After obtaining the Paramecia Childlike Fruit, Kahn didn't wait until the auction's end to complete the transaction.
He directly used telekinesis to lift the treasure box containing the Devil Fruit, letting it float in front of him. Kahn then took out the Paramecia Childlike Fruit and said to Mary, "Mary, pay."
"Yes, Master," Mary replied promptly. She opened a small door on her body, took out ten thumb-sized black boxes, and placed them on the ground. When the transparent white mask covering the boxes dissipated, ten ordinary black boxes appeared neatly under the stage.
Kahn checked the Paramecia Childlike Fruit, put it back into the treasure chest, and handed it to Mary. She then put the treasure chest back into her body.
The host, seeing this, dared not speak and could only glance at a certain corner where a surveillance Den Den Mushi was installed. Soon, several men in black suits came out from behind the stage and took all ten boxes away.
The host sighed in relief and continued the auction.
The next auction item was another treasure chest. Those who had received gossip showed unwillingness on their faces, knowing that there would be at least three Devil Fruits up for auction. Without Cross Kahn, this would have been an exciting competition for the North Blue attendees. With their financial resources and strength, they might have had a chance. But now, they could only watch Kahn take everything without daring to challenge him.
When the host opened the treasure chest, another Devil Fruit was inside.
"Gentlemen and ladies... This auction item is another sea treasure, the same Paramecia type as before."
The host took out the Devil Fruit, holding it in one hand while shouting into the microphone with the other: "After identification from the 'Devil Fruit Illustrated Book,' this Devil Fruit is called the Paramecia Arms-Arms Fruit."
"As the name suggests, the person who eats this Devil Fruit can turn any part of their body into a weapon."
"The starting price for this Devil Fruit is also 100 million berries."
"I offer five hundred million," Kahn immediately bid.
Though this price was only half of what he offered for the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, no one dared to bid against him.
Their financial resources were far inferior to Kahn's. Even attempting to outbid him would risk retaliation, not only from Kahn but also from the North Blue dark world giant, the Donquixote Family.
Kahn secured the Paramecia Arms-Arms Fruit just as he did before, with Mary handling the payment.
"Gentlemen and ladies... This auction is nearing its end. The next item is the last one, and like the previous two, it is a sea secret treasure known as a devil incarnate."
When another treasure box was placed on the table, the host opened it and announced passionately, "This Devil Fruit is recognized by the 'Devil Fruit Illustrated Book' and various popular science books, even acknowledged worldwide. It is the strongest species among the three types of Devil Fruits—Logia Snow-Snow Fruit."
Taking the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit out of the treasure chest, the host glanced at the eager, flat, or struggling audience who didn't know Haki and continued to shout, "Just eat this Devil Fruit, and you will gain elementalization, which is immune to all physical attacks. You can control snow as an element. Unless you encounter attribute-related restraints or seastone weapons, no one in this world can hurt you."
"Without further ado, the starting price of this Logia Snow-Snow Fruit is also 100 million berries."
"...I bid a billion."
The atmosphere didn't boil but fell into a deadly silence.
Although many audience members had a strong desire for the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit, they all knew the man sitting in the first row would not let go of the strongest one.
Just as they expected, Kahn once again offered a ten-figure price, which instantly extinguished the enthusiasm of those wanting to bid.
In this era, one billion berries are very valuable.
Among the people present, there might be quite a few who could offer one billion, but doing so would definitely strain their resources.
Even Dressrosa, after paying the Heavenly Tribute, couldn't afford ten billion in its treasury.
One billion was definitely an astronomical sum.
Cross Kahn, who had already paid 1.5 billion, certainly had more. The maid with space ability likely hid most of the "Cross Family" cash in her body, acting as Cross Kahn's mobile treasury.
In reality, the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit isn't worth a billion.
To Kahn, among the three Devil Fruits, only the Paramecia Hobby-Hobby Fruit was the most precious, followed by the Paramecia Arms-Arms Fruit, and finally, the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit, which was a lesser version of the Logia Ice-Ice Fruit.
Compared to those top Logias, the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit wasn't even qualified to stand alongside the Logia Ice-Ice Fruit, except for its elementalization.
Even if he finds Monet in the future, Kahn wouldn't give her the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit because it would limit Monet's potential.
He would find another top Devil Fruit to maximize Monet's potential.
As for the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit, Kahn planned to use it to train a deputy captain of the "Kuja Pirates" to replace Hancock in managing the "Kuja Pirates."
After relocating Amazon Lily, Kahn would have three islands under his control. Counting Dressrosa, which he would certainly acquire in the future, that made four islands.
Robin couldn't manage everything alone; the entire maid team had to work together.
Managing the country was already too busy for Hancock to manage the Kuja Pirates.
But disbanding the "Kuja Pirates," which had been passed down for hundreds of years, was out of the question.
Therefore, an acting captain was needed. As for the Paramecia Arms-Arms Fruit being more valuable than the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit, why did Kahn offer one billion?
Simply put, Kahn was in a good mood and wanted to reward the black market.
Without them, obtaining the Paramecia Hobby-Hobby Fruit and Paramecia Arms-Arms Fruit might have required him to owe Doflamingo many favours.
But now, he only needed to pay 2.5 billion.
For Kahn, this amount was nothing compared to the annual income Capone Bege brought him; it was a drop in the bucket.
Seeing that no one was bidding against Kahn, the host quickly tapped the hammer three times, announcing the ownership of the Logia Snow-Snow Fruit.
Thus, the North Blue Dark World auction officially came to an end.
Kahn spent 2.5 billion berries to acquire three very rare and top-level Devil Fruits, becoming the biggest winner of the auction.
Counting the Paramecia Gol-Gol Fruit obtained from Doflamingo, Kahn harvested four Devil Fruits during his North Blue trip, making it an incredibly rewarding experience.
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