New World: On the way to the Sabaody Archipelago, the CP0-exclusive warship "Shenzhen"
The wind blew and the waves surged, and sea fog rolled on the deck.
Rogge put his hands behind his back, his gaze traversing the sea and sky, his tone calm but with a sharp judgment:
"You said... Munch-Munch Fruit is on the auction list?"
The CP0 agent stood at attention and nodded, speaking quickly, "Confirmed! The Donquixote Family Auction, lot 11, officially named 'Devil Fruit: Swallow Swallow,' has been confirmed by the appraiser to be a [Paramecia·Rebirth Type·High Adaptability] fruit."
"That's the one we're looking for."
Rogge turned his head slowly: "Are you sure it's not 'suspected'?"
CP0's forehead was covered with sweat. "Confirmed... It's the original. It was registered as arriving within three days of the item's delivery date. It's currently stored in a sealed vault in Pavilion 81 of the Sabaody Archipelago. No preview images have been leaked."
"...but a noble has already made a reservation..."
"Then what?"
Rogge's voice was filled with contempt. "You came to me to report this, are you planning to let me go and buy something else?"
CP0's expression was stiff. "Uh... We did plant a secret bidder, but if they get snatched away by those 'celestial beings', there's nothing we can do..."
"Then go and get it back?"
Lei Te leaned against the guardrail and said lazily, "Aren't you CP0 people in the business of 'eradicating the roots, framing and brainwashing, assassinating and exterminating families'?"
CP0 smiled awkwardly: "Uh... in recent years we have advocated peaceful infiltration and regulated diplomacy..." His voice gradually became smaller.
"Regulate your mother." Rhett rolled his eyes.
"He was wearing a Shinigami mask like a priest, and he could scare a three-year-old to tears at the dock."
Luo finished his complaint and continued to look at the surgical information. "Why don't you dress up as a pink bunny? Maybe it will help."
Meanwhile, in the distant Dressrosa Palace.
"Who are you talking about?!" Doflamingo stood up suddenly and overturned the red wine glass in front of him!
"Rogge is going to the auction house?!"
His smile froze instantly, and his eyes stared at the empty space in front of him like Lion Majesty.
"That madman, why is he joining in the fun?"
Vergo frowned slightly and handed over a piece of encrypted contact information: "It's for 'Munch-Munch Fruit'... Young Master."
"We were originally going to sell that one to a world noble in Sabaody at a high price."
Doflamingo snatched the documents away, his gaze fixed on the words "Lot 11 · Munch-Munch Fruit (Reborn) · Owner: Donquixote Family." His fingertips suddenly tightened, causing the paper to crackle.
"…Chuckles…So that's it…"
"He actually knew we brought the Wapol fruit to the auction... Tsk—"
He sat down slowly, his eyes cold.
"Tell the host over there in Sabaody,"
He spoke word by word, his tone icy, "Immediately freeze all 'local buyer qualifications'—"
"If he wants to take it, give it to him."
"Anyone who dares to interfere... will be put in a sack and thrown into the fish men island to feed the sharks tonight."
"And—don't mess with him."
"Even if he destroys the auction house, he is only allowed to compensate, not ask questions."
"This madman...is not someone we can touch right now."
Diamanti and Virgo looked at each other, sweat on their foreheads, and said, "Yes!"
Sabaody Archipelago, Auction Street 81, Donquixote Auction Venue
The air was filled with glass lamp oil and agarwood, and the auction venue was crowded, but when a group of figures passed through the main street entrance, the entire red carpet suddenly became quiet.
The leader wore a black coat with gold edges, had a stern face, and walked with steady and powerful steps, like an iron-blooded judge patrolling the hunting grounds - the head of the G-5 branch, Rogge.
Beside him, Rhett was swinging his cape, chewing an unlit cigar, staring intently;
Trafalgar Law lowered his head as he flipped through the auction house catalogue, his expression gloomy and indifferent;
Behind him, the CP0 white-masked agent followed silently with his head down.
On both sides of the auction street, the nobles and pirate hunters passing by almost instinctively avoided the area, especially after seeing the familiar black and white Shinigami attire of the CP0 uniform. They all lowered their heads and moved away, even breathing carefully.
"Isn't that G-5's...Rogge?!"
"Next to him is...CP0? Who dares to touch this combination?"
"I heard he single-handedly killed all the Four Emperors' cadres and even cut off Shanks's hand..."
"Shhh—don't you want to live anymore?!"
Rogge looked at CP0's standard uniform of white mask and black cape, and suddenly smiled, teasing lightly:
"Honestly, your outfit is even more intimidating than our Marines."
"From now on, I'll be relying on you to scare the Pirates in the countryside."
The corners of CP0's mouth twitched beneath his mask.
Amidst the panicked gazes of the crowd, Rogge and others walked into the main auction hall and sat in the center of the VIP area.
Sabaody Archipelago · Auction No. 79 · Donquixote Auction House
The metal dome venue was brightly lit, yet exuded a cold splendor.
Dozens of world nobles, representatives of underground forces, and bounty hunter brokers sat quietly around, and on each chair sat a buyer who was sizing up the price of human life.
The host had a smile on his face, but cold sweat couldn't stop flowing down his forehead.
"Welcome, distinguished guests! This auction will feature the following special items: Mermaid Tribe - Attendant, Fur Tribe - Warrior-in-Training, Long-Handed Tribe - Living Musician, Sky Island Winged People - Collector's Grade Survivor, and three ultra-rare Devil Fruits."
As he spoke, the curtains were unveiled one after another.
The first to appear was a blonde mermaid girl with a dull look in her eyes. Her hands and feet were shackled with seastone. When she was pushed onto the stage, she caused a burst of laughter from the nobles.
Next came three Mink warriors, covered in battle wounds but still with their fangs bared, staring intently at the audience.
"...He really dares to sell anything." Rhett muttered softly, his fists creaking.
"These bastards." Luo gritted his teeth.
Rogge, who was sitting in the VIP seats on the top floor, looked normal as he scanned the items one by one, but he was suppressing a deep anger.
He said nothing, but the air beside him became stagnant.
The host quickly realized that something was wrong, sped up the process, and turned directly to the list of today's core items.
"Number 11, Paramecia Devil Fruit—[Munch-Munch Fruit]! Possesses special mechanisms such as 'devour—contain—transform—and then release', and is suspected to possess spatial structural properties. Starting price: 100 million Berries!"
The moment the voice fell, the whole place fell into silence.
Including several black-clad agents who wanted to raise signs, they all looked at the team in the main guest seats: Rogge in a military uniform and cloak, with CP0 agent on his left, and Rhett and Luo on his right.
This group doesn't look like they are here to "shoot" but more like they are here to "collect".
"One hundred and ten million Berry." The CP0 agent raised the sign in a deep voice, announcing every word like a referee.
No one answered.
The host's mouth was twitching: "...One hundred and ten million Berry once, twice, three times, deal!!"
The fruits are packed into special refrigerated boxes, sealed directly on site and sent to the backstage.
Everyone lowered their heads and whispered, and the atmosphere was weird.
"Is that Rogge from G-5?"
"Who's crazy enough to raise the price? Do you know how he fought his way back from New World?"
"He even cut off one of Red Hair's hands. Do you want to try it?" Someone broke out in a cold sweat.
The auction ended abruptly, and that was the finale.
[Backstage VIP Trading Area]
After CP0 handed the fruit over to Rogge for confirmation, he immediately sealed the box and affixed an authorization mark, and then had it sent to Future Island by a direct technology escort team.
At the same time, Rogge called Den Den Mushi:
[Beep-click] Vegapunk's voice appeared: "Did you get the stuff?"
"Seal the fruit and send it over,"
Rogge said, "Weren't you planning to experiment with the 'Superalloy Bone Transmutation Technology'? This Munch-Munch Fruit can serve as a transformation anchor."
"You're really willing to do that." Vegapunk snorted, "Okay, then I'll go all out and do something."
"Also," Rogge continued, "Enel will use a thundercloud to send the Ark Proverbs to Future Island to collaborate with the laboratory in constructing an aircraft carrier platform. You should be ready to receive it."
"Interesting."
Vegapunk was clearly excited. "I'll see if I can make it into a 'flying battleship island'."
[Communication interrupted]
Sabaody Port at Night
The fruits were loaded onto the ship and left the port. Rhett and Luo walked down the auction floor side by side.
Leiter glanced back at the still magnificent and dazzling slave trading hall and said in a deep voice, "When did even people become numbers?"
Luo whispered, "When we become stronger, these bastards won't be in charge anymore."
Rogge waved his cloak and walked in front.
"Sharpen your own knife first, then talk about unlocking the shackles for others."
"They are waiting for an opportunity, and we will create opportunities for them."
On a quiet, snowy night, the warship set sail. A flash of lightning suddenly appeared in the direction of Future Island. It was the Ark Proverbs descending from the clouds, shining across the entire sea.