The nobles in the auction house had long since lost their composure, fleeing toward the exits like madmen.
What had happened to the Celestial Dragons would soon reach the World Government.
A Marine Admiral would arrive immediately to suppress everything!
"…Madmen."
Law muttered under his breath.
Even as a pirate infamous for slaughter, he was stunned by Xia Te's group.
Just imagining a Celestial Dragon being captured—
and possibly subjected to that by someone like Weevil—
sent a chill down his spine.
The World Government and the Celestial Dragons would explode with rage.
"Enel, take those three 'astronauts' with us. They're our spoils."
Xia Te ordered.
"Astronauts? What's that?"
Enel raised an eyebrow, but still complied. Using his Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability, he melted his golden staff—
reshaping it into a trident, skewering the collars of the three Celestial Dragons and hanging them like a bundle.
"By the way…"
Xia Te turned toward the large tank holding Camie, grabbing her chin and inspecting her.
"Are all mermaids as cute as you?"
"Since I don't need to pay anymore… you should come with me, right?"
"You bastard! Camie isn't merchandise! Give her back!"
Luffy could no longer stay silent and shouted angrily.
The moment he spoke—
Enel and Weevil, who had been focused on the Celestial Dragons, snapped their heads toward him.
Their expressions changed instantly.
Their eyes burned with fury.
"You—damn rubber man!"
"Straw Hat Luffy! You're the ones who killed my father!"
Seeing their reactions—
the most timid members of the Straw Hat crew, Nami, Chopper, and Usopp, were instantly terrified.
"Crap! They found us!"
"What is that ugly guy even talking about? Who's his dad!?"
"Should we just kneel and beg? Will they spare us!?"
Enel raised his finger, lightning crackling wildly.
Weevil lifted his naginata, unleashing sword pressure at the level of a Great Swordsman.
"Rubber man! The humiliation you gave this god—I'll take your life to repay it!"
"Damn Straw Hats! I'll avenge my father!"
Both were furious to the extreme.
After all—
they both had "grudges" with the Straw Hat crew.
(Well… Weevil's grudge was fabricated by Xia Te—but it worked.)
After all, Admiral-level fighters were rare across the seas.
Even two years later, the World Government would forcibly recruit Weevil as one of the Seven Warlords, disregarding former Admiral Zephyr's feelings.
That alone proved his terrifying strength.
"W-What's going on? C-Can you tell them to stop?"
Camie, terrified by the overwhelming killing intent, jumped out of the tank and grabbed Xia Te's sleeve.
"Can't be helped. Your friends killed my little brother's father. A blood debt must be repaid with blood, right?"
Xia Te watched with a smile, clearly enjoying the show.
Noticing Camie's fish tail, he suddenly asked curiously:
"By the way, I heard mermaids can only grow legs after turning thirty. Is there no earlier way?"
"Th-This…"
Camie was completely panicked—how could she even answer?
"Die, Straw Hat (Rubber Man)!!"
Enel and Weevil shouted simultaneously, about to unleash lightning and sword pressure.
"Dodge!!"
Zoro shouted.
He could already tell—
those attacks were far beyond what they could handle.
BOOOOM—!!!
At that moment—
a vast, ocean-like surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from behind the curtain at the auction stage.
In an instant—
all the nobles and minor pirates who hadn't escaped fainted on the spot.
Only the members of the four pirate crews remained.
Even weaker members like Nami and Usopp—
having grown mentally stronger after Enies Lobby—
managed to stay conscious.
"Conqueror's Haki?"
Shiryu turned his head, eyes cold as he looked toward its source.
"Heh…"
Xia Te suddenly chuckled.
Raising his hands slightly—
then spreading them wide—
"Ha!"
BOOOOM—!!!
Another wave of Conqueror's Haki burst outward from Xia Te, colliding head-on with the incoming force.
The two overwhelming wills clashed violently—
crimson lightning crackled between them, and the ground itself began to fracture under the pressure.
This time—
even more people couldn't withstand it.
Nami, Usopp, Chopper…
Bepo…
and weaker members of the Kid Pirates—
all lost consciousness.