"Now presenting Item No.1!!!"
"The great pirate with a bounty of 35 million—Gero!"
With the host's loud shout, a giant cage was pushed onto the stage, inside which was a three-meter-tall, heavily built man.
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[Gero]
[Overall Rating: D-]
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"Gero hails from the West Blue, stands 321 cm tall, 31 years old, has killed a Marine major from the West Blue, massacred three villages, and has slain countless Marines..."
As the host gave the introduction, the auction hall was filled with exclamations of shock.
Even though it was all about Gero killing innocent people and Marines, each line was a testament to Gero's achievements and added to his value.
BANG!
Zephyr's fist slammed heavily onto the chair beside him. Luckily, even in his anger, he controlled his strength. Otherwise, the chair wouldn't just be shattered, the entire auction house might've been crushed.
"Serves him right!", Just hearing Gero's deeds made Zephyr feel that being auctioned off as a slave was still too good for such a bastard.
In his heart, Zephyr still had deep feelings for the Marines. Otherwise, he wouldn't have retired to the second line and taken on the role of instructor.
Maybe among the Marines killed by Gero, there were cadets he once trained.
"One hundred million Berries once... one hundred million Berries three times... Sold!!!"
Gero, with a bounty of 35 million, was ultimately sold for 100 million Berries, three times his actual bounty.
"No wonder bounty hunters hand captured pirates over to these slave traders instead of claiming the bounty, it's only 35 million," Zephyr sighed.
It was his first time in a place like this. Normally he only heard of it from rumors and never came to witness this dark side.
If Rosse hadn't arranged to meet here today, he probably would've never come in his life.
"It's also because the Marines set the bounty standard that these scum become worth so much," Rosse lazily leaned back on the chair, glancing at the fat noblewoman who bought Gero, silently pitying him for a second.
Given Gero's relatively strong vitality, that rich woman should be able to play with him for a long time.
As for whether Gero would resist... of course he would. But people who can afford slaves of that level are rarely fools and would never give them a chance to resist.
"These scum should be erased in every possible way," Zephyr said blandly.
Lately, due to something Roger said, the seas had become turbulent, with pirates increasing by hundreds or thousands of times.
These pirates became the final straw that broke the camel's back, making survival even harder for civilians. Everywhere they went, no life could flourish.
"I remember you were once called 'The Admiral Who Doesn't Kill,' Admiral Zephyr?"
"Doesn't kill, huh... After what happened ten years ago, no one calls me that anymore," Zephyr sighed lightly.
As a child, he idolized heroes. He joined the Marines as a teenager and rose step by step, becoming an admiral at 38.
During that time, he never killed a single pirate. When capturing pirates, he only imprisoned them and sent them to Impel Down.
But when he was 42, ten years ago, his wife and child were brutally murdered by pirates while out traveling. How could he not hate pirates after that?
Now, he wished he could slaughter all the pirates in the world.
After that incident, he offered to resign. In the end, due to Kong's efforts to keep him, he retained his admiral rank and moved to the second line, focusing on training the next generation of Marines.
Over all these years, pirates hadn't decreased due to his efforts. On the contrary, because of that bastard Roger, pirates had only increased. Many Marines he trained died in battles against pirates.
Sometimes, Zephyr felt lost.
What exactly must he do to wipe out all pirates?
That was also why he didn't refuse the World Government's transfer order and agreed to come see Rosse today.
"What is Admiral Zephyr's greatest wish now?", Rosse spoke casually, his gaze sweeping across today's fifth auction item.
The first five auction items were all pirates. No, to be precise, aside from the grand finale, all of today's auction items were pirates.
The auction house held auctions to make money, but they didn't dare go against the decisions of the Celestial Dragons.
He knew for sure there were other slaves here, but he didn't want to see them today, and neither did Zephyr, so those wouldn't appear.
"Greatest wish, huh?", Zephyr glanced at Rosse. He was 52 this year, how could he not see through Rosse' intention?
To be honest, he had a pretty good impression of Rosse.
Unlike other Celestial Dragons, Rosse didn't come in flaunting his status. Even if Rosse used his Celestial Dragon status to order him, as long as it didn't go against his sense of justice, he would still do it.
But in such a case, don't expect him to like Rosse.
And if Rosse really crossed the line, he might truly take action and destroy him on the spot.
After all, no matter how noble one's status is, without strength, they're just an ant that can be crushed at will.
Worst case, he'd just stay in the New World and find a non-World Government territory to hide in.
Still, Rosse's respectful and humble attitude made Zephyr feel quite comfortable.
Rosse was willing to respect him, so he was willing to respect Rosse too.
So in his heart, the idea of becoming Rosse' personal bodyguard wasn't as unacceptable anymore.
"My wish is simple, to make all pirates disappear," Zephyr clenched both fists tightly, his gaze fixed dead on the pirate slave currently being auctioned, he recognized this man.
Ricard, bounty 50 million, user of the Mantis Fruit.
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[Ricard]
[Overall Rating: D+]
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The bounty wasn't very high, but one of his former female cadets had died at this man's hands.
That female cadet wasn't particularly talented, and couldn't withstand the high pressure of Marine training, eventually leaving the training camp and being assigned to one of the Four Blues' branches.
And on her way to that new post, she was killed.
Zephyr had always remembered this. He also regretted it, if he had gone easier on her, maybe things would've been different.
"200 million!", The price for Devil Fruit users was always higher. This was the first time Saint Roswald placed a bid.
After Roswald's bid, the entire venue fell into silence.
No one dared to compete with a Celestial Dragon, they feared they'd become auction items themselves.
"300 million!", Rosse casually said. This slave was meant for Zephyr, no way was he letting Roswald snatch it.
"Someone's bidding against a Celestial Dragon?"
"Which idiot... that guy's done for!"
"We're screwed, don't drag us down with you!"
"..."
Seeing Rosse bid, and that he wasn't wearing the typical Celestial Dragon attire, many people in the hall stood up in fear, quietly edging toward the exit.
They didn't want to get caught in the crossfire.
"Hahahahahaha!!!!", Just as everyone expected, there was no way Roswald would tolerate such behavior.
Under the gazes of those who didn't dare meet his eyes, Roswald stood up, turned around, and shouted at Rosse, "Saint Rosse, I knew you wouldn't miss out on such a good toy, but today, I won't let you have your way!"
"500 million Berries!!!"
Roswald spread his arms wide with grandeur, as if money meant nothing to him.
But at that moment, no one else in the venue was paying attention to the shocking price, they were all staring at Rosse in disbelief.
'That man… is also a noble Celestial Dragon?'
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