"What is this? Ancient text!?"
"I can't read it! Is this really Pluton's design blueprint?!"
"Of course it is. Pluton's existence dates back eight hundred years. Its blueprints would naturally be in ancient script."
Many people whispered, and the major powers in the twelve private suites also conversed in low tones.
The large screen changed, displaying a different projected blueprint every 30 seconds. After ten such changes, it finally stopped.
Doflamingo announced loudly, "These are the complete design blueprints for Pluton! Authentic, with no falsehoods. Possess them, and you can build a Pluton battleship from scratch. The power of this super battleship is capable of destroying an entire island with a single shot..."
He paused, then chuckled twice, "Of course, those who can read ancient texts in this world are now extremely rare, almost extinct. Even if you acquire it, understanding it will require immense effort. And building it will demand an astronomical sum."
Perhaps even hundreds of billions of Berries might not be enough to complete it.
Of course, one would also need to understand the blueprints; otherwise, they would be meaningless.
However, despite these caveats, the factions on the third and fourth levels showed no disappointment.
They had anticipated this situation. While individuals who understood ancient texts were rare, almost extinct, they weren't non-existent.
And the issue of funding was even less of a concern.
The only real problem was the time it would take to build it.
During this period, how could they ensure their faction wouldn't be targeted by other powers?
As if sensing their hesitation, Doflamingo chuckled again, "Later, we will use a sealed-bid auction method. We will not disclose any bidder's information."
A sealed-bid auction meant everyone would submit their bids, and Phantom would select the three highest bids for review.
Typically, there would be three rounds. After three rounds, the highest bidder would win.
"No!"
Suddenly, Sengoku's voice rang out from private suite #1. "Who can guarantee you won't manipulate the process?"
Sengoku glared at Vladimir. The Marines and Phantom had a long-standing rivalry, old adversaries.
If he were in their shoes, Sengoku believed he would certainly not let his opponents get the blueprints. Even if they bid the highest, he could still pull some strings.
In response, Vladimir slowly opened his eyes and said softly, "Rules. If you don't like them, get out."
"You...!"
Sengoku's face turned green with rage, and he ground his teeth.
But looking at the Ten Sovereigns seated, he forcibly restrained himself.
The crowd below watched, finding it amusing.
In this world, apart from Emperor Vladimir, it would be difficult to find another pirate who could be so domineering as to verbally insult Sengoku directly.
"Hmph, even if someone successfully bids, we have ways to recover it! This is something our Marines had their eyes on first anyway."
Sengoku snorted coldly, looking at a scientist in his thirties beside him. "What about the blueprints?"
"It's very complex," the man in the white lab coat smiled slightly.
"I've only seen ten pages, and I don't understand the ancient text, but the design diagrams and related symbolic annotations are consistent. The authenticity of these blueprints is over 60%."
Hearing this, Sengoku nodded. "Since you say so, then we must acquire it at all costs!"
Similar conversations were taking place in various private suites and on the third-floor seats.
Seeing this, Doflamingo announced loudly again, "Finally, before the bidding begins, we are specially announcing a piece of free information: According to Phantom's interpretation, hidden within these blueprints is the burial location of the Pluton battleship. It is a real ancient battleship, currently lying somewhere in the world. Fufufufu... If you don't wish to build it yourselves, you can follow the clues to find it."
At these words, the entire venue was stunned.
"What!? There's an existing Pluton!"
"Hidden somewhere in the world, and the blueprints contain a map?"
Doflamingo ignored these murmurs and said, "Then, the starting price is 0 Devil Fruits. For the first sealed bid, bidders on the third and fourth levels, please take a black card from beside your chair and write your bid price on it. You have 5 minutes!"
Hearing this, everyone looked down. Sure enough, they saw three black cards beside their respective seats.
The black cards were made of an unknown material, emitting wisps of black smoke.
Someone quickly wrote down a number. The moment it was written, the black card, along with the number, instantly dissipated into a cloud of black smoke.
Five minutes passed in a flash.
Soon, the three highest bids appeared on the projection screen.
51, 58, 61!
"Hiss..."
Doflamingo gasped, his face filled with shock.
While he knew the price wouldn't be low, such high bids far exceeded his expectations.
This was Devil Fruits, after all. Fifty or sixty fruits—even the World Government would take years to collect that many.
These factions present were clearly incredibly wealthy.
Even Vladimir himself was momentarily surprised, then suddenly realized.
"A single faction wouldn't have that many fruits. The most is the Marines' approximately forty... Indeed, some factions have allied with each other. I just wonder who allied with whom?"
He glanced at the twelve private suites. These twelve major powers had likely formed alliances with each other.
However, that wasn't important. All he needed were the fruits. They could fight over the blueprints all they wanted.
And this point, which Vladimir could figure out, the people in the twelve private suites could also figure out.
Immediately, the atmosphere turned peculiar.
Sengoku's face grew even darker, feeling that the situation was very tricky.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed, "Someone must have allied with each other, otherwise they couldn't produce so many fruits. This is only the first round. By the third sealed bid, the auction price might break 100... At that point, it could even be multiple factions allied together."
The price exceeding 100 Devil Fruits!
A sky-high auction. Was one blueprint truly worth it?
If anyone were to ask, anyone with grand ambitions would definitively answer:
Worth it!
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