The incident involving the Marines capturing slaves is far from over; for now, it has only been put on hold to make way for the auction.
Once the auction concludes, there might even be a sweep across the Sabaody Archipelago to confirm that Oborohas already escaped.
On their way here, the two had noticed numerous pirates holding wanted posters bearing Long's likeness.
After all, the entire conflict with the Marines had started because of this one slave, while everyone else involved had simply been caught up in trouble through no fault of their own.
Countless people were eager to catch a glimpse of the face of the one who had caused all this chaos.
Oborohad certainly made a name for himself.
However, most pirates from influential backgrounds or those with immense strength merely glanced at the poster before tossing it aside…
Only the small-time crews were excitedly discussing the bounty on his head — a staggering 50,000,000 Berries!
That's right, 50 million!
This amount exceeded the bounties of the vast majority of pirates active in the first half of the Grand Line. Even some renowned "great pirates" were nowhere near such a figure.
It clearly demonstrated the immense influence wielded by the Celestial Dragons.
Of course, the bounties and warrants were issued by the World Government — and the World Government itself was ultimately nothing more than a tool in the hands of the Celestial Dragons.
Oborocould be said to have gained quite a bit of notoriety this time. And considering that any pirate capable of reaching the Sabaody Archipelago was already no ordinary figure in the vast seas, his name was bound to spark plenty of conversation.
Oboro, however, remained completely unfazed and indifferent.
To him, a bounty was nothing more than a meaningless string of numbers.
Doflamingo's auction house, the most famous landmark in the lawless district, drew astonishing crowds every day and generated endless wealth.
This very foundation allowed him to fund his operations in the New World and rise to become one of the kings of the underworld.
His enterprises included the trade of artificial Devil Fruits with Kaido, as well as various schemes to win favor with the Celestial Dragons.
There were no restrictions on who could attend. The venue was vast enough to accommodate a huge number of guests…
Doflamingo's motto was simple: keep the doors open and welcome everyone.
Whether pirates, mafia, or anyone else, as long as they came in large enough numbers, word of mouth would spread and further elevate the auction house's reputation.
On regular days, however, without special events, the items up for sale were worth significantly less.
Oboroand Dom found an empty pair of seats and sat down.
Bright spotlights were focused only on the auction stage, leaving the rest of the hall in deep shadow — a design that perfectly protected the privacy of the clientele.
This was something "Joker" had planned out with great care.
It was no wonder his business had grown so massive.
After staying inside for about an hour, Obororealized just how extensive Doflamingo's operations were.
Aside from slaves, he was also peddling all kinds of advanced technology: blueprints for weapons developed by various nations, and even private islands and large tracts of land.
Also on offer were assets previously belonging to other pirate crews — mines, shipping routes, and much more.
It wasn't limited to just weapons and Devil Fruits, as Oborohad recalled.
Most unique of all was the sale of intelligence.
Any crew seeking confidential information could place a bid, though the price was naturally extremely high.
Even from this single event, it was clear that Doflamingo's reach extended everywhere.
"To crews like ours, the Seven Warlords of the Sea are the strongest forces beneath the Four Emperors. But Doflamingo… he has taken that influence to an extreme. That's what makes him different from the other six," Dom murmured, watching the host deliver an impassioned speech from the stage.
Oborowas munching on a pack of fries he had bought upon entering.
Dom had been the one to pay.
As a native of the Sabaody Archipelago and a former pirate himself, Dom knew quite a bit about the current state of affairs in the first half of the Grand Line, though his knowledge was still limited.
Among the current Seven Warlords, there was another figure very similar to Doflamingo: Sir Crocodile.
At the moment, however, Crocodile was busy plotting his takeover of the Alabasta Kingdom.
As the hidden leader of Baroque Works, his true identity was unknown to the public, making him appear far more low-key.
"Well… since this is the annual grand festival, all the premium items — including that Devil Fruit — should already be here or on their way, right?"
Oborodidn't answer directly; his mind was already fixed on other things. He finished his fries and pulled his mask back down over his face.
"Huh?"
Dom froze, instantly sensing the intent behind Long's words.
"Boss… you don't mean… you're planning to…"
Oboroput both hands in his pockets and spoke calmly: "That's exactly it… I'm going to take it."
His words were absolutely shocking.
As the fundamental source of power in this advanced world of pirates, Devil Fruits were far more valuable than any resource he had found in the world of Demon Slayer.
Since he had stumbled upon one, there was no way he would let it slip through his fingers.
What he had gained in Demon Slayer might still be of some use here, but once he moved to the next world, it would be completely worthless.
Competing against the very will of the world was just for amusement; gathering resources was what truly mattered.
"…"
Dom felt a chill run down his spine.
This new boss of his was simply too reckless… First he spoke of killing Celestial Dragons, and now he wanted to rob a Warlord of his treasures.
Just hearing these plans was almost too much for Dom to handle.
"Let's go."
Oborostood up immediately and left.
Dom scrambled to follow.
Outside the auction house, on the grassy field, a group of pirates stood talking confidently among themselves.
Oboroheard every word clearly.
They were declaring their determination to win big at the upcoming festival. Their crew had prepared ample funds, and they were absolutely set on claiming that Devil Fruit.
Earlier in the hall, Oborohad heard whispers and rumors.
Most people estimated that this Zoan-type Devil Fruit would sell for several hundred million Berries — not counting how much bidding wars might drive up the price.
This aligned perfectly with Long's own judgment.
He remembered that the World Government had once valued Buggy's Devil Fruit at 100 million Berries. But that was a Paramecia-type, and from much earlier times.
Prices across the seas had changed since then — useful as a reference, but not a direct comparison.
Competition over Devil Fruits was far fiercer now… and there was never a shortage of wealthy buyers.
Zoan-type fruits… were quite unique, yet until mastered to a high level, they were generally considered the least impressive of the three categories.
Of course, everything depended on the user's own skill and ability. Rob Lucci was the perfect example of this.
"Hmm?"
Just then, one of the pirates noticed someone dressed in plain sportswear, head bowed, walking straight toward them — about to collide with one of his crewmates.
"Hey! Watch where you're walking, you—!"
He started shouting angrily.
But the next second, Long's hand shot out from his pocket.
He moved with blinding speed, leaving only blurs of motion in the air.
In an instant, every pirate there rolled their eyes upward and lost consciousness. They remained standing rigidly in place, like statues, completely motionless.
Dom watched from behind as Oborowalked straight through their midst, quickly and skillfully stripping them of every valuable item they carried, then continued walking without breaking stride.
What confused Dom was where Oborohad put all those goods. From the look of his clothes, there seemed to be nowhere to hide them.
"What incredible natural physical talent…"
Long's actions had drawn no attention from anyone else nearby; his speed was simply too great.
Once he was at a safe distance, Oborolooked down at his reddened hand and sighed.
All he had done was use his knowledge of meridians and pressure points to render them unconscious while keeping their bodies stiff and upright.
Without his understanding of these "vital points," it would have been extremely difficult to knock out that many pirates using brute strength alone, even with his current physical condition.
His hand throbbed painfully… it felt as though a bone had cracked.
It showed just how durable their bodies were.
Both were advanced worlds, yet due to the existence of the Dark Continent, the world of One Piece might not quite measure up to Hunter × Hunter.
But in terms of human physical potential, this world was vastly superior.
Even among all the advanced worlds Oborohad encountered or knew of, One Piece undoubtedly ranked near the very top when it came to bodily limits and strength.
This very setting was exactly the opportunity Oborohad been waiting for.
Because it meant he could take the techniques he had developed in Demon Slayer — methods of training internal energy and strengthening his core — and refine them to their absolute peak.
"Well… suddenly, I'm actually looking forward to what comes next."
A smile appeared beneath the brim of Long's cap.
He walked on, fading slowly into the distance.
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