Chapter 75: All Neatly Together (Fourth Update)
Inside the auction house under the Don Quixote Family in Red Tree Zone 1.
This place was much like most auction venues, with a stage at the front for pre-show performances and displaying "merchandise," tiered seating outward from there, and the entrance further back.
At this moment, the auction house was packed to capacity. The news that a mermaid was about to be auctioned had drawn a large crowd of guests.
"Everyone, you've waited long enough."
The auction house was somewhat dimly lit. On stage, a staff member held a microphone, one hand pressing downward in a gesture to signal the bidders below to quiet down.
"We're about to begin the monthly No. 1 GR Human Auction. The host, of course, is..."
The staff member invited the auction's host onto the stage. Disco, dressed in flashy attire, stepped up as the spotlight fell on him.
"Hello everyone. Today, we've prepared high-quality slaves for you as well. You're in luck—this time's hot item..."
After Disco rambled a few words, the auction kicked off in a lively atmosphere.
Backstage, in the cell holding the slaves, an old man with white hair and frameless glasses sat with his eyes tightly shut.
"What... is this?"
The white-haired old man opened his eyes, a hint of confusion in his gaze.
Outside the auction house, numerous contractors were hidden in the shadows, waiting for a "carnival" to begin.
Half a kilometer away, atop a tall red tree at least a hundred meters high, Su Xiao lay on a branch, draped in a piece of grass-green cloth. The Duke of Annihilation rested before him.
"How's it going?"
Su Xiao spoke, and after a moment, he received a reply from Bubu Wang in the team channel—just three words: "They've entered."
Bubu Wang meant that the target, the Celestial Dragons, had appeared.
The atmosphere inside the auction house grew increasingly heated. In the front row of the audience, three plump men and women in white robes sat in VIP seats, their expressions slightly impatient. Among them, two were Su Xiao's targets: Roswald Saint and Charloss Saint, father and son.
Roswald Saint was an old man wearing sunglasses, beside him his son Charloss Saint. The other female Celestial Dragon, Shalulia Saint, was Roswald's daughter but not Su Xiao's mission target.
Roswald and Charloss—kill these two and survive for twelve hours, and Su Xiao would complete his promotion/main mission.
The auction continued. The older Roswald was already nodding off, but when a "new item" was pushed onto the stage, he perked up noticeably.
"It's been a long time since we sold a mermaid here."
Roswald's voice was low, only audible to his son and daughter.
"Isn't that because of Whitebeard? He's protecting those dead fish."
The female Celestial Dragon Shalulia spoke. She had no interest in the mermaid on stage but was more intrigued by some young pirates in the audience. Unfortunately, those pirates weren't up for bidding.
"Doflamingo is a coward. Ever since Fish-Man Island became Whitebeard's territory, every time I want to buy a mermaid slave, he refuses."
Charloss sniffled, his chubby face full of displeasure.
"Don't say that. Doflamingo is one of us. The auction's starting—I'll leave this fish-man to you two."
Roswald was clearly more mature, aware that Doflamingo wasn't someone to mess with.
"Alright, let's begin. The starting price for the mermaid is..."
Disco on stage drew out his words, but before he could finish, the Celestial Dragon Charloss raised his chubby hand.
"Five hundred million!!"
The voice echoed through the vast auction house. The guy crushed all other bidders, including Nami of the Straw Hat Pirates, who had been trying to redeem the mermaid Kaimei through normal means.
The auction house fell into dead silence.
"Ahh..."
Disco on stage let out a groan. This bid, far above market price, sent a sharp pain through his groin. In truth, he wouldn't receive that much money at all. Even if Charloss made the bid himself, the consequences of cheating a Celestial Dragon were severe.
Charloss being an idiot was his own business, but if Disco actually dared to accept those five hundred million, the fallout would be dire. The auction house itself wouldn't be affected—it was Doflamingo's property—but Disco personally would have no good end.
As for not accepting the five hundred million, would Doflamingo let him off? The answer was no. Perhaps in the next auction, Disco would still appear, but he'd go from host to merchandise.
In the dead-silent auction house, Disco prepared to make one last struggle.
"Is there... any bid higher than five hundred million?"
The moment Disco finished speaking, a sudden explosion rang out from the auction house ceiling. Debris flew as a bullet shot into the venue.
With a crack, Charloss Saint, who had his right hand raised high and fingers spread, had his upper body explode. Flesh and blood splattered, covering Roswald Saint and Shalulia Saint, father and daughter, in gore.
Before anyone could react, two more bullets flew in.
Two bursts of blood mist erupted. Roswald Saint and Shalulia Saint followed Charloss Saint's fate.
The once-luxurious VIP seats were drenched in blood. Three Celestial Dragons had perished in an instant, the family dying all neatly together.
"What... is this?"
Disco on stage began to tremble, his whole body shaking like a sieve.
In the audience, the supernova pirates Eustass Kid and Trafalgar Law stood up almost simultaneously. They knew what the death of a Celestial Dragon here meant, so without hesitation, they slipped away.
The Straw Hat Pirates crew had no idea what was happening, or rather, they didn't understand what the death of a Celestial Dragon signified.
"Straw Hat."
The fish-man Hachi stepped back a few paces.
"Take Kaimei. We're running."
Hachi knew what the death of a Celestial Dragon meant.
"Guards!!"
Disco screamed, and his cry sounded utterly desperate.
Half a kilometer away, Su Xiao put away the Duke of Annihilation, fastened the tether around his waist, and leaped down from the tree.
Zzzz~
The tether scraped. As soon as he landed, Bubu Wang and Amu arrived nearby.
"Retreat."
Su Xiao led Bubu Wang and Amu toward the port. The best escape route now was to head out to sea. He planned to drift on the ocean for twelve hours—the best option at hand.
As for "the safest place being the most dangerous"? Don't joke. The World Government would absolutely tear Sabaody Archipelago apart.
In the original story, three Celestial Dragons were just beaten up, and Kizaru came to the island to suppress the situation.
Would Kizaru come again this time? Of course not. Killing a Celestial Dragon was a direct challenge to the World Government.
Su Xiao headed straight for the coastline. Sabaody Archipelago was too close to the World Government, practically right beneath it.
Three minutes after the Celestial Dragons' deaths, Su Xiao reached a rocky area near the port. Few boats would approach here, reducing the chance of running into the Navy.
In a crevice between several rocks by the shore, a layer of branches covered the rocks. Su Xiao lifted the branches to reveal a small fishing boat beneath.
This boat wasn't wind-powered. Su Xiao had installed a motor at the back.
One man, one dog, and one bull quickly boarded. Su Xiao gripped the motor's handle, throttled it to max, and water splashed. The modified fishing boat shot forward like an arrow, cutting through the waves and heading out to sea.