The next day, with the break of dawn, sunlight filtered through the rainbow-colored bubbles that adorned the Sabaody Archipelago, scattering brilliant rays across the ground.
Behind a massive tree in District 4, Crocodile stood, his eyes closed, his expression utterly serene. He seemed to be sensing something profound.
The gentle murmur of the breeze, the subtle rustle of grass beneath his feet, the soft scratching of birds' claws on branches, all these sounds, or more accurately, all these sensations, were being meticulously absorbed by him.
A truly perceptive powerhouse would have noticed, within a thirty-meter radius around Crocodile, an almost imperceptible shimmer: tiny particles of sand, floating delicately in the air.
These particles were so fine they were nearly invisible, yet they were undeniably present, acting like extensions of Crocodile's own senses. They transmitted all surrounding information directly to his mind, instantly amplifying his perception from a natural disadvantage to an apex of sharpness.
With deeper mastery, he would be able to use these particles to mimic the effects of Kenbunshoku Haki itself.
The battle with Zephyr had forced Crocodile to confront his own shortcomings. The Admiral's terrifying perception had left him stunned. For the past two days, he had been obsessing over how he could acquire such a power himself.
This morning, he had finally managed to control the ubiquitous sand particles and manifest this new, extraordinary ability.
Since it was freshly acquired, he wasn't yet fully familiar with its limits, but he knew that, with time, he would unlock its terrifying potential.
He carefully felt everything around him. Even with his eyes closed, he was fully aware of every movement in his surroundings.
Suddenly, he spoke, his voice cold and flat. "Shall we move?"
The woman, still thirty meters away, froze. Her vision was excellent, and she could clearly see that the man before her had his eyes closed.
And yet, he had sensed her approach.
"Mm, the auction starts in half an hour. This half-hour is our window of opportunity," the woman replied.
It wasn't until she was within ten meters that Crocodile finally opened his eyes. His gaze was calm, almost serene, with a faint trace of satisfaction. Mastering a new ability was indeed something worth celebrating.
"Let's go." Lighting a cigar, Crocodile took the lead.
Five minutes later, the two of them strode boldly into the opulent auction hall.
No one stopped them, and no one found their presence suspicious. The auction was enormous, teeming with all manner of people. The guards' primary concern was general security, not questioning individual attendees. Besides, the auction's owner was backed by the Celestial Dragons, granting them immense authority. Even the Marines dared not show disrespect. Their confidence was absolute.
"What's your plan?" Crocodile asked in a low, calm voice. He wasn't foolish enough to believe the woman had come through legitimate channels to simply attend the auction.
"Follow me," the blonde woman whispered.
She quickened her pace, weaving along a side passage between the rows of seats, quickly reaching the front of the stage. She moved with a casual grace, as if she belonged there.
Crocodile narrowed his eyes, maintaining his impassive expression. He wanted to see exactly what this woman intended to do.
"Delia, hurry up! The boss is already urging me, where have you been?" A sharp-faced man peeked nervously from behind a curtain beneath the stage, calling out in an anxious whisper.
"I'm coming. I just went to get my big brother. He's strong; he can definitely help us." Delia offered a reassuring smile.
The sharp-faced man glanced at Crocodile, seemingly intimidated by his fierce, masked appearance, and fell silent.
"Is… he safe?" Delia murmured, her voice laced with concern, but she quickly stepped aside, creating an open path. Though she was a woman, her status within the auction house was clearly high enough that no one dared to block her way.
Delia led the way, and the two quickly passed behind the curtains, entering the backstage area of the auction stage.
Crocodile paused and squinted at Delia, studying her. She had seamlessly blended into the auction staff. Once inside, many people greeted her politely, indicating she had established herself well. This also suggested she had invested considerable patience and effort to get this far.
Working as staff at such a large-scale auction was no easy feat. One had to have a pristine background, impeccable conduct, and a certain degree of courage. After all, these auctions regularly dealt with immensely wealthy nobles and even the dreaded Celestial Dragons.
"Follow me!" Delia moved swiftly through the bustling backstage, greeting people quickly. After assigning a few staff members to various tasks, she approached Crocodile.
"I'll take you to the Devil Fruit first. But once you get it, you must help me save someone!" Her voice, though forced to be calm, carried an unmistakable urgency and worry.
Crocodile's eyes flickered, and he gave a slight nod. Saving a single person was insignificant to him. A Devil Fruit, on the other hand, was worth at least $100 million!
Yesterday, he had lingered around the auction, his greed piqued. Even if he couldn't use the Devil Fruit himself, Trens, Rojen, or the other six could.
The two moved quickly. Within three minutes, they arrived at the door of a heavily guarded room.
"The Devil Fruit is guarded by specialists, completely experienced powerhouses," Delia said, glancing at Crocodile with concern, unsure if he could handle them.
In truth, she needn't have worried. Crocodile's newly awakened sand particles had already spread, using his sensory perception to pinpoint the Devil Fruit.
He strode forward, directly toward a reinforced box at the center of the room, surrounded by thirteen imposing guards.
"Who are you?! Get away from there!" A black-clad bodyguard shouted, stepping forward.
But Crocodile ignored him, quickening his pace. The fine sand particles floating in the air began to coalesce. Three breaths later, a massive, swirling wave of sand materialized before the guards' astonished eyes.
The sand reshaped itself into razor-sharp long swords and daggers.
Then, in an instant, Thump! Thump!
Figures dropped to the ground, their faces frozen in terror.
By the time the last guard fell, Crocodile had reached the box, lifting it effortlessly with his right hand.
"Let's go." Turning, he walked to Delia's side, his voice calm and unhurried. Dealing with a few lackeys was trivial for him. The Devil Fruit had been secured without any real difficulty.
"You… you're incredible!" Delia gasped, completely stunned. She knew the strength of these guards intimately, each equivalent to a formidable pirate with a bounty of $30-40 million, yet they had been dispatched with such shocking ease.
Her hope of rescuing her younger brother surged, stronger than ever.
"Where is the person we need to save?"
(End Of This Chapter)
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