The island's skyline was unlike anything found on an ordinary small island. Majestic castles, towering spires, and lavishly adorned buildings dominated the landscape, their golden accents gleaming under the sun. This was not a mere town—it was a city of wealth and power, bustling with activity.
The harbor mirrored the grandeur of the city, packed with extravagant ships—some bearing the insignia of notorious pirate crews, others belonging to influential merchants and underworld figures. Even the sea beyond the island was alive with vessels constantly arriving and departing, drawn to this hub of trade and intrigue.
"It seems this is the right place."
Caesar took out an Eternal Pose and gave it a quick glance, confirming that this was indeed the thriving town he sought.
Fueled by the power of thought, his flight speed increased. Within moments, he and his two subordinates arrived at the extravagant city center.
"Boss, the buildings here are unreal..."
"That palace looks so advanced!"
"Whoa, what's that?"
Brad, eyes wide with awe, was like a country boy seeing civilization for the first time. His excitement was palpable.
"Hush! Keep your voice down!" Gliner whispered sharply. "Don't attract attention."
Even among the bustling crowds, the city was filled with figures that radiated danger—mercenaries, bounty hunters, and likely intelligence operatives from the Navy or the World Government. Gliner worried that unnecessary attention would compromise their mission and ruin Caesar's carefully laid plans.
Brad stuck out his tongue but wisely kept silent.
Fortunately, their current disguises blended well with the city's diverse population. With the sheer number of people flooding the streets, no one paid them any mind.
After a brief round of inquiries, Caesar led them to a gold exchange.
Inside, the sight of the treasure they brought left the staff speechless. The exchange's manager, a shrewd-looking man, quickly emerged to personally escort them into a VIP room.
As the appraisal process began, a glint of calculation flashed in the manager's eyes. He made his initial offer.
"Five billion Berries."
Caesar, though unfamiliar with the precise market value, instantly knew it was too low. He didn't even need to use his Haki—just a cold, commanding stare made the manager break into a nervous sweat.
The man swallowed hard before correcting himself.
"Apologies... The true value is 5.8 billion Berries."
Satisfied, Caesar nodded and finalized the exchange.
---
Information Gathering
With Berries in hand, Caesar sought out an intelligence broker deep in the black market.
He handed over a list of materials needed for forging a Great Grade Blade alongside two thick stacks of Berries.
Snap.
"Give me the locations where these materials can be found."
The broker examined the list and signaled a subordinate. The man vanished into the back and returned moments later, handing his boss a new piece of parchment.
The broker reviewed the details before passing the paper to Caesar.
"The total value of these materials isn't too high, around 100 to 200 million Berries. But gathering them all is a challenge."
"However, the third item on your list… According to our sources, it's about to be auctioned."
"Only one piece?" Caesar frowned.
"Yes. These materials are rare outside of high-grade weapon crafting."
"When's the auction?"
"Half a month from now."
Caesar frowned again. That was a long wait.
The broker continued, lowering his voice slightly. "There's more. This auction will feature special items... including several Devil Fruits."
That caught Caesar's interest.
"Devil Fruits?"
The broker nodded. "Their presence has drawn nobles, wealthy merchants, and, of course, pirates hungry for power."
Caesar wasn't interested in the rest of the man's insinuations. What mattered was that the auction had Devil Fruits.
And he had the money.
Snap!
Caesar tossed more Berries at the broker. "If you get more intel, notify me immediately."
With that, he left, Gliner and Brad following closely.
As they disappeared into the city, one of the broker's subordinates turned to him.
"Boss, should we notify the Navy? Or maybe just rob them?"
Slap!
"Idiot! You wanna die?!"
The broker's face darkened. He had sensed something about that trio—especially their leader. They weren't ordinary people.
And not ones to provoke.
---
[85] Malicious Bidding! The Popular Devil Fruit!
Half a month passed in a blink. By then, the auction had drawn visitors from across dozens of surrounding islands.
Caesar and his crew had secured their entry passes with ease.
The grand auction hall, capable of seating tens of thousands, was rapidly filling up.
"Boss Caesar, you're a genius for coming early!" Brad exclaimed, watching the endless tide of people still pushing through the entrance.
"As expected of the most prosperous island in the area..."
"It looks like people from all the nearby islands have gathered here."
Gliner, too, was stunned. He had never seen such a chaotic yet lively scene.
Unlike his subordinates, Caesar was uninterested in the crowd's energy. His sharp eyes scanned the attendees, searching for particular individuals.
It didn't take long before he spotted them.
"...Pirates."
A slow smirk spread across his lips.
Of course, an event like this—featuring Devil Fruits—would attract pirates desperate for power.
Once the hall was packed to capacity, the auction finally began.
Caesar ignored the host's introductory speech. As expected, the first few items were insignificant.
Then, the first auction item was revealed—a muscular man with a cloth tied around his head.
"What?! Human trafficking?!"
Gliner and Brad were stunned.
Soon, the first slave was bought by a potbellied merchant.
Then another.
Then another.
From the first to the tenth auction, every single item was a person.
"Damn it..."
"These rich bastards are disgusting. They treat humans like merchandise!"
The two clenched their fists, barely suppressing their rage.
"This is the world we live in," Caesar said flatly. "And this is only a fraction of it."
His calm response only fueled their anger.
But remembering his warning to not draw attention, they gritted their teeth and endured.
Fortunately, after the tenth sale, the auction shifted to material goods.
"The next item is [Shanlan], one of the Fifty Skillful Grade Swords! The starting price is 3 million Berries!"
Brad's eyes widened. "A Skillful Grade Blade for only 3 million?!"
He turned to Caesar, about to ask if they should bid.
But Caesar didn't even open his eyes, remaining still.
In the end, a pirate secured the sword for 14.5 million Berries.
More rounds passed, none of them catching Caesar's interest.
Until the twenty-first item.
Finally, the material he had been waiting for was brought on stage.
A seemingly ordinary chunk of metal.
Yet, as soon as it was introduced, the entire auction hall fell silent.
Unsurprisingly, no one was particularly interested in rare swordsmithing materials.
The host, clearly used to such reactions, sighed.
"One piece of [Star Pattern Steel Ore], weighing 150kg. Starting price: Two million Berries! Minimum increment: 100,000 Berries."
It was obvious—he didn't expect a single bid.
Then, just as he turned away—
"Two million Berries!"
A voice rang out.
All eyes turned to its source.
Caesar smirked. The game had begun.
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