The auction spanned three full days, though not continuously. Each evening, it ran for four hours, drawing wave after wave of eager bidders.
By the third night, the final item was sold.
After a brief pause, no one stepped forward.
The meaning was clear.
The auction had officially ended.
Some attendees were already preparing to leave when a voice rang out, halting them in place.
"Everyone, before we conclude, there is one more announcement."
Baccarat's voice carried effortlessly across the venue.
Pirates who had begun to turn away stopped and looked back.
From the side, Teach rose from his seat and walked calmly toward the center of the elevated platform.
Each step echoed sharply.
The entire hall fell silent.
Two nights ago, they had witnessed him act. That memory was still vivid, etched into their minds.
At the same time, curiosity burned.
What could possibly warrant this level of formality?
"Snap!"
Teach flicked his fingers.
A nearby crew member brought forward a Den Den Mushi and activated it.
Instantly, a massive projection appeared behind him, towering dozens of meters high so that everyone could see it clearly.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Displayed on the screen was an enormous structure.
A pyramid.
It dwarfed everything around it.
Nearby buildings looked no larger than ants in comparison. Even through the image alone, its scale was overwhelming.
Some recognized it immediately.
This was the structure the Nightfall Pirates had been constructing for a long time.
Even now, its peak was not fully complete.
"This," Teach began, "is the Battle Pyramid built by the Nightfall Pirates."
His voice carried a note of pride.
"Its total height reaches three thousand eight hundred meters."
Shock rippled through the audience.
Yet confusion followed just as quickly.
What purpose could such a colossal structure serve?
Teach's gaze swept across the stunned crowd. A grin slowly spread across his face, and excitement flickered in his eyes.
"After the World Expo…"
His voice rose.
"I will host a World Swordsmanship Tournament."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"Any swordsman may participate," he continued. "Through continuous battles and eliminations, only the strongest will advance."
His hand lifted slightly, pointing toward the towering pyramid behind him.
"The one who reaches the very top…"
A pause.
"…will be crowned the World's Greatest Swordsman before the eyes of the entire world."
The words struck like thunder.
"And that is not all," Teach added, his smile widening.
"The champion will receive fifty billion Berries."
The crowd erupted.
The projection shifted, displaying detailed rewards for different rankings.
The total prize pool alone reached thirty billion Berries.
But money was only part of it.
Rare metals.
Precious ores.
Materials capable of forging Great Grade Blades.
For swordsmen, these were far more valuable than gold.
The number of famous blades in the world was limited. Great Grade Blades were even rarer.
Often, the greatest obstacle was not skill…
…but materials.
"In addition," Teach continued, "I will invite three individuals I consider to be the world's top Great Swordsmen to witness this tournament."
A murmur spread.
"They will not participate," he clarified. "However, the top three competitors will have the right to challenge them."
Silence followed.
Then tension.
Combat power not inferior to an Emperor.
The implication was clear.
He was referring to the Emperors of the Sea.
Since that title emerged, it had become the ultimate benchmark of strength.
To stand at that level meant standing at the absolute peak of the world.
Yet Teach spoke of it so casually.
As if such monsters were simply… guests.
Still, no one doubted him.
The authority behind the name "Dark Emperor" carried weight.
"Now," Teach said, his tone easing slightly, "let me reveal two of them."
He raised two fingers.
"One is the current Shogun of Wano Country…"
"Kozuki Oden."
Expressions shifted immediately.
"The second…"
A slight pause.
"'Red the Aloof,' Redfield."
This time, the reaction was even stronger.
Kozuki Oden was a legend in his own right. Since Wano had begun opening its borders, its reputation had spread rapidly across the New World.
A land of powerful samurai.
A nation few dared to provoke.
Under Oden's leadership, countless invaders had been crushed.
And Redfield…
A figure shrouded in legend.
A man who had escaped from Impel Down and vanished.
Even now, his strength remained unquestioned.
With two such names already revealed, anticipation soared.
Who could the third be?
Teach chuckled softly.
"I'll leave the last one as a surprise."
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
"The tournament will begin in three months," Teach continued. "The venue will be the Battle Pyramid on Parage Island."
"You may register at any time before it begins."
He paused briefly, then added:
"There is only one requirement."
"You must be a swordsman."
A faint grin returned.
"Or at least… someone who wields a sword."
A ripple of laughter spread.
Then his tone hardened slightly.
"If you lack the strength…"
"…do not blame anyone if you die."
The message was clear.
This would not be a game.
"With that," Teach concluded, "the auction is officially over."
And just like that…
It ended.
Yet no one moved immediately.
If the World Expo was a festival for pirates…
Then this tournament would be a battlefield for swordsmen.
A brutal one.
Rewards, glory, rare materials…
And above all—
The title of the strongest.
All of it was enough to ignite the world.
Among the crowd, one man stood silently.
His sharp, hawk-like eyes gleamed with interest.
Across his back rested a massive black blade.
Dracule Mihawk.
"A Swordsmanship Tournament…" he murmured.
A faint smile formed.
"Now that's interesting."
He had little interest in the rewards.
After all, the blade he carried was already among the finest in the world.
What he sought…
Was battle.
To cross swords with the strongest.
To sharpen his skill against true masters.
By now, Mihawk had already made a name for himself.
A Shichibukai.
A rising legend.
Many renowned swordsmen had already fallen by his blade.
This tournament…
Was exactly what he had been waiting for.
Across the world, swordsmen stirred.
Famous or obscure, veteran or rising star, all felt the pull.
Some sought wealth.
Some sought materials.
Some sought glory.
Some wanted everything.
In Wano Country, excitement spread just as quickly.
Within the Flower Capital, laughter echoed through the Shogun's residence.
"Hahaha! You're all fired up too, aren't you?"
Kozuki Oden grinned widely as he watched the news through a Video Den Den Mushi.
"If you want to go, then go!"
"Spread the word. Any samurai who wishes to test themselves may join."
His eyes burned with excitement.
"The time has come to show the world the swordsmanship of Wano!"
Meanwhile, the effects of the World Expo continued to spread.
The mechanical limbs revealed earlier shocked countless people.
For those who had lost arms or legs in battle, it offered something priceless.
A second chance.
Devil Fruits, once considered rare, had appeared in staggering numbers.
More than eighty had been sold during the auction alone.
The market had shifted overnight.
Even famous blades had surfaced.
Three Skillful Grade.
One Great Grade.
And the Nightfall Pirates had profited immensely.
With the wealth of Gold Town behind them, money was no concern.
But the greatest impact…
Was still the Swordsmanship Tournament.
The Battle Pyramid itself became a symbol.
A landmark unlike any other.
Eighteen floors.
Hundreds of arenas.
Capacity for over a million spectators.
A fusion of battlefield, city, and luxury haven.
The world took notice.
Pirates flocked toward Sicily Island.
More arrived each day than those who left.
Some came for trade.
Some for opportunity.
Others…
For battle.
Everything was unfolding exactly as planned.
The Expo.
The arenas.
The tournament.
Each step drew more people in.
Strengthening the Sageros Sea.
Expanding its influence.
Even alliances formed in the shadows.
Teach personally met with leaders of the underworld.
Cooperation was established.
Information.
Trade.
Power.
All of it intertwined.
The rise of the Nightfall Pirates…
Was no longer something that could be stopped.
The day after the auction ended, Monkey D. Garp and Tsuru departed aboard a Marine warship.
"Leaving already?" Garp grumbled. "I was just starting to enjoy myself."
Tsuru didn't even glance at him.
"We have more important matters to report."
Garp scratched his head, then brightened suddenly.
"We could at least take a look around their territory. Might find something useful."
Behind him, Gion and Tokikake exchanged surprised looks.
Tsuru shook her head.
"They've been watching us the entire time."
"We won't be allowed that freedom."
Her gaze turned distant.
"This Expo… the technology… the tournament…"
"We need to report everything."
She knew the truth.
Clearer than most.
The rise of the Nightfall Pirates…
Was inevitable.
And back on Saint Louis Island, Teach had already begun preparations.
The next stage was set.
The world's greatest swordsmen would gather.
And atop the Battle Pyramid…
Only one would stand.