Back aboard the Flame Fang, Marcus immediately rushed over excitedly.
"Well? Well?! Kahaylo, Boss! Did you get any good swords? Hurry up and show us!"
Riberra Sami shook his head.
"No. There weren't any worthwhile blades up for auction today."
"Ah… seriously?"
Marcus's shoulders drooped in disappointment.
"But," Riberra Sami continued, changing the subject, "five days from now, there'll be this quarter's Grand Auction. Normally, the truly valuable items are saved for events like that. There's a good chance there'll be famous blades—or even Devil Fruits."
"A Grand Auction?!"
The surrounding crew members instantly perked up, their eyes lighting with excitement.
"Boss! Take me with you!"
"I wanna go too!"
The atmosphere immediately grew lively again.
Riberra Sami raised a hand for silence.
"At a venue like that, it's impossible for all of us to attend. We'll only be able to send in a small group."
After a brief moment of thought, he continued:
"Here's what we'll do. Over the next few days, if there's anything you specifically want—whether it's weapons, equipment, or anything else—write it down and hand it to me."
"The people entering the auction in five days will keep an eye out for them."
"Of course," he added dryly, "that's assuming we can afford them."
He paused and looked toward the officers.
"As for the next few days, there's no point wasting time at the regular small auctions. We'll just wait for the Grand Auction."
"After all, the people who really need high-grade weapons and Devil Fruits are mainly the officers."
"The competition will definitely be fierce, but pooling our resources is more effective than scattering them around gambling on luck."
"For now, let the officers rotate shifts and take the crew ashore to relax."
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, five days were gone.
On the day of the Grand Auction, Sami's group set out early for the auction house in Area 3.
Unlike previous visits, the atmosphere outside the venue today was entirely different.
The crowds were far denser than before, and elegant nobles dressed in luxurious clothing stood everywhere alongside figures radiating overwhelming presence.
Mixed among them were numerous pirates openly exuding murderous intent.
A rough estimate put attendance at no fewer than five hundred people.
Several burly guards stood at the entrance on either side, displaying both the prestige of this auction and the strictness of its security.
Even so, they merely stood watch and did not require guests to surrender their weapons.
Since Sami's group had arrived slightly later than most, they could only find seats near the back of the hall.
Besides Kahaylo and Alberto, the group accompanying Riberra Sami this time included Marcus, who remained obsessed with obtaining a famous blade, and Fitch, who simply wanted to witness such a grand occasion.
Isaac, Henry, and Aldo had stayed behind aboard the Flame Fang.
Still, Riberra Sami had memorized all of their requests.
Without exception, every one of them wanted a Devil Fruit—though their preferences differed.
Aldo and Isaac desired powerful Zoan-types, while Henry preferred bizarre and versatile Paramecia abilities.
Faced with requests like those, Riberra Sami could only say it would depend on luck… and money.
As usual, Kahaylo quietly observed the crowd.
Before long, he spotted the conspicuous figure of Explosive Bear Barbarossa among the attendees.
In addition, he recognized several faces from wanted posters.
Every single one carried a bounty ranging from fifty million to one hundred seventy million Beli—dangerous pirates with fearsome reputations.
Soon, the lights throughout the hall suddenly dimmed, leaving only several beams focused on the central stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen—!!"
A booming, highly infectious voice rang throughout the venue.
A sharply dressed man with stylish hair strode confidently onto the stage.
Compared to the hosts of the previous small auctions, his presence was on an entirely different level.
"ARE YOU READY?!"
"The Grand Auction of Area 3 is now—OFFICIALLY BEGINNING!"
"LET ME FEEL YOUR ENTHUSIASM!!"
"OOOOHHHHH——!!!"
The audience instantly erupted into cheers and applause far louder than before, and the atmosphere ignited in an instant.
"Thank you! Thank you, everyone!"
The host beamed broadly, gesturing dramatically.
"For this auction, we have prepared absolutely top-tier treasures—items so extraordinary they can only be described as explosive!"
"Each and every one of you is blessed by fortune simply for attending today!"
"Without further delay, let us immediately unveil the first auction item and begin today's magnificent event in grand fashion!"
The spotlight shifted, illuminating an iron cage being wheeled onto the stage.
Inside stood a young woman with delicate features but lifeless eyes.
"From a renowned musical family in West Blue's Trova Kingdom!"
"A genius musician proficient in more than seven instruments!"
"At the same time, she is also a female pirate carrying a bounty of 17 million Beli!"
The host's voice dripped with temptation.
"Allow her to perform elegant melodies for you…"
"Or hand her gardening tools and let her tend your estate…"
"She will become whatever you desire!"
"And most importantly—she is young, beautiful, and possesses limitless potential!"
"Human female, named Hasorite! Twenty-five years old, 177 centimeters tall, weighing 68 kilograms!"
"A treasure possessing both talent and value!"
"Starting bid—17 million Beli! Raise your paddles!"
Bidding immediately erupted across the venue.
From the back rows, Riberra Sami quietly sighed.
Even at this elevated level, slave trading remained the absolute core of the auction.
The only difference was that the "goods" here possessed more unique identities, higher bounties, and rarer races.
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he could only wait patiently for the items they truly sought to appear.
Meanwhile, as Riberra Sami and the others waited within the auction hall, an entirely different scene was unfolding on the bustling streets of Sabaody Archipelago.
Henry was leading a group of crew members, enjoying their rare free time.
Suddenly—
Without any warning whatsoever, the bustling crowds lining both sides of the street all dropped simultaneously.
Vendors, tourists, and local residents alike instantly fell to their knees, pressing their foreheads tightly against the ground.
The once lively avenue became deathly silent in the blink of an eye, transformed into a sea of prostrated bodies.
Henry and the crew beside him froze mid-step.
Standing upright amid the kneeling masses, they looked painfully conspicuous.
"Brother Henry… w-what's going on?"
Henry did not answer immediately.
His eyes rapidly swept across the trembling figures kneeling around them before lifting toward the far end of the street.
"Don't make a sound. Follow me!"
He reacted instantly, issuing the order while making a series of hand signals.
The group moved with remarkable speed.
Using the nearby shops and decorative structures for cover, they slipped into a narrow side alley and concealed themselves within the shadows between the buildings.
Holding their breath, they peered outward through gaps between piles of clutter.
At the center of the street, an abnormally gigantic figure was slowly walking forward.
Seated atop its shoulders was the faint silhouette of a person.
Flanking them were dozens of fully armored guards carrying long spears.
Even from a distance, combined with the sight of the entire street suddenly kneeling, Henry arrived at only one possible conclusion.
A Celestial Dragon.
Henry's pupils contracted violently as an icy chill shot up his spine.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately signaled absolute silence and full retreat to the crew beside him.
Like ghosts, the group silently withdrew using the alley's complex layout and heavy shadows as cover.
Without stopping for even a moment, they began stealthily making their way back toward the Flame Fang.
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