Ryuuto and Nami followed the motley crowd into the auction house.
It was a tall, circular building with a domed roof, constructed from deep red bricks and black metal bars. At the entrance, a giant iron gate was inscribed with the words: HUMAN SHOPPING MALL.
Inside was a spacious, tiered seating area large enough to accommodate 800 people. Ahead was an obsidian stage with a lift mechanism in the center, used to bring the slaves up from below. Down below was another world entirely—a prison for the slaves, with numbered cells behind iron bars.
After Ryuuto and Nami took their seats, they looked toward the stage. The first thing that caught their eye was a line of text on the red curtain: All goods, once sold, are not our responsibility.
"As usual, it's time for our daily auction!"
"And your host for today is once again the one and only Mr. Disco!"
As the opening remarks concluded, the stage lights flashed like a carousel, finally landing on Disco as he made his entrance.
"We have prepared many high-quality slaves for you all today!" Disco shouted, expertly whetting the audience's appetite.
"What kind of slave are you buying this time?"
"The female slave I bought last time didn't even last ten days before she died. I'm thinking of buying a tall giantess this time."
This exchange took place between two portly men. From their conversation, it was clear they were regulars at the auction house.
"I heard there's a rare member of the Tontatta Tribe this time."
A young man and woman near Ryuuto were whispering to each other, their voices carrying over to him and Nami.
"Captain, they're actually holding a human auction?" Nami whispered, leaning close to Ryuuto's ear. She couldn't believe they would dare to trade people so openly.
"This place was abandoned by the World Government long ago. It's the dark side of the world," Ryuuto murmured back into her ear.
Nami probably hadn't noticed the fine print under the neon sign at the main entrance: Certified and licensed by the World Government.
"First up, we have a chef from the East Blue! Not only is he skilled in the culinary arts, but he's also in excellent health. He can clean your house, watch your property, and guard your home!"
Disco, dressed in an extravagant gold suit and his signature star-shaped glasses, continued his煽動人心 speech, using his inflammatory words to hype up the crowd. As he spoke, a middle-aged man in a chef's hat, a collar locked around his neck, was brought up from below. His face was a mask of numb indifference, completely devoid of expression.
"And he comes at our most cost-effective auction price!"
"The starting bid: 200,000 Belly!"
Disco's roar was met with a thunderous cheer from the crowd.
"That's so cheap! Only 200,000 Belly! I'll take him!" a well-maintained middle-aged woman shouted.
"I bid 280,000 Belly!" yelled a short, stout man.
The scene erupted into a frenzy, and the price quickly soared to 420,000 Belly.
Nami scanned the surroundings, feeling as if she were seated among a pack of wild beasts, all ravenously devouring the man on the stage.
Ryuuto, meanwhile, was using his Observation Haki to scan the audience.
"Hm?" To his left, he spotted two familiar faces: Foxy and Porche.
Foxy was scribbling furiously in a notebook, writing something down with intense focus.
"Is Foxy actually here to study?" A thought suddenly crossed Ryuuto's mind. "If so, I'll have to give him a bonus when we get back."
What a diligent employee! For a moment, Ryuuto almost felt a pang of appreciation from the perspective of a black-hearted capitalist.
The auction continued.
"This gentleman bids 450,000 Belly! ...Any other bids?" Disco yelled enthusiastically. As he pointed, a spotlight instantly shone down on the man who had just made the bid.
"If not! ...Sold!"
With Disco's final shout, the first item was sold. The staff led the chef away as the auction proceeded. The process was simple: after the auction, you went backstage to pay and collect your purchase.
The man who had bid 450,000 Belly stood up and shouted in excitement, "He's mine!"
"What an exciting start! Now, for our second fresh item!"
The spotlights swirled overhead as Disco's excited voice echoed through the auction house. Three of the lights then stopped, focusing directly on the center of the stage.
As the lift rose, a young woman appeared, clad only in simple rags. She was collapsed on the floor, her body trembling with terror. Her long red hair was a messy cascade down her back, and her curled-up posture formed a heart-poundingly alluring curve.
"I want that one!"
"Nobody better try to outbid me! She's mine!"
"Damn it, she belongs to me!"
Disco hadn't even begun his introduction, but the red-haired woman on stage had already captured countless eyes. The sight of her stunning figure sent waves of excited shouts through the crowd.
"That's it! Get louder!" Disco muttered to himself, thoroughly pleased with the audience's frenzied reaction.
He gestured to the staff beside him. Two of them walked over, pulled the red-haired woman to her feet, and turned her beautiful, terrified face toward the audience.
"Whoa... she's gorgeous!"
"I have to have her!"
A stunning figure paired with a face like a frightened fawn sent another round of exaggerated howls through the room.
"Captain!" Nami clenched her fists, her voice trembling as she called out to Ryuuto. It was clear this spectacle filled her with rage.
"Nami, leave it to me. I'll save all of them," Ryuuto said, comforting her. He had already completed a full survey of the audience.
"Okay!" Nami felt a little better, quietly watching from her seat as the beasts around her prepared for their bloody hunt.
"Alright, it looks like everyone is very enthusiastic, so bid to your heart's content! ...Starting bid—500,000 Belly!" Disco shouted from the stage.
"600,000 Belly!"
"I bid 800,000 Belly!"
The bids came one after another, and the price quickly shot up to 1,200,000 Belly. Soon, only three people were left in the running.
One of them was the portly man who had earlier said he wanted to buy a giantess. The other two were a very skinny young man and a lavishly dressed middle-aged woman.
The three of them went through two more rounds of bidding.
"This lady bids 1,500,000 Belly! Are there any higher bids?" Disco called out, the spotlight now fixed on the wealthy woman.
The hall fell silent.
"Alright. Sold! She's all yours!" Disco pointed a finger and boomed.
"Damn it, too expensive! Otherwise, I never would have let you have her!" Hearing this, the skinny young man muttered to himself in frustration.