"This is the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit – the Soft-Soft Fruit!"
"Once consumed, it allows the user to soften any object they touch, to the point where it can flow across the ground like water. It's an incredibly powerful fruit for enhancing combat ability. The starting bid is 100 million Berries!"
As Tokefi's voice fell, the auction hall first went silent — and then erupted into a heated roar. Clearly, everyone was discussing the fruit's usefulness.
In one of the private booths, Weiss swirled his wine thoughtfully as he considered the fruit.
He had seen it before, back when the Carmeline family first obtained it. But as a pure swordsman, he had no intention of eating a Devil Fruit.
Even if he weren't, this fruit was definitely not for him.
The Soften-Soften Fruit — just from the name, you could guess what it did. Anything the user touched could be softened instantly: swords, ships, people, weapons—everything.
And yes, that's as crazy as it sounds.
Was it powerful? Absolutely. Even though the ability required physical contact to activate, it was undeniably overpowered.
Those who knew about the user's powers would always have to divert attention to avoiding being touched, while the user could go all in on offense.
As for those who didn't know? Even better. A single touch could be a guaranteed kill.
Was it weak? Sure. The need for contact meant that if you weren't strong enough to close the distance—say, against a sword or gun user—you'd still lose.
But just think about it: even the Swamp Swamp Fruit had been developed into something insane. Who knows what kind of bizarre techniques this fruit could evolve into?
No man in their right mind would want this fruit—especially if its effects ever turned on them.
What if it awakened into something... indecent?
What if...?
"150 million!" a merchant in the audience immediately raised the bid, boosting it by a full 50 million to try and intimidate his competition.
"Only 50 million more? Are you dreaming? 200 million!"
The price kept climbing.
In the black market, Devil Fruits started at around 100 million Berries—but that was just the floor.
Lesser fruits—like some random Alpaca Zoan-type—might sell for the base price. But some, like the Ope-Ope no Mi, could go for billions.
It all depended on the fruit's potential.
At auctions, items almost always sold for inflated prices. The heated atmosphere, the competitive energy—it swept people up. What was a few million extra in the heat of the moment?
Especially when there were rivals involved.
Tokefi didn't even need to keep hyping the fruit. The price had already soared past 300 million, and fewer and fewer voices joined in.
Some pirates were beginning to regret not bidding on something more suitable earlier in the auction.
Now, they were already out of the game.
"400 million Berries!" a businessman shouted with all his strength, collapsing back into his seat afterward.
That was everything he had. It was do or die.
The pirates below were stunned. That price far exceeded what most of them could afford.
But everyone knew he had no chance. The powerful families and infamous pirates in the upper booths hadn't even spoken yet.
Those families? They'd been sailing the seas for over a hundred years.
Even the two big-name pirates present had roamed the Grand Line for over five years. Money wasn't an issue for them.
Sure enough—
"500 million Berries."
The voice came from Lodas, casually raising the bid by another 100 million and crushing the merchant's hopes.
A wave of gasps rose from the crowd.
"That's the pirate Lodas, with a bounty of 150 million?! No hesitation at all—just threw out 500 million like it was pocket change!"
"Unbelievable... is this what it means to be truly powerful? To drop half a billion Berries without blinking? When will I be like that?"
"Easy. Just stay out of the New World. Sooner or later, in Paradise, you'll be a big shot too..."
"Really? You really think I can...?"
"Of course. But I'm telling you—Lodas..."
Lodas was quite pleased with their reactions. It proved his reputation still carried weight. But... why did the conversation take a weird turn?
What do they mean I don't dare enter the New World? That I'm just hiding in Paradise playing king? That I'm afraid?
It's called strategic positioning for growth, damn it! You guys don't know anything!
If it weren't for—well, never mind...
Lodas glanced toward Weiss's private booth and decided to let the crowd chatter as they pleased.
Thankfully, Tokefi sensed the shift in mood and quickly stepped in:
"Lodas-sama has bid 500 million Berries! Is there anyone who dares to go higher?"
"Hahaha! Lodas, your reputation's fallen so far even juniors don't fear you anymore. How embarrassing. Since you've offered 500 million, I'll bid—"
"500 million and one Berry!"
Everyone could tell this pirate was deliberately trying to provoke Lodas. But no one else dared to speak.
Only someone on Lodas's level would dare challenge him. The weak wouldn't, and the strong wouldn't bother.
"Picku, are you looking to die?" Lodas's voice dripped with killing intent.
"You gonna try it?" Picku smirked.
"Hmph. 510 million."
"510 million and two Berries!"
"530 million!"
"530 million and four Berries!"
"550 million!"
In his booth, Weiss watched silently as the two pirates battled with their wallets. He glanced at the wine and tea on his table.
The teacup looked a little full—about to overflow.
"600 million!" The Dauben family finally had enough of the two pirates treating this like a game and threw out a serious bid.
They had no intention of leaving without that fruit.
"650 million!" The Pierrevi family followed—this was the whole reason they'd come in the first place.
"700 million!" The Dauben family refused to back down.
Picki's expression darkened. He dared not lash out. He'd thought bringing 700 million Berries would guarantee a win, but these families had driven the price into dangerous territory—and didn't seem ready to stop.
That money had taken years to save, and a few pirate kills to collect bounties without raising suspicion. Now it might all be for nothing.
Lodas felt the same. If it weren't for Weiss being here, he'd have stormed the stage already. Why waste time bidding?
Eventually, the Dauben family bid 900 million Berries. No one responded. Silence reigned in the private booths.
"The Dauben family bids 900 million! Any higher? Once… twice… sold!"
"Congratulations to the Dauben family on acquiring this rare and powerful Devil Fruit! And now, we move on to the final item of tonight's auction—"
"Wait!" Tokefi was interrupted. It was the Dauben family.
"Yes, Patriarch of the Dauben family? Is there an issue?"
"I'd like to take possession of the Devil Fruit immediately."
Even though the other booths couldn't see him, the pressure from above was palpable.
"That's... a little—"
"Give it to him," Weiss finally spoke.
If they didn't hand it over now, and trouble broke out, who knew who might end up taking the fruit?
The money, after all, would still go to Tokefi.
"Very well, Mr. Weiss. Everyone, please wait fifteen minutes!"
To speed things up, Tokefi summoned 50 staff and 100 machines to count the funds. Among them were the brother and sister from the Carmeline family—the final fifty people they had left in the auction hall.
Once everything was settled, the Dauben patriarch had his son eat the Devil Fruit on the spot.
"Now then, for the final item of tonight's auction..."
"The Devil Fruit Extraction Technique!"
---
https:// ko-fi.com/sami27
(COMPLETED)