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The newcomer was naturally Robin.
Her Black Battle Armor glided beside her like a ghost, its narrow eyes gleaming faintly. She was nearly there.
Robin also spotted the massive structure ahead.
Contrary to her expectations, the structure wasn't lavishly decorated. In fact, its exterior appeared somewhat dilapidated and austere.
A thick layer of straw covered the roof, likely for soundproofing. Green moss clung to the walls and even the plaque above the main entrance. This sent a chill down Robin's spine, as the inscription on the plaque was simply the Chinese character "人" (human). How long had this human trafficking facility been operating for its exterior, including the plaque, to become completely overgrown with moss?
From a distance, Robin spotted three figures slumped motionless near the main entrance.
A Fish-Man, a human, and a Longleg Race member... Three people, six numb eyes, all staring blankly as Robin approached.
"... " Robin returned their gaze.
The lenses of her brown sunglasses reflected the explosive Slave Collars around their necks.
...
'Moments earlier, bounty hunters, who had been lying in ambush, sprang out to attack…'
'Even without the aid of her Stand, these men were no match for Robin. Naturally, she quickly defeated them all.'
'As Robin was about to leave, a cold laugh came from behind her. "You want to save your man? Heh heh heh... It's pointless!"'
'"..." Robin paused, turning slightly to look over her shoulder. Reflected in the tinted lenses of her sunglasses was the face of a bloodied bounty hunter, his head sticking up from the pile of bodies on the ground.'
'The man spat out a mouthful of bloody foam and sneered, "Since word has spread that he's being sold as a slave, that means... he's definitely already wearing a Slave Collar! Once that thing's locked on, forcibly removing it will trigger an explosion... Not even the most skilled fighters can survive such a blast! I advise you to give up. He's already... beyond saving! Hah ha ha ha..."'
'"..." Robin remained silent, raising her hand and clenching her fist into the Void.'
'The laughing bounty hunter convulsed violently, his eyes rolled back, and white foam frothed at his mouth as he collapsed limply onto the pile of bodies.'
'Robin continued forward, her gaze fixed ahead. She murmured, "What do you think 'you' would do to deal with this Slave Collar he mentioned?"'
'White light flickered in B.I.B.'s eyes. If it were me…'
...
Robin's slender figure slowly entered the gates of the Slave Auction.
Just inside, she encountered a staff member who was about to close the doors. "The auction is about to begin... Uh?!"
The staff member looked up and recognized her instantly, recoiling in shock.
Due to the auction's featured item, they had been hastily briefed on the relevant information, which was still fresh in their minds. Even though the woman wore tea-colored sunglasses that obscured half her face and her wide sleeves billowed around her, they recognized her immediately. This was Giorno's Pirate Captain, the star attraction of the auction. What did she want? Was she here to buy Giorno? Surely she wouldn't dare try to steal him by force?
"Hey..." The staff members opened their mouths to stop her, but suddenly felt an invisible arm grip their necks. Like lifting chicks, she hoisted them one by one and slammed them against the wall. Their eyes rolled back, and they passed out.
Robin never even glanced at them. After walking down the corridor for a short while, she faintly heard a commotion.
When she pushed open the doors to the main hall, a wave of frenzied heat washed over her, mingled with the Auctioneer's booming voice, amplified by Den Den Mushi: "Ladies and gentlemen, after much anticipation, the moment has finally arrived..."
...
Sabaody Archipelago, Area 22…
In a dilapidated hotel room, "Skullcrusher" Bilim.Nair lay mummified on the bed. At the table, "Ghost Beard" Tantakos spoke urgently into a Den Den Mushi.
"Young Lord!" Tankutas exclaimed. "Giorno Giovanna has been captured by human traffickers! This is a golden opportunity to buy him for the Donquixote Family... but we don't have enough money between us. If you'd allow us to use your name as collateral, the auction house might agree to a payment extension..."
"Fuf fuf fuf fuf..."
The Den Den Mushi on the table had transformed its eyes into bizarre sunglasses, its mouth twisted into a sinister grin as it emitted a strange, mocking laugh: "I gave you two Devil Fruits, yet you fell at Sabaody Archipelago without even reaching the New World! How dare you two fools shamelessly call yourselves members of the Donquixote Family? Fuf fuf fuf fuf..." Though the Den Den Mushi mimicked the laughter from the other end of the line, everyone could sense the simmering rage beneath the surface.
Tankutas's face paled as he stood frozen before the Den Den Mushi.
"Young lord..." On the adjacent bed, "Skullcrusher" Bilim.Nair, now mummified after being struck by Liam's Impact FruitBang, revealed his resolute eyes and rasped weakly, "We no longer have the right to bear the Donquixote Family name... But we swear to deliver Giorno Giovanna to you, young lord..."
"Exactly!" Tankutas, the "Ghost Beard," hurriedly added. "Giorno can steal Devil Fruits. Such a rare ability would definitely benefit the young lord's ambitions..."
"Oh?" The sinister Den Den Mushi chuckled. "If that's the case, why do you two still possess your Devil Fruit powers?"
"Skullcrusher" and "Ghost Beard" froze in shock!
"Perhaps he didn't take your powers because he's already discovered his own fatal weakness..."
...
North Blue, on a certain island, Donquixote Family stronghold: Doflamingo, clad in a black suit and shirt, a pink feathered cloak, and distinctive fiery red sunglasses, lounged on a sofa, his sinister expression perfectly mirroring that of the Den Den Mushi on the other end of the line.
"...There's no need for you to call again."
Doflamingo nonchalantly hung up the Den Den Mushi and continued watching the broadcast on the wall-mounted screen.
Such a transaction would naturally never be broadcast officially, but underworld organizations like the Donquixote Family had their own channels.
On the screen, the extravagantly dressed Auctioneer enthusiastically paraded out slave after slave, each wearing explosive collars and shackles. Driven by his impassioned fervor, the wealthy attendees raised their paddles to bid on the "merchandise" that caught their eye.
A beauty from the Snake-Necked Tribe: 700,000 Belly, 1,000,000 Belly, 1,300,000 Belly... and ultimately sold for 1,800,000 Belly.
A Longarm Race pirate: 1,000,000 Belly, 1,500,000 Belly... and ultimately sold for 2,100,000 Belly.
Ordinary human men and women were also sold as slaves, some at high prices, others for mere pennies, traded one by one as numbered paddles were raised in the audience...
The tea-tinted lenses of Robin's sunglasses reflected the Auctioneer's flamboyant performance on the dazzling stage, as well as the pirate slaves being led away in chains... She sat casually in a secluded corner, arms crossed.
No one in the audience seemed to notice her, but her arrival caught the eye of the Auctioneer on stage.
In fact, the moment Robin appeared, the Auctioneer had spotted her and deliberately delayed bringing out Giorno, who should have been presented much earlier. As the wealthy patrons in the audience grew increasingly restless, it became clear that Giorno, the main attraction of the auction, could no longer be held back. While delivering a rousing speech into the microphone, the Auctioneer discreetly signaled to his men in the corner with a few furtive glances.
"I imagine you've all been waiting impatiently!" the Auctioneer boomed, his voice dripping with exaggerated enthusiasm. "So, without further ado, let's bring out the star of tonight's auction, the Great Pirate with a Bounty of 400 Million Belly, Giorno Giovanna!!!"
Robin watched the stage calmly. Behind her, B.I.B. scanned the surroundings, his narrow, slightly luminous eyes flicking toward the auction's enforcers who were quietly closing in.
Amidst gasps of astonishment, the tall, handsome pirate Giorno strode out from behind the stage curtain as expected.
"Huh? It's my turn?" he drawled, his tone nonchalant.
A Slave Collar encircled his neck, and manacles bound his wrists and ankles. The chains clanked loudly with each step he took, yet his face betrayed no hint of a slave's despair. With an air of complete indifference, he Earth Walked to the center of the stage.
...
At the entrance of the Auction, only three pairs of handcuffs, three pairs of leg shackles, and three intact Slave Collars remained. The human, Fish-Man, and Longleg Race slaves who had been there earlier were nowhere to be seen.
Nearby, a group of Marines hurried toward the scene.
A robust man with short purple hair chewed on a toothpick as he stared at the moss-covered "Human" plaque, grinning. "What a maddening place... Giorno, you'd better not disappoint me, kid!!"
The Marines beside him broke out in a cold sweat. 'Admiral Zephyr, what exactly are you here for?!'
(End Of This Chapter)