Chapter 17: Setting Off for Home
Around noon, Rayleigh finally returned from scouting the outside situation. If the bar had booze and food, the old man would happily stay put forever.
The moment he walked in, he spotted Luo Lin perched at the counter slurping juice.
"Yo, Luo Lin! You only left for Fish-Man Island yesterday—already back?"
"Yep! Finished my business, so why hang around? I'll sightsee properly next time. Fish-Man Island doesn't have anyone I can hug, so better hurry home and hug my wife!"
"Pfft—hahahaha! You really live free, kid. Xia Qi~chan, sake! This old man's parched from running around!"
Rayleigh plopped down next to him. Xia Qi slid a cup over. He downed it in one gulp, glanced at Luo Lin's juice, and tried again.
"C'mon, real men drink booze. Juice is for kids!"
"Tch—says who? Alcohol tastes like garbage!"
Luo Lin genuinely hated liquor. In his previous life as a top-tier rich kid, he'd had access to the finest wines and his classmates partied hard—but he never touched a drop.
Reason? Severe alcohol allergy—one sip and he'd get dizzy, nauseous, break out in hives. Scared his parents half to death when he sneaked a drink as a child.
Even though this body had no such problem, juice was still a million times better.
Two lifetimes strong—Luo Lin was a juice loyalist forever!
"Ara, don't get mad~ No booze, no booze!"
Rayleigh waved it off, then got serious.
"By the way, I checked outside—no real danger left. We can have Gloriosa pick up the girls tomorrow or the day after. Any thoughts, escort knight?"
"I'm not an escort knight—I'm just giving them a free ride home. I already have my own flower waiting!"
"And you three?"
"We… we'd like to leave as soon as possible! We're still a little scared here…"
Hancock, as the big sister, spoke up immediately.
At this age she was still polite—nothing like the future arrogant, love-struck empress.
(Of course, except toward Luo Lin. He had no idea what he'd done to piss her off. He saved her life! Why were only Marigold and Sandersonia respectful?)
"Understandable. Tomorrow it is, then! Luo Lin will take you."
"Thank you, Mr. Rayleigh!"
"Hey, hey! I'm the one doing the work—thank me!"
Marigold and Sandersonia hurriedly chimed in.
"Yes, yes! Thank you most of all, Luo Lin-san! Big sis was just too excited and forgot!"
Even Hancock muttered a reluctant "Thank you." She knew she owed him everything, even if he was insufferable.
Luo Lin's eyes curved into happy crescents.
"Good, good! Is the ship ready? If not I've got one! I'll swing by tomorrow morning to pick you up. Gotta hit the auction house first!"
He grabbed his four Devil Fruits, ignored everyone's reactions, and bounced out.
Plan: sell two, keep two.
He'd grown close to Bell-mere's family over the years. This time he was taking Robin and leaving Cocoyasi Village for good. Just in case Arlong forgot his promise, two Devil Fruits would be extra insurance for Nami and the others.
The auction house was on GR 1—not far from GR 13. A quick bubble taxi ride later, he arrived.
"Welcome to the Sabaody Auction House! Please come in."
It was open to the public—only two greeters at the door.
Luo Lin wandered inside, looking for the consignment desk. Couldn't find it, so he flagged a staff member.
"Excuse me!"
"Yes, sir? How can I help?"
"Nothing big—just want to sell some stuff. Who do I talk to?"
"For selling items, please use the left corridor at the entrance—it leads straight to our back office. Staff there will assist you!"
"Got it. Thanks!"
He followed the hallway, turned a couple corners, and entered a large room with about a dozen other sellers.
"Welcome, sir! What would you like to auction?"
"Good stuff."
He casually opened his bundle.
"Devil Fruits?!"
The attendant's eyes nearly popped out.
Every head in the room snapped toward him—some greedy, some wary.
A kid this young with Devil Fruits? Walking wallet!
Of course, the smarter ones thought: a kid this young with multiple Devil Fruits? His background can't be simple.
"Hmph."
Luo Lin released just a sliver of Conqueror's Haki.
Instant cold sweat from the greedy ones. Even the attendant trembled.
"S-sorry, sir! These are far too valuable for me to handle! One moment please!"
He bolted off, legs shaking.
Soon a sharply dressed man hurried over.
"Hello, sir! I'm the manager of this auction house. You wish to consign Devil Fruits?"
"Yep."
"Please, this way!"
Luo Lin followed him into a private room. Tea was served, then the staff left.
"Sir, please place the fruits on the table for appraisal."
He set all four down.
Even knowing what they were, seeing four at once made the manager flinch.
He pulled out a magnifying glass and a thick Devil Fruit encyclopedia, flipping pages for ten minutes.
"Well?"
"Sir, among the four: two Supermen (Paramecia)—Air-Air Fruit and Rock-Rock Fruit; two Zoan—Cat-Cat Fruit and Dog-Dog Fruit. Exact forms unknown until eaten."
"No Logia?"
"None."
"What does the Air-Air Fruit do?"
"According to the encyclopedia, it allows control of surrounding air—compression into air cannons, etc. Details are limited."
"Got it."
"All four for auction?"
"No. Keep the Air-Air and Cat-Cat. Sell the other two."
"Understood! Two are more than enough to headline. We have two options:
Consignment—we promote and auction them, take 10% commission. Higher profit (likely over 100 million each), but takes time.
We buy them outright at a fixed price—money instantly, no matter the final sale.
Your choice?"
Luo Lin thought for a moment.
"When's the next auction?"
"For treasures like these, we recommend the monthly grand auction. But we have weekly minor auctions—today at 2 p.m.!"
"If you buy them outright, how much?"
The manager smiled meaningfully.
"Of course we have slaves—our main product! This batch even has beautiful female pirates!
For outright purchase, I can offer 100 million each."
Luo Lin chose outright sale.
Mary Geoise just got hit. Slaves were on the afternoon auction—Celestial Dragons would definitely show up to restock.
Selling fruits stolen from their houses the same day? Recipe for trouble.
Even if he wasn't scared, it could endanger the girls.
Better safe—take the quick cash.
The manager left and soon returned with two huge sacks—200 stacks of 1-million-Berry bills, dozens of pounds.
Money and fruits exchanged hands.
With nothing else to do, Luo Lin went back to the bar.
At 2 p.m. he attended the auction anyway—curious if anything good popped up.
Sitting in a corner, he spotted several Celestial Dragons. As expected—restocking slaves.
Good thing he didn't auction the fruits.
The items were 100% slaves. Nothing else.
Luo Lin lost interest instantly and left.
…
…
Next morning—bright and early—Luo Lin arrived at GR 13.
Rayleigh and the girls were already waiting.
They walked to where he'd tied the boat.
Everyone's face darkened.
(̿▀̿ ̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿ ̿)̄ (̿▀̿ ̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿ ̿)̄ (̿▀̿ ̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿ ̿)̄
"Luo Lin… this is the 'ship' you prepared?!"
"Yep! Perfect size! Our luggage, food, four people—plenty of room! Could fit one more!"
He wasn't wrong. Marigold and Sandersonia were still normal-sized teen beauties, not future giants. The boat was more than enough.
It just looked tiny compared to the massive pirate ships they were used to.
"You sure this thing can survive the Calm Belt? The girls are Devil Fruit users—storms are deadly!"
Xia Qi was worried. Rayleigh stayed quiet.
"Relax, I came here in an even smaller one! No problem."
"W-We…"
Hancock tried to "I, the beautiful…" her way out but failed.
"Quit the 'I, the beautiful' stuff. It's just a day or two—deal with it!"
"Yes, big sis! We're already lucky to go home—please bear with it!"
The younger sisters gently persuaded her.
Hancock finally boarded, overcoming her mental hurdle.
Xia Qi handed them a special Log Pose.
"See you next time, Luo Lin!"
"Bye, Uncle Rayleigh, Miss Xia Qi!"
Luo Lin waved.
The Hancock sisters cried buckets, thanking Rayleigh and Xia Qi over and over.
Luo Lin rowed the little boat slowly away from Sabaody, following the Log Pose toward Amazon Lily.
After rowing half a day he got hungry and stopped for food.
While eating, inspiration struck.
Wait—why the hell am I rowing?! Three perfectly good laborers on board and I'm doing it myself?! They're not my precious Robin!
"Hey! You know the way home, right? Your turn to row!"
"Okay!"
They agreed so fast he was stunned.
Marigold and Sandersonia made sense—but even Hancock instantly agreed?
"I just think… if I want to get home, I should contribute! Can't let you row the whole way!
But don't get the wrong idea! Hmph!"
Hancock huffed, cheeks red.
She thought Luo Lin was insufferable, but she wasn't ungrateful. Without the arrogance and love-struck personality of the future, she knew she owed him everything.
Luo Lin didn't overthink it—just happily lay down now that someone else was doing the work.
This was the treatment a savior deserved!
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