Chapter 41: Your Name

Among a group of slaves dressed in luxurious attire, one beautiful woman stood out.

She was confined inside a glass sphere filled with water. Her skin was pale and shimmering, and she wore a soft blue fabric on her head. Her eyes, like autumn water, were captivating, and her slender tail swayed gently. She was unmistakably a mermaid.

Renji's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly regained his composure. He hadn't expected to find a mermaid at this auction. He gazed thoughtfully at the scene before him.

So... was that Celestial Dragon here because he had received news of the mermaid?

The mermaid was trapped, her eyes filled with a longing for freedom and helplessness. However, Renji didn't linger on her beauty. He shattered the glass enclosure with a finger gun and opened the cell door, treating her no differently from the others.

Then he left. He still had to remove the restraints from the others.

Freed from the glass enclosure, the mermaid took a deep breath of air. Though it was tainted with foul odors, she savored it nonetheless.

She swam freely in the water, then, with the support of her arms and a graceful flick of her tail, she left the water that had once confined her. She moved toward freedom.

The mermaid looked at Renji with gratitude, expressing her thanks in a silent yet profound way.

Renji felt a sense of satisfaction. He always acted according to his own principles, and as long as it brought him peace of mind, he was willing to do anything.

He had freed these slaves so they could live freely and choose their own paths. As for their safety after being released, that was beyond his control.

"You're too weak. Get behind me!"

"But..."

"No buts! Move aside, or I'll break your legs!"

The order of the queue determined who would have their collars removed first. To escape the threat to their lives as quickly as possible, some began to scheme.

Hearing the discordant voices in the queue, Renji frowned.

He could understand their mindset, but understanding didn't mean he agreed. He took note of the troublemaker and those who shared his thoughts.

Someone behind pulled the girl who had been cut in line, urging her to endure. "Don't provoke him. We can't win against him."

"We were all captured and brought here. Why is he bullying others?" the girl asked, confused.

They had all been imprisoned together, yet even before escaping this hellhole, some were already bullying others.

This world didn't care about shared suffering. To survive, people here would do anything.

"Little girl, I'll remember you. Wait for me after we get out!" Under Renji's gaze, the man spat out a threat before slinking to the back of the line.

"What you did was dangerous. Remember, run as soon as we get out. That man will definitely hold a grudge against you," someone behind the girl warned.

"..."

The girl stood frozen, unsure of what she had done wrong. Her father had always taught her to be polite and follow the rules.

She had always done so, so why had she been captured? Why was that man so cruel? Why...?

...

Renji began removing the restraints.

The collars weren't complex in design. After studying the ones on Dragon and the others, he had quickly figured out how to remove them. Though there were many people, it didn't take long to free most of them.

Those whose collars had been removed stayed where they were. It wasn't that they didn't want to leave, but they were unsure of the situation outside and didn't dare to go.

"You can leave now," Renji said, continuing his work. There were only a few people left.

"But... the guards outside..."

"The guards are gone." In Renji's Observation Haki, only a few people in the auction house still had a presence.

One brave soul cautiously stepped out of the slave area. Seeing no danger, he quickly ran out.

Two minutes later, the man returned, his face glowing with excitement.

"Everyone, we can leave! The guards outside are gone!"

Those who had been hesitating no longer held back. They rushed toward the exit, afraid that something might happen if they were too slow.

Once most had left, Renji looked at the last person in front of him. "You're the last one. Be careful after you leave. Don't get caught by slavers again."

"May I ask... your name?" The mermaid, who had stayed behind, looked at the man who had saved her, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Worried he might have reservations, she added, "My name is Selina. I run a café on Fish-Man Island."

"Do you know what it means for me to destroy this auction house?" Renji asked in return.

Selina thought for a moment before answering. "You'll become a target for the auction house and their backers."

Renji rolled his eyes and teased, "If you know that, why are you asking for my name? Planning to sell it for money?"

Selina's eyes welled up with tears, and she said with a hint of grievance, "I... I didn't mean that. I just really want to know your name."

This man had saved her life and left a deep impression on her heart. Even if they never met again, knowing his name would at least let her know who her savior was.

Renji looked at the beautiful mermaid before him and felt a pang of emotion. Out of all the people he had saved, she was the only one who had asked for his name.

"Renji," he said, giving her his real name. Mermaids, though wary of humans, were known for their integrity. Revealing his name wasn't a big deal.

Moreover, he had a soft spot for mermaids who ran cafés. Decades later, the people of Fish-Man Island had left a good impression on him—loyal, righteous, and always willing to help.

The café owner there was also a great white shark mermaid, just like Selina. Perhaps they were related.

If he ever passed by Fish-Man Island in the future, he could ask Shirley for a free fortune-telling. Unfortunately, Shirley probably hadn't been born yet. Otherwise, a trip to Fish-Man Island now would have been nice.

"I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life. If you ever come to Fish-Man Island, please visit my café. I'll do my best to be a good host."

Selina bowed to Renji, then leaned forward, resting her head on his lap as she waited for him to remove her restraints.

Renji located the collar and skillfully removed it from Selina's neck, then cleared his throat.

"So soon?" Selina's face flushed as she gently moved her head away.

Renji rubbed his nose. "The air here isn't great. Let's go outside..."

"You go ahead," Selina said, looking at her tail. "I'll come out later."

Renji realized that mermaids had difficulty moving on land, but leaving her alone here wasn't safe.

"I'll carry you out," he said, deciding to see this through. He crouched down and asked Selina.

Selina wrapped her arms around Renji's neck and curled up in his arms.

She whispered softly, almost inaudibly.

"Okay... Thank you..."

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