The next day, Tesoro worked at the shipyard with excitement. Despite having a few bruises on his face, his enthusiasm remained high and even his coworkers didn’t understand why he was so happy.
Anyways, it doesn’t matter since they weren’t familiar with each other. Past experiences have taught him a lesson: money can buy friends, and it can also make one lose friends. Moreover, he was working hard to save money.
He never attended social gatherings or parties with his coworkers. Given this, he didn’t have much attachment to them.
In the evening, when he received his wages from the boss, he immediately headed to 1st Mangrove Tree. This is where the human auction is held, as well as it being the location of the slave market.
Meanwhile, in a cage, a blonde woman with a metal collar around her neck gazed into the distance. She was Stella, Tesoro’s biggest emotional support. And she was waiting for Tesoro.
Because he had to make money, Tesoro only had limited time. However, every few days, he would come to see Stella at this place, sharing his daily experiences and hearing hers, both confiding in each other.
“Stella! I’ve saved enough money!”
Tesoro rushed over, and before he even caught his breath, he eagerly shared the good news to Stella.
“Tomorrow, as soon as this place opens up, I can grant you freedom!”
“What happened to your face?” Upon hearing that Tesoro had saved enough money, Stella was excited, but she was more concerned about why Tesoro was injured.
“It’s nothing. Got into a scuffle with a slave trader. I met a particularly interesting girl, let me tell you.”
Tesoro recounted his encounter with Yamato, but he omitted the danger they faced. Then, he stealthily opened his bulging clothes to reveal the stash of Berries hidden inside.
Six million Berries – that was Stella’s price, and also the result of Tesoro’s three years of hard work. He had been doing heavy labor, while ensuring that he protected his body while earning money, for if he were to collapse, it would be all over.
So, over these three years, even though he had some expenses, he managed to save most of it this way.
“She’s a good girl. You better thank her properly in the future.”
“Umm, once we’ve paid off the debt, let’s head to the West Blue. I heard there’s an island there……”
The lights of the human shop illuminated the area, while Stella and Tesoro stayed up all night, envisioning their future. However, when the next day arrived, the shop’s owner was late.
Today was the day of the auction, and he went there to prepare some things. The moment he returned, Tesoro immediately rushed over to him.
“I want to buy her!”
Tesoro’s eyes were bloodshot, his fingers trembling slightly as he pointed at Stella, his voice filled with excitement, and then he immediately handed over the six million Berries.
“You really saved up enough, huh?”
The shop’s owner looked at Tesoro in disbelief. He never expected this man to save up that much. He often saw Tesoro chatting with Stella near his shop, so he knew of his existence.
He had thought Tesoro was just a delusional loser, but he actually managed to accomplish it.
“Too bad. If you had come a few days earlier, it wouldn’t be so troublesome. Seize him!” After receiving the money, the owner however suddenly turned hostile, ordering his men to capture Tesoro.
“What are you doing?!”
“What am I doing? You stole my money, of course, I’ll have you apprehended.”
“What nonsense! That’s the money I saved up over three years, you ba*tard!”
Tesoro angrily tried to rush forward, but he was no match for the two bodyguards. They pushed him to the ground.
The reason just now was meant for others to hear. Even though this was a lawless zone, he as the owner still needed to provide some reason for capturing someone; otherwise, his business would suffer.
Then, he squatted down and said to Tesoro, “Of course, I know you saved up money for three years. I dared to do this precisely because you’re someone without money or influence. It’s a shame, though. Had you come half a month earlier, I would have sold her to you. But she’s already been reserved by a Celestial Dragon.”
Stella is a very special commodity here, but no one would buy a woman for 6 million Berry, even if they are as beautiful and talented as her.
By placing Stella outside and setting such a price, he intended to prevent her from being easily purchased. This was his advertisement, giving outsiders the impression that he had a variety of high-end goods.
Ordinary people couldn’t afford that sum, and those who could wouldn’t want to be such a spendthrift and foolish. Unexpectedly, he encountered someone as eccentric as Tesoro.
As he said, if it were a usual time, he would have sold Stella to Tesoro. He still intended to maintain his integrity. Unfortunately, not long ago, an attendant of the Celestial Dragon came and reserved Stella, and said that they would come to collect her next month.
The mentioned Celestial Dragon has a penchant for personally collecting goods, but currently, he doesn’t have the time to come here. In this situation, he’s left with no choice. He cannot risk defying a Celestial Dragon.
As for why he was having Tesoro captured, it was because he couldn’t bear to part with the six million Berries.
“You ba*tard! You damn ba*tard!”
Tesoro struggled to get up, but he was powerless against the strength of the two people.
“Don’t resist, little brat. Who told you to not be a World Noble? Accept your fate.”
If only he had more money, a higher status, more power. The scenes from yesterday played through his mind. Whether it was Yamato effortlessly producing hundreds of thousands of Berries or her skillfully knocking down enemies with a single strike, he couldn’t forget it.
Money, power, status – he desired for things that didn’t belong to him, but currently he was powerless.
“Put the collar on him.” His subordinates took out a bomb collar, planning to put it around Tesoro’s neck. Tesoro tried to resist, but it was in vain.
“Damn it.”
“Tesoro! What are you guys doing?!” Stella, trapped in the iron cage, was equally bewildered by the situation. However, her captivity left her powerless; she had no idea that she had already been reserved by someone.
“Let go of him!!”
Just then, a sharp roar echoed from the side. Yamato, her face contorted with anger, was glaring at this scene.
Today was the day the auction was going to start, so naturally, Yamato and others had come here, and they had just happened to witness this scene.
Naturally, he wouldn’t listen to a child’s words. However, the Beasts Pirates seemed to be a big group, so he couldn’t treat them like he did Tesoro.
Nonetheless, the fact that he could establish a slave market at the 1st Mangrove Tree meant he had someone backing him, so he didn’t feel afraid.
“What are we doing? How’s catching a thief any of your business? Kids should mind their own business.”
“He’s not a thief! He still owes me a portion of that money I lent him!”
“So, just because you say you lent it, it becomes yours? Did you write your name on the money?” The slave market’s owner looked disdainful. He had no intention of spitting out the money he had come into possession. However, Yamato’s response caught him off guard.
“I did! If you don’t believe me, take the money out. There are thirty bills with my name on them!”
In order to establish ownership of her New Year’s money, Yamato had her Smeargle mark it with a unique design. The slave market’s owner hadn’t expected this trick and was momentarily at a loss for words.
However, he suddenly realized one thing – why was he arguing with a brat?
“Whether he’s a thief or not, that’s not for you to decide. I have the say here. Now go home.”
The commotion here drew the attention of many security personnel from the slave market. Unlike mere slave traders, they were well-equipped with armor and weapons, clearly not easy opponents. Faced with them, Yamato knew she was not their match.
“Dad, can you help me?”
“You can help others within your capabilities. But when you try to do something beyond your abilities, it can cause trouble for others. Unless you have a valid reason, I won’t help you.”
Yamato is slightly naive, and while he didn’t mind Yamato being a good person, there needed to be a limit. One couldn’t harm their own friends and family for the sake of others without any reason.
“Well, he owes me three hundred thousand. If he’s taken away like this, I won’t be able to get the money back.”
“Your reason is so-so but barely acceptable. Shayna, bring him over.”
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