Morning.
Roy sat in the inn's lobby, eating breakfast.
Tesoro, who had vanished for the entire night, came rushing back into the inn in a panic. The moment he spotted Roy calmly eating, he hurried over, yanked out a chair, and before he even sat down, he grabbed a bun and stuffed it into his mouth.
He ate too fast.
The food got stuck in his throat. His face turned bright red, and he looked like he was about to choke.
Roy sighed at Tesoro's impatience and slid a cup of water toward him.
Tesoro gulped it down, forcing the food down. He slapped his chest a few times, finally catching his breath.
"Boss, I found out everything. In two days, the Wild Wolf Gang's auction house is holding an auction. They're preparing a lot of treasures this time. I heard even a Celestial Dragon will show up in person."
A Celestial Dragon.
As the so called World Nobles, most of the world's tragedies could be traced back to those parasites. They controlled the World Government and the massive power of the Marines. Touch one, and an Admiral might descend like divine punishment.
"That makes things troublesome," Roy muttered.
Originally, he had planned to wipe out the Wild Wolf Gang at the auction house, take their money, and rescue Tesoro's white moonlight in the process.
But if a Celestial Dragon was present, then Cipher Pol would definitely be nearby as bodyguards.
If Cipher Pol stalled him even a little, escaping would become a headache.
And Roy had no interest in drawing the Marines' attention yet.
"Whatever," Roy said at last, shrugging.
"We'll take it one step at a time."
Worst case, he'd just change targets.
Sabaody was crawling with gangs and pirates anyway.
With that thought, Roy stopped overthinking and focused on the food in front of him.
The next day.
Inside the auction house.
Roy looked over the auction list in his hands.
Slaves.
Weapons.
Famous blades.
There were even two Devil Fruits.
Then Roy's gaze suddenly tightened.
His eyes locked onto the description of one particular Devil Fruit.
In an instant, something surged in his chest.
A sharp, instinctive craving.
The urge to have it grew heavier and heavier until his grip tightened unconsciously, wrinkling the paper.
"So I really did come to the right place," Roy murmured.
As Roy was thinking, the noisy hall abruptly fell silent.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
At the entrance, a Celestial Dragon dressed in a bubble helmet and spaceman suit rode on the back of a slave like it was a chair. He held a whip and lashed the slave repeatedly as he moved forward, three Cipher Pol agents following close behind while escorting him to the front rows.
Around them, pirates who normally acted lawless, and nobles who were usually arrogant, all fell silent.
They stopped talking.
Sat straight.
Lowered their heads.
Daring only to glance at the Celestial Dragon from the corners of their eyes.
When the Celestial Dragon finally sat down, the slave collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.
No matter how the Celestial Dragon kicked and struck him, the slave could not rise again.
"Trash. Useless…"
Furious that the slave didn't move, the Celestial Dragon pulled out a pistol.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Several shots.
The slave died on the spot.
Cipher Pol showed no reaction. They simply dragged the corpse away and tossed it out as if it were nothing.
Roy could only sigh.
As expected of a Celestial Dragon.
Arrogant to the point of insanity.
Just as Roy's thoughts settled, the lights in the auction house suddenly dimmed. A bright spotlight snapped onto the stage.
A middle aged man stepped up in a tailcoat, wearing a polished, professional smile. His gaze swept the packed audience without a trace of emotion. When he spotted the Celestial Dragon in front, delight flashed in his eyes.
Everyone knew it.
Celestial Dragons were stupid and rich.
This auction was going to bring in a fortune.
"Distinguished guests, welcome to the auction. I am the host for today, Torre."
"And we are honored by the personal attendance of the noble Celestial Dragon, Saint Rugmak."
His flattering voice echoed through the hall via the loudspeaker.
"Today we have prepared many rare treasures. I believe none of you will be disappointed."
As he finished speaking, two staff members pushed a metal cage onto the stage.
Inside was a burly man, clothes in tatters, a collar locked around his neck. He sat slumped in the corner, trembling with despair.
"Alright. Our first item comes from the West Blue. A pirate with a bounty of forty seven million Beli, the Great Saber Pirates' captain, Great Saber Rim."
"Starting bid, five million Beli."
Silence.
No one spoke.
Torre didn't look disappointed. This item had been swapped in at the last minute after the Celestial Dragon had just killed his slave. A pirate slave was not something anyone cared about.
Except a Celestial Dragon.
"Sixty million Beli."
Sure enough, the Celestial Dragon in the front raised his hand.
Having just lost a slave, he looked delighted at the idea of owning a pirate captain instead.
The hall was dead quiet.
No one dared bid against a Celestial Dragon.
"Congratulations, Saint Rugmak, on acquiring this item!"
Torre didn't hesitate at all.
He had full confidence nobody would challenge a World Noble.
"Now, our second item. A blade of the Grade Sword class. It is said to be forged by a famous master smith, using several rare ores. Its edge is terrifyingly sharp."
"Starting bid, ten million Beli!"
"Eleven million!" A pirate looking man called out immediately.
"Thirteen million!" Another pirate joined in.
"Sixteen million!"
"Twenty million!"
"Twenty two million!"
"Twenty eight million!"
"Twen ty eight million Beli, once!"
"This is a Grade Sword, razor sharp, able to cut hair on contact. A good weapon greatly enhances one's combat strength."
"Twen ty eight million, twice!"
"Third time, sold!"
"Congratulations to this gentleman pirate on winning the treasure blade!"
The pirate immediately headed backstage to complete the transaction, then left the auction house at a brisk pace without looking back.
But he didn't notice.
Several other pirates also slipped out and quietly followed him.
"And next up…"
Weapons and treasures continued to be sold one after another. Every successful bid ended with Torre's gavel striking the block, the crisp sound echoing through the hall.
Roy watched quietly, only turning the list in his hands, his finger stopping at the third item from the bottom.
The Devil Fruit that made his heart race.
Then Torre's voice rose again.
"Item fifteen!"
Another metal cage was pushed onto the stage.
Inside was a blonde girl.
She wore a worn blue dress. Her face was blank, numb, as if she had already given up on whatever awaited her.
Tesoro jolted upright.
"Stella!"
His voice was too loud.
In the sudden silence, it cut through the hall like a knife. People turned to look. Even the Celestial Dragon in front twisted his head.
Roy instantly grabbed Tesoro by the sleeve and shoved him back down into his seat.
"Quiet!"
Tesoro trembled violently, eyes red, staring at Stella like he would burn the image into his soul.
Inside the cage, the girl heard the voice and turned her gaze toward them.