Starting as a pirate, he rose to become the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society.

Chapter 199 Tesoro: What? Doflamingo is gone too!?

The first half of the Grand Line.

Carnival City.

This is a very famous entertainment city in the Grand Line, which usually attracts many tourists from all over the world. In recent days, it has been especially lively.

The reason is that the world's largest and most prestigious entertainment city, Golden City, is touring here and performing in conjunction with Carnival City.

Many people on the sea assumed that Carnival City and Golden City, as peers, must be in fierce competition.

However, few people know that the Golden Emperor Gild Tezzolo also owns a stake in Carnival City, and the two have a very close relationship.

Similarly, as a well-known casino in the first half of the Grand Line, Rain Banquet also owns a certain stake in Carnival City.

Today, as an agent for Rain Party and Baroque Works, Nicole Robin is preparing to board the large ship of the Golden City.

Carnival City is an entertainment city fixed on an island, but Golden City is not. Golden City is a mobile, super-large island-level entertainment city built on the foundation of two giant island turtles. It has no fixed area and travels all over the world all year round, and is loved by nobles and the rich from all countries.

The arrival of the Golden City has made the already bustling Carnival City port extremely crowded.

However, as a woman of status, Nicole Robin naturally doesn't need to compete with ordinary people for a place in line.

At that moment, in the VIP passageway draped with a luxurious velvet red carpet, Nicole Robin wore a pure white trench coat, a stylish cowboy hat, sunglasses that obscured her beautiful face, and high-top grey Doc Martens boots. Combined with her slender figure, she looked incredibly charming.

Ahead of Robin, a deaf-mute waiter from the Golden City was quietly leading the way, while Robin held a Den Den Mushi in his hand, a smile on his lips, communicating with the person on the other end.

"Even Kaido, who is now known as the strongest in the world, is helpless against you? This is really reassuring. I can't wait to go to the New World to see you," Robin said with a smile, her tone gentle and alluring like an older sister.

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Bane knew Robin was 'bragging,' but he couldn't help feeling a little smug. He chuckled and said, "If you went to the New World now, you wouldn't see me. I'm heading back to Marine Headquarters."

"Is there something important?" Robin asked curiously.

"Well, if nothing unexpected happens, you'll soon see the news of my promotion to Admiral," Bane replied with a smile.

"A Marine Admiral?" Robin was momentarily dazed, the image of Kuzan flashing through her mind. After a moment, she continued, "Then I congratulate you in advance, Admiral."

After exchanging jokes and casual conversation for a while, Bane finally got to the point: "As I just said, the Don Quixote family has been completely wiped out. Baroque Works needs to quickly take over suitable business here. I told you to prepare in advance, how's that going?"

"I'm on my way to take over the wealthiest part of the Donquixote Family's assets," Robin said, stepping onto the steps of the Golden City with a slightly mysterious tone.

"Oh? You've already started? Are you in the New World?" Bane asked in surprise.

"No, I'm in Carnival City. Tesoro's Golden City is touring here. I've already made an appointment to meet him and am about to go see him. I originally wanted to give him a heads-up beforehand, but I didn't expect you to act so quickly. It seems I have more leverage to talk to him directly now," Robin said with emotion.

"The Golden City!?" Bane's eyes lit up. "I see, that is indeed the Don Quixote family's richest asset."

Doflamingo owns seven percent of Gold City!

Although these share certificates and such are most likely gone with Dressrosa, they are meaningless now. Can we really expect Doflamingo to come back from the dead and sign them to transfer the shares to Bane?

nonexistent.

Tezzolo would never take these things seriously; they were just formalities.

However, even without these share certificates, Nico Robin was confident that she could transfer Doflamingo's shares from Tesoro.

It's reasonable for Tesoro to refuse; otherwise, he could have Bane come to him for a face-to-face meeting. However, Bane might not only want the seven percent that Doflamingo possesses.

"Adding the 3.6% we got from Crocodile, if this deal goes through, you'll own 10.6% of Golden City, becoming a major shareholder, and the annual dividends will be a truly staggering figure," Nico Robin said.

"I have plenty of gold and pele," Bane said with great arrogance.

After a slight pause, Bane continued, "What I value more is the Golden City platform and its financial value, as well as the personal talent of Gilder Tezzolo, who is known as the Golden Emperor."

"I understand," Robin replied softly.

However, she quickly added, "But even with your current strength and status, I'm afraid this Golden Emperor will not submit."

"Of course I know," Bane replied calmly. "So as long as we get off to a good start, I'll meet with him in person when I have the time. I don't think he'll refuse my invitation then."

Bane greatly admired Tezzolo's talent. This guy was a true self-made man who rose from the very bottom, even to the status of a slave, and still managed to climb all the way to the position of the world's richest man by virtue of his economic acumen and ruthless methods. He also controlled a quarter of the world's cash flow, so it can be said that his influence was enormous and that he was someone who could completely shake up the economic situation of this ocean!

Undeniably, the Gold-Gold Fruit he obtained did greatly help his career, but his talent was definitely the more important factor. The Gold-Gold Fruit is not a particularly rare ability, and there have been other ability users besides Tesoro in the past.

But which of those people actually reached Tezzolo's position? Not a single one!

Bane felt he was missing an economic assistant, or rather, a "finance minister," capable of managing his vast assets, and Tezzolo was undoubtedly a perfect fit.

In particular, he had experience traveling through different worlds, so he knew very well that gold seemed to be a hard currency in many worlds, which further highlighted Tesoro's value.

Of course, if this guy is really stubborn and unwilling to take this respectable job, then Bane will have no choice but to reluctantly help him maintain a respectable image.

In short, we absolutely must get the Gold-Gold Fruit!

After chatting for a while, the two hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Robin had arrived at a luxurious building in the Golden City, where Mr. Tanaka, one of Tesoro's assistants, was waiting.

"Miss, all Sunday, welcome to the Golden City. Lord Tesoro is very much looking forward to meeting you," Mr. Tanaka greeted Robin with a smile.

Of course he knew that the woman in front of him was Nico Robin, the only survivor of Ohara and the devil’s son wanted by the world’s government, but so what?

Not to mention that this woman is a shareholder and partner of their Golden City, and also the head of Baroque Works, the most influential dark world organization in the first half of the Grand Line, their Golden City is a well-known neutral zone.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

So what if he's a child of a demon? Members of the Revolutionary Army often show up here, and nobody seems to care.

They live in the Golden City, and they have special privileges!

"I am also looking forward to meeting Mr. Tesoro," Robin said with a reserved smile and a slight nod.

Led by Mr. Tanaka, they soon boarded a private elevator and arrived at the top floor of this luxurious building.

Outside the elevator doors was a huge screen, and apart from this screen, there seemed to be no other decorations on the entire top floor.

However, even with such 'simplicity', this place is full of luxury and extravagance, because wherever gold can be used as a material, it is covered with gold!

The vast space contained only a set of luxurious sofas and coffee tables. Was this Tezzolo imitating the power struggles of Mary Geoise?

At that moment, the famous Golden Emperor was sitting on the sofa. As soon as he saw Robin, he stood up enthusiastically and said, "Miss, All Sunday, welcome."

"Mr. Tesoro, it's a pleasure to meet you too. If you'd like, please call me by my real name," Robin said, shaking hands with Tesoro.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony, Miss Robin." Tesoro indeed recognized her immediately.

The two quickly sat facing each other on the sofa, and Tesoro pretended to be very regretful, saying, "When I heard that Mr. Crocodile, on his deathbed, wanted to give his estate to you, Miss Robin, I was truly astonished. Such an excellent partner is hard to find."

"Is Mr. Tesoro complaining that I'm not a good partner?" Robin chuckled and teased.

"How could that be? It turned out that I was overthinking it. Miss Robin is a better collaborator than Mr. Crocodile," Tesoro laughed.

After exchanging pleasantries and getting to know each other a bit, Tesoro personally poured Robin a cup of tea before getting to the point: "I really didn't expect Miss Robin to meet me here. I wonder what you'd like to discuss with me? Perhaps you have some good business opportunity to introduce to me?"

"Mr. Tesoro was right. Next, our Baroque Works will be fully entering the New World. I think there will definitely be a lot of room for cooperation between us." Robin took a sip of tea and said very elegantly.

"Oh?" Tesoro raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly surprised. "Is that so? Although I see you're quite confident, Miss Robin, I still want to remind you that the New World is far more complex than this place. From a business perspective, you and the Donquixote Family are likely in fierce competition, and Doflamingo is not someone to be trifled with."

"Of course, so considering this situation, we had no choice but to make a very reluctant decision." Robin lowered her gaze slightly, appearing somewhat mysterious, and said, "Speaking of which, I also wanted to talk to you, Mr. Tesoro, about how my close friend, Lord Doflamingo, transferred his shares in Gold City to me on his deathbed."

In this sentence, Robin uses the formal "you" to address Tesoro for the first time.

But Tesoro only felt a chill run down his spine!

What?! Did Doflamingo follow Crocodile's path on his deathbed?

I've only been away from the New World for a few days, right? And before I left, he even met with Doflamingo to discuss some business matters. How come I'm suddenly receiving this kind of news?

If it were anyone else, Tesoro would just scoff and think, "Who would dare say something like that?"

But the person in front of him was someone Crocodile, who was also one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had actually "fallen" before, so of course he would be shocked!

(End of this chapter)