Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 264: Chapter 263: Tesoro

”Binks’ Sake,” the classic melody of the sea, was already spreading across the ocean when Roger was still a newbie.

Whether sailor or pirate, those who sail the sea would hum a line or two, and in the Hundred Beasts Pirates, many know this song.

The creator of the melody is unknown, but the song has been passed down for a long time.

However, few sailors or pirates come here, even if he sang well, it was difficult to resonate with people, so the money he received wasn’t much.

Yamato gave him a 5000 Belly bill, which was almost his biggest gain today. Although Yamato knew she should give some change, it was the smallest denomination bill she had on her.

Any less would be some 100 Belly coins, which she felt were not appropriate to give.

There are few places in Wano Kuni where she needs to spend money, apart from clearing Kojiro’s inventory when collecting bottle caps last time, her little treasury had basically remained untouched.

The accumulated sum is something many people can’t earn in a lifetime, so 5000 Belly was just pocket change to her.

The singer didn’t stop, he merely gave her a bow. Judging by the proficiency of his movement, he often did this.

The sky grew darker, and although the lighting in Soap Bubble Park had already lit up, there were fewer and fewer people in the park. The people in front of the singer would come and go, now those listening had gradually left, except for Yamato and her group who continued to sit in front.

”Little girl, do you really enjoy my singing?”

”It’s very nice, you sing wonderfully, better than Uncle Queen.”

”Nice... that’s really a good review... but sorry little girl, today’s performance is over, if you want to listen, you’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

According to reason, with Yamato being like a patron, he should sing a little longer, but he had work during the day. If absent, his wages would be deducted. In preparation for tomorrow’s work, he needed to rest.

However, he looked at his old watch again and found it was still early. By working hard all day, he could earn about 10,000 Belly, facing such a patron, ending the show directly seemed inappropriate.

”Let’s consider this a special performance prepared for you, is there a song you want to hear?”

He needed the money, if Yamato was happy, giving him some extra reward would be best. He had no ill intentions, though desperate for money, facing a child with huge sums, he chose to use labor to earn money.

This was his promise to others; his name is Gild Tesoro, who in the future will control a massive amount of money as the Golden Emperor, but right now, he’s still a young man working for his ideals.

”You can sing whichever song you are best at.”

”The one I’m best at... it should be this one.”

Adjusting the guitar strings, Tesoro began to sing the song he was most familiar with, but Yamato’s expression was somewhat off, the Power of the Evergreen allowed her to communicate freely with Pokemons, but the power it brought was much more.

Under the influence of the Power of the Evergreen, she became more sensitive to others’ emotions, and song is a bridge to convey emotions, she heard something different from it.

”Big brother, you seem to have concerns, are you thinking about someone?”

During his days of singing for money, many had given him money, but those like Yamato who listened to the end and said his singing was good were few.

But only one could hear his thoughts - Stella, she was the root why he was earnestly making money.

”That’s quite a long story, do you want to hear it?”

Yamato’s behavior of detecting his concerns seemed to touch him deeply; this was his second time narrating his tale to others, and the listeners were a group of children.

years ago, he was born into a not-so-good family; his father was a gambling addict, and his mother was a drunkard, one was addicted to gambling, the other to alcohol.

A drunk gambler, naturally, such a family was very poor. Because of poverty, he was ostracized by peers, one day he passed by a traveling opera house, the singing inside attracted him, being able to enter and watch the show became his initial dream.

He wanted to watch the performance, and similarly wanted to be as eye-catching as the stars on stage.

At 12 years old, his gambling-addicted father fell ill and died. Although his father liked to gamble, he was the main income source, and this worsened the already poor family’s situation.

After that, his mother continued to drink heavily every day and started to hate Tesoro’s singing, then strictly prohibited him from continuing to sing. In such an environment, the 12-year-old Tesoro fled that home.

However, at 12, he couldn’t sustain himself, hence began to steal. Through stolen money, he met many people and thought he made friends.

Following a group of dishonest friends, he naturally learned nothing good and just like his father, he too picked up the gambling habit.

Nine out of ten bets lost, the one win was likely bait placed by others, immersing deep in gambling, Tesoro almost walked the path of his father.

At 16, he lost everything in the casino, where human trafficking was common, so he was caught by traffickers inside, intending to sell him.

At this time, friends in his mind all disregarded him, no one cared about his fate. Knowing being caught would lead to dire consequences, he struggled desperately.

Although he was beaten harshly, he managed to escape. In his panicked escape, he didn’t watch the road and ran directly into the human trafficking store, where he met his lifelong savior - Stella.

She was a woman caught as a slave, although treated as merchandise in an iron cage, she never gave up her thirst for life.

Though separated by the cage, they chatted happily, Tesoro sang Stella a song, receiving his first praise from someone.

Afterwards, he vowed to return freedom to Stella, hence began to earn money tirelessly.

During the day, he works at Shampodi’s shipyard because that’s where the wages are the highest, at night he comes here to sing for money, but he never engaged in any illegal activities again.

This was his promise to Stella; he must earn money through legal means.

Stella was a high-priced ”commodity” in the human trafficking store, which for Tesoro was both fortunate and unfortunate.

The high price meant Stella wouldn’t be easily bought, yet similarly, it was exceedingly difficult to accumulate enough money.

Nearly three years later, he worked tirelessly day and night, saving every Belly by living frugally, now he is very close to his goal.