"Thirteen million Berries."
The Auctioneer shouted with effort, "Someone has bid thirteen million.
"There is now a bid of thirteen million five hundred thousand over there. Does anyone else want to bid?"
As soon as the starting price was announced, people immediately began raising it. Before long, it had reached over thirteen million Berries. Raiden Ei had not yet bid, as she had been observing the blade on the auction stage.
It was a good blade, and she could use it now. She just didn't know what the people behind the auction were up to, though she wasn't afraid of them. She decided to bid for the blade. Currently, she used an ordinary Musou Isshin for common battles, which felt too low, and using Kusanagi no Inabikari felt like overkill. She urgently needed a blade that could serve as a decent facade.
Having made up her mind, Raiden Ei began to bid. She didn't understand how auctions worked; anyway, the highest bidder wins. She bid according to her own thoughts: "Fourteen million Berries."
As Raiden Ei's clear voice rang out, everyone began to notice this Damselette. However, they weren't about to give up the bidding, and someone immediately followed with, "Fourteen million five hundred thousand Berries."
Auctioneer: "Good, we're at fourteen million five hundred thousand. Does that lady wish to bid more?"
Raiden Ei felt like playing along, but were famous blades in One Piece so expensive? "Fifteen million Berries."
Auctioneer: "Wow, this lady has bid fifteen million Berries. If no one raises the bid, this famous blade will fall into her hands!"
At this point, almost no one was bidding against Raiden Ei anymore, until a man's voice rang out: "Sixteen million Berries."
Auctioneer: "Sixteen million Berries! Someone has stepped up to compete with this lady.
"May I ask, lady, will you bid more? If not, then this blade of your heart will go to this gentleman for a bargain."
Raiden Ei now felt the Auctioneer had a big mouth, but she continued to bid: "Seventeen million Berries."
Auctioneer: "Seventeen million Berries. If this gentleman does not bid, I shall congratulate this lady."
No one else spoke up to raise the price, as if they had only been bidding earlier to drive the price up.
"Seventeen million once."
"Seventeen million twice."
"Very well, no more bids. Then for this demon blade zanmian, congratulations to this lady on her purchase."
After confirming there were no more bids, the Auctioneer announced that Raiden Ei had won it for seventeen million Berries. A staff member brought the blade along with its stand to her and asked her to pay the Berries.
"Lady, this is the item you won. Please pay seventeen million Berries."
Raiden Ei observed it up close. It looked the same as before; she couldn't see anything wrong with the blade. Beside the demon blade was its scabbard.
The crimson scabbard featured cloud patterns dyed deep red. From her perspective before transmigrating, it looked very ominous, indeed possessing a bit of an eerie feeling.
Her gaze returned to the blade. She picked it up directly from the stand; she could feel its weight as she gripped the hilt. Flipping the blade to inspect it closely, it was much better than an ordinary Musou Isshin, though still a bit inferior to her own weapon.
Seeing the staff member still waiting nearby, she took the scabbard from the stand, sheathed the blade, and took out the Berries from her backpack to hand them over.
Raiden Ei put the zanmian back into her backpack and continued watching the auction items. There were things like bombs, sailing ships, and even Sea Stone firearms, but nothing else she wanted.
The finale was a large gemstone, very beautiful. She had wanted to bid on it, but unfortunately, she didn't have enough Berries. It was eventually bought by a noble for three hundred million Berries.
Raiden Ei stood up from her chair and said to Lucia, who had been staying by her side, "Let's go! It's over." Lucia quickly followed her.
It was already late at night when they stepped out of the hall. The inn was not far away. Lucia stepped forward; she was responsible for leading the way for Raiden Ei, otherwise she wouldn't be here. "Raiden Ei lady, please follow me. Your room is this way."
Raiden Ei glanced at the people around them. Several looked at her with ill intent. She said to Lucia, "Mm, let's go!"
A burly man carrying a newly purchased Cannon walked toward Raiden Ei. Beside him was a Green-haired Man. The surrounding people all made way for these two fierce-looking individuals.
"Hahaha, why does this lady want to leave so soon? Stay and play with us brothers for a bit!"
The surrounding people all showed expressions of pity and distanced themselves, but the habit of watching the spectacle was something people in any world could not avoid.
Raiden Ei stopped walking, turned to look at the two, and cold words escaped her lips: "Do you want to die?"
The burly man continued to laugh. "I like women like you. We brothers are planning to form a Pirate Crew. We were originally going to snatch you back as a plaything, but now we've changed our minds.
"Seeing that you have some strength and we're short on people, if you join us now, we can make you a Second Mate. How's that? Aren't we generous enough?"
Raiden Ei felt she had given them enough time for their last words. She took out the recently acquired zanmian from her backpack. The crimson scabbard matched her current mood.
Beside her, Lucia looked at Raiden Ei with worry. Although she hadn't been with Raiden Ei for long, she knew what kind of person she was. She hoped she wouldn't get into trouble, but since she couldn't help right now, she stepped aside to stay out of the way.
An old man who had just walked out of the auction house, with a Musou Isshin hanging from his waist, saw Raiden Ei take out the demon blade that had just been on the auction stage. Thinking he could see a good show, he quickly found a good spot to watch.
Raiden Ei drew the blade from its scabbard. "Since you're so eager to find death, I'll send you on your way. It's perfect timing; I haven't tested if this new blade is any good."
Seeing Raiden Ei pull a blade out of thin air, the burly man had heard of Devil Fruits. "Oho, so you're a Devil Fruit User too? That's even more interesting. Now we definitely must have you."
The Green-haired Man took out a pair of Hand Claws and warned the burly man, "Be careful, I feel like she's not easy to deal with."
The burly man hoisted the several-hundred-pound Cannon onto his shoulder and said with a laugh, "What's there to fear? It's not like we haven't killed before. Only people with no real ability eat Devil Fruits."
Raiden Ei didn't waste words with such people. She stepped toward them, the demon blade zanmian in her hand now seeming to awaken, emitting a faint crimson glow.
The burly man aimed the already-loaded Cannon at Raiden Ei. "Hahaha, I've wanted to blow this place up for a long time. Let me test this thing's power! Woman, if you survive this shot, I'll make you the First Mate! Haha"
The surrounding people all screamed and scattered as if the Cannon were aimed at them. In a moment, those who had been crowding around were gone, leaving only those confident in their own strength nearby, though they still kept a distance.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the fanfiction has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 or more chapters in advance over on my patreon: patreon.com/FTLGenBen
Also every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone, Thanks.