"Sherwin, these turtles are so interesting meow!"
(=ω=)
As the turtle car started up, Klee Meow eyes immediately lit up as she stared at the two rows of small turtles huffing and puffing while serving as the turtle-power engine.
Needless to say, this little one who loved keeping pets had definitely developed the urge to raise a turtle again.
These turtles weren't large and looked quite clever besides acting as the engine, there had been a small turtle wearing a hat and tie opening the car doors for everyone earlier, and it was now standing at the front of the vehicle.
So, if Klee Meow wasn't just acting on a whim and truly wanted to raise them, it wouldn't be impossible to get a couple from here.
However, before Sherwin could even ask Baccarat about it, the little Ragdoll suddenly lost interest after staring for a while.
"They're a bit too noisy... Klee doesn't like them anymore meow."
(ε)
The little Ragdoll pouted and muttered softly.
As expected, most of the time this little one was just acting on a whim...
Sherwin rolled his eyes and rubbed her feline head those turtles were simply shouting slogans, much like people do when rowing a dragon boat.
"What everyone sees first is the commercial area, which is mainly used to receive ordinary guests. However, even so, the entertainment facilities here are very complete.
Not only are there hotels and shopping centers, but also casinos, swimming pools, aquariums, and theaters. There is even a golf course, which is enough to meet the entertainment needs of the vast majority of people..."
Baccarat introduced Gran Tesoro to Sherwin and the others while driving the car.
"Next, we are about to enter the VIP area."
As the Turtle-Rolls passed through a massive archway, the surrounding architecture underwent a noticeable upgrade in both scale and appearance.
"The layout of the VIP Area is much the same as the Business District, though the entertainment facilities here are grander and the costs significantly higher.
Furthermore, entry into the VIP Area requires either substantial assets or, like yourself, Hunter, being a celebrity recorded on our VIP list."
After a brief pause of two or three seconds, she glanced back at Sherwin with a curious gaze.
"However, this is the first time—aside from the Celestial Dragons—that someone has been requested for a meeting with Lord Tesoro immediately upon arriving at Gran Tesoro."
"Oh? It probably because I killed a Celestial Dragon."
"Hehehe... You must be joking, Hunter..."
Baccarat didn't dare engage in such a topic she could only offer a forced laugh, hoping to brush it aside.
Sherwin, however, didn't feel like he was joking, as he suddenly began to understand why Tesoro had proactively moved those gold flakes away.
If he wasn't mistaken, the other party was showing him goodwill precisely because of that incident with the Celestial Dragon.
After all, Tesoro only true love had died at the hands of the Celestial Dragons. Although he now appeared to be in league with them, Sherwin didn't believe for a second that Tesoro harbored no resentment toward them.
Whether it was Tesoro own memories from the film, the fact that he still moonlighted as a singer, or the stubborn and often extreme nature of people in the pirate world, everything pointed to the fact that Tesoro couldn't have simply forgotten his grudge over Stella.
Sherwin guessed that Tesoro had likely become what he was today because he found himself unable to exact his revenge, leading him to abandon himself to the darkness.
As for that nonsense about earning enough money to make even the Celestial Dragons kneel before the power of wealth, Sherwin figured even Tesoro didn't believe it he was likely just clinging to a plausible goal amidst his despair.
Of course, given how single-minded people in the pirate world could be, it was also possible he truly believed that.
But regardless of the case, there was a high probability that Tesoro wouldn't cause trouble for Sherwin and would instead maintain a sense of goodwill toward him.
This was just as well lately, it seemed like he was getting into a fight everywhere he went, which really went against his title of the "Kind-Hearted Hunter." It was no wonder that bird-man Morgans always misunderstood him...
It was clearly always the others who started it! He was merely counterattacking and retaliating!
Pulling his thoughts back, Sherwin instinctively rubbed his eyes.
He finally understood why most of the people here—including Baccarat who was driving and the yet-unseen Tesoro—carried sunglasses with them at all times...
This environment filled with gold was luxurious, sure, but it was also way too damn bright!
Feeling his vision starting to blur, Sherwin reached into his waist pouch, pulled out a pair of sunglasses, and put them on.
Not a chance he'd be unprepared whether it was common items from Monster Hunter or the various bombs made by Klee Meow, flash bombs were always a factor. As the Hunter, how could Sherwin not have sunglasses ready?
And it wasn't just him Robin, Baby-5, as well as Shirahoshi and the Felynes in the other car, all put on their sunglasses one after another.
"Oh, my apologies. I was so anxious to take you to see Lord Tesoro that I forgot to provide you with sunglasses first," Baccarat quickly apologized as she noticed their movements.
"No matter, we have our own anyway."
Sherwin waved his hand, not at all bothered.
However, Baccarat breathed a sigh of relief as if she had survived a catastrophe, appearing truly worried that Sherwin would blame her...
After thinking about it for a moment, it was clear why she reacted this way. The already darkened Tesoro was an absolute tyrant, and Sherwin and his group were distinguished guests of the "Celestial Dragon level." It was only natural for Baccarat to be so cautious.
The Turtle-Rolls was still very fast. By the time Baccarat had finished most of her introduction to Gran Tesoro, they had arrived at the tallest building in the area—the world only eight-star hotel and the largest casino here: the Hotel Gran Tesoro.
Despite holding these titles, the design of the Hotel Gran Tesoro was somewhat difficult to describe...
The rest of the place was fine, but the hand shape at the very top with a single index finger pointing upward was truly hard to take seriously. Placed alongside the surrounding modern architecture, it looked quite out of place.
It felt like those bizarrely shaped buildings on Earth, such as the CCTV "Big Underpants," the Fu Lu Shou Hotel in Hebei, or the "Armstrong" building in Guangxi.
With such complaints in mind, Sherwin followed Baccarat into this building shaped like a "finger pointing to the heavens." Passing through the bustling lobby and riding an elevator still made of gold, they traveled all the way to the top floor of the elevator reach.
However, the elevator doors did not open. Instead, a guy with a giant head emerged from the wall.
"Surorororo..."
The big head let out a strange laugh and bowed to Sherwin.
"He is the head of security here, Mr. Tanaka, and also an ability user of the Paramecia-type Through-Through Fruit..."
Baccarat briefly introduced his identity, and then he led Sherwin and the others directly through the ceiling of the elevator, arriving at the actual top-floor room.
"Welcome, everyone."
Gild Tesoro, dressed in a pink suit, stepped forward with open arms and said enthusiastically, "Hunter Sherwin, I have wanted to meet you for a very long time... ever since you took down my dear ally, Donquixote Doflamingo."