Gawain frowned slightly.
The speed at which the Donquixote Family operated was nothing short of astounding.
It had only been a little over half a month since Smoker had fallen. In that short span, gathering and transporting these "auction items"—no, slaves—from across the world to Loguetown should have been an immense logistical challenge.
And yet, here they were.
After a moment of reflection, Gawain began to understand.
Rare races held far greater value than ordinary humans in the underground market. However, they were scattered and hidden in remote corners of the world. To sustain a stable human trafficking operation, a vast and intricate supply chain was required—one that intertwined countless sources and extended across the globe.
From that perspective, the auction scene in the Sabaody Archipelago—as depicted in the original story—was merely the final step in a massive underground enterprise. The last link in a long chain of cruelty, delivering innocents like those twin girls into the hands of buyers.
"It's truly... filthy," Gawain muttered.
A flicker of hostility passed through his eyes.
But he knew full well: a market exists only where there's demand.
It was the twisted, depraved desires of the so-called nobles that gave rise to Doflamingo's underground network in the first place. Without that rot at the top, there would be no foundation for such a vile trade.
Below him, the auction continued.
One by one, the "items" were rolled onto the stage on carts. Aside from a few token antiques, there was only one real product being sold.
People.
From stunning young girls to robust men, even members of rare races unseen in the East Blue—it was enough to drive the attending nobles to madness.
Gawain's eyes narrowed as he spotted them—three burly fishmen, their gills twitching on their shoulders, sharp teeth gleaming under the spotlight.
The moment they were revealed, the hall erupted. Shock turned to ravenous excitement in seconds.
"Monsters like these?!"
"Same species as Arlong—the one defeated by Knight Gawain himself!"
"With bodies built for underwater combat, incredible strength, and natural talents that enhance physical power... They're not just strong, they're the perfect sailors!"
"Even just as trophies, they're worth a fortune!"
"I want them!"
"Don't even think about it—they're mine!"
…
On stage, Disco licked the corner of his mouth, watching the frenzied bidding with glee.
By this point, the auction had already exceeded the highest expectations he'd had when snatching the East Blue's first slave auction from under Doflamingo's nose. Wealth, status, power—once he established a foothold in Loguetown, everything would fall into place.
As for the slaves' feelings?
Who cares?
To him, they weren't even human.
Once those shackles were locked in place, their identities were stripped away. They were no longer people. They were products.
A cruel grin twisted the corners of Disco's mouth.
A commodity's only worth lies in how high it sells.
"The fishman auction begins now!"
"Starting price... no, let's raise it to five million Berries!"
"Each bid must increase by at least 100,000!"
Bang!
The gavel struck, and the room exploded into chaos.
"Five and a half million!"
"Six million!"
"Eight million!"
…
In just a few moments, the price soared past ten million—and there was no sign of it slowing.
This was the East Blue, the most peaceful sea—yet also the wealthiest. The nobles, perched atop their thrones of luxury, had money to burn and darker desires to feed.
Watching the scene from the VIP room above, Gawain clenched his fists.
For the first time, he felt a pang of regret.
Damn it...
I should've let Kuro and the others be even harsher. I should've peeled a layer off these bastards' skin...
Still—he took a breath.
It's not too late. Once this auction is over…
…
Eventually, the fishmen were sold to a noble from the Goa Kingdom for an astronomical price—nearly thirty million Berries.
The room buzzed with excitement.
This was the auction's peak.
Disco could barely contain his glee. The final bid was far beyond what he'd seen in the Sabaody Archipelago. He reluctantly straightened his expression, letting the room settle before speaking again.
"And now... we come to the star of tonight's auction."
"I believe many of you came here just for this."
Gawain immediately sat up straighter, his eyes fixed on the stage below.
A waiter in a neatly pressed suit approached and carefully set a mysterious octagonal box on the pedestal beside Disco before retreating silently.
Bang!
A spotlight shone down on the box.
With a flick of his hand, Disco triggered the mechanism. The box sprang open like a flower in bloom, revealing the item inside.
A twisted fruit sat at its center, surrounded by ridged growths like ribs enclosing a skull. The remaining vines curled inward, resembling a spine.
Grotesque. Menacing. Tempting.
"Behold—tonight's star."
"The Paramecia-type: Bone-Bone Fruit!"
Disco could hardly contain his excitement.
"Eat this, and you'll gain complete control over the bones in your body!"
"Reconstruct them. Strengthen them beyond steel. Extend them into armor or razor-sharp blades!"
"With proper mastery, you may even control others' bones."
"Yes, there are side effects—but the potential? Tremendous! It's a comprehensive ability that's well worth the risk."
"Starting price: 100 million Berries. No limit on bid increments. The bidding begins now!"
Bang!
The gavel slammed down again.
A heartbeat passed—and then the frenzy resumed.
"120 million!"
"130 million!"
Gawain, seated in the VIP room, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the fruit displayed on the auction table below.
After listening to Disco's explanation, one thought immediately surfaced in his mind—the Dead Bone Pulse.
An ability to manipulate bones, reshaping and reinforcing them into weapons or armor. If developed to its limit, this power could even extend to controlling the bones of others. In every aspect, it mirrored the superior traits of the legendary Dead Bone Pulse.
If combined with powerful Armament Haki, Gawain mused, the upper limits of this fruit's potential could be pushed to an entirely different level.
His mind quickly reached a decision.
"This fruit might suit Gin. Even if he doesn't need it, it would make a perfect prize for the upcoming tournament."
While Gawain contemplated, the price of the Devil Fruit had already surged toward 200 million berries.
Clearly, others recognized its value as well.
Among the East Blue nobles in attendance—many bloated by inherited wealth and status—there were also formidable individuals who had clawed their way to power through strength and cunning. Unlike the former, the latter understood a simple truth: only personal strength truly matters.
As for the so-called "curse" of Devil Fruits—the inability to swim—it was hardly a concern. Nobles with stable territories rarely ventured far from land, and with ample resources, preparing a full rescue team was trivial.
In return, they gained a combat force powerful enough to crush rebellion within their domain.
A more than fair trade.
"One hundred ninety million!"
"Two hundred million!"
Even Daz Bonez, who had remained still until now, stood up, about to raise his hand.
But just as he opened his mouth—
"Three hundred and fifty million berries."
The calm yet commanding voice from the VIP room above cut through the noise like a blade.
Daz Bonez froze. The bidding card in his hand halted in mid-air, the offer dying in his throat.
The price was far beyond what he had expected—so high that even if he pooled all the funds he brought, it still wouldn't be enough.
"What do we do?!"
Zala gritted her teeth in frustration.
As assistant to the chief agent of Baroque Works, she was far more informed than most.
"That fruit is what the boss wants. He plans to trade it to someone in the World Government. In return, that person will help cover up our operation in Alabasta."
"Besides, the boss said this fruit is special. It's rumored to be one of the five core abilities: blood, flesh, bone, heart, and soul. It holds a deeper, hidden value."
Daz Bonez's gaze shifted toward the VIP room where the voice had come from, his expression darkening.
"If we can't get it through official means… then we'll take it by force."
"Track the target. Once the auction ends—we move."
"As long as he's not that mysterious powerhouse from earlier, we'll be fine."
"Got it!"
Zala nodded and turned to leave, but before she could issue instructions—
"Four hundred million berries."
Another voice rang out from the same VIP room, calm and composed.
The entire venue fell into stunned silence.
No one raised the price again.
The figure was simply too high. It had already exceeded everyone's expectations, and few carried that kind of money on hand.
Even the previous VIP bidder, the one who had offered 350 million, did not continue—clearly, they had reached their financial limit.
Daz Bonez's expression grew colder.
"Go. Now."
"We can't risk him leaving with it!"
"Understood."
Zala nodded grimly and immediately activated her transponder snail, issuing orders to the Baroque agents stationed around the auction venue.
At the Auction Floor
Disco looked up, staring toward the VIP room that had just made the winning bid.
He was momentarily stunned.
He vaguely remembered the buyer—a young man with an unremarkable appearance and plain clothing. He hadn't expected him to be so wealthy.
So much for judging by appearances. Still… this price is way beyond what I anticipated.
He cleared his throat and addressed the crowd:
"Four hundred million berries, once!"
"Twice!"
"Three times!"
Bang!
The auction hammer struck the table with a sharp, deafening crack.
"Sold!"
"Congratulations to the buyer!"
A few minutes later…
A Devil Fruit with a bone-like texture was placed carefully on the table before Gawain.
He gave it a brief inspection. Everything checked out.