"Hee hee hee, don't worry about them. Just let them fight over it, you fools!"
"Those two guys are nobles here, right? But who's the other one? I haven't seen them before..."
"They must be outsiders!"
"Fat sheep... hehe!"
The whispers in the crowd had no effect on Caesar Clown's mood.
Arms crossed, he remained unfazed, watching the auctioneer on stage.
"Damn it! Two hundred and eighty million Baileys!"
A nobleman gritted his teeth as he raised his bid, but his expression showed hesitation—he was clearly starting to feel the sting of such an expense.
"It's useless to compete with me! I'll offer 285 million!"
His rival, seemingly intoxicated by the thrill of bidding, immediately countered. His eyes gleamed with provocation as he sneered at Caesar.
But Caesar ignored him. Instead, he silently calculated whether the 300 million Baileys price tag was worth it for this unknown Devil Fruit.
"Hmph! Don't waste your time watching. There's no way those country bumpkins from outside will join this fight. Today, it's just between you and me!"
"Two hundred and ninety million!"
The noble grunted and shot another contemptuous glance at Caesar.
"That bastard!"
"He dared to call us bumpkins!"
Gliner clenched his fists, seething with rage, while Brad scowled with resentment.
"Bid."
Caesar's voice remained calm.
"But, Boss… Oh, whatever!"
"Three hundred million!"
Brad held up their bid sign.
"…What?"
"Those damn bastards! Do they not understand their place?"
"This Devil Fruit is mine! Three hundred and fifty million!"
"Three hundred and ten million!"
"Three hundred and fifteen million!"
"Three—Damn it! Three hundred and twenty million!"
"Ha! So what? I'll take it! Three hundred and twenty-five million!"
"Three hundred and thirty million."
No matter how much the nobles mocked or how furiously they raised their bids, Caesar always outbid them by exactly five million.
The escalating war of numbers left the audience stunned. Even the auctioneer, accustomed to high-stakes deals, was visibly taken aback.
Devil Fruits were rare treasures, but their abilities were unknown until consumed, and the eater would forever lose the ability to swim. Typically, even rare fruits wouldn't fetch such astronomical prices—unless it was a confirmed high-tier fruit.
"An intense battle! 370 million Baileys! Any further bids?"
"Three hundred and seventy million going once…"
"Three hundred and seventy-five million."
Brad raised the bid before the auctioneer could finish his sentence.
This time, even the nobles hesitated.
The entire room fell silent as all eyes turned to Caesar's group.
"Hey… who are these guys? They're throwing money like it's nothing!"
"Even the local nobles couldn't outbid them… Looks like we're dealing with some big-time players today."
The Weight of Wealth
For ordinary people, flashing such immense wealth in public was an invitation for trouble.
And sure enough, Caesar could hear the murmurs and feel the bitter gazes of the defeated nobles.
But he remained indifferent.
"Sold!"
The auctioneer confirmed the sale after three calls. With that, the mysterious Devil Fruit was secured by Caesar for 375 million Baileys.
Just as he was about to leave, the auctioneer's next announcement caught his attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Our next auction item is just as rare as a Devil Fruit! A one-of-a-kind specimen!"
"Up next, we present… a living, breathing merman!"
The Merman
Caesar paused.
As expected, several staff members struggled to push a large, wheeled cage onto the stage.
Inside, a shackled merman sat motionless.
Despite the heavy chains and deep wounds covering his body, his presence exuded raw strength and vitality.
His eyes, though dim with exhaustion, still held a glimmer of determination—an unmistakable sign of unbreakable willpower.
Caesar immediately took interest.
Around the merman's neck was an explosive slave collar. If removed without the key or activated remotely, it would detonate instantly.
Even in his current state, the merman's physique and aura set him apart. His potential was undeniable.
Caesar pondered. He needed someone who could move freely in the sea, an asset to his future crew.
This merman fit the bill—strength, talent, and an indomitable spirit.
He made his decision.
"Is this… really a merman?"
"So strong… They're built so much bigger than humans!"
Gliner marveled.
The enslaved merman stood over three meters tall, towering over the average human.
His presence also drew the attention of wealthy merchants, nobles, and pirates alike.
But unlike the Devil Fruit auction, the enthusiasm here was more restrained.
The Second Auction
"The starting price for this merman slave is 100 million Baileys!"
"A minimum increment of 1 million Baileys per bid!"
"101 million Baileys!"
The first bid came from Caesar's group, surprising no one.
"One hundred and two million!"
A wealthy merchant raised the stakes.
"One hundred and five million!"
The local nobles joined in.
"One hundred and ten million!"
The price was climbing quickly. Unlike Devil Fruits, owning a merman slave wasn't just about utility—it was a symbol of elite status.
"These guys are disgusting… They're auctioning off an entire race."
Gliner's face twisted in anger.
"Caesar, we're taking this merman, right?"
Brad hesitated, but Gliner asked outright.
"This guy is strong. He'll be part of our crew."
Caesar's response was calm but firm.
Hearing this, both Gliner and Brad exchanged surprised glances—but they were pleased.
Brad immediately raised the bid.
"One hundred and twenty million!"
Caesar glanced at him.
"Don't waste time. Just bid until they can't keep up."
The auction escalated.
"One hundred and fifty million!"
"One hundred and sixty million!"
"One hundred and eighty million!"
"Damn you! Are you robbing us again?! 200 million Baileys!"
"Are they insane?! It's just a merman!"
"This is crazy! These guys are filthy rich!"
"Fat sheep for real! Hahaha!"
After a fierce bidding war, Caesar won the merman for 430 million Baileys.
In just two rounds, they had spent over 800 million Baileys.
If you counted the materials for forging his supreme-grade sword, Caesar's total expenses at this auction neared 810 million.
Even the auctioneer, despite his years of experience, was dumbfounded.
He had never seen such reckless spending before.
As the auction continued, Caesar made two final purchases—two more unidentified Devil Fruits, costing an additional 300 million Baileys.
By the end of the night, Caesar had spent over 1.1 billion Baileys.
And yet, he remained completely unfazed.
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