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Auguro waved his hand.
"Don't worry about that! Unless the World Government is dead set on an all-out war, they won't touch my territory!"
To truly wipe out the Holy Spirit Empire, all three Marine Admirals would have to mobilize, at the very least! If they did that, who would monitor the New World?
Did they really think the Four Emperors were so patient?
In truth, without using their ultimate hidden cards, the World Government had already missed their window to destroy the Holy Spirit Empire!
Three Captain-level Soul Reapers were Auguro's ultimate confidence!
Rayleigh looked at Auguro, clearly sensing his confidence and sincerity. After a moment's thought, however, Rayleigh still refused.
"I'm old now. I don't have the same drive as you young people! I'd rather just enjoy my retirement!"
He spoke of retirement, but Auguro knew that, like Red-Haired Shanks, he was betting the future on Luffy!
That straw hat, a symbol of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, was not something just anyone could wear. Not to mention the prophesied Devil Fruit: the Zoan-type Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika (Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika)!
It was strange how much the people of this world believed in prophecies and myths. The Wano Country arc even elevated these to the level of world destiny. Auguro could only think, If it makes you happy! He certainly didn't believe it! The real future had to be created by himself!
However, Auguro understood that Rayleigh would not agree. The world hadn't gone completely off the rails yet, so the old man was content to stay out of it.
"Then I have another request!"
Auguro wasn't going to let Rayleigh off the hook completely.
"I'll send some people to learn Haki and combat techniques from you, Senpai! I'll pay per head—thirty million Berries per person, per year!"
Auguro had many powerful subordinates, but none were true experts in Haki. Even Lucci and the others were mostly self-taught. With an experienced teacher right here, Auguro couldn't let the opportunity pass! He might even use Rayleigh to establish an elite training camp for the Holy Spirit Empire!
Rayleigh's eyes immediately lit up. The price was significantly lower than a full salary, but the work was much simpler. He didn't want to refuse, but the offer was simply too generous!
"Fine! Send them over when you get a chance!" Rayleigh agreed immediately.
Auguro nodded and contacted Lucci, instructing him to select some high-potential new recruits.
After the deal with Rayleigh was struck, Shakky handed over the collected intelligence on the slave traders to Auguro.
"There are quite a few auction houses dealing in human trafficking, but only five or six are large-scale."
"Two of them have recently announced they will no longer be involved in this type of business!" Shakky kindly offered extra context.
Auguro flipped through the intelligence and found that the owners of those two auction houses were Doflamingo!
"That flamingo has quick reflexes!" Auguro rolled his eyes. Since he was sensible, Auguro could spare him this one time. The target would be the remaining auction houses!
"Are you planning to move now?" Rayleigh asked curiously.
Auguro shook his head. "It's too early! We'll wait until their slave-catching crews return, and we'll capture them all at once!"
Closing the auction house alone wouldn't stop the slave crews from selling their captives elsewhere. Only a complete sweep would be effective!
Rayleigh slowly sipped his drink.
"Are you sure about this? Even if you take them out, another group will just appear later!"
"As long as people are buying, these scoundrels will never disappear!"
Auguro merely stated calmly and firmly.
"Even so, it's worth it to save a few more people! If we kill enough of them to instill fear, fewer people will dare to join the slave crews!"
"And some things, you only gain hope by acting on them!"
Only gain hope by acting on them? Rayleigh slowly savored those last words, deeply moved. Had Roger also carried that sentiment when he chose to surrender, initiating the Great Pirate Era?
The next two days, Auguro spent time enjoying the Sabaody Archipelago with the women. The various bubble facilities were surprisingly fun.
This morning, Auguro sat on his bed, pulling out the Magnet-Magnet Fruit he had held for days. Today, his Achievement Points had finally surpassed 100,000.
Without hesitation, he spent all 100,000 Achievement Points to gain temporary Soul King Authority.
In an instant, Auguro's eyes turned a clear, silvery-white. He could see the Spirit Particles (Reishi) suspended everywhere in the world, and even the differently shaped souls of the passersby. The souls of ordinary people were white, while those of Soul Reapers were red.
He focused his gaze on the Devil Fruit in his hand. The soul of the demon was black mixed with other colors. Under the Soul King's Eye (Reiō no Hitomi), he could see threads wrapped around the demon's soul, connected to the endless void. This was likely the source of the Devil Fruits' curse by the sea.
With the System's guidance, Auguro began to modify the demon's soul. While he technically performed the modification, the System guided the process. Countless Spirit Particles converged, pouring into the demon's soul, breaking down and restructuring its composition.
As time passed, the color of the demon's soul grew fainter, finally transforming into a white, semi-transparent soul! The threads wrapped around it also broke away.
The next second, Auguro's vision returned to normal, and the feeling of absolute control faded like a tide. The modification of the demon's soul was complete, and the temporary Soul King Authority was retracted.
Auguro felt a brief sense of loss, then focused on the Magnet-Magnet Fruit. Although its appearance hadn't changed, Auguro knew the inside was completely different!
Auguro took a bite, and his face instantly turned green.
Good heavens! The soul may have been modified, but the taste hadn't changed one bit! After one bite, Auguro thought he was going to die right there!
He forced himself to swallow the fruit in two bites, then gulped down two large cups of water from the bedside table before finally feeling alive again. Seriously, perhaps the reason a person dies after eating two Devil Fruits is because they literally choke to death on the taste!
Calming down, Auguro found that he could now perceive the surrounding magnetic field! That feeling was not the result of forced control but a complete instinct! It was as if he and the magnetic field were one.
He extended his left hand. The cutlery on the table instantly floated up, flipping and spinning according to Auguro's will.
After a small test, Auguro unleashed his Devil Fruit power. The next second, the magnetic field of the street was disturbed. Pedestrians on the road all stumbled, suddenly unable to control their balance! The powerful magnetic field was directly affecting their neural networks!