Chapter 289: After Auction Meeting
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Bai Ye and Bob approached the auction house, they crossed paths with Kidd, who was on his way out. Bai Ye, not particularly fond of Kidd, exchanged little more than a nod. Yet, Kidd paused, giving Bai Ye a meaningful glance. Having observed the Straw Hat Pirates for some time, Kidd sensed that the day's events—Luffy's confrontation with a Celestial Dragon—might soon be eclipsed by even more dramatic news.
Inside, Nami was lecturing Luffy, her voice tinged with frustration. "Luffy! I told you to be patient, but you're just so impulsive."
"The Celestial Dragons are not someone we can afford to provoke—not yet!" she insisted.
Despite the tension, Bai Ye couldn't suppress a flicker of amusement upon seeing two Celestial Dragons sprawled out.
"Bai Ye! You're here!" Luffy called out, his voice filled with relief, as if Bai Ye's arrival was the backup he had hoped for.
"I'm a bit late, Luffy," Bai Ye approached, his tone light. "Seems I missed the show of you taking down a Celestial Dragon."
Luffy grinned and scratched his head. "Couldn't help it, so I just went for it."
Nami cut in, her voice sharp with worry. "This isn't funny, Bai Ye. What are we supposed to do now? An admiral could be on his way. Can your plan still work under these circumstances?"
Bai Ye smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry so much, Nami. To be honest, this situation might actually improve my plan."
Nami looked at him skeptically, but Luffy chimed in "See? I told you Bai Ye would have a plan."
-----
In truth, by the time Saint Rosward furiously demanded an admiral's presence, the Marines had already been informed.
The second-in-command of the auction house had secretly called Marine Headquarters using a Den Den Mushi right after Luffy had knocked Disco unconscious.
At that moment, however, Luffy had not yet attacked the Celestial Dragon.
So the initial message Marine Headquarters received only stated: ["The Celestial Dragons' employment agency has been attacked by pirates."]
That's right. Every Marine knew perfectly well that the so-called "employment agency" on Sabaody Archipelago was actually a human auction house—but officially, they still called it an "employment agency."
Interestingly enough, when Marines first heard that pirates had attacked the place, some of them secretly felt happy.
But the instant they learned that Celestial Dragons were involved, their attitudes shifted dramatically.
The Marines stationed at Sabaody were different from their peers who had never seen the darker side of this world.
They understood clearly—if anything happened to a Celestial Dragon, it would spell disaster.
Thus, while hurriedly sending a report to Marineford, the Marines stationed on Grove 70 rushed toward Grove 1 immediately.
However, when they reached the auction house, they found a scene beyond imagination.
People were frantically fleeing the hall in chaos—and these weren't ordinary people; they were princes, nobles, and royals from nations allied with the World Government!
Even more shocking was the figure surrounded by eager reporters, cameras flashing wildly. The beaten, barely recognizable man lying there—wasn't he unmistakably a Celestial Dragon?
Of course it was!
At this sight, the Marine officer leading the group nearly lost his mind.
He couldn't believe someone had dared to attack a Celestial Dragon openly.
Fortunately, his training and discipline as a Marine quickly took over. Regaining composure, he ordered his troops to surround the area and secure it immediately.
He then instructed them to escort the frightened nobles and Celestial Dragons to safety and carefully record witness testimonies to report to Marine Headquarters.
But unknown to him, even as they hurried to restore order at the auction house—
Marine Headquarters had already received a complete, detailed report of the entire incident.
-----
"That brat again. His whole family just loves to stir up trouble." Fleet Admiral Sengoku was visibly frustrated as he received the latest update.
Beside him, a Marine vice admiral was finishing his report: "Alongside the Straw Hat Pirates, we've seen Eustass Kid, captain of the Kid Pirates, at the scene. There's no clear evidence of an alliance with the Straw Hats yet. Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates, has been in contact with Straw Hat members, but his role in this incident remains unclear."
"Also, several other high-profile Supernovas with bounties over 100 million berries are currently on the Sabaody Archipelago. We've temporarily lost control of the—uh, employment agency, but what's clear is that Straw Hat Luffy has attacked a Celestial Dragon, and two others have been implicated in the resulting chaos. This is a serious breach."
Sengoku rubbed his temples, feeling a headache brewing. Amidst preparing for an imminent war, this was the last thing he needed.
"Have these pirates made any demands yet?" he asked.
"Not yet, sir," the vice admiral replied. "But attacking a Celestial Dragon is something we cannot overlook, regardless of their intentions."
Sengoku eyed the vice admiral, noting the man's fervent tone. This vice admiral was known for his hardline stance—believing that any challenge to the World Government warranted a swift Marine response.
While Sengoku didn't fully share this view, he knew the gravity of the situation required decisive action.
Before he could outline his next steps, Admiral Kizaru, who had been reclining nearby, interjected with his usual nonchalant tone:
"The Straw Hat Pirates, eh? Sounds like it might be interesting. Kuzan mentioned them once."
Kizaru's laid-back approach was almost too calm, but Sengoku knew better than to second-guess his readiness.
"Guess I'll head there myself," Kizaru continued, standing up as if he were off for a leisurely stroll rather than a mission of great urgency.
-----
Beyond the Marines, news about "a Celestial Dragon getting beaten up" quickly spread across the islands in different ways.
"Hey, is our ship ready yet?"
Capone Bege took a deep puff of his cigar, calmly asking his subordinate.
"It got coated yesterday, boss."
"Good. Then let's set off immediately. We'll head straight for Fish-Man Island before any admiral arrives."
"Right away, boss!"
-----
"Has that Straw Hat idiot completely lost his mind?"
Jewelry Bonney scowled angrily upon hearing the news.
"Picking a fight with a Celestial Dragon—what an idiot! Just wait, Straw Hats. If I see you in the New World, I'll personally beat some sense into you!"
-----
"Those troublemakers never do anything helpful," Urouge sighed with mild amusement.
"Prepare to set sail," X Drake said sharply, his voice firm and decisive. "I wonder which admiral they'll send this time."
-----
"An admiral, huh? They'll probably just chase after the Straw Hats anyway," Scratchmen Apoo said thoughtfully. His curiosity got the better of him as he added excitedly, "Though, to be honest, I'd love to watch an admiral fight up close."
"Captain Apoo! Saving our necks should be the priority! We should get going already!"
-----
"Captain Hawkins!!! What do we do?!"
"Relax," Basil Hawkins said quietly. He remained perfectly calm, completely unaffected by his panicking crew.
"One thing is certain—today won't become the anniversary of my death."