Stella slowly turned her head toward the source of the voice, and the moment her eyes landed on Tesoro, a flicker of shock and concern passed through her expression.
“Hmm?
This guest seems rather emotional,” the host chuckled lightly, clearly amused by the interruption, before continuing smoothly as the auction resumed.
“Now then, this beautiful young lady originally comes from the East Blue.
She has traveled with her merchant father since childhood and possesses exceptional navigation skills.
The starting price is two million Berries.”
“Three million!”
A paddle immediately rose from the crowd.
Navigation talent was extremely valuable in a world entirely dominated by oceans.
A skilled navigator meant survival, profit, and dominance over dangerous waters.
“Five million!”
“Eight million!”
As the bids rose, Tesoro instinctively tried to raise his paddle as well, but Roy firmly pressed his arm down before he could act.
“How much money do you even have?”
“I…” Tesoro froze.
“…Three hundred thousand.”
“Then why are you raising your hand?”
“But”
“Calm down,” Roy released his grip slightly.
“This isn’t the worst moment yet.
I’ll handle it.”
“Thirty million Berries.”
The voice cut through the hall instantly.
A Celestial Dragon in the front row had raised his hand without hesitation, his tone filled with excitement.
“I’ll take her.
She’ll become my seventy-first wife.”
The entire venue fell into absolute silence.
No one dared to bid against a Celestial Dragon.
Stella’s face slowly lifted inside the cage, her expression breaking into despair.
Tesoro tensed violently and almost stood again, but Roy held him back once more.
“Don’t move.”
Then Roy leaned closer and whispered something into Tesoro’s ear.
Tesoro hesitated, confusion flashing across his face, but after a brief moment of hesitation, he quietly stood up and slipped out of the auction house without drawing attention.
*BANG.*
“Congratulations!
Saint Rugumark has secured the beautiful lady.”
The auctioneer’s voice rang out smoothly, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Roy, however, was no longer focused on Stella.
His attention had shifted entirely.
He was waiting.
For the Devil Fruit.
An attendant soon brought out a tray covered with a red cloth.
The hall quieted again.
“Now then… we present a rare treasure from the sea.
A Devil Fruit.”
The host pulled the cloth away.
On the tray sat a strange fruit pink in color, shaped like a human brain, covered in intricate vein-like patterns.
The surface shimmered faintly, as if something inside it was alive and moving.
“It is the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit… the Nen-Nen Fruit!!”
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
The host continued energetically.
“Eating it grants the ability to manipulate surrounding objects freely, and even allows the user to lift themselves off the ground granting flight.
A highly versatile and powerful ability.
Starting price: one hundred million Berries.”
Silence followed… then chaos.
The entire auction hall erupted into discussion.
Devil Fruits were already rare, and one with such direct and practical abilities immediately drew intense interest.
Roy remained silent, his eyes fixed on the fruit.
The Nen-Nen Fruit.
A power centered around mental control and manipulation of objects… and possibly more.
For someone like him someone with abnormal mental strength it was the perfect match.
His fingers tightened slightly.
“…Good.”
“130 million!”
A pirate in the front row raised his paddle immediately, trying to intimidate competitors with a quick jump in price.
“Only thirty million more?
Pathetic.
200 million!”
A wealthy merchant scoffed, raising the stakes without hesitation.
The bidding escalated rapidly.
Devil Fruits were always like this rare enough that even average ones in the Underworld could reach over a hundred million Berries, while truly strong ones soared far beyond imagination.
“300 million!”
“320 million!”
“350 million!”
The crowd gradually thinned as weaker bidders dropped out.
“400 million!!”
A pirate shouted loudly, scanning the room aggressively.
Gasps echoed from nearby seats.
“That’s Iron Arm Jones… bounty 130 million!
I heard he’s tried to enter the New World twice and failed both times!”
“He’s desperate for that fruit!”
“500 million!”
Another voice rang out—this time relaxed and arrogant.
It came from the front row.
The Celestial Dragon leaned forward slightly, waving his hand casually.
“I’ll take it.
I’ll feed it to my slave.
A flying slave would be entertaining.”
He laughed loudly, clearly amused by his own words.
The hall fell into suffocating silence.
Jones clenched his fists, veins visible, his eyes shaking with frustration.
This fruit… might have been his only chance to reach the New World again.
But he didn’t move.
Not here.
Not against a Celestial Dragon.
Especially not this close to Marineford.
Roy observed everything quietly.
In the end, both desperation and ambition meant nothing before absolute authority.
And just like that, the Nen-Nen Fruit fell into the hands of the Celestial Dragon.
Roy exhaled slowly.
“…Good.”
Now he didn’t have to worry about it being eaten immediately.
And Stella was already in their possession.
That meant everything was aligned.
He stood up quietly and turned toward the exit, losing interest in the remaining items.
Outside the auction house, in a narrow alley opposite the entrance, Tesoro was already waiting anxiously.
The moment Roy stepped out, Tesoro rushed forward.
Roy activated Observation Haki briefly, scanning the surroundings before entering the alley fully.
“Relax, Tesoro.
Everything is going smoother than expected.”
He casually took the cloak from Tesoro, draped it over himself, and pulled the hood low over his face.
Tesoro hesitated, voice trembling.
“B-Boss… are we really going through with this?
If we attack a Celestial Dragon… an Admiral will come…”
Roy didn’t look at him.
“Don’t you want Stella back?”
Tesoro froze.
Roy placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Everything is already set.”
Then he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.
Through Observation Haki, the entire auction house unfolded in his mind like a living map movements, intent, presence.
Mental power… perception… awareness.
Everything was under his control.
Meanwhile, the auction inside reached its end.
To Roy’s mild surprise, both Devil Fruits in the auction had been secured by the Celestial Dragon.
Then came relief.
No immediate consumption.
Perfect.
He smiled faintly in the dark.
Who would ever complain about having too many Devil Fruits waiting to be taken?