"Now, please welcome Lot Number One!!!!"
"Gallo, a notorious pirate with a 35 million bounty!"
Amid the host's loud announcement, a huge cage was pushed onto the stage. Inside was a burly man standing three meters tall.
Gallo Overall Rating: D-
"Gallo was born in the West Blue. He is 321 centimeters tall and thirty-one years old. He once killed a Rear Admiral from the West Blue, massacred three villages, and killed countless Marines..."
As the host introduced him, the bidders in the venue repeatedly cried out in surprise.
Though every item was an account of Gallo murdering innocent people and Marines, each one was also part of Gallo's record, raising his value.
Zephyr's fist slammed heavily into the chair beside him. Fortunately, even in his anger, he controlled his strength. Otherwise, that punch would not merely have shattered the chair—it would have destroyed the entire auction house.
"Serves him right!"
Just hearing about Gallo's deeds, Zephyr felt that being auctioned off as a slave was already too good for such a bastard.
Deep down, Zephyr still cared greatly about the Navy. Otherwise, he would not have remained an instructor after stepping back from the front lines.
Perhaps among the Marines Gallo had killed were students Zephyr had once taught.
"100 million Beli, going once... 100 million Beli, going three times... Sold!!!"
Gallo, with a bounty of 35 million, was ultimately sold for 100 million Beli—nearly three times his actual bounty.
"If turning him in for the bounty only gets you 35 million, no wonder bounty hunters hand captured pirates over to these slave traders," Zephyr remarked.
This was also his first time coming to such a place. He had only heard rumors about it before and had never come to witness its dark side.
If Ross had not arranged to meet here today, Zephyr probably would never have come in his life.
"It is also because the Navy set bounty standards that these scum became valuable."
Ross lazily reclined against the back of his chair. Glancing at the plump noblewoman who had bought Gallo, he silently pitied Gallo for one second.
With Gallo's relatively tough vitality, that rich woman would probably be able to play with him for quite a while.
As for whether Gallo would resist... he certainly would. But few people who could afford slaves of this caliber were fools. They would never give their slaves the chance to resist.
"These scum should be wiped out by every possible means," Zephyr said flatly.
Recently, because of one sentence from Roger, the seas had been thrown into turmoil, and there were hundreds or even thousands of times more pirates than before.
These pirates had become the last straw that broke the camel's back, making life even more miserable for commoners who already struggled to survive. Wherever they went, not even grass remained.
"I remember Admiral Zephyr was once known as the 'Admiral Who Never Killed'?"
"Never killed... Since that incident ten years ago, no one has mentioned that title again." Zephyr let out a soft sigh.
As a child, he had worshipped heroes. As a young man, he joined the Navy and climbed step by step until he became an Admiral at the age of thirty-eight.
During that time, he had never killed a single pirate. Even when he captured pirates, he only imprisoned them and sent them to Impel Down.
Yet when he was forty-two, ten years ago, his wife and child had been brutally murdered by pirates while they were out enjoying themselves. How could he not hate pirates?
Now, he wished he could slaughter every pirate in existence.
After that incident, he had submitted his resignation. In the end, Kong persuaded him to retain his Admiral position, though he stepped back from the front lines and began training reserve forces for the Navy.
Over all these years, pirates had not decreased because of his efforts. Instead, because of that bastard Roger, there were even more of them. Many of the Marines he trained had also died fighting pirates.
Sometimes, Zephyr felt lost as well.
What exactly could he do to eliminate every pirate?
That was also why he had not refused the World Government's transfer order and was willing to meet Ross today.
"What is Admiral Zephyr's greatest wish right now?"
Ross spoke casually, his gaze sweeping over today's fifth lot.
The first five lots had all been pirates. No, rather, apart from the finale, every other lot today was a pirate.
The auction house held auctions to make money, but it did not dare defy the Celestial Dragons' decision.
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Ross knew there had to be other slaves here, but neither he nor Zephyr wanted to see them today, so none of them would appear.
"My greatest wish?"
Zephyr glanced at Ross. He was fifty-two this year; how could he fail to see Ross's intentions?
Honestly, he had quite a favorable impression of Ross.
Unlike other Celestial Dragons, Ross had not immediately put on airs because of his status. Even if Ross forced him to obey through his Celestial Dragon identity, as long as it did not violate the justice in his heart, Zephyr would still do it.
But in that case, Ross should not expect Zephyr to feel any goodwill toward him.
And if Ross truly did something that crossed the line, Zephyr might really take action and destroy him humanely.
After all, no matter how lofty one's status was, without strength, one was merely an ant that could be crushed at will.
At worst, he could spend the rest of his life in the New World and find some non-member nation to live in seclusion.
But Ross's humble, respectful manner still made Zephyr feel quite comfortable.
Ross was willing to respect him, so he was willing to respect Ross as well.
Therefore, he no longer found the prospect of becoming Ross's personal guard quite so repellent.
"My wish is simple: make every pirate disappear."
Zephyr clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fixed on the pirate slave currently being auctioned onstage. He knew this man.
Ricard, bounty of 50 million, wielder of the Mantis-Mantis Fruit.
Ricard Overall Rating: D+
The bounty was not particularly high, but one of the female students Zephyr had once taught had died at this man's hands.
That female student had not possessed much talent and could not endure the high pressure of the Navy Training Camp. In the end, she regretfully withdrew from the Training Camp and was assigned to a branch in the Four Blues.
It was while traveling to take up her post in the Four Blues that she was killed.
Zephyr had always remembered this incident. He regretted it too; if he had been less demanding of that female student, perhaps this could have been avoided.
"200 million!!!"
Devil Fruit users commanded higher prices. This was Saint Rosward's first bid.
After Saint Rosward made his bid, the entire venue fell silent.
No one dared bid against a Celestial Dragon. They feared they would become slaves at this auction as well.
"300 million!"
Ross spoke lightly. This slave had been prepared for Zephyr; how could he let Saint Rosward take him away?
"Someone bid against a Celestial Dragon?"
"Which idiot is that? He's finished!"
"He's finished! If you want to be stupid, don't drag us down with you!"
"..."
Seeing Ross make a bid while lacking the Celestial Dragons' distinctive attire, quite a few people in the venue rose to their feet in fright and quietly retreated toward the exit.
They did not want to be caught in the crossfire.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
Just as everyone present expected, Rozward would never tolerate such behavior.
Under the gazes of the crowd, who did not dare look directly at him, Rozward stood and turned toward Ross, shouting:
"Saint Ross, I knew you wouldn't miss such a wonderful toy, but I won't let you have your way today!"
"500 million Belly!!!"
Rozward spread his hand grandly, as though money meant nothing to him.
But no one else present had the mind to pay attention to that terrifyingly high bid. Instead, they all stared at Ross in utter disbelief.
That man was also a noble Celestial Dragon!?
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