The commotion drew Carl's attention. But it wasn't the "sisters" themselves that interested him—it was their price: two hundred million Belly!
Even in the slave market, young female mermaids, the most expensive, were only priced around seventy million Belly, with exceptionally beautiful ones barely reaching one hundred million. So, if this person dared to ask for two hundred million Belly, these so-called sisters must be something extraordinary.
Not only Carl, but everyone on the street was shocked by the price and began crowding around.
Carl adjusted his tinted sunglasses and slipped into the crowd. As he moved closer, he saw a man with long, light purple hair and a delicate, slightly sinister face, forcefully slapping a small "display case" covered with black cloth beside him.
Carl frowned slightly, feeling a strange familiarity. Then someone shouted from the crowd,
"Hey! Disco! Stop hiding it—let us see what kind of 'goods' could be worth two hundred million Belly!"
Hearing the name, Carl finally remembered. In the anime, Disco was the auctioneer and front manager of the Human Auctioning House at Sabaody Archipelago. The true boss of that place, however, was Doflamingo.
Carl now understood why Disco was later selected by Doflamingo: early experience in the trade, origins in the Red Line, and a good understanding of Celestial Dragons' tastes—he was the perfect candidate. But in the end, he was just a pawn, eventually discarded by Doflamingo.
While Carl was pondering these things, the noise around them grew louder. Disco, with a smug smile, tugged at the black cloth, revealing the "merchandise" in the cage.
Inside was indeed a pair of sisters, though they looked nothing like "flowers." If one insisted on calling them flowers, they were only buds, the older girl appeared barely over ten, while the younger one couldn't be more than five.
Carl took a closer look and thought, "Well, more familiar faces."
The older sister had shoulder-length light green curls. Although her face was still young, her delicate features and fair skin hinted at future beauty. The younger sister looked similar, with darker, straighter hair and a more timid expression.
As the black cloth was pulled away and the crowd gathered around, the younger sister, terrified, clung to her sister's sleeve, bursting into tears. Though trembling with fear, the older sister tried to remain calm and, in a steady voice, said,
"Don't be afraid. I'm here with you."
She reached out, wrapping her sister in a protective embrace and softly whispered to comfort her. Notably, a pair of shackles adorned the older sister's wrists—clearly more than decorative. Carl guessed that if she had already become a Devil Fruit user, these shackles were essential, made from Seastone.
Upon seeing that the "sisters" were just children, some onlookers scoffed at Disco.
"Disco, are you crazy? You think these kids are worth two hundred million Belly? Need a few coins to check your head?"
"Yeah! What can a couple of brats even do? With that money, I could have fun on Pleasure Street for years!"
"Look at those tiny bodies—they couldn't even handle chores!"
"Hey, now! Look at the older one. Just imagine, she'll be a heartbreaker someday. How about two million Belly? I'll take them both!"
Hearing the crowd's scorn and ridicule, the younger sister cried even harder. The older one's face was filled with despair, as if she were trapped in a nightmare. To her, the crowd outside the cage wasn't human—they were demons.
Carl frowned, watching the trembling sisters huddled together. He had already decided to buy them. If the older girl was indeed who he thought, two hundred million Belly was a ridiculously low price.
Disco, still smiling, stood there as if savoring the insults thrown at him. After a moment of quiet, he raised a hand and shouted, stunning the crowd into silence.
With a cryptic grin, Disco said, "Do you think, after all these years in the slave business, I wouldn't know how to price my merchandise?"
One had to admit, Disco was born to be an auctioneer. His skill at creating suspense was impeccable. Hearing his words, the onlookers exchanged uncertain glances. Someone couldn't resist asking,
"What's so special about these brats?"
Disco had been waiting for this question. Smirking, he gestured toward the older sister in the cage.
"Let me introduce my product properly: this little one is Sugar. She's just an ordinary little girl. But her sister… well, that's a different story."
With a look toward the elder girl, Disco continued,
"Her sister's name is Monet. She possesses the Logia-type Snow-Snow Fruit!"
At this, the crowd erupted into astonished whispers. This was the Red Line, where Devil Fruit users weren't an unfamiliar sight, but a Logia user was a rarity.
Though they'd seen many Devil Fruit users here, Logia types were few. Natural elements are limited, and the corresponding Devil Fruits are scarce. With people like Carl and Admiral Akainu setting the standard, Logia abilities had gained an unmatched, invincible reputation, widely considered the most formidable category.
The revelation that Monet was a Logia user intrigued many, though some hesitated. A Logia user could be dangerous—what if she rebelled one day? They couldn't keep her in Seastone cuffs forever.
Disco, anticipating these concerns, chuckled and pointed at Sugar,
"Remember, everyone, Sugar is just a normal kid. This is a 'buy one, get one free' deal."
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+170 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg