Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters.
The Fleet Admiral had just convened an emergency meeting.
After it ended, Kong returned to his office, where Sengoku had already been waiting for some time.
"Where's Garp?"
Kong scanned the room and, seeing only Sengoku, asked the question.
"Garp is at the Sabaody Archipelago, chasing down a group of pirates," Sengoku replied.
Kong looked slightly displeased and muttered,
"That guy… really has nothing better to do."
Then Sengoku changed the subject.
"The Fleet Admiral suddenly called for an emergency meeting. Did something happen? Or were we discussing countermeasures?"
"Ha…"
Kong let out a long sigh and nodded.
"Yes. There's trouble in the New World. Several member nations allied with the World Government have been raided by the Rocks Pirates."
At the mention of the Rocks Pirates, Sengoku's expression visibly shifted.
"Again? The Rocks Pirates???"
"Most likely they're venting after suffering losses from their attack on Marine Headquarters and Mary Geoise last time. They can't take it out on us, so they're targeting the World Government's member nations instead."
"Did you come up with any solution?" Sengoku asked.
"What solution could there be?" Kong shook his head. "Even when they attacked Marine Headquarters, they still managed to escape. Let alone hitting member nations—we have even less control over that."
"That's true…"
Sengoku sighed as well.
"When the Marines are deployed, it's mostly just to reassure those nations. In reality, there's nothing we can do."
"Get ready. We're moving out."
"Understood. I'll call Garp back."
"No need. Let him stay at Headquarters on standby."
"Haha… if that's the case, when he finds out we went after the Rocks Pirates without him, he's definitely going to make a scene when we return," Sengoku said with a faint smile.
—
Back to Is.
The auction proceeded as scheduled. Dorac had claimed there would be "good items" this time.
But in Is's eyes, that was only Dorac's opinion.
Dozens of items came up, yet not a single one caught his interest.
By the middle of the auction, Is had already fallen asleep.
For him, this trip felt no different from simply changing locations to take a nap.
"The next item is quite special," the host suddenly announced loudly. "Because it isn't a slave—but something everyone desires… a Devil Fruit!"
The moment the words "Devil Fruit" were spoken, Is instantly opened his eyes.
"As everyone knows, consuming a Devil Fruit grants one the power of a demon. However, the price is that you are rejected by the sea—you'll never be able to swim again."
As the host spoke, an assistant carried out a glass case.
Through the glass, Is could clearly see what was inside.
It was an orange-red spherical fruit, covered in swirling patterns. The stem was green, shaped like a spiral on one end and flames on the other. Its surface was made up of countless small, flame-like spiral motifs.
The moment Is saw it, he froze.
No way… isn't that the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit?
In an instant, all traces of sleepiness vanished from him.
"This Devil Fruit was seized at great cost by my men from the Gamma Pirates," the host continued. "According to them, this fruit is known as the Flame-Flame Fruit. Once consumed, it grants the power of fire."
"Now, the auction begins. Starting bid—500 million Beli!"
There were many attendees at this auction, but very few who could casually spend 500 million Beli on a Devil Fruit.
"600 million!"
A middle-aged man behind Is called out.
Is hesitated briefly, then raised his paddle.
"700 million!"
The moment he spoke, the entire auction hall fell silent.
"Saint Is, it seems you quite like this kind of thing," Dorac said with a smile.
"Just buying it for fun."
"Wouldn't women be more fun?" Dorac teased.
"I don't lack women. And the ones here don't suit my taste," Is replied calmly.
"Fair enough…"
Just then—
A figure suddenly crashed down from above, smashing through the ceiling and leaving a massive hole.
"I bid 2 billion!!!"
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
It was a burly middle-aged man.
Dorac was about to stand up, but Is pressed him down and shook his head.
"Let's watch the show."
"Watch the show?"
"Mm. That guy isn't here to buy the Devil Fruit. If I'm not mistaken… he's here to take it by force," Is said.
Seeing that Is made no move, the Celestial Dragons seated behind him also remained silent, simply watching.
Even the World Government personnel, who initially intended to intervene, were stopped by the Celestial Dragons.
"2… 2 billion… any higher bids?" the host stammered, completely ignoring the destroyed ceiling.
The burly man strode forward without hesitation and snatched the Devil Fruit straight from the glass case.
"Sir… you need to follow the proper procedure," the host hurriedly tried to explain.
"Procedure?"
The man drew the blade at his waist.
In a flash—
The host collapsed to the ground.
Bright red blood instantly spread across the stage.
"This Devil Fruit originally belonged to the Gamma Pirates!!!"
With that single act, the entire auction house erupted into chaos.
The audience fled in panic.
Guards rushed forward to deal with the intruder.
"Saint Is, Saint Dorac… please follow me to a safe location."
At that moment, a World Government agent approached Is and the others, urging them to evacuate.
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