill ran down Gild's spine—and even Baccarat stiffened at the wheel.
"You remind me too much of the Celestial Dragons," Kong continued, his eyes narrowing. "The lavish lifestyle. The arrogance. Enslaving others through debt and money."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone sharper now. "The only thing you're missing is the title of 'World Noble.' Am I wrong?"
Dark red lightning began to crackle and dance across his body—Conqueror's Haki laced with killing intent. Gild suddenly felt it—an unnatural stillness in the air. His Devil Fruit powers… Nullified.
The chill that crept through him had nothing to do with fear—it was instinct. A warning that he was standing before something far more dangerous than any noble.
"You're a mocking example of someone who became the very thing they once hated," Kong said coldly, his voice laced with disdain. "Nothing disgusts me more than weakness… and your mindset reeks of it."
His expression twisted with pure, absolute disgust—like Gild's very existence offended him.
"You don't know me!" Gild snapped, his voice rising. His fear was still there—choking him—but it was drowned out by something deeper: rage, trauma, and a bitterness he could never shake. Weakness masked as defiance.
"Oh? Then tell me—where did I get it wrong?" Kong asked coldly. "You can't even accept what you've become… pathetic. Absolutely disgusting."
Before Gild could react, Kong's hand shot out and wrapped around his neck, lifting him effortlessly. Baccarat gasped, frozen in horror, unable to move.
"What are you?" Kong demanded, his voice low but thunderous.
A surge of Conqueror's Haki exploded from him, crashing down on Gild like a mountain. Every mental resistance Gild tried to raise shattered under the weight. There was no escaping it. No denying it. Kong was forcing him to face the one thing he'd spent years running from himself.
"I… I became the thing she hated most…" Gild choked out, and with those words, the dam finally broke.
Tears streamed down his face as he broke into sobs. Kong released his grip, letting him collapse back into his seat. Gild didn't even try to hide it—he cried freely, burying his face in his hands.
Baccarat glanced between the road and Gild, an uncertain look on her face. She didn't know whether to keep driving or stop and tend to him.
"He'll be fine," Kong said calmly, his tone almost indifferent. "I just helped him see what he became."
With that, he turned his focus back to the world outside, letting his Observation Haki roam across the golden city.
Not long after, they arrived at Gild's private mansion—an extravagant, sprawling estate that screamed wealth and status.
Gild hesitated at the gates, his eyes scanning the opulence he once took pride in. But now, all he could see was a reflection of the Celestial Dragons—the very thing he once despised.
He didn't want to go in. But Kong gave him no choice. With a firm hand on his back, he pushed Gild forward, stepping inside like he owned the place… and without hesitation, began making himself at home.
"Join my crew," Kong said with a light smile, casually lounging on one of the luxurious couches. "You can take the role of treasurer, or… I don't know, manager or something."
Gild blinked, stunned by the offer.
"You want to destroy the World Government, right?" Kong continued, his voice calm but sharp. "Like you, those bastards took someone dear to me."
He leaned back, eyes focused on the golden ceiling above them. "I'm just doing all this for payback."
"…As long as I can stop someone from going through what I went through," Gild said softly, his voice steadier now, "then sure… I'll join your crew."
"Oh?" Kong raised an eyebrow with a grin. "What kind of joining are we talking about?"
He gestured toward Zed, who stood silently nearby. "Zed, here's only part of my crew until the World Government is wiped out. After that, he's out. Meanwhile, the rest of us? We're heading out to explore everything this world—and beyond—has to offer… I guess… we're aiming to become gods."
"Gods?" Gild asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Kong nodded. "Yeah… I met one."
He spoke calmly, explaining how he had once encountered a god… a being with the power of a god—who gave him the chance to grow stronger. He didn't go into full detail, leaving out the parts he didn't feel like sharing. But he did mention the most important piece: this so-called god had rewritten fate itself, ensuring that Kong would receive the Devil Fruit he now possessed.
Gild listened in silence, processing every word. "Can a god bring the dead back to life?" he asked quietly.
"How should I know?" Kong said with a shrug. "But if they can rewrite fate… then yeah, it's possible they could do something like bringing someone back to life."
Gild went silent for a moment, his gaze distant. Then, slowly, he clenched his fist.
"Then… I'll join you on your journey to become a god," he said, voice firm with conviction. "And when the time comes… I'll bring her back."
"Then welcome to my crew," Kong said with a grin, rising from his seat and offering a hand. "You'll be the Treasurer and Financier."