Sabaody Archipelago's morning. Sunny weather, gentle breeze.
Grove 1.
Silas wore a checkered shirt on top and shorts below, topped with sunglasses. At over seventy years old, he had long passed the age of grooming himself just to go out.
Although he paid no attention to grooming, Silas still possessed a handsome, uncle-like aura that captivated many young women.
However, beside Silas, a figure had firmly occupied the VIP seat.
"Captain Silas really is quite popular," said Kozuki Toki with a hint of bitterness as she stood beside him in a modest floral dress.
"Haha, how can you be sure they are all looking at me? Maybe some are looking at you too."
"I do not have anything worth paying attention to."
The current Kozuki Toki was not wearing her signature Japanese-style clothing, so she looked like an ordinary young woman, except her dignified, elegant temperament clearly showed wealthy family origins.
Initially, based on age, people around assumed they were father and daughter.
But the girl's attitude toward the man was overly intimate.
"That girl is really pretty."
"Any chance?"
"Let us see..."
Seeing the two walking down the street, slight conversation came from the shadows.
This was Grove 1 of Sabaody Archipelago.
Anyone living on Sabaody Archipelago knew this was a famous lawless zone. No one without ability could get close.
The people in shadows were confirming whether the man truly had strength or was just a pretentious fool.
But they did not get to confirm.
Silas merely passed by their alley with Kozuki Toki.
Several human traffickers immediately became ice sculptures.
Silas originally had no time for such small fry, but they had set their sights on them.
Did they think he could not hear from a distance?
Skillfully mastering Observation Haki was not easy. Sometimes being too sensitive meant perceiving irrelevant surrounding sounds too.
At such times, knowing how to distinguish hostility and malice was crucial.
"We are here."
The human auction house on Grove 1 of Sabaody Archipelago was very conspicuous. Almost as soon as Silas set foot on the island, he could see an unusually luxurious, imposing building situated at the island's center.
"Indeed, no matter how many times it is destroyed, as long as there is money, it can always be rebuilt!"
Seeing the luxurious building before him, Silas smiled mockingly, protecting Kozuki Toki as they walked toward the building's entrance.
"Stop!"
But before Silas could enter, two figures in black suits blocked his way.
"Entry to the venue is currently prohibited! The noble Celestial Dragon, Saint Rosward, has already entered the venue. He will be this auction's final guest and the star guest appearing last. No one is allowed to enter later than him!"
"Celestial Dragons?"
Silas raised an eyebrow, but with sunglasses blocking, the two Celestial Dragon bodyguards could not see his expression change.
"If you understand, then scram!"
One black-suited bodyguard shouted loudly, his voice attracting many people's attention.
"Those are Celestial Dragon bodyguards, right?"
"They should not conflict with Celestial Dragon bodyguards, right?"
"Things seem to be getting interesting."
Many people around watched Silas and the two Celestial Dragon bodyguards with entertainment-seeking attitudes. Though the Celestial Dragon was not here, even when dealing with a servant, you have to consider who their master is. Even without the Celestial Dragon present, bodyguards executing Celestial Dragon orders were not people just anyone could provoke.
"Haha, since Celestial Dragons are inside, I definitely need to go in and take a look."
Silas laughed heartily, completely ignoring the two.
Seeing Silas trying to bypass them and enter the auction center directly, the two Celestial Dragon bodyguards immediately flew into rage.
"Insolent!"
"Seeking death!"
Their master was not nearby, so with a mindset of avoiding trouble, they had been too lazy to bother with Silas.
If their master were right beside them, just the beauty of the woman beside this man would be sufficient reason for them to act.
Seeing the two bodyguards attack, surrounding onlookers could not help shaking their heads. At such an old age, how could he still act like a hot-headed youth?
But the next second, their expressions froze.
Because Silas made no movement at all. Just looked up at the two bodyguards once, and they became ice sculptures.
This ability was undoubtedly...
"A Devil Fruit user!"
"So that is this man's backing? But those were Celestial Dragon bodyguards."
"He is dead! This man is dead!"
"That poor woman with him."
No one was optimistic about Silas. On Sabaody Archipelago near the Holy Land of Mariejois, Celestial Dragons were the uncrowned kings here.
Forget a Devil Fruit user. Even great pirates who dared anger Celestial Dragons would not live past the next day!
Originally holding an entertainment mindset, but seeing Celestial Dragon bodyguards eliminated, venue manager Hernandez immediately could not sit still.
"You people, go capture these two!"
Hernandez was dripping cold sweat. He had not expected Silas to be so bold as to actually attack Celestial Dragon subordinates. If not handled properly, his position as manager might end.
Even when dealing with a servant, you must consider their master. Were Celestial Dragon subordinates something you could casually confront?
Hernandez could already imagine after learning of this, this man would definitely be enslaved by the Celestial Dragon, and the woman beside him would also become a female slave.
This thought just flashed through his mind.
Then he witnessed something even more incredible.
The man who had frozen the two bodyguards removed his sunglasses.
A mature, weathered, handsome face with no more concealment.
Hernandez was stunned.
"W-White Wolf Silas!"
Hernandez felt his voice trembling as he spoke.
As a human trafficker, who did he fear most?
Not Marines, not World Government officials, but one pirate.
Not just him. Human traffickers worldwide feared encountering one pirate crew.
The former White Wolf Silas.
The current White King Silas.
Even though he had cursed this damned old man countless times in the night, wondering why he would not just die...
But now, he was standing right before him, alive and real.
"Yo, Hernandez, long time no see."
Silas stood at the bottom of the venue entrance steps, looking at Hernandez with his cane at the door, spreading his arms with a big smile.
"Just now two idiots would not let me in. They definitely do not know about our friendship. We are life-and-death brothers, close as family."
"You even lost a leg for me. How could you possibly not let me visit your shop?"
"Or do you want to lose another leg?"
Silas looked at Hernandez, asking with a beaming smile.