Why Aren't You Continuing, Shichibukai?

"Cover serial: Straw Hat Pirates, part 1—'If only you were here, Yasopp.'"

"East Blue, Syrup Village. Torrential rain fell through the night, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. The humble country cottage was thick with damp. A pale young wife with a long nose gazed at the baby she had finally delivered after an agonizing struggle. She smiled in relief, then sank into an exhausted sleep."

"Meanwhile, at Shakky's Rip-off Bar in the Sabaody Archipelago, a gray-haired old man lay drunkenly slumped over a table. Three young companions raised their drinks and sang triumphantly, their booming laughter carrying far, far away..."

Inside the enormous auction hall.

Silence reigned. No competing bid came, even after a long wait.

It wasn't because of the staggering bid of two hundred million Beli.

The price was high, but plenty of the people in the private boxes on the second floor were wealthy or influential. Some could certainly afford it.

Rather, the titles "strongest Shichibukai" and "Black Shark Took" carried far too much weight. A bounty of nearly four hundred million Beli, a pirate fleet numbering over a thousand men, a vicious and brutal disposition...

And now he looked determined to win, his face brimming with menace.

Nobody wanted to offend such a terrifying madman over a few female slaves.

"..." Shanks hesitated briefly, then lowered his bidding paddle as well.

He wasn't afraid of the man. But as his two companions had just pointed out, they didn't have enough money anyway. Their only remaining option was to wait until the auction ended, then ambush the buyers and fight their way out.

Continuing to pretend to bid served no purpose beyond angering their opponent early and making their upcoming operation harder.

"Good. Looks like most of you have some brains..."

The vicious-looking, five-meter-tall man surveyed