Arrival at Sabaody / Black market auction, complex underground forces

She pouted and asked softly, "Mama, do you miss Sister Lola?"

"Don't mention that bitch to me!"

Charlotte Linlin wished she could strangle Lola. Turning her anger into appetite, she grabbed a plate of desserts and stuffed them into her mouth.

"By the way, where's Katakuri now?"

"Brother Katakuri... he's on a mission, making preparations for your tea party, Mama."

"Is that so? I'm really looking forward to the tea party."

Charlotte Linlin suddenly showed a hint of childlike innocence, but quickly turned vicious again.

"Then send Cracker to see me!"

"Yes, Mama."

Charlotte Pudding left at once. Though she didn't know what had made Mama angry, something bad must have happened.

An image of her brother Cracker came to mind.

Come to think of it, she hadn't seen him in a year. What did Brother Cracker look like now?

Charlotte Cracker, one of the Sweet Commanders, had a pirate bounty of

860 million Beli!

Chapter 29: Arrival at Sabaody

After five days at sea, the Wave-Breaking Warrior finally reached the Sabaody Archipelago.

This island was unusual. Located at the end of the first half of the Grand Line, it was a place pirates had to pass through to reach the next sea, the "New World."

The entire island consisted of 79 Yarukiman Mangroves. The massive trees had extensive roots that remained above the water, forming the island.

Because of its unique structure, the island, like Punk Hazard, had no magnetic field and could not be locked onto by a Log Pose.

In the original story, the Straw Hat Pirates had first reached the end of the first half and seen the Red Line towering into the clouds. Only then had they chanced upon a mermaid named Camie, who eventually led them to the Sabaody Archipelago.

Dimon hadn't met a mermaid. He had simply let the ship follow the ocean current and naturally ended up here.

Starting at Reverse Mountain, the first half of the Grand Line had seven magnetic routes. No matter which one a ship chose, it would eventually reach the waters near the Sabaody Archipelago.

After the ship docked at a spot along the shore, Dimon didn't rush to disembark. He turned to Samael and instructed him:

"Guard the ship. There's no telling when the enemy might attack. We'll be staying on this island for a while."

"It's been five days, Master. Will that old woman really send someone?"

Samael floated in midair like a wisp of ghostly fire, his humanlike face full of impatience.

"They'll come. Just wait."

With those words, Dimon set foot on the Sabaody Archipelago alone.

Or rather, not quite alone.

Ain stayed by his side at all times, though she couldn't be seen with the naked eye.

"Ain, find the black market on this island. We have a batch of goods to fence."

The goods he meant were the spoils he had obtained from looting the Isaac Pirates not long ago.

Besides cash and jewelry, there were also some weapons, such as cannons and cannonballs.

They had no use for them, but it would be a waste to throw them away. They might as well sell them for cash.

"Yes, Master."

After replying in his mind, Ain immediately stirred up a gentle breeze. It blew in all directions, searching the island.

Dimon was patient and in no hurry. He walked toward a distant Yarukiman Mangrove.

Only when he reached its front could he finally make out a number on the trunk.

[14GR]

The 79 Yarukiman Mangroves represented 79 areas.

Because pirates operated on the island year-round, the areas numbered below 30 were a mixed bag, with criminal forces everywhere.

Businesses such as human trafficking shops and human auctions could operate openly.

Of course, Marines were stationed on the island too, but they didn't interfere.

The reason was simple: the island was close to the Holy Land Mary Geoise and was the Celestial Dragons' favorite backyard to visit when they descended from above.

As everyone knew, Celestial Dragons were fond of slaves and were major customers of these criminal forces.

"It would be nice to run into a Celestial Dragon."

Full of anticipation, Dimon wandered around the island until nightfall, but ultimately didn't get his wish.

Fortunately, Ain finally found the black market. Under cover of darkness, Dimon bought one of the masks sold all along the roadside, put it on, and headed over eagerly.

The black market was in a town in Area 3. An entire street was a red-light district, where elaborately dressed women solicited customers.

As Dimon walked along, he soon caught the attention of a streetwalker.

"Hey, handsome, want to come take a look at our Rose Flower House?"

The woman wore a strong perfume, and Dimon instinctively stepped back half a pace.

Her smile froze, though she managed to keep the corners of her mouth raised. "Honestly, I only just had a bath!"

Dimon spoke his mind. "I hate perfume."

"If you hate women, what are you doing here?"

The woman rolled her eyes. What woman in the red-light district didn't wear perfume?

"I'm here to sell a batch of weapons and see if the black market has anything I need," Dimon said bluntly, stating his purpose.

The woman's slender eyebrows rose slightly. She finally gave Dimon a closer look, noticed the sword at his waist, and spoke with a light smile.

"I see. Please follow me. Oh, and my name is Azshara."

She shot him a flirtatious look and led the way, swaying her slender waist.

Azshara? Light of lights?

The name turned over in Dimon's mind. Confident in his abilities, he followed her at once.

Before long, the two arrived at the Rose Flower House. The first floor really did look like a flower shop, filled with a fragrant scent.

Dimon merely hated strong perfume; he had no objection to the scent of flowers.

Up on the second floor, Azshara showed him into a VIP room, then left for a short while. Moments later, she returned with a vigorous-looking old man.

"Are you the owner here?"

"Me?" The old man froze. "This lady is the owner of our Rose Flower House."

Dimon looked at Azshara, who said with a smile, "Being the owner isn't easy either. I even have to go out and solicit customers myself."

Impressive. The owner solicited customers personally!

What else could Dimon say? She deserved to make money.

Azshara sat down on the opposite sofa, elegantly crossed her legs, and gestured as she introduced the man. "This is the best weapons appraiser I have here. No matter what you want to sell, he can determine its exact value."

After a pause, her gaze traveled over Dimon. "Where are the goods?"

"On the ship. There's no rush. I'm a little curious about something, though. I wonder if you can answer me."

Without waiting for her to agree, Dimon asked outright, "Since this is a black market, why are there brothels everywhere?"

The Rose Flower House wasn't the only one on the street. Everywhere he looked were shops selling flesh, all bright lights and indulgence. It was rather different from the black market he had imagined.

He had expected a black market to be tucked away in some hidden corner.

The Sabaody Archipelago's black market operated openly in a busy district.

"Hahaha, you're so cute. You just got to this island, didn't you?"

Azshara covered her mouth and chuckled. "Actually, everything here has the same boss behind it. It's no secret; everyone who frequents this place knows that the person above us is one of the five emperors of the Underworld, the Queen of the Pleasure District!"

Hearing the familiar name, Dimon couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

The Queen of the Pleasure District's real name was Stussy. She was a Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit user.

Unlike Mammon's, hers was an ordinary Zoan, not a Mythical Zoan.

Stussy was behind the Sabaody Archipelago's black market?

Dimon fell into thought. If he remembered correctly, she was an agent of the World Government and a member of CP0.

She was also a double agent.

"No wonder the black market is hidden in the red-light district. If she's the big boss, that makes sense."

"You've got that wrong. It's not that the black market was established in the red-light district. Rather, while running the red-light district, we also got involved in the black market business."

Azshara licked her red lips, looking utterly seductive. "I'll have someone go with you to appraise the weapons. Before that, it seems you also want to buy something?"

"I want a Devil Fruit."

"A Devil Fruit?" Azshara's eyes shifted. "Then you've come at the right time. There's going to be a black market auction soon, and there is indeed a Devil Fruit going up for sale."

At that, Dimon immediately perked up.

Smiling, Azshara poured cold water on his enthusiasm. "You'll have plenty of competition: pirates, gangsters, wealthy tycoons, bounty hunters... Even the local Marines will take part!"

Chapter 30: Black market auction, complex underground forces

"The Marines?"

Dimon was surprised. Even the Marines took part in Underworld auctions.

"The Marines will disguise themselves as someone else," Azshara said with a smile. "So you understand, right? Money alone isn't enough. Even if you win the Devil Fruit, you'll still have to face some fighting outside the auction. Unless..."

Unless I eat it on the spot?

Dimon thought even eating it might not be safe. Someone might fly into a rage out of humiliation.

"So when does it start? And where?"

"Seven in the evening, three days from now. As for the location... I can take you there, provided you pay an information fee of five million Beli."

"All right. I'll bring you the money in three days."

Five million wasn't a bad price for the information.

Dimon immediately stood up. "Come with me. I'll take you to appraise the weapons."

He then left the red-light district street with the old appraiser, who had barely spoken.

On the way back to the shore, he had Ain notify Samael in advance and tell him to unload all the goods.

By the time the two arrived, seven large crates and sixteen cannons had been arranged on the shore.

The old appraiser stared at them in astonishment.

"Honored guest, did you rob a warship?"

"You don't want them?"

"Hehe, you jest. We don't care where goods come from. Once they enter the black market, they're free."

The old man walked over and ran his hands over the cannons one by one, murmuring:

"Your goods come from a variety of sources, not the same manufacturer. Some of these are Marine cannons, made in the World Government's weapons factories. They're excellent quality."

"As for the others, they're Joker's goods. Their quality is average. They're cannons commonly found on the black market, so the price will be lower."

Hearing that, Dimon knew full well the old man was trying to drive down the price, but he still couldn't resist asking:

"Who's Joker?"

"A major arms dealer in the Underworld. Enough weapons to overthrow dozens of countries have passed through his hands."

Could it be Doflamingo?