Magnus's thoughts were simple.
He wanted to claim Tsuru and raise her into the brain of the White Wolf Pirates.
Rosward's thoughts were even simpler.
A beautiful woman.
Take her home.
Make her his wife.
As a Celestial Dragon, Rosward had never seen commoners as human. To him, they were filth, while Celestial Dragons were a superior species entirely.
But his tastes in women were perfectly human.
Humans weren't as noble as him, but the pretty ones could be bought as toys—or wives.
And Tsuru was beautiful.
Only seventeen, she had joined the Navy the year before, spending just half a year in the academy before being hand-picked for special training in intelligence work.
Some high-ranking officers even believed that if she grew normally, without dying prematurely, she could succeed Rona as the Navy's most celebrated female officer.
Rona wasn't getting any younger, after all. In a few years, her youth would fade.
But Tsuru was young, fresh, promising.
And yet, the threat of the White Wolf Pirates forced the Navy to gamble, sending Tsuru undercover among them.
Her cover identity—
A rookie pirate.
".The starting price for item No. 9 is fifty thousand Berries! Look at those determined eyes, that beautiful little face, that shapely body. Take her home, and no matter the time of day, you can do whatever you want with her!"
"And what's more, we had her inspected by a female examiner. Poor Miss Tsuru is still a maiden. We guarantee she was not violated during capture!"
"So, what are you waiting for?"
"Raise your bidding paddles and begin the auction!"
"..."
The auctioneer's vulgar words stirred heavy breathing among many of the men in the hall. Tsuru bit her lip in shame.
When had she ever endured such humiliation?
Even in this operation, the Navy had ensured her dignity was protected. No one had dared lay a hand on her.
But now—
Standing here as merchandise, watched by leering eyes, her heart still quivered with panic.
She was only seventeen.
She had sworn to become a proud marine, to strike down pirates who harmed the innocent. Yet reality was nothing like she imagined.
Even knowing she was here to infiltrate the White Wolf Pirates—
Even knowing this was a mission—
She couldn't stop herself from hoping.
Hoping for Magnus.
Only he could save her now.
Ten minutes earlier—
In the preparation room, when they learned a Celestial Dragon was attending, the Navy's undercover agents had been ready to abort. Their funds could never outbid a Celestial Dragon.
If Tsuru was bought by one, there was no saving her—not even an Admiral could take her back.
Here in Sabaody, Celestial Dragons were kings.
Tsuru had been puzzled.
"Aren't Celestial Dragons world nobles? Why would nobles attend… a slave auction?"
"You'll understand later," the agent had muttered. "Right now, we need to get you out. There'll be other chances."
But then—
"White King Magnus has appeared in the auction!"
The news stunned both Tsuru and her handlers.
"No, we must leave!"
The agent panicked. "If Magnus clashes with the Celestial Dragon, everything falls apart. Do you know his strength? He could level the archipelago in an hour. The Admirals can't respond that fast!"
"No, wait."
Though just a rookie, Tsuru was the first to calm.
"This could be our chance."
"Our chance?"
"Yes."
She steadied her voice.
"You said yourself—the White Wolf Pirates despise slavers. If Magnus is here, he won't let this auction go smoothly. If he frees me as a slave, then I'll have every reason to join his crew."
"Because he will be my savior."
Her eyes glimmered. As a mere "slave," she might be distrusted.
But as a "rescued slave," joining to repay her savior—who could question that?
And so, ten minutes later, she stood in the center of the stage, presented as merchandise.
But she had overestimated her own resolve.
As the men leered and began their bidding, her heart trembled again.
What if a Celestial Dragon bid?
What if Magnus chose not to oppose them?
"Six hundred thousand!"
"Seven hundred!"
"One million!"
"..."
The room heated up. Her beauty alone wasn't enough—it was her defiance, mixed with flashes of fear, that stoked their lust.
"Two million!"
From the crowd, a disguised naval agent—O'Brien, first mate of the Minos Company—raised his paddle, sweat pouring down his back.
"Damn it, Garrett, what are you doing? Don't you realize the Celestial Dragon's here? Two million is my limit. If the price goes higher, the only way to save her will be to steal her."
"But if the Celestial Dragon makes a move—what then? Am I supposed to snatch her from him?"
O'Brien cursed his fellow agent silently, not knowing it had been Tsuru herself who insisted the plan go forward.
"Two-point-five million!"
O'Brien's bid was crushed quickly. He consoled himself—at least it wasn't the Celestial Dragon.
Then—
"Ten million Berries!"
The ducklike voice thundered across the hall.
"This woman—I'll take her!"
Rosward Saint lifted his head, puffed up like a proud peacock, dismissing every other bidder.
The room fell into dead silence.
Even princes and nobles from member nations lowered their heads. Before a true World Noble, they were nothing.
The host's face lit up with greed.
Ten million! For a mere girl barely worth a few million at best.
The Celestial Dragons were fools with endless money.
Still, procedure had to be followed.
"Any higher bids? If not, the lady belongs to the noble Celestial Dragon, Lord Rosward!"
"..."
Tsuru's heart sank.
The Celestial Dragon had spoken.
Magnus—what would he do?
"One time!"
The gavel struck.
"Two times!"
Tsuru's eyes flicked to Rosward. She saw the vacant eyes of the slave woman at his side, her body marked by abuse.
Was that her future?
"Three—"
The word had barely left the host's mouth when a chuckle echoed.
"Twenty million Berries."
The hall froze.
Who dared bid against a Celestial Dragon?
"Who!?"
Rosward leapt up, face purple with rage.
"Who dares steal my seventeenth wife!?"
"Puhahaha."
From the outer railing of the hall, Magnus leaned casually, sipping his drink, looking down on them all—including the so-called noble.
"Isn't this an auction? I thought money could buy anything here. Or is it that the noble Celestial Dragon can't even afford twenty million?"
"Who are you!?"
Rosward roared. He didn't recognize this man—so he couldn't be a Celestial Dragon. Then he was nothing but filth. A commoner.
And a commoner dared oppose him?
"Die!"
Rosward raised his pistol and fired.
Magnus, still holding his glass in one hand, simply raised his other.
The bullet hovered, round and gleaming, in his palm.
"Hmm?"
Magnus grinned.
"Was that meant for me?"
Ping!
With a flick, the bullet shot back, shattering Rosward's glass helmet and leaving a bloody line across his cheek.
Seconds passed before the pain registered, and Rosward shrieked like a slaughtered pig, rolling on the ground.
"AAAAH! It hurts, it hurts!"
His guards turned ashen.
Magnus had struck. Against a Celestial Dragon.
And yet—
What could they do?
Magnus was a monster worth six hundred million. Against him, they were nothing but fodder.
Still, Rosward screamed at them through his tears.
"What are you waiting for!? Seize him! I'll make this filthy commoner my slave! I'll torture him—I'll—"
Then his eyes landed on Toki at Magnus's side, and he howled louder.
"Yes! I'll take his woman, right in front of—"
Schlkk!
His head flew skyward.
Magnus stood, sword in one hand, picking his ear with the other.
"What was that you were about to say?"
The hall erupted in chaos.
"The Celestial Dragon is dead!?"
"Someone killed a Celestial Dragon!?"
"We're finished! We're all finished!"
At the center, Tsuru stared, stunned.
She had planned to use Magnus to shed her slave identity.
She had planned to use him as balance against the Celestial Dragons.
But she had never imagined—
That Magnus would simply kill one.
And in that moment, Magnus showed her the true meaning of—
The most heinous criminal in the world.
(End of Chapter)
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