The Noblewoman Who Wanted to Take on Ten at Once

Sal sized up the two women as he steered the conversation.

Cat Burglar Nami, the Straw Hat Crew's navigator, was a young, vibrant beauty. She had short orange hair, delicate features, and a graceful figure that was just beginning to blossom.

Demon Child Nico Robin was an archaeologist, the only person in the world capable of translating the Poneglyphs. She was another stunning beauty with an intellectual air and an incredibly alluring figure. In Sal's eyes, her only flaw was that her skin was a little too dark.

Seeing that they had no interest in chatting, Sal did not press the matter and left directly. He still had several shops to visit.

Nami and Robin watched Sal disappear, both feeling that the man was rather strange.

Suddenly, a Flying Fish Motorcycle flew toward them. Franky of the Straw Hat Crew stood on the fish's back and shouted at them.

"Get on the flying fish! The mermaid has been kidnapped!"

"Kidnapped?"

"Camie?"

Watching them leave from afar, Sal felt a surge of delight and could not help muttering to himself.

"Looks like the big show will still go on as scheduled. How could a spectator like me possibly miss it?"

Area 1, the 1GR Auction House. This auction house worked with Flamingo Doflamingo, and the World Government also held shares in it. It was the largest slave auction house in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Sal, who had arrived late, walked inside. He had already changed back into his usual clothes, since what came next was serious business.

The entire auction hall was resplendent with gold and jade. This grand monthly auction had nearly filled over a hundred seats. The people inside were either high-ranking officials and nobles or powerful pirates from various factions.

Within Sal's sight, he could also see two Supernovas who had recently been making waves. One was Luo, whom he had met a few times. The other was Eustass Kid, the Magnet-Magnet Fruit user and captain of the Kid Pirates.

With a bounty of 315 million Beli, he had the highest bounty among the twelve Supernovas.

However, there was some inflation in his strength. After all, he had raised that massive bounty through murder, arson, plunder, and pillaging.

Sal turned to look at the VIP seats. Through his Observation Haki, he sensed two Celestial Dragons from the Rosward Family there. It seemed that their precious eldest son was late again.

Sal found a good seat and squeezed a middle-aged man away. When the man tried to resist, the Conqueror's Haki radiating from Sal's gaze made him slink away in disgrace.

A young, beautiful noblewoman sitting beside him looked over curiously. Sal casually struck up a conversation with her.

"Beautiful, do you have any targets this time? I'm planning to buy ten female slaves today for a taste. What about you?"

"..."

The noblewoman found it hard to respond. Who spoke so bluntly? Nobles had to remain elegant. Yet under his invasive gaze, she eventually spoke.

"I plan to buy a few strong slaves to take home."

"Oh, then remember to stay hydrated. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

"..."

The noblewoman glared at Sal with a flushed face. Who talked like that?

The auction hall lights suddenly went out, plunging the venue into darkness. Several beams of light shone onto the stage. This auction's host, a middle-aged man in a purple robe with a highly punchable face, appeared onstage.

"Welcome, distinguished guests, to this auction. We are especially honored by the presence of two noble Celestial Dragons. I will not waste any more words. I can only wish that everyone obtains what they desire. Please bring out the first slave."

As the first slave, a pirate musician, was brought onto the stage, the host gave a brief introduction.

"This is a pirate born into a musical family in the West Blue. He can perform music, clean, do housework, and even help manage business affairs. Truly a rare slave. Please begin your bidding."

Sal inwardly mocked the description. Good grief, he had to perform, clean, handle housework, and manage businesses. Aside from being unable to bear children, did he have to take care of everything?

In the end, the musician pirate was sold for 800,000 Beli, setting the venue ablaze with excitement. One slave after another took the stage, bringing the atmosphere to its peak.

Sal leaned back in his chair, listening to the noblewoman beside him cry out with increasing sharpness. Heh, women.

Thinking of how even the cheapest slave cost 800,000 Beli, it seemed that a slave worth 500,000 Beli like Sal truly was not qualified to take the stage.

Looking at the slaves' outfits—maid uniforms, dancer costumes, barely any cloth covering them—those profiteers really knew how to do business. They firmly grasped their customers' desires. But could these slaves really be taken away?

Amid humanity's frenzied cries, Sal slowly began to doze off.

At the same time, another major event was about to erupt. A shocking newspaper spread throughout the Sabaody Archipelago. Whitebeard's Second Division commander, Fire Fist Ace, had been captured by the Marines and was to be publicly executed in one week.

Everyone was shocked. Anyone with any foresight could see that Whitebeard would never let the matter rest. The world's greatest war was about to begin.

Even the Supernovas on the island felt somewhat uneasy upon seeing the news.

Forty minutes later

A series of screams and commotion woke Sal. Rubbing his eyes, he saw that the auction house's curtain had been lowered, so he immediately asked the noblewoman beside him.

"What happened?"

The noblewoman glanced at him. This man had said he wanted to buy ten female slaves, only to fall asleep in the end. But recalling his seemingly magical eyes, she obediently answered.

"A pirate slave bit off his tongue and killed himself. It was truly bloody."

Sal rolled his eyes. You buy and sell slaves, yet you call that bloody? Who knew how many slaves had died in your household? Still, that pirate who had dared to kill himself—he did not know whether to call him brave or unlucky. If he had only endured a little longer, he would have been saved.

Suddenly, a group of figures caught his attention. Nami and Robin, whom he had met before, were among them. It was the Straw Hat Pirates.

The blond-haired man was Black Leg Sanji, the Straw Hat Crew's cook, with a bounty of 77 million Beli.

The three-meter-tall blue-haired man wearing only briefs was Cyborg Franky, with a bounty of 44 million Beli.

The adorable little reindeer was Chopper, a doctor who was instead labeled as a pet, with a bounty of 50 Beli.

There was also Rayleigh's acquaintance, Hachi the octopus fish-man. And the last one was a starfish, perhaps? Sal had no idea what that thing was.

At that moment, the curtain was pulled open. The corpse had long since been cleared away. A large fish tank was pushed onto the stage, containing a green-haired mermaid—the person the Straw Hat Pirates had come to find, Camie.

The moment the fish-man appeared, a Celestial Dragon in the VIP seats stood up and stared fixedly at Camie. Finally, he shouted.

"I bid 500 million! That mermaid is mine!"

"..."

The entire venue fell silent. No one dared to bid against him. Sal looked closely and realized that it was the Rosward Family's foolish eldest son, Charlos. As expected of him. A mermaid worth one hundred million at most had been bid up to five hundred million by him.

Such wastefulness. No wonder the Heavenly Tribute had driven so many people to death.

As the Celestial Dragon's voice fell, Nami's bidding paddle slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. To buy back her friend, she had pawned everything valuable she owned, yet she only had 200 million Beli. Unless she sold her captain, there was no way she could afford it.

The Straw Hat Pirates all looked extremely grim, but they did not make a move. After all, offending the Celestial Dragons could bring an Admiral. The scene of being utterly crushed by Admiral Aokiji not long ago was still fresh in their minds.

Suddenly, a voice rang out and drew everyone's attention. Sal raised his paddle and said.

"I bid 600 million Beli."

The noblewoman beside him recoiled from Sal as though she had seen a ghost. He actually dared to compete with a Celestial Dragon for something. Was he looking to die?

She was not the only one who thought so. Everyone did. At that moment, Nami and Robin also recognized Sal and could not help crying out in surprise.

"It's that strange guy! X2"

Seeing Charlos look as though he wanted to devour someone alive, Sal could not help teasing him.

"Honorable Saint Charlos, could it be that you do not have the money to keep bidding?"

"You... you... I bid 800 million Beli!"

"1 billion."

The utterly unhesitating increase made everyone gasp. Even Luo's hand holding his sword trembled. That was 1 billion Beli. Could Mr. Sal really afford it?

[S-rank character Charlos has developed negative emotions toward the host. Moderate hostility. Experience increased by 2000.]

[S-rank characters have developed negative emotions toward the host. Moderate hostility. Experience increased by 1000 x2.]

[A-rank characters have developed ordinary emotions toward the host. Mild surprise. Experience increased by 100 x7.]

[B-rank characters have developed ordinary emotions toward the host. Mild surprise. Experience increased by 20 x39.]

[C-rank characters have developed ordinary emotions toward the host. Mild surprise. Experience increased by 5 x63.]

[Level increased: Level 23 (136/3000)]

He had risen three levels in one wave, and his physique had improved noticeably, making Sal even more delighted. This made the onlookers even more wary. He was provoking a Celestial Dragon and still smiling so happily.

Those who could enter the auction house were either wealthy or powerful, nobles or strong fighters. Their emotions varied in degree, and the system's only flaw was that it could collect experience from the same rank only once per month.

"You bastard, I will not let you get away with this."

Just as the enraged Charlos pulled out a pistol, intending to shoot dead the person who had offended him.

Bang... Boom!

A huge hole was smashed through the auction hall wall. Straw Hat Luffy and Roronoa Zoro made their grand entrance, drawing everyone's attention away.

Two Supernovas with bounties of 300 million and 120 million Beli were no minor figures in the Sabaody Archipelago.