Hearing Luffy say he needed help, Dibaruo's eyes immediately lit up and he said,
"Young Master Straw Hat! Just tell me whatever you need!"
Luffy then told Dibaruo the news of Kaimi's kidnapping.
After hearing it, before Dibaruo could respond, a discussion immediately erupted in the tavern.
"Young Master Straw Hat's friend was kidnapped? Which scoundrel is so bold?"
"There are many kidnapping gangs on this island! Coffee Monkey, Pita Man and his gang, Makuro Family..."
"I have a friend who knows someone in the Coffee Monkey gang, I'll go ask there!"
"Pita Man and his gang are in my neighborhood, I'll go there to gather information!"
"I'll go..."
Dibaruo didn't say a word, and these people who had just joined the Flying Fish Riders spontaneously arranged everything.
They had been active on this island for many years, and some of them had connections and strength even stronger than Dibaruo.
But because of Straw Hat, all these people now voluntarily joined Dibaruo's gang, and were extremely active.
Soon, they left the tavern and went their separate ways to inquire about Kaimi's whereabouts.
And Dibaruo and the others found their flying fish.
Then, Dibaruo said to his subordinates,
"Now go pick up Young Master Straw Hat's companions, and when there's news of the mermaid, gather everyone."
"Yes!"
Those people responded and then scattered, flying in all directions.
And Dibaruo, riding his ox, looked at Luffy and Bonney, who had already said goodbye to her pirate crew, and said with a smile,
"Young Master Straw Hat!"
"Come on up!"
"I've thought of a place, I'll take you there."
Luffy and Bonney got on Dibaruo's mount.
Then, they heard Dibaruo explaining as he proceeded along a river.
"Mermaids are super rare commodities among slaves."
"It's been a long time since such a commodity appeared on this island."
"So if Miss Kaimi was really kidnapped by someone, then their best choice is only one."
"The slave auction house located at GR No. 1!"
GR No. 1!
Slave Auction House!
Back door.
A man smiled and waved goodbye to the staff of the venue.
"Well, I'm off! Sell for a good price!"
The staff member looked excited and confidently guaranteed,
"Don't worry!"
"Such a top-quality item will always sell for a good price."
"Remember to come collect your payment later!"
"You worked hard, Pita Man!"
Main entrance!
The auction was about to begin.
People from all walks of life were now starting to enter the venue.
At the entrance, a staff member was in charge of reception.
Suddenly, noticing a few figures walking towards him, he immediately pounced like a hungry dog, rushing over and kneeling at their feet, saying excitedly,
"Saint Roswald! Shalulia!"
"Welcome!"
After a welcoming remark, the man nervously asked,
"May I ask for your permission not to perform prostrations or other courtesies inside the venue?"
Saint Roswald said calmly,
"No matter!"
"Otherwise, the auction cannot proceed!"
The staff member nodded repeatedly in thanks.
"Thank you very much!"
"Then, please take your seats in the VIP section!"
With that, he led the way.
Behind him.
Shalulia glanced behind her and said,
"Brother Charlos is so slow!"
Saint Roswald said calmly,
"That's because he's riding a slow human slave!"
"If you want to ride, you should ride a Fishman, because their arm strength is 10 times that of humans."
Hearing the words 'human slave', Shalulia's eyes immediately filled with anger, and she said resentfully,
"If we hadn't inexplicably fainted earlier, that human with the Straw Hat would have definitely been captured by me as a slave!"
"That lowly human was really lucky to have escaped from our hands."
"He'd better pray I don't meet him again, otherwise I definitely won't spare him this time."
Saint Roswald, recalling the incident, also couldn't help but frown and said in a deep voice,
"That matter was a bit strange!"
"When you were about to shoot, we suddenly fainted."
"I think that human is not an ordinary human."
"If we meet him again next time, and he still resists, we will call an Admiral."
Shalulia immediately laughed gleefully upon hearing this.
"Hehe..."
"With a Marine Admiral there, he'll definitely be scared into kneeling and begging for mercy!"
...
On a river.
Luffy and Bonney were riding Dibaruo's mount, heading towards GR No. 1.
At a certain moment, Dibaruo's den den mushi suddenly rang.
"This is Unit 5!"
"Calling all Flying Fish Riders!"
"We found the mermaid!"
"She was captured by Pita Man and sent to the auction house at GR No. 1."
"Currently, we are at Pita Man's gang's hideout. All of them, except Pita Man who went to deliver the mermaid, have been apprehended by us."
Upon hearing the report, Dibaruo immediately said,
"This is Dibaruo."
"You stay there and wait for Pita Man to return and capture him."
"The rest of you, with all of the Straw Hat, proceed to the auction house at the fastest speed."
Upon hearing Dibaruo's command, everyone responded simultaneously,
"Yes!"
After giving the order, Dibaruo proudly glanced at Luffy behind him and said,
"Straw Hat Young Master!"
"How is it?"
"I'm a pretty good boss, right!"
"The target location was determined from the start."
Luffy hadn't responded yet, but Bonney couldn't help but shout first,
"What's the use of determining the target?!"
"Your ox is so slow, when will we ever get there?"
Dibaruo had a bit of a phobia now because Bonney had beaten him up.
He said nervously,
"This... this is already the fastest speed."
"And I just asked."
"Today's auction starts at 4 o'clock."
"We'll definitely make it in time."
Bonney immediately rebuked angrily upon hearing this,
"Hasn't it already passed 4 o'clock? You idiot, and you still say we'll make it in time?"
Dibaruo explained,
"Mermaids are popular items, they will definitely be saved for the grand finale."
"Don't worry!"
"We'll definitely make it!"
Seeing Dibaruo's confident assurance, Luffy and Bonney stopped saying anything.
...
Auction House!
Back door!
Nami, Vivi, Sanji, and others, after receiving the news, immediately relied on their respective abilities and arrived here first.
At this moment, they were fiercely arguing with the venue staff at the back door.
Sanji gnashed his teeth and said furiously,
"So why can't you give her back to us?"
"Little Kaimi has no reason to be sold, does she?!"
The staff member said impatiently,
"You are the ones with no reason!"
"If you bother me again, I'll take legal action."
"I'll sue you for disturbing business!"
Seeing the other party biting back, Sanji immediately became enraged.
"Business my ass! You bastard!"
"The world would never tolerate such a trade!"
Nami also frowned at this moment and said,
"Human trafficking is prohibited worldwide!"
"How much money did you give the Government?"
The staff member couldn't help but smile proudly upon hearing this, and said,
"People's words are fearsome!"
"However... it really is like that!"
"People connected with the Government and the Marine, even when speaking with us, completely don't hear the words [human trafficking]! It's as if they don't even know such a trade exists!"
"Hahahahaha..."
Seeing the other party's smug expression, Sanji's anger was about to erupt.
He gritted his teeth and cursed in a deep, angry voice,
"You bastards!"
"Since you won't return Little Kaimi..."
"Then we'll just have to do it the hard way!"
With that, Sanji intended to kick.
But Vivi stopped him.
"Wait, Sanji!"
Vivi frowned and said,
"You saw it just now, didn't you!"
"There are Celestial Dragons' slaves at the main entrance; there are Celestial Dragons inside this venue right now."
"If we cause trouble here, it's very likely to attract a Marine Admiral."
"And Kaimi should also have an explosive collar on now, just like those slaves."
"If we forcibly take Kaimi away, the collar on her neck will explode!"
Upon hearing Vivi's words, Sanji immediately calmed down a bit.
But he still gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with anger.
At this moment, Nami suddenly spoke.
"Forget it!"
"Aren't they not giving it back to us?"
"Then we'll follow their rules."
"Buy Kaimi!"
"First, ensure Kaimi's safety."
"As for what to do next, we'll decide when Luffy arrives."
Sanji and Vivi thought about Nami's suggestion and both agreed.
Afterward, they went to the main entrance and entered the venue.
Inside the venue!
"3 million Berries! Any more bids?"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Sold!"
The host's voice echoed throughout the venue.
As a transaction was completed,
With a creak, Nami and the others pushed the door open and entered.
The movement wasn't loud,
but it attracted the attention of some people.
Somewhere in the back row,
Trafalgar Law leaned back in his chair and turned his head to look behind him.
When he saw the newcomers, a glint flashed in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth curved slightly.
"Is that the Straw Hat crew?"
"Not everyone is here!"
"Is Straw Hat not here either?"
"But these few people do seem to have an unusually powerful aura!"
"It makes one curious!"
"What is Straw Hat himself really like?"
In the corridor of the back row on the other side, Kid's crew gathered together.
They were also attracted by the few people who had just entered.
"Oh?! I saw the Captain before, and now I see the crew!"
Hearing Kid's words, Killer asked from the side,
"Captain! I wasn't there when you saw Straw Hat."
"Is he really as strong as the rumors say?"
Kid's mouth curved upwards, and his eyes showed fighting spirit as he said,
"I didn't see him make a move, so I don't know his true strength…."
"But he himself does seem to have some charisma!"
"I really want to fight him and try…"
...
Some time passed since Nami and the others entered the venue.
All members of the Straw Hat crew, including Hachi and Pappagu, had arrived at the venue.
Except for Luffy and Bonney!
Bonney was already impatient, almost smashing Dibaruo's head.
And Dibaruo could only keep crying and urging Bonney to be patient, constantly saying that there was still time.
Inside the venue!
After a veiled item was pushed onto the stage,
the host suddenly said mysteriously,
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"The item I am about to present next!"
"Will definitely make you feel that this trip was worthwhile!"
"Please look at this…"
"Super premium item!"
Saying that, the host pulled down the curtain, revealing a huge fish tank inside.
Inside the fish tank, there was clearly the graceful figure of a mermaid.
Seeing such a scene, all the audience members in the venue immediately erupted.
"Oh oh oh oh…"
"It's actually… a mermaid!"
"Is this real?!"
The Straw Hat crew members, upon seeing that shadow, all became excited.
Pappagu shouted excitedly,
"She's out, it's Kaimi!"
Hachi, on the other hand, looked worried.
"Oh! Can you really buy Kaimi, Nami?"
"The price of mermaids here usually sells for over 100 million Berries!"
Nami frowned and said confidently,
"Don't worry! No one can offer a higher price than us!"
In the VIP box!
Charloss Saint immediately stood up excitedly the moment he saw Kaimi.
His eyes were filled with surprise and possessiveness.
He stared intently at Kaimi's figure and exclaimed,
"Excellent!"
"It's a mermaid!"
"They're auctioning a mermaid on stage!"
Seeing this, Shalulia asked curiously,
"Brother, do you really want a mermaid slave?"
"They're not as strong as Fishmen, and they're not fast to ride!"
As Shalulia was asking the question, the host's voice also rang out on the stage.
"This item, Kaimi the mermaid, comes from Fish-Man Island."
"The starting bid is…"
Charloss Saint did not rush to answer Shalulia's question, but instead, before the host announced the starting bid, he suddenly held up five fingers.
And shouted,
"500 million!"
"I bid 500 million Berries!"
"…"
The host's voice came to an abrupt halt.
The enthusiastic cheers and anticipation from the entire venue completely vanished.
The entire hall became eerily quiet at this moment.
Hachi and Pappagu, upon hearing this price, immediately showed expressions of despair.
"How could this be?! 500 million?!"
"It's over! It's all over!"
Hachi said in despair, and couldn't help but look at Nami, finding that Nami also had an extremely astonished expression, and immediately lost all hope.
"Kaimi…"
Hachi murmured Kaimi's name and silently clenched his fists.
He had already decided to rush up alone to save Kaimi later.
Other audience members in the venue, upon hearing Charloss Saint's bid, all deflated and lowered their heads.
"No way! The opponent is too strong 4.1!"
"Compared to the Celestial Dragons, our money is simply not enough!"
"Surely no one has the strength to compete, 500 million Berries is too exaggerated a price!"
After placing his bid, Charloss Saint sat back down in his seat and answered Shalulia's previous question.
"Isn't a mermaid's speed the fastest in the world?"
"I want to buy her and put her in my piranha tank."
"Let them chase her for fun!"
As he spoke, Charloss stared intently at Kaimi, imagining that interesting scene, his eyes gleaming with excitement and joy.
Meanwhile, Kaimi was constantly hitting the fish tank.
She saw Hachi and the Straw Hat crew and kept calling out for help to them.
But her voice couldn't reach outside, nor could she hear outside sounds.
However, the host standing next to her was pulled back from his shock by the thumping sounds of her hitting the fish tank.
The next second,
the host excitedly shouted,
"Ah! The venue is completely silent!"
"In short…"
"Someone has already bid 500 million Berries!"
"Is there anyone higher than 500 million Berries?"
"If there's no higher bid, then we'll finalize it!"
"…"
The response to him was silence.
The host was ecstatic, unable to suppress the smile on his face.
A sky-high price of 500 million Berries.
He had never sold an item for such a high price.
So, his current inquiry was just a formality, and he was about to finalize it.
Charloss Saint was also already preparing to receive his new slave with a confident expression.
"I declare… "
The host announced loudly, raising his hammer.
"Today's last item for auction… "
"For the price of 500 million… "
Just as the words "sold" were about to leave his mouth and the hammer was about to fall, a voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
"500 million and 1 Berries!"