Raising Legends in Roger’s Shadow

Chapter 303 303: The Golden City Is the Center of the World

When Tesoro announced the creation of the Golden Sprout Foundation, the carnival in the Golden City reached an unprecedented climax.

Cheers, clinking glasses, and music roared through the air. Golden petals poured down from the dome like a storm of glittering rain.

"To Princess Ladi! To the Golden Sprout! Cheers!"

"Long live the Mist Sovereign! Long live Lord Tesoro!"

"I object! That money should be distributed to everyone…"

Some people were born to fish in troubled waters. One of them had barely finished speaking when he suddenly collapsed into his own shadow. When he came back out, his face was pale, but his expression had changed completely.

"Long live the Mist Sovereign! Long live Lord Tesoro!"

Whether pirates, marines, kings, or ordinary civilians, everyone raised their glasses in celebration. For this brief moment, it felt as if the impossible scene had infected them all. Old grudges and political stances were temporarily forgotten as everyone immersed themselves in the unprecedented feast and carnival.

Of course, that was only the ideal surface.

Human nature is far more complicated.

Several guards belonging to particularly greedy allied kings took advantage of the revelry and the slightly loosened security. Madness flickered in their eyes as they glanced toward a storage area where Tesoro had hidden priceless treasures. Inside were centuries old wines and rare artifacts from Fish-Man Island, delicacies originally prepared for the banquet but not yet opened.

Their king had secretly issued orders before the retreat.

Take whatever you can.

"You. Go quietly and grab something. Not too much. A few hundred million Berries will do."

"Yes, sir."

"Move, Jiro!"

People die for wealth just as birds die for food. It is no joke.

Meanwhile, two remaining pirate crews with bounties exceeding one hundred million Berries made an even more ridiculous decision. Confident in their strength, they set their sights on the golden table beside Reed's throne, where delicate desserts were neatly arranged.

In their minds, obtaining food personally enjoyed by the Mist Sovereign would be like securing a celebrity endorsement. Even a single piece of pastry would give them bragging rights in the New World for a lifetime. Perhaps they might even gain a trace of the Emperor's luck.

But this was not ordinary dessert.

This was food eaten by Reed, the Mist Sovereign.

Their actions were not subtle. Their plan was reckless and foolish. If they had simply asked, Reed might not have cared. But sneaking around like thieves crossed a line.

Some boundaries could never be crossed.

They forgot one very important fact.

This was the Golden City.

This was the absolute domain of Gild Tesoro.

And above all, it existed under the gaze of the Mist Sovereign.

Just as their hands were about to touch the wine barrels.

Just as their fingers nearly reached the golden table.

A faint vibration passed through the air.

It sounded like the quiet humming of metal.

The guards from the North Sea and the pirates froze instantly.

Without realizing it, their bodies had already been wrapped in an impossibly thin but lethal golden film.

Tesoro did not even turn around. He continued smiling while clinking glasses with King Neptune. With the hand holding his wine glass, he casually flicked his index finger.

The next moment came a series of sharp cracks.

The golden coated guards and pirates instantly disassembled into countless tiny cubes of gold, each one no larger than a fingernail. The cubes scattered across the ground, rolled away, and quietly disappeared.

There were no screams. No struggle.

Few people even noticed.

Only a few nearby envoys from allied nations happened to glimpse the scene. Their faces turned deathly pale.

"My goodness… I think I just saw something unbelievable."

They quickly looked around, forcing smiles.

"Nothing happened. Absolutely nothing happened. I'm still alive. I'm still alive."

The group attempting to approach Reed's table fared no better.

Their steps suddenly stopped.

They found themselves trapped within a blooming field of icy blue roses.

Brilliant blue petals quietly blossomed beneath their feet. A wave of freezing cold instantly locked their legs in place, sending stabbing pain shooting through their nerves.

Vitt stood beside the throne and lightly handed a strawberry decorated cake to Princess Shirahoshi, who was watching eagerly. She did not even glance at the frozen pirates. Instead, she gently flicked her fingertips.

Several pale blue petals drifted down and landed softly on the pirates' foreheads.

In an instant their eyes turned vacant.

They began to grin foolishly, turned around, and jumped into the celebrating crowd. Soon they were performing absurd dances, laughing and spinning as if they had forgotten their original purpose completely, lost in a strange illusion of happiness.

Blind followers.

Reed liked blind followers.

No wonder incompetent rulers loved loyal subjects who never questioned them. Reed liked them too. A person's position determines their perspective.

"Hmph. Useless trash."

Doflamingo glanced at the dancing pirates as the thin threads beside him quietly retracted. If Vitt had reacted even a moment slower, those threads would already have strangled the fools.

Dracule Mihawk silently slid the black blade Yoru back into its sheath after it had moved only an inch. He calmly took a sip of wine.

Nearby, Red-Haired Shanks burst into laughter and wrapped an arm around Buggy's shoulders.

"HAHAHA! Buggy, look at that! Their dancing is even worse than yours!"

"Nonsense! My performances are elegant art! Art! Do you understand?!"

All potential conflicts disappeared without a trace.

There were still people who disagreed with Tesoro's decision and attempted to stir trouble. Their argument was simple.

"No, no, the money must be shared! Even witnesses deserve a portion!"

Usually, those people vanished before they could finish speaking.

As for the few who remained, they were treated with remarkable humanitarian care. Other than a few hired troublemakers planted by Tesoro for appearances, no one dared object again.

Reed leaned lazily against his throne the entire time, as if unaware of everything happening around him. Moments earlier he had used a hand made of blood mist to snatch a large piece of roasted meat from Ace. He now waved it proudly.

"I'm telling you, you cannot dip donuts into meat gravy. That is culinary heresy," Reed argued with Garp.

"This old man is brave enough to try anything," Garp replied. "What if it tastes amazing? Reed, move aside and give me back that pot of stew."

"I will never allow food to be wasted!"

Reed grabbed the pot from Garp and glanced around the plaza.

Like an emperor surveying his territory, ensuring not a single grain of dust dared defy his will.

Satisfied, he returned to his heated academic debate with Garp about whether donuts should be dipped into meat stew.

The atmosphere of the banquet did not weaken in the slightest. Instead, the silent displays of power followed by ridiculous comedy only made the celebration wilder and louder.

Everyone understood one thing clearly.

As long as they followed the rules set by Reed, they were completely safe.

People sang, danced, and drank. They reveled in the ultimate peace and joy created by absolute power, a power paved with fifty billion Berries and overwhelming charisma.

At this moment, the Golden City was the center of the world.

And seated at the highest point, the Mist Sovereign Reed was the sole master of this grand carnival.