None of them were yet aware that the Celestial Dragons had arrived.
People poured into the auction hall one after another, filling the venue until nearly every seat was taken. The air hummed with anticipation. Two massive red curtains concealed the stage, teasing the crowd's curiosity.
The lights dimmed, leaving the hall cloaked in a movie-theater darkness. Somewhere in the shadows, a microphone crackled with the faint sound of someone testing the equipment.
Then, with a resounding boom, the lights flared to life—bright, colorful, dazzling. The red curtains swept open to reveal a man in a blue suit standing beneath the spotlight. Behind him stood a gold-rimmed table where the auction items would be displayed.
Teach leaned back slightly, nodding to himself. Now this, he thought, is what a proper auction looks like.
His only other experiences had been underground auctions in the black market—crude affairs where things started without flair or formality. This was different: polished, theatrical, and confident.
The host, holding a gleaming silver microphone, scanned the crowd with an inviting smile.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he announced, spreading his arms with exuberant charm. "Welcome to tonight's grand auction! I'm your old friend—Kyle!"
His booming voice carried warmth and energy, immediately sweeping up the audience's mood.
"Kyle!" several familiar voices cheered from the seats.
One rather robust noblewoman even stood up and called out, "Kyle, I love you! Come with me, I'll support you for life!"
A ripple of laughter and awkward glances followed. People quickly looked away, though a few pitied the poor host for having such a bold admirer.
Kyle, however, took it all in stride. "Haha, thank you, my lady! And of course, to our new friends—welcome as well. I hope everyone enjoys a splendid evening with me!"
His tone and choice of words immediately closed the distance between him and the bidders. It was easy to see why Kyle was so popular. Handsome, charming, and impeccably dressed, his twin mustaches and gentlemanly air made him look like someone born to stand under the spotlight.
"And now," Kyle continued, "for our very first item: a sapphire pearl the size of a fist! This magnificent gem once adorned the scepter of the King of the Oban Kingdom—a nation of the North Sea destroyed one hundred and fifty years ago."
He lifted the pearl for all to see. It glittered under the stage lights, a deep ocean blue that seemed almost alive.
"This treasure, known as the Heart of the Kingdom, is said to bring good fortune. When the king's scepter vanished during a rebellion, the kingdom began to decline and was eventually overthrown."
Kyle's storytelling was masterful. Whether his tale was true or not hardly mattered; every eye in the room was fixed on that gem.
Collectors, nobles, and royalty all leaned forward, captivated.
"Starting bid: one million Berries! Do I hear—"
"Five million!" a wealthy man shouted, cutting him off. Confidence oozed from his tone.
"Six million," came a cool, disdainful voice from another side of the room. A noble looked down his nose at the wealthy man, eyes full of contempt as if to say, A commoner dares compete with me?
The insult hit home. Faces turned, whispers spread, and the two men began a silent duel of pride.
Soon, their bids rose in rapid succession—five million, ten million, fifteen—neither willing to yield before so many witnesses.
Teach smirked faintly. Ah, the pride of nobles and merchants—nothing empties wallets faster than ego.
The hall buzzed with excitement. Bidding wars like this were a spectacle in themselves, and the audience eagerly watched the drama unfold. Auctions often relied on such heated competition, where pride and impulse inflated prices far beyond true worth.
For the auction house, this was perfect business. With nearly a hundred items on tonight's list, the profits would be astronomical. The higher the bids, the fatter the commission.
Kyle's bright smile never wavered. He called out every bid loudly—each time emphasizing the bidder's name—fanning the rivalry's flames even higher.
Finally, after a fierce back-and-forth, the pearl sold for an astounding twenty-two million Berries.
The wealthy man raised his chin proudly, his face flushed with victory. The noble sat rigid, trembling with rage beneath his polished composure. If it weren't for his need to maintain dignity, he might have attacked the man on the spot.
But the auction house allowed no such disorder. Its reputation—and rumored power—ensured even nobles behaved.
In truth, the Heart of the Kingdom was worth no more than fifteen million, even with its history. Yet between the charged atmosphere and Kyle's smooth manipulation, the price had soared sky-high.
That host's no amateur, Teach thought with a grin. He could sell seawater to a fish.
Item after item followed: rare artifacts, priceless relics, jeweled crowns. One particularly exquisite crown—said to belong to a legendary queen from three centuries ago—sold for over a billion Berries.
According to ancient records, only four women had ever worn it, each hailed as the most beautiful of her age. The hall was spellbound, and even Teach found himself admiring its craftsmanship.
Beautiful, aye… even compared to the treasures of the New World.
After several rounds of noble indulgence, the tone of the auction shifted. The next batch was clearly aimed at the more dangerous crowd.
"This next item," Kyle announced with flair, "is the famous blade Hawk Song! One of the fifty finest swords in the world. When drawn, its edge sings like a hawk's cry! A true treasure for any swordsman. Starting bid: one million Berries!"
He drew the blade partway from its sheath. A cold, deadly gleam flashed—sharp enough to cut the air itself.
Murmurs rippled through the room. Swordsmen's eyes gleamed.
"Two million!"
"Four million!"
The bidding exploded immediately. This was what many had come for.
A wealthy collector raised his hand hesitantly, tempted by the sword's beauty—but the murderous glares that met his bid made his blood run cold. The intent in those eyes belonged to men who killed for steel.
He lowered his hand quickly. No sword's worth dying over.
The fight continued between pirates, bounty hunters, and lone swordsmen. The tension was thick enough to cut.
Finally, Hawk Song sold for thirty-one million Berries to a pirate with a bounty of over one hundred million. The man's grin was wicked, daring anyone to challenge him afterward.
Teach could almost taste the coming bloodshed. Many of these swords would change hands again before dawn.
Kyle, ever the professional, smoothed over the crackling tension with a laugh. "No need to fight, everyone—there are two more famous blades to come!"
The crowd relaxed slightly as another sword was brought out. The host's skill kept the night's energy high, his confidence unwavering as bids climbed higher than even he had anticipated.
His commission would be generous tonight.
"Next," Kyle said, "a truly priceless treasure—a century-old Blood Ginseng! Its medicinal value is unparalleled. It restores vitality and replenishes blood, even said to extend one's lifespan. Starting bid: ten million Berries!"
The audience stirred. Gasps spread through the hall. Even seasoned nobles leaned forward, greed burning in their eyes.
Rumors of Blood Ginseng's effects were well-known: stories of dying lords revived for another year of power and pleasure. To the wealthy and aging, it was more precious than gold.
Teach chuckled as he watched nobles and kings grow feverish over the herb.
Mostima leaned toward him, voice low. "Teach, aren't you tempted to bid?"
Teach shook his head. "Nah. Blood Ginseng's only useful for ordinary folk. For us? Nothing but fancy salad unless it's a thousand-year root."
Mostima nodded in understanding, though his gaze lingered on the glowing crimson plant as the price soared past fifty million.
The bids came faster and louder—
"Fifty million!"
"Fifty-one!"
"Sixty!"
The competition was even fiercer than for the crown earlier. Greed, desperation, and vanity all mixed into a single roaring storm of voices.
Then—
BOOM!
The main doors burst open with a thunderous crash.
The noise silenced the hall instantly. Heads whipped around. The lights reflected off something white—gleaming helmets, strange suits.
Eyes widened. Pupils constricted.
Celestial Dragons.