The massive doors of the auction house opened with a heavy creaaak, and the Straw Hats stepped inside.
Lights flooded the enormous hall. Rows upon rows of velvet seats stretched toward a grand golden stage, chandeliers glittering overhead. The air buzzed with laughter, gambling chatter, and the clinking of glasses.
For a moment, the crew simply stared.
"…This place feels wrong," Robin said quietly, her eyes scanning the crowd.
Franky crossed his arms. "Super flashy… but creepy."
Usopp gulped. "Why does everyone look so rich… and evil?!"
Hatchan trembled beside them, sweat rolling down his face. "This… this is definitely the place…"
Pappag clutched the edge of a seat. "Camie has to be here… she has to…"
Luffy looked around, confused rather than intimidated. "So this is an auction house? They sell people here?"
Nami nodded grimly. "Yes. Stay calm, Luffy. We'll get her out the smart way."
—————————
A spotlight snapped on.
Disco strutted onto the stage, microphone in hand, grinning widely.
"WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" he announced. "Today we have a magnificent selection!"
The crowd applauded enthusiastically.
Usopp shivered. "I don't like how excited they are…"
The first cage rolled forward.
Inside was a dancer wearing chains, forced to smile.
"Starting bid—five million!"
Hands shot up immediately.
"Six million!"
"Eight!"
"Ten!"
Chopper gripped Robin's sleeve. "They're… buying her…"
Robin's expression darkened. "Yes."
The hammer slammed.
"SOLD!"
The dancer was dragged away as the audience clapped politely.
Luffy's smile had disappeared.
————————
Another cage appeared.
Inside sat a rugged pirate, glaring at the crowd.
Disco laughed. "A troublesome pirate captured just last week! Strong body, excellent labor potential!"
The pirate suddenly grinned wildly. "You think I'll live as someone's pet?!"
Before anyone could react—
CRUNCH.
He bit down hard on his own tongue.
Gasps filled the room as blood spilled.
Chopper jumped up. "He hurt himself!"
The pirate collapsed, lifeless.
Disco sighed dramatically. "How unfortunate. Remove the merchandise."
The guards dragged the body away.
Silence hung over the Straw Hats.
Usopp whispered, shaken, "He… chose death…"
Nami clenched her fists, eyes burning as she watched the guards drag the pirate's lifeless body away.
"This place is disgusting…"
The auction hall buzzed again almost immediately, as if nothing had happened. Nobles laughed. Wealthy buyers sipped drinks. The auctioneer's cheerful voice returned, pretending the horror moments ago was merely an inconvenience.
Hatchan lowered his head, fists trembling at his sides.
"…Sometimes," he said quietly, voice heavy, "death is better than being a slave to those bastards."
The Straw Hats turned toward him.
His usual cheerful expression was gone, replaced with something darker — guilt, memory, and pain.
"I've seen it before," Hatchan continued. "People chained… treated like pets… like tools. They take away your name… your freedom… everything."
Pappag shuddered beside him, his starfish body quivering.
"Yes! Yes!" Pappag cried, voice cracking. "You don't know the unthinkable things they'll do to you! They buy people just to show off… or worse! Some never see the sun again!"
Chopper's hat drooped as his eyes filled with tears. "T-That's horrible…"
Robin's gaze hardened, calm but cold. "This is the dark side of the world government's 'civilization.'"
Franky clenched his mechanical fist. "That ain't SUPER at all…"
Brook bowed his head. "Even in death, a man deserves dignity…"
On the stage, Disco clapped loudly, forcing energy back into the room.
"Now, now! Let's not dampen the mood, ladies and gentlemen! Accidents happen! Moving on to our main attraction!"
A massive glass tank was rolled forward.
Water shimmered beneath the lights.
And inside—
Camie.
She pressed her hands against the glass, eyes wide with fear, the heavy collar around her neck glinting under the chandelier.
"Please… let me go…" she pleaded weakly.
Luffy's eyes widened. "Camie!"
Relief flashed across the crew's faces — she was alive.
But the relief quickly turned into anger.
Chains.
A collar.
A price tag.
Hatchan gasped in horror. "They already put a collar on her…"
Pappag slammed himself against the railing.
"CAMIE!! We're here!! Don't worry!!"
Camie turned, tears forming as she spotted them. "Luffy… everyone…"
Disco spread his arms dramatically.
"Behold! A genuine mermaid from Fish-Man Island! A rare treasure of the sea!"
For a brief moment, the room fell silent.
Then—
The auction house erupted.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
"A mermaid?!"
"Is that real?!"
"She's beautiful!"
"I heard they live for hundreds of years!"
"That's priceless!"
Greedy laughter spread like wildfire. Nobles leaned forward in their seats, eyes gleaming with obsession. Some adjusted their monocles, already raising bidding paddles before the auction had even begun.
One wealthy woman fanned herself rapidly. "Oh my, imagine displaying her in a private aquarium…"
Another man chuckled darkly. "No, no — mermaids sing, don't they? I'll make her perform for guests."
Camie shrank back inside the tank, trembling as dozens of hungry eyes examined her like merchandise.
Near the front row, a bubble-helmeted figure suddenly sat upright.
Saint Charloss leaned forward, drool nearly fogging the inside of his helmet.
"Ooooohhh…!!" he squealed loudly, pointing a fat finger at the tank. "I want that one!!"
The surrounding nobles immediately fell silent, some lowering their paddles at once.
Charloss kicked his feet excitedly against his seat. "A mermaid slave would look perfect in my garden! I'll buy her! No one else is allowed to!"
His attendant nodded obediently. "Of course, Saint Charloss. We will secure her immediately."
Disco's grin widened, sensing the rising frenzy. "Ladies and gentlemen! Please remain calm! Bidding will begin shortly!
Camie's breathing grew frantic. She hugged herself, tail curling tightly beneath her as the shouting intensified.
Hatchan's fists trembled against the railing.
"…They're not even seeing her as a person…"
Pappag's voice shook with anger. "They're fighting over her like she's a toy…"
Below them, Charloss raised his paddle again, impatient. "Hurry up already! I'm getting bored! I said I'm buying her!"
Luffy stared down at the scene.
His shadow fell across his eyes.
The laughter.
The bidding.
Camie's fear.
The collar around her neck.
His straw hat tilted forward as his fists slowly clenched.
Luffy's fists trembled at his sides.
The laughter below felt loud — too loud — like nails scraping inside his head.
Camie pressed weakly against the glass again, eyes pleading. "Luffy…"
That was enough.
Luffy suddenly stepped forward. "I'm going down there."
Zoro immediately rose from his seat, hand already resting on his swords. "Yeah. Let's cut her out."
Sanji stood as well, flames practically burning in his eyes. "A lady is crying. That's all the reason I need."
Usopp grabbed his head. "W-WAIT WAIT WAIT! That's a Celestial Dragon down there!!"
Brook leaned forward nervously. "Yohoho… this feels extremely illegal…"
Franky cracked his knuckles. "Still… kinda makes my blood boil."
Luffy took another step toward the stairs.
"We're not waiting."
"STOP, YOU IDIOTS."
Nami's voice cut through them like a whip.
Everyone froze.
She stood with her arms crossed, eyes sharp but shaking with anger.
"If you attack here, Marines will swarm this place instantly," she said in a low voice. "Admirals included. We won't just be saving Camie — we'll be starting a war we can't escape."
Luffy frowned. "But—"
"We'll do this the normal way," Nami continued firmly. "We buy her freedom."
Silence fell over the crew.
Even Zoro clicked his tongue but didn't argue.
Sanji exhaled smoke slowly. "…Fine. But if anything goes wrong, I'm kicking someone."
Nami nodded. "We just need money and timing. Once we win the bid, she's legally ours — then we leave."
Hatchan looked at her with desperate hope. "…You can really do that?"
"We will," Nami said. "No matter the price."
As the Straw Hats settled back into their seats, Robin calmly glanced across the auction hall.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "…It seems we are not the only pirates interested in today's events."
Luffy blinked. "Huh?"
Robin tilted her head toward another balcony.
"There. Two notorious captains."
Across the hall sat a tall man wearing a spotted hat, calmly observing the chaos below — Trafalgar Law. His eyes were sharp, unreadable, fingers steepled as if studying everything.
Behind him lounged a red-haired pirate surrounded by a rowdy crew, grinning with dangerous excitement — Eustass Kid.
Kid laughed loudly. "This place is insane! They're selling people like furniture!"
One of his crew smirked. "You wanna steal the mermaid, Captain?"
Kid grinned wider. "Tempting."
Law, meanwhile, simply watched the Straw Hats' section for a brief moment — as if already aware of the storm brewing.
Luffy stared back, confused. "Who are they?"
"Rivals," Robin answered calmly. "Captains from the Worst Generation… just like you."
Luffy gave a small "Oh," before immediately looking back at Camie.
Nothing else mattered.
Down below, Disco clapped his hands loudly.
"Now then, esteemed guests! Let us begin the auction properly!"
A spotlight flooded the tank.
Camie flinched.
"The starting bid for this rare mermaid will be— TEN MILLION BERRIES!"
Paddles shot into the air instantly.
"Twenty million!"
"Thirty!"
"Fifty million!"
Nami raised their paddle quickly.
"One hundred million!" she shouted.
Several nobles turned, surprised at the sudden jump.
Usopp gulped. "That's… that's half our money…"
Nami didn't look away. "Trust me."
"Two hundred million!" another bidder yelled.
Nami gritted her teeth. "Three hundred million!"
Gasps spread through the hall.
Even Disco wiped sweat from his brow. "Oho! Fierce competition!"
For a brief second, hope flickered across Camie's face.
Maybe…
Maybe she would be saved.
Then—
A lazy, arrogant voice echoed from the front row.
"…Five hundred million."
The entire auction house went silent.
Every paddle slowly lowered.
No one dared compete.
Saint Charloss sat slouched in his seat, grinning stupidly inside his bubble helmet as he held up his paddle.
"I said I wanted her," he whined. "So I'm buying her."
His attendants clapped immediately.
"Magnificent, Saint Charloss!"
"Such generosity!"
Disco froze — then forced a wide smile.
"F-Five hundred million berries from Saint Charloss! Does anyone dare to exceed—?"
No one moved.
Not a single bidder.
Fear hung heavier than greed.
Nami's hand trembled around the paddle.
"…We can't beat that…"
Usopp whispered, horrified, "They're backing out… all of them…"
Hatchan's face went pale. "They won't oppose a Celestial Dragon…"
Below, Charloss kicked his feet happily.
"She'll look nice feeding my piranhas! Maybe I'll make her dance too!"
Camie shrank back, tears floating in the water.
Up in the balcony—
Luffy didn't move.
His straw hat shadowed his eyes completely now.
The laughter returned.
The cheering.
Charloss smiling.
Camie crying.
————————
The sound of bidding still echoed through the auction hall.
Numbers.
Laughter.
Greed.
And Camie's frightened eyes behind glass.
Luffy's fists trembled at his sides.
Enough.
He slowly stood.
The chair scraped loudly against the floor.
The Straw Hats immediately noticed.
"Luffy…?" Usopp whispered.
Without answering, Luffy stepped forward.
Then another step.
And another.
He began walking toward the stairs leading down to the auction floor.
"…Oi," Zoro muttered, already knowing that look.
Sanji exhaled smoke slowly. "…Yeah. I was wondering how long he'd last."
Below them, the auctioneer's voice continued excitedly, unaware.
"Five hundred million berries from Saint Charloss! Do I hear six—"
Luffy placed one foot on the staircase.
The atmosphere shifted.
Hatchan suddenly rushed forward, panic written across his face. "Luffy!! Wait!!"
He grabbed Luffy's arm desperately. "Please stop! You can't do this!"
Luffy didn't look back. "They're hurting my friend."
Hatchan shook his head frantically. "If you attack a Celestial Dragon here, an Admiral will come! The Marines will swarm this place! Everyone will be in danger!"
Luffy's voice was quiet. "I don't care."
Hatchan froze.
"I won't let my friend suffer," Luffy said firmly.
At that moment—
A noble nearby noticed Hatchan's cloak slipping.
"Hm?"
The fabric slid off his shoulders.
Silence fell for a split second.
Then—
Gasps erupted across the hall.
"…A FISH-MAN?!"
"What is that thing doing here?!"
"Disgusting!"
"Security! How did a filthy creature get inside?!"
Voices rose with open hatred.
"Keep it away from us!"
"They're dangerous monsters!"
Hatchan stiffened, eyes widening as the crowd recoiled in disgust.
Nami's expression darkened instantly.
"…Stop it," she muttered under her breath.
Then—
BANG.
A gunshot exploded through the hall.
Everything went silent.
Hatchan's body jerked.
A red stain spread across his side.
"…Ah…"
He collapsed to his knees.
"HATCHI!!" Nami screamed.
Shock froze the Straw Hats.
Smoke drifted from a golden pistol.
Saint Charloss stood there, giggling excitedly, hopping in place like a child.
"I shot it!!" he shouted happily. "I shot a fish-man! An octopus!!"
The crowd burst into uneasy laughter.
Charloss beamed proudly. "Did you see that?! It moved!"
Hatchan fell forward, blood pooling beneath him.
Luffy stopped walking.
His straw hat shadowed his eyes.
The air around him felt heavy.
Dangerous.
The crew stared in stunned silence.
Chopper trembled. "He… he shot him…"
Usopp's voice shook. "For… no reason…"
Hatchan weakly reached out and grabbed Luffy's wrist. "S-Straw Hat… stop…"
Luffy didn't move.
"If you hurt him… an Admiral will come…" Hatchan struggled to breathe. "Everyone… will suffer…"
Luffy's voice came out low. "…Admiral be damned."
Hatchan's grip tightened weakly.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered. "I didn't mean… for this to happen…"
Nami froze.
"I just… wanted to make amends with you… and to Nami however I could…"
His voice trembled.
"Even if it wasn't much… I wanted to help you and your crew…"
Blood dripped onto the floor.
"But I screwed it up… just like everything else…"
Nami's eyes widened. "…Hatchi…"
She covered her mouth, tears forming.
"All my life… I caused trouble…" he continued weakly. "I wanted to do something right for once… show you how sorry I am…"
His voice broke. "…Forgive me…"
Nami's hands shook violently. "Hatchi…"
Silence swallowed the hall.
Luffy gently removed Hatchan's hand from his arm.
Then he continued walking down the stairs.
Step.
Step.
Step.
No emotion showed on the Straw Hats' faces now.
Only stillness.
Only resolve.
Across the hall, other pirates watched carefully.
A man wearing a spotted hat leaned forward slightly.
"…Mugiwara-ya?" Trafalgar Law murmured, eyes narrowing with interest.
Nearby, Eustass Kid grinned in disbelief.
"…He's not serious, right?"
The entire auction house seemed to hold its breath as Luffy reached the floor.
Charloss finally noticed him approaching.
"Huh?"
The Celestial Dragon frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?!"
He raised his pistol and fired again.
BANG.
Luffy tilted his head slightly.
The bullet missed.
Gasps exploded across the hall.
Before anyone could react—
Luffy appeared in front of Charloss.
His arm pulled back.
The world seemed to stop.
Camie's terrified eyes.
Hatchan bleeding behind him.
The laughter.
The chains.
Luffy's fist shot forward.
BAAAAM!
His punch slammed into Charloss's face with overwhelming force.
The impact shattered the air itself.
Charloss's body flew backward across the auction house, smashing through seats and crashing violently into the far wall.
The entire hall fell into absolute silence.