"We… we won?!"
Anzi, the merchant's son, stared at the dice in disbelief before turning to his stunned father with blazing excitement.
"Dad! We won! We won ten million Berries!"
"Hahahaha, this guest truly has remarkable luck," the dealer said with a professional smile as he pushed a towering stack of chips toward them, the value clearly marked at ten million Berries.
Bang!
The chips scattered violently across the table as the entire space shuddered.
"Oh dear!"
Several guests lost their footing and nearly fell.
The dealers froze for a brief moment, instantly sensing that something was wrong. However, their training kicked in quickly, and they forced calm smiles onto their faces.
"Dear guests, the ship encountered a small wave just now. Please remain at ease and continue enjoying your games."
…
Boom!!!!
At the very top of the Golden King, the world's only eight star hotel, a massive explosion erupted without warning.
Golden fragments scattered across the sky like a storm, surging violently toward a figure flashing through the air at extreme speed.
"There is a battle happening above."
"The one controlling the gold is Tesoro sama!"
"Then who is the one dodging? That speed is terrifying!"
The surrounding onlookers stared upward in shock, whispering among themselves with growing excitement.
…
"Shirogai! Take back those words!"
High in the air, Tesoro roared in fury as he manipulated waves of gold to launch relentless attacks at Shirogai. His face was twisted with rage, veins bulging, his skin flushed a deep purplish red.
"I never forgot her…"
The gold surged and formed a massive circular prison, trapping Shirogai inside.
"But she is already gone!"
Tesoro's teeth ground together as he stared at the glowing ring.
"What else can I even do?!"
Swish!
The golden ring split open slowly.
Shirogai drifted out unharmed.
The scattered gold gathered again beneath him, reshaping itself into a massive floating golden throne.
"Yes, the dead cannot return to life," Shirogai said calmly as he sat down on the throne.
"How could you possibly abandon everything you have now for someone who is already gone?"
Tesoro sneered.
"Hmph, what nonsense. The dead are the dead, people can never…"
His speech cut off suddenly.
"You… you mean…"
His eyes widened as clarity returned to them.
Tears welled up as his body began to tremble.
"Can you revive the dead?"
Shirogai smiled faintly and shook his head.
"Not yet."
But then he burst into laughter.
"But why should I even help you if I could?"
"Not yet…"
Tesoro stood frozen for a second before lowering his hand over his eyes. His voice softened drastically.
"Shirogai sama… I apologize for my offense earlier. Let us return inside and speak."
Noticing the crowd gathering below, Tesoro took a steadying breath and forced a bright smile. He descended in a tide of gold and laughed loudly at the guests below.
"Distinguished guests, that was only a friendly exchange between old acquaintances. Please continue enjoying yourselves."
…
"Relax. I am not a bad person, am I?"
Baccarat and Tanaka stood tensely inside the room, their eyes locked on Shirogai, who sat calmly on the sofa.
"A legendary figure… if he hit me once, would I just pass out comfortably?"
Only Deis, his entire body coated in Armament Haki, stared at Shirogai with barely restrained excitement.
Deis had a peculiar preference.
He enjoyed pain.
"Hehehe… then let me try a little sample."
Baccarat quickly reached out to stop him.
"Deis, without Tesoro sama's orders, you are not allowed to attack Shirogai sama!"
"Tesoro sama is not here!"
Deis laughed loudly and leapt into the air, Armament Haki surging violently around his body as he crashed downward with a murderous punch.
"This chance is too rare! Let me feel the power of a true world class expert! Come on! Hit me!"
Shirogai looked up lazily.
"How rare. Someone actually wants to be beaten."
"To deal with you, one finger is enough."
He raised a single finger, calmly coating it in Armament Haki, and lightly flicked it toward the descending fist.
"You are looking down on me!"
Deis roared as fury ignited in his eyes.
"I will shatter your finger with one blow!"
Boom!!!!
The punch crashed into Shirogai's outstretched finger.
Ding!!!!
A crisp metallic sound echoed through the room.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?!"
Under the horrified gazes of Baccarat and Tanaka, Deis's terrifying punch had been completely halted in midair by a single finger.
"You bastard…"
Deis snarled and swung again with everything he had.
Again.
Blocked.
No matter how violently he attacked, it was like striking an immovable mountain.
"Hit me! Do it again!"
Sweat poured down his face as disbelief consumed him.
"You like pain?" Shirogai said with a faint chuckle.
"Then I will grant your wish."
His finger flicked forward once more.
Crack!!!!
The sound of bones snapping rang sharply through the room. Deis's entire arm twisted grotesquely as blood sprayed outward.
Bang!!
His massive body was blasted backward and smashed violently into the wall, leaving behind a deep crater.
"Ah… so comfortable…"
Deis passed out instantly, white foam at his lips, a blissful smile frozen on his face.
He truly lived up to his reputation.
"Shirogai sama, please do not act recklessly!"
Baccarat trembled as she pulled a gold coin from her chest.
"Deis brought this upon himself, but if you still intend to attack us, I will have no choice but to fight back."
She had seen Deis crush solid iron with his bare hands.
Yet he had been broken by a single flick.
The gap was terrifying.
Could the power of the Lucky Fruit even affect a monster like this?
For the first time, doubt crept into Baccarat's heart.
Shirogai smiled faintly.
"The Lucky Fruit is interesting. However, against top tier experts, it is largely useless."
The coin in Baccarat's hand vanished.
When she looked again, it was already spinning lazily between Shirogai's fingers.
"Let us make a bet," he said calmly.
"If you win, we pretend none of this ever happened."
He covered the coin with his palm.
"Heads or tails?"
"Tails!"
Baccarat released the stored luck within her body without hesitation.
Powerful waves of luck surged outward, forming a zone of absolute fortune around her.
She smiled with absolute confidence.
"What a pity," Shirogai said as he opened his hand.
"It is heads."
"What?! How is this possible?!"
Baccarat stared at the coin in disbelief.
Before she could react, her foot slipped on uneven ground. She cried out and collapsed in pain.
"It hurts!"
Clutching her ankle, she stared up at Shirogai in a daze.
"Impossible! I clearly used my luck. How could I still lose?!"
Shirogai walked over calmly and waved his hand. The surrounding luck instantly dispersed.
"You do not seem to understand."
"You cannot borrow the luck of someone far stronger than you."
"Even if my luck passes through you, it still belongs to me."
"You are only a vessel."
As he spoke, Shirogai suddenly reached down and grabbed the ground.
With one swift pull, he dragged out a struggling figure from beneath the floor.
It was Tanaka, who had used his ability to pass through the ground in an attempt to ambush him.
_____
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