Following the sound of approaching footsteps, everyone turned to see two figures slowly walking toward them. One was clearly Kuro, and the man beside him caught Rolan's attention.
He had sleek gray‑green hair combed back, a flamboyant pink shirt and pants, and purple sunglasses resting on his head.
Isn't that Gild Tesoro, the so‑called "Golden Emperor"? Rolan couldn't help but wonder what he was doing in Peach Garden.
Everyone present fell quiet as the newcomer's voice rang out, "Lord Rolan?"
For a moment, Rolan genuinely didn't know what Tesoro wanted here. Seeing Rolan and his guests gathered, the others from Peach Garden quietly took their leave and returned to their own business. Vivi went off with Hancock and the others to explore Lungan, and Kuro busied himself, no longer needing to shadow Tesoro now that Rolan had returned.
Rolan's eyes narrowed slightly as he faced the pink‑clad man, "If I remember correctly, you're Gild Tesoro, the King of Gran Tesoro, right?"
Tesoro's gaze briefly scanned Rolan, as if sizing him up like a predator barely containing itself. It gave Rolan a momentary chill before Tesoro quickly looked away, uncomfortable meeting his gaze directly. Tesoro was well known as one of the wealthiest and most influential men alive.
Without answering, Tesoro pressed his hand against the ground. A cloud of shimmering golden dust erupted and gathered in his palm, forming into a solid golden fist. With a flash of Armament Haki, the fist turned jet black.
"Golden Right Fist!" Tesoro declared, launching the blow at Rolan.
Crack!
Rolan had expected this. He held up his hand, catching Tesoro's punch effortlessly. The strike drove into his palm like hitting solid steel, yet Rolan didn't flinch. No matter how much power Tesoro poured into it, he couldn't budge Rolan an inch.
Tesoro wasn't surprised Rolan could block it, but what shocked him was how unfazed Rolan looked. As if it were just another breezy moment.
Rolan didn't waste time. With a casual motion, he swept his hand downward, knocking Tesoro off his balance and slamming him into the ground.
Bang!
Tesoro coughed up dirt, spitting grit, his carefully maintained elegance gone. He lay sprawled, disheveled and extremely annoyed.
Clap, clap, clap!
Tesoro slowly rose, clapping his hands with a theatrical grin, "Hahaha, as expected of the strongest man alive, your strength truly is absurd."
Rolan raised an eyebrow. Despite the theatrics, he sensed no immediate hostility from Tesoro, so he hadn't struck to seriously injure him. Otherwise, Tesoro wouldn't be rising to his feet right now.
"What brings you to Peach Garden? You didn't come just to get beaten up, right?" Rolan asked calmly.
Tesoro dusted himself off, still smiling, "Of course not! I came to talk business, about cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Rolan frowned, unimpressed by the tone.
Yet Rolan could see from Tesoro's expression that this wasn't a joke. "Go on."
Rolan began walking, Tesoro following closely. Tesoro's next question was a probing one.
"Mr. Rolan, what are your thoughts on the World Government?"
Rolan paused and turned to look at him. He didn't yet know where this was leading but answered honestly. "The World Government… it's nothing but an oppressive machine built on exploiting the weak. A corrupt structure that thinks it's above all others."
Tesoro blinked, then burst out laughing, clapping again. "Hahaha, perfectly described!"
From what Tesoro had said earlier, and now this reaction, Rolan could infer his intent: Tesoro wanted to ally himself with Rolan to topple the World Government.
"So let me ask you this," Tesoro continued, brow serious, "what do you think of the Celestial Dragons?"
"Who in this world doesn't know what the Celestial Dragons are," Rolan said flatly. "They're nothing but self‑serving pigs."
Tesoro's grin widened. His expectations for Rolan had not been mistaken.
"Then you want to overthrow the World Government too?" Tesoro asked, hopeful.
Rolan gave a low, humorless chuckle, "Is that really so obvious? Yes. This world is absurd, and it's time for change."
He didn't hide his view. First, Rolan could tell Tesoro wasn't a World Government spy, and second, against raw strength like Rolan's, deception wouldn't help him anyway.
"Then I want to join your crew," Tesoro said, turning to face him, seriousness replacing his earlier bravado.
Rolan raised a brow, stumbling briefly over the unexpected request.
Seeing Rolan's confusion, Tesoro quickly clarified:
"You must find it strange that the King of the world's largest entertainment city wants to oppose the World Government. But hear me out."
Tesoro stepped forward. He recounted his life story, from poverty and crime, to his capture by slavers, then meeting a woman named Stella who believed in his singing. She became the only person who saw value in him, and he worked tirelessly to buy her freedom. Yet the Celestial Dragons easily purchased her and she died under their cruelty.
His voice shook with raw emotion as he recalled being enslaved himself, stripped of freedom until he was freed years later. From that despair, he became obsessed with wealth — believing money could protect against fate. Later he ate the Gold‑Gold Fruit (Goru Goru no Mi) and built Gran Tesoro, accumulating vast wealth and influence.
"The very thing I once hated gave me omnipotent power," he said, conjuring a golden ingot in his hand. "I thought I could make the Celestial Dragons kneel with it. But I haven't succeeded yet."
Rolan listened, silent but attentive. Though he didn't agree with Tesoro's past faults, there was a shard of sympathy in his heart.
"The more I saw of the World Government," Tesoro continued, "the more I hated them. If someone finally dares to challenge them… I want to stand with that person."
Rolan's expression stayed cool. He didn't show emotion easily, but something about Tesoro's turmoil struck a chord.