As the words fell, everyone present looked toward Ivan in astonishment, unable to understand where this guy had gotten so much money or how he dared to compete with a Celestial Dragon for an item.
Saint Roswald raised an eyebrow, feeling a slight irritation. However, as a descendant of gods, he had no intention of stooping to argue with an inferior. After all, it was just some Berries.
So he directly raised the bid by 10 billion Berries: "I bid 80 billion Berries!"
Saint Roswald's expression remained calm. Surely that slightly wealthy inferior couldn't afford to bid any higher now?
But to his surprise, Ivan raised the bid without hesitation: "81 billion Berries!"
"90 billion Berries!"
"91 billion Berries!"
"100 billion Berries!"
"101 billion Berries!"
As the two sides continued to raise their bids, the expressions of the people in the auction gradually turned peculiar.
By now, how could they not guess that this person competing with Saint Roswald wasn't genuinely interested in the Mythical Zoan auction but was simply here to cause trouble!
This guy had some nerve, daring to mock a Celestial Dragon. He truly had no regard for his own life!
On the auction stage, Baccarat broke out in a cold sweat.
Damn it, where did this guy come from? If he wanted to die, he shouldn't drag others into trouble!
Seeing Saint Roswald's face flush red with anger, about to erupt, Baccarat quickly stood up and asked with a polite smile:
"Esteemed guest, you bid 101 billion Berries. I wonder if you have sufficient funds to cover the payment?"
Before the auction began, Baccarat had briefly reviewed the guests' information, focusing especially on those with substantial wealth.
But among those guests, this guy wasn't one of them!
Baccarat decided that if this guy didn't have enough funds, she would have him thrown into the sea and buried for good!
Ivan also heard Baccarat's question and noticed the many mocking gazes around him, especially the lofty, contemptuous stare from the Celestial Dragon, as if provoked by an ant.
Faced with these gazes, the guests around Ivan felt an overwhelming pressure and immediately distanced themselves from him.
The owners of these gazes were people they absolutely could not afford to offend!
But Ivan sat calmly in his seat, legs crossed, showing no sign of nervousness. He replied matter-of-factly, "Hmm, I wasn't aware that the Golden King Auction House had started verifying funds. Since when?"
"That's because no one before has been as insolent as you!" Baccarat cursed inwardly but maintained her ladylike elegance on the surface. "My apologies, esteemed guest. This is a recently revised rule. Please cooperate with the verification."
Ivan nodded in understanding, then replied without hesitation, "Then there's no need. I don't have 100 billion Berries in assets!"
"Thank you for your cooperation… Wait, what did you say?" Baccarat had assumed Ivan would comply, but she never expected him to outright admit he lacked the funds to cover his bid.
If that were the case, wasn't this guy deliberately provoking the Golden King Auction House and, even more so, the Celestial Dragon?
As soon as Ivan spoke these words, the expressions of the others grew even more peculiar. It had been a long time since they had seen such a bold fool.
Saint Roswald was directly enraged. He abruptly stood up, drew his ornate pistol, and pointed it at Ivan, cursing furiously:
"You damn bastard! Someone, seize him! I'll make him my slave and torture him thoroughly!"
"Yes!"
Two tall CP0 agents rushed toward Ivan, intending to capture and restrain him.
But the moment they reached out for Ivan, they vanished in a clap of thunder.
The next instant, two loud crashes echoed as the bodies of the CP0 agents slammed into the auction hall's walls, leaving two gaping holes.
"Ahhh! What happened?" a nobleman screamed in terror.
Too weak to perceive what had just occurred, he could only assume Ivan had somehow blasted the two CP0 agents away.
However, several powerful individuals were present, and they all witnessed Ivan sending the two CP0 agents flying in an instant.
This sight made their expressions turn grave. That single strike alone proved Ivan's strength was not to be underestimated!
From the most luxurious seat in the auction hall, Saint Roswald stared at Ivan in disbelief. He never expected this lowly commoner would dare to fight back!
His plump face twisted into a vicious snarl as he fired wildly at Ivan, but every shot was effortlessly dodged.
This only fueled his rage further. "You damn lowlife! How dare you resist! CP0, Navy—seize him! I want him dead!"
"Yes!"
As Saint Roswald erupted in fury, chaos instantly engulfed the auction hall. Several CP0 officers and two Navy Vice Admirals rose to their feet, surrounding Ivan from all sides.
Among them, Ivan spotted his superior, Vice Admiral Gumir.
Vice Admiral Vergo, his entire body shrouded in black Armament Haki, fixed his gaze on Ivan and said solemnly, "What astonishing audacity. But stranger, do you realize that courage without sufficient strength is merely recklessness?"
Ivan tilted his head and retorted, "How do you know my strength is insufficient?"
Vice Admiral Vergo snorted coldly. "Arrogant fool. To think a bit of power makes you bold enough to provoke a great Celestial Dragon—you truly have a death wish. Die now! Finger Pistol!"
Ivan stood his ground, ready to clash head-on with Vergo.
The next moment, to everyone's astonishment, his body was also enveloped in a layer of black. But unlike Vergo's Armament Haki, Ivan was using Earth Release: Earth Spear, a ninjutsu that enhanced his defense.
Vergo appeared before Ivan in an instant, thrusting his index finger like a spear toward him.
But at that moment, Ivan shouted, "Bone Fist: Impact!"
"What?!" The familiar name of the technique made Vergo hesitate briefly. However, when his finger collided with Ivan's fist, he realized it was only the name that was the same—this was definitely not Vice Admiral Garp's move!
Even though it wasn't Vice Admiral Garp's technique, Vergo still felt an immense force clash with his finger.
His Finger Pistol, capable of piercing steel with ease, struck Ivan's fist but failed to penetrate it. Instead, Vergo felt a sharp pain.
Realizing he could no longer face his opponent with a single finger, Vergo hastily clenched his fist to counter. But by then, it was too late. Ivan's punch sent him flying, crashing through the golden wall and tumbling into the river outside.
This scene greatly shocked Lieutenant General Gumir. After all, Vergo's strength was even slightly superior to his own, yet despite that, Vergo was actually at a disadvantage in the confrontation with this guy.
He gripped his long sword tightly, somewhat nervously shielding Saint Roswald as he warily looked at Ivan:
"Who are you, and what is your purpose?"
Under Lieutenant General Gumir's questioning, Ivan dispelled the Transformation Technique, no longer intending to conceal himself.
A cloud of smoke suddenly appeared, and from within emerged a figure clad in a black cloak, wearing a fox mask.
As he walked toward Lieutenant General Gumir, Ivan declared solemnly to the world:
"I am of the Shadow Garden, an assassin in the darkness, one who lurks in the shadows and hunts within them.
Tell me, do gods bleed?"