The appearance of the Celestial Dragons instantly silenced the previously noisy auction hall.
Under countless gazes filled with fear and reverence, the three Celestial Dragons walked arrogantly to the front row of luxurious sofas and seated themselves, waiting for the auction to officially begin.
Lucien sat quietly on Stussy's lap, his head resting naturally against her chest, surrounded by a softness most people would never experience in their lifetime. His posture was relaxed, his expression calm, and his amethyst eyes observed everything without revealing a single ripple of emotion.
About five minutes later, the lights above the auction stage brightened.
"Welcome, everyone, to tonight's auction."
An auctioneer dressed in a neat tuxedo stepped onto the platform, smiling warmly as he addressed the crowd.
"It is my honor to serve as your auctioneer today. There are no special rules for this auction, the highest bidder wins."
Without wasting time, he clapped his hands lightly.
"Now, let us begin with our first item."
"Item number one, an all purpose chef slave capable of preparing over five hundred different dishes. The starting price is five million Berries."
Two guards escorted a bearded man onto the stage. A heavy slave collar was locked around his neck, and his eyes were empty, devoid of any will.
"Six million."
"Seven million."
"Eight million."
Lucien remained silent, his gaze steady as he watched the man on stage. In this world, lives were commodities, bought and sold without hesitation.
Cruelty was the norm.
Only strength could break the chains.
"Sold for nine million Berries."
The winning bidder was a wealthy looking merchant whose satisfaction was written all over his face.
"The second item, a Longarm Tribe female slave. The starting price is eight million Berries."
"Nine million."
"Ten million."
The bidding continued relentlessly, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heated. Whether human or non human, slaves of all races were brought onto the stage. Youth, beauty, and strength were the most sought after traits.
"Next item, the Sky Blue Dream Diamond Necklace, a symbol of feminine elegance. Starting price, ten million Berries."
As the auction progressed, the value of the items rose steadily.
"Now presenting a treasure of the sea, a Devil Fruit."
The hall stirred.
"Zoan type, the Mouse Mouse Fruit. Starting price, one hundred million Berries."
A beautifully dressed waitress carefully carried a silver tray onto the stage. Resting atop it was a Devil Fruit covered in distinctive spiral patterns.
"There's a Devil Fruit being auctioned?"
Foxy looked stunned. This was not something he remembered from the original events.
"One hundred five million."
"One hundred six million."
"One hundred ten million."
"One hundred twenty million."
The bidding was fierce from the very beginning. Most of the bidders were pirate crews, while nobles and Celestial Dragons showed little interest.
In the end, the Devil Fruit was sold for one hundred fifty million Berries.
"Congratulations to the Lightning Sword Pirates for winning the Mouse Mouse Fruit for one hundred fifty million."
The auctioneer struck his hammer, finalizing the sale.
"Next, another Devil Fruit."
The hall quieted once more.
"Zoan type, Ancient Zoan, the Triceratops Fruit. Starting price, one hundred fifty million Berries."
An Ancient Zoan immediately drew intense attention. Its value far exceeded that of ordinary Zoan types.
"Two hundred million."
"Two hundred ten million."
"Two hundred thirty million."
"Two hundred seventy million."
Pirate crews, nobles, and merchants all raised their bidding paddles without hesitation.
"Even an Ancient Zoan is appearing. This world really has changed."
Lucien was certain that Devil Fruits had not been part of the original auction. The divergence was undeniable.
"Three hundred million."
The entire hall fell silent.
Charloss, seated in the front row, casually spoke while picking his nose.
Three hundred million Berries meant nothing to him. Though he had no interest in eating a Devil Fruit himself, feeding it to a slave sounded amusing enough.
"Three hundred million, going once."
"Going twice."
"Sold for three hundred million Berries. Congratulations to Saint Charloss."
Soon after, another tray was carried onto the stage.
"Another Devil Fruit?"
Gasps echoed through the hall.
Devil Fruits were treasures of legend, priceless and rarely seen. Yet this auction had already presented three, including an Ancient Zoan.
"This Devil Fruit is a Paramecia type, the Sulfuric Acid Fruit. Starting price, one hundred fifty million Berries."
Lucien's eyelids twitched slightly.
A Devil Fruit that had never appeared in the original story.
Just hearing its name suggested how dangerous its ability would be. Still, it held no value for him.
"One hundred sixty million."
"One hundred eighty million."
"One hundred ninety million."
"Two hundred million."
Pirate crews eagerly joined the bidding. Even the weakest Devil Fruit granted power beyond ordinary humans.
"Three hundred million."
Charloss raised the price again.
Silence fell over the hall.
Competing with a Celestial Dragon was never a wise decision.
"Any further bids?"
The auctioneer glanced around hopefully, but no one responded.
"Three hundred million, going once."
"Going twice."
"Going three times, sold."
"Congratulations, Saint Charloss ."
The auctioneer smiled obsequiously, then clapped his hands.
At that moment, the most anticipated item of the night was pushed onto the stage.
A cart covered with a red cloth rolled forward, the faint sound of water sloshing beneath it drawing everyone's attention.
"I will not keep you waiting."
The auctioneer pulled away the cloth.
"Please welcome our final item, a Mermaid from Fish Man Island."
A large glass tank was revealed.
Inside was a young mermaid with short light green hair and a peach pink fishtail. Her figure was graceful, her expression filled with fear and unease.
She was beautiful.
Exquisitely so.
A masterpiece shaped by nature itself.
Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.
It was Kemi.
Seeing a real mermaid was far more impactful than watching one on a screen. The hall erupted into chaos as excitement surged through the crowd.
It had been a long time since a female mermaid had appeared at a Sabaody auction, especially one so young and stunning.
At that very moment, the auction house doors were pushed open and several figures stepped inside.
However, the crowd's attention was entirely fixed on the stage. No one noticed the newcomers.
No one except Lucien, and those closest to the entrance.
Lucien glanced over briefly, then looked away.
A cold glint flickered within his amethyst eyes as his lips curved into a faint smile.
His target had arrived.