Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 1
Deep within the auction house…
The prison stank of blood and rot. Iron cages were stacked like a forest of bars, the sobbing of slaves mingling with the cracking of guards' whips. Explosive collars pressed despair against every neck—this was a dark cage where sin thrived.
Inside one of the cages, a white-haired old man pulled a flask from his coat.
Gulp, gulp…
As the wine slid down his throat, the old man let out a hearty, carefree laugh.
At the sa ti, the tall man beside him opened his eyes.
"Hey, old man… you're not just anyone, are you? How did you end up being captured here?"
The old man shrugged.
"I'm just an old fellow who does ship coating for a living."
Marine Headquarters — Garp's Office
Crunch! Crunch!
Monkey D. Garp held a bag of senbei rice crackers, tossing them into his mouth one after another.
Beside him, a Marine officer was giving a report.
"Vice Admiral Garp, we've discovered soone suspected to be 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh inside the Sabaody auction house. It seems he's about to be sold."
Garp froze for a mont.
Then tears welled up in his eyes as he burst into loud laughter.
"Dark King Silvers Rayleigh? Did he gamble and drink himself broke and end up selling himself?! Hahahaha!"
"Should we report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku? Fourteen Supernovas have gathered in the Sabaody Archipelago, and if Rayleigh is there too… sothing big might happen."
The Marine officer looked worried. Being stationed at Sabaody, he knew exactly how thin their forces on the island were.
If the archipelago weren't so close to Marine Headquarters, pirates would have already torn the place apart.
"It's fine," Garp said calmly.
"Rayleigh isn't the kind of man who causes chaos. If we rashly clash with him, our side will suffer heavy losses."
He picked up his tea, grinning.
"And besides… right now is the worst ti. Do you really want the Marines fighting two legends at the sa ti?"
anwhile — The Auction Begins
Spotlights swept across the audience seats.
Murmurs filled the hall as elegantly dressed nobles revealed twisted smiles.
"What are you planning to buy this ti?"
"The human slave I bought last ti only lasted ten days," a noblewoman sighed with regret. Then excitent returned to her face.
"So today I want a young, strong Fish-Man male!"
"I'm thinking of buying two or three young won… just to please the eyes," another man said eagerly.
On stage, the host watched the restless aristocrats and displayed a perfectly practiced smile.
"Now then—let the auction begin!"
"First up, a pirate born into a family of musicians, proficient with all instrunts!"
"He's a walking music box—and he can even clean your house if needed!"
"His na is Byron! Starting price: 480,000 Beli! Let the bidding begin!"
The host's energetic voice ignited the hall.
"480,000!"
"500,000!"
"500,000! Any higher bids? He can be a musician and a guard!"
"530,000!"
"550,000!"
Two bidders competed fiercely.
"600,000!!"
A fat noble gritted his teeth and nervously shouted the price.
The previous bidders exchanged glances and smirked slyly.
"Buyer number seven offers 600,000 Beli! Any higher bids?"
The host's voice trembled with excitent.
Bang!
"Sold! 600,000 Beli!"
"Phew—"
The fat noble sighed in relief, pleased with himself.
…Completely unaware he had just been set up.
The insane auction continued in full swing.
Outside the Auction House
At the sa ti, Luffy and his crew arrived at the entrance.
Luffy wore his red vest and black pants, his straw hat tilted slightly. Beneath his ssy black hair, sharp eyes glead.
"So… this is the Human Auction House, huh?"
Sanji lit a cigarette, his expression dark with anger.
"Unbelievable… Human trafficking is banned across the world, yet it's happening right under the nose of Marine Headquarters."
"Let's go inside and see."
Luffy pushed open the doors and grabbed bidding plate number 88.
"Straw Hat!!"
A shocked, furious voice rang out.
Luffy looked up and saw a face full of arrogance.
Eustass Kid.
Kid's shout instantly drew the attention of everyone behind him.
When they turned—
They saw a boy wearing a straw hat.
The surrounding pirates imdiately broke into cold sweat.
Are you kidding ?!
A pirate worth 1 billion Beli is here?!
Normally, slaves sold here weren't worth much.
Who would imagine a notorious pirate rummaging through the bargain bin?
After his initial surprise, Trafalgar Law began observing Luffy carefully.
Unlike the others who feared for their lives, Law had been paying attention to Luffy since the Alabasta incident.
He knew Luffy wasn't the sa as other pirates.
He wasn't bloodthirsty.
Maybe I can establish a connection with him…
If his goal is to bring down the Seven Warlords of the Sea…
A hint of excitent flashed in Law's eyes.
On stage, the host noticed the commotion in the back.
But he didn't care.
In the Sabaody Archipelago, the Celestial Dragons were the true rulers.
And right now, one of them was present.
No one would dare cause trouble.
That was the source of his confidence.
"Next item!"
"A pirate captain!"
The crowd erupted again.
Soon, Nami, Sanji, and the others joined Luffy.
Leaning against the wall, they silently watched the madness of the auction.
Suddenly, Sanji sensed hostility.
He turned slightly and t Kid's gaze.
Kid froze—then grinned provocatively.
But unexpectedly—
Sanji's eyes were calm as still water.
He glanced briefly… then looked away.
Kid: "...?!"
Fury surged in Kid's chest.
What arrogance!!
A 1-billion-Beli pirate ignored him.
And now so 300-million rookie ignored him too?!
"Boss, a Celestial Dragon is here! Don't start a fight!"
Killer quickly stopped Kid before he could explode.
Elsewhere on Sabaody
"Huh… Haven't I been here before?"
Roronoa Zoro wandered in circles across a grassy field.
"Damn it! Where the hell is Grove 1? Did those pirates give the wrong directions?!"
Scratching his head in frustration, Zoro eventually chose a path based purely on instinct.
At That Very Mont — On the Main Street
Residents knelt on both sides of the road.
Even the fearless Supernovas could only frown and drop to their knees.
In the center sat a Celestial Dragon, wearing a glass bubble helt.
He rode atop a frail slave crawling on all fours.
Several guards followed behind him.
"Shalria and Father left behind! And the auction is about to end!"
The Celestial Dragon, Saint Charlos, sniffled loudly while kicking the slave beneath him.
"You brat! It's your fault for crawling like a turtle and wobbling so much! Riding you is awful!"
"You really piss off!"
The slave clenched his teeth, not daring to move.
Everyone around watched silently.
No one dared intervene.
All they could do was pray the Celestial Dragon would leave soon.
Then—
A figure walked straight toward him.
Three swords at his waist.
Brow furrowed.
"Damn it… where is it…?"
Zoro muttered impatiently.
The entire street froze.
Especially the Supernovas watching nearby.
"Hey… what is he doing?"
"No way…!!"
Their pupils shook in shock.
Saint Charlos stared at Zoro, snot dangling from his nose.
"What, you trying to ask for directions?"
Zoro sounded annoyed.
A surge of rage filled Charlos.
Without warning—
Bang!
He fired his gun.
"Hm?"
A killing intent flashed in Zoro's eyes.
The cursed blade Kitetsu was drawn.
Sword aura and demonic energy intertwined.
With a casual swing—
Slash!
The bullet split in half.
And so did Saint Charlos.
His body was cut open in a single strike.
The anger still remained frozen on his face.
Celestial Dragon Saint Charlos collapsed… dead.
For a mont—
The entire island erupted.
"The Celestial Dragon—he's dead!!"
"An Admiral will co! This island will be destroyed!!"
"Why would anyone dare kill a Celestial Dragon?!"
So were furious.
So terrified.
So secretly thrilled.
But everyone ran for their lives, wishing they had more legs.
Only the Supernovas remained frozen in place.
They stared blankly at the utterly unaware swordsman.
Zoro himself didn't seem to realize what he had done.
Holding the cursed blade Sandai Kitetsu, demonic aura swirling around it, he glanced calmly at the Supernovas.
"…Are you guys here to ask for directions too?"
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