Aether calmly studied the two won as he continued the conversation.
Nami, the Cat Burglar and navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates, was a lively and energetic beauty. Her short orange hair frad a delicate face, and although she was still young, her figure had already begun to mature gracefully.
Beside her stood Nico Robin, the Devil Child. She was an archaeologist and the only person in the world capable of reading the Poneglyphs. Robin possessed an intellectual charm that few could match, along with a striking and elegant figure. In Aether's opinion, she was a captivating woman with a calm and mysterious presence.
When he realized the two won clearly had no interest in chatting, Aether did not insist. With a relaxed smile, he simply turned around and left. There were still several shops he planned to visit.
Nami and Robin watched him walk away.
"That guy is a little strange," Nami muttered.
Robin nodded slightly. Sothing about the man felt unusual, but she could not quite explain why.
Suddenly, the roar of an engine echoed through the street.
A Flying Fish motorcycle shot toward them at high speed. Riding on it was Franky, the cyborg shipwright of the Straw Hat crew.
"Quick, get on!" Franky shouted. "The rmaid has been kidnapped!"
Nami's eyes widened.
"Kidnapped?"
Robin imdiately realized who he ant.
"Camie?"
In the distance, Aether saw the Straw Hat crew rushing away. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It seems the grand show will proceed as expected," he murmured to himself.
Then he chuckled softly.
"As a spectator, how could I miss such an important scene?"
---
Area 1, GR1 Auction House
Located in Area 1 of the Sabaody Archipelago, the Human Auction House was one of the largest slave auction facilities in the region. It secretly cooperated with Donquixote Doflamingo, while the World Governnt also held a share of its operations.
When Aether arrived, the hall was already packed.
Before entering, he had changed back into his formal attire. What was about to happen next was not a casual spectacle. It was an event that would shake the entire island.
The auction hall itself was magnificent.
Hundreds of seats were nearly full as nobles, officials, wealthy rchants, and powerful pirates gathered together. This monthly grand auction had drawn a large crowd.
Within his line of sight, Aether spotted two familiar figures.
One was Trafalgar D. Water Law, whom he had encountered several tis before.
The other was Eustass Kid, captain of the Kid Pirates and a user of the Magnet Magnet Fruit.
Kid possessed the highest bounty among the Supernovas, an astonishing 315 million Berries.
However, Aether knew that part of that bounty ca from the destruction Kid left in his wake. Burning, looting, and killing civilians had greatly increased his notoriety.
Aether then glanced toward the VIP seating area.
Through his Observation Haki, he sensed two Celestial Dragons already present.
They were mbers of the Rosward Family.
It seed the infamous foolish son had not yet arrived.
Aether casually found a seat and sat down, pushing aside the middle aged man who had been occupying it. When the man tried to protest, the faint pressure from Aether's Conqueror's Haki flashed through his eyes.
The man instantly shrank back in fear and moved away.
A young noblewoman seated nearby looked at Aether with curiosity.
Aether smiled and spoke to her as if they were long ti acquaintances.
"Beautiful lady, do you have any targets tonight?"
He leaned back comfortably.
"I am planning to bid on ten female slaves today. Trying sothing new could be interesting. What about you?"
The noblewoman froze.
Who would speak so bluntly about such things?
Aristocrats were supposed to maintain elegance.
Still, under Aether's sharp gaze, she finally answered.
"I intend to purchase a few strong slaves to take ho."
Aether nodded thoughtfully.
"Then rember to stay hydrated. I worry you might not have the stamina."
The noblewoman's face imdiately turned red.
She glared at him.
What kind of person talks like that?
At that mont, the lights in the auction hall suddenly went out.
Darkness filled the room before several spotlights illuminated the stage.
A middle aged man wearing a purple robe stepped forward.
He had a face that looked particularly irritating.
He was the host of the auction.
"Welco, distinguished guests," he announced enthusiastically.
"We are also honored by the presence of two noble Celestial Dragons tonight."
"I will not waste your ti. Let us begin the auction imdiately."
"Bring out the first slave."
Soon, a pirate musician was escorted onto the stage in chains.
The host introduced him with great enthusiasm.
"This pirate cos from a famous musical family in the West Blue. He can perform music, clean houses, and even help manage business affairs."
"A truly rare slave."
"Let the bidding begin."
Aether listened and could not help complaining silently.
So the man had to play music, clean houses, and run businesses?
Aside from not giving birth, it seed he had to do everything.
In the end, the pirate musician was sold for 800,000 Berries, and the atmosphere quickly beca heated.
One slave after another was brought onto the stage.
The prices continued to rise.
Aether leaned back lazily while listening to the increasingly excited voice of the noblewoman beside him.
Won.
He glanced toward the slaves on stage.
The cheapest one had sold for 800,000 Berries.
Thinking about it, Aether realized sothing amusing.
If the slave version of himself was worth only 500,000 Berries, he would not even qualify to appear on this stage.
Looking at the outfits of the slaves, maid costus and dancer clothing that barely covered their bodies, it was clear the auction house understood the desires of its custors very well.
But whether those custors could actually keep the slaves they bought was another question entirely.
As the bidding grew louder and more chaotic, Aether slowly began to doze off in his seat.
anwhile, another major event was quietly spreading across the world.
Newspapers were rapidly circulating throughout the Sabaody Archipelago.
The shocking headline revealed that Portgas D. Ace, commander of the Second Division of the Edward Newgate Pirates, had been captured by the Marines.
His public execution was scheduled for one week later.
Anyone with insight could imdiately see what this ant.
Whitebeard would never tolerate such humiliation.
A war between the strongest pirate crew and the Marines was inevitable.
Even the Supernovas on the island felt uneasy after hearing the news.
A massive conflict was approaching.
---
Forty Minutes Later
Suddenly, screams and loud commotion woke Aether from his nap.
He rubbed his eyes and noticed that the stage curtain had been lowered.
"What happened?" he asked the noblewoman beside him.
She looked at him strangely.
This man claid he would buy ten female slaves, yet he had fallen asleep during the auction.
Still, rembering the strange pressure in his gaze, she answered obediently.
"A pirate slave bit his tongue and committed suicide. It was quite bloody."
Aether rolled his eyes.
You are buying and selling slaves and you complain about blood?
Who knows how many slaves have died in your household already.
Still, the pirate who chose suicide was either brave or extrely unlucky.
If he had endured a little longer, he would have been saved soon.
At that mont, several figures caught Aether's attention.
Among them were Nami and Robin.
The Straw Hat Pirates had arrived.
A tall blonde man stepped forward.
It was Sanji, also known as Black Leg Sanji, with a bounty of 77 million Berries.
Beside him stood the towering cyborg Franky, whose bounty was 44 million Berries.
There was also a small blue nosed reindeer.
Tony Tony Chopper, the crew's doctor.
Despite his role, the world governnt had labeled him as the crew's pet and assigned him a ridiculous bounty of only 50 Berries.
Nearby stood Hatchan, the octopus Fishman who had connections with Silvers Rayleigh.
And finally there was a strange starfish.
Even Aether had no idea what that creature was.
Soon the stage curtain lifted again.
The dead pirate had already been removed.
A massive glass tank was rolled onto the stage.
Inside it was a green haired rmaid.
She was Camie, the rmaid the Straw Hat crew had been searching for.
The mont Camie appeared, a Celestial Dragon stood up from the VIP seats.
His eyes locked onto the rmaid greedily.
"I bid 500 million Berries. That rmaid belongs to !"
The entire hall fell silent.
No one dared to challenge a Celestial Dragon.
Aether looked carefully.
As expected, it was the infamous fool of the Rosward family.
Saint Charloss.
A rmaid worth around 100 million Berries had instantly been raised to 500 million.
Such waste.
No wonder the Heavenly Tribute crushed so many nations.
Nami's auction paddle slipped from her hand.
In order to save her friend, she had already pawned everything she owned.
She had only 200 million Berries.
Even if she sold their captain, it would not be enough.
The Straw Hat crew looked grim.
No one dared act rashly.
Attacking a Celestial Dragon would summon a Marine Admiral.
Not long ago, the terrifying power of Kuzan had nearly destroyed them.
Then a calm voice broke the silence.
"I bid 600 million Berries."
Every head turned.
Aether sat casually in his chair, raising his paddle.
The noblewoman beside him imdiately moved away as if he carried a deadly disease.
He actually dared to compete with a Celestial Dragon.
Was he trying to die?
Nami and Robin both recognized him.
"It's that strange guy," they whispered simultaneously.
Saint Charloss glared at Aether with fury.
Aether smiled lightly.
"Saint Charloss, surely you have enough money to continue bidding?"
"You... you insolent insect!" Charloss shouted.
"I bid 800 million Berries!"
Aether replied imdiately.
"One billion."
The price increase stunned the entire auction house.
Even Trafalgar D. Water Law slightly tightened his grip on his sword.
One billion Berries.
Could this man actually pay such an amount?
Inside Aether's mind, the system exploded with notifications.
Saint Charloss generated moderate hostility. Experience 2000
Other S class figures generated hostility. Experience 1000 x2
A rank figures produced surprise. Experience 100 x7
B rank figures produced surprise. Experience 20 x39
C rank figures produced surprise. Experience 5 x63
Level increased to Level 23.
The sudden surge of strength spread throughout Aether's body.
His constitution improved again.
The smile on his face widened.
To the surrounding audience, it only made him look more terrifying.
He had just offended a Celestial Dragon, yet he seed delighted.
Furious and humiliated, Saint Charloss pulled out a pistol and aid it at Aether.
"You bastard. I will kill you!"
Before he could pull the trigger, a loud explosion shook the entire auction hall.
Boom.
The wall shattered as a massive hole appeared.
Two figures crashed through the debris and landed inside.
They were two notorious pirates.
Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro.
Their dramatic entrance instantly drew every eye in the room.
Two Supernovas with bounties of 300 million and 120 million Berries were not insignificant figures on the Sabaody Archipelago.
____
Patreon = _Zeph
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