Vic returned to Titan Island, where Rebecca heard about Ace and, along with several female companions, prepared to test Ace's abilities. However, before they even reached the halfway point, they heard the news that Ace had joined the Whitebeard Pirates.
Rebecca was somewhat unhappy, but since the other Whitebeard Pirates, who had done Mantis a favor, Rebecca had no choice but to abandon her original plan.
However, some pirate crews encountered on the return journey suffered. The reputation of Rebecca, the Ten Thousand Swords Witch, spread throughout the New World during this voyage, and even the Four Emperors ' pirate crews had to take her seriously!
They already knew that Rebecca had eaten the Float-Float Fruit, the same fruit that Golden Lion Shiki once possessed. Although the two had developed their fruits in slightly different directions, their power was undeniable!
Moreover, Rebecca's outstanding Devil Fruit ability is not only due to her fruit power; with the support of Vic's Soul Fruit over the years, her Conqueror's Haki has also Awakening, and under Vic's guidance, she has also mastered the Conqueror's Coating.
Of course, she wasn't the only one to Awakening Conqueror's Haki. In addition to Conqueror's Haki, her Observation Haki and Armament Haki had also reached a high level. Her strength was no less than that of the second-in-command under the Four Emperors, which was why she was valued by the Four Emperors.
If Shanks were to meet Rebecca, given his personality, he would probably extend an invitation, much like Marco received.
1518 (the year of Sea Circle Calendar )
In March of that year, Vic received a call from Garp. After hanging up, he couldn't suppress a smile, said goodbye to the few people who remained on Titan Island to train, and then disappeared from the island.
Fisher Tiger and the others on Titan Island didn't ask where Vic was. For the past few years, Vic had been elusive, appearing and disappearing like a dragon. They didn't believe that anyone in the ocean could harm Vic now.
Moreover, with their current strength, few would dare to cause trouble or create problems on Titan Island; they haven't been wasting their time all these years.
Although they didn't make a high-profile appearance at sea like Rebecca and the other female generals, being unknown doesn't mean they lack strength. Vic's force doesn't need to rely on constant battles to quickly improve their strength; they already possess a cultivation method that directly targets the essence of Haki.
Vic returned two months later, a faint smile always on his lips. He wouldn't say what good news anyone asked him. After spending a week on Titan Island, he went to the Revolutionary Army's stronghold, Baltigo.
He needed to complete this year's Awakening Haki mission, and after that, Vic wanted to leave. However, he was stopped by Dragon, who invited Vic to participate in an auction hosted by the Donquixote Family in the Sabaody Archipelago.
Vic initially didn't want to go, but Dragon told him that two very interesting Devil Fruit Devil Fruit would be featured at the auction, Dragon wanted to obtain them to strengthen the Revolutionary Army.
Just in case, he wanted Vic to come along. After thinking it over, Vic agreed. He hadn't been out and about for a long time, so going out to see the world was a good idea. He was also willing to contribute to expanding the Revolutionary Army's strength.
"Wow! This auction is quite lively today. What kind of Devil Fruit is so attractive? There are quite a few familiar faces here!"
When Vic and Dragon, dressed in black robes and hooded, entered the auction house in the Sabaody Archipelago, he sensed several familiar auras, as well as several unfamiliar but not weak ones, which prompted his exclamation.
In recent years Donquixote Family has developed rapidly in all aspects, even acquiring the auction house in the Sabaody Archipelago, which is the only one of its kind in the entire Sabaody Archipelago.
This may also be related to Doflamingo's willingness to spend; his auction houses often feature Devil Fruit and slaves of rare races, something other forces cannot do.
Or perhaps those underground forces could afford it but are unwilling to part with those Devil Fruit. Why not keep such valuable items to enhance their subordinates' strength? Why auction them off to others for a profit?
Therefore, Doflamingo's business acumen and vision are unmatched by those underworld kings, allowing him to develop a vast business empire in just a few years.
Of course, Doflamingo's former Celestial Dragons status certainly played a significant role, but status is one thing; business acumen, vision, and ruthlessness are not things that status alone can bestow upon him. Many genuine Celestial Dragons are no different from pigs, so there is no harm without comparison.
Vic sensed Rayleigh's presence at the auction house, guessing that Rayleigh had probably lost money at some casino again and was being sold at auction.
And on the chairs not far from the display stand, there sat a tall figure, also shrouded in a black robe, but Vic still sensed a familiar presence: Katakuri and Brulee beside him.
Vic is very familiar with Katakuri's aura, having encountered it several times before. As for Brulee, he only caught a glimpse of her when they went to Whole Cake Island to beat up Big Mom, but Vic still remembered her aura.
Not only did Four Emperors Big Mom send people to participate in the auction, Whitebeard Pirates and the Beasts Pirates also came. The Whitebeard Pirates sent Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, who was also shrouded in a black robe. It was unclear whether he was sent by Whitebeard or came voluntarily.
As for the Beasts Pirates, the one who came was their All-Stars Queen. His huge, fleshy body couldn't be hidden even by his black robe. Apart from Red-Haired Shanks crew, who weren't interested in Devil Fruit, all the other Four Emperors forces sent representatives.
Vic also saw a very familiar person, but it was the first time he had seen him in this world: Gild Tesoro, the future Gild Tesoro.
Tesoro made no attempt to conceal himself, sitting openly not far from the display stand, playing with a deck of cards in his hand. His eyes were somewhat vacant as he stared at the empty stage, ignoring the powerful auras emanating from the people around him.
Gild Tesoro is similar to Boa Hancock; both were slaves of the Celestial Dragons. He clashed with the Stella Celestial Dragons bought Stella, who was a slave, while trying to rescue her at an auction. In the end, he was also captured by the Celestial Dragons and became a slave in Mary Geoise.
However, his girlfriend Stella was brutally murdered after the Celestial Dragons got tired of her, which solidified Tesoro's belief that money is everything and that as long as you have enough money, you can buy anything!
He lost the bid to buy Stella because he didn't have enough money. Later, when Fisher Tiger Celestial Dragons the Red Line with his bare hands and invaded Holy Land Mary Geoise of the Celestial Dragons, he escaped with many slaves.
Tesoro started trying to make money while also getting obsessed with auctions. He would take people to see any large auction, as if he were possessed!
Keep in mind that Stella had already died at the hands of the Celestial Dragons by then, and he couldn't find his lost love and lover even after searching every auction house!