"Strategically despise all enemies, tactically respect all enemies."
He might dislike the samurai of Wano Country, but Noro had never underestimated them.
For eight hundred years, they'd closed their borders, refused to join the World Government, and yet managed to remain independent.
Even Akainu was wary of them. Kaido had operated in Wano Country for over twenty years, and still hadn't completely conquered it. They had their strengths.
Under normal circumstances, Noro could never train a crew capable of matching them in four years.
But with the Cheer-Cheer Fruit, things were different.
The Revolutionary Army's Belo Betty had only waved a flag a few times, and a milkmaid with no fighting ability had instantly killed a pirate with a 50 million bounty.
What terrifying amplification! Even if the samurai of Wano Country were powerful, they couldn't all be worth 50 million each.
Noro's face lit up. He had to have this Devil Fruit.
"220 million!"
"230 million!"
"250 million!"
...
On the stage, the price of the Cheer-Cheer Fruit had surpassed 300 million Beli. It was still climbing, but the momentum had weakened.
Not everyone had a mountain of gold like the Beasts Pirates.
Noro guessed that the bidders weren't pirates. Pirates valued individual strength, they wouldn't bid on a support-type Devil Fruit.
They were probably generals from some World Government-affiliated country, understanding the importance of morale, willing to pay a high price for this fruit.
"500 million Beli!" Noro blurted out casually.
The entire hall erupted in an uproar. The money-loving Stussy reacted first, grabbing Noro's arm, her eyebrows furrowed:
"Noro, are you crazy? They're raising the price by 10 million at a time, and you just jump to 500 million!"
Noro ignored Stussy, his gaze fixed on the Cheer-Cheer Fruit on the stage, waiting for the auctioneer to bring down the hammer.
It wasn't her place to tell him how to spend his money. He wasn't Luffy, and she wasn't Nami.
The auction house fell silent for a moment, everyone hesitating whether to continue bidding. This was already five times the Devil Fruit's actual value.
A general from a World Government-affiliated country gritted his teeth, making one last attempt:
"510 million!"
As soon as he finished bidding, Noro, without hesitation, shouted:
"600 million!"
Stussy immediately threw herself at Noro, desperately covering his mouth, scolding, "I told you to bid 10 million at a time!"
He wasn't just bidding, he was bidding away her life!
Actually, there was no need to cover his mouth. The scene was silent, no one else was bidding.
Noro's determined attitude had deterred everyone, and they were short on cash anyway.
Of course, if they had bid again, Stussy covering his mouth wouldn't have stopped him.
The beautiful auctioneer surveyed the silent auction hall, knowing that even if she exaggerated the fruit's abilities, no one would bid.
So the auction hammer fell heavily, the beautiful auctioneer announcing in a high-pitched voice:
"Congratulations to this esteemed guest, who has won the Cheer-Cheer Fruit for 600 million Beli."
"This concludes today's auction. Thank you again for your attendance, and we wish you a pleasant stay in Water 7!"
With that, the beautiful auctioneer bowed deeply, once again giving the gentlemen in the audience a feast for their eyes.
At this auction, Kaido had spent 600 million Beli on two Zoan-type Devil Fruits, Noro had spent 600 million on the Cheer-Cheer Fruit, and Stussy had spent 80 million on a necklace, a total of 1.28 billion Beli.
The boss personally saw them out, almost fawning over them.
At the entrance, there were a group of pirates lying in wait.
But after recognizing Kaido and Noro, they gave up the idea.
Looking at the sky, looking at the ground, laughing awkwardly.
"The sky is so sky-like!"
"And the ground, the ground is so ground-like!"
"Who can argue with that? That tree is so tree-like!"
"..."
Why rob them? Their bounties were several hundred million each. They could rule Water 7, even the first half of the Grand Line, like emperors.
What a joke!
Stussy, wearing the 80 million Beli Heart of the Ocean necklace, was breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing this scene, she covered her mouth and giggled softly.
But the thought of Kaido and Noro spending 1.2 billion Beli tonight made her mood sour.
Those two damn spendthrifts!
Stussy didn't want to link arms with Noro anymore, walking ahead alone, sulking.
Kaido, carrying "Hassaikai" on his shoulder, grinned, looking at the two Zoan-type Devil Fruits he was holding.
Two more "beasts." One day, he'd gather a hundred "beasts." That's what it meant to have a "Beasts" Pirates, as Noro had named it.
Noro smiled, admiring Stussy's swaying figure ahead.
Tsk, tsk, that waist.
She really knew how to move.
This woman, with her money-loving nature, had watched them spend money like water these past few days, and she hadn't gotten anything.
She probably couldn't take it anymore. She'd probably try to get into his bed soon.
After returning to the pirate ship, Stussy went straight to her room, locking the door.
The beautiful woman sat at the table, her slender hands supporting her face, frowning, lost in thought.
The money wasn't hers, but she'd already considered it her own. Every time she saw them spend money, her heart ached.
How could she get control of this pirate crew's finances?
If this continued, even a mountain of gold would be spent.
But she was low in rank and influence. As for strength, it was hard to say. She could beat some grunts, but fighting Kaido and that 500 million Rear Admiral? That wasn't just a dream, it was a delusion.
But she was so unwilling. A mountain of gold and silver was right in front of her, but she couldn't have any of it.
Did she really have to give herself to that kid?
That kid's gaze, that naked desire, had never been hidden.
Yes, that kid looked like he wasn't even twenty yet. She was much older than him, even if she took good care of herself.
Even if she gave herself to him, it wouldn't be a loss. It could even be a gain.
But she'd roamed the seas for so many years. To be taken down by a kid now, she couldn't convince herself. She couldn't get past that mental hurdle.
Thinking this, Stussy couldn't help but resent Whitebeard.
That damn man. She'd been so close to him, but he hadn't taken her with him when he ran at God Valley.
Now the Whitebeard Pirates were doing well in the New World, but he hadn't invited her to join.
He didn't care about their past relationship at all! She was just a little greedy.
The night grew deeper, everything silent.
Stussy stopped agonizing.
You couldn't let pride get in the way of money.
===
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