After entering the auction hall, the group did not bother searching for random seats. Instead, they walked to the highest platform in the last row and stood there, overlooking the entire venue.
Youki folded his arms and complained, "Storm Sovereign Youki sounds a bit strange. Wouldn't Demon God sound more impressive?"
Ash rolled his eyes.
"You're dreaming. I originally wanted my title to be Sun God, and that was rejected. The World Government doesn't allow the word 'god' in nicknames. They think it disrespects the Celestial Dragons. I even had to change mine to Heavenly Emperor, and you still want Demon God?"
Youki clicked his tongue.
"Then Demon Saint wasn't bad either. Why did that disappear? Now they are just calling my full name."
He looked annoyed.
"I don't really care, but isn't that a bit disrespectful to the great Storm Sovereign?"
Ash chuckled.
"Those ancient beings don't have time to worry about what we call ourselves in this tiny world."
He continued calmly.
"Besides, there are ten Demon God Fruits. Even if we used the name Demon Saint, there would still be ten of them. That title belongs to you and the other nine together. We cannot let you take the entire title for yourself."
Youki muttered quietly, "That wouldn't be so bad."
Ash ignored the comment and continued speaking.
"A nickname only becomes impressive when the person earns it. When we discussed titles with Morgans this time, we already mentioned that you defeated Gecko Moria. If you defeat a few more famous pirates in the future, the name Storm Sovereign Youki will naturally spread across the seas."
The group continued chatting casually.
Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted behind them.
Youki frowned and turned around.
"Hm? What is going on?"
Ash also looked back with curiosity.
Two figures slowly walked into the auction house.
Both of them had transparent fishbowl helmets covering their heads.
Behind them, the auction house owner Disco hurried forward while bowing repeatedly. A group of armed guards followed closely behind the strange pair.
Ash narrowed his eyes and chuckled.
"Celestial Dragons."
Youki stared at them curiously.
"So those idiots with fishbowls on their heads are Celestial Dragons?"
He examined them carefully.
One of them was obese, with an arrogant expression and even a trail of mucus hanging from his nose.
Youki shook his head.
"Just like you said. These people do not look very intelligent."
After seeing what the so-called descendants of the creators actually looked like, the little awe Youki had for them immediately disappeared.
Ash laughed softly.
"Exactly."
His gaze swept across the two Celestial Dragons.
They were Saint Rosward and his son Saint Charloss.
Veteran troublemakers.
Ash could not help but think to himself that these two were infamous figures.
This time, however, one familiar face was missing.
Saint Shalria was not present.
That made sense.
It was still seven years before the incident when Monkey D. Luffy would punch Saint Charloss in the face on the Sabaody Archipelago.
At this point in time, Saint Shalria was still just a child. Naturally, she would not be accompanying her father and brother to places like this.
Just as Ash was thinking about that, another disturbance came from the entrance.
Soon, another Celestial Dragon walked into the auction house under heavy guard.
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? This green-haired Celestial Dragon…"
He searched through his memories for a moment, and then his eyes lit up.
So it was him.
Youki glanced at Ash.
"You even recognize Celestial Dragons?"
"Not exactly," Ash replied with a small smile. "But this one is familiar."
He looked toward the newcomer.
"This guy actually used to belong to the same family as the real boss behind this auction house."
Youki blinked in confusion.
"What does that mean?"
Ash smiled faintly.
"That green-haired man is Saint Mjosgard of the Donquixote family. Does that name ring a bell?"
"Donquixote...!"
Youki and the others froze.
A moment later, realization struck them.
"You mean… the Donquixote Family of Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo?"
Ash nodded.
Youki's eyes widened.
"Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo used to be a Celestial Dragon?!"
Ash shrugged.
"It is not really a secret. The Marine high command and the World Government both know about it internally."
He continued calmly.
"As for pirates, those who fear the Celestial Dragons still cannot afford to provoke Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"And those who do not fear Celestial Dragons do not care about Doflamingo either."
"So in reality, that identity does not mean much."
Even so, Ash still understood something from this situation.
The appearance of Saint Mjosgard here meant that Doflamingo had not given up on returning to the Holy Land.
Trying to conquer a kingdom while seeking to return to the Celestial Dragons.
Mingo, you really want everything.
Ash smiled faintly but said nothing. It had nothing to do with him as long as they stayed out of his way.
With the arrival of the three Celestial Dragons, the auction officially began.
---
At the Same Time, Outside the Auction House
Vice Admiral Tsuru had finally received accurate intelligence.
Ash and the Dawn Hunter Pirates were inside the auction house.
The three Celestial Dragons were also there.
Tsuru slammed the Den Den Mushi down in frustration.
"Those useless CP agents only make things worse!"
Her usually calm demeanor had finally cracked.
"Auction House, Area One. Move at full speed!"
Originally, Tsuru's primary target had always been the auction house in Area One.
If they had not changed their destination midway, they might have already encountered Ash's group.
However, after Fleet Admiral Sengoku contacted the World Government earlier, the only information they provided was that the government ship had landed on Grove 30.
They had no information about the exact landing time or current movements.
Tsuru could not risk the possibility that Ash and the Celestial Dragons might encounter each other somewhere else on the island.
Left with no other choice, she dispersed several Marines as scouts.
Meanwhile, she and Gion led the main force toward Grove 30, hoping to intercept one of the parties first.
Unfortunately, they had completely missed both sides.
Still, there was at least one piece of good news.
According to intelligence reports, before the Celestial Dragons entered the auction house, the owner had already apologized in advance for the fact that people could not kneel during the auction.
The Celestial Dragons had granted permission for everyone inside to remain standing.
At the very least, there would be no conflict caused by something as ridiculous as kneeling.
Even so, Tsuru could not relax.
At this moment, she actually regretted something.
She regretted allowing Morgans to delay releasing the news.
If the world already knew that Ash had become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the guards protecting the Celestial Dragons and the CP agents would have been far more cautious.
This entire situation might have been avoided.
Unfortunately, there were no such things as "what ifs".
Even though Ash was now famous, anyone unaware of his Shichibukai status still believed he was just a pirate hunter.
A pirate hunter with a bounty.
And people working for the World Government were notorious for their arrogance.
Those CP agents would not think twice about provoking him.
Some of them might even deliberately create trouble to frame him.
As for contacting Ash directly...
Tsuru had already tried.
Before contacting Sengoku, she had attempted to reach Ash through his Den Den Mushi.
Even now, someone in the Marine unit behind her continued dialing his number repeatedly.
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Once Ash left the ship, his Den Den Mushi had been stored inside his storage ring.
Time did not flow inside that space.
Ash could contact others when he wanted.
But no one could reach him.
Tsuru could only hope that nothing went wrong before she arrived.
As long as she reached the auction house quickly enough, she was confident she could suppress any potential conflict.
Gion tried to reassure her.
"Do not worry, Sister Tsuru. The auction has already started."
"And since the auction house owner knows Ash's identity, he will not lead the Celestial Dragons near them, right?"
"After all, if a conflict breaks out, the auction would be ruined."
Tsuru's expression darkened.
"No. That is exactly what worries me."
Gion looked confused.
"Why?"
Tsuru asked calmly.
"Do you know what the main commodity sold in Auction House Area One is?"
Gion lowered her voice.
"…People."
Tsuru nodded.
"Yes. Human trafficking."
"It is illegal across the entire world."
"But here on the Sabaody Archipelago, this place is openly called an 'employment agency' by the World Government and even by the Marines."
Her voice became heavier.
"We know exactly what it is, yet we cannot dismantle it."
"The reason is simple."
"The true owner behind that auction house is Donquixote Doflamingo, a former Celestial Dragon."
"His Shichibukai status alone cannot openly protect a human trafficking business."
"But once Celestial Dragons become customers…"
"…the situation changes completely."
Tsuru stopped walking for a moment and looked ahead.
"If Doflamingo learns that Ash and the Celestial Dragons are inside the same auction house…"
"He would provoke a conflict without hesitation."
"Even if it means sacrificing the entire auction business."
Tsuru's expression hardened.
"Because Doflamingo…"
"…is the embodiment of evil in this world."
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi in Tsuru's hands suddenly rang again.
Her heart tightened instantly.
This was the moment she feared the most.
She answered immediately.
"This is Tsuru."
A panicked voice came from the other side.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, this is bad! The Dawn Hunter Pirates and the Celestial Dragons have already clashed!"
Tsuru slammed the Den Den Mushi shut.
"Damn it!"
Before she could issue any new orders, a loud explosion echoed from the direction of Grove One.
Tsuru's face turned pale.
Without hesitation, she leapt into the air and used Rokushiki Moonwalk, rushing toward the auction house at full speed despite the strain on her body.
Seeing this, Gion immediately shouted orders to the Marine forces behind them.
Then she also leapt into the air and pursued Tsuru using Moonwalk.