The layout of Auction Hall No. 1 resembled a movie theater. Rows of semicircular seats sloped downward, with two red-carpeted aisles running through the center.
At the front, a stage adorned with the same red carpet was the focal point.
At that moment, Berkeley, the auction house president—whose face was swollen like a pig's head—held a microphone and introduced the first auction item with great passion, all while enduring the pain on his face.
His appearance was comically absurd.
Yet none of the hundreds of nobles and wealthy merchants seated in the audience dared laugh.
Why? Because in the frontmost, central seats sat three Celestial Dragons—the Rozwald family.
Their seating area was significantly distanced from the others, with no one within a ten-meter radius. Surrounding them were armored guards and CP operatives in black suits and sunglasses, standing watchfully at full alert.
"Charloss, remember this: sometimes a ruler's act of kindness can save many lives, but it may also endanger even more," Rozwald whispered, barely audible, to his disheartened son.
"But… I just wanted to save her. I didn't expect…" Charloss's grotesque face twisted in pain, his eyes brimming with anguish. "I didn't mean to cause her death."
As the massive fish tank was pushed onto the stage by several strong men, Shalulia Palace's icy voice broke the momentary silence.
"Have you considered that perhaps, for her, death was a release?"
"Didn't you see the smile on her face?"
"Imagine the fate of slaves captured by traffickers. Just imagining it is enough to send shivers down one's spine."
"Charloss, that girl might even be grateful to you."
Hearing Shalulia's words, Charloss shook his head. "No matter what, it was still my fault she died."
With a hopeful gaze, he turned to Rozwald. "Father, do you think we could use our status to free those poor slaves?"
"Impossible," Rozwald replied coldly, his voice carrying the weight of a brewing storm.
"You are not Fisher Tiger, and the Celestial Dragons care nothing for the lives of slaves. Just watch and remember this feeling of frustration, helplessness, and pain. That's exactly what I want you to see."
"Then are we changing nothing?" Charloss asked stubbornly.
"No, things will change. Soon."
An icy chill gleamed in Rozwald's eyes.
Charloss shuddered, quieting down. His gaze shifted to the stage and the mermaid inside the tank.
Not "the" mermaid—she was more than just a fish.
Mermaids are people.
Her beauty was indeed otherworldly, as the legends claimed. One couldn't take their eyes off her exquisite face.
Her azure eyes were as clear as the sea, her features delicately proportioned, her snow-white nose petite and charming, and her cherry-red lips framed a face framed by pink hair that swirled in the water.
Her upper body was clad only in two blue shells, leaving much of her smooth, delicate skin exposed. From her waist down, a long, streamlined aqua-colored tail replaced human legs, resembling a shark's rather than a typical scaled fish tail, complete with pointed fins.
This combination of human upper body and elegant tail, coupled with her frightened, vulnerable expression, exuded an exotic allure that could drive any man mad.
As the mermaid was pushed to the stage, nobles and merchants invited as guests lit up with greedy eyes, staring intently at her.
Some began contemplating whether bidding on the mermaid might upset the Celestial Dragons.
But this was an auction—highest bidder wins. That was the rule.
"Honored guests, this is the highlight of today's auction!"
Berkeley raised his voice, stepping beside the tank and gesturing toward the mermaid.
"From the famed Fishman Island, a rare great white shark mermaid! Rarer and more beautiful than any other!"
"Look at her perfect figure, her sleek and graceful tail, her peerless beauty rivaling even the Pirate Empress herself!"
"Imagine taking such a rare mermaid home, keeping her in your private aquarium. Imagine the awe your guests would feel!"
"And if you don't want her as a mere pet—well, gentlemen, you could even make her your wife."
Berkeley chuckled, flashing a knowing smile—though his swollen face distorted it.
"Having such a stunning mermaid as a wife—what an extravagant life that would be!"
"What? Wondering how a mermaid might fulfill marital duties? Well, gentlemen, that's a secret you'll have to discover for yourselves."
"Note that after marriage, a mermaid's tail can transform into human legs, retaining her beauty but becoming indistinguishable from a human. However, once back in water, the tail returns."
"Additionally, mermaids and humans can interbreed. But to avoid fish-like offspring, you'd best take precautions, hehe."
"And now, the bidding begins! The starting price for this extraordinary great white shark mermaid, Dora, is one billion berries!"
Berkeley's impassioned words left the audience in a state of heavy breathing.
These were no ordinary guests—they were wealthy nobles, royalty from allied nations, and prominent merchants.
The sight of Dora left them red-eyed, their gazes fervent. Some hesitated, debating whether to place a bid, while others turned toward the Celestial Dragons seated in front.
They knew the Celestial Dragons had a particular fondness for mermaids. Whenever a mermaid was captured and auctioned in Sabaody, the Celestial Dragons would descend from their Holy Land to participate.
Bids for mermaids often reached astronomical amounts, sometimes five or six billion berries—or even tens of billions.
Some even claimed a 50-billion berry bounty was placed on the legendary Mermaid Princess by a Celestial Dragon.
No one dared to bid before the Celestial Dragons made their move. They feared offending them.
Once the Celestial Dragons bid, others would try their luck. After all, even Celestial Dragons adhered to the auction's rules—or so they hoped.
Finally, Rozwald spoke.
"1 berry."
The hall fell silent. Berkeley froze momentarily, then laughed nervously.
"Honored Rozwald Saint has bid one billion berries!"
But his laughter quickly faltered as Rozwald's cold voice echoed again:
"No, I said one berry."
Also Disappointed in This Auction
The bids from the audience fell far below the starting price, and no one else joined in.
Technically, such a bid would be invalid.
But the bidder was a Celestial Dragon.
Berkeley didn't dare to declare it invalid, not to mention that even his master, the Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo, might hesitate to offend Saint Rosward.
Thus, Berkeley could only put on a mournful expression and continue hosting the auction.
"One beri, going once."
"One beri, going twice."
"One beri, sold!"
"Congratulations to Saint Rosward. The mermaid Dora is now yours."
Berkeley's heart bled as he quickly gestured for the auction guards to push the tank containing the mermaid in front of Saint Rosward's family. He tried to ignore it, steeling himself to continue introducing the second item for auction.
A table covered in gold-threaded silk was carried onto the stage.
Taking a deep breath, Berkeley resumed his enthusiastic tone, the one he used to stir excitement in the auction house:
"In these turbulent seas, danger lurks everywhere. To ensure one's safety, one must have great power!"
"And to gain power, it takes not only time and effort but also extraordinary talent."
"But there is a force in these seas that allows one to gain immense power effortlessly."
"Just a single bite can transform you into a superhuman, rising above others. While this power comes at the cost of losing the ability to swim, that price pales in comparison to the strength it grants."
"As you may have guessed, this power is none other than..."
Berkeley dramatically pulled away the golden silk cloth, revealing a golden treasure chest underneath.
Lifting the chest, he slowly opened it for the audience to see.
Inside was a peculiar fruit covered in spiral patterns, resembling an oversized strawberry.
"The Devil Fruit!"
Berkeley excitedly held the fruit high.
"This fruit is the Zoan-type Bug-Bug Fruit, Sandworm Model. By consuming it, you can transform into a burrowing giant worm with enhanced strength!"
"Recently, the Sandworm Fruit's previous user, Mig Jones—captain of the Giant Bug Pirates and a rising star with a bounty of 120 million beri—caused havoc on the territory of the Warlord Gecko Moria and escaped unscathed."
"Does this tempt you?"
"By eating this fruit, you too can gain power equivalent to a bounty of 120 million beri!"
"Zoan-type Bug-Bug Fruit, Sandworm Model. Starting bid: one billion beri!"
"Let the bidding begin!"
As Berkeley introduced the item, Saint Rosward looked surprised at his daughter, Shalulia.
Shalulia was also taken aback. "I didn't expect Mig Jones's fruit to end up here in Sabaody. The Donquixote family truly has great influence to have obtained it so quickly."
Seeing the fruit reminded Saint Rosward of the late Aristo.
With Aristo dead, had his Blood-Blood Fruit's power also been reborn elsewhere?
Judging by Aristo's abilities, the Blood-Blood Fruit seemed to have frightening growth potential—on par with the strongest Logia fruits.
If the Navy acquired it and gave it to the right person, it could create a powerful combatant.
But if it fell into the hands of pirates, the seas would have another Aristo-level threat to contend with.
As Berkeley raised the Devil Fruit high, the audience grew excited again.
Among the merchants and nobles, personal safety was always the highest priority.
A Devil Fruit, which could enhance one's strength almost instantly, was undoubtedly a treasure they all yearned for.
Their desire for it even surpassed their interest in the mermaid.
After all, with great power, making money became an easy feat.
But before the eager nobles could even prepare to bid, a single coin landed at Berkeley's feet with a crisp "clink."
Berkeley's smile instantly froze.
A vein bulged on his forehead, his face twitching uncontrollably as his hand holding the Devil Fruit trembled.
The scenario he dreaded most had happened again.
"One beri."
Saint Rosward's indifferent voice echoed.
"This... this... Saint Rosward, your actions don't seem to align with the auction house's rules..."
This time, Berkeley, overwhelmed by anger and frustration, finally gathered the courage to protest.
"Rules?"
Saint Rosward's eyes turned icy as he scattered the remaining beri coins in his hand at Berkeley's feet.
"My rules are the rules."
"Today, all items will be bid on for one beri."
"How can you do this? If so, we at Prestige Auction House might as well bundle up all the items and gift them to you, Saint Rosward!"
Berkeley, losing his composure due to anger, spoke out of turn.
His heart bled.
Originally, after today's auction, he expected to make a personal commission of two or three billion beri.
But Saint Rosward's interference meant he wouldn't earn a single coin.
Worse still, he now had to face the wrath of Donquixote Doflamingo after losing merchandise worth tens of billions of beri.
Doflamingo, arrogant and ruthless, wouldn't listen to excuses.
To him, this failure would simply be proof of Berkeley's incompetence.
"Whoosh!"
A gust of wind swept through, and a figure flashed onto the stage.
A single slap sent Berkeley spinning in place, blood streaming from his nose and mouth as he collapsed to the ground in a daze.
The CP chief calmly caught the Devil Fruit, returned to Saint Rosward, and presented it respectfully.
Holding the fruit, Saint Rosward met Berkeley's angry, humiliated gaze.
"No, I don't like taking things by force. Paying for something makes me feel more at ease. Continue the auction; I want to keep bidding."
Seeing Berkeley still sprawled on the ground, Saint Rosward frowned.
The CP chief noticed and immediately stepped forward, ready to deliver another slap.
Sensing the killing intent, Berkeley jolted to his feet, resuming his role as auctioneer with mechanical efficiency.
At this point, his only thoughts were about how to escape once the auction ended.
Sabaody was no longer a place he could stay.
Having offended both the Celestial Dragons and Doflamingo, his future was bleak.
"Next up is a renowned sword from Wano, one of the Fifty Skillful Grade Blades: Shigure. Starting... starting bid, five million beri..."
Berkeley weakly introduced the next item.
Predictably, Saint Rosward bid one beri to claim Shigure.
Time passed as item after item appeared on stage: slaves, weapons, and people of various ages and races.
All the slaves wore heavy explosive collars around their necks, ready to detonate at their owner's command.
"Next, we have..."
Berkeley's voice sounded numb as he looked at the white-haired old man wearing glasses being brought onstage.
"A coating mechanic selling himself because he couldn't afford his drinking habits."
"The shipwright Rayleigh."
(End of Chapter)
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