One Piece: I'm not Roger

The two of them stared into each other's eyes as if they were lovers deeply attached to one another. In reality, both clearly understood their relationship had not reached that stage.

Whether either of them truly trusted the other was another matter entirely.

Their connection was built on mutual benefit mixed with genuine attraction. Neither of them was naïve enough to ignore that fact.

Baccarat naturally wrapped herself around Aether's arm before asking softly,

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

Aether's expression remained relaxed.

"You don't need to do much. Just investigate all of Tesoro's assets and gather the details for me. Leave everything else to me."

Then he narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Also, do you know where Tesoro keeps the control key?"

Baccarat shook her head immediately.

"I don't know. He would never reveal the location of something that important to me. If I had to guess, it's probably inside his room."

"I see..."

It seemed Carina's side would still determine whether tonight went smoothly.

Before Aether could continue speaking, a deafening explosion erupted from below.

Boom!

The terrifying shockwave spread through the building, instantly shattering countless windows throughout the casino.

The sudden turn of events made both Aether and Baccarat look outside simultaneously.

Then a cold female voice echoed across Gran Tesoro.

Aether recognized it immediately.

It was Momousagi.

"Tesoro ordered his subordinate Baccarat to attack the Celestial Dragons. Everyone unrelated to Tesoro is to evacuate Gran Tesoro immediately. The World Government will punish those responsible for assaulting the Celestial Dragons."

The announcement had barely ended when a massive sword slash tore through the air.

A huge section of the casino building was sliced apart instantly.

Tesoro's furious roar exploded across the city shortly afterward.

"Momousagi, don't push your luck! I never ordered anyone to attack the Celestial Dragons. Even if Baccarat really did it, that would be her personal decision. Gran Tesoro cooperates with the World Government!"

Momousagi's cold voice answered immediately.

"Save your excuses for Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

Tesoro's anger rose further.

"This is Gran Tesoro, my territory, not Marine Headquarters!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The conversation ended there.

Violent explosions and intense battle sounds erupted continuously throughout the city as the entire structure shook violently.

Outside the shattered windows, enormous amounts of gold surged through the air like giant waves. Soon, golden rain began pouring across the city.

Tesoro had clearly stopped holding back.

Aether slowly turned his gaze toward Baccarat.

His expression became extremely strange.

This woman had actually been accused of attacking the Celestial Dragons?

Could she have somehow been influenced by his behavior back at Sabaody Archipelago?

Baccarat instantly noticed his suspicious stare and hurriedly defended herself.

"I didn't attack the Celestial Dragons! Don't tell me even you believe that nonsense?"

Aether shook his head calmly.

"Of course not. You don't have the guts to do something like that. If you did, you wouldn't have acted so carefully back at Sabaody. You would've already become a notorious pirate by now."

Then his expression became slightly more serious.

"Since things have already escalated this far, go handle your side of the plan."

Baccarat hesitated briefly before nodding.

She immediately headed toward the control room.

At the very least, she needed to eliminate the loyalists still completely devoted to Tesoro.

Once Tesoro openly clashed with the Marines, his downfall had already become inevitable in her eyes.

Even if he somehow managed to survive against Momousagi, there was still Aether lurking in the shadows.

The man who had stood proudly at the top of Gran Tesoro just an hour ago had now become prey surrounded by enemies.

Meanwhile, she had already stepped onto the winning side.

After all, that man beside her had already entered the deepest part of her life.

Not long after Baccarat left, Aether suddenly heard an unusual sound nearby.

His Observation Haki spread outward instantly.

Soon, he discovered a figure moving nervously through the walls while attempting to escape.

The person had clearly overheard the conversation between him and Baccarat.

Aether did not bother chasing immediately.

Instead, he casually flicked his fingers.

A chain suddenly shot through the air like a living serpent before piercing directly through space itself.

The next moment, Aether yanked backward violently.

A screaming figure was dragged out from inside the wall before crashing heavily onto the ground.

The strange man was completely bound by chains.

Seeing escape was impossible, he immediately panicked.

"I don't know anything! Please let me go!"

Aether looked down at him speechlessly.

That reaction alone already confirmed everything.

He recognized the man immediately.

Mr. Tanaka.

One of Gran Tesoro's guards and the user of the Nuke Nuke no Mi.

No wonder the man could secretly eavesdrop without being discovered so easily.

Truthfully, the Devil Fruit itself possessed decent utility.

Unfortunately, according to Baccarat, Tanaka was completely loyal to Tesoro and enjoyed tormenting ordinary civilians for fun.

Aether had no interest in wasting time on someone like that.

Without hesitation, he drew Ace.

A sharp flash of sword light swept across the corridor.

The next second, Tanaka's grotesque head rolled across the floor.

His terrified expression remained frozen permanently.

Several notification windows immediately appeared before Aether.

Level 96.

After several days of nonstop accumulation, he had unknowingly advanced once again.

More than four million EXP had already been gathered from recent events, especially after digesting the results of his battle against the Yonko-level monsters earlier.

That strength increase gave him even more confidence in taking over Gran Tesoro tonight.

After all, the people he originally expected to become annoying had already begun fighting one another.

Aether soon found a comfortable location overlooking the battlefield.

The moment he observed the battlefield below, he noticed something interesting.

Several CP0 agents were escorting two terrified Celestial Dragons away from the battlefield.

Their panicked appearances looked utterly pathetic.

Clearly, protecting them was Momousagi's true mission tonight.

A faint killing intent flashed through Aether's eyes the moment he saw them.

Still, he suppressed the urge.

"Now isn't the right time."

Besides, those pigs might not necessarily escape safely anyway.

Aether had already arranged for a fleet to remain on standby near the closest island.

Ten pirate ships.

A force powerful enough to intercept almost anyone.

Leading them was Vista, the Flower Sword of the Whitebeard Pirates.

If those Celestial Dragons encountered that fleet, escaping alive would not be easy.

Still, the fact someone had disguised themselves as Baccarat to attack the Celestial Dragons made Aether think carefully.

There were only a few possible explanations.

Either one of Tesoro's enemies deliberately framed him...

Or the World Government had finally decided Tesoro had grown too wealthy and useful to keep alive.

Compared to the first explanation, Aether found the second far more believable.

Meanwhile, the battle below grew increasingly intense.

Massive streams of gold transformed into giant tentacles that continuously attacked Momousagi from every direction.

Unfortunately, the elegant swordswoman cut through them effortlessly.

Tesoro's overwhelming gold manipulation looked flashy, but against someone of Momousagi's level, it was far from enough.

Elsewhere, the other Admiral Candidate, Tokikake, was currently being stalled by a giant muscular man wearing golden armor.

Tesoro's strongest subordinate.

Dice.

A brutal fighter with masochistic tendencies.

Dice possessed extremely powerful Armament Haki capable of covering his entire body, and his overall strength was already close to Gecko Moria's level.

Unfortunately for him, the gap between him and Tokikake remained enormous.

Even though he barely managed to delay the Marine officer temporarily, his body was already covered in wounds.

It was obvious he would not last much longer.

Then suddenly, an enormous quantity of gold surged toward Tesoro himself.

The gold rapidly fused together before transforming into a gigantic golden titan towering above the city.

The enormous metallic figure immediately reminded Aether of legendary giants.

Looking at the massive construct, Aether suddenly thought about both Tesoro and Douglas Bullet.

Their Devil Fruit abilities truly looked ridiculous sometimes.

Aether clicked his tongue enviously.

"I really want to pilot a Gundam too."

===

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