The slave auction hall of the Sabaody Archipelago buzzed with palpable tension. Beneath the golden chandeliers, nobles and the wealthy crowded, their cruel laughter resonating as they scrutinized the human merchandise displayed on the platform. The World Government, despite claiming otherwise, turned a blind eye to this ignoble trade. It was a favored place of the powerful, where money could buy anything, even lives.
Among the crowd, the Straw Hats – Sanji, Franky, Chopper, Nami, Hatchan, and Pappug – waited with heavy hearts. Their friend Camie, captured, was about to be put up for sale. They were ready to do anything to save her, even emptying their coffers. Nearby, the pirates Trafalgar Law and Eustass Kid observed the scene, each in their own way. And in the shadow of a seat, Maki, a woman with a piercing gaze, surveyed the assembly with detached curiosity. She did not judge, she analyzed.
On the platform, the presenter Disco continued his sinister show. "Very well, here is a woman perfect for housekeeping! A rare piece, ideal for your domestic needs. Starting price: 600,000 berries!"
Exclamations erupted in the audience. "What an affordable price!" exclaimed an opulent woman, her hearty laughter drowning out the whispers. Beside her, a man lamented, "I've already spent all my money on another lot!" Another chuckled, "Tough luck for you!"
The Straw Hats, meanwhile, seethed with rage. Nami clenched her sign so tightly that her knuckles whitened. "I will bring her back, no matter the cost," she murmured, teeth clenched. Her companions exchanged worried glances.
"But how to do it in this situation?" asked Franky, his voice tense.
Determined, Nami replied, "On the ship, we have treasures worth 200 million berries. How much does a mermaid cost, Hatchan?"
"Gyuu! That's more than enough, but I can never repay you!" exclaimed Hatchan, moved by their generosity.
"No matter the money, if we can save Camie!" Nami cut in, her eyes fixed on the stage.
Chopper, in his muscular form, chimed in with feigned assurance, "It's just money, right?"
Pappug and Hatchan, moved to tears, realized how far their friends were willing to go for Camie. They stepped forward, resolute, into the crowded hall.
But outside, another storm was brewing. Newspapers, announcing a groundbreaking news, rained down on Sabaody. The reactions of the present pirates varied, but all betrayed a sense of gravity. Apoo, sweating, exclaimed, "The government has gone mad!"
Bonney, Bege, and Urouge gritted their teeth, their gazes dark. One of Hawkins' subordinates murmured, concerned, "Captain, this is a serious matter..."
X Drake, a newspaper in hand, finally understood why the surveillance of the archipelago was so light. "The execution of the 2nd commander of Whitebeard's crew has just been announced... War is about to break out," he declared, his face grave.
In another corner of the New World, on the territory of A Eian No Sezai, Gojo read the same news, a sly smile lighting up his face. "I warned you, Whitebeard," he murmured, amused. "You didn't listen to me."
Suddenly, his Den Den Mushi rang. He picked up, intrigued. "It's been a while, Gojo," a familiar voice, tinged with a smile, greeted. "I have a favor to ask of you."
Gojo chuckled. "Four years, Shanks. What kind of favor?"
"Stop this war," Shanks replied, serious.
"Why stop something that will make the world more interesting?" Gojo retorted, mischievous.
"I have a bad feeling about it. Kaido is heading there too. I will try to stop him," explained Shanks, calm but firm.
Gojo glanced at the newspaper, where the name of Blackbeard, the new Shichibukai, caught his attention. "It's time to move, then," he said, his smile widening. "Thank you for trusting me, Shanks."
The call ended. Gojo, still amused, dialed another number. "Utahime, in two hours, gather all the shamans and cursed ones in my castle," he ordered, excited.
"I don't know what you're plotting, but it doesn't bode well," Utahime replied with a resigned smile. "Alright, I'll take care of it."
Gojo hung up and dialed one last number, that of Cancer Island. Sukuna answered. "I see you're aware," he said, a smile in his voice. "What's on your mind, Gojo?"
"This event will shake the world," Gojo replied, mocking. "I heard that Maki is at Sabaody."
"Do you want me to bring her back?" Sukuna asked.
"No. The execution is in a week. Go to Fishman Island, we will come to pick you up," Gojo ordered, serious.
"Six years already..." Sukuna murmured, nostalgic. "I hope your plan will be entertaining."
"It will shake the world, rest assured," Gojo assured, a mocking smile on his lips.
Back in Sabaody, the tension in the auction hall escalated. A door opened slowly, attracting all eyes. Silence fell heavy until a man with pink hair, a smug smile on his lips, entered confidently. Sukuna, one of the most feared curses, had just arrived.
Those who recognized him averted their eyes, terrified. Maki, surprised, turned slightly to avoid his gaze. The Straw Hats, seeing Hatchan's panic, grew concerned. "What's going on, Hatchan?" Nami asked, alarmed.
"Don't anger him, no matter what!" Hatchan whispered, sweating. "He's a curse... the most dangerous one."
"More dangerous than the Cursed King?" Sanji exclaimed, incredulous.
"Not stronger, but he has no patience. If you provoke him, he will kill you without hesitation," explained Hatchan, his face pale. "Even the Celestial Dragons know they are dangerous."
"How so?" Nami asked, her voice trembling.
"Their captain, Gojo, invaded Mariejois at 18... just for fun," Pappug revealed, sending shivers down the Straw Hats' spines.
Kid, observing the scene, whispered to Killer, "A curse from a Yonko... I wonder what he's worth."
Law, amused, noted Sukuna's overwhelming confidence. "His mere presence exudes an aura of death," he thought.
Sukuna descended the steps, his gaze sweeping the hall as if everyone were mere insects. As he passed by the Celestial Dragons, Shalria, the youngest, stood up, furious. "How dare you walk in front of us, scum?" she shouted, pointing her weapon at him.
Her father, Rosward, remained calm, but his expression hardened upon recognizing Sukuna. "What is a pirate of Gojo doing here?" he murmured, tense.
"Answer!" Shalria ordered, firing at Sukuna. The bullets crashed against him without effect, exploding as if hitting an invisible wall. The crowd held their breath.
"Shalria, sit down," Rosward ordered, his voice grave. "We are here to buy, not to die."
Sukuna, a smug smile on his lips, stared down the young noble. "You don't understand how the world works, kid." Then, without another glance, he continued on his way.
The hall erupted in murmurs. Shalria, humiliated, hissed at her father, "Why didn't we do anything?"
"These pirates are monsters," Rosward replied, dark. "They have already killed nobles. Even Admiral Sakazuki failed against them."
Sukuna finally joined Maki, sitting beside her. "Look at the mess you've caused," she teased, a smirk on her face.
"Just a brat lacking manners," he replied, mocking, before fixing his gaze on Disco. "Hey, who told you to stop? Keep going!"
Disco, trembling, resumed the auction, his voice unsteady. The hall regained its buzz, but one thing was clear: the arrogance of the Celestial Dragons, as great as it was, paled in comparison to Sukuna's. For unlike them, he had the power to back it up.