For the time being, there was no solution to the problem of establishing the Justice Guild, so Ryuuto had to set it aside and focus on preparing for the auction. After all, in the long run, the auction house would provide him with a substantial stream of funding.
Just as Ryuuto had predicted, Nami and Rayleigh returned in the evening with a bountiful harvest. The night wind rustled through the tall mangrove trees, carrying the scent of the sea and the sound of Nami's excited shouts.
"Captain, look what we got!" Nami waved at Ryuuto while pointing to the massive pack on her back. A closer look revealed that the bag was filled primarily with various firearms and swords.
"Nami, you did great!" Ryuuto praised her as he effortlessly lifted the pack, which was twice her size, off her shoulders.
Rayleigh, standing beside them, also dropped his own heavy bag to the ground. Inside, the vast majority of the contents were firearms, most of which appeared to be Marine-issue. The second most common items were an assortment of swords and other weapons.
Among the blades, three in particular looked exceptional even at a glance. Their scabbards, woven from high-quality leather, seemed to have been well-maintained.
"Nami, are these three Meito?" Ryuuto asked, pulling the three swords out for a closer look.
"Yes. Those are three of the 50 Wazamono Grade swords," Rayleigh answered before Nami could. "They're considered the entry-level for Meito, having met a certain standard of sharpness."
"Wazamono Grade? What's ranked above that?" Nami asked, her thoughts turning to the Yubashiri that Ryuuto often wore at his waist.
"Above the Wazamono are the 50 Ryo Wazamono Grade swords, which is what Yubashiri is," Ryuuto explained, seeing her genuine curiosity. "Higher still are the 21 O Wazamono Grade swords, like Zoro's Wado Ichimonji. And at the very top are the 12 Saijo O Wazamono Grade swords, every single one of which is in the hands of a true powerhouse."
"I see," Nami said, nodding in understanding before asking the question that was truly on her mind. "So how many Berries are these three Wazamono swords worth?"
"Hmm... let me think. They should be in the millions of Berries, I'd say," Ryuuto replied after a moment's thought, giving her a rough estimate.
"That's fantastic! We only spent two million Berries on both of these bags!" Nami exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. She placed her hands on her hips, a triumphant look on her face. "We made a huge profit!"
"It seems our dear navigator is living up to her reputation for good luck," Ryuuto said with a smile, teasing her.
"Hahaha, of course!" Nami shot him a proud look, as if to say it was only natural.
Watching them, Rayleigh couldn't help but recall the day's strange events. It was odd; they had spent the better part of the day searching with no success. Then, on a small side street, they had stumbled upon a woman having a massive clearance sale. After a round of Nami's fierce haggling, they had managed to buy both bags of weapons for a total of two million Berries.
Beneath the firearms and swords, at the bottom of the bags, were also a few slave collars and some Sea-Prism Stone.
As Nami reveled in her success, it was indeed her luck that had made it all possible. The woman selling the weapons was the wife of a mob boss who was trying to liquidate his assets and flee. The reason? Her husband had just been killed at the human auction house on Grove 1. Feeling unsafe, she wanted to cash out as quickly as possible. This series of coincidences was so improbable that it could only have been orchestrated by the power of Nami's Lucky-Lucky Fruit.
After storing the weapons in the warehouse, night once again fell upon the Sabaody Archipelago. The night was typically calm and serene, but that did not apply to the lawless zone of Groves 1 through 29. Here, the darkness concealed more than just the light; it hid the deepest evils. In the underworld of Grove 1, a major power shift was underway.
"Purupurupuru..."
In a lavishly decorated room on Grove 1, a Den Den Mushi on a large desk suddenly began to ring. The snail was predominantly pink with an exaggerated crest of blonde, curly hair. Most striking of all were its pink-lensed, black-framed sunglasses and the wicked grin stretching from ear to ear, a perfect replica of the Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo.
Only two days remained until the auction.
These past few days, Buggy and his crew had been leaving early and returning late, their exhaustion visible only when they came back under the cover of darkness. The pressure had clearly motivated Buggy to double his efforts.
Rolé was also adapting well under Foxy's command. The Tontatta Tribe possessed great speed and strength despite their small size, and they were also exceptionally skilled at cultivating plants. This was precisely why Doflamingo had enslaved them to grow the artificial SMILE Devil Fruits.
Taking advantage of his tiny stature, Rolé had been able to clean every nook and cranny of the auction house that others couldn't reach. Under Foxy's direction, the entire venue had been completely transformed. The neat rows of seats, each fitted with a red cushion, were arranged in tiered rows, bearing a striking resemblance to the auction house on Grove 1. Foxy had clearly done his homework.
As for the stage, Foxy had kept the same style he used during his Davy Back Fights. A large blue and white curtain served as the backdrop, equipped with a row of spotlights that could illuminate every corner of the stage. A single microphone stood facing the audience. Between the curtain and the microphone was a line of more than twenty wooden stands. Each was about 1.8 meters tall, topped with a 50 by 50-centimeter tray, and was currently concealed under a large red cloth.
As the first rays of dawn touched the auction house, the distant calls of seagulls and a gentle breeze carrying the scent of soap bubbles drifted into Ryuuto's room. Nami had woken up first. She was lying on her side, gazing intently at Ryuuto as he slept.
He's so quiet when he's asleep. Why is he so... cute? Nami thought, admiring the sharp, defined lines of his face. She playfully tickled the tip of his nose with a strand of her orange hair.
"Achoo!"
Ryuuto let out a sudden sneeze and slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Nami.
"Nami, you're playing with fire, you know," Ryuuto said with a wicked grin. "Especially in the morning."
"No, Captain, don't!"
Nami's surprised shriek echoed through the room.
As the sun continued its ascent into the sky, only one day remained until the auction.
Buggy left with his crew as usual, while Foxy, Porche, Hamburg, and Rolé were putting the finishing touches on the auction house's exterior.