"It's calling to me. It chose me. I'm its true master!"
"I want it all—the money to control everything! I'll make the Celestial Dragons kneel before me! I'll become the god of this world and make everything submit beneath my feet, beneath the power of money!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Flames erupted, and shattered glass exploded in their wake, instantly throwing the auctioneer on the stage into a panic.
"What's going on? What the hell happened?!"
"There's a fire! Fire!"
"That bastard Doflamingo actually sold weapons to our enemy nation! This time, we'll smash his auction house to pieces!"
The entire auction venue descended into chaos. Even the guards stationed in secret fled in terror at the sight of this retaliatory force assembled from various nations.
Amid the chaos, the cloaked man stared fixedly at the auction item in the center, his eyes blazing with vengeful fury.
"That's it. That's the one. It's my hope for revenge—my hope of becoming a god!"
"Nobody move! Anyone who defies orders will be shot on sight!"
"The Marines! The Marines are here! Run..."
The guests with countless ties to the underworld scattered in panic. The man watched the auctioneer flee with the Devil Fruit, then swiftly followed behind him.
Not long after, Sabaody Archipelago, Lawless Zone.
The distant blaze only grew fiercer. The auctioneer, lying in a pool of blood, closed his eyes unwillingly.
Illuminated by the flames, the Devil Fruit, as if cast from pure gold, was hastily shoved into his mouth. Forcing down the nausea that nearly made him vomit, fury filled his chest.
"One day, I'll make the whole world kneel before me! I'll rule the entire world with the power of money! I'll make the Celestial Dragons wag their tails and beg at my feet!"
Beneath his battle-torn robes, the