After entering the high-end district, the prosperity and beauty of Gran Tesoro were fully revealed before their eyes.
It had to be said—nowhere else in the world could compare to the splendor and extravagance of this place.
Reiju and Bonnie were awestruck the entire way, while Gion remained composed, having already visited before.
By now, night had fallen, and under the glow of countless lights, Gran Tesoro was at its most breathtaking.
Soon, Elior led Gion and the others into an opulent, first-class restaurant.
When Elior stepped inside, his eyes brightened slightly—it reminded him of the modern restaurants from his previous life.
Of course, it was only a faint resemblance. Elior had seen far too much in his lifetime to be easily shaken.
For the women, however, it was a joyous occasion. Dining out with Elior like this was rare.
Normally, they bickered out of jealousy, but tonight, with Gion present, Reiju and Bonnie chose harmony. They even called her "Sister" out of respect for her age, maturity, and overwhelming strength compared to theirs.
The food was served quickly—lavish, expensive dishes in abundance.
While Elior and the women enjoyed their meal, Baccarat, who had been ordered to greet him, was scouring the city in search of them.
Gran Tesoro had surveillance everywhere, but even here, not every corner was covered. Restaurants, for example, were off-limits.
So Baccarat had to rely on guesswork and luck.
By the time she finally found Elior, more than an hour had passed. On the other side, Tezoro was growing irritated—he hadn't expected Baccarat to take this long.
Meanwhile, Elior and his group had already finished their meal and stepped out of the restaurant.
The next step was obvious: find somewhere to stay for the night.
The women knew full well what awaited them that evening.
At last, Baccarat spotted Elior and the three beauties beside him. Their stunning appearance immediately caught her attention.
As women who had shared such intimacy with Elior, their beauty was unparalleled—elevated beyond what it once was, their confidence and aura sharpened.
And among them, Gion stood out most of all. A woman with the power of a great swordsman and even a candidate for admiral, her very presence radiated authority.
Yet she carried herself humbly, dressed in casual clothing. Baccarat didn't even realize she was a Marine officer.
Originally, Baccarat had planned to charm Elior with her looks. But upon seeing the three women at his side—each more dazzling than her—she felt utterly defeated.
"Lord Elior, my master… Tezoro wishes to invite you as his guest. Would you be willing to—"
She had nearly called him "Lord Tezoro," but after already addressing Elior as "Lord," she dared not risk offending him by putting the two on equal footing.
But before she could even finish, Elior cut her off.
"Tomorrow. Tonight, I'm tired."
Without another glance, he brushed past her with the three women.
"Uh…"
Baccarat froze in disbelief. Normally, such rejection would have infuriated her. But this wasn't just anyone—this was a Yonko, the most powerful being in the New World!
No amount of courage could drive her to anger here.
She considered following, but wisely thought better of it.
In the end, she could only swallow her pride and return to Tezoro with the news.
As for Elior, he had come to Gran Tesoro planning to stay for several days.
Checking into a luxury hotel in the high-end district, he settled in with the women. The rooms were extravagant, befitting the wealthiest ship in the world.
That night was long—and sleepless.
The next morning, Elior rose early. Leaving the still-sleeping women behind, he set out.
This time, he was heading straight for Tezoro.
On the other side, Baccarat had already been waiting since dawn.
Tezoro had been clear: Elior had to be treated with the utmost respect.
If the Yonko were displeased, Gran Tesoro itself could be destroyed.
Having spent years navigating the treacherous waters of the New World, Tezoro understood all too well the terror of those few monstrous figures.
At the very least, he needed to welcome Elior properly—and avoid provoking him at all costs.