Chapter 94: Sabaody Archipelago – Human Auction House (2)
"Mont Blanc Cricket, Polki, Da Vinci, Chiron, and Scáthach will stay on the ship, ready to support us. The rest of you, follow me to the auction house."
Come on, let me see it for myself—this most vile place in the world, the Human Auction House… and the highest-class scum in the One Piece world: the Celestial Dragons.
...
As soon as Eric 's group of five set foot on the root of Yarukiman Tree at 1GR, they saw a crowd kneeling at the entrance of the auction house.
"Eek!" Perona's spirit form immediately dove into the root, leaving only her head peeking out.
"See the guy sitting on a slave's back wearing the bubble helmet? That's a Celestial Dragon."
Akame tightened her grip on her sword. "They're no different from the 'monsters' of the Empire."
Esdeath gave her a sidelong glance but said nothing—she, too, had once been called a monster by Akame.
"Ara, I really want to poke a few holes in him and see what kind of blood he bleeds."
"Stop it, stop it… please…" Perona's spirit form couldn't cry, but she was already terrified of what Eric was planning, nearly paralyzed by fear of what would come next.
"Wait, did we bring the Visual Den Den Mushi?" Eric suddenly remembered—he'd almost forgotten again.
"Got it." Kurumi pulled it out from under her skirt and handed it to Eric .
Eric hesitated—take it or not? He ended up hanging it around his neck, trying to ignore the intoxicating scent that lingered in his nose...
After the Celestial Dragon entered, the group slowly approached. There were no places to hide, and none of them intended to kneel for trash like that.
A pink-shirted auction staffer with an egg-shaped body stepped forward. "Welcome to the Donquixote Family's Human Auction House. May I help you with anything?"
Name-dropping Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo ensured customers felt secure—and served to deter any would-be troublemakers.
"We're here to buy some fine 'merchandise.' Got anything hot?" Eric , taking the lead as captain, opened negotiations.
"Of course! You've come at the perfect time—today's auction features some incredibly rare and sought-after items, especially the grand finale."
"Oh? Then I'll be sure to pay close attention." Eric , channeling his inner Oscar winner, acted thrilled and took the bidder's paddle—number 189.
...
"Thank you all for waiting! The monthly 1GR Human Auction is about to begin. And now, your host for the evening…"
The dim hall lit up with spotlights shining on the stage, while colored lights danced from the ceiling, announcing the arrival of the MC.
Wearing high heels and star-shaped sunglasses, the androgynous host strutted onto the stage with an exaggerated, nauseating gait, spinning once with a mallet raised high.
"Please welcome your walking discount host—Mr. Disco!"
"Yeah! ...Hello everyone! We've prepared plenty of high-quality slaves for tonight. You're all in luck—we've even got a super special item. Best of luck to everyone in getting your ideal purchase!"
"Woo!" The host worked the crowd well. Attendees began chatting animatedly with one another.
"What are you looking to buy this time?"
"My last human slave only lasted a month. I'm hoping for a stronger man this time. Maybe a male fish-man too."
"I just want two or three young girls—eye candy."
"Still into young girls, huh?"
"I wonder what kind of beauties will appear tonight. I'm really looking forward to it, hehehe…"
"Yeah, hahahaha…"
Everyone's conversations were more or less the same. Different tastes, but all spoke of people like items.
With Observation Haki, the group had already overheard everything. Akame tightened her grip on her sword and lowered her head, letting her bangs hide the murderous rage in her eyes.
Eric gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. Not a single piece of scum here will escape. And we'll rescue all the slaves too."
"…Mm." She gave a soft reply and slowly loosened her right hand.
Kurumi's expression was equally grim. Her naturally kind nature was brimming with fury.
"What's the point of getting angry at corpses? Just recharge your time with your ability later."
"…Okay." Kurumi nodded, and her expression softened at Eric 's reassurance.
Esdeath, on the other hand, didn't show much reaction. She merely said, "In the end, the weak live under the rule of the strong. They can't even control their own lives. It's the same everywhere."
She had seen too much of this—slave trade, oppression, nobles killing innocents to eliminate threats. She herself had tortured prisoners and executed enemies without mercy.
"Esdeath, don't say that anymore. You're not who you were in your past life. You've changed. What matters now is the future—facing it together with us."
"You're right. Gentle Eric is wonderful too~" Esdeath smiled.
"Tch." Kurumi clicked her tongue sharply.
"Let the auction begin!" Disco announced from the stage.
"First up: a pirate chef responsible for his entire crew's meals—an expert in all types of cuisine!"
"Want a romantic candlelit dinner? He's got you covered. He cleans, brews wine, and guarantees none of that mass-market chemical garbage in your drink!"
"A young and sturdy man: 29 years old, 203 cm tall, 140 kg. Name: Gadley Raymond! Starting bid: 400,000 Berries. Let the bidding begin!"
"He looks strong." The noblewoman from earlier who wanted a burly man raised her paddle.
"Number 9 lady bids 400,000."
"420,000!"
…
"A bunch of shills inflating the price. What a cheap trick." Esdeath's Observation Haki picked up the subtle signals exchanged between Disco and several attendees.
"Well, thanks to them, the price's up to 550,000. Wake me when it's time to fight—I don't want to watch this trash." Kurumi leaned her head against Eric 's shoulder and closed her eyes.
Eric whispered to Perona, "Perona, send your ghosts to scout the auction house's layout. Find out where the keys to the slave collars are kept."
"OK." Perona slid a hand under her seat and quietly released a few mini ghosts that snuck underground toward the back rooms.
Eric 's group sat silently, watching slave after slave dragged onto the stage and auctioned off like products. If the items on stage weren't living, breathing people, this would seem like a normal auction...
As the event neared its finale—
"Next up, our grand finale item!" Disco spun dramatically on stage. Staff began beating drums, spotlights flashing colors. A white cloth-covered tank was wheeled onto the stage.
"Kurumi, wake up." Eric leaned close and whispered in her ear. Her ears turned red instantly.
Esdeath noted the trick. Mental note: learned.
"I'm sure many of you have dreamed of owning one. Just take a look at this silhouette!" The house lights dimmed, and backlighting revealed the shadow behind the cloth: the unmistakable form of a mermaid. A woman's upper body, a fish's tail below.
Not a fish on top, legs on bottom. Not legs on top, tail below. A real mermaid.
"Could it be…"
"Amazing. What a grand finale!"
"The wait is over! Let's unveil her… Feast your eyes!"
With a flourish, the cloth was yanked away, revealing a two-meter-wide tank containing a young, beautiful female mermaid.
(END CHAPTER)
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