With Shino and Pashia—now practically free women—following quietly behind, Rengoku walked deeper into the holding chambers where the remaining slaves were imprisoned.
Inside the iron cages were two figures yet unsold: a giant and an elderly human man.
Rengoku's eyes narrowed.
"…Didn't expect to find you here."
A soft chuckle answered him.
"Heh… well, well. Isn't this the Marine's blazing torch of justice himself? The Flame Pillar, eh? You know me, then?"
"Any high-ranking officer who doesn't recognize you would be a fool, Dark King Silvers Rayleigh."
"Hohoho…" Rayleigh laughed, his presence calm yet immense.
That annoying aura Rengoku had sensed earlier—this was it.
The former first mate of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
"Have you come to capture me?" Rayleigh asked lightly.
"A coincidence, nothing more," Rengoku replied.
"Though knowing you're here… oddly puts me at ease."
"Going to call Garp, then?"
Rengoku shook his head.
"You've kept quiet all this time, but you're still his right hand. By law, I should arrest you. But to actually do that would require at least two Admirals. The Navy's hands are tied."
And even he wasn't certain he could capture the Dark King in a fair fight.
"I'd prefer you keep living quietly," Rengoku said. "No incidents, no trouble."
Rayleigh smiled faintly. "I've retired, boy. No need to worry. Though if you could erase my bounty, that would be nice."
"That's… above my pay grade."
Rayleigh chuckled again. "Then perhaps I'll just do something good—like freeing the poor souls here?"
"That's your decision, not mine," Rengoku answered without hesitation.
Unlike his infamous captain, the Dark King was known to be level-headed and humane. Rengoku had no fear of him—only respect.
Still, confirming Rayleigh's whereabouts made the trip to Sabaody worth it.
He left the slave cells behind—and as he stepped into the corridor, someone blocked his path.
"Just what do you think you're doing?"
It was Shalria.
She stood there, arms crossed, eyes narrowing at the two women beside him—Shino and Pashia—both unchained, uncollared, and free of restraint.
"I'm not sure what you mean," Rengoku said evenly.
"I mean, how dare you free those slaves without permission!" she snapped.
"While the purchase was made under Lord Rosward's name, ownership has already transferred to me. Whether I command, protect, or burn them—what difference does it make to you?"
Shalria's face twisted in fury. "You insolent fool! Do you even realize who you're speaking to?!"
She grabbed Rengoku by the collar and shook him in rage.
And then—something small slipped from inside his uniform.
A notebook.
When it hit the floor and opened, a dozen photos scattered out—each one unmistakably of Shalria herself, completely naked.
The color drained from her face. Then, it returned—red with rage.
"H–HOW DARE YOU! A filthy commoner collecting my naked photos! How dare you defile the image of a Celestial Dragon! This is blasphemy! Outrageous! Unforgivable!"
"This is a misunderstanding," Rengoku said calmly.
"Those were given to me—by Saint Charlos."
"What nonsense are you spouting?! My dear brother would never—why would he even have those photos?!"
Rengoku didn't flinch.
"Is it not stranger, Lady Shalria, that a mere 'commoner' such as myself would possess such indecent photos of you taken in Mary Geoise, the Holy Land itself?"
Her lips parted—she couldn't argue with that logic.
But logic was not the issue. The humiliation was.
"So! You refuse to become my concubine, refuse my divine body, and yet you keep these photos? How disgusting! How vile!"
"Forgive me," Rengoku replied flatly. "But as a 'lowborn,' how could I possibly refuse the generosity of Saint Charlos?"
Every word cut deeper.
No matter how she tried, Shalria couldn't win an argument against him. His calm, reasoned tone made her fury seem childish.
Her hands trembled with indignation as she glared at him—completely speechless, overwhelmed by anger she couldn't express.
For Rengoku, it was simply another reminder of what kind of beings these Celestial Dragons truly were.
The two freed women, Shino and Pashia, followed quietly at Rengoku's side as he moved through the narrow hallway. But before they could take three steps, a shrill voice cut through the air.
"Regardless of your excuses, possessing the nude photographs of a Celestial Dragon is a capital crime! Punishable by death!" shouted Shalria, her cheeks flushed red with fury.
Rengoku didn't even blink. "Have you confirmed this with Lord Rosward—or the Five Elders?"
"E–Ehh? The Five Elders?"
At the mention of the Gorosei, even the arrogant Shalria froze. The Five Elders—those who stood at the pinnacle of the Celestial Dragons—were names that even a proud girl like her dared not speak lightly of.
"If you insist on doubting me, Lady Shalria," Rengoku continued evenly, "then I have no choice but to bring this matter before the Gorosei. You, Lord Rosward, and Saint Charlos can all stand beside me to explain yourselves during the trial."
His voice never wavered, his gaze cold and unwavering. Every word landed with the weight of authority.
Shalria's lips trembled, but no sound came out. She was only fifteen—a young Celestial Dragon who'd never been contradicted in her life. Logic was not her weapon, and against Rengoku's calm composure, her fury was useless.
Her mind spun in frustration, unable to argue further.
Was Charlos really that foolish? Or was she simply too young to realize her brother was that foolish?
Shalria stamped her foot in frustration, still tugging at Rengoku's sleeve and throwing petty tantrums like a spoiled child. Compared to her, even Perona seemed angelic.
"L–Lady Shalria!" a trembling staff member burst into the hallway, panting heavily.
"What is it now?" she snapped. "Why the fuss?"
"S-Saint Charlos has—"
"My dear brother? What about him?"
"H–he's been… assaulted—by a pirate!!"
"…What?"
The trembling worker barely managed to continue under her glare.
"I-It wasn't him doing the beating! He—Saint Charlos—was beaten up! A pirate hit him!"
Shalria's eyes went wide. "What nonsense are you babbling? Since when is a Celestial Dragon being struck something to panic over? Are you mocking the heavens, you ignorant worm?!"
"N–no, my lady! Saint Charlos really was attacked! The pirate—he hit him!"
And so the chaos began.
While Rengoku had been busy freeing the slaves—and enduring Shalria's endless complaints—another "special product" had appeared in the auction: a mermaid.
Charlos had purchased her for five hundred million Berries.
But that mermaid happened to be a friend of a pirate—one who refused to stand by quietly.
When the pirate confronted Charlos, a fish-man intervened to stop the scuffle.
Charlos, in his arrogance, shot the fish-man on the spot.
Enraged beyond reason, the pirate retaliated—smashing his fist square into the Celestial Dragon's face.
The punch sent shockwaves through the entire Human Auction House. Panic erupted inside and out. Marines were being summoned, nobles were screaming, and the auction ground descended into chaos.
"You worthless Marine!" Shalria shrieked, turning her fury on Rengoku. "How dare you fail to protect us properly?!"
Rengoku's reply was calm but sharp.
"If Lady Shalria hadn't detained me, such an incident would never have occurred."
"Wh–what did you just say? Are you blaming me?!"
Rengoku sighed deeply.
It was hopeless.
Not only was the situation spiraling out of control, but the one responsible was no ordinary pirate.
"Did you just sigh in front of me, you—!"
Her words were cut off.
---!!!
A wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Rengoku's body.
The air itself cracked under the pressure. Shalria and every nearby servant collapsed instantly, unconscious before they even hit the ground.
The building trembled from the force.
Rengoku exhaled slowly, drawing his twin blades—Enrin Kitetsu. His expression hardened as he turned to Shino and Pashia.
"Go find the old man I spoke with earlier," he ordered, his voice low and commanding. "Seek his protection. I'll handle the pirates."
His Haki flared again—this time imbued with will. The girls' bodies moved on instinct, compelled by the overwhelming authority of a king.
"Y–yes, sir!" they answered in unison, before rushing back toward the slave chambers—toward Silvers Rayleigh.
Rengoku adjusted his grip on his blades and stepped toward the auction hall.
A pirate who had struck a Celestial Dragon…
There was only one name that came to mind.
"Monkey D. Luffy…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't tell me… it's you again."
----------------
If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass