For the first time, Tesoro laid bare his true feelings before an outsider, his expression twisted with fury.
"What are people, really? Nothing more than batch after batch of fuel! Even those so-called royal nobles are, in their eyes, nothing but sheepdogs managing a flock!You've never truly seen it—you have no idea how high those steps rise, how long they stretch!
Blindly becoming a rebel, doing things that are futile and doomed to fail from the start—that's nothing but stupidity!"
"Then tell me," Ren countered calmly, "as a so-called smart man, what have you actually done?Or are you just complaining, hating, raging—while doing nothing at all?"
Ren's gaze carried a trace of pity. "When faced with despair, doing nothing—keeping your distance like a 'smart person,' mocking those who try to change things—does that somehow make you less of a coward?Or do you think that by denying everything until you grow old and die, you'll be able to face her in the underworld and say you did your best not to take revenge on the Celestial Dragons?"
"You're not qualified to use that against me," Tesoro said in a low voice. "I once fought desperately for her. I committed a grave crime by attacking a Celestial Dragon."
"But you never repaid blood with blood, did you?" Ren pressed on."Just like how you've never escaped that past all these years—the nightmare has trapped you for half your life.
Your mad pursuit of money and wealth—was it regret that you lacked the ability to buy Stella back?Or regret that you lacked the courage to snatch her from the Celestial Dragons?
If time were reversed, if the current you stood before the Celestial Dragon who took Stella away… would you still have the courage to act?"
Ren's eyes were filled with mockery.
A coin appeared in his hand once more, dancing lightly between his fingers.
There was a difference.
Regretting the lack of money meant wanting to save a loved one, but still not daring to clash with the Celestial Dragons.Regretting the failure to snatch her away meant daring to raise a hand against them.
"…"
Tesoro fell silent. His gaze flickered, then dimmed.
If time truly flowed backward, the present him would have the power to break through the CP agents' blockade.
But would he have the courage to take someone from a Celestial Dragon?
To take her meant to strike—to attack a Celestial Dragon.
What awaited him would be an admiral's pursuit, endless hardship and suffering.
All of that… for Stella?
No—why was Stella even appearing on the scales of comparison?!
She was not a Benefit.She was not gold.
She was the irreplaceable, immeasurable one and only.
He should have been willing to give everything for her. That was how it should have been.
Tesoro clenched his fist hard, cold sweat pouring down as confusion and fear filled his eyes.
Why had Stella appeared on the balance at all?
"People change, Tesoro," Ren said quietly.
With a flick of his finger, the Lightning Spirit separated, forming a thunder curtain that sealed off the floor.
"Even if you suffer, even if you regret, even if you torture yourself, even if you can't—and won't—escape your predicament.Day after day, you numb yourself with the authority of a ruler, deceiving yourself.
But when you grow old and die, you'll understand this:Those who do nothing are the real cowards.
Because they fear hardship, fear loss, and thus deny all possibility—pushing everything onto the Celestial Dragons and the World Government as 'invincible.'
But in this world, nothing is absolute.
You believe that I—or we—are destined failures, engaging in futile acts.Yet I see it: the fire that will inevitably engulf Mary Geoise.
The gods… will fall from the sky."
"…What do you mean?" Tesoro's expression shifted.
"I mean—why not give it a try?" Ren spread his hands, his expression cold as iron."I will bestow war upon this world, ignite its rot and filth, and trample the refuse of an era as I slay the old gods.
You can curl up here and wait, or you can try betting once—can't you?
At the gambling table, some go all in; others timidly push forward a single coin.I'm the former. You can be the latter."
"A gambler doesn't wager on a game that's guaranteed to lose," Tesoro replied after a long breath, his face settling into calm."Even the most uneven gamble must have a chance of victory to be called a bet.
I don't know what you're planning, but you definitely want something from me.
As the winner, you can take whatever you like—my life, my money, anything.But I don't believe you—or your side—has a chance, because this was never a gamble.
Nine chances of death is a gamble.Ten out of ten is suicide.
But—"
He stared coldly at Ren. "You're right. I've changed. I'm not the same as before.
Back then, all I dreamed of was power—to find that Celestial Dragon and take revenge.Now, I can't even remember what he looked like.
I should thank you for letting me see my own problem.
But why should I help you?
Even if you won this fight, thinking you can take anything you want just by using my life as a stake… isn't that a bit naïve?"
"I understand," Ren said, steering the conversation where he wanted it.
"We're neither allies nor partners—just winner and loser.The only difference is that in the future, we may share a single gamble we both desire. Correct?"
"…"
Tesoro said nothing, but did not deny it.
"Then let's bet again," Ren smiled, baring his teeth."As the loser, you need to settle the previous stakes.
The gold-for-Beri transaction—that's the first stake you lost.And the battle just now? I assume you consider that a gamble too.
Then use all the pirates on Gran Tesoro whose hands are stained with sin, and Baccarat, to replace the life you should have lost.
Next, with a deadline of half a year, I'll return to Gran Tesoro.
You can use every means at your disposal—gather manpower, design traps, anything—to oppose me.
If you win, I'll bring you a Celestial Dragon.I can't guarantee it'll be your personal enemy—but I think what you hate is the entire group."
"Do you even understand what you're saying?" Tesoro stared at Ren in disbelief.
"I do. Whether you believe me is your choice. When the time comes, if you want to kill me instead of taking the bet, that's your decision."
Ren shrugged lightly. "I'm confident I won't lose. Very few things in this world fall outside my expectations.
If you lose, the stake is simple—your end."
"…Compared to acting alone, would joining you then be better?" Tesoro narrowed his eyes."From the start, you were targeting Gran Tesoro—and the Golden Emperor's power?"
"Have you heard of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton?" Ren asked, dodging the question.
"Of course."
"It lies beneath Wano. The Revolutionary Army is researching how to obtain it."
"That place… is Kaido's territory. They won't succeed."
"I think they will. Because I'm involved."
"Prophet… heh. You're far too confident."
"Why not?" Ren said calmly. "Just like how I know Pluton is in Wano and that taking it is difficult.
But in Water 7 on the Grand Line, there are blueprints of Pluton.
I know where they are, how they're stored, and what methods are needed to obtain them."
"…"
Tesoro fell silent, staring at Ren in uncertainty. "You really know?"
"Of course."
"…Fine. I'll take the bet."
"Just like that?" Ren asked, curious.
Tesoro raised his hands, still bound by Seastone cuffs, his voice cold."In this situation, wanting to live is meaningless. Isn't this the only path left?"
At that moment, the ceiling—roaring nonstop—shuddered violently.
A dark figure smashed through the floor, slamming straight into the raging lightning net.
After a scream laced with a strange hint of pleasure, the unconscious Dice was flung away by the lightning.
From the hole above, a panting Vivi emerged, staring down in confusion.
…So, it's over?
"Cough, cough!"
Baccarat slowly came to, fury flashing in her eyes as she surveyed her surroundings—only to find herself in a guest room.
She was drenched, but otherwise unharmed.
Knock, knock—
A servant's voice sounded from outside the door.
"Officer Baccarat, Lord Tesoro requests that you proceed to the top hall once you wake.Also, the clothes you requested have been prepared as per his instructions."
"Oh? Is it resolved already?" Baccarat let out a long breath and got up to open the door.
A more provocative outfit came into view, along with a familiar black-clad attendant—one of their own.
She took the clothes and changed on the spot without the slightest embarrassment.
The attendant immediately lowered his eyes, not daring to look.
One touch from her, and he'd be unlucky for a very long time.
"Where are those two?" Baccarat asked coldly. "The intruders—a man and a woman. Ren and Vivi, was it?"
"Uh… they're also in the top hall."
"Hmph. Figures. Even with their strange abilities, ignoring the gold dust in their bodies, there's no way they could defeat Lord Tesoro on Gran Tesoro.
Daring to trick me with luck—if Lord Tesoro has no special plans, I'll make sure to torture them properly!"
The attendant hesitated, wanting to speak, then stopping himself.
As he raised his head, Baccarat slapped him hard.
"Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out!"
She cinched her belt with one hand, glaring at the overly bold subordinate.
"Haven't your seniors told you about me?Those who look where they shouldn't get to be unlucky for a very, very long time.
Watch yourself, idiot!"
With a cold snort, Baccarat strode down the corridor toward the top hall.
She couldn't wait to find out how that bastard Ren had played with fate itself and trapped her completely—
And then settle the score for knocking her unconscious.
'…For some reason,' the black-clad attendant thought grimly,'I feel like the one who should be careful… is you.'