Paradise and the Auction Venue

Paradise is a good place.

There is no seriousness here, nor pretense.

People take their rare free time to enjoy laughter and exhaustion, these two always relative and coexisting.

The operator of Paradise hopes to make the tourists as tired as possible, in order to promote their own drinks and snacks.

Tourists, during the long queues, gradually heighten their anticipation for the attractions.

They are satisfied with the final, brief, stimulating experience, and then take out the snacks and drinks they brought in beforehand to soothe their mood.

"What fun do you have?"

A Bear Child interrupted Buggy's thoughts, pulling him back to reality from a sage-like transcendence.

"Fun?" A playful smile appeared on his face, "Then I'll have to think carefully."

The corners of his lips were once again smeared with a rich, deep red, drawn all the way to his cheeks in a gentle curve, carrying a playful air even without a smile.

A circle of carbon black was drawn around his eyes.

Buggy was quite skilled at the Joker makeup.

The difference was, in Gotham City, he would put makeup on wounds, like a mist of powder applied to the tender Flesh and Blood of the wound, that feeling was very clear.

But he couldn't feel that clarity now.

Or rather, he could hardly feel himself anymore.

To stuff three people's memories into one person's mind without causing any change is unrealistic.

It's just that the Gotham Joker's memories were more prominent, more insane, and more suitable for the desperate environment on the escort ship.

When that stimulation was gone, the effects naturally occurred.

Several ways to make a Balloon Dog popped into his mind, the creaking sound of the balloon's surface when stretched was always so engaging.

However, he didn't have any balloons with him.

It seemed like there were some in his chest.

He opened his chest like a storage cabinet, and neatly arranged inside were a Human Face, several Fruit Knives, and plenty of Explosives...

Just no balloons.

"Looks like I forgot to bring them when I left."

He sighed.

The Bear Child was dumbfounded.

Then he took off running, a long tear streaking down his extremely frightened face.

"Sir."

Arne stood to the side, holding a camera with a strange expression.

He found it hard to connect the character in front of him, who seemed like a Paradise NPC, with the terrifying pirate who caused explosions on a warship.

"Why so serious?"

"Smile more, my Mr. Reporter."

Teasing the Bear Child seemed to have put Buggy in a much better mood.

He had found some common ground between his three personalities.

Whether it was the Joker of Paradise, the Joker of pirates, or the Joker of criminals, they all enjoyed this kind of fun.

"By the way, how did your interview go?"

He didn't know if Arne was genuinely dedicated to the profession of a reporter or just had a naturally big heart.

Arne had actually taken a camera and gone to interview the Heart Pirates.

"The situation. Hmm, it went relatively smoothly."

Arne took out two interview drafts from his pocket. "That Supernova was very indifferent and didn't pay me any mind, but the bear on their ship named Bepo was quite good."

He flipped through the papers. "We talked a lot about navigation knowledge, experiences of being wanted, and the climate differences between the South Blue and North Blue. This topic never seemed to end."

"Oh, right, I got his phone number."

Buggy realized for the first time that his Navigator Candidate and reporter, Arne, had such a talent for communicating with animals.

This Guy always looked gloomy, but he was beaming when talking about the interview.

"A good start, right?"

Arne nodded along. He had never imagined he would become a rather serious reporter.

"Then let's prepare to take it a step further."

Human Auction House.

A regular auction was held as scheduled.

Slaves, whether tall, petite, or strangely featured, were crammed into iron cages, placed on flatbed trucks, and pushed under the spotlight in the center of the venue.

"Let's welcome our next auction item!"

"A Nameless Warrior from the Flower Country! Look at his robust and strong physique, and those jackal-like eyes!"

"Under our training, this is definitely a top-quality slave, essential for guarding your home and traveling!"

"Starting bid, one hundred thousand Belly!"

Disco pointed upwards, his star-shaped sunglasses and purple long hair making him look more like a rock singer on stage.

Rather than like a host at an auction house.

However, as the atmosphere in the venue gradually heated up, Disco quietly retreated to the edge of the stage.

"Is everything arranged?"

The one who answered him was a suit man dressed like 007.

"No problem."

"As soon as he appears, our men will swarm him and hack him to death! Forget about this Young Master Navy, even a real Marine Major wouldn't be able to escape."

"What about the repercussions?" Disco took off his white gloves, his tone indifferent.

Rather than improving himself, he'd rather find a way to kill off competitors.

However, it wouldn't be good if it affected the dignitaries attending the auction.

"The people attending the venue today are not particularly powerful dignitaries. We will also provide some compensation afterward."

Disco nodded, it seemed foolproof.

But he still felt a bit uneasy.

"Will the Navy really not pursue this?"

That's right, he was a Marine Major after all.

He had to be somewhat wary.

"Don't worry!" The suit man looked quite smug.

"This is a lawless area, after all. The Navy has never really cared much about it."

"If a Marine Major breaks in on his own, no one can blame him if he dies."

"Besides, the Captain will be rushing over immediately. I've already prepared a few subordinates, and the Captain will be ordered to kill him directly then."

"This way, we can all report back with our tasks completed."

"Indeed! Indeed!" Disco's heart settled by more than half.

No wonder the Young Master had gone to such great lengths to bring the Base Commander of District 66 in as a partner before; his influence was certainly significant!

His spirits lifted again, as if he had returned to the time when he first became the Young Master's subordinate.

Back then, the Human Auction House was one of the Young Master's most important Sources of Funds.

He himself had also been highly valued by the Young Master.

But times had changed.

The profits generated by the auction house now paled in comparison to the profits from Arms.

However, if his biggest Competitor on the archipelago, Auction House No. 4, famous for its Sale of Pirates and Criminals, were to weaken, his own glorious days would truly return!

A short while later.

The Nameless Warrior from the Flower Country was bought for a Heavy Gold by a more burly Noblewoman.

The Noblewoman's eyes, like a Wolf and Tiger, made the Nameless Warrior's face appear even more terrified.

Disco hurriedly went back on stage to promote the next Slave.

Every time a Slave was sold, he would glance towards the specially reserved spot at the side of the Stage.

Damn it, why hadn't his bright future arrived yet?!

--

Outside the Auction House.

Buggy changed into a slightly conspicuous Marine Uniform in the lawless zone.

He stood beneath a large, semi-circular Building.

Tilting his head back, he looked up.

On the building's Facade, he saw an inconspicuous small Wooden Plaque hanging there, bearing the words "Employment Agency."

He found it quite amusing.