The auction proceeded smoothly. After King Riku improved the enormous semicircular venue according to Uchiha Hikaru's plans, it had been expanded into a large arena capable of holding tens of thousands.
Backstage, Urouge led ten Zoan Fruit users and thirty fish-man warriors as guards, while the entire venue was arranged around the arena. Law led twenty Zoan Fruit users, fifty fish-man warriors, and three hundred Dressrosa soldiers in maintaining order throughout the venue.
Outside, Jinbe led over a hundred fish-man warriors and six hundred Dressrosa soldiers on patrol. Kyros was responsible for Dressrosa's domestic security and defense, with the Tontatta Tribe assisting from the side.
This was Dressrosa's first large-scale auction, far grander than any previous auction event. After all, many had come specifically for the Devil Fruit said to counter the Glint-Glint Fruit, so Hikaru naturally intended to make the event flawless.
However, this was already all the Combat Power Dressrosa could put forth. Although Law, Jinbe, and the others were fairly renowned in the New World, Hikaru could not guarantee that some deranged criminals would not cause trouble regardless of the consequences. He did not care if anyone caused trouble; he only cared that the situation remained completely under his control.
Quite a few people attended today. Though not every one of them was an important figure from their respective countries or regions, each had brought a large retinue to show off—at least several people, and sometimes dozens. Those with fewer attendants were usually people who considered themselves exceptionally strong, or unruly pirates. Those with larger entourages had brought beauties, bodyguards, and attendants alike, especially the Celestial Dragons.
The semicircular venue was nearly full, holding several thousand people. It was quite a spectacular sight.
Standing behind the backstage curtain, Hikaru watched the scene and recalled the first auction