Kuma looked at Orochimaru, who was convulsing, wanting to speak but holding back.
"So, what do you need me for?"
Orochimaru pondered deeply, then casually handed Kuma a letter.
"Please deliver this letter to Sabo. Just drop it off at Dragon's office. Of course, it would be even better if you had a den den mushi to contact him."
After saying this, Orochimaru turned and left without another word.
As he walked, he constantly searched his memories, thinking to himself, "Good, it's not too late."
At this moment, Sanji should have just received a den den mushi message from Nami. They were anxiously searching for Camie, completely unaware that the sunny was already empty.
As long as they could successfully rendezvous with the Straw Hat Pirates at Auction House No. 1, they could easily bluff their way through. As for what happened next, they didn't have time to think about it.
Sure enough, Orochimaru successfully intercepted the Straw Hat Pirates at the entrance of the auction house.
Nami, for once, was in an extreme state of excitement. She joyfully hugged Orochimaru, jumping up and down excitedly.
In Nami's eyes, seeing Orochimaru was like seeing hope, because it meant money.
"Orochimaru... Camie... Camie was taken by the auction house... so..." Nami said anxiously, her voice filled with worry and urgency.
Orochimaru, however, preempted Nami's words: "I know. We're not short on money. No matter how much it costs, we'll buy Camie back." This was indeed true, and if nothing unexpected happened, the money might not even be needed.
Hatchan and Starfish were moved to tears, "Nyu... Arigato..." Their voices were full of gratitude.
Starfish Papagu suddenly felt that Orochimaru wasn't scary at all. His past fear of Orochimaru vanished, replaced by immense gratitude.
Everyone paid the entrance fee. Since they hadn't made a reservation, they could only stand at the very back of the auction house.
During the long wait, every minute and second felt incredibly drawn out, as if time had stretched infinitely.
Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived: the main event—the mermaid—made her grand appearance. In the circular cultivation tank, Camie was restrained and fixed in the center by a slave collar.
Looking at the mermaid on display, most of the men present tightly gripped their bidding paddles, their eyes gleaming with fervent desire.
They couldn't help but swallow, their faces showing a determination to win.
The auctioneer lightly tapped the gavel, and a crisp sound echoed throughout the auction hall.
"After a long time, a mermaid is once again for sale. I'm sure everyone is very interested in this mermaid. So, what should the starting bid be... Well then... Let's begin. First..." The auctioneer's voice was full of allure and incitement, drawing everyone present into a tense and excited atmosphere.
"Five hundred million!!! I bid five hundred million Berries!" Before the auctioneer could finish speaking, a Celestial Dragon who looked like a pig extended his hand.
The auction house fell silent... Papagu knelt on the ground in despair.
"Camie... what do we do? Camie is going to be bought by a Celestial Dragon!"
The other people present were intimidated by the Celestial Dragon's status and dared not bid higher. The auctioneer was a little awkward.
"The hall is completely silent... Well... I'll ask anyway... Is there anyone who will bid higher than five hundred million?"
The Celestial Dragon showed a smug smile.
Chopper frantically shook Sanji's shoulder.
"Isn't there any other way...? How can this be? I don't want my friend to be bought with money, damn it... Sanji... Nami... Orochimaru?? Huh? Where's Orochimaru?"
"One billion!"
Orochimaru's hoarse voice instantly rang out. Everyone stared in that direction, only to see a man above the Celestial Dragon's private box, holding a stack of Berries in his left hand, casually crossing his legs, and raising a paddle.
[Rough image →]
The men and women present looked in that direction, involuntarily swallowing... their eyes forming hearts.
"!!! Such a beautiful person..."
Kid and Law, who were about to leave, looked in that direction, simultaneously pulling out bounty posters... "That person is... it must be him..." He was almost unrecognizable in men's clothing.
Orochimaru ignored everyone else and looked at the auctioneer.
"What, not continuing to gavel? The Donquixote Auction House staff aren't very skilled, are they... Does Joker know about this?"
The auctioneer's voice trembled slightly as he reluctantly tapped the gavel. After all, by rule, the auction house only recognized money, not people. "One billion... This guest has bid one billion. Is there anything higher?"
The pig-like Celestial Dragon Charlos reacted, sniffled, his eyes gleaming, and pointed at Orochimaru.
"Papa... I want that person... Buy him for me!"
Orochimaru looked up, staring at the pig as if he were dead, and let out a sneer.
Just as he stood up, a loud bang echoed... As the smoke and dust cleared, Orochimaru looked at Luffy, who had fallen from the sky, his mouth twitching.
Luffy held his Straw Hat and roared at the Flying Fish Riders.
"What's going on! Can't you land properly!"
Zoro struggled to climb out, "So... you still called me up. Even if we're going back to the sunny, there's no need to be in such a hurry, is there...? Where are we?"
Chopper and the others looked at the two with shock. "Zoro?"
Luffy turned, instantly saw Camie, and rushed towards her. "Camie!!"
Hatchan suddenly grabbed Luffy. "Wait, Straw Hat! What are you doing!"
Luffy, completely unresponsive, ran forward with Hatchan in tow. "What are you talking about? Camie's right there!"
Hatchan clung to Luffy with both hands, floating in the air as he was dragged along by the running man.
"She's definitely there... but she's wearing a bomb collar, so we can't take her!"
"And now we're involved with a Celestial Dragon, even though Orochimaru bid... but that's a Celestial Dragon!"
To stop Luffy, Hatchan's remaining four hands emerged from his clothes and firmly held Luffy down.
Following a noblewoman's scream, Hatchan fearfully let go of Luffy.
"Why is there a Fishman here... So disgusting... This monster, why is a Fishman on land?" The surrounding nobles, with disgusted expressions, threw various objects at Hatchan.
A crisp gunshot broke the silence. In that critical moment, Orochimaru instinctively appeared in front of the Celestial Dragon.
His palm was pressed tightly against the gun barrel, and crimson blood dripped down, sounding particularly jarring in the silent air.
Orochimaru frowned slightly, slowly raised his hand to look at the shocking hole in his palm, then lowered his gaze to the bleeding spot on his lower abdomen, and staggered.
It was indeed a Sea Stone bullet. This was truly a bit extravagant.
Don't misunderstand, he wasn't trying to save Hatchan. He simply misjudged; he had thought the Celestial Dragon was going to shoot Luffy.
However, Hatchan clearly misunderstood Orochimaru's intention, and his face was covered in tears.
The scene fell into a deathly silence. The Straw Hat Pirates' eyes were filled with shock. After all, they had never seen Orochimaru bleed.
"Orochimaru!!" The Straw Hat Pirates, having reacted, cried out.
Luffy's face darkened. He pressed his Straw Hat down forcefully with one hand and walked towards the Celestial Dragon.
Flames of anger burned in his eyes as he punched the Celestial Dragon hard in the face.
"What did you do to my brother!!!"
Luffy's roar echoed in the air.
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