Early morning light filtered through the windows of the hotel lobby as Roy calmly ate breakfast, sitting with the same relaxed posture he always carried.
The Grand Line never stopped being chaotic, but moments like this made it feel strangely normal.
The quiet was broken when Tesoro suddenly rushed into the hotel in a panic after being out all night.
Without even stopping properly, he pulled up a chair, grabbed a bun from the table, and shoved it into his mouth in one motion.
He immediately choked, his face turning bright red as he struggled to swallow.
Roy, without reacting much, slid a cup of water toward him.
Tesoro grabbed it, gulped it down, and pounded his chest several times before finally breathing properly.
“Boss… I found everything.”
His voice was urgent.
“In two days, the Wild Wolf Gang’s auction house will hold a massive auction.
They’ve gathered all kinds of rare items… and even the Celestial Dragons will be attending in person.”
At that name, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Celestial Dragons.
The World Nobles.
Roy had already learned enough about this world to understand what that meant.
These were beings protected at the highest level of the World Government individuals whose mere injury could trigger an Admiral’s arrival.
CP agents, Marine forces, and political consequences all followed them like shadows.
Roy exhaled slowly.
“…That complicates things.”
His original plan had been simple: storm the auction, erase the gang, take the money, and rescue Stella.
But the presence of a Celestial Dragon meant CP0 or other government agents would almost certainly be nearby.
A direct strike would draw unnecessary attention.
And right now, he wasn’t interested in attracting the Marines.
He leaned back slightly.
“…Then we adjust.”
There were plenty of targets in Sabaody anyway.
No need to rush.
He calmly resumed eating.
Two days later.
Inside the auction house, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.
Roy sat among the crowd, quietly reviewing the auction list in his hand: slaves, weapons, famous swords, rare artifacts and two Devil Fruits.
His eyes suddenly stopped.
One entry.
A Devil Fruit with a vague but intriguing description.
Something inside him stirred.
A faint excitement surfaced in his usually calm expression, and his grip tightened unconsciously, crumpling the paper.
“…So this is where it is.”
Perfect.
The noise in the hall abruptly died down.
A slow, heavy rhythm of footsteps echoed through the venue.
Clomp… Clomp… Clomp…
At the entrance, a Celestial Dragon entered, seated on a trembling slave like a throne.
A glass bubble helmet covered his head, and a whip cracked repeatedly as he struck the slave beneath him without hesitation.
Behind him, three CP agents followed silently, their presence cold and emotionless.
The entire hall reacted instantly.
Pirates who were moments ago loud and arrogant now sat straight, eyes lowered.
Even wealthy nobles avoided eye contact, stealing only brief glances from the corners of their eyes.
The Celestial Dragon moved forward without acknowledging anyone.
He took his seat in the front row.
The slave collapsed to the ground.
No longer moving.
The Celestial Dragon clicked his tongue in annoyance and kicked the body repeatedly.
“Get up… trash.”
No response.
His patience vanished.
He pulled out a gun and fired several shots without hesitation.
*BANG!
BANG!
BANG!*
The slave went still.
The CP agents stepped forward calmly and dragged the body away as if it were routine.
Roy watched the entire scene in silence.
Then exhaled.
“…So this is what the World Nobles are like.”
Truly disgusting.
The lights dimmed.
A spotlight hit the stage.
A middle-aged man in a tuxedo stepped forward with a polished smile, scanning the audience carefully before lingering on the Celestial Dragon in the front row.
A satisfied glint appeared in his eyes.
Perfect.
Profit guaranteed.
“Esteemed guests, welcome to today’s auction.
I am your host, Torre.”
He bowed slightly.
“And we are honored to have the presence of His Highness, Saint Rugumark.”
The voice echoed through the hall via speakers.
“Today, we present only the finest goods rare treasures beyond imagination.”
Two staff members pushed an iron cage onto the stage.
Inside sat a large, rugged man in torn clothing, a collar locked around his neck.
He trembled slightly, eyes hollow with despair.
Torre smiled professionally.
“Our first item: Captain Lim of the Great Sword Pirates from West Blue, bounty forty-seven million Berries.”
“The starting price: five million Berries.”
Silence.
Torre wasn’t surprised.
The item had been hastily arranged after the Celestial Dragon’s previous slave was killed.
Ordinary pirates rarely dared bid on pirate slaves.
“Sixty million.”
The Celestial Dragon raised his hand casually.
He had just lost a toy.
Now he wanted a new one.
The hall went dead silent.
No one dared breathe.
Torre didn’t even hesitate.
“Sold!
Congratulations, Saint Rugumark.”
One item after another followed.
Weapons, artifacts, treasures all exchanged under the rhythm of the gavel striking wood.
*CLACK.*
*CLACK.*
*CLACK.*
Roy flipped through the list calmly, waiting.
His finger eventually stopped on one entry near the bottom.
The Devil Fruit.
“Item number fifteen.”
Another cage was brought out.
Inside sat a young blonde girl in a torn blue dress.
Her body trembled slightly, but her expression was already hollow like someone who had long accepted despair.
Tesoro suddenly stood up.
“Stella!”
His voice broke the silence.
Eyes in the hall shifted instantly.
Even the Celestial Dragon turned his head slightly.
Roy immediately grabbed Tesoro’s sleeve and pulled him back down.
“Sit.”
Tesoro was shaking uncontrollably, his eyes fixed on the cage.
The girl Stella slowly turned her head toward the sound.