Chapter 38: Dragon and Doflamingo Take the Stage

Amid the clinking of chains dragging across the floor, Dragon and Doflamingo were pushed onto the auction stage.

A crowd of greedy, cold-hearted buyers scrutinized every aspect of their bodies, while the two stood on the stage like mere commodities.

Dofflamingo's unease, which had been growing since he was locked in the cell, reached its peak as he stepped onto the stage. The gazes of the people around him filled him with a sense of helplessness and anger.

His heart pounded as if it might burst out of his chest, and his throat tightened with an indescribable fear, making it hard to breathe. He tried to stay calm, but the terror inside him surged like a tidal wave, unstoppable.

Dragon, on the other hand, remained expressionless, as though he weren't a commodity on display but a king surveying his domain.

The collar around his neck could be removed with ease, so his mindset was vastly different from Doflamingo's. If he wanted to leave, no one here could stop him.

The auction house was filled with a heated atmosphere, a mix of money, power, and greed.

Dofflamingo's eyes swept over the faces of the bidders. They looked cold, their eyes gleaming with desire for the young slaves.

Some wore smiles, as if admiring a priceless piece of art, while others stared with sharp, predatory eyes.

He was terrified. Their gazes made him physically uncomfortable. He began to wonder if he had once looked at ordinary people with the same eyes.

"Next up is item number 16: a strong young man from the South Sea. He can effortlessly move an entire warehouse of goods without breaking a sweat. He can work like an ox, serve as a punching bag, and comes with a handsome boy as a bonus."

"Hahaha..."

The audience erupted in laughter.

"So, what shall we start the bidding at?" Disco observed the expressions of the crowd.

He slammed his gavel on the table. "Starting bid: 30 million Berries! Let the bidding begin!"

As the auctioneer announced their sale, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.

Some whispered among themselves, others discussed how to bid, while a few remained silent, their eyes betraying their greed.

Dofflamingo felt more and more like a piece of merchandise, displayed in a shop window for everyone to admire and bid on.

"Damn it, I'm only worth 30 million Berries? How insulting!"

Dragon felt insulted by the starting bid.

Wait, no. Dragon glanced at the trembling boy beside him. He wasn't even worth 30 million Berries.

A gentle breeze swept through the hall, but it quickly settled as Dragon calmed himself...

Renji, seated in the auction hall, watched the two on stage with interest, surrounded by the constant sound of bidding.

"Dragon seems to be quite popular with the noblewomen."

No surprise there, as most of the bidders were women. It seemed his disguise was quite appealing to them.

"45 million!"

"45.1 million..."

The auction felt like a terrifying nightmare to Doflamingo. He was trapped in an inescapable despair.

He had never longed for freedom so desperately, to break free from these chains. But in this cold, merciless auction hall, he could only watch as he was stripped away, piece by piece, until he was sold to some stranger, his fate once again in someone else's hands.

"50 million!"

The bidding continued to rise, and Renji twitched his lips. 50 million was no small sum.

Since he was the one who had put them up for auction, the best solution was to buy them back himself.

Disco called out, "51 million! 51 million! Do I hear any higher bids?"

Seeing that the bidding had peaked, Renji slowly raised his paddle. "51.01 million."

Disco's eye twitched behind his sunglasses as he glanced at Renji . He scanned the room and saw that the other bidders looked hesitant, realizing this was likely the highest bid.

He repeated the price three times before finally declaring, "Sold! Congratulations to bidder number 888 for securing the desired item!"

When Doflamingo saw that Renji was the one who had bought him, he let out a deep breath of relief. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. He never wanted to endure such an ordeal again.

Dragon glanced at Renji, feeling a bit frustrated. In the end, a Marine captain and a kid had only fetched 50.01 million Berries.

Dragon and Doflamingo were led away, to be delivered after the auction or picked up by the buyer.

Meanwhile, the auction continued...

The prices being called out grew more outrageous, and Renji grew more excited.

Truthfully, Renji didn't want to spend money on the purchase. It would be much more cost-effective to just take them by force. But if he were to do that, he'd have to wait until the auction ended, when there were fewer people around. It would be easier to act then.

He couldn't stand the auction house treating living people as commodities. Slave traders deserved to die, and so did those who ran the auction house.

If only he had the power to stand against the World Government, he would tear this place down right now.

"Sigh... Looks like I'll be leaving empty-handed again..."

"No mermaids this time? I've been looking forward to one for so long."

"Don't even mention mermaids. Even fish-men are rare. You need luck to see one."

The true VIPs of the auction, though filled with desire for the slave merchandise, were dissatisfied with the current offerings. They craved higher-quality slaves, preferably from special races.

The previous items had been rather monotonous—slaves who were either strong for labor or had special skills like cooking or music.

But nothing had truly caught their attention...

Despite their dissatisfaction, the guests remained hopeful for the next batch of slaves.

They waited eagerly, hoping that the next items would meet their desires and needs.

For them, slaves were not just laborers but symbols of status and luxury, offering endless comfort and enjoyment.

"How ugly..." Renji sat in the auction hall, feeling out of place.

His eyes wandered over the crowd. There were kings, nobles, wealthy individuals, and even a Celestial Dragon in a separate section.

Celestial Dragons were on a whole different level of wealth. Robbing one would likely yield more than the combined wealth of everyone here.

...