CHAPTER 128

The group dispersed with excitement, each heading toward their desired destination.

Caesar, uninterested in shops that catered to women's fashion, did not interfere and simply followed behind like a silent bodyguard.

As the only male among them—even as their captain—he was still responsible for carrying their bags. Fortunately, with his formidable strength, this was hardly an issue.

Thus, wandering through the women's section with three strikingly beautiful companions, he found himself increasingly bored.

Along the way, heads turned frequently, and envious stares followed them. Men whispered among themselves, amazed that Caesar could stroll so casually with three stunning women.

Some passersby even recognized them—Caesar and the three daughters of Lily. At the realization of their identities, many hastily distanced themselves, wary of the infamous figures.

Meanwhile, in District 16, Brad, Hades, Arnold, and Brook were making their way toward District 21, where numerous bars lined the streets.

Unlike the women, they had little interest in shopping. Their main passion was drinking.

As soon as they disembarked from their ship, they had a clear goal in mind—head straight to the bars.

Each region had its own unique selection of liquor, and their impressive physical strength meant their alcohol tolerance was equally formidable. They drank from massive tankards, indulging in the finest brews Chambord had to offer.

"This time, I need to stock up on more liquor. There are all kinds of rare brews on Sabaody Archipelago," Brad remarked as he scanned the establishments. "Who knows when we'll be back here again?"

Hades nodded in agreement, and the four swaggered toward the bar district.

Brook, having spent decades trapped in the Florian Triangle, was particularly thrilled to be on such a lively and prosperous island. Everything felt new and exciting to him.

As they strolled and chatted, they remained oblivious to a dark alley nearby, where a group of men lurked, their greedy eyes fixed on Hades.

In the underground slave trade, non-human species fetched high prices.

Mermaids, in particular, were considered priceless.

Minkmen and Fishmen were also highly valued, though slightly lower in rank than mermaids.

One of the men, eyeing Hades hungrily, turned to his apparent superior. "Boss, should we move now? That Fishman will fetch a fortune at auction!"

"It's just past three in the afternoon," another added eagerly. "If we take him now, we can sell him off immediately!"

However, before he could say another word, the gang leader slapped him across the head and shot him a furious glare.

"Idiot! Do you have a death wish? If we mess this up, we won't just die—you'll take all of us down with you!"

"Huh? But... he's just a Fishman, isn't he?" the clueless thug asked, rubbing his head.

The leader scoffed and growled, "You better start recognizing who's untouchable in this business!"

His voice dropped to a whisper as he continued, "That's Hades, a core member of the Caesar Pirates. His bounty is nearly 400 million berries!"

"Forget the crew—Hades alone could kill us in a blink. You think you can take on someone like that?"

"We already scored a mermaid for today. That's more than enough. Don't push your luck and get us all killed!"

The gang leader kept his voice low, terrified that Hades might overhear.

But it was already too late.

Even with his efforts to stay quiet, his words had reached Hades' sharp ears.

Hades' expression darkened, his blood boiling. His sharp teeth clenched, and his eyes burned with rage.

He turned toward the alley, his gaze locking onto the thugs.

The men paled instantly, their bodies frozen in fear.

"N-No way... He heard us?! Damn it—RUN!"

Panic spread among them as they scrambled to escape.

But Hades had already moved.

With blinding speed, he lunged forward, his massive trident gleaming under the sunlight.

A flash of white light cut through the alley.

Within seconds, all but one of the slavers were split in half, their lifeless bodies collapsing in pools of blood.

Only the gang leader remained, held by the head in Hades' powerful grip.

The leader trembled violently as Hades pulled him closer, his voice a deep growl.

"What did you say about a mermaid?"

The man, now reduced to a sniveling wreck, sobbed as he confessed.

Through stammering breaths, he revealed that they had disguised a slave ship as a merchant vessel, capturing a mermaid from Fishman Island and transporting her to an underground auction house.

Hades' grip tightened, his fury reaching its peak. His instincts screamed to crush the man's skull on the spot.

But he forced himself to pause.

"Where and when?" he demanded.

The terrified slaver didn't hesitate—he spilled everything.

The auction was scheduled for 3 PM in District 1, at one of the largest underground markets.

Hades' glare deepened.

He had all the information he needed.

Without another word, he clenched his fist—

CRACK.

The gang leader's skull shattered in his grasp.

"Damn bastards... All of them deserve to die!" Hades spat, his voice trembling with fury.

His crew, witnessing his rage, quickly intervened.

"Calm down," Brad urged. "At least now we know where your fellow Fishman is. We can still save them."

Arnold and Brook nodded in agreement, offering their own words of reassurance.

Though still seething, Hades managed to regain some composure.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his Den Den Mushi and called Caesar.

He knew—Caesar would never ignore this.

After explaining the situation, he received a swift reply.

"We'll be there," Caesar assured him. "Gather everyone. Meet outside the auction house at 2:50 PM."

"If it comes to a fight, we'll handle it. You're not alone in this, Hades. Don't worry."

A deep sense of relief washed over Hades at those words.

Though his rage remained, he knew one thing for certain—

With the Caesar Pirates behind him, no one would stop them from taking back what was theirs.

---

[136] Auction Begins – Unrest in Sabaody

Despite the arrival of the Caesar Pirates, the auction proceeded as usual.

However, a notable absence was the Celestial Dragons.

Many attendees had expected them to participate, yet none had shown up.

Whispers circulated.

Though the Rocks Pirates had been defeated two years ago during the God Valley Incident, their memory had not faded.

Many speculated—

Could it be that even the Celestial Dragons feared the Caesar Pirates?

Regardless, the auction continued.

By 2:50 PM, Hades and his crew had assembled outside the venue.

Their arrival drew attention.

"That's the Caesar Pirates!" someone whispered.

"Why are they here? Are they after something?"

"They say Caesar is barely twenty, yet he's already at an admiral-level in strength… He's a monster."

Others speculated that they were there for the Devil Fruit auction, as several members of the crew had yet to acquire one.

Unbothered by the murmurs, Caesar and his crew entered the auction house.

Silence followed.

Even without speaking, their mere presence sent an oppressive aura through the room.

And soon, the world would witness—

The Caesar Pirates were here for far more than just an auction.

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