The screams gradually faded.
The guards in the auction hall had all been dealt with.
Buggy, Cabaji, Mohji, and Marianne stood on either side of Yuuki—some excited, some calm, some cold.
The thick scent of blood in the air kept every guest seated in their places, not daring to move.
For a moment—
the entire auction hall fell into an eerie silence.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
Yuuki held the microphone to his lips, smiling gently.
"I am the captain of the Magic Eye Pirates—a mage. You may also think of me as a magician."
He paused slightly, then spoke with mild apology.
"My apologies for interrupting your enjoyment of this Fish-Man auction."
"It's just that I happen to have an item of my own to auction. If I went through the usual process, it would take far too long."
"So, I decided to join in directly… and perhaps raise some funds for our journey while I'm at it."
Across the world—
countless people stared at the broadcast.
Some were confused.
Some were wary.
Some felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
That's it?
After causing a worldwide broadcast… just to auction something?
Many felt like they were being toyed with.
New World — Wano Country, Beasts Pirates Base
The air reeked of alcohol.
Barrels were scattered everywhere, some leaking liquor onto the ground.
Pirates lay sprawled across the floor, snoring, muttering in their sleep.
Only two figures remained awake.
The All-Stars—King and Queen.
Queen, a massive man over six meters tall, scratched his head irritably while smoking.
"Just to show us this? What a joke."
He sneered.
"Treating injuries? Sounds boring."
King said nothing.
His eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"Keep watching."
Egghead Island — Vegapunk's Laboratory
A highly advanced lab filled with cutting-edge instruments.
At its center—
Bartholomew Kuma lay on a mechanized operating platform, his body connected to countless wires.
Above him, a small screen extended down on a mechanical arm, displaying the broadcast.
Kuma slowly opened his eyes.
Confusion flickered briefly—
before returning to calm.
"You're awake."
Vegapunk stood with his back turned, typing rapidly at a console.
"This is the final stage."
"After the next modification… you'll completely lose your consciousness."
Kuma smiled faintly.
A rare, gentle expression.
"…Thank you."
Vegapunk paused briefly—
then resumed typing.
"Watch."
Kuma turned his gaze to the screen.
"…A mysterious man."
He spoke quietly.
Vegapunk glanced at him.
"You know him?"
Kuma nodded.
But Vegapunk didn't press further.
What interested him more—
was something else entirely.
"This signal…"
He muttered.
"It's not electromagnetic."
"Nor does it match Devil Fruit wavelength patterns."
"There's a completely unidentifiable energy mixed into it…"
Back to the Auction Hall
Yuuki looked across the silent crowd.
Then smiled.
"So—no need to panic."
"We may be pirates, but we are reasonable."
No one responded.
The blood-soaked floor and corpses made sure of that.
Yuuki didn't mind.
Instead, he reached into his robe and took out a strange object—
a cross-shaped artifact wrapped in root-like patterns.
"This is the item I wish to auction."
"I call it…"
"The Magic Eye Cross."
All over the world—
people leaned closer to their screens.
Now—
this was the real focus.
"It has two functions."
Yuuki raised a finger.
"The first—"
"Healing injuries."
Queen scoffed.
"Tch. That's it?"
"Worth all this fuss?"
But King's gaze sharpened.
"…No."
"This isn't normal."
Yuuki continued calmly.
"Let me clarify something first."
"Healing… and recovery…"
"…are not the same thing."
Then—
he raised his hand and pointed toward the pile of corpses below.
"Let's use a demonstration."
His fingers curled slightly—
as if grasping something invisible.
Whoosh!
A body was lifted from the pile.
A guard.
Half his body shredded.
One leg completely missing.
His body drenched in blood—
but his chest still faintly rising.
He was barely alive.
Yuuki looked at him.
"Perfect."
Then—
he tossed the Magic Eye Cross.
Clink.
The cross landed on the guard's body.
In the next instant—
a dark red glow erupted.
It spread rapidly, enveloping his entire body.
Across the world—
everyone held their breath.
Even Queen leaned forward slightly.
Vegapunk stopped typing.
Kuma's gaze sharpened.
Yuuki's voice echoed calmly:
"For example…"
"…regenerating a severed limb."
The red light intensified.
The guard's mangled body began to change—
flesh writhing.
Bones reforming.
Muscle and skin rebuilding at a visible speed.
His missing leg—
began to grow back.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Across the entire world—
no one spoke.
Because everyone understood—
this was no longer "healing."
This was something else entirely.
Next Bonus Chapter at 5500 powerstones.