Under the covetous stares of Rocks and Maron.
The Golden Pillar and the Golden Bell had already been turned into Homies by Charlotte Linlin in a flash.
"These are Fang Huo's private treasures—wipe your drool!"
Charlotte Linlin clapped her hands in satisfaction; from now on these Golden Treasures would belong to her and Fang Huo.
What was hers was Fang Huo's, and what was Fang Huo's was hers.
"Dong! Dong!"
Now conscious, the Golden Bell sprouted eyes, ears, mouth and nose, and joyfully rang itself.
"I'm the Golden Bell, a precious Golden Bell~"
While rocking itself, the Golden Bell sang cheerfully in an utterly innocent voice.
"Damn it! I'm really turning green with envy!"
"Fang Huo, I'm the Captain—how about splitting it fifty-fifty?"
Rocks finally understood why Fang Huo insisted on acting alone: the man wanted to keep all the treasure for himself.
After all, ship rules stated that anything found on a solo excursion belonged to the finder, while loot from group ventures was divided by rank.
"Sigh, after we snatched the Shichiseiken I actually wanted to bring you up to Sky Island."
"Back then I'd definitely have shared half with you."
"Too bad you were in a rush to enter the New World and track down Newgate and the others."
"Of course, at that time I didn't have the Vampire power or an Alternate Space, so I couldn't bring you up anyway."
"Now take a good long look—this is fate, Rocks~"
"If you ever want to come inside later, just drop by and give it a pat."
With a face full of fake pity Fang Huo patted Rocks's shoulder, his tone annoyingly smug.
"Bastard Fang Huo!!"
Rocks's fists clenched; he itched to punch that smart mouth crooked.
"first mate! I'm hugging this Thigh for life!!!"
"You'll always be my Idol—the strongest, richest, handsomest, most talented Idol in the world!"
Kiel Bastard slid in with a baseball slide, clamped onto Fang Huo's leg and even rubbed against it like a love-struck Pervert.
He'd thought following the Supreme Great Succubus Fang Huo would teach him how to pick up girls.
Never imagined Fang Huo had already become the richest man alive.
Everything he'd ever dreamed of!
Shimotsuki Furiko, Shimotsuki Kōzaburō and Fūgetsu Kisaburō stared dumbfounded at these shameless, brutal Great Pirates.
"Scram!"
Fang Huo flicked the boot-licker Kiel Bastard away with a single Shinra Tensei.
"Look all you want, touch all you want!!"
Calling the three Shimotsuki, Fang Huo strode into the Golden Castle.
He had used nearly all the gold stripped from God's Island—Upper Yard's temples, plus every piece he'd gathered, to build this castle.
Of course, the upgraded Gibeck's Sword also carried plenty of golden parts and circuitry.
Seeing Fang Huo enter, Deep Sea Titan Babel, Sanbel and Gourmet Knight Long Bread hurried after.
Stussy and Charlotte Linlin behaved like hostesses, eyes locked on Rocks and Maron.
They would never allow these men to covet the gold belonging to them and Fang Huo.
"Hmph!"
Rocks's heart bled, but he finally gritted his teeth, tore his gaze from the Golden Bell and pillar, and followed into the castle.
Kiel Bastard and Maron, eyes still red, followed on his heels.
Only Newgate remained fairly calm.
Once everyone had left the Golden Plaza, Stussy and Charlotte Linlin followed in with satisfaction.
—Inside the Golden Castle.
Rocks and company saw red once more.
Golden Palace, Golden Pillars, a Golden Throne—even the floor was gold… "Damn! Damn it all!"
The world's worst pirate and overlord of the new world, Rocks, felt two silent tears of heartache roll down his cheeks.
He really wanted to rob Fang Huo… "This is way too extravagant!"
Shimotsuki Furiko covered her mouth; even sitting on the golden chairs made Shimotsuki Kōzaburō and Fūgetsu Kisaburō squirm.
Lamp Dials, Tone Dials, Water Dials lined the hall… Fang Huo heated tea with a Heat Dial, playing the modern Host.
"Fang Huo~"
Stussy cuddled up to him again, having decided she would bear Fang Huo several children.
They would inherit his treasure!
No other Floozy would get a share!
For some reason, Shimotsuki Furiko felt awful seeing Stussy flirt so shamelessly.
How could such a Loose Woman be worthy of their unparalleled, world-richest Lord?
Only a True Lady from a Daimyo Family like herself could match Lord Fang Huo.
At that thought, Furiko's face suddenly flushed.
What was she imagining—actually picturing herself as the Lady of the House… "Tea!"
After brewing, the Host Fang Huo floated cup after cup to his Guests with his Gravity-Gravity Fruit power.
"Damn—even the teacups are gold!"
Rocks downed his in one gulp and pocketed the golden cup, venting his anger at Fang Huo's stingy monopoly.
"Told you not to come—now look!"
"Green with envy, mood ruined—you'll probably lie awake for nights."
"If not for the Time Gap I'd really move in here!"
Kiel Bastard and Maron said with red eyes; staying A Few Days would waste Half a Year outside.
Such a waste of time wasn't worth it.
"Gurarara! When I retire I'll settle down with Fang Huo—I might live eight hundred years!"
"Then I'll see centuries of future tech!"
Whitebeard Newgate laughed; he might even last a thousand years outside.
After all, twenty years here equaled a thousand out there.
"Makes sense—this is basically time-travel to the future!"
"first mate, you've gotta take us in later!"
Kiel Bastard and Maron buttered him up; now they understood why Babel and Sanbel followed Fang Huo so loyally.
They treated the first mate as someone above even the Captain.
From now on they'd obey Fang Huo.
As for Rocks—Rocks himself heeded Fang Huo's advice.
Unless Rocks gave a death-order, they'd prioritize Fang Huo's commands.
—After tea and idle chatter.
"Anyone who wants to stay can keep wandering around."
"Who's coming with me to sail?"
Fang Huo didn't reveal that if he entered personally he could ferry them out in real time.
He knew if they found out they'd drag him into the Lost World every day.
Better to let the 'flaw' of the Time Gap keep them from lingering too long.
"Scram! Sick of seeing your face!"
"Call us when we reach Enies Lobby!"
Rocks and the rest didn't want to leave the Lost World so soon.
Meanwhile the three Shimotsuki wanted to hurry out and settle their servants and clansmen.
"I'm not leaving either!"
"Fang Huo, I'll keep an eye on them!"
Stussy and Charlotte Linlin acted like mistresses, afraid these men might dig up Fang Huo's gold.
"I'll head out with you!"
Only Whitebeard Newgate wanted to return with Fang Huo to the Gibeck's Sword.
Soon.
After warning the rest, Fang Huo and Newgate exited to the outside world.
Still dazzled by the golden hoard, Newgate hadn't noticed the shift in time; he planned to squeeze more money out of Fang Huo… —