Pop~~~ Pop~~~
Two weeks later.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Countless bubbles floated through the air, reflecting light in a rainbow of colors, creating a dreamlike scene. From time to time, a bubble would float too high, break free from the unique climate of the Sabaody Archipelago, and burst with a crisp pop.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting..."
At that moment—
On Grove No. 1.
The Auction House.
The venue was already packed with people—from pirates and bounty hunters to merchants and nobles from all over the world.
In the middle row of seats sat several figures dressed in luxurious spacesuits, their heads encased in bubble helmets. Their mere presence stirred a range of reactions from the audience, whether defiant pirates, wealthy merchants, or high-ranking officials from various nations.
Some were filled with fear, others with awe, unease, or even terror.
But no matter their true feelings—whether disgust or hatred—no one dared to act out of line.
The reason was simple: these individuals were the descendants of the twenty kings who founded the World Government, known as the Celestial Dragons, the world's supreme nobility, recognized by the government as untouchable.
According to the highest laws of the World Government, the descendants of the creators were considered sacred and enjoyed every privilege. If offended, even an admiral from the Navy Headquarters would have to personally intervene to protect them. Whether they killed in broad daylight, kidnapped women, or enslaved people from any race, they were never held accountable. In fact, anyone who tried to obstruct or oppose them would be guilty of a crime.
Anyone who offended the Celestial Dragons would be hunted down, no matter where they fled, and death was the only outcome.
This was common knowledge across the seas.
"The moment we've all been waiting for is about to arrive. I'm sure everyone here is excited..."
On the auction stage.
A man in a suit and sunglasses excitedly announced, "Our Black Flag Trading Company has been preparing for this grand auction for three years, and it's about to begin!"
"But first, we—"
Bang!
"Ah—"
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the hall.
The auctioneer, who had been passionately explaining the auction's rules, screamed as blood splattered from his shoulder. He fell to the ground, wounded.
Panic immediately spread throughout the venue.
Some women screamed, while others turned pale with fear and confusion. But soon, everyone's eyes widened when they saw who had fired the shot—it was one of the Celestial Dragons.
"Enough with the jabbering. So noisy..."
In the middle row stood a bloated, obese figure with a face full of fat, holding a smoking pistol. He glared at the terrified auctioneer, who was struggling to stand, and shouted impatiently, "Get on with it and start already... Don't waste this saint's time!"
The other Celestial Dragons remained silent, clearly unbothered by his actions.
When the obese Celestial Dragon scanned the room with his impatient gaze, everyone instinctively averted their eyes in a panic, terrified of drawing his attention or ire and bringing disaster upon themselves.
The noisy auction house quickly fell silent. Even the women, who had been crying in fear, were quickly silenced by their companions, who covered their mouths and whispered stern warnings, urging them not to make a sound.
"Y-yes, my deepest apologies..."
The auctioneer, pale and drenched in cold sweat, shakily wiped the blood from his shoulder. Fortunately, the shot hadn't hit a vital spot. Two staff members rushed over to help him backstage.
Meanwhile, the auction house manager hurriedly ran out from behind the scenes, repeatedly bowing to the Celestial Dragons. "Please forgive us, my lords. The new auctioneer didn't understand the rules and offended you... The auction will begin immediately!"
With that, he personally took over the role of auctioneer.
"First—"
"Let's present today's first item!"
As the manager's voice echoed through the hall, he gestured toward the first "item" being brought out.
A beautiful young woman with a graceful figure, dressed in a revealing dancer's outfit, was led onto the stage like livestock. Chains were wrapped around her knees and limbs.
"Ah—"
"Wow, what a beauty!"
"As expected of a grand event held once every three years!"
"I didn't think the first item would be this stunning!"
"Black Flag Trading Company really lives up to its reputation as the biggest merchant company in the first half of the Grand Line. Impressive!"
"I've heard that in addition to Devil Fruits, they also have rare special races up for auction!"
"Could it be the legendary mermaids?"
"No, not just mermaids—there are others too..."
The audience was immediately captivated. Pirates, nobles, and merchants alike gazed at the woman on stage with glowing eyes, their attention fully focused on her slender and alluring figure.
Seeing the lustful, predatory gazes of the audience, all directed at her like she was a perfect piece of merchandise, the dancer's face paled with terror. She trembled, looking pitiful and helpless.
"She just turned 18 this year, a beautiful dancer from the West Blue—Bacca. She's skilled in various dances, and her talents are top-notch!"
The manager, clearly an experienced auctioneer, gestured energetically as he passionately introduced the first item, seemingly unaffected by the earlier disturbance. He quickly threw himself into his work, loudly proclaiming, "Look at that gorgeous face! Look at that devilish figure! She's truly the woman of every man's dreams..."
"Furthermore, after thorough inspection, we can guarantee that this product is completely untouched—an authentic virgin!"
"If we're wrong, we'll pay ten times the price. Don't miss out on this opportunity!"
The tense, uneasy atmosphere in the room began to heat up once again, guided by the auctioneer's enthusiasm.
"The starting price is 300,000 Belly, with minimum increments of 10,000 Belly. Although the price may seem high, the quality is unmatched—definitely worth every Belly!"
"So, ladies and gentlemen, what are you waiting for? Place your bids!"
"350,000 Belly!"
"380,000 Belly!"
"400,000 Belly!"