Just as tension simmered across the plaza from the brief standoff between Reed and Akainu, a commotion rose from the direction of the harbor. Ships participating in the "Duo Tournament" were returning to Gold City one after another.
They had departed in high spirits, full of excitement and fanfare, but most of the returning vessels were battered. Crew members were injured, their faces etched with exhaustion and lingering fear.
Some even thought to themselves, "I actually survived such an overwhelming clash of Haki. I can't believe I made it out alive!"
In the world of pirates, survival alone was an extraordinary feat.
These crews had witnessed the chaos of top-tier powers firsthand. Dreams of fifty billion Berries might shine bright, but the harsh reality could crush most ambitions in an instant.
Many small pirate crews and guards from allied nations had charged in with enthusiasm, only to return torn and battered, too afraid even to glance at Reed on the throne. They understood now that this "game" was never meant for them. Yet, their feelings toward this king who risked danger but still encouraged them to fight were more complicated than they could articulate.
Dragon, a young crewmate, muttered, "I didn't do anything… yet fortune still fell upon me. I'm not lying."
A pirate captain from the West Blue, bolder than most, stared at the towering mound of fifty billion Berries in the center of the plaza. His cracked lips parted as he asked, a bit nervously, "Mr. Tesoro! How… how should we handle all this money? And Bullet… he… he hasn't…" His eyes darted toward Reed cautiously, unwilling to speak the word "dead."
All eyes instantly turned to Tesoro.
Indeed, the source of the spectacular chaos the fifty billion Berries and the treasure chest remained untouched. Reed's intervention and Bullet's intrusion had interrupted the scramble, leaving the final owner of the astronomical fortune a mystery. What would happen next?
Tesoro pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, maintaining a professional smile. He angled his body slightly to glance at Reed, who was busy snatching the last donut from Garp with casual indifference. Reed waved lightly, clearly signaling, "Handle it yourself."
Taking the cue, Tesoro inhaled deeply and stepped into the center of the plaza beside the golden mound. His voice echoed through golden loudspeakers, reaching the entire area. This voice no longer carried the fervor of a tournament announcement. Instead, it was calm, steady, and carried a sense of release.
Now, when asked a question, what skills did the captains demonstrate?
Indeed, the scene itself conveyed meaning a picture painted with empathy, charged with emotion. The audience teetered on the edge of a single, decisive choice.
"Everyone!" Tesoro spread his arms. "We will distribute these fifty billion Berries. We will not toy with anyone. But this treasure chest does not belong to you. Neither does the fifty billion Berries. This feast of wealth has shown all of us the might of power and the fragility of life and the cost of greed."
His gaze swept across the returning crews, scarred by battle, and over those in the plaza whose eyes had once shone with desire but now filled with fear.
"Although Mr. Bullet is no longer with us, the game was interrupted because of him. And because of him, we are forced to reflect." Tesoro's voice rose, imbued with the oratory authority of a seasoned leader. "Fifty billion Berries, a fortune capable of driving anyone mad! Must it be used to ignite more conflict and bloodshed?"
He paused, giving the crowd a moment to absorb his words.
"No!" He suddenly gestured toward the mound of gold. "My captain, Lord Reed, the Mist Sovereign, has silently approved my next decision! I, Gild Tesoro, will use these fifty billion Berries as seed capital to establish a new organization "
"The Golden Sprout Foundation!"
The name left many onlookers speechless.
"This money," Tesoro continued, his voice resolute, "will never be used to pursue dominion or fuel war! Instead, it will serve as the foundation for healing the scars of conflict. It will fund orphanages, relief centers, and provide support for all children across the seas who have lost their families to war, poverty, or maritime disaster."
"A place for them to shelter from storms! Food, clothing, and education! A chance to rebuild their homes and lives!"
"This is the true value of this immense fortune! This is the true meaning of 'gold' not to curse with greed, but to cultivate a new generation of strength and hope!"
The plaza fell into stunned silence.
This sudden, 180-degree turn astonished everyone. Fifty billion Berries had sparked a chaotic battle among the world's strongest powers enough to raise an army but it was being used to build orphanages?
Within seconds, whispers spread like wildfire.
Some sneered, dismissing it as a fantasy or a clever ploy by the Mist Sovereign and Tesoro to win hearts.
Others were quietly moved, touched by a deeper emotion.
Meanwhile, small pirates who had lost comrades in battle and those with inherently kind hearts displayed a complex mixture of reactions.
"Imagine struggling on the open seas, only to lose your life to forces beyond your control. There's no reason to complain we are all children of the ocean. When we set sail, we entrust our lives to the future. But we also lose certain responsibilities as husbands and fathers."
Tesoro paused, allowing his words to sink in.
"We will safeguard your ideals. Behind me stand fifty billion Berries. You might think we are all children of the sea, and perhaps these fifty billion Berries are the first gift my daughter offers to this great ocean."
"Princess Laddy!"
"Long live Princess Laddy!"
"I would die for the Mist Sovereign!"
"Long live the Mist Sovereign!"
In this pirate world, intelligence often fell short, and even King Reed's grandeur was limited, but everyone knew that this decision bore his silent approval.
Reed, sitting atop his throne, raised an eyebrow, glancing at Tesoro's retreating back. He shrugged indifferently and returned to his donut battle with Garp's clone, as if the fifty billion Berries and the last donut were of equal value in his eyes.
Vitt, standing near Reed's throne, allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to play at his lips. Ice-blue eyes flickered with approval.
Whitebeard looked at Tesoro, then at Reed, and erupted in laughter. "Gurururu!" He downed a huge gulp of sake. "Gurururu! Fascinating! Truly fascinating! May I visit your home?"
Tesoro's composure wavered. Who didn't know Whitebeard's charm worked wonders on orphans? He hadn't even finished raising them before Whitebeard would whisk them away again.
Garp muttered, "I have a say in this too."
Tesoro, standing beside his mountain of gold, had fulfilled his promise. He had hosted a feast that would go down in history, and its ending seemed to carry a deeper meaning than he had imagined. Reed had also kept his word, allowing Laddy to become a princess of the great seas.
Of course, Sengoku perceived the complexities behind it all. But for those children who had never been blessed by the ocean, this might have been a light that could change everything.