Unlike the tense atmosphere outside as the storm loomed, the auction hall was buzzing with excitement. At the Celestial Dragon's request, the final, most prized item was about to be presented.
Two attendants slowly pushed a colossal object shrouded in a black curtain from behind the right-side door. The faint sound of sloshing water from within filled the hall, drawing eager anticipation from everyone present. Those who understood the implication of the water's sound had their eyes gleam with insatiable greed. Even though they knew the item would likely belong to the Celestial Dragon at the front, it didn't diminish their fervent desire for it.
Without any further delay, Disco, holding the corner of the curtain, gazed at the myriad of covetous eyes in the hall and announced loudly, "This is the peerless treasure we will auction today, hailing from ten thousand meters beneath the deep sea, from Fish-Man Island – a mermaid!"
With a surge of effort, he pulled back the curtain, revealing a large glass fish tank on a trolley.
Glub, glub, glub!
Upon seeing what lay within the tank, everyone in the hall swallowed in unison, their eyes alight with overwhelming greed.
"It's here."
"A true mermaid from Fish-Man Island."
"This is a genuine, rare gem that's impossible to find!"
The hall erupted in a cacophony of amazed and unabashedly greedy whispers. Inside the tank, a creature with the lower body of a fish and the upper body of a human, a mermaid, cowered at the furthest end, her face contorted in terror. Her lower half was covered in shimmering cyan scales that reflected a dazzling blue light under the water. Her upper body was bare, with only two seashells covering her chest. Her entire form was fair and delicate, with faint blue veins visible beneath her skin. Her smooth, water-kissed skin, her cascade of beautiful cyan hair, and her exquisitely sculpted features combined to form a vision worthy of a painting, a depiction of a mythical mermaid that stirred greed in all who beheld her.
All, that is, except for Kong Tai and his companions.
"Is this a mermaid?" Ah Hua pushed up his glasses, his eyes widening to get a clearer view. "She is indeed beautiful."
"Mhm! She's quite pretty," A'Luo nodded. "But that's about it. I don't like her tail," he said calmly.
"Yohohoho~ Is this the mermaid?" Brook chuckled, his gaze fixed on the mermaid on the stage. "While not as beautiful as Kuina or Robin, she is certainly a beauty!" he added, not forgetting to compliment Kuina and Robin. Hearing Brook's words, Kuina and Robin's lips curved upwards slightly.
"Kong Tai, the Celestial Dragon is here, and we've seen the mermaid. I think we should rescue the slaves here and leave," Kuina said, turning her gaze away from the stage and looking at Kong Tai. "I don't like this scene."
"Mhm!" Kong Tai nodded, looking back at Kuina with a gentle expression. He reached out and ruffled her hair, smiling. "We'll leave soon. I don't like it here either."
The trade of humans as mere commodities was something no morally upright person would ever approve of.
Just then, as if sensing something, a faint red glow flashed in Kong Tai's eyes. He turned his head towards the shadows beneath the stage on the right side. With his vision, he could easily pierce the darkness and spot an old man standing there. The elder had long, wavy hair and a beard, both entirely white, clearly indicating his advanced age. He wore glasses, and a vertical scar ran across his right eye. He was cloaked in a white robe, beneath which he wore an orange-yellow cross-collar shirt and wine-red shorts, with slippers on his feet. Instantly, Kong Tai recognized him as the very person they were looking for: the Dark King, Rayleigh.
Rayleigh, as if sensing something as well, looked up and met Kong Tai's gaze. Their eyes met, and it was as if the blades of two peerless swordsmen clashed, emitting a silent clang that resonated throughout the entire hall, perceptible only to those who understood the art of the sword. They then shared a knowing smile and simultaneously looked away, their attention returning to the stage.
"Kong Tai, that's Rayleigh, isn't it!" Kuina, a top swordsman herself, had sensed the anomaly and therefore saw Rayleigh.
"Mhm!" Kong Tai nodded with a smile.
At that moment, the sound of a gavel striking echoed from the stage.
"Alright, everyone, please quiet down," Disco announced loudly to the audience. "Since it's been a long time since a mermaid was up for auction, I'm sure you're all as excited as I am." Although everyone knew this mermaid would likely be taken by the Celestial Dragon, Disco aimed to stir up their passions further, hoping to drive up the auction price. After all, he was one of the owners of this establishment.
Gazing at the numerous greedy eyes below, Disco boomed again, "So, what will be the starting bid for this beautiful mermaid?" After a pause, as the crowd's excitement reached its peak, Disco stepped forward and declared, "Let us begin!"
"The starting bid for the mermaid is..." He leaned forward abruptly and shouted, "First, it's..."
"Five hundred million."
Before he could announce the starting bid, a deep, condescending voice boomed through the entire auction hall. The astronomical price of five hundred million instantly brought the greedy desires of many in the hall crashing down, leaving the auction hall in stunned silence. While they had expected the mermaid to be expensive, the realization of such a colossal sum left everyone speechless. Five hundred million Berries! It was enough for a person to live lavishly for a lifetime without ever running out. Many in the hall, while possessing assets that might exceed this amount, could never afford to part with their entire fortune to buy a mermaid.
"I bid five hundred million Berries," Saint Chordam stood up and declared loudly, extending five fingers towards the stage. His expression was one of utter triumph. When it came to money, no one could rival the Celestial Dragons.
Sweat beaded on Disco's forehead. He then became visibly excited, spinning around in place with a flushed face, before throwing his head back and shouting, "His Highness Saint Chordam bids five hundred million! Are there any other guests who wish to raise the bid?"
"Alas! This is too aggressive a bid," a guest in front of Kong Tai's group slumped into his chair, utterly defeated and sighing with resignation.
"Indeed!" another guest next to him shook his head helplessly. "I was planning to bid a bit for fun, but at five hundred million right off the bat, who can possibly compete?"
Disco surveyed the silent hall and, as if going through the motions, shouted, "The entire venue is in an uproar. I will ask one more time."
"Is there anyone willing to bid above five hundred million?" To Saint Chordam's right, a black-clad elder stood and respectfully congratulated him. "Congratulations, Your Highness. It seems no one can outbid you." He was the butler of Saint Chordam's family and the one who had dealings with Doflamingo.
"Heh heh!!" Saint Chordam grinned. "I've heard that mermaids are the fastest swimmers in the world, and my aquarium is in need of one. This is perfect timing."
"Heh heh!!"
Just then, Disco's excited voice rang out from the stage again. "If there are no further bids, we will proceed to confirm the buyer!" Seeing that no one was bidding, Disco's gaze swept across the hall one last time before he turned, ready to bring down the gavel.