A Difficult Man to Control

Just then, a sinister and eerie laugh suddenly came from the far other end, "Hahahaha, how about that? I told you, didn't I? That guy named Moke is a lawless and uncontrollable bastard!"

Before the laughter subsided, the man added, "Did you all see that? We've only just set sail, and he's already taken down the highest-ranking naval officer in the East Blue Sea without saying a word! This shows that this guy has absolutely no respect for our powerful navy or the supreme World Government!"

Moreover, look at his innate, astonishing talent, coupled with his terrifying strength, and the rapid growth of his pirate crew. If we let him continue to thrive like this, he will surely become a major threat to our Navy and the entire World Government in the future... So, in my opinion, now is the perfect opportunity to seize the moment and completely eliminate him!

Upon hearing this, the Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who had been standing silently to the side, frowned deeply. Although he knew very well that the person in front of him who was spouting nonsense had most likely accepted a huge bribe from Gild Tesoro, he could not deny that what the other party had just said was not entirely unreasonable.

If left unchecked, allowing that guy Moke to develop and expand his power at will, he could very well become a huge threat that gives the Navy and even the entire World Government a major headache in the future. After all, according to the latest intelligence, Moke has already recruited a large number of crew members to his pirate crew in a short period of time. Obviously, this guy's ambition is not small, completely different from the lone wolf and self-willed style of Kuma and Hawkeye.

Unlike Boa Hancock, she remained content in the Calm Belt, firmly seated on her throne as Empress; unlike Jinbe, she didn't harbor ambitions for world peace; and unlike Doflamingo, she was solely focused on making money. It was precisely because of this that he couldn't help but begin to ponder this thorny issue...

"What did you say?" Gild Tesoro's face showed disbelief after hearing Tanaka's report again. His eyes were wide open as if they were about to pop out of their sockets, and his eyes were filled with uncontrollable excitement.

Mr. Tanaka quickly replied, "Jack the Drought of the Beast Pirates, leading Ulti and Page One of the Flying Six, has arrived at the port!"

Gild Tesoro, recovering from his shock, immediately asked, "Why did they suddenly come here?"

After a moment's thought, Mr. Tanaka said, "In my opinion, they are most likely here for the Zoan Devil Fruit that will be featured in this auction."

Upon hearing this, Gild Tesoro's brows furrowed tightly. He knew all too well that this auction house was controlled by Doflamingo, or more precisely, it was an enterprise jointly run by the two of them... They would hold one or two Devil Fruit auctions every year to attract numerous guests to bid and thus earn huge profits.

Think back carefully, isn't today the day of the highly anticipated auction? You know, Devil Fruit are strategic resources that all forces dream of, and their importance is self-evident.

Over the years, he himself has successfully acquired several. For example, Tanaka's Paramecia Fruit, the Through-Through Fruit, and Baccarat's Paramecia Fruit, the Lucky-Lucky Fruit, were both obtained in this way... Speaking of which, we have to mention two of the Four Emperors, Big Mom and Beasts Pirates.

That Big Mom has a particular fondness for Paramecia Devil Fruit; while Kaido has a strong preference for Zoan fruits. Therefore, almost all the Devil Fruit that have appeared and been auctioned in recent years have been snapped up by these two powerful pirate crews.

However, this time the filming is about to begin for a Zoan Devil Fruit. How could the Beast Pirates possibly miss this opportunity? With just a moment's thought, Gild Tesoro's lips involuntarily curled upwards. Clearly, he already had a plan in mind.

Then, he turned to Mr. Tanaka and instructed, "Quickly send that Zoan Devil Fruit from my inventory to the auction house... Also, make sure to create a great buzz for this auction. And of course, there's one more crucial thing: we absolutely must find a way to let Moke know about this..."

Mr. Tanaka and Baccarat exchanged a quick glance, both catching a glimpse of barely concealed joy in each other's eyes. Clearly, they had instantly grasped Gilles Gild Tesoro's true intentions—to use someone else to do their dirty work! This insidious plan both excited and made them nervous.

Mr. Tanaka nodded slightly and replied without hesitation, "Understood, I'll take care of it right away!" Before his words even finished, his figure had already sped away like Inazuma. His speed was astonishing, like a gust of wind passing by. This amazing speed was not only due to his excellent physical qualities, but also to his unique abilities. In comparison, the slow-moving Moke and Carina paled in comparison.

Time ticked by, and finally, Moke and Carina slowly arrived in front of the casino. However, before they could even step inside, they were drawn to the commotion emanating from the auction house across the street.

The auction house entrance was bustling with activity. A staff member stood on a high platform, holding a megaphone and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Attention, guests! Today is our auction house's annual Devil Fruit auction! And, our great Lord Gild Tesoro is in an exceptionally good mood today, so he has specially brought out an incomparably precious Zoan - Devil Fruit... to share this joy with you all! So, those of you who have come all this way to bid on Devil Fruit, you are incredibly lucky! Your chances of obtaining Devil Fruit have doubled compared to previous years!"

Upon hearing this, Moke's eyes widened, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets, his face filled with disbelief. His lips trembled slightly as he muttered to himself, "Zoan - Devil Fruit? How is that possible..." Though his voice was soft, the shock he felt was unmistakable.

Seeing this, Carina's lips curled into a slight, enigmatic smile. She asked softly, "Are you interested in this?" She paused, then, as if finding it insufficiently enticing, added, "If you're interested, you can enter by paying an entrance fee of ten million."

"A ten million entrance fee?" Upon hearing this, Moke's expression of surprise deepened, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg. He couldn't help but exclaim, thinking to himself: This entrance fee is too expensive! However, despite being speechless at such a high price, he couldn't help but marvel at Doflamingo's money-making methods.

After all, behind this seemingly outrageous pricing standard lies a huge temptation of profit. For those with some ability and financial resources, who wouldn't want to give it a try and compete for it? Especially for those whose potential has been exhausted and whose strength is difficult to improve further, as well as those who are eager to quickly improve their strength in the short term, this is undoubtedly a fatal temptation that is hard to resist.

However, all of this happened far too coincidentally! Just moments ago, he and Gild Tesoro were locked in a tense standoff, neither willing to back down, but in the blink of an eye, he'd delivered a Devil Fruit to their doorstep, and not only that, he was making a huge fuss about it... The scale of the event was so grand that it was impossible for anyone to ignore it. Could it really be such a coincidence?

Moke wasn't stupid; he understood perfectly well. It was obvious that Gild Tesoro's actions were deliberately designed to draw his attention to the auction. But the question remained: what was his purpose? Was he trying to entice him to bid on the two Devil Fruits?

Then, secretly drive up the price, forcing him to bid an outrageously high price to finally make a killing and vent his anger? It can't be that simple! After all, Gild Tesoro is the mighty Gild Tesoro, possessing a full 20% of the world's Beli wealth. Two Devil Fruit, even if they fetch an astonishingly high price, are probably just a drop in the ocean for him.

What could possibly cause this situation? Moke racked his brains, but couldn't quite make sense of it in a short time. Regardless, however, the matter had successfully piqued his intense curiosity and interest. "Carina, let's go in and see what's going on!" Moke couldn't hide his excitement, his eyes burning as he looked at the woman beside him, and eagerly suggested.

"Huh?" Carina's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this, her face filled with astonishment and disbelief. She knew all too well that this place wasn't one to be entered casually; just getting in cost a full ten million Beli! And if the two of them went in together, it would be an enormous expense—a whopping twenty million Beli! That was an astronomical figure for most people.

More importantly, once the money is handed over, it's like spilled water—there's no way to get it back. In other words, even if they fail to win any bids, the ten million Beli will be gone without a trace. Thinking of this, Carina couldn't help but look worried, secretly wondering if she should stop Moke's impulsive actions.

However, Moke seemed completely unconcerned about these concerns. With a smile on his face, he unhesitatingly extended his right hand and firmly grasped Carina's slender, soft hand, as if everything was under his control. Then, with firm and powerful steps, he walked straight towards the entrance.

Upon arriving at the entrance, Moke didn't hesitate for a moment. He pulled out a bulging money bag from his pocket, counted out 20 million Beli, and handed it to the staff. Then, like a triumphant warrior, he strode confidently into the mysterious and luxurious auction house, holding the hand of the still somewhat shaken Carina.

As soon as Moke stepped inside the auction house, he was surprised to find it already packed with people, many of whom had arrived early and taken up advantageous positions. Moreover, these people were all burly and fierce-looking, giving the impression that they were not friendly people. More importantly, when some of them noticed Moke, their gazes towards him instantly became filled with greed and covetousness.

Feeling the malevolent gazes surrounding him, as if they wanted to devour him alive, Moke's heart tightened. He reflexively reached out his right hand and gently touched the bridge of his high nose, his mind churning with thoughts. He couldn't help but think to himself, "It seems the bounty issued by the Sengoku has truly had a significant impact. It's enough to attract so many people who are eyeing me with such covetousness! What should I do..." But just then, Moke keenly noticed that those who had been staring intently at him suddenly changed their expressions drastically. Their previously greedy and fierce eyes were now replaced by fear, as if they had seen something utterly terrifying.

Moke was puzzled and quickly turned around to look behind him. Since he hadn't paid much attention to his surroundings when he entered the auction house, he hadn't paid much attention to the people coming and going.

But at this moment, the unusual reactions of these people aroused his intense curiosity. "What's going on?" Moke muttered to himself, his gaze quickly sweeping behind him. With just a fleeting glance, Moke froze on the spot as if he had been electrocuted, his eyes wide open, his mouth slightly agape, his face filled with disbelief.

There were three people in total. The one in the lead was tall and burly, like a moving hill; his muscles were bulging, containing an endless sense of power, as if the slightest movement could cause a landslide. Even more striking was the pair of cold, hard metal jaws on his mouth, which gleamed with a chilling light.

The man stood tall and straight, with two exquisite white ornaments, shaped like ivory, carefully worn on either side of his head and shoulders. These ornaments not only radiated a dazzling light but also added to his overall air of majesty and mystery.

Looking at him, he was draped in an incredibly thick fur coat, seemingly capable of warding off all the cold in the world. The fur coat swayed gently with each step he took, like a flag fluttering in the wind, or a wild beast galloping across the wasteland, giving him an aura of wildness and untamed spirit. What was particularly striking was the belt around his waist, bearing the unique insignia of the Beast Pirates, as if proclaiming to the world the powerful force he belonged to.

The person standing to his left was a tall, slender young woman. From a distance, she resembled a graceful, upright bamboo, her figure elegant and upright. As the gaze drew closer, the first thing that caught the eye was her pair of long, beautiful legs, their lines smooth and straight, like a meticulously sculpted work of art, instantly captivating the eye. Looking further up, her slender waist was so delicate it could be encircled with one hand, her perfect proportions on full display.

However, the most peculiar feature was the pair of horns resembling bull horns that abruptly grew from the top of the woman's head. These horns were slightly curved, with just the right amount of curvature, neither too exaggerated nor easily overlooked. They shimmered with an unusual luster, sometimes appearing as a deep blue, and sometimes transforming into a mesmerizing purple, as if they contained some mysterious and unpredictable power, making her stand out from the crowd.

Not only that, but she was also wearing a light pink floral mask that covered her delicate face. The mask was uniquely designed, with exquisite patterns embroidered along its edges, like clusters of tiny, delicate flowers forming a vibrant and colorful picture. These patterns were so fine and lifelike that they resembled a blooming, beautiful flower on her face, adding to her charm and mystery.

However, this seemingly ordinary and unremarkable mask seemed to possess some kind of incredible magic. It quietly covered her face, and although it only covered most of her face, it was precisely in this partial concealment that it was like a hazy veil, adding an indescribable mystery and charming allure.

As your gaze follows the exposed portion, the first thing that catches your eye is a pair of exceptionally bright eyes. They sparkle with a dazzling light, like stars, radiant and impossible to ignore.

Those eyes were as clear as a mountain spring, without the slightest impurity, as pure as flawless jade, and like the brightest star in the deep night sky, radiating a strange light that could capture one's soul.

Anyone who glances at her unintentionally will be captivated, unable to extricate themselves, as if their entire soul is being drawn into the vortex created by those beautiful eyes.

At the same time, a strong sense of curiosity welled up in everyone's heart, filling them with countless guesses and fantasies about her true face hidden behind the mask. What exactly did that face behind the mask look like?

Is it a stunningly beautiful face that could topple kingdoms, or an ordinary, unremarkable face? Or perhaps a unique charm with a distinctive allure? These questions, like unsolved mysteries, linger in people's minds, driving them to eagerly seek the answer and find out the truth.

Then, people's gaze slowly shifted to the figure standing to her right. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a tall, straight young man, as slender as a pine tree. His imposing stature gave him a sense of towering presence, and his aura was exceptionally bold and extraordinary, drawing everyone's attention. Although his face was covered by a mask, the unique and extraordinary charisma emanating from him still deeply attracted the attention of those around him.

What's even more intriguing is that this man, like the woman beside him, is also wearing a face mask. However, unlike the woman's mask, his mask is neither the usual solid color nor one covered with various intricate patterns. Instead, it presents a strikingly contrasting color combination—black and white intertwined, with a clear and distinct boundary, much like the legendary Jing River and Wei River.

The deep, rich black area resembles a pool of ink just splashed on rice paper, flowing freely and gradually spreading and permeating the paper; while the pure, flawless white area is like goose feather snow falling from the sky on a winter night, piling up layer upon layer to form a silver-clad landscape.

These two extremely contrasting colors intertwine and entwine, like Shine stars adorning the deep, boundless night sky. Their interplay creates a dreamlike, breathtakingly beautiful scene. This striking and captivating visual contrast, like an Inazuma piercing the sky, instantly strikes the heart, leaving an indelible impression on all who witness it, deeply imprinted in their memories, impossible to erase by the passage of time.

Although their faces were completely obscured by thick masks, making it difficult for those around them to see what they looked like even with their eyes wide open, their unique, distinctive, and eye-catching attire alone made it easy to tell that these two were definitely not ordinary people.

At that moment, the three people stood there quietly, shoulder to shoulder, like three Shine pearls carefully set in the bustling crowd. The radiance emanating from them was like the brightest star in the night sky, instantly attracting the attention of everyone present.

Their appearance seemed to carry a mysterious and irresistible magic. This magic was so powerful that it made everything and everyone around them pale in comparison and seem insignificant. Even those who thought themselves radiant couldn't help but feel ashamed when compared to them.

Sure enough, after Moke glanced in this direction absentmindedly due to some urgent matter, almost instantly, relying on his deep familiarity with their unique temperament and distinctive attire, he recognized their true identities without hesitation and with unparalleled accuracy.

It turned out that the three people before him were none other than Jack the Drought, Ulti, and Page One —important members of the Beast Pirates, renowned throughout the seas and feared by countless men! At this moment, seeing these three uninvited guests suddenly appear, Moke's heart jolted, and his previously puzzled thoughts instantly became clear. He finally Satori completely what kind of conspiracy Gild Tesoro was secretly plotting.