Not just the Axe Pirates' captain, everyone in the bar was stunned beyond belief.
No one had expected a young man to actually kill a Celestial Dragon's steward.
"Mr. Rakuya, you have made a huge mistake. Anything tied to the World Nobles is a line you cannot cross. You must run." Bastille rushed up, voice tight with urgency.
"What is there to panic about. I only killed a steward," Rakuya said lightly. With gravity at max level, his strength was more than enough to face an Admiral.
"I…" Bastille ran out of words.
How could anyone be this unrestrained. To ignore the World Nobles was to invite pursuit from Headquarters. If Zephyr had not personally told him before they docked never to provoke Rakuya, Bastille might already be butting heads with him.
"Forget it. You go back to the Marine branch. I will look around on my own."
Bastille's fussing grated on Rakuya. The man meant well, but Rakuya still felt a resistance to being shadowed.
"Sightsee… now. Mr. Rakuya, you still have the mood to stroll. Fine. I will return and ask Zephyr-sensei for instructions. Please, be careful."
Bastille ground his teeth, murmured a few last cautions, and hurried off.
"Finally."
Watching the Marine leave, Rakuya let out a breath. The next order of business was the key one: fencing the goods.
Turn treasure into Beli, use Beli to buy Devil Fruits, convert Fruits into points, then upgrade another element.
He headed straight for the messiest part of Sabaody, where the shadows ran deep. If you wanted to offload hot goods, this was the place.
In a private room lit by soft lamps, an elderly appraiser in spectacles bent over the table, studying each piece.
"This… this is the emerald from a coronation crown of a North Blue royal house, used by its first monarch. Market value, seventy million Beli."
At his side, a short-haired broker's eyes gleamed. He pointed to another piece. "And this stone."
"That comes from the Icefire Kingdom in the East Blue," the appraiser said, voice turning reverent. "A famed explorer climbed to the summit of Icefire Island and took the purest core stone. It shines like day even at night, warm in winter, cool in summer. They say wearing it lengthens life and wards off poison. Ninety million Beli."
"And this."
For the first time, the old man truly faltered.
"This is the battle cuirass of the Third King of the Aishanier Kingdom in the North Blue. Legend says a master smith selected the finest iron in the world and forged it deep within a volcano. Over a hundred warriors died during the forging, their blood soaking the metal until it turned crimson. The armor is called the Bloodshade Cuirass. It dampens any blow. One hundred and fifty million Beli."
The appraiser sounded as if he were reciting a litany of sacred relics, stumbling over his own awe.
There were many more pieces, each with a story and a shine. Rakuya did not care to hear the rest.
"Spare me the poetry," he said. "Give me a total. How much in all."
Before the appraiser could answer, the short-haired broker stepped in with a brittle laugh. "Sir, to bring out so many rare treasures at once… you did not, ah, acquire them by less than honorable means, did you."
"Too many questions," Rakuya said, impatience flickering across his face. "Are you buying or not. If not, I will find someone who will."
The broker's smile tightened. "A misunderstanding, sir. Of course we will buy. Master, the tally please."
"Right away."
The old man nodded and began to calculate.
The two trunks held a small mountain, each piece priceless in its way. Some were worth a few million, others tens of millions, a handful over one hundred million.
Half an hour later, the appraiser set down his pen.
The broker approached with both hands respectfully cupped. "Sir, you brought us seventeen pieces. The total valuation is one point five three billion Beli. Would you like cash, or a deposit ledger."
One point five three billion.
Rakuya knew the goods were precious, but even he could not help the jolt of surprise.
Just by sticking his hand in, he had pulled out 1.53 billion Beli. Now that was a profitable grab.