The dressing room curtain was pulled aside with a sharp "swish" as Miss. Valentine strode out first in her high heels. Her eyes swept over the bubble bag Nami had left behind, letting out a cold snort before heading straight for the remaining racks.
"Shopkeeper, I'll take all of these." She didn't turn around as she spoke, her fingers gliding along the clothing rods like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, clearing out every last item in the store—even the display samples weren't spared.
The shopkeeper grinned from ear to ear, rubbing his hands together obsequiously. "You have excellent taste, honored guest! Especially this limited-edition lace petticoat—it's the only one in all of Sabaody—"
"Shut up and tally the bill." Miss. Valentine tossed the folded clothes to a clerk, her tone dripping with barely concealed jealousy. She deliberately lifted her chin when glancing at Bahr, as if silently declaring her claim.
Bahr watched her antics with exasperation—another day, another jealous tantrum.
Still, he knew Miss. Valentine well enough. Though prone to fits of envy, she had her limits. Despite his lengthy chat with Nami earlier, she hadn't barged in to make a scene.
After settling the payment, the shopkeeper suddenly pulled out a gilded flyer from under the counter, his sycophantic smile nearly bending him double. "If you're interested, honored guests, you might enjoy this event. It's full of rare treasures you won't find anywhere else—guaranteed to satisfy."
Bahr unfolded the flyer, revealing flashy calligraphy: [Sabaody Archipelago Premium Auction—Rare Species Special]. Below it, dense listings were scrawled in crimson ink:
Merfolk (Female, 16 years): Starting bid 50 million Berries
Longarm Tribe (Male, Martial Artist): Starting bid 30 million Berries
Mink Tribe (Fox Breed, Juvenile): Starting bid 20 million Berries
Giant Tribe (Female, Chef): Starting bid 80 million Berries
.....
A slave auction, plain and simple.
Bahr arched an eyebrow, initially disinterested—until his gaze landed on the line for "Dancer." A spark of curiosity flickered in his eyes. "When does this auction start?"
Seizing the opportunity, the shopkeeper eagerly replied, "It begins in two hours at the venue in Grove 1—absolutely magnificent decor! If you're keen, I can arrange VIP seating with the best views!"
"No need." Bahr folded the flyer and tucked it into his pocket. Glancing at the three women who had already packed their purchases into bubble bags, he called out, "Let's go. We'll do some more shopping, then drop by the auction later for some fun."
Sabaody Archipelago, Lawless Zone.
Enel swaggered at the forefront, trailed by Ohm and Shura. His golden staff spun effortlessly in his palm, casting afterimages as he ignored the surrounding clamor.
To him, these groveling earthbound mortals were no different from ants.
Yet their behavior pleased him. This was the deference befitting a god. It seemed the Blue Sea dwellers had more sense than those stubborn rebels from Sky Island, at least knowing to bow before divine thunder.
"Lord Enel, there seems to be trouble ahead," Ohm's voice broke the silence as he pointed toward the commotion up ahead.
Enel lifted his gaze to see a woman in a nurse's uniform crying and struggling as guards roughly yanked at her arms.
He had no interest in such mortal farces, but his gaze suddenly brightened when it caught sight of the figure wearing a Bubble Headgear—was that the Celestial Dragon Bahr had mentioned? The so-called "god" of the Blue Sea?
Charloss Saint was impatiently urging his slaves when a flash of blue light suddenly streaked past. Before he knew it, a man with long earlobes appeared right in front of him, startling him so badly that he sucked in a glob of snot. The inside of his transparent headgear instantly fogged up with sticky trails as his muffled roar squeezed through the barrier: "Who the hell are you? Daring to block this Saint's path?"
"So this is the 'god' of the Blue Sea?" Enel circled Charloss Saint halfway, tapping his golden staff lightly against his palm, his face twisted in disgust. "A snot-dripping fool, even more revolting than Sky Island's slugs. Even maggots have more dignity than you. And you dare call yourself a 'god'?"
Even Charloss Saint, dense as he was, recognized the insult. His face inside the bubble instantly turned the color of liver as he drew the Golden Handgun from his waist and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang! The bullet passed through Enel's body, rippling with layers of blue light, before embedding itself into the wall three meters behind him with a thunk.
"Lowly filth, daring to disrespect a 'god.'" Enel lowered his eyes, coldly staring at Charloss Saint as he slowly raised his hand. Tiny arcs of electricity crackled at his fingertips, the snapping sounds laced with killing intent. "Receive God's Sanction."
"You suicidal idiot!"
A flash of pink suddenly burst from the alleyway—Bonney, clutching half a hamburger, lunged forward. But her body passed right through Enel's, making her expression shift instantly—a Logia-type ability user!
"To call yourself a god in the presence of this god is to invite divine retribution." Enel's voice crackled with electric static as his finger abruptly pointed at Charloss Saint.
BOOM—!! A bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl tore through the clouds, its blinding white light crashing down with pinpoint accuracy onto the Bubble Headgear.
Amidst the crisp shattering of glass, blue-white electricity surged like vines, instantly crawling over Charloss Saint's entire body. His luxurious silk robes whooshed into black smoke as he was violently flung backward off his slave's back, crashing through three guards in rapid succession with dull thuds.
Crash!
The shockwave from his body slamming into a tin shed sent several rusted roof tiles flying. The guards' guns clattered to the ground.
The leader of the guards turned as pale as paper, his finger trembling like a leaf as he pointed at Enel, his voice warping like a stomped-on toad: "Y-You dare attack a Celestial Dragon... The Marines will grind your bones to dust!"
The surrounding civilians clamped their hands over their mouths, forgetting even to breathe. The nurse who had been wailing earlier now curled up in a corner, her nails digging into her palms until tiny beads of blood welled up.
The guard leader immediately let out a hoarse roar, snapping his stunned subordinates back to their senses. They scrambled to pick up their guns, trembling as they aimed at Enel and pulled the triggers. Bullets whistled through the air toward him.
"Insolence!"
Ohm barked, his longsword flashing from its sheath like a silver bolt of lightning. With a single stroke, he cleanly sliced every incoming bullet in half, sending metal fragments scattering—some still smoldering with scorch marks.
Meanwhile, Shura had already channeled the Heat Dial's energy into his spear. The tip whooshed to life with half a foot of flames, his arms whirling like a windmill as the burning spearhead wove an impenetrable net of fire before him. Every swing sent waves of scorching Airwaves rolling outward.
The guard at the forefront had just raised his gun when a web of flames scorched his shoulder. Orange-red flames instantly leaped across his uniform, causing him to scream in terror and drop his weapon to frantically pat out the fire—only to be kicked to the ground by Shura in one swift motion.
Wherever the flashes of blades and flaming spear shadows reached, the guards scrambled back in disarray.
Yet Enel paid no attention to the chaotic brawl, merely looking down at Bonney, who remained frozen in her lunging stance. His golden staff rotated lightly in his palm as he spoke with a hint of arrogance, "You should be grateful you didn't strike at 'this god,' meddlesome woman."