Following the host's introduction, an elegant pirate was dragged onto the stage in chains.
An explosive collar clung tightly to his neck—he was treated no better than livestock.
And he wasn't the only one.
One after another, men and women were paraded across the platform, displayed like commodities. The well-dressed nobles in the audience raised placards, competing fiercely for their favorite slaves.
The auction dragged on. Humanity's dignity vanished with each bid.
Nearly an hour later, Fenric finally saw the Straw Hat crew trickling into the venue. Nami, Sanji, and the others slipped into seats, their eyes scanning the stage.
Not long after, another Celestial Dragon entered—the obese Saint Charlos.
But still, Luffy and Zoro had yet to appear.
As the auction rolled forward, the merchandise grew rarer, the atmosphere more fevered.
"Next, ladies and gentlemen, we will auction our final item—our most anticipated star of the night!"
At the host's signal, stagehands wheeled out a large cart. An oval object sat on top, shrouded by a thick cloth, its contents hidden.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation.
When the cart came to a stop, the host spread his arms wide.
"Behold, our grand finale! A rare treasure the likes of which you've all dreamed of!"
With a dramatic flourish, the cloth was lifted.
A massive glass tank came into view.
Inside—was a mermaid. A girl with a human body and a glittering fish tail.
It was none other than Camie, the very friend the Straw Hats had come to rescue.
"OOOOHHHHHH!!!"
The room erupted.
Mermaids were the most coveted slaves in the world. Their rarity, beauty, and value made nobles desperate to possess them. Female mermaids were especially prized.
The moment Camie appeared, the auction house shook with frenzied cheers.
"Amazing! A real mermaid!"
"So young and pure—what a treasure!"
"I must have her, even if it costs me everything!"
The audience was on the verge of madness. Even the Celestial Dragons leaned forward, their piggish eyes gleaming with desire.
Meanwhile, Nami and her companions looked stricken.
Seeing their friend caged like livestock filled them with rage.
"Camie! It's Camie!" Choked with emotion, Hachi the merman cried out.
"Don't worry, we'll get her back!" Sanji growled, eyes burning. He could never tolerate a woman—especially a beautiful one—being treated like this.
Nami forced herself to stay calm. "We've got 200 million Berries. That should be enough to buy her freedom!"
Hachi's heart swelled with hope.
Onstage, the host smiled thinly. "Well then, since our guests are so eager, let's not waste time. The final auction begins now!"
His words had barely fallen when Saint Charlos lurched to his feet.
"Five hundred million Berries!" he bellowed. "I'll pay five hundred million!"
Silence fell like a guillotine.
Half a billion.
A staggering sum. Even some notorious pirates didn't carry bounties that high.
The price alone scared off most bidders. And even those few wealthy enough to compete shrank back. Competing against a Celestial Dragon was suicide.
Within moments, the auction house fell silent.
At the back, Nami and the others froze. Despair flashed across Nami's face as the bidding paddle slipped from her hand.
"Five hundred million… we can't match that…" she whispered.
"Damn it!" Sanji snarled, teeth grinding.
Chopper trembled in his small reindeer form. "We have to think of something! We can't let Camie become a slave!"
But no matter how hard they thought, they had no answer.
On stage, the host spread his hands.
"If there are no further bids, then I will announce that the auction of this popular item will end as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing this, Nami and others became even more anxious.
"No, we have to save Camie!"
"Don't be impulsive, Camie has a bomb collar around her neck. Once it explodes, Camie will die!"
"..."
In the audience, Fenric watched them quietly, lips curling in a faint smile. He knew how this scene would play out.
The real show was about to begin.
Just as in the original story, at the very moment the host declared Camie sold to Saint Charlos—
Crash!
The ceiling split apart.
Two figures riding a flying fish smashed through the roof, scattering debris and bodies across the hall.
Luffy and Zoro had finally arrived.
The chaos escalated instantly.
Luffy spotted Camie in the tank and charged without hesitation, fists ready to break her free.
But when Hachi moved to stop him, begging for patience, Saint Charlos raised his pistol—and shot Hachi.
The gunshot rang out.
Blood sprayed.
Something in Luffy snapped.
"You bastard!!!"
With one earth-shaking punch, he sent Saint Charlos flying across the room.
The entire venue went dead silent.
Everyone knew the consequence of attacking a Celestial Dragon.
It meant one thing: the Admirals would come.
Panic tore through the crowd. Screams erupted as nobles scrambled to flee. The grand auction dissolved into chaos.
Fenric, leaning back in his seat, watched the pandemonium with mild amusement.
"Here it is. The spark that lights the fire."
As the Straw Hats clashed with guards and marines, Fenric yawned.
It was playing out exactly as he remembered.
Then, from the side, Trafalgar Law slid into the seat beside him.
"Hey, old man," Law said, eyes sharp. "The Admirals are on their way. Aren't you going to run?"
Fenric chuckled softly. "Run? Why would I? This is just getting interesting."
Law studied his face intently. "Strange… Have we met before?"
Of course, they hadn't.
But Law's instincts were sharp. He'd seen that face before—not in person, but on a bounty poster.
"Maybe? I can't remember either."
No sooner had the words fallen when the situation shifted once again.
The female Celestial Dragon, Saint Shalria, seeing that the guards were no match for Luffy and the others, suddenly rushed onto the stage, pistol in hand, aiming straight at the mermaid, Camie.
Luffy and his companions were too far away—there was no time to stop her.
At that moment, an old man appeared on the stage.
He had silver hair, wore a loose robe with sandals, and a pair of reading glasses rested on the bridge of his nose. His face was marked deeply by the traces of age, but despite his unassuming appearance, he radiated an aura that couldn't be ignored.
Fenric's eyes sharpened. He knew exactly who this was.
The man was no ordinary old drunkard.
This was the legendary Dark King—Silvers Rayleigh, the former first mate of the Pirate King himself. A hidden powerhouse with the strength to rival an admiral or even stronger in his prime.
As Rayleigh stepped forward, Saint Shalria suddenly collapsed, unconscious, her pistol clattering uselessly to the floor.
Only Fenric noticed the subtle ripple of Conqueror's Haki that had knocked her out.
Camie was safe.
"It seems this auction is finally over," Rayleigh muttered. He pulled out a flask, intending to take a drink, only to find it empty. "Ah? No booze? Well, I did swipe some cash earlier. Guess I'll just buy a few bottles later~"
He rambled like a drunkard, but no one dared laugh. His mere presence had silenced the hall. The aura he exuded, the casual way he subdued a Celestial Dragon—it demanded respect.
"Rayleigh!" Hachi cried out, his voice trembling.
"Oh? Hatchan?" Rayleigh's face brightened with surprise. "Well, I'll be damned. It's been a long time!"
His smile faded when he noticed Hachi's injuries. "What's this? Who hurt you? Was it these people?" His cloudy eyes flashed with dangerous light.
An instant later, an invisible pressure surged from him.
Conqueror's Haki.
The shockwave swept through the hall, knocking out the Celestial Dragons' guards in droves. Even Luffy and Law stiffened under the pressure, while Nami and Robin paled visibly.
Only Fenric remained calm, unshaken.
"Uncle," Law muttered lowly, glancing at him, "do you know that old man?"
Fenric chuckled lightly. "I know of him—but not well."
Law frowned. The man's composure in the face of such overwhelming power only deepened his suspicion. This uncle… he's no ordinary person.
Fenric rose to his feet, drawing every eye in the hall.
Luffy, Zoro, Kid, and Law all turned toward him, their expressions sharpening.
On the stage, Rayleigh too stopped his drunken act. His eyes narrowed, his instincts warning him—this man was dangerous.