"Gahahaha! This Combat Pyramid is magnificent! Compared to this, the Marine Headquarters fortress at Marineford looks like a mud hut!" laughed Shiki, the Golden Lion.
"Damn it, Shiki, if you can't keep your mouth shut, then don't talk at all!" Many high-ranking marines watching the live broadcast couldn't help but curse Shiki's big mouth.
Their Marine Headquarters had a long-standing history; comparing it to the Combat Pyramid was absurd. After all, their annual military budget was less than 40 billion Beli—how could they possibly compete with this 150-billion-Beli marvel?
"Ma-mama-mama! Giants! They even have giants guarding the gate!" Big Mom's eyes lit up, focusing on the two giants stationed at the entrance. She had yearned for giant strength for years and had always wanted a giant in her Totto Land, but never succeeded.
She'd heard rumors of the Infinite Pirates forming trade relations with Elbaf, and seeing it confirmed stirred her ambition to forge her own connection with the giants through the Infinite Pirates.
"Yohohoho! I can't wait to see what 150 billion Beli buys you!" John's eyes gleamed with excitement as he followed Li Yuan into the pyramid. For someone as money-loving as him, such wealth used on a building seemed like boundless riches wasted on indulgence—something he'd never consider doing himself!
Entering the first level of the Combat Pyramid, the space was vast and reached 200 meters in height, so even the giants didn't feel crowded. A map of the first level was prominently displayed, marking the layout clearly, and signposts lined the pathways to prevent visitors from losing their way.
At regular intervals, transponder snails projected scenes of various combat areas, allowing visitors to watch battles and hear the roaring cheers of spectators. Alongside these, there were food stalls selling delicacies from around the world.
Seeing all the sweets and pastries made Big Mom drool, so Li Yuan quickly had some desserts brought over to keep her entertained. Medical stations were also set up, staffed by doctors trained by the Infinite Pirates, using their equipment and medicines—a profitable service for the crew.
In addition to the food and medical facilities, there were areas for rest, leisure, gambling, auctions, and almost every form of entertainment imaginable. The first level was the largest, and elevators provided easy access to the second floor, ensuring smooth movement across the building's 200-meter levels.
Upon reaching the second level, Roger and his crew felt as though they had entered another world. Each floor had its own unique decor and ambiance, giving the impression of stepping into a new realm.
After a tour of the first level, Li Yuan led the group to the elevators and pressed the button for the 17th floor. Even within the elevator, they could view each floor's layout, and through glass walls, they could take in the scenery outside the pyramid. The commanding view was something they all appreciated.
On the 17th floor, a grand feast awaited them. Large tables were arranged near the windows, giving everyone a scenic view of the surroundings. Only individuals of equal rank to Li Yuan were permitted here, while the crew members were left to explore the Combat Pyramid on their own.
"Hahahaha, everyone, take a seat! This feast is specially prepared. Once we finish, the most exciting part of the Pirate Expo, the auction, will begin!" Li Yuan announced, grinning.
Each seat had a name, set up in advance, given the varied body types and preferences of figures like Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Roger.
"Ma-mama-mama! Cake, my favorite cake!" Big Mom found her spot immediately, drawn by the large cake in front of her seat.
"Dukang's brand new spirits, just divine!" Whitebeard exclaimed, picking up his drink and downing it eagerly.
"Gahahaha! Redfield, you actually came!" Shiki said, recognizing the Lone Red Earl sitting beside him, sipping wine. Shiki had once fought him but hadn't been able to defeat him.
"I heard the World Swordsmanship Tournament is set to crown the world's strongest swordsman, so I came to compete. Shiki, you're participating too, aren't you?" Redfield asked with interest.
"Hmph, I am a Grand Swordsman! Why wouldn't I join?" Shiki retorted.
"Hahaha, Li Yuan, Rayleigh and I will also be competing. If we beat you, don't complain!" Roger laughed.
"Don't worry, I'm confident in my skill. This tournament is a chance to prove myself; I won't lose. I am the world's number one swordsman and will accept any challenge!" Li Yuan replied with self-assured pride.
"Gurararara, enough talk! I'm starving—let's dig in!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, grabbing a jug of wine and drinking directly from it.
"Hahaha, yes, drink up and eat your fill! There's more than enough food and drink for everyone!" Li Yuan laughed as he joined in.
"Roger, hands off my wine!" Whitebeard grumbled as he noticed Roger reaching for his drink.
"Hey! You've got plenty of wine from that girl who keeps serving you. Don't swipe mine!" Roger replied, quickly pulling the remaining bottles over to Rayleigh's side. Annoyed by the antics, he focused on drinking as much as he could before the two snatched it all.
As the feast continued, support staff continuously brought in food and drink, clearing away empty plates and bottles. The scene resembled a bustling assembly line, with everything running like clockwork.
Barrett and the other officers stayed alert around the venue, watching over the gathered pirate captains and ensuring order in the Combat Pyramid. Anyone who dared to stir up trouble was swiftly dealt with by the Infinite Pirates.
The Combat Pyramid could accommodate three million people, and with the arrival of the major pirate captains and the start of the Pirate Expo, the pyramid reached near capacity.
The Pirate Expo spanned the 12th to 16th floors, with merchants, traders, and brokers from around the world gathering to sell their goods. Products ranged from common goods to illicit items, and the Infinite Pirates guaranteed their protection, allowing sellers to trade freely. The crew even offered shipping services out of the Infinite Sea.
"Ma-mama-mama! Li Yuan, the chefs here are incredible! Could you send me a few?" Big Mom asked as she relaxed.
"It's not the chefs but the high-quality ingredients sourced globally. If you need, you can send someone to buy the ingredients and have your own chefs make the sweets and cakes," Li Yuan replied, waving her request off.
"Gahahaha, Redfield, is that weak wine I see? Don't tell me you can't handle anything stronger?" Shiki joked, noticing Redfield's glass.
Redfield took a slow sip and replied, "It's not wine, but a new variety of grape wine from Dukang. It's better than regular red wine." His aristocratic manner stood out against the rowdy pirate captains.
"Hahahaha, everyone's had their fill, I hope? Then let's head down—the highlight of the Pirate Expo, the auction, is about to start. Let's see what treasures await," Li Yuan announced with a grin.
"The Pirate Expo, huh? I'd like to see what's on offer this time," Roger said eagerly.
"Gurarara! Then let's go," Whitebeard replied, rising to his feet with two more jugs of wine in hand.
"Roger, could I take a look at that straw hat of yours?" Li Yuan asked, pulling the slightly tipsy Roger aside and eyeing his hat.
"Oh, the hat? Sure, here you go!" Roger laughed and handed it over without hesitation.
Li Yuan examined the hat closely, puzzled. The straw hat seemed ordinary, but it had lasted decades—first with Roger for over 30 years, then with Shanks, and eventually with Luffy. By the time of the original story, it was over 50 years old and still intact. Even something made from the Adam Wood Tree would've shown signs of age by now, let alone an ordinary straw hat. It was practically miraculous!
After finding nothing unusual, Li Yuan handed it back.
"Hahaha, yeah, it's just an ordinary hat—a gift from someone long ago," Roger laughed as he returned the hat to his head.
"The auction rooms have been arranged so that you can see out, but others can't see in. Additionally, Observation Haki is prohibited during the auction," Li Yuan explained as he led them to the 16th-floor auction hall, assigning private rooms to each group.
"Roger! You finally made it! The food here is incredible—join us!" Buggy and Shanks exclaimed, already feasting inside the room.
"Hey, you guys! All this Dukang-branded wine costs a fortune! Do you realize how much you're racking up?" Rayleigh chided, pained to see the room filled with bottles. Couldn't they be more mindful of the crew's finances?
"Relax, Vice-Captain Rayleigh. We checked with the staff; everything in these rooms is complimentary, courtesy of the Infinite Pirates!" Shanks replied, grinning as he stuffed his mouth with food.
"Oh, that's fantastic. The Infinite Pirates are certainly generous. Cheers to that!" Roger exclaimed, taking another swig.
"The Infinite Pirates have taken the Celestial Dragons' treasure twice, split up Rocks' inheritance, raided allied and unaffiliated nations alike, taken control of 25% of the New World, and sold arms across the world. No wonder they're rich," Rayleigh analyzed.
"Wait, Captain Roger, are we really the poorest pirate crew?" Buggy asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
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