Attending the Auction

A few days later.

Sabaody Archipelago, Slave Auction House.

This was the meeting place Saint Ross had chosen, a location he had carefully selected.

If Admiral Zephyr didn't witness certain truths with his own eyes, how could he ever be won over willingly?

The assignment to serve as his personal bodyguard was an official order; Zephyr would likely have no grounds to refuse.

But after his wife and children were killed by pirates a decade ago, Zephyr had no other weaknesses left—only his remaining faith in the Marines.

A man like that might protect him out of duty alone, but if their worldviews ever clashed, Zephyr could just as easily become the one to bring about his downfall.

Ross had no intention of keeping a ticking time bomb by his side; he planned to settle things once and for all at their first meeting.

"Saint Ross?"

Hearing the deep voice behind him, Ross didn't turn around. He merely pointed unhurriedly to the seat beside him.

"Sit."

Zephyr held little fear of the Celestial Dragons. Already irritated by the Five Elders' transfer order, he had no intention of putting on a pleasant face for Ross. He plopped down carelessly into the seat next to him.

The slave auction house had no special VIP boxes. At Ross's request, they had been arranged seats in the last row, in a corner. The surrounding area was cleared, ensuring no one would disturb them.

Only when Zephyr finally sat did Ross slowly turn his head, carefully sizing up the Admiral Zephyr before him, a man in the prime of his life.

Zephyr

Overall Rating: S-

Violet short hair, a burly build, muscles taut—his entire being exuded a wild, untamed aura.

What intrigued Ross most was that Zephyr wore a white suit exclusive to CP0. Far from looking out of place, it added to his charm as a "Suit Thug."

Compared to Zephyr draped in a Marine coat of justice, this attire seemed to suit him even better.

So, no matter how reluctant he was inside, as a Marine who understood the importance of following orders, he had still put on the CP0 uniform.

A faint smile curled at the corner of Ross's mouth as he gauged Zephyr's state of mind.

As for Zephyr's strength, there was nothing to criticize. Even if it was only an S-, it was still genuine top-tier combat power.

In the system's assessment, Admirals, Emperors, and Kings all counted as top-tier, falling within the S-grade range, though it was further subdivided into S-, S, and S+.

While Ross was observing Zephyr, Zephyr was also openly scrutinizing Ross.

He had first been summoned by Kong to the Fleet Admiral's Office, where he was told that a Celestial Dragon wanted to recruit him and wished to meet.

In exchange, that Celestial Dragon would serve as the public face of the Ohara Buster Call, shouldering most of the public backlash.

After all, news of the Marines destroying an entire island, even with the World Government's explanations, would put the Marines in a disadvantageous position.

Now, at the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, pirates were rising everywhere. Any misstep by the Marines could fuel the flames of the Great Pirate Era even further.

After hearing this, Zephyr agreed without hesitation. It was just a meeting—what could come of it?

But before the meeting could happen, he received the World Government's transfer order, promoting him from Marine Admiral to CP0 Instructor.

From a functional standpoint, it was a promotion.

But considering Ross's recent call, the reality was that he was being pulled from the Marines to protect some unknown Celestial Dragon.

No normal Marine would willingly take on such a role, let alone Zephyr, who was still an Admiral in his prime.

If not for the murder of his wife and child, he wouldn't even have considered stepping back from the front lines.

Still, Zephyr knew full well that even a Marine Admiral couldn't defy the World Government.

When the Five Elders issued an order, the only way to avoid dragging the Marines down was to comply.

Ross and Zephyr each had their own thoughts. Neither spoke, merely sizing each other up before turning their attention to the auction scene.

No sooner had they sat down than sudden shouts erupted from the auction house entrance.

"A Celestial Dragon! A Celestial Dragon is here!"

"Oh god, this auction actually has a Celestial Dragon participating."

"It's over. With a Celestial Dragon here, all the good merchandise will be picked off."

"Ah, are we going to get captured as slaves by the Celestial Dragon?"

"..."

A cacophony of noise rose up. With Zephyr's hearing, he could catch nearly every word.

He glanced at Ross, a hint of interest in his eyes.

"A Celestial Dragon is coming in!!! Quick, kneel!"

With a shout from the entrance, a rotund figure riding a slave, wearing a protective suit and a glass helmet, stepped into the auction hall.

In an instant, the entire auction house fell silent. Except for Ross and Zephyr, nearly everyone present left their seats and dropped to their knees, bowing toward the entrance.

Saint Rosward

Overall Rating: A- (Come on, hit me and you'll summon an Admiral in no time!)

Looking at Saint Rosward appearing at the door, Ross's eyes showed a flicker of interest.

Defeating a Celestial Dragon—would that also count for a B-rank reward?

These weren't Celestial Dragons; they were just a bunch of Experience Babies, weren't they?

"Saint Rosward! Please take a seat in the front row."

The Auction House manager walked up, slid to his knees on the ground, and made a gesture inviting him in.

"Hmm, not bad!"

Rosward looked around with satisfaction, taking in the crowd lying prostrate on the ground, feeling this was only right.

He stepped down from his slave, basking in the people's reverence, and walked step by step toward the front.

But when his gaze landed on Ross's corner, his pace suddenly stopped.

Someone dared not kneel before him?

Yet when Rosward made out Ross's face, the anger in his heart dissipated, and he listlessly looked away.

"So it's Saint Ross. He was so arrogant back in the Holy Land, but his slaves still all died. No way—I can't let him buy any good slaves this time."

Rosward muttered under his breath and sat down in the front row.

Only after Rosward sat did the entire auction hall return to its lively bustle.

Zephyr raised an eyebrow and suddenly scrutinized Ross's attire:

"You're not wearing a glass bubble? I thought Celestial Dragons didn't breathe the same air as us?"

He spoke without much restraint—no matter how angry Ross got, there wasn't much he could do about it. The Five Elders and the World Government wouldn't punish him over something this trivial.

If Ross got upset over his attitude and decided not to have him as a bodyguard afterward, that would actually be a good thing.

"What difference is there between the air in Mary Geoise and Sabaody? Some Celestial Dragons need these methods to show off their nobility, but not all Celestial Dragons do."

Ross said calmly. Celestial Dragons were divided into different groups too.

The behavior of wastrels and elites was completely different. Others might not know, but Zephyr was a Marine Admiral—he'd have a vague idea.

Without contrast, how could Ross's uniqueness stand out?

He'd chosen this spot deliberately to tell Zephyr that he wasn't a waste like Rosward, that he was different from other Celestial Dragons.

The Celestial Dragon identity had its pros and cons—no one dared touch you, but no one dared get close either.

Even the strong ones, unless forced by the World Government, kept their distance.

"I see..."

Zephyr nodded lightly and didn't say anything more.

But inwardly, he felt noticeably more at ease.

At least from their conversation, Ross had some Celestial Dragon arrogance, but he was far better than Rosward—acceptable enough.

If he had to protect a Celestial Dragon worse than a pirate, he'd rather just kill himself.

"Welcome, esteemed guests. Welcome, Celestial Dragon lords, to the slave auction. Today's auction hall is honored by your presence."

"Without further ado, let the auction begin!"

A spotlight fell on the center of the auction stage. A man in formal attire stood there, elegantly bowed to everyone, and announced the start of the auction.

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