Several items were auctioned off in succession, but none interested Vic. Some even disgusted him, because slaves were among them.
Vic knew how dark this world was, but this was his first time seeing such blatant slave trading.
Vic almost drew his sword and attacked, but he knew rescuing these few people would do nothing. Slave trading was still common practice in this world. No one else thought it strange; they even got excited when they saw a pretty slave. Vic felt a little out of place here.
The world would not bend to an individual's will. Changing it would take time, money, and wisdom, as well as formidable strength to back them up.
He knew a little about this world. The Celestial Dragons stood at the top of the pyramid, and the World Government was the world's largest power. They were two mountains pressing down on all living beings.
They had also caused the state the Sabaody Archipelago was in, and this was merely a microcosm of the world. What they wanted was stable rule, and as long as the various powers did not upset the balance, they generally would not intervene. The prosperity was all on the surface; the darkness behind it was hard to accept, leaving people to sink into despair.
Vic shook off his thoughts and came back to his senses, because something he was interested in had finally appeared.
"This next item is a treasure so rare that money alone cannot buy it. It is a consumable, and less and less of it remains in the world. You never know whether this might be the last piece." Ethan spoke excitedly as he lifted the red cloth covering it, revealing the treasure.
It was a blue lump the size of a soccer ball. Beautiful and reflecting the light, it seemed to draw people in, holding everyone's gaze.
"This is Cast Blue Gold. Legend has it that it was discovered by a man named Cast. This metal is exceptionally beautiful and incredibly hard. Even a Great Grade Sword cannot cut through a thin sheet of it."
"There is very little Cast Blue Gold in existence. Only one large piece was found when it was first unearthed. No one can say whether it fell from the sky or had always been there, but no other large pieces have ever been found. All the other pieces that have appeared were separated from that large lump by special means."
"It is said that Cast Blue Gold was added to many Great Grade Swords and Supreme Great Grade Swords. Legend has it that adding even a small amount to a weapon can greatly increase its strength."
"One Supreme Great Grade Sword was made entirely of Cast Blue Gold. It is said that on the day the sword was completed, a great deal of moonlight gathered on its blade, and it received the moon's blessing. Its sharpness was unheard of; it could easily cleave the sea apart, and the waters would not close for a long time." Ethan described the metal's origins and legends, making it sound like something found in heaven but nowhere on earth.
The people below were excited. Even if they did not use such a treasure to forge a sword, they could still add it to their collections. Surely someone would pay a high price for it.
Some had heard of Cast Blue Gold, but most had not, and they asked one another about it. The auctioneer did not immediately start the bidding either. He wanted everyone to learn about it: this was a precious treasure, and they needed to spend more money to buy it. Too little would not befit its status.
Vic was curious too. This was something that had never appeared in the original story, and he had never heard Kozaburo mention it. He figured it really was too scarce, so scarce that even Kozaburo had not thought he could come across something so good. He just did not know whether it was as good as they said.
If the legend was true, then a sword of at least Great Grade was all but guaranteed. He wanted it too; he just did not know whether his wallet could take it. Although he did not place much importance on money, he had accumulated some, but he did not know if it would be enough.
"Ban, have you heard of this Cast Blue Gold?" Vic asked, tapping Ban on the shoulder in the row in front.
"I actually have. What the auctioneer said is generally true, but legends are just legends. No one has seen that sword. Still, it really is good material for forging swords, hehe." Ban shared what he knew.
Vic nodded. As long as it could improve the quality, that was enough. If he found some other precious metals and fused them together, perhaps he could get an even better material.
"Rebecca, would you like a sword made from this metal?" Vic asked Rebecca.
"Would the whole blade be blue?" Stars shone in Rebecca's eyes. She clearly longed for that color.
"If we forged a sword entirely from that metal, there wouldn't be much of it left. What are you thinking?" Vic knocked Rebecca on the head, feeling somewhat helpless. There was too little of it; even the best cook could not make a meal without rice. He still wanted to improve his own sword, yet this silly girl only liked the color.
"Ow, that hurt! But that color really is pretty." Rebecca complained about Vic knocking her on the head, but he paid her no further attention. He focused his Observation Haki on the piece of blue gold.
When Barrow, sitting in the front row, saw the blue gold, a fervent light appeared in his eyes. I must have this piece of Cast Blue Gold. Whoever tries to take it from me, I'll kill them, he thought.
"Now everyone knows a little about this Cast Blue Gold, so let's begin the auction. The starting price is 30 million Beli. Let the bidding begin." Seeing that the time was about right, Ethan opened the bidding.
"31 million Beli."
"35 million Beli."
"50 million Beli." Barrow began bidding. At this price, there were already not many bidders left.
"51 million Beli." Vic began bidding too. He did have that much money.
"55 million Beli." A pirate wearing a sword also placed a bid.
"60 million Beli."
A nobleman had placed the bid. He said to a woman beside him, "I'm going to buy this blue gold and have a few collars made for my family's slaves. The color of this metal is very pretty. They'll definitely look even more beautiful wearing it, hehehe!"
"You really are willing to spend money. You're so good to your slaves!..." The woman covered her mouth and laughed too, looking particularly mean.
A few more people bid, and the price of the Cast Blue Gold reached 80 million Beli. It was already very high, exceeding the value of many Great Grade Swords, and Barrow was getting anxious.
"I am Barrow, an officer of the Rod Family. I must have this piece of Cast Blue Gold today. I hope everyone here will give me some face. I'll be sure to treat you all well afterward. After all, Sabaody can be a bit chaotic, and good places aren't easy to find. Everyone, I'd be most grateful." Barrow stood, turned around, and addressed the entire hall in a loud voice, raising it even more when he said "Rod Family" and "treat you all well."
None of them were ordinary people, and they all heard the threat in his words. Many gave up competing altogether. Becoming enemies with an underworld king's subordinate just for a pretty piece of metal was not worth it.
Very few of them actually wanted to buy it to forge a sword.
"That guy's so overbearing. How hateful!" Rebecca was a little unhappy.
"Don't worry, I won't give up. Others may be wary of him, but I don't care. I'll keep going until I run out of money!" Vic said with a smile.
"Barrow, what you're doing is against the rules. Are you trying to wreck this auction?" Ethan's face darkened. Barrow was threatening customers right in front of him, showing neither him nor his boss any respect.
"Ethan, don't make accusations. I just want to buy something, that's all. I only want to pay a little less. Your boss has a big family and a vast business; surely he won't care about this little bit. I believe your boss will give me this much face." Barrow paid Ethan's words no mind. As long as he obtained the Cast Blue Gold, he would have more say in the future.
Ethan was angry, but there was nothing he could do now. The customers had already been cowed, so he could only settle the score later.
"Barrow, we'll see about that. Hmph." All Ethan could do was snort coldly.
Barrow only sneered. Later? Who cared? "I bid 81 million Beli for this blue gold. Who else is bidding?" He no longer made any effort to hide the threat in his words.
No one answered for a long while. Barrow was very pleased with himself, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, Ethan, no one's bidding anymore. Get on with it," Barrow called smugly to Ethan on the stage.
Ethan's face was livid, but no one was bidding anymore. There was nothing he could do but follow the rules.
"81 million, going once." Ethan gritted his teeth and waited a little longer. No one bid.
"81 million, going twice. This could be the last piece of Cast Blue Gold on these seas. If you miss it, you may regret it for the rest of your lives. Everyone, think carefully." Ethan made one last effort, still trying to persuade them.
"Vic, why aren't you bidding yet? That horrible guy's about to buy it," Rebecca said anxiously.
"Hehe, let him be happy for a bit. You should know that when the contrast is too great, people get very angry." A sly gleam flashed in Vic's eyes as he spoke with a smile, though Rebecca was a little confused by what he meant.
Five minutes passed without anyone speaking up. Ethan was bitterly resentful, while Barrow smiled smugly. He looked at the Cast Blue Gold on the stage as though it were already his, unable to conceal the greedy light in his eyes.
"81 million Beli, going for the third..." Before Ethan could finish-
"Wait, I bid 81.1 million Beli." A voice rang out in the hall.