The shout successfully caught Lloyd's attention.
Not for the so-called "sister flowers" themselves, but for the staggering price: two hundred million Berries. Even the most expensive young female merfolk on the slave market rarely exceeded seventy million Berries, and the prettiest would barely reach a hundred million. To ask for two hundred million outright signaled that these girls were far from ordinary.
Lloyd was not alone in his curiosity. The street crowds also froze at the price, moving closer to see what could command such a sum. Lloyd adjusted his brown sunglasses, blending into the throng.
Approaching the display, a man with light purple hair and delicate features vigorously patted a small "display case" covered by a black cloth.
The man shouted at the crowd with all his might. Lloyd's memory tickled at the familiarity of him until someone called out, "Hey! Disco! Stop hiding it, show us what's worth two hundred million Berries!"
The name triggered recognition. Disco—the flamboyant host of the Sabaody Archipelago auction—was merely a front for Doflamingo, the true mastermind. Lloyd understood why Disco had been selected: he came from the Red Line, knew Celestial Dragon tastes, and had early industry experience. Yet, ultimately, he was expendable, abandoned once his usefulness waned.
While Lloyd considered this, the crowd's murmurs swelled into jeers. Disco grinned smugly and tore away the black cloth, revealing the "merchandise" inside.
The pair of sisters were indeed young, though calling them "flowers" was generous. The older girl looked barely over ten, the younger perhaps five.
Lloyd's gaze sharpened. "Another acquaintance," he thought.
The older sister had shoulder-length, curly light green hair. Though still childlike, her refined features and fair skin marked her as a beauty in the making. The younger girl shared similar features, her hair darker and straighter, giving her a more obedient appearance.
As the cloth fell away, the younger sister clutched her sister's sleeve, terrified. The older girl forced composure, speaking in a low, trembling voice, "Don't be afraid, big sister is here." She stretched her arms, holding her sibling close, whispering comfort.
Both girls wore shackles on their wrists. Lloyd assessed them with a faint frown. If the older girl had awakened as a Devil Fruit user, these Sea Stone shackles were necessary to restrain her power.
The crowd's reaction was predictable. Many scoffed and mocked Disco.
"Two hundred million Berries for these brats? Are you insane?"
"With that money, I could enjoy the entertainment district for years!"
"They're too small to be useful, right?"
Yet one voice called out, impressed by the older girl's beauty. "The older one is stunning… I'll pay two million Berries! I'll take them both!"
The sisters huddled together, despair written across their faces. To them, the crowd were devils, and the noise pressing in made Lloyd's eyes narrow. He decided intervention was necessary. Two hundred million Berries was an absolute bargain for the older sister's potential.
Disco, ever the showman, continued to rile the crowd, raising his voice with a shriek.
"You think that after years in the slave trade, I wouldn't know how to set a price?" His smile widened. The onlookers exchanged puzzled glances. One dared ask, "What makes these kids special?"
Disco had anticipated this question. He gestured to the younger girl. "This is Sugar. An ordinary child, nothing remarkable on her own. But her older sister changes everything…"
He looked to the older sister. "Her name is Monet. She is a Logia, a Sugar Sugar Fruit user!"
A collective gasp rose from the crowd. Red Line and its surrounding territories were home to powerful figures, but seeing a Logia Devil Fruit user firsthand was rare. These natural-element powers carried fearsome reputations, and rumors of their unmatched might had circulated widely.
Buyers hesitated. Controlling a Logia user was dangerous; what if she rebelled, or worse, killed her master? Shackling with Sea Stone could only go so far.
Disco, ever calculating, chuckled. "Remember, Sugar is just a normal child. Buy one, get one free!"
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