Area 1, Underground Auction House
"What did you just say?"
Disco, the man in sunglasses and the manager of the human auction house, raised an eyebrow. His expression darkened as he processed the news.
"Who dares to kill our people?" His fingers twitched, his frustration barely concealed. "Do they not know that those two slaves belong to the Donquixote Family?!"
Those two brats had Devil Fruit abilities! They could have fetched a hefty price among the Celestial Dragons or underworld brokers.
Now, someone had stolen them?
The group of men standing around Disco visibly trembled. The tension in the room thickened like smoke.
"Boss… it's the Marines," one of his subordinates stammered, his voice shaking. "A new colonel stationed in Sabaody—his name is Solomon Carl."
"Solomon Carl?"
Disco nearly burst into laughter.
"A colonel?"
His fingers clenched the armrest of his chair, his frustration giving way to amusement.
"A mere colonel dares to mess with our business?"
He leaned forward, his grin sharp and full of malice. "Do the Marines actually think we won't retaliate?"
His sunglasses gleamed under the chandelier lights as his expression turned sinister.
"Keep an eye on Marine Base," he ordered coldly. "Report to me the moment that Solomon Carl steps outside."
"Yes, boss!"
This was Sabaody Archipelago—territory teetering between law and lawlessness. The Donquixote Family didn't have absolute control here, but they had enough influence to operate in the open.
Attacking a Marine base outright would provoke Headquarters and, potentially, the World Government. But the moment Carl left the safety of Marine jurisdiction…
"Heh, he won't live to see tomorrow's sunrise."
Marine Base – Area 66
Carl exhaled a puff of cigar smoke as he leaned back in his chair.
After ensuring that Coffey and Emily were settled in their quarters, he had returned to his office, where March and Bright were already waiting.
"Brett, contact Headquarters," Carl instructed. "Find Admiral Kizaru for me."
"Yes, sir!"
Bright picked up the Den Den Mushi on Carl's desk and started dialing.
After a few moments, the call connected.
"Oooh~ Carl?" The voice on the other end was slow and lazy. The Den Den Mushi's face mimicked the expression of Borsalino, also known as Admiral Kizaru. "You've already arrived at Sabaody?"
"Yeah," Carl responded, tapping his cigar on the ashtray. "Sir, I found two promising recruits. I want them as my direct subordinates."
"Ohh? That's rare~ What kind of people are they?"
"Two kids—eleven or twelve years old. Both Devil Fruit users," Carl explained.
"One of them has the Mark-Mark Fruit, allowing for teleportation."
"The other has the Heal-Heal Fruit, which grants healing abilities."
Kizaru's expression shifted slightly. "A child with Devil Fruit powers, huh~?"
"They're good assets," Carl confirmed. "But that's not the main reason I called."
He crushed the remaining cigar in the ashtray.
"Sir, I plan to clean out Area 1 of Sabaody."
"Ohhh~?" Kizaru's tone remained light, but there was a slight hint of amusement.
"The underground auction house just made a move on me," Carl continued. "And that means Doflamingo's forces have their sights on me."
Even if he had left them alone, those slavers would have retaliated sooner or later.
After all, he had stolen two Devil Fruit users from them.
"Hmmm~" The Admiral hummed lazily. "So you want to go in and uproot them, huh?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine. But I figured I'd inform you out of respect."
"Hehehe~ Carl, you're quite bold~" Kizaru chuckled. "But it's fine. Do as you like."
"You are my direct subordinate, after all~"
Carl smirked.
"Understood."
He hung up the Den Den Mushi and turned to March and Bright.
"Mobilize the troops," Carl ordered. "We're surrounding Area 1—completely."
"Yes, sir!"
Within minutes, the entire Marine Base mobilized.
Sabaody's garrison force alone had around 2,000 soldiers. Carl had brought another 1,000 with him.
With 3,000 Marines, he was about to completely lock down Area 1.
Outside the Underground Auction House – Area 1
A crowd had already gathered.
Pirates, bounty hunters, slave traders, and black-market merchants—all curious about the sudden Marine operation.
"Wait… the Marines are actually making a move?"
"They haven't interfered in years! And now they're going after the underground auction house?!"
"Is that new Marine colonel out of his mind?"
"Going after Doflamingo's property? Hah! He won't survive the night!"
The auction house was one of the most profitable businesses on Sabaody. Marines had never dared to touch it before.
As a result, no one took Carl's forces seriously.
Inside the Auction House
Panic spread like wildfire.
"Boss Disco! We're completely surrounded by Marines!"
"Shut up!" Disco barked, his fingers twitching as he pushed up his sunglasses. His face was a mask of frustration and disbelief.
"A colonel dares to come knocking on my door?!"
"Does he even know who we work for?!"
His hands clenched into fists.
"Idiots like this need to be made an example of!"
He slammed his hand on the armrest.
"We're killing that Marine."
Outside the Auction House
Carl stood at the entrance, his hand resting on his sword.
"You all, stand back," he said, his voice steady.
March and Bright immediately signaled the Marines to retreat.
BOOM!
Carl kicked the entire front door off its hinges.
The golden chandeliers reflected off the polished floor, and in the center of the resplendent hall, hundreds of armed men stood ready, their guns trained on Carl.
Disco sat back in his recliner, a smug grin on his face.
"Heh, the Marines actually came here on their own?"
His sunglasses gleamed as he leaned forward.
"You got guts, I'll give you that, but—"
Carl ignored him and took a long drag of his cigar.
The three swords at his waist shifted as he stepped inside.
"Hey! Marine! Are you listening to me?!" Disco's forehead twitched.
"A mere colonel… ignoring me?!"
"You done talking?" Carl exhaled smoke, looking unimpressed. "Damn, that was annoying."
"Huh?"
Disco froze for a second before grinning.
"Heh. Hahahaha!"
He burst into laughter.
"Kill him!"
"YES, SIR!"
Hundreds of guns fired.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Bullets rained down on Carl.
But—
Tink! Tink! Tink!
Not a single shot penetrated.
Carl sighed, rolling his shoulders.
"Man…"
"So this is what a 'Steel Balloon' feels like, huh?"
He finally understood why Big Mom enjoyed letting people shoot at her.
It felt good knowing their attacks were completely useless.
All around him, men in black gasped in horror.
Their guns clattered to the ground.
"W-WHAT?!"
"H-HE'S COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED?!"
Disco's sunglasses nearly fell off his face.
"You—who the hell are you?!"
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