Chapter 94 - Vol 2, Chapter 28: The Gathering of Monsters

A/N: Don't forget to check out my original novel: Can I Magic Please. It's like really good. 😉

ANYWHOOO. ENJOY THE CHAPTER

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The day of the auction had finally arrived.

Deep beneath Dressrosa—

Hidden below layers of stone and secrecy—

The underground auction hall buzzed with life.

Massive golden chandeliers illuminated the colossal chamber.

Rows upon rows of luxurious seats stretched across the arena-like hall while armed guards stood at every entrance.

The atmosphere felt suffocating.

Not because of fear.

But because of greed.

Money.

Power.

Influence.

Every monster of the underworld had gathered here tonight.

Nobles dressed in extravagant clothing moved through the halls arrogantly.

Rich merchants whispered among themselves while checking ledgers and betting slips.

Pirates laughed loudly as they drank and argued over the upcoming bids.

And all throughout the hall—

The name of the featured items spread like wildfire.

"The Pirate King's blade…"

"A Mythical Zoan…"

"Do you understand how valuable that fruit is?!"

"I heard entire kingdoms tried burying information about it!"

"They say whoever eats it becomes a calamity!"

"The World Government apparently tried hiding it for decades!"

The excitement only continued growing.

Near one of the upper viewing sections—

A massive figure dressed in black quietly sat while observing the crowd below.

King.

Even seated—

He radiated overwhelming intimidation.

Beside him sat another towering man wearing luxurious robes decorated with card-like patterns.

Hanafuda.

Unlike King—

Hanafuda's eyes remained locked solely onto the catalog in his hands.

Specifically—

The page displaying the Devil Fruit.

His fingers slowly traced over the image.

"…Interesting."

King glanced toward him.

"You're obsessed."

Hanafuda smiled faintly.

"Of course I am."

"Devil Fruits are miracles."

"Curses."

"Weapons."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"A Mythical Zoan especially."

King crossed his arms.

"Kaido-sama only cares about obtaining the fruit."

"He has no interest in Roger's sword."

Hanafuda chuckled lightly.

"That sounds like Kaido-sama."

Then his gaze sharpened slightly.

"But honestly…"

"…I'm more interested in seeing who dares challenge us for it."

Elsewhere in the hall—

Near the middle seating area—

Marco leaned lazily back in his chair.

Arms crossed.

Eyes calmly scanning the room.

The more he looked—

The more ridiculous the gathering became.

Big names.

Dangerous names.

The kind of people who could destroy islands.

"All this trouble for an auction…"

Marco sighed softly.

Then glanced toward the distant display case containing Roger's cutlass.

"…Pops really sent me on an annoying errand."

His gaze softened slightly.

"But I get it."

"That blade shouldn't end up with some fool."

Marco scratched the side of his head.

"…Honestly though."

"If this turns into a war…"

"…that'd be a pain."

At another section of the hall—

Two members of the Big Mom Pirates calmly observed the crowd.

Towering over most nearby attendees—

Charlotte Katakuri sat silently with his scarf covering his mouth.

Beside him—

Charlotte Perospero licked his candy cane staff.

"Perorin~♪"

"Mama really wants both prizes badly."

Katakuri remained silent.

Observing.

Watching.

Perospero grinned slightly.

"The fruit especially…"

"Everyone in the underworld's talking about it."

Katakuri finally spoke calmly.

"Which means conflict is inevitable."

Perospero's smile widened.

"Perorin~"

"That's what makes it fun."

Further down—

Laughter echoed loudly from another seating area.

Red-Haired Pirates.

Namely—

Shanks.

Yassop.

And Giovanni.

Shanks leaned back casually with both hands behind his head.

"I definitely want Captain Roger's cutlass."

His grin softened slightly.

"It'd feel wrong seeing someone else wave it around."

Yassop meanwhile looked through the auction catalog excitedly.

"Oh damn."

"There it is."

Giovanni glanced over.

"A gun?"

Yassop pointed proudly at the page.

"A masterpiece rifle from the West Blue."

"Look at this beauty…"

Giovanni deadpanned.

"You're drooling."

"I am not."

"You absolutely are."

Meanwhile—

Giovanni's attention remained on another page entirely.

The Mythical Zoan.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"…Fenrir."

Shanks glanced toward him.

"You interested in it?"

Giovanni shrugged lightly.

"A little."

"In games and stories…"

"Fenrir's usually treated like some world-ending wolf."

Yassop snorted.

"You thinking of eating it?"

Giovanni immediately shook his head.

"No thanks."

"I like swimming."

Shanks burst out laughing.

"That's the most reasonable thing you've ever said."

Then—

Suddenly—

The lights throughout the massive hall dimmed slightly.

The loud chatter slowly began settling down.

A spotlight illuminated the center stage.

And moments later—

A familiar figure walked out dramatically.

Disco.

Dressed extravagantly as always.

Sweat practically glistening across his forehead from nervous excitement.

He spread both arms theatrically.

"WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"

The crowd erupted instantly.

Disco grinned widely.

"Pirates!"

"Nobles!"

"Kings!"

"Merchants!"

"Welcome to the greatest underground auction of the era!"

Cheers thundered throughout the hall.

Disco's grin widened further.

"And tonight…"

He raised one hand dramatically toward the covered center displays.

"…history itself shall be sold!"

The atmosphere in the hall instantly sharpened.

Because everyone understood one thing.

Tonight—

The monsters of the sea had gathered in one place.

And before the night ended—

Someone was leaving with power capable of shaking the world itself.

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The underground auction hall pulsed with noise.

Laughter.

Arguments.

The clinking of glasses.

The atmosphere had become completely feverish.

Pirates stared at one another like predators sizing up prey.

Nobles whispered among themselves arrogantly.

Merchants nervously calculated numbers in ledgers.

And standing beneath the enormous spotlight—

Disco spread his arms theatrically.

"WELCOME!"

The crowd roared again.

Disco grinned so hard his cheeks looked ready to split apart.

"Tonight!"

"You ladies and gentlemen shall witness treasures beyond imagination!"

"Rare weapons!"

"Devil Fruits!"

"Luxury goods!"

"Exotic creatures!"

"Artifacts lost to time!"

"And of course…"

His voice lowered dramatically.

"…our grand centerpieces."

The hall instantly erupted into louder chatter.

Roger's cutlass.

Fenrir.

Just hearing those names stirred greed inside everyone present.

Disco raised both hands quickly.

"NOW NOW!"

"Before we begin…"

"…the rules."

Several attendants immediately wheeled out large blackboards displaying numbered instructions.

Disco pointed toward them dramatically.

"All bids are final!"

"No refunds!"

"No violence inside the auction hall!"

That last part earned laughter from the pirate sections.

Disco immediately sweated.

"A-And any disputes will be handled by security!"

Nobody looked convinced.

Disco coughed awkwardly before continuing.

"To place a bid…"

He snapped his fingers.

Several assistants demonstrated numbered paddles.

"Simply raise your numbered card and announce your amount!"

"Attempting to sabotage another bidder will result in immediate removal!"

"Failure to pay after winning an item…"

His smile twitched slightly.

"…will result in consequences."

The hall laughed again.

This time even more ominously.

Because everyone understood what that meant.

Disco wiped sweat from his forehead.

"T-Then without further delay…"

He spread his arms dramatically once more.

"LET THE AUCTION BEGIN!"

Thunderous applause exploded throughout the hall.

The lights shifted.

Assistants began wheeling out the first display.

A long black chest reinforced with gold plating.

Disco's grin widened.

"Our first item tonight!"

The chest slowly opened.

Inside rested a massive axe with a crimson blade.

The metal itself looked unusual.

Dark.

Heavy.

Violent.

Disco immediately pointed toward it.

"Forged in the New World!"

"A battle axe said to split warships in half!"

"Starting bid—"

"FIFTY MILLION BERRIES!"

Instantly—

Paddles shot upward throughout the hall.

"Fifty-five million!"

"Sixty!"

"Seventy!"

The atmosphere exploded into chaos immediately.

Money flew like rain.

Greed consumed the room almost instantly.

And high above the auction floor—

Inside one of the luxurious VIP balconies—

Donquixote Doflamingo sat comfortably while overlooking the madness below.

One leg crossed over the other.

Wine resting lazily in his hand.

Behind him stood the officers of the Donquixote Pirates.

Trebol watched the crowd with a disgusting grin.

"BEHEHEHEHE…"

"Look at 'em."

"Animals."

Diamante smirked.

"They're practically throwing money away."

Doflamingo swirled the wine inside his glass slowly.

"No."

His grin widened.

"They're buying dreams."

The officers looked toward him.

Down below—

Another bidding war erupted loudly.

Doflamingo's smile slowly sharpened.

"People are fascinating."

"They'll kill."

"Lie."

"Betray."

"All for the chance to possess something they think has value."

He leaned slightly against his chair.

"And the funniest part…"

"…is that value itself is imaginary."

Trebol laughed loudly.

"BEHEHEHEHE!"

"Then why're they paying so much?!"

Doflamingo pointed lazily toward the crowd.

"Because humans are ruled by greed."

His sunglasses reflected the dazzling auction lights below.

"A poor man wants wealth."

"A noble wants status."

"A pirate wants power."

"A king wants control."

His grin widened further.

"And once they taste even a little…"

"…they always want more."

Below—

A merchant screamed out another absurd bid amount.

Several pirates immediately cursed him out.

Doflamingo laughed softly.

"Fuffuffuffuffu…"

"There's no uglier creature in this world…"

"…than a human chasing desire."

Diamante crossed his arms.

"And what about us?"

Doflamingo's grin became monstrous.

"We're worse."

The officers burst into laughter.

Even Vergo smirked slightly.

Below them—

The auction continued escalating wildly.

More items appeared.

Weapons.

Rare beasts.

Luxury treasures.

Each one feeding the madness further.

And all throughout the hall—

One thing quietly continued growing stronger.

Anticipation.

Because nobody had forgotten the true stars of tonight.

Roger's blade.

And the Devil Fruit feared by the World Government itself.

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