At the break of dawn.
As the first rays of sunlight gently pierced through the morning mist, the entire Sixth-Level Floating Island seemed gilded with gold.
The Central Square was already immersed in a boiling wave of sound, surging like ocean waves and roaring like thunder, heralding the extraordinary moment to come.
Twelve suspended viewing platforms encircled the central square like orbiting stars, each exquisitely crafted in a circular arrangement that showcased perfect symmetry.
The edges of the platforms were inlaid with glowing runes that shimmered with an azure light in the morning mist, resembling the brightest stars in the night sky, adding vibrant colors to the entire venue.
Pirates from the Four Seas, underworld magnates, and representatives of various forces in disguise—all dressed in splendid attire and wearing expressions of anticipation—held their breath as they watched the suspended dark gold platform at the center.
On the platform, the air seemed to freeze, each person's heartbeat growing more frantic with the passage of time.
SHING!
Suddenly, the silent sky was torn apart by a dazzling golden light, slicing through the clouds like a sharp sword and instantly illuminating the entire world.
Ron descended from the sky.
His posture was upright, his long black hair flowing wildly in the morning breeze.
His toes lightly touched the edge of the platform, his movements graceful.
He wore a white robe adorned with subtle patterns that revealed starry constellations under the sunlight—woven from special threads unique to the Sky Islands, they shifted with the light to display different celestial maps.
"Everyone." Ron's voice, though not loud, carried a magical quality.
Amplified by his ability to manipulate sound waves, it reached each person's ears with perfect clarity.
"I declare—"
As his words fell, fireworks simultaneously lit up across the floating islands of the Eternal Kingdom.
Tens of thousands of shells wove a brilliant tapestry of light in the sky.
The pirates rose to their feet in unison, their faces alight with excitement and fervor.
Some, overwhelmed by emotion, knocked over their wine glasses, the liquid spilling onto the ground with a crisp sound; others, rising too abruptly, toppled their chairs, but no one paid any attention to such details now.
Their eyes were fixed solely on the Devil Fruits about to appear.
"The First Devil Fruit Trading Conference begins now!"
Ron's voice rang out once more, striking like a bolt from the blue.
In an instant, the world seemed to fall silent, all clamor abruptly ceasing.
Then, cheers more thunderous than a storm erupted!
"YEAAAAAHHHH!!!"
The sound surged like a tidal wave, nearly overturning the entire island.
The shockwave from the roar even shattered the decorative glass on several outer islands.
Pirate captains from the New World wildly waved their flags, their eyes gleaming with greed and ambition while the Supernovas laughed maniacally.
"Finally, this day has come!"
Kid slammed his fist against the railing of the viewing stand.
His metallic arm constantly reshaped and deformed in excitement, emitting a series of cracking sounds.
Beside him, Killer silently pressed his temples, his eyes behind the mask fixed intently on the golden-glowing fruit on the central platform—the Glint-Glint Fruit!
In the VIP box, Doflamingo's sunglasses reflected an eerie light.
"Fufufu... This is getting interesting."
Trebol beside him laughed as well, mucus dripping from his nose.
"Behehehe! That's right, Doffy! I say, I say, we might even get a top-tier fruit for free before the official trading begins!"
Seeing this, others grew eager, highly anticipating the upcoming competition, as if they could already envision themselves seizing the power of the Admirals.
The moment Ron's voice echoed through the skies, the entire Eternal Kingdom seemed to ignite.
Pirates from the Four Seas, underworld magnates, and representatives of various factions all fell into a state of near-frenzy.
Some smashed wine bottles on the ground, others leaped onto tables brandishing their weapons, and some even tore open their shirts, revealing scars and bounty poster tattoos to flaunt their strength.
Amid this boiling sea of chaos, Ron simply raised his hand gently.
HUMMM...
In an instant, an invisible pressure enveloped the entire arena.
The cheers abruptly ceased, as if someone had choked them off.
The pirates who had jumped onto the tables froze in place, maintaining their ridiculous postures, their weapons suspended mid-swing.
The entire venue fell so silent that the sound of the waterfall from the distant floating island could be heard crashing into the cloud sea.
"Everyone," Ron's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Before we begin, I need to explain the rules of the transaction."
The space behind him suddenly distorted.
Poof!
A massive projection of a crimson book materialized out of thin air!
Its cover was adorned with dark golden patterns outlining countless Devil Fruits.
The book flipped open on its own, each page revealing three-dimensional projections that displayed detailed information about various Devil Fruit abilities.
"All abilities recorded in the 'Devil Fruit Blood Encyclopedia' are available for trade," Ron said lightly, tapping his finger as the tome rapidly flipped through its pages.
"As long as you have sufficient funds, you can obtain your desired ability."
Projections of abilities like the Magma-Magma Fruit, Slow-Slow Fruit, and even common Zoans flashed by, making the audience breathe heavily.
But what was even more shocking was that the final few pages of the book actually recorded some mysterious fruits that had never been publicly revealed.
"Of course, the Eternal Kingdom also accepts Exchange Transactions."
Ron snapped his fingers, and the book flipped to a new page displaying complex calculation formulas.
"You can use your existing ability as collateral. After a professional appraisal by the Eternal Kingdom, an equivalent exchange can be made."
The venue immediately buzzed with whispers.
Several ability users instinctively touched their bodies, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of trading their cursed powers for something better.
"Or..." Ron's lips curled into a mysterious smile.
"You can choose to sign a Contract with the Eternal Kingdom."
A golden-glowing contract materialized at his fingertip.
"You can exchange service years, special items, intelligence information, and other conditions."
As he spoke, twelve white-robed priests descended from above, each holding different transaction tools: some carried measuring instruments, some held appraisal scales, and others carried contract scrolls.
"In short..."
Ron spread his arms.
The star chart on his black robe suddenly came to life, transforming into a real flowing galaxy behind him.
"In the Eternal Divine Kingdom, there are many ways to trade."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over every face in the crowd—some greedy, some calculating, some fanatical.
"Only what you dare not imagine... nothing the Eternal Kingdom cannot do."
As he spoke, the central platform suddenly split into twelve floating transaction platforms, each displaying different Devil Fruits.
Ron's fingertip traced an elegant arc through the air, and three brilliant beams of light suddenly descended from the sky to start the show.
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