When Rengoku stepped into the auction hall, the first things that caught his eyes were the unconscious bodies of Saint Charlos and Saint Rosward.
The former's face was completely caved in—anyone could tell it was from a punch—while the latter appeared to have been knocked out after crashing into something.
Around them, the once-arrogant nobles who had been gleefully bidding on humans were now pale with terror.
"A–a Marine Vice Admiral! We're saved—!"
Before one noble could finish his sentence, Rengoku released another burst of Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant, every clerk, guard, and noble in the room collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
Only a handful of people remained standing—those with enough battle experience and willpower to resist it.
"Monkey D. Luffy…"
Rengoku exhaled slowly, gazing at the familiar figure.
"So it really was you."
As expected, the Straw Hat boy had done it again.
There must have been something in the Monkey bloodline—some hereditary compulsion to cause chaos.
"Hey! You're that Marine from before!"
Luffy pointed at him, eyes widening in recognition.
Just remembering that one stomp—the single blow that had nearly killed him—made him shiver.
And he wasn't the only one.
Every member of the Straw Hat crew felt a chill crawl up their spine.
They all remembered the name Rengoku Kyojuro—the Marine Vice Admiral who had singlehandedly annihilated them during the Enies Lobby incident.
He had destroyed their full-powered lineup without even drawing his sword.
Only the Straw Hats themselves knew how hopeless that battle had been.
"Heh… so that's the Marine they call the Flame Pillar, huh?"
The voice came from the other side of the room.
South Blue native, bounty 315 million Berries—Eustass "Captain" Kid.
"Kid," said a calm, colder voice beside him, "don't tell me you're planning to fight that monster head-on."
North Blue native, bounty 200 million—Trafalgar Law, the "Surgeon of Death."
Among the Eleven Supernovas gathered here, these two were among the most dangerous.
Rengoku stepped up the central staircase, his boots echoing sharply against the marble floor.
Thud.
He glanced down—Saint Charlos's limp body lay in his path.
"…Hmph."
Without hesitation, Rengoku stepped on his face and kept walking.
"Monkey D. Luffy. Eustass Kid. Trafalgar Law."
He called each name calmly as he ascended.
"The Marines have already surrounded this area. If you don't want this to get worse, I suggest you surrender peacefully."
"Hah! You talk too much!"
Eustass Kid sneered and raised both hands. Instantly, every weapon, nail, and scrap of metal in the area began to rattle and fly toward him.
Using his magnetic powers, he formed a massive steel fist the size of a cannonball and hurled it straight at Rengoku.
"Repel!"
The giant metal fist shot forward like a missile, the air shrieking as it tore through the space between them.
Rengoku didn't even flinch.
"How pitiful."
"Flame Breathing—First Form…"
"Unknowing Fire."
In the blink of an eye, Rengoku vanished from sight.
A burst of fire illuminated the hall as he reappeared right in front of Kid, sword blazing with crimson flames aimed straight at the pirate's neck.
"KID!"
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
Two curved blades spun into the path of Rengoku's sword.
Kid's right-hand man—Killer—had just barely managed to block the attack with his dual scythes.
But blocking was all he could do.
The overwhelming force of the flame and the strike's impact sent both Killer and Kid flying through the wall and out of the auction house entirely.
CRAAASH!
The wall exploded, and the two pirates landed amidst the Marine blockade outside.
"Captain Kid!"
His subordinates shouted and rushed toward him, desperate to protect their leader.
"ROOM!"
Behind Rengoku, a blue sphere of energy expanded outward—Trafalgar Law's Ope Ope no Mi power.
"So… a Devil Fruit user, huh?"
Rengoku muttered, coating his sword Enrin Kitetsu in black Armament Haki.
"Flame Breathing—Seventh Form…"
"Blazing Tornado!"
The black flames roared to life, swirling violently as they devoured the blue spatial dome.
Law's ROOM shattered like glass, and the backlash sent him skidding across the floor.
"Guh…" Law grunted, blood dripping from his lips.
"Captain!" his crew called out.
Rengoku ignored them, flames dancing along his blade.
"Flame Breathing—Third Form…"
The black fire surged, filling the entire auction house.
If he swung his sword even once, the entire building would be obliterated.
"Flame Breathing: All-Consuming Blaze!"
Black fire roared upward, soaring high into the sky as the entire Human Auction House was engulfed in a sea of flame.
Yet, for all that destruction, the only thing burned away was the building itself.
"Rayleigh…" Rengoku muttered as the blaze settled.
The old man stood amid the inferno, untouched—his Conqueror's Haki forming a barrier that shielded those nearby.
"Good grief…" Rayleigh sighed. "Even for you, isn't it a bit much to roast Celestial Dragons alive?"
"I can control it so they don't die," Rengoku answered flatly.
The remains of the auction house collapsed, revealing the underground seating area that had been hidden below.
"Hey, old man, what are you doing? Don't touch that bomb!" Luffy shouted when he noticed Rayleigh kneeling beside the unconscious mermaid—Camie—whose collar was still ticking.
The Straw Hats knew well what that collar meant.
There was a bomb inside.
But Rengoku didn't move to stop him. He could tell what Rayleigh was doing—channeling his own Haki to neutralize the explosive.
Instead, Rengoku grabbed the three unconscious Celestial Dragons—Rosward, Charlos, and Shalria—and hurled them outside.
Letting them die here would only create a political disaster. The sooner he disposed of these "divine nuisances," the better.
Outside, the Marines surrounding the burning ruins swallowed hard at the sight before them. The auction hall was nothing but a smoldering crater of black flame.
If they'd entered earlier, they'd be nothing but ash.
Moments later, three white-clad bodies were flung out like sacks of grain.
"T-This is… Saint Rosward! Saint Charlos! Saint Shalria!"
The Marines immediately rushed forward to secure the Celestial Dragons—their top-priority VIPs.
"The hostages have been retrieved! The pirates are still inside! All units—advance!"
At the command of their officer, the Marines charged into the shattered building, weapons drawn.
"J-Justice!" shouted one lieutenant as he led the vanguard—only to freeze when he recognized the man standing amid the wreckage.
"Vice Admiral Rengoku!" He saluted instinctively.
"Release all the slaves," Rengoku ordered. "Apprehend only the pirates."
Though technically suspended from duty, no one dared question his authority.
He still carried the presence of a commanding officer—and everyone knew it.
"V-Vice Admiral, freeing the slaves… isn't that—"
"When was slavery ever legal, Lieutenant?" Rengoku's eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting you endorse it?"
No Haki was needed—his sheer killing intent made the lieutenant's knees buckle.
Slavery, though "tolerated" here on Sabaody for the sake of the Celestial Dragons, was still officially banned by Marine law. Everyone knew it; they just pretended otherwise.
"How dare you question an officially prohibited act?"
"M-My apologies, sir! We'll release them immediately!"
The lieutenant snapped another salute and barked orders to his men. Chains clattered and locks broke open as every remaining slave was set free.
By then, Eustass Kid and Trafalgar Law had already fled.
The Straw Hat crew, meanwhile, had regrouped near Rayleigh.
Saving their mermaid friend had taken precedence over fighting—or even escaping the Marines.
As the black flames flickered around them, Rengoku sheathed his sword.
For now, the slaves were free, the Celestial Dragons were alive, and order—barely—had been restored.
---------------------
Want to read 20 advance chapters ahead?
Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass