Chapter 228: The Noble Pirate
Chapter 228: The Noble Pirate
These words reverberated through the already quiet auction hall, where the pin-drop silence now carried an undercurrent of palpable terror. All eyes, wide with fear, turned towards the stage.
After all, this concerned a World Noble!
Some guests, upon seeing the Marines' arrival, had contemplated making a quick escape. However, pirates stood guard at every step of the staircase, and at the slightest sign of movement, they brandished their long spears, forcing the guests back into their seats.
The Marines at the entrance could only stand by helplessly, unable to take any action.
Their gazes, too, were not on the guests but fixed intently on the World Noble on the stage.
"Don't make any demands of me, Z!" The Marine Rear Admiral shouted urgently. "Just don't harm the World Noble!"
"You're not worth talking to. Are you buying or not?"
Sagra gave Sharliya's neck chain a sharp tug, pulling her forward a little. "One Berry—you won't even buy her at such a low price? I don't need to auction her off. I can just kill her right now."
His words were like a clap of thunder, sending shivers down everyone's spines.
The worst-case scenario was unfolding!
Normally, pirates wouldn't dare lay a hand on a World Noble because they knew the consequences. Even the most ruthless and lawless pirates had their limits, and only a complete fool would provoke a World Noble.
But even such fools would only dare to beat a World Noble up, never kill one. Even the craziest knew that World Nobles were untouchable.
Yet, in this situation, the Marines couldn't take any chances.
Especially not with the man before them—the 'disaster' known as Z, whose capture had been reported in the newspapers, only for him to reappear. He was already extremely dangerous, and now he had gone as far as to bind a World Noble like a slave. No one could predict his next move.
"No one's bidding?"
Sagra laughed. "Good merchandise is always snapped up quickly. Miss this opportunity, and you might never get another. Perhaps killing one will make the other World Nobles more valuable? Three seconds."
He held up three fingers and quickly lowered one. "Three seconds until the auction ends. Then I'll kill the merchandise. One is enough for me."
After a brief pause, his eyes turned icy, and he brought his hand down in a chopping motion towards Sharliya. "Sorry, I can't count to three."
"I'll bid! I'll bid!"
The Marine Rear Admiral instinctively shouted, "I bid one Berry!"
Sagra's hand stopped just a hair's breadth from Sharliya's head, poised to strike at any moment.
"Hmm, someone's finally bidding." Sagra retracted his hand and laughed loudly.
"One Berry, the lowest price. Any other bids? This is a rare World Noble, a female one at that, never before seen on a slave market. Buy her, and you can trample on the dignity of the World Nobles. This satisfaction is unparalleled, whether you're a young woman or a robust man."
"Think about how the World Nobles have bullied you in the past. Now's your chance to get your revenge. Who wouldn't want to bid? Break this taboo and trample on those who look down on you. It's a rare pleasure."
As he spoke, not a single person in the audience dared to call out a bid.
Who would dare to buy?
It wasn't just their own lives or their families at stake; insulting a World Noble like this would bring the wrath of the entire country down on them.
"Peasants!"
Sharlilya didn't direct her anger at Sagra but glared at the bidding Marine instead. "How dare you!"
"My deepest apologies, Princess Sharliya!"
The Rear Admiral knelt on one knee and lowered his head. "I had to do this to prevent any harm from coming to you."
"That's not it!"
Sharlilya raged, "How dare you bid one Berry for me? One Berry! I am a World Noble! Am I worth only one Berry to you?"
While she certainly hated Sagra, her anger was even more directed at the bidding Marine.
One Berry?
One Berry couldn't even buy a newspaper!
She was a noble and proud World Noble. How dare someone bid on her, and for such a pittance!
"S-Sorry, I'll bid again."
The Rear Admiral hesitated, unsure, "One...one hundred million Berries?"
"One hundred million?"
"I misspoke. I meant ten billion Berries."
"I'll say the number then—one hundred billion Berries!" Sharliya shouted angrily.
Ten billion Berries was just the price of a few good slaves. How could she be compared to them? She was a World Noble, and only a bid of one hundred billion Berries would befit her status!
"Yes, one hundred billion Berries!" The Rear Admiral shouted.
"It's the first time I've heard of someone raising their own price."
A smile played at the corners of Sagra's mouth as he tightened his grip on the chain. "Good! One hundred billion Berries. I don't think anyone will outbid that. Congratulations, Marine, you've bought yourself a World Noble slave."
"Then let go of Princess Sharliya, Z!"
"No money, no release."
Sagra said, "Talk is cheap. You say one hundred billion Berries, but I need to see the money first. It's common sense among pirates—goods are only released after payment. The Marines should understand this too, no?"
"Fine, we'll report this immediately. A total of three hundred billion, and you must not harm the World Nobles any further!" The Rear Admiral shouted.
"No, no, no. It's one hundred billion for one. I'm not selling the others."
Sagra held up a finger and shook it, his sinister smile widening. "The World Government hasn't played fairly, so I'll do things my way."
"What are you trying to do, Z?"
"I've told you, you're not worth talking to."
A crimson light flashed in Sagra's eyes as he glared at the front, and a black-red torrent surged from his body, resembling a towering tidal wave that soared upwards.
"Clearly, he wasn't targeting anyone, but this sudden outburst of power still made those present quiver in fear. One by one, they lowered their heads like quails."
Kid, leaning against the wall, broke into a sweat, his pupils contracting. The other Supernovas stared in shock.
"Oh?"
Rayleigh on the stage exclaimed in surprise, his eyes fixed on Sagra with a deep sense of intrigue. "As expected, he's a man filled with Haoshoku Haki."
"You're not worth talking to. The only thing you can offer me is what I demand. You have no right to negotiate with me. Send your Admiral here!" Sagra sneered.
"The auction is over. It's time to get back to my old trade. Akainu, let the plundering begin! Oh, and for the one who bought the treasure map, bring it to me!"
"Yes, Lord Sagra!"
Akainu quickly rose to his feet and began commanding his men to plunder the attendees.
Those who were able to attend this auction were either wealthy or of noble birth, carrying with them at least a few million berries, otherwise they wouldn't be able to afford the competitive bidding for the slaves.
They were already shaken by Sagra's overwhelming Haoshoku Haki, and now faced with the plunder and pillaging by these fierce and ruthless men, they had no heart to resist. Instead, they meekly handed over their purses.
Some carried bags of gold coins, while others had briefcases filled with berries, all of which were swept away by the pirates and piled up on the stage.
The Marines could only stand by and watch, not daring to make a move.
After ensuring that everyone had been stripped of their valuables, Sagra waved his hand and said, "Alright, thank you all for witnessing my temporary stint as a slave trader reach its pinnacle. Remember this when you leave, I, Norton Sagra, am not only an up-and-coming pirate but also the strongest slave trader!"
"From now on, when you attend auctions, remember to use me as a benchmark. If they're not selling Celestial Dragons, then it's not a top-tier auction. Now, scram!"
At his command, the guests in the room rushed towards the exit in a frenzy.
"Don't panic, don't trample each other, move forward in an orderly manner, the Navy will protect your safety!" The Rear Admiral shouted, but no one paid him any heed. They rushed out in a mad dash, even knocking over a few Marines in their way.
"Oh? I thought you'd try to extort them some more. You're just letting them go?" Rayleigh chuckled.
"Don't lump me together with you. I'm a pirate, not a kidnapper seeking ransom."
Sagra clenched his fist and grinned menacingly. "Since I've taken up this profession, I will strictly abide by its rules. As for what I want, all I need to do is take it by force."
"Is that so? But pirates are supposed to be free." Rayleigh's gaze intensified as he stared at Sagra.
"My freedom isn't that lowly!" Sagra retorted without an ounce of courtesy.
He had sold the Celestial Dragons, and while the outcome might not be different from ransom, this was following the rules and procedural justice!
If the Marines hadn't bought them, and someone else had, he would have handed the Celestial Dragons over to that person.
Doing it or not doing it—that was the difference between an upper-class pirate and a lower-class one.
"The ways of the young are becoming more and more incomprehensible. It seems that I, an old man, have been left behind by the times."
Rayleigh picked up his iron flask and took another swig. A red dot appeared in his eyes, and he suddenly reached up to snap the collar around his neck, tossing it into the air where it exploded.
"I can't stay here any longer, I'm leaving first. As for the 500,000-berry debt, you can find me at Bar 13, where I'll leave an autograph for you, hahaha!"
Rayleigh laughed a few times, then jumped off the stage and walked towards the exit. Along the way, he glanced at Luffy and said, "That straw hat suits a valiant man. Monkey D. Luffy, I've been wanting to meet you. Come with me. Hatchan, it's been a while since I've seen you too, come along."
Luffy hesitated for a moment, seeing that Rayleigh seemed to be a friend of Hatchan's, but then he decided to follow him out.
"Let's go, there's nothing more to see here."
Kid lost interest as well and turned to leave with his crew.
That guy clearly had other intentions, and the person he was waiting for wasn't normal either. Stirring up trouble with the Celestial Dragons like this would definitely bring an Admiral here.
Now wasn't the time to be facing an Admiral.
"What a show this has been." Law smiled faintly and left with his crew as well.
Today's events had been grand enough. Not only had they witnessed the Celestial Dragons being sold, but they had also seen the Navy's powerlessness. Although the Navy was already powerless, this blatant act of plunder right under their noses was a first.
It was enough.
"Hey, don't forget about my money."
Seeing the Supernovas about to leave, Sagra laughed loudly. "One more day means one more day of interest, oh! Don't make me come looking for you, or it won't just be about money anymore, hohohoho!"
These words caused the departing Supernovas to pause.
Bonnie turned around and flipped him the bird, shouting, "I won't give you a single cent, absolutely not!"
On the other hand, Beck, who was leaving alone, had a somber expression on her face as she instructed the person within her, "Take out 200 million berries later and send it to that disaster."
"But, Mother, is that really..." The Blackbeard Pirates within her hesitated.
"Do as I say!"
Beck took out a cigar, bit it between her teeth, and said in a deep voice, "It's not like we have a choice when dealing with a madman like him. The most important thing now is to enter the New World. I don't want to be targeted as soon as we get there."
Some people took this lightly, while others naturally took it seriously.
Capone Beck was the kind of person who planned his moves carefully. Instead of engaging in momentary displays of courage and valor, he looked to the future, employing the Mafia's habitual way of thinking. He didn't consider giving money to be a big deal, but rather, calming this potential troublemaker was an action that aligned with his interests.
There was no other choice.
'Disaster' Norton Sagra was not only insane but also incredibly powerful—so powerful that Beck had no means to oppose him.
This guy wasn't just a lone individual; including Urki, he had five 'Supernovas' with bounties of over 100 million berries under his command. In the beginning, it was best not to provoke him.
"Don't move, 'Bandit' Capone Beck! You're surrounded!"
However, not long after Beck left the auction house, a squad of Marines who had been lurking nearby quickly surrounded him.
"Surrender peacefully. The gap between our forces is just too vast!" the leading Marine shouted.
Beck stood still, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke. Suddenly, one of his eyes turned transparent, revealing a window with snipers aiming through their scopes.
"Yes, the gap between our forces is indeed too vast!"
Disaster wasn't just going to let the Marines off the hook!
...
Inside the auction hall, only members of the Disaster Pirates and those who hadn't paid and were now considered slaves remained.
Lily found a set of keys and threw them to the slaves, saying, "Since you haven't paid, you might as well leave."
Although Sagra had sold them, these slaves weren't really his property. As for the others, although they had made a cameo appearance, it was just that—a cameo. He wasn't really invested in them, so he didn't care much about their fate.
Lily wanted to set them free, and he had no interest in keeping them.
"Then, then can I also go?"
Maid Bellana, seeing the other slaves finding their keys and leaving happily, asked timidly, her head lowered.
"You can't."
Lily shook her head and glanced at the musician, maid, and dancer, "You three are the ones Sagra has taken a liking to. You can only join us as pirates. There's no other path for you."
"Is that so?" Bellana lowered her head in disappointment. She really didn't want to become a pirate.
"Being a pirate is fine! I was a pirate to begin with!"
Byron the musician, on the other hand, was excited. He had been a pirate before, joining another pirate crew, and now he was simply returning to his old trade. Moreover, he was joining a famous crew, which meant better prospects for him.
"Being a pirate is great! You can do whatever you want as long as you follow the rules on my ship. You'll be the freest people in the world!"
Sagra laughed heartily, "It's better than being captured and becoming a slave, isn't it? Work hard, and I won't treat you badly!"
As he spoke, he looked at the giant cowering in the corner and asked, "Hey, what's your name, and what are you good at?"
This guy's build was quite something. Even if he didn't have a sturdy physique, he was still enormous. Being a giant meant that the bigger he was, the more terrifying he became.
He was like a small mountain.
Adult giants were at least 12 meters tall, but he far surpassed that height. At a glance, he appeared to be around 18 meters tall.
"Stansen, shipworker, from Elbaf,"
Stansen replied in a deep voice, "No matter what, it was you who saved me. So, I'll follow you and repay your kindness."
The giants didn't think much about the concept of buying and selling. All Stansen knew was that Sagra had snapped his collar and invited him to join his pirate crew. That was simple enough for him.
"A shipworker, huh?" Renetia's eyes lit up as she pretended to nod seriously, "Then you'll follow me from now on. I'll teach you how to build ships!"
Stansen looked at the tiny human before him and nodded, "You seem to be an officer. I'll follow the rules of the ship."
"Excellent! You're very sensible!"
Sagra laughed, "I like pirates like you. From now on, you're an officer too. You might not become a top officer, but a lower-ranking one is definitely within your reach."
Giants like him were naturally strong due to their massive size. He could easily overpower the crew, and even Akainu might not be his match. Being a lower-ranking officer was well within his capabilities.
However, he couldn't aim any higher than that.
Renetia and Hawkins were Devil Fruit users, and their abilities made up for any physical disadvantages they might have due to their smaller stature.
Marika's strength was also comparable to the giant's, and she possessed Busoshoku Haki as well.
As for Lily,
she could easily take down bulky opponents like him with her speed and a single sword strike.
"Sagra, what are we waiting for? Are we just waiting for the money?" Renetia asked curiously.
"No,"
A red dot appeared in Sagra's eyes as he looked towards the entrance and laughed, "I'm waiting for someone worthy to show up!"
Whoosh!
A beam of light suddenly shot through the doorway, speeding towards the stage. Its velocity was so fast that it left no room for reaction.
"100x Speed!"
But at that moment, Sagra's figure suddenly vanished, and a loud noise reverberated in the air.
Sagra had kicked out, his foot meeting the beam of light, and through it, a figure could be seen, also kicking out with their foot to meet Sagra's.
"It's you, Kizaru!"
(End of Chapter)
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