Super Card System

Chapter 604: VIP Treatment

The Gran Tesoro, meaning “Great Treasure,” is probably the largest ship in the entire pirate world!

Both its length and width are measured in kilometers, making it a city afloat on the sea and the largest entertainment city in this world.

Here, you’ll find a massive amusement park comparable to Sabaody Archipelago, trendy commercial streets, luxurious hotels with spa facilities, 24-hour gourmet shops, famous theaters featuring world-class stars, expansive golf courses, winding racetracks, artificial beaches dotted with bikini-clad beauties, wave-simulating pools, and the world’s most renowned super casino!

It’s no exaggeration to say that you can find every form of entertainment imaginable here!

On the Tesoro, you’ll see well-dressed celebrities, navy soldiers, pirates, and even more people chasing their dreams of wealth. The most widely circulated and talked-about stories in this golden city are those of people striking it rich overnight in the casino.

This glittering city, with its dazzling lights and lively atmosphere, undeniably has the allure to attract countless people from the sea, all trying to find a way to get here.

At this very moment, a grand concert is underway in Tesoro’s dance theater. Under the mesmerizing lights, a beautiful songstress is performing her famous song with an enchanting voice. The theater, which can accommodate tens of thousands, is already packed to capacity. Fans are cheering, crying tears of excitement, and loudly calling out the songstress’s name.

“Karina! Karina!!!”

In a private box on one side of the theater, the owner of the ship—or rather, the owner of this city—Tesoro, was lounging on a sofa, elegantly dressed in a suit and sipping red wine. He crossed his legs as he gazed through the window at the crazed crowd cheering for his songstress.

“Hmph! Truly captivating!” Tesoro smirked mockingly. This woman named Karina was a songstress he had recently recruited. From the looks of it, she would become his best money-making tool…

As Tesoro put down his wine glass, a tall, voluptuous woman approached him from behind. She was dressed in a revealing qipao, with black ladies’ gloves adorning her hands. Her ample cleavage was on display, and her long legs tantalizingly peeked through the slit of the qipao as she walked. She stood behind Tesoro, with her right hand resting on her hip, her hips slightly tilted. She said to Tesoro, “Boss, that old woman is at the casino again!”

“Tsk!” Upon hearing this, Tesoro couldn’t help but sneer, a hint of frustration crossing his face. “Damn it, I shouldn’t have let her taste the sweetness last time… Does she really think of my place as her personal ATM?”

“What should we do now?” The woman smiled and asked, “Shall we handle her the old way?”

“Not so fast!” Tesoro waved his hand. “Although that old hag is just a minor player, her son is a bit troublesome… Here’s the plan: let her win a million berries from the casino first to get her out of here. But if she gets too greedy, Baccarat, you’ll handle it yourself. Let her understand that not everyone can easily take my money here!”

“No problem!” Baccarat nodded in agreement.

Just as Baccarat was about to turn and leave, suddenly, a Den Den Mushi on the table in front of Tesoro started ringing loudly.

It wasn’t the sound of a phone call, but an alarm!

Tesoro was startled, then immediately picked up the receiver and asked, “Security room, what’s going on? Why is the alarm going off?”

On the other end, a security guard said somewhat nervously, “Boss, it’s the air raid alarm! It seems a large number of people are approaching the Tesoro from above!”

“Idiots! If someone is approaching, just shoot them down!” Tesoro said angrily. “This isn’t the first time this has happened. Do I need to teach you how to handle it?”

In these pirate-infested seas, running a casino ship wasn’t easy. There were always some reckless pirates who would target this ship. Since the casino started operating, Tesoro’s ship had dealt with countless pirate attacks. In recent years, the methods pirates used to approach had become more varied. Some pretended to be customers before causing trouble, while others planned to storm the ship from the start. Tesoro had even encountered several air raids before.

So, upon hearing the air raid alarm, Tesoro’s first reaction was that another group of fools was coming to their doom.

“But… but, boss…” The security guard hesitated. “There are over a hundred of them, and… and the leader seems to be able to fly!”

“Can fly? A Zoan-type Devil Fruit user?” Tesoro asked.

“Not… not exactly!” the security guard replied. “Boss, they’re approaching the ship quickly. I’ll transmit the images over to you!”

In the next second, the eyes of a Den Den Mushi in the room suddenly lit up, projecting two beams onto a screen in the corner, and the image appeared.

The security department had captured the footage using another Den Den Mushi, and they specifically zoomed in on one individual.

At first, Tesoro didn’t think much of it, but when he saw the man in the image wearing a bear-ear hat and the black flames burning behind him, he immediately gasped!

Tesoro sprang up from the sofa.

“How can it be him!?” Just a month ago, the war between the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates had ended, and the man with the black flame wings had become known worldwide. Tesoro couldn’t possibly not recognize him. So, when he realized who it was, even he became a bit nervous.

“Black Dragon Ian, the Shichibukai!?” Baccarat exclaimed in shock. “Could it be that the Dragon Hunter Pirates have set their sights on us!?”

Tesoro didn’t respond immediately. He continued to observe the scenes on the screen, trying to gauge Ian’s possible intentions. It was no wonder the security department hesitated to launch an attack—they must have recognized Ian as well.

“No… it doesn’t seem like they have hostile intentions!” Tesoro quickly concluded and shouted into the transponder snail, “Without my orders, no one is to make any provocative moves!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

After hanging up, Tesoro adjusted his attire, picked up his cane, and headed toward the door. He said, “Baccarat, gather the welcome team and come with me to greet them! It seems our casino has a special guest arriving!”

…

In the sky, as Ian and his crew descended, they observed the massive ship below. The Gran Tesoro, with its strange design, had a huge tunnel at the bow, apparently an entrance for ships visiting the casino. Through the tunnel lay a vast golden harbor.

But since Ian and his crew were descending from the sky island, they naturally didn’t have a ship and had to land directly in the open-air city on the ship.

As they got closer, they could hear the faint sounds of spirited music from the ship. The red, green, gold, and multi-colored lights dazzled their eyes. Seeing this, the crew couldn’t help but show excitement. Law’s subordinates, Shachi and Penguin, even whistled in awe mid-air.

Ian was the first to land, touching down in a plaza on a commercial street. When he folded his wings and set foot on the ground, the people around him looked on in surprise.

But soon after, as more and more members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates landed one by one, the surrounding people collectively gasped.

From the tattoos on Ian and Raideen, they immediately recognized who they were dealing with. The pirate flag depicting a long sword piercing a dragon’s head was a symbol known to belong to only one pirate crew in the world:

The Dragon Hunter Pirates!

Upon recognizing the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ insignia, the crowd also identified several prominent figures among them.

Former Shichibukai Black Dragon Ian, former Shichibukai Crocodile, and the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ top two members: Fujitora and Enel, among others.

Realizing the Dragon Hunter Pirates were here without hostile intentions, the people around them breathed a sigh of relief, quickly but respectfully keeping their distance while watching from afar.

As Ian and his crew turned their heads to observe the surrounding streets, the area suddenly darkened.

Before anyone could understand what was happening, several spotlights converged, illuminating a single figure.

In the spotlight, Tesoro walked slowly toward Ian and his crew. His handsome face and luxurious attire adorned with jewels and a suit made his admirers scream and call out his name.

“Such a show-off,” Ian muttered, curling his lips.

“That’s right,” Crocodile added, looking displeased at Tesoro’s appearance.

When Tesoro reached Ian and the others, he spread his arms and laughed heartily. “Haha, what a surprise! Look who’s here! Sir Ian, welcome to the Tesoro!”

As he finished speaking, the surrounding lights suddenly brightened, accompanied by countless flying flower petals and confetti. Two welcoming teams, who had appeared out of nowhere, stood before the crew. These beauties, dressed in carnival-like outfits, danced with pom-poms in their hands, warmly welcoming the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

This is definitely VIP treatment…

Seeing Tesoro’s warm smile, Ian couldn’t help but smile back and say, “I’ve heard so much about the Golden City. This time, I’ve brought my entire pirate crew to experience it. I hope we are not disturbing you, Lord Tesoro!”

“Not at all!” Tesoro laughed heartily. He then politely greeted Fujitora, Crocodile, and Enel, saying, “It’s an honor to have you all here. As the host, I will make sure everyone feels at home!”

After saying that, he gestured invitingly and said to Ian, “Please, come this way!”

Ian didn’t stand on ceremony. He signaled with his eyes to Zick and the others carrying the packages, indicating for them to follow. Then, under Tesoro’s guidance, they walked on…