Beginning the Harvest

"Sir, please come to the back room for the transaction. Your goods have been prepared."

The auction house manager walked respectfully up to Ross and guided him toward the back.

As for the corpse on the floor, he didn't spare it a single glance.

When a Celestial Dragon came to an auction, a few deaths were perfectly normal.

Got a problem? Go take it up with the Celestial Dragon!

"Has Rozward already left?"

Ross walked alongside the manager, asking casually.

He didn't really want to meet with other Celestial Dragons right now. With the power he had, he couldn't kill them.

Letting those people annoy others was fine, but sticking around too long just annoyed himself.

"That lord has already departed."

The manager led Ross to the back room, where the 4.1 billion Belly Rozward had handed over was still stacked. The boxes piled up in the room made for an imposing sight.

"Where's my stuff?"

Ross glanced around, his gaze sweeping the back area.

Aside from the fruit, the Navy family and the pirate gift for Zephyr had already arrived.

"I'll get it for you right away!"

The manager hurried over, grabbed a box, and opened it, revealing the Heal-Heal Fruit inside.

"Not bad."

Ross took the box with satisfaction, carefully closed it, and held it in his hand.

It was at that moment Ross suddenly struck.

He pulled a pistol from behind his back, pressed it against the manager's forehead, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Bang!!!

Blood splattered, and the manager's head was blown clean open.

D-rank kill completed

Strength +1000

Special Reward: D-rank Body Technique

"You bastard, you actually thought I was inferior to Rozward? I gave you too much face?!"

His voice was loud, drawing the attention of many slave auction house staff in the back.

When they saw the manager's head blown apart and Ross covered in blood, fear crept involuntarily into their expressions.

This was a Celestial Dragon!

Even if he killed them, no one would likely seek justice for them.

"Who's the head of this slave auction house? If I don't get an explanation today, I'll tear this place down."

Ross wiped the blood off himself slowly and deliberately, his cold gaze sweeping the room.

Zephyr stood beside Ross, saying nothing, his expression still calm.

He understood better than anyone what Ross was planning, and inwardly he could only marvel at Ross's ruthlessness.

Beyond that, Zephyr had no other thoughts.

Ross wasn't a good person—but were the people at the slave auction house good people?

Since neither side was decent, he'd just do his job.

"L-Lord, the head of our auction house is 'Blood Tiger' Nordson. He's a big pirate with a 9-billion Belly bounty."

The auction's previous host shuffled forward with a mournful face.

Who could have guessed such a mess would happen today?

Now that the manager was dead, he was the highest authority left in the auction house.

In the past, when dealing with petty troublemakers, dropping the owner's name was enough to scare them off.

But the troublemaker here was a Celestial Dragon—he didn't dare...

"Tell him to come speak to me himself." Ross said flatly.

A 9-billion Belly pirate?

Stronger than Guernica, maybe, but still an ant before a Celestial Dragon.

"Lord, Blood Tiger isn't here right now..."

The host quickly explained. Nordson was still in the New World; there was no way he could get here fast.

The main issue was that he'd never dealt with something like this before.

"Bang!!!"

E-rank defeat!

Strength +100

Special Reward: E-rank Slide

The gunshot rang out again in the cramped space. Ross lightly blew the smoke from the muzzle, not even glancing at the host's crumpled form.

It actually dropped a Slide skill—even trashier than that noble's drop. Tch.

"Since the master of this place won't come see me, there's no need for it to exist anymore. Zephyr, contact the Navy. Raid this place!"

"Understood!"

Zephyr raised an eyebrow, his gaze toward Ross gaining another layer of goodwill.

Razing the largest slave auction house on Sabaody Archipelago was hardly a bad assignment.

The Belly alone they'd seize might even cover a month's worth of the Navy's military expenses.

Sabaody Archipelago was the island closest to Mary Geoise, a resort the Celestial Dragons and world nobles frequented.

For a slave auction house to operate here, one could imagine the daily profits—and the scale of the backing behind it.

In the past, the Navy could only turn a blind eye. But now, with Ross's orders, they could do whatever they pleased.

Zephyr immediately called Kong's Den Den Mushi.

"Moshi moshi, this is Navy Headquarters. I'm Kong!"

"I'm CP0 instructor Zephyr. The slave auction house on Sabaody 1 Archipelago verbally insulted a Celestial Dragon. Saint Ross has ordered the Navy to clear out the auction house."

After a few brief words, Zephyr laid out his subsequent plans and what he needed from the Navy.

Kong was sharp enough to grasp Zephyr's choice just from hearing it.

Though he regretted Zephyr's departure somewhat, thinking of the haul from this auction house raid, he felt letting Zephyr follow Saint Ross might not be a bad thing after all.

A few more operations like this, and the Navy could even expand.

"Understood. I'll have Vice Admiral Borsalino depart immediately to handle this personally!"

Kong made the snap decision, sending the fastest Vice Admiral, Borsalino, to the scene first, with a larger force to follow.

"Zephyr, leave things here to you. In three days, bring my money to Mary Geoise to report in."

Ross held the box containing the Devil Fruit in his hand. After giving his instructions, he strolled off leisurely.

The Navy would handle the cleanup. Staying here was just a waste of time—better to go find some other entertainment.

As he walked out of the auction house, a female CP0 agent in a white suit instantly flashed to his side.

"Saint Ross, what are your plans for the rest of your itinerary?"

Zany

Overall Rating: A-

The female CP0 agent was named Zany, a bodyguard Ross had borrowed from his family, specifically assigned to protect him after he left the Holy Land.

Zany was a loyal agent raised from childhood by the Jaygarcia Family. She had silver shoulder-length hair, delicate features, and a full, curvaceous figure—top-tier in both looks and strength.

Most importantly, Zany was a Devil Fruit user, and she had eaten a rare Mythical Zoan.

Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Zoan: Succubus Form.

The Succubus-Succubus Fruit could not only sense others' true emotions but also twist their thoughts through seduction.

The latter could be resisted with Haki, so it wasn't too broken.

But the former, combined with Zany's Observation Haki, was almost like listening to the emotions of all things. With that ability, there was no fear of subordinates betraying her.

After learning about Zany's ability, Ross even considered taking out Saturn to secure Zany's absolute loyalty.

But since he couldn't kill Saturn yet, Ross had to find another way.

At least I've got her by my side now. There's always a way.

"I'm going to look around. Just stay close to me."

Ross said casually, stepping toward the busier areas.

He wasn't wearing the Celestial Dragon's exclusive outfit, so the people around him didn't react much.

But because of Zany's presence, even if passersby didn't recognize CP0, seeing her imposing, bodyguard-like stance made it clear Ross was a noble not to be trifled with. They all kept their distance.

"Hm?"

Ross's steps suddenly halted. He looked with interest at a slave shop.

Inside the display window, a blonde woman stood gracefully, a blue vest tightly hugging her voluptuous figure. Her beauty and physique were both extraordinary.

Stella

Overall Rating: E+

Looks familiar... Is she someone from the original story?

Ross pondered the woman's identity, his gaze wandering over her.

He seemed to have some impression of this woman, but couldn't quite recall who she was.

Still...

Ross glanced at the woman's striking figure.

Whoever this Stella was, he was determined to take her home today.

He had never crushed an E+ rank Strong Fighter before.

"What would it take to take you away?"

Anything put on display was basically the best merchandise in the shop, and such a flagship item was always priced to be negotiated.

"Hello, sir. I've already made an appointment with someone who's willing to buy me."

Stella wore a blissful smile on her face, so bright it stung Ross's eyes.

Even as a slave, she was still this naive...