chapter 177 part 3
The three mermaids on stage looked at each other, and all heard their fate.
At this moment, the auctioneer on stage said, "Today's auction has too few people present. If it weren't for the need of Red Fitzgerald Saint, these three items would not be displayed today. They will meet everyone again at the end of the month. See you again!"
After saying that, he didn't give the crowd time to react.
The auction house staff carried the three mermaids, along with their fish tanks, back to the backstage.
"Refusing to earn money, truly sick!"
"Exactly! Wouldn't it have been better to sell those mermaids earlier? Then after playing, even if you lose a little money, you can still recoup it. After half a month like this, who knows how many hands they'll pass through before it's this old man's turn to play!"
These buyers cursed indignantly as they obediently walked towards the exit.
They also couldn't afford to provoke the auction house.
The owner behind the auction house was the Celestial Dragon family, whom they could not offend.
The auction house gradually emptied of people. The bald fat man from before, who was standing in front of the fish tank, rubbing his fists in anticipation, was already imagining his delightful return home.
Just as the bald fat man was full of smug satisfaction, after settling matters with his subordinates, and was excitedly preparing to take the one-eyed mermaid away as a trophy...
A sudden, extremely powerful dizzying sensation, without any warning, swept over him and all of his subordinates!
In an instant, their bodies uncontrollably swayed, their legs buckled, and they all fell to the ground like broken puppets, unable to get up. White foam frothed uncontrollably from their mouths, and they convulsed in pain. The scene instantly fell into chaos!
At this moment, Ren Arakawa unhurriedly walked over from the crowd, heading directly towards the fish tank containing the mermaid.
Looking at the mermaid trembling with fright in the water, Ren Arakawa didn't hesitate. He stretched out his hand, gently reached into the water, and steadily lifted the mermaid out.
The Sabaody Archipelago's terrain is unique, with some similarities to the famous Water 7. As soon as the back door of the auction house opened, it was a winding small river.
Ren Arakawa carefully carried the mermaid to the riverbank, then gently exerted force with his arm, and lightly tossed the mermaid into the river.
After the one-eyed mermaid fell into the water, she looked at Ren Arakawa with her sole remaining eye, full of gratitude. Her voice slightly choked as she bowed to Ren Arakawa, "Thank you!"
"Go."
She looked at Ren Arakawa again, then swayed her fish tail and quickly dove into the small river. After a few ups and downs, she disappeared without a trace.
After doing all this, Ren Arakawa was not in a hurry to leave.
He followed the back door of the auction house, striding towards that evil place where numerous slaves and human beings were held.
As soon as he stepped into this place, a pungent stench of decay assailed him, mixed with the smell of despair and terror, making him nauseous.
In the dim light, rows of dilapidated cages came into view. These cages, large and small, were densely packed.
Various kinds of slaves were imprisoned in the cages. Their clothes were tattered, their faces bruised and swollen, and their eyes were full of despair and numbness.
Some slaves were emaciated, their bodies covered in old and new wounds. Maggots crawled all over the wounds, yet they were powerless to drive them away.
Some huddled together, trembling in this cold and damp environment, trying to draw a shred of warmth from each other.
Others curled up in corners, their eyes vacant, as if they had lost all hope for life, leaving only an empty shell like a walking corpse.
Here, what they suffered was no less than the cages in Impel Down.
Ren Arakawa's gaze slowly swept over the slaves.
Soon, he saw the three mermaids who had appeared on the auction stage earlier.
At this moment, they were cowering in several tiny fish tanks, their fish tails swaying weakly, their eyes filled with fear and helplessness, making one's heart ache.
Not far away, the fish-man who had initially been passed over was also locked in a specially made cage. It angrily pounded the cage, but could only produce dull thuds, unable to break free from these shackles that imprisoned its freedom.
Continuing deeper, Ren Arakawa's gaze was attracted by a unique figure locked in a cage.
It was a humanoid rabbit covered in fluffy fur!
This was a member of the Mink Tribe, and a female rabbit.
She looked quite young, only about ten years old. With a round face and long, fluffy ears drooping, she looked extremely cute, making people unable to resist reaching out to stroke her.
However, when Ren Arakawa approached to observe her, he found that she was also cautiously watching him, a fierce intensity in her eyes that was utterly inconsistent with her appearance. She obviously mistook Ren Arakawa for one of those despicable slave traders.
Just then, a hurried sound of footsteps came from deep within the room, breaking the oppressive silence!
A group of slave auction house thugs, who had discovered the anomaly through the surveillance Transponder Snail, rushed towards Ren Arakawa, wielding clubs and knives, their momentum surging!
"Damn brat! Is this a place you can come to?!"
Facing this surging group of enemies, Ren Arakawa remained calm and composed. A fierce glint flashed in his deep eyes, and a faint, intangible King's Haki, like an invisible windstorm, instantly enveloped this area!
In an instant, the thugs charging at the front seemed to be hit by an invisible immense force. Their bodies stiffened instantly, and then, their eyes rolled back, and they all fell to the ground like broken puppets, unable to get up. White foam frothed uncontrollably from their mouths, and they convulsed in pain. The scene immediately became a chaotic mess!
At this moment, Ren Arakawa didn't stop his steps. He successively walked to the mermaids' fish tanks. He lifted his arm high and violently punched the fish tanks. The glass shattered instantly, water splashed everywhere, and the mermaids regained their freedom, happily swaying their fish tails, pounding the ground, and motioning towards the exit.
Next, he went to the fish-man's cage. He similarly punched open the unbreakable lock, and the fish-man impatiently rushed out, looking at Ren Arakawa with gratitude before running towards freedom.
Finally, Ren Arakawa walked over to the Mink girl. He looked at her gently and asked, "Can you navigate, sail a ship, or cook? Can you do one of those skills?"
The Mink girl first looked confusedly at the slaves behind Ren Arakawa who had already regained their freedom, then turned her head back to look at Ren Arakawa. She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and said softly, "I can do beauty treatments!"
Ren Arakawa's lips curved slightly upward, revealing a gratified smile, "Alright then, you're coming with me."
He turned his head to look at the other slaves and said loudly, "The rest of you, follow the small river behind the back door and flee. Flee as far as possible, don't get caught again."
Upon hearing this, the slaves' eyes were full of gratitude. They all bowed to Ren Arakawa in thanks, then collectively rushed out the door, heading towards the shores of freedom.
At this moment, the Mink girl excitedly asked Ren Arakawa, "What's your name? What's our Pirate crew called? Where's the pirate ship? Is the goal ONE PIECE?!"