In the backstage of the auction, an eerie smile with a slash across it marked the Donquixote family emblem, as well as the Pirate Flag of the Donquixote Pirates.
Compared to the pirate flags of others, this emblem was much simpler.
Doflamingo hadn't been in the Grand Line for long, but his prior schemes in the North Sea ultimately paid off, and as a local tyrant in the underworld of the North Sea, Doflamingo quickly secured his position in the underworld of the Grand Line.
Whether through his own power or connections, Doflamingo showcased a side completely different from a newcomer.
After the death of Rosinante by his hands, the Donquixote family's undercover agents vanished, along with Tsuru, who had been haunting him like a specter, allowing Doflamingo, for once, to stand his ground without having to constantly relocate his men.
Simultaneously, he began expanding his forces, no longer having just a few family members as he did in the North Sea.
And his successful foothold in the Grand Line's underground market was largely related to the Hundred Beasts. The gamble on those two Devil Fruits yielded some results.
The Hundred Beasts was a source in the underworld of the Grand Line, supplying not only their own goods but also supplying many black market merchants. Doflamingo leveraged this relationship to secure a supply of goods.
Those people, seeing someone new to the Grand Line brandishing such resources, mistakenly thought he had ties with the Hundred Beasts, enabling him to solidify his position more swiftly.
In addition to secrets he already knew, the term "joker" had reached the ears of many within just a few months.
However, his foundation was still a bit lacking, unlike auctions on the Shampodi Islands, which had earned a reputation and attracted "great patrons" such as the Heavenly Celestial Dragons.
While the ordinary merchandise was decent, it wasn't enough to draw some people here, which is why he put forth the Gol-Gol Fruit as a gimmick.
This fruit was undoubtedly powerful, and Doflamingo wasn't about to let it go easily.
At this moment, aboard the Donquixote family's ship, Doflamingo was leisurely conversing with Trebol.
"Trebol, to whom should I hand this fruit?"
In the original timeline, Doflamingo, aiming to expand his business, did not attend the auction himself, but this time was different. Leveraging the Devil Fruit connected him with the Hundred Beasts, smoothing his business ventures.
He had the time, bringing his family's leaders to the auction in person; such a fruit must be entrusted to someone he trusted.
His most trusted were undoubtedly the four who initially pledged allegiance to him, and so he divided his subordinates' factions by card suits. Trebol was the leader of the Plum Blossom Army, Pika commanded the Spade Army, and Diamante managed the Diamond Army.
As for the Red Heart, Vergo was stationed undercover in the Navy and had already successfully infiltrated the G-5 Branch, laying groundwork for Doflamingo, whereas the second-generation Red Heart, Corazon, was killed for betrayal.
He had always reserved the position of the third-generation Red Heart for Law, unaware that Law had uncovered many truths. Outwardly, he continually sought Law, claiming he was his brother, aiming to coax Law into performing the Eternal Life Surgery for him willingly.
Now, besides the Navy infiltrator Vergo, the other leaders all possessed their own fruit abilities, even children like baby-5 had their own fruits, though there were candidates, careful consideration was still required.
"Lao G's style doesn't suit it, and he probably isn't interested. Senor or Dellinger? Maybe the sisters Monet and Sugar could, but they haven't been here long enough.
Hey Doffy, you should decide such matters yourself."
"Hehehehehe, then let's put it off for now, let's go, lest something unexpected happens."
"It won't happen Doffy, Diamante and Pika are over there."
Yet he still followed Doflamingo in that direction, but invisibly, flags were already planted firmly in their wake.
...
Time slowly passed, and finally, the Donquixote family's auction began. As it commenced, the previously rowdy pirates below temporarily quieted down.
All conversation halted, most of the gazes fixated on the center of the auction room.
Some harbored special intentions, but even crooked approaches had to wait for the auction to start, so they waited.
From the center of the auction platform, a young girl with light green hair slowly emerged. She was Monet, a newcomer who joined the Donquixote family last year, entrusted with this task by Doflamingo due to her appearance.
Monet then approached the front of the auction platform and, smiling sweetly, said, "I assume all our guests have waited long enough? The auction now officially begins.
Due to the number of items at this auction, please bid quickly. Each item's starting bid is 10 million Belly, with each subsequent bid not less than one hundred thousand Belly. Let the bidding commence!"
Item after item was brought up front, yet Tesoro had no interest in them, his sights were set only on the grand finale, the Gol-Gol Fruit.
"Baccarat, you can begin."
As the Gol-Gol Fruit, the grand finale, was brought out, Tesoro handed over the bidding to Baccarat, intending to use the luck he'd harvested earlier here.
To display the auction's prestige and better facilitate manipulation, the bidding was done electronically, requiring no shouting, simply pressing a button on the side of the chair.
Thus, through strategically placed shills, the Gol-Gol Fruit would ultimately fall to their own hands.
But once Baccarat activated her power and pressed the button, something strange happened. The system seemed to go haywire, rendering all of Doflamingo's people's buttons useless.
But Monet's orders were to maintain order in the auction at any cost, so joker couldn't afford to lose face so blatantly here, allowing the fruit to end up smoothly in Tesoro's hands.
But Monet had already secretly notified Diamante and others, discreetly signaling her intent. The Donquixote family was familiar with signals; previously, Rosinante could communicate by tapping stones, and Monet used a similar method.
Other than that, she did nothing, even smiling as she watched Tesoro leave.
But just as Tesoro and his group departed, a group charged at Tesoro, attempting to snatch the Gol-Gol Fruit from his grasp, and at that moment, a green exoskeleton and sharp spikes emerged on Tesoro's arm...