Amid the panic, everyone couldn't help but turn toward the source of the voice.
There sat Xia Te, leisurely leaning back with one leg crossed over the other, smiling as he raised a single finger.
"1—1 billion! A guest has bid 1 billion Berries! Any higher bids!?"
The host was completely stunned. It took him several seconds to recover before shouting into the microphone.
What shocked him wasn't just the amount—
but the fact that someone actually dared to bid against a Celestial Dragon.
Saint Charlos was equally stunned. His snot-covered, ugly face twisted as he glared viciously at Xia Te.
Feeling humiliated, he gritted his teeth and shouted:
"1.5 billion Berries!"
Nearly two hundred nations under the World Government pay enormous Heavenly Tribute every year.
A large portion of that wealth ends up in the pockets of the Celestial Dragons—they were absurdly rich.
Even so, spending 1.5 billion on a slave—something ultimately useless—
still made Charlos feel the sting.
The Straw Hat crew, who had originally planned to buy Camie back, were completely stunned.
They didn't dare cause trouble here, fearing Marine Headquarters.
But now—
two absolute monsters had appeared.
Throwing around billions like it was nothing.
Their entire savings barely exceeded 200 million Berries!
"3 billion Berries."
Xia Te said with a relaxed smile.
The entire hall erupted.
He's still bidding!?
Forget whether he even had that much money—
wasn't he afraid of offending a Celestial Dragon!?
"Big brother… do we even have that much money?"
Weevil asked dumbly from behind the chair.
He didn't understand money well, but even he knew 3 billion was outrageous.
"Do pirates need money to buy things?"
Xia Te replied with a grin.
Shiryu smirked slightly—he had already guessed what his captain intended.
"You bastard!"
Charlos shot to his feet, trembling with rage. He pulled out a gemstone-studded pistol and pointed it at Xia Te.
"Are you mocking the great me!?"
The moment Charlos drew his gun—
panic spread throughout the auction house.
"I've always been curious—why does the World Government spend so much to support a bunch of useless trash like the Celestial Dragons?"
Ignoring the gun aimed at him, Xia Te instead spoke with genuine curiosity to his crew:
"What exactly makes them so special? I'm quite interested."
"So those are the 'gods' of the Blue Sea? How utterly disgusting."
Enel said with disdain after getting a clear look at Charlos and his family.
"Shut up. You're not exactly pleasant to look at either."
Shiryu replied coldly.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Xia Te noticed a group seated not far to his right—
the Heart Pirates.
Trafalgar Law, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, and the others.
"H-He's looking over here, Captain!"
Bepo trembled violently.
Shachi and Penguin also shrank behind Law in fear.
"Oh? Trafalgar Law—the user of the Op-Op Fruit, right?"
Xia Te smiled lightly and invited:
"Perfect. My crew's missing a doctor. Come join me."
Law's pupils shrank sharply. After a few seconds, he lowered his cap and said quietly:
"Sorry. I'm not interested in being someone's subordinate."
If it were anyone else, he would've snapped back immediately.
But facing someone who could command monsters like these—
Law chose caution.
"You've been someone's subordinate before. What's wrong with doing it again?"
Xia Te's smile deepened.
Law's expression changed drastically.
This man… knows my past!?
"You filthy pirate! How dare you ignore me—die!"
Seeing Xia Te continue to disregard him, Charlos completely lost his temper.
Amid the screams of the nobles—
Bang!
He fired.
The bullet shot straight toward Xia Te's forehead.
A massive, fur-covered arm—like that of a gorilla—suddenly blocked the way.
The bullet struck it—
and shattered instantly.
"Anyone who touches my big brother—I'll kill them!!"
Weevil roared.
No Conqueror's Haki—
just pure killing intent.
Like a raging storm, it swept across the entire auction house.
"Ugh—!"
Not just the weak nobles—
even members of the Straw Hat Pirates, the Heart Pirates, and the Kid Pirates with lesser strength—
turned pale, some even gagging and vomiting under the pressure.
"I wonder… do Celestial Dragons' bodies hide any interesting secrets?"
Xia Te stood up, stroking his chin as he looked curiously at the pale-faced Charlos and his family.
Shiryu, already guessing his intent, reminded calmly:
"That would mean becoming a complete enemy of the World Government."
"Didn't you already accept that the moment you escaped Impel Down with me, Shiryu?"
Xia Te countered.
"Heh."
Shiryu smirked.
"I'm actually quite interested myself."
"Wait, you long-chinned guy!"
Enel suddenly shouted.
"If these are the 'gods' of the Blue Sea, then I, a god, will personally test them!"
With that—
he transformed into a bolt of lightning and appeared instantly in front of Charlos.
"W-What are you doing!?"
Charlos staggered back in terror, yet still tried to threaten him:
"D-Do you dare lay a hand on the great me!? You lowly pirate! Don't you know that harming me will—"
"Insolent fool!"
Enel, already hot-tempered, didn't wait for him to finish.
He swung his golden staff straight at Charlos's space helmet-like oxygen bubble.